Chapter 7: Filing a Complaint

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Madam Qing was completely stunned.

“Qing Feng, arrange for them to be sent over. Tell them it is the prince’s wish.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Qing Ling and Qing Yin were also caught off guard. Yet, having been taught for ten years to be loyal to Prince Jin and obey his every command, they bowed and withdrew, preparing to head to the Lu estate.

Prince Jin dismounted from the carriage, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze lifted to the plaque above the gate bearing the words "Prince Jin’s Residence," his eyes clouded and unclear.

The steward and Madam Qing anxiously watched his legs.

“Your Highness, how is your leg?”

“As usual. Walking slowly for a few steps won’t hurt,” Prince Jin replied as he stepped into the main hall.

So, there was no improvement?

The steward and Madam Qing exchanged a glance and sighed heavily, quickly following him inside.

Madam Qing restrained the urge to support the prince, her heart aching for him. After all, she had raised him and cared for him deeply.

“Your Highness, Qing Ling and Qing Yin are sensible, obedient, diligent, and dependable. This old servant thought since your chambers were unattended, someone should be there to serve you. Why send them out? Is there something wrong with the Second Miss of the Lu family?”

Madam Qing assumed there must be something amiss with the Lu second miss, that the prince wanted Qing Ling and Qing Yin to keep an eye on her. She dared not think otherwise.

Such duties could have been assigned to others, but Qing Ling and Qing Yin were personally trained by her for the prince’s service. She hoped those two maids might become permanent fixtures in his chambers.

Prince Jin’s mind conjured the image of Lu Zhaoling.

What was wrong with her? Everything about that young lady was off.

“The Second Miss of the Lu family... is my fiancée,” he said.

“What did Your Highness say? *cough cough cough*!” Madam Qing was so shocked she began coughing violently.

“Fiancée?!” The steward sounded as if he had been strangled, squawking like a startled old duck.

When did the prince get a fiancée? How had they never known?

“Yes, just recently arranged, on the way here.”

Prince Jin recalled the earlier encounter, unable to suppress a slight smile at the corner of his lips. He glanced down at his clothing, remembering how decisively Lu Zhaoling tore open his garment, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

The steward and Madam Qing were left speechless.

Madam Qing almost clutched her chest; the shock was overwhelming and sudden, almost too much to bear!

“Your Highness, didn’t you say that the city is full of shallow, vulgar women that make you weary?” the steward stammered.

For years the Empress Dowager had never given up, repeatedly attempting to arrange a marriage for the prince. He had rejected every candidate. Now, at twenty years old, with no hope in sight for a princess consort, suddenly he had a fiancée?

Heavens above, who could believe it?

“Yes, I met someone not so common,” Prince Jin said as he took a seat.

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“Is it the Second Miss of the Lu family?” Madam Qing’s eyes sparkled. “Your Highness has taken a liking to her?”

Prince Jin drummed his fingers lightly on the table and shook his head.

“Actually, she liked me first and begged to marry me,” he said.

She even fainted straight into his arms.

Lu Zhaoling: unfairly maligned.

Madam Qing clutched her wildly beating heart. “Is this the household of Lord Lu Ming? I have met his three daughters, and they left an ordinary impression.”

Your Highness, surely your tastes are unique?

Moreover, apart from the eldest miss, the other two are illegitimate daughters. The lord's illegitimate daughter aspiring to be the prince’s consort? Their social standings are far apart!

“I hear she’s the second daughter, the Second Miss.”

“That’s Lord Lu’s illegitimate daughter, and she seems rather petty. Your Highness—” Madam Qing was almost in tears. “Perhaps you should reconsider?”

Prince Jin chuckled lightly.

“Madam, she’s the Second Miss who just returned from the countryside. You probably haven’t met her.”

“Raised in the countryside?” Madam Qing first relaxed, then grew concerned again. Lord Lu has another daughter raised in the countryside?

“Leave this matter to you. I will rest a while and then enter the palace to ask the emperor to grant the marriage,” Prince Jin said, his fingers brushing his chest.

There, where a cold hand had once touched him.

That young lady, who claimed she could save his life—

Was somewhat intriguing.

“Your Highness, the attending physician has arrived.”

Prince Jin looked toward the hastily entering doctor.

“Your Highness, I pay my respects!”

The physician, who had been irritable and arrogant in front of the Lu family, was nearly moved to tears upon seeing the prince.

He had thought he would never see the prince return to the capital in his lifetime, but not only had he returned, he was still alive!

“Doctor Fu, long time no see. How have you been?”

“Your Highness, I was not well before, but now I’m better!” Doctor Fu said excitedly.

Prince Jin was momentarily taken aback. “Hmm?”

Doctor Fu stepped closer. The steward and Madam Qing, understanding the cue, both withdrew simultaneously.

With no one else in the room, Doctor Fu’s expression turned serious.

“Your Highness, you surely knew about that Miss Lu’s special condition and sent me to treat her injuries?” he said. After all, the prince had been cold and indifferent in his youth—how could he be so kind-hearted?

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“Special condition?” Prince Jin looked at him.

Could it be that Doctor Fu needed her help as well?

“More than special—it’s mystical! I was utterly bewildered the entire journey.”

Doctor Fu detailed the events, pressing a hand to his forehead.

“If it had happened to anyone else, I wouldn’t have believed it, but since it happened to me, I clearly felt both my head and body lighten. The headache vanished entirely!”

Prince Jin’s gaze darkened as he regarded him.

The doctor’s gray beard trembled with excitement.

“Before, even stepping over the threshold was a struggle, but guess what? Just now, entering the prince’s gate, this old man nearly hopped in!”

His aged limbs felt far lighter, impossible to ignore.

Throughout the journey, he reflected repeatedly on what Lu Zhaoling had done, marveling at its mystical nature.

“This matter is to remain confidential,” Prince Jin said quietly.

His curiosity about Lu Zhaoling deepened.

“I understand. But, Your Highness, just so you know, Miss Lu saved this old man’s life. From now on, I must protect her.”

Prince Jin watched the old doctor’s obvious protective expression and chuckled softly.

“That young lady is remarkable. In less than a day back in the capital, she’s already gained two powerful patrons.”

Even the usually irritable Doctor Fu now looked like someone ready to fight anyone who dared harm her.

Truly impressive.

Doctor Fu had come specifically to share this, implicitly advising the prince not to mistreat her.

He went on to speak about the Lu family.

“Lord Lu Ming’s family abandoned Miss Lu in the countryside for ten years, neglecting her. Now that she’s back in the capital, they treat her poorly and assigned her a dilapidated room!”

“A dilapidated room?”

Doctor Fu vividly described the complaint against the Lu family.

No one knew better than him how petty and grudging the man before him was. The Lu family had offended him, and they would suffer the consequences.

“But Miss Lu is truly clever. Even while weak, she knew to leverage this old man’s influence to have the room changed. Her wounds are so severe that without someone attentive by her side, she wouldn’t make it.”

He left unsaid that the injury was obviously life-threatening.

It remained a mystery how Lu Zhaoling survived.