Chapter 939 Our Own People?

　　The granny responsible for taking care of Concubine Liu entered the room and approached Feng Yu Heng, asking: “Inquiring with Princess, but will the medicine that Her Highness had previously been taking continue to be taken? That medicine had been prescribed by the imperial physicians. Now that Princess has taken over Her Highness’ treatment, will the medicine need to be changed?”

　　Feng Yu Heng heard this and nodded: “Naturally, it needs to be changed. There’s no need for you to worry. I will personally come and take care of the medicine that she must take. You just need to prepare some warm water.”

　　“Yes!” The older woman bowed and thought for a bit before adding: “This old servant will speak out of turn and ask, is just preparing warm water fine? Does it need to be taken to the kitchen to be decocted?”

　　“No need.” She said to the granny: “Her Highness should have heard that A-Heng never gives patients that sort of bitter medical soup to patients. Hundred Herb Hall has special medical pills for this sort of thing.”

　　Concubine Liu nodded and said: “We have heard of it, but we have never seen them before. Not to hide it from you, but those medical soups really are hard to stomach. For Imperial Daughter to be able to give medical pills to this One, it’s truly too good.”

　　When the granny heard this and did not ask anything further, bowing and retreating. Feng Yu Heng immediately pulled out a couple pills from the medicine kit that Wang Chuan was holding. They were all Western medicines that could help recover kidney function. At the same time, she brought out the equipment necessary to provide infusions. She told Concubine Liu: “Your Highness’ illness has gone on for too long. It’s impossible for it to be treated in just a few days. A-Heng will help ease your symptoms first to ensure that you will not need to endure such suffering.”

　　Concubine Liu fully trusted Feng Yu Heng. She would take any medicine that was given to her and would accept any injection. Who knew if it was a psychological effect or if the medicine really was effective, but Concubine Liu began to feel much better halfway through the infusion. She felt as though she had a bit of strength and no longer felt as weak as usual.

　　However, Feng Yu Heng very clearly knew that this was the effect of the medicine. All of the medicine that had been used was Western medicine, and it had a very powerful effect on the human body. It acted quickly and could work as a bridge. It could treat the symptoms but not the root problem. Even her saying that it could be treated was just to deal with Concubine Liu. In truth, Concubine Liu’s kidney failure had already reached its late stages. It was not that a kidney transplant could not extend her life and improve her quality of life, but who could guarantee that a suitable kidney could be found, nor could she guarantee that it would definitely succeed. Kidney transplants, even in the modern era, were extremely difficult operations. Before the operation, there would be numerous risk assessments. After the operation, there would also be a large number of medicines to help with the patient’s recovery and to increase the likelihood of the kidney being accepted. During this time, if there was the slightest mishap, it would result in the operation being a failure, and the patient would die.

　　She never believed that Concubine Liu would have time to wait for the risk assessments, nor did she believe that a suitable kidney could be found so easily; moreover, it was impossible for her to perform such a large operation on her own. It was certain that she would need Yao Xian’s assistance. She would be putting in so much effort, but it would be for someone from the eighth prince’s faction. What would she do it for?

　　Concubine Liu was very happy with her condition improving. Feng Yu Heng’s arrival had allowed her to see some hope of living. She even said to her personal palace maid: “Quickly go and send a report to the Liu manor. Tell them that this One is getting better, and it’s thanks to Imperial Daughter Ji An… Oh wait, it’s thanks to Princess Yu! When elder brother hears this, he will definitely be very happy. Have elder brother remember to send a gift to the Yu Palace later. Princess Yu has helped this One so much. The Liu family cannot sit by idly without expressing anything.”

　　The palace maid immediately acknowledged it and quickly left. Feng Yu Heng smiled and said: “Your Highness is too kind.” However, she did not refuse the gift.

　　Concubine Liu was very happy, as she only felt at ease with Feng Yu Heng accepting the gift. With her feeling better, she continued to chat with Feng Yu Heng for the duration of the infusion. It was nothing more than the boredom of life in the palace over the years and the loyalty of the Liu family. She thought quite a bit of her elder brother.

　　Feng Yu Heng, however, had a permanent sneer internally, elder brother, huh? No rush, she would quickly allow Concubine Liu find out about the true Liu family. She would let her see exactly how this elder brother treated this younger sister.

　　After the infusion was completed, Feng Yu Heng left Wang Chuan in An Ju Palace, ordering her to take care of Concubine Liu. The medicine needed to be taken one more time at night. In truth, it was to observe the servants of An Ju Palace. If anyone wanted to do anything to Concubine Liu, there needed to be someone there to deal with it.

　　With Concubine Liu expressing her extreme gratitude, Feng Yu Heng left the palace and returned home. Right before leaving, she promised to return the next day, and she would explain precisely how the treatment would go forward.

　　When Feng Yu Heng returned to the Yu Palace, Xuan Tian Ming had not yet returned. She knew that he and Xuan Tian Hua were currently working together punish those in court that were part of the eighth prince’s faction. It was certain that he would be a bit busy, and she would need to wait at home.

　　Wang Chuan had been left at Concubine Liu’s side, thus Huang Quan was the only one left to take care of her. Huang Quan could see that she was absent-minded and occasionally glancing in the direction of the winding hallway, thus she smiled and asked her: “Is Young Miss anxiously awaiting His Highness’ return? Looking at the time, this servant fears that it won’t be until dinner time.”

　　Feng Yu Heng shook her head: “I’m not waiting for him. He will be back sooner or later. I’m not worried. I am waiting for someone else.”

　　“Someone else? Who else is there?” Huang Quan was puzzled, “Will we be getting a guest today?”

　　At this time, a maidservant quickly ran in and bowed to Feng Yu Heng, saying: “Princess, someone has come to the palace. It’s a doctor from Hundred Herb Hall, and they wish to see you. Lady Zhou has had him wait in the front hall. This servant has come to ask Princess, will you be seeing him? If you will, will it be in the front hall, or should he be brought over here?”

　　“Bring him over here.” She ordered then looked at Huang Quan’s puzzled expression and explained: “If I am not mistaken, the person that came should be Xu Mao.”

　　Her guess was correct, and the person that had come was indeed Xu Mao. This person had been in the palace for many months and had been Sun Qi’s assistant the entire time. Since he kept a low profile, he did not attract much attention in the imperial physician’s college. It was because of this lack of presence that lowered other’s guard against him, and this allowed him to hear more information. Of course, Sun Qi was not among those not on guard against him.

　　Xu Mao arrived before Feng Yu Heng and very respectfully saluted to her. Before Feng Yu Heng could begin asking, he took the initiative to say: “I went with Sun Qi today to check up on the members of the imperial harem. After returning, we heard Feng Li, who does miscellaneous jobs in the imperial physician’s college, say that he went with Princess Yu to check up on Concubine Liu, and it was princess’ servant, Huang Quan, who had gone to invite him. This lowly one was thinking that boss definitely had not sent Miss Huang Quan to invite Feng Li, thus I quickly came out to visit the palace. It also happens that this lowly one has some things that must be said to boss.”

　　“There’s no rush.” Feng Yu Heng received Xu Mao in an outer room. She had him sit down then had a servant bring in some tea, “Have a sip of tea and slow down a bit. Speak about these things slowly. You’re someone recommended by Wang Lin. Compared to Sun Qi, I would naturally believe you more.”

　　“Thank you, boss.” Xu Mao was very thankful. After taking a sip of tea, he immediately said: “Right before entering the palace, cousin Lin had told me to be more attentive and to learn more from Sun Qi, but I must not speak too much. At the same time, I needed to pay attention to Sun Qi’s movements. I must prevent him from doing bad things in the palace. At that time, this lowly one just thought that Sun Qi was Song Kang’s disciple. Song Kang is also boss’ disciple. Speaking of it like this, he is truly one of our people. How could he possibly do something bad? But since cousin Lin had said this, it definitely meant that he had his reasons. This lowly one has been Sun Qi’s assistant for half a year and I have quietly kept an eye on him; however, nothing of note was noticed. In fact, it was Sun Qi that urged this lowly one to write reports to cousin Lin. There were also some that he wrote himself. After writing them, he would not even seal them before handing them to this lowly one. There were explanations about every little thing and major event that occurred in the Imperial Palace. Up to this point, there have not been any special movements, but there have been some strange movements in the past month.”

　　While Xu Mao spoke, his brow furrowed tightly. It was clear that there was something that he did not understand fully, as he told Feng Yu Heng: “Sun Qi has been on Concubine Liu’s illness for nearly three months. Every time he has been called to check on her, this lowly one has gone with him. There was a time when Sun Qi was not present, and Concubine Liu fell ill. It was this lowly one that went over. At that time, her illness had not progressed to such a severe state, but her condition over the past month has deteriorated quickly. It’s such that her time left is quickly dwindling, with not even a month left to live. But this is not the strangest part. The main reason that this lowly one came today is that the reason Assistant Minister Liu requested His Majesty invite boss to treat Concubine Liu’s illness was that Sun Qi had told him that only you could treat it.”

　　“Sun Qi said it?” The person that said this was Huang Quan. The girl had an angry expression, as she stomped and said: “That damn traitor. Who knew that with guarding ourselves well against outsiders, we would forget about our own people.”

　　Feng Yu Heng, however, thought even more than her, as she asked Xu Mao: “I have returned to the capital for nearly a month. Why have you not come and spoken to me about these things?”

　　Xu Mao shook his head and said: “It’s not that this lowly one did not come. Ever since Concubine Liu fell ill, Sun Qi had used that as an excuse to remain in the palace every day, saying that it was in the event that Concubine Liu suddenly fell ill. He did not leave the palace, thus it was natural that this lowly one could not leave the palace. It was just because boss officially accepted Concubine Liu’s case today that Sun Qi no longer had any reason to keep me in the palace, and this lowly one finally had the time to come to the Yu Palace.” While he spoke, he seemed to have some other thoughts, adding after some time: “This lowly one wonders if this lowly one has just thought too much about it, but it always feels as though there is someone following me. When looking back, there is nobody to be seen. It really is strange.”

　　Feng Yu Heng, however, did not find it strange, as she immediately ordered Huang Quan: “Go and tell Lady Zhou to have the guest courtyard prepared. Xu Mao will be staying overnight in the Yu Palace.” After saying this, she said to Xu Mao: “You will enter the palace as usual. I will also be going into the palace. If there is anything that happens, I will keep my eyes open. You don’t need to worry.”

　　Xu Mao could tell that there was something at hand, and he could not help but get nervous: “Boss means to say that there is indeed someone following this lowly one? Will there be someone to try and silence me?”

　　Feng Yu Heng laughed but did not respond. Instead, she asked: “Are you afraid?”

　　Xu Mao was an obedient person and immediately nodded: “I am. Who isn’t afraid of being killed? But it’s not as though I am so afraid that I don’t dare go out. Since this lowly dared to come to the Yu Palace to report to boss about these things, I thought that Sun Qi might retaliate. Cousin Lin had once said that we are boss’ people. Helping boss with things, regardless of how much danger, as long as Boss is around, there’s no need for us to worry. Boss will protect us.”

　　These words caused Huang Quan to laugh, “That brat Wang Lin is the sharpest. Back when he was promoted to shopkeeper, he looked to be quite clever, but he spoke the truth.”

　　Feng Yu Heng nodded: “Your cousin Lin is right. As long as I am around, I definitely will not allow my people to suffer any losses. You can be at ease and stay in the Yu Palace. You’ve made a contribution with this matter. From this day forward, there will be no shortage of rewards for you.”

　　After this discussion was concluded, Xuan Tian Ming happened to come back. Xu Mao quickly kneeled to kowtow in horror; however, he heard Feng Yu Heng say to Xuan Tian Ming: “I will need to trouble husband with a matter tomorrow in court. I have already drafted up a plan for how to treat Concubine Liu’s illness and would like to invite His Majesty to make an appearance. Have every member of the Liu family enter the palace and head over to An Ju Palace! We will announce this method in front of Concubine Liu!”