320 Thank You Banquet
Qiao Muchen said, "The nation is prosperous and the people live in peace. Mountains and rivers are everlasting."
Wei Shulan gave a thumbs up. "You are truly Young Master Qiao, so magnanimous."
Zhao Yue, who had been waiting at the side for a long ti and seeing no further questions for Qiao Muchen, grew impatient. "Hey, Wei Shulan, why don’t you ask what I prayed for?"
"Alright, what did you pray for?" Wei Shulan asked.
Zhao Yue grinned provokingly. "Haha, hey, I won’t tell you."
Wei Shulan looked speechless. "...He really deserves a beating."
Zhao Zhitong nodded repeatedly. "Mmmhmm, I support you, Lanlan. Go get him! If he gets hurt, I’ll take responsibility."
...
The four of them laughed and headed towards the Marriage Fate Tree.
When they arrived, they saw many people praying under the tree, hanging their plaques on its branches afterward.
Zhao Yue spread his hands. "See? I told you. There must be a bunch of plaques on this tree. The Matchmaker God can’t manage them all. Let’s go, forget about this."
The group only stood and watched for a few monts before leaving for the Peach Blossom Forest.
The peach blossoms were in full bloom, and the entire Peach Grove was a breathtaking sight. Many young masters and ladies were enjoying themselves amidst the trees; so were playing music and composing poems, while others were marveling at the beautiful spring scenery.
That day, the group thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
When they returned to the inn, Wei Zijian ran out, complaining pitifully, "Master, you went out to play without ."
Zhao Zhitong feigned innocence, asking, "Why should I take you? Weren’t you doing the howork I assigned you?"
Wei Zijian grumbled, looking aggrieved, "I’ve finished it already. Master, you don’t love anymore."
The mont these words left his mouth, Wei Zijian felt a threatening gaze upon him and couldn’t help but shiver. "Huh? Strange, why do I suddenly feel so cold?"
Then he continued to ask, "Master, am I your biological child?"
Zhao Zhitong spread her hands. "Obviously not."
Wei Zijian wailed, about to run back into the inn, but Zhao Zhitong grabbed him. When he looked at her expectantly, she asked, "Where’s Xiao Ge? Has he co back yet?"
Wei Zijian huffed, "...Humph, I don’t know. Go ask your *biological* disciple."
After saying that, he stomped upstairs in a fit of pique.
Zhao Zhitong murmured, "...When did this simpleton start getting such a temper?"
Zhao Zhitong shook her head and went to find her Xiao Ge.
Her Xiao Ge had gone out early that morning, saying he had so errands to attend to, but he hadn’t returned yet.
However, her Xiao Ge’s martial arts skills were such that he had few rivals, so she wasn’t particularly worried.
By evening, her Xiao Ge returned.
At the sa ti, servants from the Princess Mansion suddenly arrived, presenting an invitation. They were invited to the mansion the next day for a gathering, as the princess was personally holding a thank-you banquet for Zhao Zhitong.
Zhao Zhitong had already declined once and hadn’t expected the princess to be so persistent.
Under the circumstances, she had no choice but to go.
「The next day」
Zhao Zhitong and the others went to attend Princess Anping’s thank-you banquet.
The banquet was arranged with separate seating for n and won, divided by a screen. The princess hosted the female guests on one side, while the Prince Consort entertained the male guests on the other.
As soon as Zhao Zhitong arrived, the princess personally ca over to lead her and Wei Shulan into the hall.
The princess had t Wei Shulan previously when she accompanied General Feng to the Princess Mansion, so she knew Wei Shulan was a good friend of Zhao Zhitong.
Princess Anping affectionately took Zhao Zhitong’s hand and introduced her to the madams and young ladies, "This is the young lady I told you about, Miss Zhao, Divine Healer Zhao."
Being personally introduced by the princess with such affection, the other madams and young ladies imdiately began to lavish praise on Zhao Zhitong.
"My, how remarkable! To think Divine Healer Zhao is such a young lady!"
"Indeed, indeed! Divine Healer Zhao is truly amazing. She cured the Princess’s strange illness, which even those imperial physicians couldn’t treat."
...
Although Zhao Zhitong was rely a rural physician, insignificant in the eyes of these prominent madams and young ladies, she had saved the Princess’s life and, in doing so, ford a connection with Princess Anping.
Moreover, she was a Divine Doctor. Since everyone consus grains and is susceptible to illness, no intelligent person would want to offend Zhao Zhitong.
Naturally, this led to a round of insincere flattery.
Zhao Zhitong truly didn’t enjoy such occasions, but this was a gesture of goodwill from the princess, and she couldn’t very well reject her kindness or cause her to lose face.
She could only smile politely and nod.
At that mont, a servant ca to report sothing. After a word with Zhao Zhitong, the princess rose and stepped out.
The servant respectfully said, "Princess, Dr. Zhuo is here."
Princess Anping sneered. "He still dares to co? Fine, I know. You may leave."
The princess waved her hand, dismissing the servant.
With the Emperor currently protecting Zhuo An, Princess Anping couldn’t touch him for the ti being. However, Zhuo An had thoroughly offended the Princess Mansion, earning Princess Anping’s deep resentnt. The contest of wits between them was far from over.
anwhile, on Zhao Zhitong’s side, after the princess left, she and Wei Shulan sat at their table, engaging in casual conversation with the other madams and young ladies.
At this point, a curious madam asked, "Divine Healer Zhao, how did you cure the Princess? It’s truly miraculous! I heard that even the Imperial Physician Order couldn’t do it."
Zhao Zhitong humbly replied, "Please don’t call Divine Healer Zhao; it sounds rather awkward. Just Miss Zhao is fine."
"Very well, very well, we’ll call you Miss Zhao. Miss Zhao, what illness did the Princess actually have?"
Zhao Zhitong explained, "Actually, it wasn’t a major illness. People consu grains, absorbing various nutrients from them, which allows our bodies to function healthily. However, once a certain nutrient is lacking, illness naturally follows.
"The Princess fell ill because she had disliked eating fruits and vegetables for many years, leading to a vitamin deficiency in her body. This is what caused her symptoms.
"I simply discovered this and promptly supplented the Princess’s diet with what she was lacking. That’s how the Princess was cured. I am truly not a Divine Healer."
Although Zhao Zhitong insisted that the illness wasn’t difficult to treat, no one around her believed it. After all, the Princess had been declared incurable by the Imperial Physician Bureau, essentially left to await death.
Soone whom the Imperial Physician Order had declared beyond saving was brought back to life by Zhao Zhitong. This point alone was enough to prove she was a Divine Doctor.
「Naturally, these are matters for another ti.」
anwhile, on the n’s side, things weren’t so peaceful.
The Prince Consort was in the midst of entertaining the guests, many of whom were asking him to introduce them to the Divine Doctor, when Zhuo An appeared inopportunely.
His arrival brought an eerie silence to the scene, quickly followed by a wave of flattery from the crowd.
Although Dr. Zhuo had lost considerable face this ti, he remained a prominent figure favored by the Emperor, so many still sought to curry favor with him.
After all, the power of such intimate persuasion wasn’t limited by gender.
Qiao Muchen and his companions sat quietly at a table in the corner, observing the scene without making a move.
Just then, the princess ca over.
Zhuo An and the assembled crowd all bowed to the princess.
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