Chapter Thirty-Four: The Fang Family
Speaking of this Imperial Brother-in-Law, he really could not be considered a capable person in Jing. However, he was proud based on the fact that his elder sister was the Empress and his nephew was the Crown Prince. However, while he was a proud person, when he heard that his horse had disturbed Xian Junwang Fei‘s carriage and heard that Xian Junwang Fei was wounded, he knew he had caused trouble.
What to do when he was in trouble? Naturally it was to have his old mother send in a card to the palace to meet the Empress. She had to think of a way to smooth this affair over. Otherwise, when the matter became known, it would not be so easy to deal with.
When the Empress heard that her paternal family was requesting to meet her, she felt slightly strange. They had just met two days ago—why were they sending in a card to see her now? She was curious and invited the people from her paternal family in.
The Empress’ paternal family was the Fang Family. It was not a very prestigious family in Jing, but it gradually stood out after she entered the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess. However, in front of the old families, they still lacked the foundations.
After meeting with the people of her paternal family, the Empress detected that her mother and her sister-in-law’s expressions were slightly uncomfortable, as though they had something that was hard to say. She knew that it was definitely her younger brother who had made trouble. She took a sip of tea and said, “Has something happened in the family?”
Fang Taitai looked at her grandly dressed daughter and managed to narrate what had happened on the street. She also emphasized that Xian Junwang Fei had been wounded on the forehead.
When the Empress thought about Xian Junwang Fei‘s beautiful face and how much Xian Junwang favored her, she felt troubled. “Why was Younger Brother letting the horse free in the city? The old ancestors had given the order long ago that horses could not be let free inside the city. Why did you allow him to do such a bad thing?” She looked in blame at her dimei, Lin shi, and her words seemed to criticize Lin shi for not controlling her younger brother well.
Lin shi felt uncomfortable at being stared at by the Empress. However, the other had a noble status and she could not do any disrespectful actions. Husband didn’t even listen to her mother-in-law, how could he listen to her urgings? Even if the Empress blamed her, she could not do a thing.
“Now that the matter is like this, Empress niangniang, please think of a way to help your younger brother.” Fang Taitai wiped her tears and said, “I only have you two children. Right now, your brother is the one holding up the fu. If something happens to him, what will our Fang Family do? Your two nephews are still young.”
The Empress sighed helplessly. The matter was not that Xian Junwang Fei‘s forehead had been wounded but that her younger brother had let a horse go free in Jing and injured a member of the Imperial Family. This matter was not a major matter, but it was not a minor one. Xian Junwang Fu had great prestige in recent years, and Yi’an Marquis Fu was a prestigious family that had been passed on for several generations. If this matter was investigated to the bottom, the Fang Family would not come out well.
“Right now, what is most important is how Xian Junwang Fei‘s injuries are. If they are minor, it will be all right; if they are serious…” The Empress waved her hand and said tiredly, “Go back and prepare gifts to send to the Xian Junwang Fu. As to what will come next, it will depend on the attitudes of the Emperor and Xian Junwang.”
Fang Taitai saw her daughter’s tone had softened and knew that she would help. She said with a smile, “You are the Empress. Xian Junwang Fuwould not make this matter a public one based on your face.”
That is because you have not seen how Xian Junwang treasures his junwang fei. The Empress wanted to say this, but when she looked at her smiling mother, she was so tired that she did not want to say a word. In the end, she waved her hand and said, “Then you prepare to return. I am tired.” In her childhood, her father favored the concubines. In order to protect her and her younger brother, her mother had spent great effort. Right now, while she still remembered the feelings of the past, these feelings were slowly worn away by this paternal family that did not bring pride.
“Niangniang.” The palace maid saw her expression was tired and presented a cup of ginseng tea. Someone else came up to gently massage her temples.
“Have people prepare things that replenish energies and blood and have Zhao Dong personally got to Xian Junwang Fu.” Zhao Dong was the chief taijian steward of her palace. For him to go in person to give the gifts would show her attitude.
The palace servants heard this, they went down to prepare according to the Empress’ orders. However, when they thought of Xian Junwang Fei‘s beautiful face, they felt it would be such a pity if her face was really disfigured.
##
At this time, Xian Junwang Fu was in a furor. It was a major matter when the mistress of the household was injured on the head. So there were people who started to boil water, make medicine and go tell Junwang Ye. Fortunately, as the etiquette of Xian Junwang Fu was pretty good, the servants were busy but they were not panicked.
When Yan Jin Qiu hurried in from the outside, two Grand Doctors were already in the fu. When he walked into the inner compound, he saw the Grand Doctor was taking Hua Xi Wan’s pulse. The blood at her temple had been wiped clean, but a large area of her forehead was swollen and horrifying to see.
Yan Jin Qiu’s brow creased. He walked next to Hua Xi Wan, put an arm on her shoulder and asked, “Does the wound still hurt?”
Hua Xi Wan smiled and said, “It’s all right. The Grand Doctor has already put medicine on it, it just looks scary.”
Hearing this, Yan Jin Qiu could not say anything else. But his face as he stared at the shockingly swollen skin became dark. In the end, he said coldly to the people who served Hua Xi Wan, “What were you doing that your mistress is so heavily injured?”
The servants instantly knelt down in the room. They were frightened by Junwang Ye‘s words so much they did not dare to breathe.
“You cannot blame them. The horse was suddenly startled, so the carriage was not steady.” Hua Xi Wan reached a hand to pull Yan Jin Qiu’s sleeve. “Do not be angry—if you are angry, my head will hurt along with it.”
Yan Jin Qiu wanted to laugh at her words but felt helpless. Seeing such a swollen part on her forehead, his heart softened. “All right, since Junwang Fei cares for you, you can stand up.”
“Thanking Junwang Ye, thanking Junwang Fei.” The servants sighed in relief and stood up from the ground. Their movements became even more careful. They wanted the Grand Doctors to give miraculous medicine so that Junwang Fei could instantly heal.
After the Grand Doctor finished taking the pulse, he stood and bowed towards Yan Jin Qiu. “Junwang Ye, Junwang Fei‘s wounds are not light. She will need to eat less of spicy food in the next while, and need to notice if she has any drowsiness or nausea. This lowly official has prescribed a medicine to calm the mind and replenish blood. Please have the servants of the fu prepare the medicine according to this prescription and use three bowls of water to boil one bowl. After drinking this, if there are no symptoms, then drink two more bowls.”
“Thank you for your trouble.” Yan Jin Qiu handed the paper to Mu Tong behind him and then inquired, “If she is drowsy or throws up, what serious effects are there?”
“The head of a person is the most complex part. This lowly official does not dare to speak rashly, but based on Junwang Fei‘s complexion seen here, there should not be any serious consequences. But it is best to have bed rest for a few days, and avoid any movement.” The Grand Doctor saw Xian Junwang was extremely interested in Junwang Fei‘s wounds, so he spoke of some more things to pay attention to before he left the Junwang Fu with his Grand Hospital’s apprentice.
After the Grand Doctor left, Yan Jin Qiu had a servant get water to wash Hua Xi Wan’s hands and feet. Then he got the person to lie down on the bed. Looking at her slightly pale face, he said, “I heard about the course of events from the servants. Rest your mind and recover, I will be there for anything outside.”
Did his words mean he was planning on settling debts with the Empress’ younger brother?
Seeing that his expression did not seem like he was only saying this, Hua Xi Wan leaned back against the bed. “These are just surface wounds. The Grand Doctor said this wound will not leave a scar. It is just a pity that the traders on the two sides of the street had a lot of their merchandise ruined. I wonder if the people from the Guard Office have made reparations.”
“They will definitely take care of this matter.” Yan Jin Qiu did not tell Hua Xi Wan that he even knew she had a servant give the young official of the Guard Office a pouch for him to give to a wounded child. He helped her adjust the blanket and said in a gentle voice, “Rest now. I will have the kitchen prepare food to help you replenish blood and focus your mind.”
Hua Xi Wan smiled and then truly closed her eyes to sleep. Staying at the minister’s fu and talking for so long with the womenfolk had been really tiring.
After Hua Xi Wan fell into a deep sleep, Yan Jin Qiu ordered Bai Xia and the others to take good care of her before he stood and walked out of the room. Just as he got out, he heard Mu Tong report that Imperial Brother-in-Law Fang had come with gifts to ask for forgiveness.
Yan Jin Qiu smiled coldly. He did not say anything, but viciousness rose inside. A moment later, he said, “Lead the way.”
Mu Tong’s heart shook. He ushered Yan Jin Qiu to the main hall and then stood in the corner.
When Fang Cheng De saw Yan Jin Qiu appear, he stood up from the chair and raised his folded hands in a greeting to Yan Jin Qiu with a chuckle. “Xian Junwang, this one accidentally disturbed Junwang Fei‘s carriage today, and has come to ask for forgiveness from you and Junwang Fei.”
“Imperial Brother-in-Law is too polite.” Yan Jin Qiu raised a teacup and slowly took a sip. He blew the steam rising from the surface and then glanced at Fang Cheng De. “It is that wife is unlucky and chose the street that Imperial Brother-in-Law’s horse raced along.”
Hearing that the words were not correct in tone, the smile on Fang Cheng De’s face froze. He was slightly angered inside, but since Yan Jin Qiu’s gaze did not contain any mirth, for some reason, his heart felt timid. He did not dare to show his anger. “This matter is truly an accident. How are Junwang Fei‘s wounds?”
“Even though half a bowl of blood was spilled, she managed to keep her life.” Yan Jin Qiu put the teacup on the table and said to Fang Cheng De with cold eyes, “This one is worried for Wife and will leave first. Imperial Brother-in-Law, stay at your leisure.”
Seeing Yan Jin Qiu not giving him face, Fang Cheng De’s expression changed again and again. In the end, he did not vent his temper in the junwang fu. When he was “ushered” out of the junwang fu by the servants of the fu, he was so angry he kicked the stone lion at the gate. Seeing the guards at the gate of Xian Junwang Fu look at him, he immediately said in anger, “What are you looking at, you dog!”
After cursing, Fang Cheng De felt much better. He turned and got onto the carriage, deciding that he would never come to this stupid place again.
The guards at the gate of Xian Junwang Fu looked coldly at Fang Cheng De acting like that and stood up straight, completely unaffected by his previous actions.
Mu Tong spat from where he stood at the gates. He said to the gatekeeper, “Watch the gate carefully, don’t let animals sneak in. If it alarms Junwang Ye and Junwang Fei, be careful of a beating.”
This was just the younger brother of the Empress, and he really thought he was someone. This was very humorous.