coobybook Chapter 286: Father-Daughter Conflict Escalates Again
Chapter 286: Father-Daughter Conflict Escalates Again
Chapter 286 The conflict between father and daughter escalates again.
After returning to his residence from the morning court session, Marquis Anshi grabbed the steward as soon as he stepped inside and asked urgently, "Where is the eldest young lady? Tell her to come to my study!"
Seeing his anxious appearance, the steward thought something serious had happened and dared not underestimate him. He immediately went to Lanxin Courtyard to invite Ye Pianran.
Coincidentally, Ye Pianran was not out today. She was in Lanxin Courtyard administering acupuncture to a maid who was suffering from a persistent high fever and was on the verge of death. Upon hearing that Marquis Anshi wanted to see her, she raised an eyebrow slightly, withdrew the last gold needle from the maid's body, and said:
"Do you feel any better after the acupuncture?"
The maid had already been sweating profusely halfway through the acupuncture treatment, her fever had subsided considerably, her throat discomfort had eased, and she felt much more relaxed.
When Ye Pianran pulled the last needle out of her body, she felt as if she were completely cured.
Overjoyed, Ye Pianran now appeared in her eyes to be even more formidable than the imperial physicians.
"Alright, I'm completely healed!" The maid was so excited that tears streamed down her face. She struggled to get up and kowtow to Ye Pianran to express her gratitude. "Thank you so much, Miss, for saving my life!"
Ye Pianran had the other two maids help her up while she tidied up her medical instruments. She said, "Although you seem to be better, you are congenitally weak, and this illness has depleted your vital energy. You need to take care of your health from now on. I will prescribe two prescriptions for you, one to remove the remaining illness and the other to nourish your body. The medicinal materials on the prescriptions are reasonably priced, so don't worry about not being able to afford them."
"Young Miss is truly kind-hearted. I was born of lowly birth and do not deserve such care from you. Now that you have given me this life, I vow to follow you to the death and never betray you!"
The maid broke free from the others' grasp and knelt deeply before Ye Pianran.
Thinking back to her previous life in the Prince of Nanping's mansion, where she was the legitimate daughter of a marquis, but ended up as a concubine, receiving treatment and suffering a fate almost no different from that of a servant, Ye Pianran felt a pang of sorrow.
She said, "What's this talk about having a lowly life? Can one choose their birth? Even if you are born into a noble family, who knows when a sudden disaster will strike and everything will be gone? And who knows when someone born into a humble family will rise to prominence and trample the world under their feet? Only by valuing yourself and cherishing the opportunity to live can you have the chance to defy fate in the future."
No one expected her to say such outrageous things. Even Lingyi, who had always served her, had never realized that her young lady had such deep thoughts.
Only Ye Lingyue, who came from the martial arts world, was deeply moved upon hearing this, her eyes filled with admiration for Ye Pianran.
Yes, these free-spirited people of the martial world live freely and independently, their lives revolving around their own beliefs, not those of fate. It's unexpected that a young lady from a sheltered family could possess such vision; truly worthy of being chosen by the Third Prince, she is indeed extraordinary.
Seeing that everyone was hesitant to speak, Ye Pianran smiled as if nothing had happened and said, "Alright, a doctor's heart is benevolent. In my eyes, all human lives are equally precious. If you get sick again in the future, don't be afraid that you can't afford medicine or a doctor. Just come to me."
The crowd naturally thanked her again, and she then got up and left, walking slowly towards the outside of Lanxin Courtyard.
The steward of the Hou family, who had been waiting outside the gate, finally saw Ye Pianran emerge and breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly went to greet her and said:
"Young Miss, you've finally come out. The Marquis has sent people to urge you several times, and he must be looking very unwell right now. Please hurry up and go."
Ye Pianran remained unmoved, only asking, "Did Father come to question me after he returned?"
Butler: "Yes, the Marquis said he wanted to see the eldest young lady as soon as he returned from court."
He wants to see her immediately after court? Is it because of the case involving Master Zhao yesterday? If Lord Feng of Shuntian Prefecture mentions that case at court this morning, perhaps he'll casually mention her. I just don't understand why Father is in such a hurry. Could he be involved too?
Filled with questions, she entered the study, dismissing Lingyi and Yue'er before stepping inside herself.
Marquis Anshi had been waiting for a long time and was quite impatient. When she finally arrived, he was about to explode in anger, but remembering what he wanted to discuss with her, he held back and said in a sarcastic tone:
"Hmph, you've been dawdling and making your father wait."
Ye Pianran was somewhat surprised that Marquis Anshi did not lose his temper on the spot. She curtsied and said, "Daughter greets Father. May I ask why Father summoned me here in such a hurry?"
Marquis Anshi stood up, walked up to her with his hands behind his back, and leaned closer to examine her closely.
Back then, when he was merely a son of a commoner in the Marquis's household and had not yet met Xu Pingyue, he, like many other sons of noble families in the capital, yearned for Gongsun Yuan, who was known as the "most beautiful woman in the capital." Gongsun Yuan, the most beautiful woman of her time, possessed unparalleled beauty, a graceful and slender figure, and an ethereal and otherworldly temperament. She was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework, and was also full of literary talent, making her the object of everyone's pursuit.
Even after marrying him and being bedridden for so many years, her appearance remained untarnished, and her every move was as pleasing to the eye as a priceless ancient painting.
His eldest daughter, born of his principal wife, inherited her mother's beauty perfectly. From a young age, she was exquisitely beautiful, with delicate features. As she grew older, she became even more stunning, like a lotus after the rain or a blooming hibiscus in autumn. She was also known as the "most beautiful woman" in the capital. If it weren't for Gongsun Zhan's insistence on arranging a marriage for her at birth, the gates of the Marquis's mansion would probably have been broken down by suitors long ago.
A few days ago, this girl scratched her face in the backyard because of a cat, ruining her appearance and then unilaterally ruining her marriage to the Ouyang family, saying she would remain unmarried for life to pray for her mother's well-being! This initially infuriated him, making him feel utterly disgusted whenever he saw her. But who knew her face would heal completely, and instead of finding a marriage with the Ouyang family possible, she actually…
Taking a deep breath, Marquis Anshi withdrew his gaze, turned around, and sat down at his desk. He tried to remain calm and spoke gently, like a loving father:
"Sit down. I didn't call you here to scold you. It's just that my daughter and I haven't had a proper talk in a long time. Don't be nervous."
Ye Pianran had no idea what he was up to, so she sat down on the chair next to him.
"How is your medical study going lately?" Marquis Anshi asked. "Any progress?"
Seeing that he wasn't asking about Master Zhao's case, Ye Pianran breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Recently, I've been learning from my master how to diagnose and administer acupuncture based on different ailments, and I've made some progress."
"Your master is said to be quite famous in the martial arts world, but she has a rather eccentric temper. When you're out there, don't put on airs like a spoiled young lady. Remember to be obedient and learn from her more," said An Shihou.
Ye Pianran couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing. Back when she left the manor to seek medical treatment, due to the interference of some villains, her reputation was utterly ruined. Marquis Anshi condemned her without even asking why, and strongly opposed her going out to study medicine. Now he's pretending to be a magnanimous and tolerant father?
"Yes, my daughter naturally understands this principle," she replied calmly.
After saying this, Marquis Anshi was momentarily speechless, and the two remained silent for a long while, the atmosphere becoming rather awkward. Marquis Anshi cleared his throat and said:
"I've been feeling quite tired lately, and I'm having trouble sleeping at night, with many dreams. Ran'er, could you come and take a look at me? Is something wrong?"
Ye Pianran stepped forward and gently placed her fingers on An Shihou's wrist to carefully examine his pulse, saying:
"It's nothing serious, just a bit hot due to the arrival of autumn. My daughter told the kitchen to cook less of the heaty dishes these days."
Marquis Anshi awkwardly withdrew his hand: "Oh, really? That's good then."
Ye Pianran knew in her heart that Marquis Anshi would not be in such a hurry to summon her, but she was not in a hurry either. She said, "If Father has nothing important to do, I will take my leave. I have to go back to the courtyard to serve Mother lunch later."
"Wait a minute." Marquis Anshi's smile vanished, his face hardening, and he finally asked:
"Ran'er, your father asks you, why did you insist on breaking off your engagement with Ouyang Shaoyu back then?"