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After giving some lifestyle advice, mainly regarding dietary restrictions and the importance of getting more sun, going for walks, and exercising, Gu Jiao planned to leave. She said, "I'll have someone send the medicine to Wangfei later."
Ning Wangfei replied, "No need to trouble anyone; I'll have someone fetch it."
"Okay." Gu Jiao didn't refuse.
Ning Wangfei wanted to pay Gu Jiao for the consultation fee, but Gu Jiao said, "Ning Wang will take care of it."
Ning Wangfei was briefly taken aback but said with a smile, "Alright."
It was the first genuine smile Gu Jiao had seen from her since she entered the room. Did it only appear when mentioning Ning Wang?
After packing up her things, Gu Jiao was escorted out by Court Lady Yao.
As they reached the entrance of Ning Wang Residence, they unexpectedly ran into Ning Wang getting down from his carriage.
"Your Highness!"
Court Lady Yao immediately bowed respectfully.
Ning Wang nodded slightly and then turned his gaze to Gu Jiao, giving her a warm smile. "Ah, Physician Gu, this prince didn't expect to see you here."
Court Lady Yao explained, "Wangfei felt a bit of chest discomfort this afternoon, and this servant remembered that Your Highness had mentioned Physician Gu's exceptional medical skills. So, this servant invited Physician Gu from Miraculous Hands Hall."
Ning Wang nodded in approval, "You did well. Step aside now, this prince needs to talk to Physician Gu about Wangfei's condition."
"Then, this servant shall go to Miraculous Hands Hall to collect the medicine." Court Lady Yao said.
She got into the carriage, leaving Ning Wang and Gu Jiao alone.
Ning Wang gestured towards the mansion and said, "If Physician Gu isn't in a hurry, you might as well come to the reception pavilion and have a seat."
Gu Jiao replied, "I'm pressed for time. If Your Highness has something to discuss, please go ahead. Also, since we've met, I'd appreciate it if Your Highness could settle the consultation fee."
"Sure." Ning Wang took out a fifty-tael silver banknote from his pocket.
"It's one hundred taels." Gu Jiao corrected him.
Princess Xinyang would pay her one hundred taels every time, directly surpassing her limit for consultation fees.
Ning Wang hesitated for a moment, and there was a fleeting feeling of familiarity in Gu Jiao's assertive demeanor, as if he had seen it somewhere before.
Gu Jiao folded her arms over her chest and said, "I did mention that the consultation fee isn't cheap."
Indeed, Gu Jiao had kindly reminded him before, and at that time, Ning Wang didn't haggle over the price. Now, after she had treated Wangfei's illness, it was even less likely for him to bargain.
But Ning Wang didn't expect the "not cheap" she mentioned would be such an impressive amount.
A feeling of being choked surged within Ning Wang's chest.
It wasn't that he couldn't afford it; there was just an inexplicable feeling of frustration.
In the end, Ning Wang reluctantly handed a one-hundred-tael silver banknote.
Gu Jiao accepted the payment, "If Your Highness has any questions, please feel free to ask."
Ning Wang was taken aback by her sudden change in attitude, and he opened his mouth to ask, "Regarding Wangfei's condition, this prince wants to know what's wrong with her."
Gu Jiao replied, "Weak spleen and stomach, that's one aspect, and excessive worries, that's the other."
Ning Wang frowned, "Excessive worries?"
Gu Jiao nodded, "In simpler terms, it's depression, or what ordinary people might call an illness of the heart. I have already prescribed medication, but Your Highness should also take care of Wangfei's emotions in daily life."
"She... is it because of the child? We've been married for many years, and this prince has always been hoping for a child of our own. Unfortunately, things haven't gone as planned, and we lost this child “too."
He used the word "too" casually, seemingly nonchalant, but he was actually hinting that this wasn't Ning Wangfei's first miscarriage.
Gu Jiao had already learned from Rui Wangfei that Ning Wangfei had suffered three miscarriages, so she wasn't surprised this time. But she was always calm and composed, hence Ning Wang didn't find her reaction suspicious.
Ning Wang asked, "Will she still be able to have children in the future?"
Gu Jiao replied, "It's hard to say. For now, the most important thing is to focus on Wangfei's health."
Ning Wang nodded and then inquired, "Does she know about her condition?"
"I haven't mentioned the depression part." Gu Jiao answered.
Ning Wang let out a sigh of relief, "It's good you didn't. This prince doesn't want her to worry about her illness. This prince will pay more attention to it from now on."
Gu Jiao nodded, "Goodbye."
Ning Wang called her back, "This prince heard... "
"Hmm?" Gu Jiao turned to look at him.
Ning Wang wore a gentle expression as he said, "Yesterday, Physician Gu visited the palace and met with Rui Wangfei and the Crown Princess."
Gu Jiao didn't deny it and remained straightforward, "Is there a problem?"
Ning Wang smiled, "No, it's just that my third brother and sister-in-law mentioned you to me. They've been with you before, and it seems like you get along well. If you don't mind, you can come and accompany Ning Wangfei more in the future."
Gu Jiao glanced at him and replied, "I am a physician; the only person I need to accompany is the patient."
Ning Wang laughed, "This prince was presumptuous."
Gu Jiao withdrew her gaze and left Ning Wang Residence.
She instructed Little San to drive the carriage to Hanlin Academy. Unfortunately, Xiao Liulang was called in for overtime work again.
The Hanlin Clerk recognized Gu Jiao and knew that she was Xiao Liulang's wife. He said, "He went to the cabinet. I heard that Grand Secretary Yuan needed extra help and personally summoned the top three scholars of the latest imperial exam."
The top three scholars, namely Xiao Liulang, An Junwang, and Ning Zhiyuan.
Gu Jiao stroked her chin.
Grand Secretary Yuan had a decent reputation, and he might be a future relative. He wasn't a bad person, so there was no need to worry about her husband.
Little San asked, "Gu girl, are we going back to the medical hall or heading to Bishui Alley?"
Gu Jiao thought for a moment, "Let's go back to the medical hall first."
Upon returning to the medical hall, Gu Jiao placed the one-hundred-tael silver banknote on the counter, surprising Shopkeeper Wang, "What's this?"
"Consultation fee." Gu Jiao replied.
"But... you only had one house visit today, how did you come back with so much consultation fee?" Shopkeeper Wang was puzzled, recalling the last time when she brought back one hundred taels consultation fee from Zhuque Street for no apparent reason.
Shopkeeper Wang blinked his eyes, "Young Miss Gu, you didn't rob someone, did you?"
Gu Jiao lazily glanced at him, "Who do you think I am?"
Shopkeeper Wang smiled awkwardly, "That's right, that's right. Young Miss Gu is a person of integrity, how could she rob someone—"
Before he could finish his spiel, Gu Jiao interjected, "What's the point of robbing just one hundred taels? If I were to do it, I'd go for a bigger haul."
Shopkeeper Wang: "..."
Not long after Gu Jiao returned to the medical hall, Rui Wangfei arrived.
Gu Jiao didn't have any more consultations today; Rui Wangfei knew her way and went straight to her courtyard.
Gu Jiao was sun-drying medicinal herbs when Rui Wangfei walked over and cheerfully greeted her, "Young Miss Gu!"
"Rui Wangfei?" Gu Jiao greeted her back, a bit surprised.
Rui Wangfei was catching her breath, saying, "You moved so fast! If you had been a little slower, we could have met at Ning Wang Residence!"
Gu Jiao asked, "You went to Ning Wang Residence?"
Rui Wangfei looked serious as she said, "I heard that Ning Wangfei was feeling unwell, so I went to check on her. Strange, she was perfectly fine when I visited the palace this morning, but why did she feel discomfort afterwards? What could have happened to her?"
So, Ning Wangfei was fine in the morning but started feeling unwell in the afternoon, indicating that something might have triggered it?
Depression was most susceptible to triggers.
However, it wasn’t only stress that could cause an episode. Sometimes, patients might suddenly experience a low mood they couldn’t control.
Gu Jiao wouldn't discuss a patient's condition with someone outside their family, so she carefully worded her response, "Her spleen and stomach are weak, and after the miscarriage, her body hasn't fully recovered. She needs careful recuperation, and she might be feeling a little down."
Rui Wangfei sighed, "Ah, poor eldest sister-in-law. Fortunately, eldest brother-in-law is a good man who has always cherished and loved her. Oh, by the way, I met the State of Chen’s hostage prince today!"
With that, Rui Wangfei's expression turned serious, "Turns out, he's the man the Crown Princess had a secret meeting with behind the artificial rockery!"
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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