"Empress..." Seemingly hearing footsteps, Princess Jinyang gasped, weakly calling out.
Lady Wei did not respond to Princess Jinyang but instead said to Ran Yan, "Lady Xianliang, please check on the princess quickly."
Ran Yan acknowledged and moved to the bedside, saying, "This concubine has been presumptuous."
Attendants on both sides lifted the gauze, and Ran Yan knelt before the bed, getting a clearer view of Princess Jinyang. She appeared even thinner than she seed through the misty veil, her skin clean like white porcelain, only the tips of her eyebrows seed to have a touch of vermilion, her clear, watery eyes were a beauty Ran Yan had never seen before.
"I have been presumptuous." Ran Yan lifted the thin quilt and pinched her wrist.
The wrist was alarmingly slender. Even though Ran Yan was quite familiar with the human body, she dared not use any more strength for fear of accidentally breaking her wrist.
The pulse was still stable, not dangerous at all.
Ran Yan chose to use massage to help her, "This concubine will help ease the princess, needing to touch the princess’s jade body; please forgive ."
These were roughly what Xiao Song had instructed her beforehand. Ran Yan just needed to apply it according to the situation. Seeing Princess Jinyang’s pitiable appearance, Ran Yan’s tone wasn’t as harsh as usual.
"It’s alright." Princess Jinyang whispered.
As Ran Yan touched her body, she suddenly felt even more pity for the girl. The waist she felt was so slight that it could almost be encompassed by two hands, incredibly frail.
The attendants brought mats from outside the gauze for Lady Wei and Lady Yan, who sat down and patiently waited for Ran Yan to administer her treatnt.
In the Tang Dynasty, traditional Chinese massage was not unusual. This dical skill dated back to ancient tis. In the Tang Dynasty’s Imperial dical Bureau, there were specifically established positions like "Massage Doctor" and "Massage Therapist". Ran Yan had the advantage because, after the developnt through dynasties, this technique in later generations had beco very sophisticated, and she knew how to utilize it better than any Tang Dynasty doctor or massage doctor.
Another point was that Ran Yan was a woman, and a woman of no low station, so it was easier for her to make contact with the princess’s body.
Throughout Ran Yan’s massage, Princess Jinyang’s breathing gradually beca smoother and much more stable.
Everyone let out a slight sigh of relief, especially Lady Wei. If anything bad had happened to Princess Jinyang under her care, although the Emperor wouldn’t bla her unreasonably, resentnt was inevitable.
After stopping, Princess Jinyang, seeing Ran Yan wearing an official’s wife’s dress, said, "Thank you, Lady Xianliang."
"The princess is too kind." Ran Yan was surprised by Princess Jinyang’s humility; perhaps due to Princess Baling, she had the impression that Tang Dynasty princesses were usually haughty.
The attendants ca forward to straighten Princess Jinyang’s clothes and helped her up.
It was then that Ran Yan noticed the princess’s hairstyle – two small buns at the sides of her head and a neat, two-finger-wide fringe in front. The princess wore a chest-high tunic skirt of alternating goose yellow and bright orchid, which looked quite amusing.
If it weren’t for the presence of Lady Wei and others, Ran Yan really wanted to ask her if it was Li Shimin who had dressed her up like this.
"Lady Xianliang truly lives up to her reputation." Lady Yan exclaid in admiration.
"The princess just has a minor ailnt, nothing dangerous." Ran Yan took the handkerchief presented by Wan Lu and wiped off her sweat.
"How is the rhinoceros?"
Suddenly, a breathless young child’s voice interjected.
Ran Yan heard the noise and looked over to see a boy around eleven or twelve years old, delicately beautiful, with half of his dark hair tied atop his head and the other half cascading down his back, his chubby cheeks framing a pair of bright eyes that closely resembled those of Princess Jinyang.
"Li Xiaojiu, I’m fine." Princess Jinyang still sounded sowhat weak, but much more relaxed.
Li Xiaojiu, Li Zhi.
Ran Yan couldn’t help but take a second look at this child who also suffered from asthma and would one day beco the future Crown Prince, determined to marry his father’s concubine as his Empress of the Great Tang despite everything.
Li Zhi walked swiftly to the couch, and because of court etiquette, dared not enter; he just anxiously looked inside, "Ziqi, are you still feeling unwell?"
Li Zhi and Princess Jinyang, both children of Empress Zhangsun, had grown up together and were deeply attached to each other.
"The Emperor has arrived!" Suddenly, a voice ca from outside the door.
Concubine Wei and Concubine Yan both stood to welco the Emperor’s arrival respectfully.
Ran Yan moved behind Concubine Yan and stood still; beneath the finely woven bamboo curtains, one could see a group of people entering, led by a tall and striking figure walking with an imposing stride.
In just a mont, Ran Yan caught a glimpse of the person next to him, his features partially veiled by the light gauze fluttering in the breeze, his face incomparably handso.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Ran Yan paused for a mont, then quickly knelt down with Concubine Wei and the others to pay respect.
Li Shimin’s voice, gentle yet commanding, said, "You may all rise."
Ran Yan felt a tangible gaze upon her, and then heard Li Shimin speak, "Is this the new wife of Marquis Xiangwu?"
Concubine Yan responded with a slight smile, "Yes, Your Majesty, indeed it is."
"Lady Ran Shi, greetings to Your Majesty." Ran Yan knelt again to pay her respects.
Li Shimin said, "Rise, Marquis Xiangwu indeed has an excellent eye."
This remark fully conveyed his appreciation for Ran Yan. As for receiving such praise at their first eting, Ran Yan was quite puzzled.
Before Ran Yan could think of what to say, Li Shimin continued, "Ziqi has been ill for a long ti, and it wrenches my heart. I often wish I could bear it for her. Recently, I was fortunate to find two famous doctors. I feel deeply favored by heaven. Today, let you both et her first, hereafter you and Liu Qingsong will treat Ziqi’s asthma together."
Upon hearing this, Ran Yan lifted her eyes and t those deep, cold eyes as if seeing them for the first ti.
"I am Su Ziqi, a pharmacist from the Imperial dical Bureau, greetings Lady Xiang Wu." He bowed slightly.
"Pharmacist Su, no need for such formality." Ran Yan replied.
From the mont Su Fu appeared, all eyes in the room were fixed on him, so palace maids even stared unabashedly for a long ti, forgetting the rule that direct staring was not allowed.
Ran Yan was puzzled. Usually, only Imperial Physicians were qualified to treat the concubines and princesses. If Li Shimin planned to use Su Fu, why not promote him? After all, although the number of Imperial Physicians was limited, it wasn’t a big deal; one more or one less was just a matter of the Emperor’s word.
"Father, will Ziqi recover soon?" Li Zhi asked. (To be continued. If you like this work, please co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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