There's Something Wrong With My Little White Flower - Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Princess of a Weak Nation in a Peace Marriage X Barbarian General

Ruan Jiyun washed her hands clean in the basin of hot water prepared by the maidservant. She saw the witch doctor, who had been full of solemnity moments ago, now following closely with an eager expression, clearly having a belly full of questions he wanted to ask.

She lowered her head and thought for a moment, then took out an identical black pill from her pouch and handed it to him.

The witch doctor held the small pill as if it were a rare treasure. He sniffed it under his nose, showing a look of disbelief. Then he carefully broke off a piece and tossed it directly into his mouth.

“Ptooey, ptooey…” He covered his mouth with a bitter expression. “It’s so sour, sour, sour, sour—”

Ruan Jiyun turned around, startled by his action, and couldn’t help but smile and laugh.

“This is a plum pill, of course it’s sour,” she instructed the maidservant to pour the witch doctor a bowl of water. “For people who are merely unconscious, rubbing this on their teeth generally helps them swallow the decoction.”

The witch doctor’s eyes were wide open. Seeing her bright, smiling face, he unconsciously lowered his head, flushing: “I never expected such a tiny plum pill… could actually…”

Just as he was about to ask more, another person suddenly appeared before him.

Jiang Peifeng positioned herself directly between the witch doctor and the little white flower, saying with a cheerful smile: “Since medicine has just been given, it’s best to let the patient rest and not disturb him.”

The witch doctor thought, I really am just curious, but General Peifeng’s gaze was inexplicably terrifying, as if he were trying to steal something from her house.

He sheepishly retreated to the side, his heart now filled with more anticipation for the effect of the medicine.

About an hour later, the little boy’s breathing gradually stabilized. Ruan Jiyun felt his forehead again, noticing that the temperature had also begun to drop.

“The medicine seems to be working,” she let out a sigh of relief and announced to everyone, “We will give him another dose in the afternoon.”

Narenna and Ashinuo all cheered softly.

With the medicine taking effect, Narenna’s brother would not need to be sent to the temple. The witch doctor exchanged glances with his attendant and stood up.

“This medicine is indeed somewhat miraculous…” he said, looking at Ruan Jiyun with an expectant expression. “It must be very precious and hard to find, coming from a foreign land?”

Ruan Jiyun said: “This is a medicinal herb found right here in Xiji.”

She took out the medicine bag for the witch doctor to see: “This is Chaihu, this is Huangcen. They were all picked on this prairie…”

Looking at the dried herbs in the medicine bag whose shapes were still discernible, the witch doctor was so shocked he could barely speak: “Are you saying that this medicine… is here in Xiji?”

He abruptly stood up, his eyes fixed intently on Ruan Jiyun: “Your Highness! Possession by an evil spirit has always been a difficult ailment! Temple prayers do not work for everyone…” He looked at Narenna and her brother. “Are you saying that patients like these can all be treated with this medicine?”

“One prescription cannot cure a hundred diseases,” Ruan Jiyun said. “I am not sure if what you call ‘evil spirit possession’ always refers to this specific illness. But for patients like her brother, Minor Bupleurum Decoction is effective.”

She became more emotional as she spoke. Medicinal herbs grew everywhere on the Daxi prairie, but judging by the official’s tone, the people here had never known they could be used to treat illness.

Jiang Peifeng gently supported her shoulder: “In a few days, we are going to visit the Great Witch Doctor at the Royal Capital’s Witch Hospital. If it’s convenient, perhaps we can ask this Witch Doctor Official to submit a memorial and report today’s events. If the Great Witch Doctor approves this prescription, then patients like Xiaoxi will have hope for a cure in the future.”

The witch doctor nodded repeatedly: “I will go back and write a personal letter to be sent to the Royal Capital immediately.”

Seeing that everything had been discussed, Jiang Peifeng and her party temporarily bid farewell to Narenna and her brother and went to Anjisa’s home for a meal. Jiang Peifeng specifically called Anjisa aside and asked him to return home first to fetch some charcoal and food for the siblings. Without needing to worry further, the neighbor’s auntie immediately expressed that her family would temporarily look after the siblings’ meals.

Only after these matters were settled did they get into the carriage.

Anjisa’s parents had already heard the story. The prairie herdsmen were accustomed to mutual assistance, and common life was not easy. Someone like Ruan Jiyun, who could heal and save lives, made them admire her like a deity.

“Your Highness, last time you said you liked roasted lamb. His Abba personally butchered a lamb early this morning, specifically for you,” Anjisa’s mother enthusiastically offered the plate.

The food on the plate far exceeded Ruan Jiyun’s appetite; her wrist felt heavy holding the plate. But facing Anjisa’s mother’s warmth, she still raised her face and smiled: “Thank you.”

Afterward, she quietly worried. The amount of meat on the plate… really did look like too much.

A pair of chopsticks suddenly reached out in front of her, snagging a piece of lamb.

Ruan Jiyun looked up in surprise and saw it was Jiang Peifeng, who was sitting beside her. Jiang Peifeng was leaning her head to listen to something Anjisa’s father was saying, but her chopsticks didn’t stop. Taking advantage of the others’ distraction, she took several pieces of meat from Ruan Jiyun’s plate.

“May I eat this?” As if sensing Ruan Jiyun’s gaze, she turned her head and whispered into her ear.

When she spoke, she was unavoidably close. Her warm breath swept against Ruan Jiyun’s ear, making it feel even hotter.

Ruan Jiyun’s right cheek, along with her earlobe, turned red. That faint blush seemed like rouge dropped into water, spreading outward layer by layer.

She nearly dropped her chopsticks. Although the yurt was filled with the smell of grease and milk tea, the slightly cold scent unique to Jiang Peifeng clearly wrapped around her, eliciting a soft flutter in her heart.

Ruan Jiyun lowered her head and pushed the plate toward Jiang Peifeng.

Only after pushing it over did she suddenly realize, Why did I let Jiang Peifeng eat from my plate so naturally? Thinking this, she dragged the plate back a little. Upon seeing it, she suddenly sat up straight.

Where is the meat on my plate?

In that short time, Jiang Peifeng must have eaten four or five pieces, right? Ruan Jiyun indignantly picked up her chopsticks and quickly grabbed the largest piece of lamb, stuffing it into her mouth.

Royal Capital – Witch Hospital

Five-colored prayer flags fluttered on the high altar. Gilded bells hung on the four corners, gently swaying with the wind. Witch maidens in black robes held fresh flowers, chanting scriptures to the faint rising incense smoke.

The Royal Capital’s Witch Hospital was located behind the Witch God Temple altar. When the young Witch Doctor Official walked through the main gate, an attendant greeted him with a smile: “Official Langji, why are you visiting the Royal Capital today?”

Official Langji handed over his horse’s reins. He hadn’t yet recovered from his excitement. After nodding to the attendant, he eagerly asked: “Is Teacher in the Witch Hospital today?”

“Coincidentally, the Great Witch Doctor just ordered the meal preparation an hour ago. He should be chanting scriptures in the back hall now,” the attendant replied with a smile. “You can go directly to him.”

Hearing this, Langji did not delay. After thanking the attendant, he hurried toward the back hall.

He had studied under his teacher at the Witch Hospital since childhood and was very familiar with the place. Most people he encountered along the way greeted him politely, which he returned, walking without stopping into a spacious chanting room.

On the prayer cushion in front of the Witch God statue sat a white-bearded elder. His black robe was embroidered with layers of golden thread, appearing exceptionally luxurious. Due to his advanced age, his eyelids drooped slightly, obscuring the expression in his eyes, making him seem all the more profound and unfathomable.

Seeing the elder, Langji bowed and performed the disciple’s salute: “Teacher.”

The Great Witch Doctor lifted his eyelids slightly and responded with a faint “Hmm”: “You were not summoned today. Why have you returned from the Daxi prairie?”

He then warned sternly: “You have just been conferred the title of Witch Doctor Official. You must be cautious in all matters and absolutely must not act without proper conduct just because you are my disciple.”

“Teacher… this disciple understands,” Langji answered respectfully. “This disciple’s impromptu visit is truly because there is a major matter I wish to report to you!”

An hour later, the Great Witch Doctor in the chanting room was still sitting with his eyes lowered. Langji, feeling anxious, couldn’t help but urge again: “Teacher, this is what your disciple saw with his own eyes. The Great Jing Princess truly cured a patient possessed by an evil spirit. If this prescription can be promoted by our Witch Hospital, it will surely save many people…”

“You think too simply.”

The Great Witch Doctor interrupted his disciple flatly: “You say you saw it with your own eyes, and you immediately want to promote this so-called prescription. But Langji, according to your teacher, you are quite reckless.”

He sighed: “For the ailment of evil spirit entering the body, our Witch Hospital has tried countless medicines, yet we dare not claim absolute certainty of effectiveness. How can she, a foreign woman of such a young age, claim to be able to cure it? You have studied under me since childhood. You should understand how many trials and how many hurdles a prescription must pass before it can be promoted.”

“Furthermore, you have merely seen one herdsman’s child cured, and you immediately lost your composure and rushed here to report? If a Royal Highness in the capital, or a patient in a nobleman’s home, were to fall ill, are we to use their precious bodies to test the methods of a foreigner?”

The Great Witch Doctor opened his eyes and said severely: “As the Great Witch Doctor presiding over the Witch Hospital, I will absolutely not easily trust this Princess’s prescription.”

“But Teacher…” Langji was making one last effort. “Perhaps I was too hasty in this matter, but if this prescription is truly useful, we should at least examine it first, or… try it out?”

The Great Witch Doctor said: “We will naturally test it. After all, you said this Princess is someone the Royal Daughter Peifeng values, and we cannot treat her too neglectfully. However, this matter must be pursued gradually. The Winter Festival is approaching, and the affairs of the Witch Hospital are complicated. I think it is not too late to discuss testing the new medicine after some time.”

He looked at his dejected disciple and added: “You received the Great King’s favor at a young age to become a regional Witch Doctor Official. You must be extremely cautious in your actions, lest you leave any handle for criticism, which would be detrimental to your future development.”

Langji’s lips moved, but he finally bowed and said: “This disciple is enlightened.”

The Great Witch Doctor looked at his young disciple, thinking to himself, He is still too young after all, losing his composure over a small incident. He hasn’t even considered that Xiji, protected by the Great Witch God, still struggles to deal with the ailment of evil spirit possession. Could the ability of a foreign princess really surpass that of our Witch Hospital?

After Langji left, he directly instructed his attendant: “Pass on my words. If the Great Jing Princess comes to request an audience in a few days, just say that I am busy with the Winter Festival sacrificial duties, and hold her off for a while.”

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