Chapter 102: First Arrival at the An Residence

After a night of deliberation, An Yi decided to approach the Second Mistress of the An household under the guise of a physician. She could not believe that a woman of such high birth and distinguished lineage would willingly submit to being under the thumb of a mere peasant woman. Entering the residence as An Yi would only reveal a superficial facade; as a stranger, perhaps she could uncover secrets that remained hidden from the world.

To appear as a physician, she needed the official medical certification. After taking Princess Lanyi’s pulse, An Yi smiled faintly and said, "Your Highness, the County Princess has recovered from her illness. It is time for me to take my leave."

Princess Lanyi was not surprised by this request. Over the past half-month, she had observed that while An Yi appeared gentle and submissive on the surface, her spirit was incredibly proud; she was not the type to rely on the Princess’s estate for survival. "If you leave the Princess’s manor, where do you intend to go?"

"When I first began my medical studies, my master taught me that a healer should have the heart of a parent, treating the sick with all one's might. Yet, women often suffer in silence, too embarrassed to speak of their ailments before male physicians, leading to delayed treatments and lifelong regrets. I have no grand ambitions; I only hope to use the medicine I have learned to relieve the pain of suffering women." An Yi could not tell the truth, so she used high-minded words to deceive the Princess.

As a woman herself, Princess Lanyi understood well the inconvenience of seeking medical care. She nodded slightly and said, "Your master’s words are sensible, but for a young woman to expose herself to the public and work in a pharmacy will only invite gossip."

"I do not intend to work in a public pharmacy, but to open a small, private clinic dedicated solely to treating women."

A light flickered in Princess Lanyi’s eyes as her thoughts raced. "That is a brilliant idea. As a female physician, it will be convenient for you to enter and exit the inner chambers of noble houses."

An Yi glanced at the Princess and lowered her gaze. "I am not yet a licensed physician."

Princess Lanyi laughed. "By this afternoon, you will be."

"Thank you, Your Highness." An Yi’s lips curled slightly. This was the convenience of aligning oneself with the powerful.

"Where do you plan to rent a space for your clinic?"

"I am unfamiliar with the rental prices in the capital. I intend to inquire first before making a decision."

"There is no need for such trouble. I have a small property on Yongding Street; I shall gift it to you." Princess Lanyi was making a grand gesture to win An Yi over. A skilled female physician who could freely enter the inner quarters of various households was worth the investment.

"Your Highness, I cannot accept such a reward without having earned it. I cannot take this property." From the moment she met the Princess, An Yi had anticipated that her medical skills would make her a target for the Princess's use. She had not expected, however, such a lavish bribe. In the inner city of the capital, every inch of land was worth its weight in gold; even minor officials struggled to purchase homes there.

Princess Lanyi leaned back against a silk pillow, fixing her gaze on An Yi with a sharp, piercing look. "Luo Nineteen, you are a clever person. You should understand my intentions."

An Yi had originally intended to use the power of the nobility to topple An Qinghe, but her heart sank. She was dealing with a tiger, and the risk was immense. After a moment of silent reflection, she rose and curtsied. "I would be remiss to refuse. Nineteen thanks Your Highness."

Seeing that An Yi was sensible, Princess Lanyi smiled with satisfaction. She waved her hand and said, "Rise."

An Yi sat back down on the footstool. "If it is convenient, I would like to move out of the manor tomorrow."

"Staying a few more days would be fine," the Princess said with a smile.

"The County Princess has recovered, and my presence is no longer needed. I wish to open the clinic as soon as possible, so as not to waste the high regard Your Highness has shown me."

"Very well. I will have the house prepared shortly. You may move in tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"From now on, you shall enter the manor every ten days to check the pulses of myself and the County Princess." Princess Lanyi opened a small drawer beside her and produced a carved sandalwood tablet. "This is the entry pass for the Princess’s manor. With this, you may enter at any time."

An Yi received the tablet with both hands.

Princess Lanyi kept her word. By that afternoon, An Yi had received the medical certificate and the property deed. The magnitude of the Princess's generosity also implied the magnitude of the risks to follow. The haughty Princess must have assumed that An Yi would be at her beck and call. A cold, mocking glint flashed in the depths of An Yi’s dark eyes. If the Princess intended to use this to force her into doing things she did not want to do, she would not mind feeding the Princess a dose of bone-adhering poison.

An Yi tucked away the certificate and the deed. "Fang Rong, pack our things. We move out tomorrow."

"Oh!" Fang Rong replied happily and went off to pack with excitement.

When Qing Rou learned that An Yi was leaving, she was filled with reluctance. Tugging at An Yi’s sleeve, she said pitifully, "Sister Luo, can’t you stay?"

"I am not going far, just moving to Yongding Street," An Yi said with a smile.

"Why move? Isn't it good living here?" Aside from her family, Qing Rou had rarely been so close to a girl her own age. With An Yi leaving, she felt a sudden, hollow ache in her heart, as if she were losing something precious.

"I am an outsider; I cannot stay in the Princess’s manor indefinitely."

"If my illness hadn't recovered, would you be able to stay?" Qing Rou’s eyes twinkled, as if she had found a way to make An Yi stay.

"County Princess, if you dare to make yourself sick, I will prescribe the most bitter medicine imaginable." An Yi did not want to remain trapped in the manor, so she threatened her with the one thing Qing Rou feared most.

Qing Rou shivered and let go of her sleeve. "Then you must come and see me often."

"I will." An Yi narrowed her eyes. Even if she didn't want to, she had no choice; she had promised the Princess to check their pulses every ten days.

The following afternoon, An Yi and Fang Rong left the Princess’s manor and moved to Yongding Street. The property had once belonged to a minor official; it was not on the main thoroughfare, but tucked away in Liushun Alley. Hanging outside the gate was a brand-new wooden plaque inscribed with the words "Luo Residence."

Guarding the courtyard were a middle-aged couple; the man was surnamed Zhou, called Quanhai, and the woman was named Caiping. The Princess had not given their contracts of servitude to An Yi, and An Yi naturally understood that their duties, like those of Hongyuan and Ziyuan, were to monitor her.

An Yi did not care; it would be simple enough to win them over. She moved into the main courtyard with Fang Rong without a word.

Dinner was cooked by Caiping, and it tasted quite good. An Yi offered a few words of praise and rewarded her with a pair of gold earrings.

Early the next morning, An Yi took Fang Rong out, tore down the reward notice posted by the Second Mistress of the An household, and headed for the An residence.

The An estate was on Yongtai Street, quite a distance from Yongding Street—a journey of over half an hour by carriage. By the time An Yi arrived, it was nearly noon.

As An Yi stepped out of the carriage, the main gate of the An estate opened. A young man dressed in a water-blue round-collared robe embroidered with silver bamboo emerged, leading a horse.

"Second..." An Yi took a step forward, but the word "brother" died on her lips; she forced it back. It was not yet time to reveal her identity. She watched helplessly as An Jian mounted his horse and rode away.

Fang Rong, sharp-eared and quick-witted, had heard the word "Second." She looked at An Yi with a flicker of confusion, but An Yi was wearing a veil hat, and the long curtains of fabric hid her expression.

An Yi steadied herself and gripped the reward notice tightly. "Fang Rong, knock on the door."

Fang Rong pounded on the gate until it echoed. A servant opened it and asked irritably, "Who are you? Do you know what place this is? How dare you come here to cause trouble—are you looking for death?"

"My young lady is a physician. Hearing that your household is offering a high reward for a renowned doctor, we have come specifically to treat your mistress," Fang Rong declared.

The two doorkeepers sized up the young girl standing on the steps and asked suspiciously, "She is a physician?"

"My young lady is the renowned doctor who cured the County Princess Kangle of her stomach ailment. If you don't believe us, go to the Princess’s manor and inquire. My lady possesses a benevolent heart and skillful hands; she could not bear to see your mistress suffer from her eye affliction, so she has deigned to come here. Why don't you hurry inside and report this to your Second Mistress?" Fang Rong said haughtily.

The two servants exchanged glances. "Please wait a moment."

An Yi waited outside the gate for two full quarters of an hour.

The door opened again, and a girl in green clothing stepped out. "Which one of you is the physician?"

"I am." An Yi climbed the steps and stood before her.

The green-clad maid looked An Yi up and down, raising an eyebrow. "Young lady, you surely know what place this is. If you have come to swindle money, I suggest you leave immediately to avoid losing your life."

"Fang Rong, show her the medical certificate," An Yi commanded.

Fang Rong took out the certificate and handed it to the maid. "Look clearly. My lady is not one of those fame-seeking charlatans."

The maid took the certificate and scrutinized the official seal. "The certificate is genuine. Young lady, would you mind removing your veil hat?"

"We are on the street! How can you ask my lady to take off her veil hat? Do you have no manners?" Fang Rong snatched the certificate back. "My lady has come with good intentions, only to be treated like a donkey’s lungs. It’s just a second-rank general’s house, what’s so impressive about that?"

"Fang Rong, don’t be angry. It’s no great matter." An Yi removed her veil hat and smiled faintly.

The maid’s eyes lit up—what a pure and elegant young lady. A sense of goodwill immediately took root in her heart. She smiled, "Miss Luo, please, come in."

After more than two years, An Yi walked into the place she should have called home, under the guise of a physician. The An family were "new money"; An Qinghe could not compare to those who had served for generations. The residence was not overly large. Upon entering, there was a five-room tiled house, with three main rooms and two side rooms. Passing through the hanging flower gate on the left, one entered a long, covered walkway.

Walking two hundred meters along the corridor, she saw a rockery. Circling it, two paths paved with bluestone appeared. The one on the left led to the "Zhuijin Courtyard," where the Second Mistress, Madame Huang, resided.

Where did the path on the right lead?

Was it her mother’s courtyard?

An Yi desperately wanted to know, but she could not ask. Her mother was in this very house, mere steps away, yet she could not see her. She had to meet the concubine of An Qinghe first—how hateful, how frustrating!

The Zhuijin Courtyard was quiet, with only a maid of about twelve or thirteen standing at the door. The green-clad maid went in and reported, "Miss Luo, please wait a moment."

The young maid lifted the curtain, and the green-clad maid went inside. A moment later, she returned. "Miss Luo, please."

An Yi walked into the room. The main hall was empty. Circling around a four-paneled screen painted with flowers of the four seasons on the right, she saw a woman of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, with delicate features, dressed in a crimson satin half-sleeve jacket over a pale blue round-collared inner garment, with a pink long skirt. She was sitting upright on an arhat bed.