"This..." Lin Daiyu glanced at her mother, then lowered her head in silence. When unsure what to do, silence was the best answer.
Jia Min also pondered for a moment, somewhat tempted. She had heard of Lu Ming's miraculous medical skills, but treating only high-ranking officials and nobles was, in a sense, sycophancy!
However, sycophancy was already the norm; with the moral order broken, no one could be blamed.
"Alright, but will this trouble the Governor? The Governor is extremely busy with official duties and probably won't have the time."
"He has plenty of time. It's settled then. Jin Shi, go and escort Miss Lin to see the Master. Tell him Miss Lin is unwell and ask him to take a look. All expenses will be covered by this princess." Before Jia Min could speak, Princess Wannian interrupted her, directly issuing the order.
Jin Shi was also a pretty young woman. She started as a palace maid and then became Princess Wannian's personal maid, a type of dowry maid.
Compared to her mistress, she clearly understood her master, Lu Ming, much better, and knew what her husband was thinking.
"Yes, Your Highness. Miss Lin, this way please."
Lin Daiyu glanced at her mother, and after seeing her mother nod slightly, she followed Jin Shi with her maid, Zijuan.
Seeing a doctor and receiving treatment didn't excite her much; since her father's death, she had rarely smiled.
Jia Min sensed something was amiss, and indeed, something was terribly wrong.
Lu Ming's reputation wasn't good; he was known as a lecherous lecher.
But strangely enough, Princess Wannian could tolerate Lu Ming's actions; it was utterly bizarre.
"Then I'll trouble you."
"No need to be so polite, and the same goes for you, Madam. My husband also needs to see him. He has a slight flaw, which could also be considered a virtue. Either don't do it at all, or do it to the best of your ability." Princess Wannian said this, but her face was practically beaming with joy.
Her husband was capable, and as his wife, she felt honored and proud!
Jia Min didn't know what to say, and could only echo with a smile, "Yes, the Governor is a well-known capable minister. To be entrusted with such an important task, one must be exceptionally talented to be worthy of the Princess."
Worthy of the Princess?
If Lu Ming were here hearing this, he'd probably laugh his head off!
He had never considered marrying Princess Wannian from the beginning, not even indulging in fantasies.
The princess's status held little appeal for him. Even if the princess was beautiful, so what?
He could play with princesses, he could play with the Empress Dowager, but he wouldn't marry them.
A virtuous wife is better; a virtuous and loving wife can help with many things.
Some things aren't immediately visible, but they can make life very comfortable and carefree—a life where everything is done for you. Just thinking about it is exciting.
The three of them continued chatting casually, without any animosity. They all had needs; Jia Min wanted to leave, but Princess Wannian wouldn't let them, and neither could she and her daughter.
Passing through the military camp, Lin Daiyu, head down, turned left and right until she arrived at a tent. Jin Shi went inside for a while, then came out and said, "Miss Lin, please come in."
When Lin Daiyu entered the main tent, she looked up and saw the man sitting at the head of the table. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and sported an unusual short hairstyle, yet he appeared very masculine.
This was the first time she had seen Lu Ming. He had been busy before, only receiving them and then setting off.
She had only heard about it a few days later, but instead of going to acknowledge him, she had some food prepared and sent over.
From the very beginning, Lu Ming had no intention of handing over Lin Daiyu and her daughter; he was certain he would find a way to intercept them.
Not to mention Jia Min's immense wealth, Lu Ming wouldn't let Lin Daiyu, this beautiful young woman, go.
"This humble woman greets Your Excellency the Governor!" Lin Daiyu, still mindful of etiquette, held a handkerchief in her hand, bowed slightly, and placed her hands on her waist in a gesture of respect.
Having tasted Lu Ming's cooking—whether it was the tropical roasted chicken or the spicy ginseng and sweet potato—she was thoroughly enjoying it.
She had a good impression of Lu Ming; at least he had tasted her food and hadn't harassed her like some lecherous men, which left a very positive impression.
"No need for formalities, Miss Lin, please sit down. Place your hands on the table, and I'll take your pulse. Do you often feel unwell anywhere? Tell me anything so I can assess your condition. A weak body doesn't necessarily require strong tonics; a weak body can't tolerate them. We'll need some unique methods and medicinal diets for treatment." Lu Ming gestured invitingly, speaking as he did so. Although he was captivated by Lin Daiyu's beauty, he didn't stare blankly at her, but calmly performed his duties as a physician.
A delicate, exquisite nose, cherry-red lips, and beautifully sculpted cheeks—it seemed as if all the virtues of the most beautiful women throughout history were concentrated on her face. One glance was enough to make one's heart flutter. Furthermore, her skin was as white as translucent snow, as delicate and smooth as the petals of a newly blossoming flower, making one dizzy and heart-stirring!
Lin Daiyu couldn't help but scrutinize Lu Ming. She had heard of his reputation—the victory against the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Hedong, where he defeated a stronger enemy.
Leading a newly trained force of two thousand, they fought their way through enemy lines, two thousand against ten thousand, replicating the legendary feat of Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King!
They went with two thousand men, and returned with over ten thousand.
Although some outrageous things happened, such as forcibly taking other men's wives, compared to what Lu Ming did, these were merely private matters, not worth mentioning!
"This humble woman only feels easily fatigued; I have no other ailments," Lin Daiyu answered truthfully, her bright eyes scanning Lu Ming with a mixture of boldness, doubt, and excitement.
"Your body is weak; if left unchecked, it will only grow weaker. Marriage and childbirth will then be a nightmare. Miss Lin, do you know the difference in the chances of difficult childbirth and infant death between a peasant woman in the fields and a young lady from a wealthy family in the city?"
Lin Daiyu was speechless. A young girl like her wasn't about to speak, and just as she was about to reply, Lu Ming continued, "It's one to one hundred. Out of a hundred peasant women, only one will experience difficult childbirth and infant death. But among a young lady from a wealthy family in the city, it's one in ten."