Chapter 18: The First Step of the Plan

“Hmm, wanting to study is a good thing, but given his age, it’s impossible for him to attend the academy alongside those young ones. Hiring a private tutor is the best option. However, such a tutor is not easy to find,” the prince said, somewhat troubled.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out and get back to you in a few days. There is one person quite suitable, but unfortunately, his time is short.”

“Are you referring to the Grand Secretary Jin of the Hanlin Academy?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“My stepmother told me,” she replied.

The prince spoke highly of Grand Secretary Jin as well, so she resolved to find a way to invite him.

After returning to the Qiya Courtyard and finishing lunch, she observed the two attendants taking care of the heir apparent. Once they were dismissed, she took the heir’s pulse herself but found nothing amiss.

Out of habit, she recounted the day's events to him, hoping to stimulate his mind and aid his recovery.

Though the heir appeared unresponsive, he was actually listening attentively to every word she spoke, unable to reply.

Every day, as long as he was awake, he listened carefully to this woman’s voice.

Learning that his stepmother had been scolded by the two elder ladies saddened him deeply. If he truly died, would she suffer even more injustice?

He longed to wake up; this strong desire made his fingers twitch slightly, but Yu Yuanzheng was too focused on admiring his handsome face to notice.

“Miss, I’m back,” Jiang Hua’s voice came from outside the door.

“Come in,” Yu Yuanzheng responded.

“Miss, Brother Chunlei took me to see the rented shop. It’s not large—only as big as the Qiya Courtyard’s front hall. At least it has a backyard with three rooms. The tenant complained to me about the poor location. He runs a food business and can barely make five hundred taels a year. He wants to terminate the lease early, but I dared not decide on my own, so I came to ask you.”

“What a coincidence. Let Chunlei handle the tenant’s eviction. I’ll inspect the place myself in a few days.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Two days later, Yu Yuanzheng requested permission from the princess consort to visit her dowry shop and received approval. Accompanied by Chunlei and Xiayu for protection, the princess consort felt at ease sending her out.

However, just as she reached the gate, she encountered Yu Chaoyang, who was also about to leave.

“Oh? Sister-in-law, if you’re not at home caring for the heir, how do you have time to go out?”

“Hey, you’re going out too? Did you inform stepmother beforehand?” Yu Yuanzheng teased deliberately.

Their relationship had already soured; there was no goodwill left, only a facade of peace.

“Hmph, as a daughter-in-law, of course I must report to stepmother before going out. Why do you have two guards? Did stepmother assign them to you?” Yu Chaoyang, unfamiliar with Chunlei and Xiayu, asked suspiciously.

How had she never had such guards in her previous life?

What had Yu Yuanzheng done to earn such favor from the prince and princess consort?

Frustrated, she tore at the handkerchief in her hand.

“Yes, the heir lies bedridden with no man to back me up. Stepmother fears for my safety, so she arranged guards for me. And you? Going out alone? Isn’t your second brother accompanying you?” Yu Yuanzheng smiled brightly.

Yu Chaoyang turned and entered the mansion.

She wouldn’t dare ask the princess consort for guards, would she?

Escorted by two guards and two maids, Yu Yuanzheng arrived at the dowry shop granted by the elder uncle.

The tenant had already vacated. The door stood wide open, the interior empty save for scattered trash.

The shop measured only about thirty square meters. Inside, there were indeed three rooms and a small courtyard. One room was divided in two—half a kitchen, half a storage area. The other two were clearly bedrooms. If she opened a small shop, someone could stay overnight to keep watch.

After inspecting the place, her resolve grew firmer.

“Chunlei, Xiayu, when the prince entrusted you ten men to me, do you answer only to me, or must you also report everything about the heir and me to the prince?”

Yu Yuanzheng needed to be certain. If she planned to use these ten men for certain matters, they must be privy to some secrets.

“The prince’s orders to us are to obey the heir and the heir’s consort in all matters. Unless it concerns life-threatening situations, we do not report to the prince,” Chunlei said, bowing once.

“Good. You were all trained by the prince’s household, and I trust your loyalty.

So I’ll be frank with you today—you will be my most capable aides.

I will do everything in my power to cure the heir.

Whether we have a good life ahead depends on how well you cooperate. Understand?”

“Thank you, Consort. We will obey your orders without fail.”

They had been raised for the heir’s service. Now that the heir was unconscious, the consort was their new master.

“Zi Yue, Jiang Hua, you two are my dowry maids. If I live well, so will you.

We must unite as master and servants to manage our little household.

In time, I will find you good matches and prepare generous dowries.”

“Thank you, Miss. We live as your people and would die as your ghosts,” the two maids said, deeply moved by her sincere promises.

Over recent days, they had witnessed their mistress’s transformation and grew fond of this version of her.

They had never imagined she could hide herself so well.

As servants, they hoped to meet a wise and just master.

Their futures rested in her hands, so naturally, they wished for her success.

Having secured the loyalty she desired, Yu Yuanzheng intended to share her plan with them.

She had always trusted these subordinates.

Ancient times bred unwavering loyalty.

Their contracts of servitude were in her hands, giving her absolute authority over life and death.

Even if they reported everything to the prince and princess consort, it mattered little. The heir was their own flesh and blood. If she cured him, she would be the hero of the entire household.

But for now, she could not reveal everything to the princess consort, as some clearly wished the heir to remain unconscious. It was better to proceed quietly.

“There’s something I’ve never told anyone—not even my parents—that I know medicine, and I’m no worse than the imperial physicians,” Yu Yuanzheng said directly.

“What? Miss, I’ve grown up with you and never seen you study medicine,” Zi Yue exclaimed in disbelief.

“That’s because I learned it in dreams. I often dreamt of a master teaching me. But since I’ve never left the elder uncle’s mansion, I never needed to use it.

You all know our second branch’s position in the elder uncle’s household.

If I revealed my medical skills, what would happen?

I’d be suppressed even more.

The main branch would never be pleased to see someone from the second branch rise above them.

Not even a young lady can overshadow the main branch.”

“That’s wonderful! If you can cure the heir, no one will dare bully us anymore,” Jiang Hua exclaimed joyfully.

Chunlei and Xiayu also looked at Yu Yuanzheng in astonishment.

If the heir was healed by the consort, their futures would brighten as well.

“Don’t be too optimistic. The heir’s illness isn’t easy to cure; everything depends on fate.

Today, I brought you here for a reason—I intend to pose as a miraculous doctor.

But I can’t do it alone, and as the heir’s consort, I cannot appear publicly.

So I want Chunlei to act as the front, while I manage the treatment.

Our first step is to try our hand on Grand Secretary Jin, who suffers from a lingering cough.”

“Consort, that won’t work. Grand Secretary Jin’s illness is highly contagious,” Chunlei objected.