Yan Ruoxi appeared in pure white, calm and ethereal. Born to a minister’s family and trained directly by Physician Ye, she quickly became the one everyone looked up to.
Yan Ruoxi smiled faintly, ready to step aside, when she suddenly saw a familiar figure.
Steadying her gaze, she saw—it was Jiang Ning!
It’s her, the woman with medical knowledge who stays close to Brother Chu!
Astonishment flashed in Yan Ruoxi’s eyes as she looked in disbelief at Jiang Ning in the distance. How could she be in the palace? Could she also be a daughter of a noble family? How could it be…
Since childhood Yan Ruoxi had traveled everywhere with Physician Ye, seldom returning to the capital. And as Jiang Ning had only recently been taken back to the marquis’s household, naturally she did not recognize her.
Yan Ruoxi’s hand trembled slightly, her face looked unpleasant, but she controlled herself well. Steadying herself, she asked: "Who is she?"
The noblewoman followed Yan Ruoxi’s gaze and saw Jiang Ning standing in an inconspicuous corner.
"Ah… Jiang Ning, daughter of the Marquis’s household. She was only recently brought back to the residence. It’s said she is frail and sickly, having grown up in a country estate to recuperate…"
"The Marquis’s daughter?"
Yan Ruoxi was stunned. She had thought Jiang Ning was merely a common woman, but unexpectedly she was the Marquis’s daughter, and her medical skills were even above hers…
She subconsciously clenched her fist.
Jiang Ning also saw Yan Ruoxi, who was admired like the moon among stars, and their gazes collided.
Yan Ruoxi walked over slowly and stood before Jiang Ning.
"Miss Jiang, we meet again. I truly did not expect to see you in the palace—it is quite astonishing." Yan Ruoxi’s face carried a perfectly measured smile, gentle and calm.
Jiang Ning appeared much more indifferent. "Yes, truly surprising."
Her words carried deeper meaning.
Truly, one may know a person’s face but not their heart. A woman outwardly perfect, admired like the moon among stars, would actually commit poisoning and framing others.
If not for Chu Yunli realizing something was amiss, at this moment she would probably be in a situation where she could not defend herself.
Yan Ruoxi did not know that Jiang Ning had already learned everything. At this moment she clenched her fist tightly, secretly making comparisons in her heart.
So what if she is the Marquis’s daughter? In terms of status, she is the Prime Minister’s daughter, far above Jiang Ning.
In terms of medical skill, she is the disciple of the famed Physician Ye, celebrated throughout the capital—her reputation far surpasses Jiang Ning’s.
She is better than her in every respect.
After thinking this way, Yan Ruoxi gave a slight smile. "I heard Miss Jiang spent your childhood recovering in a country estate, and only lately returned to the capital—is that true?"
"Yes," Jiang Ning answered briefly. She did not want to interact much with Yan Ruoxi, as they were not close, but Yan Ruoxi’s demeanor suggested she had no intention of leaving.
"What a coincidence. I too left the capital as a child, grew up by my master’s side, and only recently returned to the capital." Yan Ruoxi said with a smile.
Where Yan Ruoxi was, the noble ladies also gathered around.
The noble ladies saw Miss Yan paying attention to an obscure young lady, and immediately felt a sourness in their hearts.
"It’s truly different. Miss Yan could compose poetry at three, is proficient in the arts, and is called a talented lady. yet someone dares to compare themselves with her?"
The noble ladies looked at Jiang Ning, covering their mouths as they laughed.
Jiang Ning suffered a misfortune without reason.
She was simply standing quietly, but Yan Ruoxi happened to walk over.
A trace of pride flashed in Yan Ruoxi’s eyes. Jiang Ning did not even have the qualification to be compared with her, and became the laughingstock of the noble ladies—this was exactly what she wanted to see.
Yan Ruoxi gave a faint smile. "Don’t flatter me, I am just an ordinary woman, not as good as you say… Miss Jiang too—perhaps her learning will prove astonishing."
"Miss Yan, don’t be so modest. You are not only a talented lady, but also skilled in medicine…"
The noble ladies looked at Yan Ruoxi with faces full of admiration.
"Yes, indeed. Some people are nothing themselves, yet still wish to compare with Miss Yan…" said the noble ladies, openly and covertly mocking Jiang Ning for not knowing her place.
Jiang Ning truly wanted to laugh mockingly in their faces.
She only wanted to quietly attend the victory banquet and leave, but a swarm of flies buzzed around her.
Right at this moment—
"The Crown Princess has arrived."
Everyone’s gaze was suddenly drawn over—the Crown Princess had also come to attend the victory banquet.
The Crown Princess looked around, saw the liveliest corner, walked over, and said, "What is all this commotion?"
"We pay respects to the Crown Princess." Everyone saluted.
Yan Ruoxi also bent slightly in salute. "I pay respects to the Crown Princess."
The Crown Princess’s gaze swept across the crowd. When she saw one person among them, her face showed astonishment. "You are…"
The Crown Princess walked over.
Yan Ruoxi’s lips curved into a smile. She had once been nominated alongside the Crown Princess as one of the capital’s talented ladies, so the Crown Princess must have recognized her.
Yan Ruoxi stepped forward half a pace, just about to speak, but the Crown Princess passed directly by, ignoring her.
"It’s you!" The Crown Princess looked at Jiang Ning in surprise and delight.
At a glance she recognized Jiang Ning as the divine physician who had once saved her on the road—never expecting they would meet again in the palace.
"Madam." Jiang Ning said softly. Then, thinking that since she was in the palace it was better to address her properly, she added, "I pay respects to the Crown Princess…"
"It really is you!"
The Crown Princess held Jiang Ning’s hand, feeling delighted. "Thanks to you, my health has improved greatly. The imperial physician also said my pulse has become much steadier…"
Jiang Ning did not want to expose her medical skills. She blinked and made a gesture for silence.
The Crown Princess understood her intention and nodded.
The two seemed familiar. The Crown Princess even walked over and held Jiang Ning’s hand, which left the noble ladies astonished.
Jiang Ning actually knows the Crown Princess?
The most embarrassed one was Yan Ruoxi. She had thought the Crown Princess was walking toward her, but unexpectedly she brushed past and went to speak with Jiang Ning.
She clenched her fist.
How could Jiang Ning know the Crown Princess, and even have such a harmonious relationship with her?
Moreover, the Crown Princess just said her health has improved, her pulse and all that… Could it be that Jiang Ning had examined her pulse?
The Crown Princess held Jiang Ning’s hand and said, "Come, let’s go and talk in private."
"Okay."
The noble ladies stared blankly as Jiang Ning left together with the Crown Princess.
They had just mocked Jiang Ning for being overconfident and worthless, but in the next moment they were slapped in the face—Jiang Ning was actually so familiar with the Crown Princess.
Even if they wanted to curry favor with the Crown Princess, they could not find an opportunity.
Jiang Ning is the Crown Princess’s favorite. Now, who would dare look down on her?
Yan Ruoxi’s face looked terrible, pale and livid, her heart seething with resentment. Clearly she was better than Jiang Ning in every way, yet Jiang Ning kept trampling her face again and again.
She is Physician Ye’s disciple, skilled in medicine. To examine the Crown Princess’s pulse, it ought to have been her!
Her jealousy and hatred toward Jiang Ning grew even more intense.
At this moment, someone nearby also revealed a look of jealousy and hatred, showing it plainly on their face without the slightest concealment: "That wretched woman!"
Yan Ruoxi looked over and saw County Princess Hualian.
Princess Hualian stared fixedly at Jiang Ning’s departing back, gnashing her teeth.
Yan Ruoxi suddenly thought of a good idea. The corner of her lips curved, lifting a faint, cold smile.
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Yan Ruoxi: “I’m the most talented lady in the capital!”
Jiang Ning: stands quietly
The Crown Princess: “MY FAVORITE DIVINE PHYSICIAN!”
Yan Ruoxi: “EXCUSE ME?! I’M RIGHT HERE!”
County Princess Hualian: “That wretched woman!”
Yan Ruoxi: “Excellent. Let’s team up!”
Jiang Ning, already holding the Crown Princess’s hand: “Why do I feel a headache coming?”
Meanwhile, the Crown Princess: “Who needs a banquet? I’ve found my personal doctor!”
Yan Ruoxi’s reputation: 📉
Jiang Ning’s reputation: 📈
Jiang Ning’s actual goal: Eat snacks and go home.
Unfortunately, the villains have scheduled a group project.
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