Snow covered the courtyard steps. Inside the bedchamber, Princess Jin was just finishing her toilette. The worries of recent days had weighed heavily on her; she was visibly haggard. Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw red bloodshot veins covering the whites of her eyes. Hearing that someone from the kitchen had arrived, she asked in surprise, "Why so early today?" The maid replied, "It's Deputy He herself. It's snowing heavily outside. She said she has developed several new medicinal dishes, perfect for nourishing the body in the deep winter." Upon hearing it was her, the princess smiled. "In such cold weather, it's thoughtful of her to come. Please, have her come in." The maid led He Ping'an into the room. The pale-faced girl set down the food box. The room was extremely warm; after sitting for a moment, her hands became very hot. She exhaled, feeling a faint tightness in her chest. After an unknown amount of time, the princess finally deigned to appear. "What has Deputy He prepared today?" He Ping'an's expression was docile, not daring to be negligent. After performing the ritual greeting, she said, "In autumn we harvest and in winter we store. Now is the time when all things close up and rest, nurturing life. The yang qi in the body also converges internally, returning to the kidneys. Your servant has recently, under the theme of 'storage,' delved into developing several medicinal dishes: ginseng and wolfberry black chicken soup with black dates and prepared rehmannia, five-black congee..." As she spoke, she opened the food box. Princess Jin's interest was waning until she brought out the last dish, the so-called precious prescription. At first glance, the blue-and-white porcelain bowl was filled with black medicinal liquid, and a bitter aroma spread. She frowned and said, "Why does it smell like this?" "When dietary therapy fails, medicine is prescribed." He Ping'an held the bowl of medicine and placed it in the center. She looked up and said, "I have recently heard that Your Highness suffers from palpitations, insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue. I have been deeply concerned day and night. Moved by Your Highness's grace in recognizing my worth, I have taken the liberty to present this ancestral precious prescription." "This prescription uses roasted licorice and psoralea as guides, supplemented with poria, peony, ligusticum chuanxiong, prepared rehmannia, dodder seed, eucommia bark, and deer antler cream, among other ingredients. It has extraordinary effects and can cure Your Highness's heart ailment." Having said this, He Ping'an lowered her head, waiting for Princess Jin's response. All the maids in the bedchamber knew the recent rumors. When they heard her mention the precious prescription, almost everyone lowered their heads, afraid of bad luck. Sure enough, after a brief silence, a cold laugh came from above. "He Ping'an, you are truly audacious! Since you entered the Food Administration Office, why don't you focus on your proper duties? Do you think you are more skilled than the prince's imperial physician? Do you truly believe that because I am desperate for a child, you can deceive me as you please? Take away this medicine of dubious origin immediately!" He Ping'an had anticipated such a reaction and immediately knelt down, tearfully saying, "Your Highness has wronged your servant. I was originally just a humble medical woman, specializing in gynecology. Through cold winters and hot summers, I traveled among the common folk. Your Highness did not despise my low birth and elevated me to Deputy Food Administrator. I am deeply grateful and constantly think of repaying your favor. That is why I have brought out this ancestral prescription, hoping to share Your Highness's burden." "Several ingredients in this prescription cannot be found locally, so I seldom produce it. But I dare guarantee with my head that the medicine is absolutely safe. If Your Highness does not believe me, just summon the medical officer to examine it." Princess Jin found her constant expressions of gratitude increasingly ridiculous. When she thought about it, her initial promotion of He Ping'an was merely to vent on behalf of Zhu Jun. Female officials generally could not marry within five years, and in those five years, who knows how many variables could arise. Lin Yao was now twenty-five, already approaching a not-so-young age. Could he afford to wait for her? Moreover, in the Food Administration Office, where seniority and rank were strictly observed, there was already a candidate for the deputy position. Over the past two months, she had heard that He Ping'an's days there were not easy, but she never expected that He Ping'an would silently endure it all and now even present an ancestral prescription. Princess Jin could not understand her. She was clearly a teenage girl; if she wasn't truly foolish, how could she act this way? "Summon the medical officer." The cold wind gathered, and gloomy clouds thickened. Amid the swirling wind and snow, the medical officer hurried over. Assuming that the princess's noble body was ill, she was surprised to be simply asked to examine a prescription. "How is it?" The medical officer carefully examined the prescription two or three times. Finally, she slowly nodded and said, "It's a good prescription, but—" "This prescription comes from a southern physician." "My grandfather was a southerner." The medical officer smiled. "As for this medicine, it's just a common sedative." Princess Jin looked at the bowl of medicine and waved her hand. "Then take it away." She had already consumed a lot of medicine in recent days, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Looking at He Ping'an, she said unpleasantly, "You may also withdraw." Having come early in the morning, the nervous girl seemed like she hadn't eaten yet. The maids lifted the curtains, and she staggered across the threshold, plunging back into the wind and snow. Seeing this scene, Princess Jin sighed. She said to the medical officer, "If this prescription is indeed effective, we might as well gather the ingredients and try it." The medical officer nodded. "However, several of the ingredients are quite rare; they cannot be found even after searching all of Datong. The capital is a gathering place for goods from all directions; we will have to send someone to the capital. Your Highness, please be patient." "I've already waited ten years; a little more time won't matter." Princess Jin lowered her head, touching her belly. Her eyes were desolate, yet unwilling. She had to treat a dead horse as if it were still alive.
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