As she was about to return to the inner hall, a familiar voice rang out again, "Divine Doctor Lin, quickly save my son, Divine Doctor Lin!"
The sharp voice, laced with sobs, made Lu Qingwan's delicate face pucker slightly as she stood up. The voice sounded a bit familiar, and she hoped it wasn't what she suspected.
As it turned out, her face darkened the moment she saw the patient.
"Take him inside, and the patient's family, follow me."
The woman quickly carried the child inside, placing him on the examination bed as she had done last time, familiar with the routine.
The moment Lu Qingwan took the child's pulse, she became furious. "What's going on? Didn't I tell you not to give the child peanuts? Why didn't you follow my instructions?"
The woman was crying so hard she could barely catch her breath. "My mother-in-law, she doesn't believe anyone can be allergic to peanuts. She insisted that sons of military families shouldn't be defeated by mere peanuts.
Knowing you would be seeing patients today, she gave Zheng'er peanut cake, saying that even if something serious happened, you could still save him..."
The woman couldn't finish her sentence, gasping for air in anger.
"Ridiculous! What do they take me for? What do they take the child for?"
Lu Qingwan reprimanded them angrily, and in front of everyone, produced a syringe disguised as a calligraphy brush and administered antibiotics to the child, followed by an anti-allergy medication.
"This is the first time, and I hope it's the last.
The child will stay here for observation. If he's fine by this time tomorrow, you can take him home. Tell your family, if they want to court death, don't drag me into it!"
The woman nodded incessantly, tears blurring her vision, unable to speak.
Lu Qingwan instructed Meng Tang to keep an eye on things and then, with a huff, entered the inner hall.
The woman, knowing she was in the wrong, didn't dare to say a word, only nodding repeatedly.
Inside the inner hall, Ying Yi bowed respectfully. "Reporting to the Princess Consort, as soon as I arrived at the money house, someone delivered fifteen million taels of real bank notes. I have already exchanged all of them for Feng Hua Lou's bank notes.
They can be exchanged in any country, and outsiders cannot trace anything if they investigate."
"There's such a money house?"
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Very good. Let's go, time to remove the needles for Prince Chen."
Feng Qingheng's confidant watched Lu Qingwan as if she were a bandit robbing a village. As soon as Lu Qingwan removed the last needle, he rushed forward. "Your Highness, how are you?"
Feng Qingheng slowly regained consciousness. As his senses returned, he realized the oppressive pain within him was gone.
"My body's蛊毒 (gu poison) is gone?"
"It is."
Lu Qingwan threw the needles to Meng Sheng. "However, His Highness's waist is not lightly injured. You will need at least three months to rest, and cannot move for the next half a month, otherwise, there will be sequelae, and the hidden danger of paralysis."
"You will recuperate here for half a month. My grand-disciple will take care of you. The cost is not much, ten thousand taels per day."
Feng Qingheng no longer had the strength to scold her. "Two months. If you can make me recover within two months, I will give you another five million taels."
Lu Qingwan shook her head. "Although I really want that five million, a hundred days for bone and muscle healing, I can't help that."
"Then give me some medicine. When necessary, I must be able to walk without hindrance."
"Alright."
Lu Qingwan propped her chin with a troubled expression. "One million taels for ten pills. If you take a pill when necessary, you can move freely within a day.
However, these ten days must be spaced out. If you take two pills consecutively and walk for two days, you won't be able to stand up again."
"Deal."
Feng Qingheng gritted his teeth. "When can I have the medicine?"
"Wait for three to five days. In your current condition, even if you take the medicine, you won't be able to move. I also need time to prepare the medicine!"
Feng Qingheng gritted his teeth and agreed. Thus, Lu Qingwan had a very profitable day, returning with a full bounty.
Upon returning to Wutong Garden, Feng Xiwu habitually went to his study to review the day's official reports. Lu Qingwan followed him. "I left a few books with you last time. I'll check some information."
Before she could even settle down, Li Yang reported, "Tie Shou requests an audience with the Princess Consort."
Lu Qingwan jumped up instantly. "I'm coming right away!"
Before Li Yang could react, Lu Qingwan had already left the study, her speed astonishing Li Yang.
The master and servant exchanged bewildered glances.
A moment later, Li Jin walked in with a smile. "Your Highness, the Princess Consort requests you to wait outside the courtyard for a moment."
Feng Xiwu raised an eyebrow. "You dare conspire with her to play games with me? You have quite the nerve!"
Li Jin chuckled. "This subordinate doesn't have such courage. I'm only relying on the Princess Consort's backing. Your Highness cannot refuse the Princess Consort's wishes, can you?"
"Wishes?"
Feng Xiwu thought of something and stepped back from his desk. "Push me out."
Although it was already September, Wutong Garden was still adorned with the world's most precious flowers and potted plants, creating a pleasant scenery.
However, the moment Feng Xiwu stepped outside, his gaze was captured by the striking sight in the center of the courtyard.
Lu Qingwan was wearing a light yellow, high-waisted ruqun, paired with a slightly darker, straight-collar褙子 (bei zi) of the same color. She was pushing a small cart, which looked somewhat like a four-wheeled vehicle, but was much more exquisitely crafted.
Seeing him emerge, she smiled brightly and said, "Your Highness, quickly come and see the gift I have for you. Try it and see if you like it?"
Feng Xiwu thought to himself, "As long as it's from you, I'll like it."
However, fearing that overly bold words might startle his little Princess Consort, Feng Xiwu forced himself to maintain his composure. "Is this... a four-wheeled vehicle?"
"You could call it that, but I prefer to call it a wheelchair."
Lu Qingwan ran behind Feng Xiwu, took over Li Yang's task, and directly pushed Feng Xiwu towards the newly crafted wheelchair.
"Quick, get on and try it. Until your legs are healed, this will be your mode of transportation!"
Feng Xiwu placed his hands on the armrests of the four-wheeled cart and then transferred himself to the wheelchair. Lu Qingwan eagerly promoted her creation to him.
"Don't be fooled by its similar appearance to your four-wheeled vehicle. It can control inclines, move on uneven ground, and navigate stairs with ease. Try it."
Saying that, she directly pushed Feng Xiwu to the steps outside the study and then stopped.
Li Yang and the others' faces turned pale with shock. Ever since the Prince's legs were injured, he dreaded encountering steps wherever he went.
Because the four-wheeled vehicle was inconvenient on stairs, it often required servants to lift it, which was a stark reminder to Feng Xiwu that his legs were crippled.
Lu Qingwan actually pushed him directly to the steps. Everyone was terrified, as if they could already foresee Feng Xiwu's thunderous rage.
However, the anticipated scene of rage did not occur. Instead, Feng Xiwu, following Lu Qingwan's instructions, ascended the steps on his own, without anyone's help.
"As expected of my Prince! Successful on the first try!"
Lu Qingwan jumped up and down excitedly. "Now try going down by yourself?"
Feng Xiwu was also very excited. He had been dependent on others for so long since his injury.
This was the first time he could freely ascend and descend stairs without external help, and even though there was a wheelchair beneath him, she couldn't help but feel thrilled.
Using a tool and relying on others were fundamentally different. The former, at least, allowed one to retain some dignity.