The little maid frowned, her worry undisguised.

Qiao Zhao felt inexplicably envious and smiled: “Don’t I need a coachman when I go to other places?”

Only then did Binglu breathe a sigh of relief.

Within a few days, Jiang Tang also received news of Physician Li’s unfortunate demise.

These past days, his daughter had been persistently asking about Physician Li’s whereabouts. Jiang Tang didn’t hide anything and directly told Jiang Shiran this news.

After hearing it, Jiang Shiran was stunned for a long time, then murmured: “This means Zhenzhen’s face can’t be saved? No, I must make a trip to the palace.”

Seeing his daughter leave in a hurry, Jiang Tang shook his head.

This girl was always so impatient.

Princess Zhenzhen’s bedchamber.

Hearing that Jiang Shiran had come, Princess Zhenzhen touched the light veil covering her face and said expressionlessly: “Tell Miss Jiang that I’m sleeping.”

Palace maid Fanglan went out to relay the message. Jiang Shiran naturally didn’t realize that Princess Zhenzhen simply didn’t want to see her, so she sat motionless and said, “Then I’ll wait here for the princess to wake up. I have urgent matters to tell her.”

“May this servant ask what urgent matters Miss Jiang has? Could you entrust them to this servant? That way, when Her Highness wakes up, this servant can report to Her Highness immediately,” Fanglan asked respectfully.

The princess had become more severe after using the medicine Miss Jiang brought, harboring anger and unwilling to see people. As the princess’s palace maid, she had to consider the princess’s welfare. Though this Miss Jiang didn’t have the princess’s noble status, she couldn’t be offended.

“It’s about something I promised to help her inquire about earlier. Just tell the princess that when she wakes up.”

Fanglan immediately returned to the inner chamber to report to Princess Zhenzhen. Upon hearing this, Princess Zhenzhen hastily invited Jiang Shiran in.

“Zhenzhen, weren’t you sleeping?”

Princess Zhenzhen restrained her inner excitement and explained: “I was sleeping originally, but got thirsty and got up for water, only then learning you had come. I’ve already severely scolded Fanglan for not immediately waking me when you arrived.”

Jiang Shiran waved her hand dismissively: “You’re not well, so getting more rest is proper. It doesn’t matter if I wait a while.”

Princess Zhenzhen personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Jiang Shiran, lowering her eyes to hide her inner urgency: “Shiran, is there news about Physician Li?”

Jiang Shiran set the teacup aside: “Mm, my father found news about Physician Li.”

“Where is Physician Li now?”

Jiang Shiran sighed: “My father received news that Physician Li encountered a hurricane while at sea and perished—”

Princess Zhenzhen was struck as if by lightning, sitting motionless in a daze.

“Zhenzhen, are you alright?” Jiang Shiran reached out to push Princess Zhenzhen, but she showed no reaction.

“Zhenzhen, don’t scare me. What’s wrong with you?”

“I—” Princess Zhenzhen glanced at Jiang Shiran, then collapsed straight down.

“Zhenzhen—” Jiang Shiran screamed.

The palace immediately fell into chaos. Consort Li, who had been resting here, hurried over and asked urgently: “What happened to the princess?”

Jiang Shiran said regretfully, “Zhenzhen seemed unable to withstand the shock and fainted.”

“Quickly summon the imperial physician,” Consort Li ordered, then paced back and forth anxiously. Her gaze swept over Jiang Shiran with great annoyance, though she couldn’t express it openly.

“Miss Jiang should go back first.”

Jiang Shiran shook her head: “I’ll wait for Zhenzhen to wake up.”

Consort Li wanted to speak but hesitated, finally sighing: “Does Miss Jiang know what shock the princess received? Last time, after Miss Jiang left, Zhenzhen also cried all night.”

Though Consort Li’s tone was gentle, Jiang Shiran still felt wronged upon hearing it. Under Consort Li’s gaze, she said indignantly: “It’s all because of that Li San!”

“Li San?”

“The daughter of Academician Li from the Hanlin Academy, third-ranked in her household.”

Consort Li’s beautiful eyes flashed: “I know that, Miss Li. Does she live on Xingzi Alley?”

During that heavy rain when Zhenzhen injured her leg, Third Miss Li had helped.

“Yes, that’s her!”

“What does this have to do with that Third Miss Li?”

“Didn’t Zhenzhen tell Your Ladyship? Her face became more severe because of Li San’s medicine!”

“How could this be? Miss Jiang, tell me the details!” Consort Li immediately darkened her expression.

She had to be polite to the daughter of Jinlin Guards Commander Jiang Tang, but did she also need to be polite to the daughter of a mere Hanlin Academician?

“Physician Li is Li San’s adoptive grandfather. Li San used Physician Li’s name to deceive people. When I went to get medicine for Zhenzhen, she gave me a box of medicine, claiming it was made by Physician Li. But after Zhenzhen used it, not only did her face not improve, but it became worse. I originally wanted to settle accounts with her, but Zhenzhen didn’t want to cause trouble, so we didn’t pursue it.”

“How outrageous!” Consort Li angrily slammed the chair’s armrest.

After the imperial physician’s examination, Princess Zhenzhen slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Consort Li and Jiang Shiran, she couldn’t help but turn her head away, tears streaming down.

“Zhenzhen, don’t cry.” Consort Li felt heartbroken and took out a handkerchief to wipe Princess Zhenzhen’s tears.

“Mother Consort, you needn’t mind me anymore. Living like this holds no interest.”

Hearing these words frightened Consort Li half to death. She tightly grasped Princess Zhenzhen’s hand: “Zhenzhen, you’re my only daughter. Don’t scare me. Don’t lose heart—there will always be a way.”

Princess Zhenzhen shook her head in despair: “So many physicians have examined me. There’s no way.”

“There’s still Physician Li! Didn’t the Empress Dowager personally say that Physician Li could work miracles? People have been sent to inquire about Physician Li’s whereabouts.”

“Physician Li perished,” Princess Zhenzhen said with a heart like dead ashes, then turned away motionless.

Consort Li was shocked and couldn’t help but look at Jiang Shiran.

Jiang Shiran bit her lip and nodded: “My father just received the news.”

Consort Li felt darkness before her eyes and quickly supported herself on the chair’s armrest. After recovering for a while, she said, “Zhenzhen, heaven never seals all paths. You’re a princess of the imperial family—I don’t believe we can’t find a physician in this vast realm who can treat you!”

Consort Li stood up: “Fanglan, take good care of the princess. You’ll be held responsible for anything that happens to her!”

Fanglan immediately agreed.

Consort Li gave Jiang Shiran a meaningful look.

Though Jiang Shiran was naive and straightforward, she understood that she couldn’t further upset her friend at this time. She rose and followed Consort Li out.

“Miss Jiang, would you accompany me to see the Empress Dowager? That Li San has made the princess’s condition worse—this cannot be overlooked.”

If Physician Li were still alive, even if not in the capital, the Empress Dowager would surely give some face to Physician Li’s adoptive granddaughter, and she wouldn’t tactlessly insert herself. But now that Physician Li was gone, she couldn’t let her daughter suffer in vain!

“Good, I’ll go with Your Ladyship!” After brief consideration, Jiang Shiran agreed.

Her father had somehow been bewitched by Li San. Despite Li San doing so many detestable things and even slapping her, he wouldn’t let her vent her anger—how frustrating! Now it was perfect—it was Consort Li who wanted to trouble Li San, not her being disobedient.

In Cining Palace, a palace servant approached Empress Dowager Yang: “Empress Dowager, Consort Li requests an audience.”