Chapter 76: Follow-up Examination

People who didn’t know might have thought they were long-lost brothers.

Fang Jifan smiled cheerfully and said, “Greetings, two uncles. I heard you both jointly submitted an impeachment against me?”

“…” The smile on Zhang Heling’s face stiffened.

It was true that he had impeached Fang Jifan. He had put a lot of effort into drafting the impeachment memorial. He had assumed His Majesty the Emperor hadn’t dealt with Fang Jifan yet, which was why he had been smiling so happily earlier. But now Fang Jifan had brought it up openly… Zhang Heling felt as if ten thousand wild horses were galloping through his heart.

What did this mean? It meant His Majesty had already ‘handled’ the matter in front of Fang Jifan. Yet here was Fang Jifan, completely unscathed, cheerfully coming to ask him, “Did you impeach me?”…

Had he passed through safely just like that?

Fang Jifan continued to smile, arrogantly and triumphantly.

Empress Zhang was confused when she heard about the impeachment and looked suspiciously at Zhang Heling.

Zhang Yanling immediately hung his head low, while Zhang Heling scrutinized Fang Jifan carefully. It couldn’t be! They had gathered so much evidence of his crimes, how could it be…

Unexpectedly, Fang Jifan smiled again and said, “His Majesty is truly gracious. Not only did he not punish me, but he also appointed me to study with the Crown Prince…”

Zhang Heling still hadn’t grasped the situation.

But Empress Zhang understood instantly.

Study companion?

After twenty years of marriage, how could Empress Zhang not know what kind of person her husband was? In his heart, nothing in the world was more important than the Crown Prince. The imperial court had no tradition of appointing study companions for the Crown Prince. Yet now, specifically after her own worthless brothers had submitted an impeachment, His Majesty had ordered Fang Jifan to be the Crown Prince’s study companion… Besides indicating that her brothers’ impeachment was pure slander, it also showed that Fang Jifan must have done something that brought about some change in the Crown Prince, convincing His Majesty that Fang Jifan would provide great assistance to the Crown Prince in the future.

These two worthless brothers of hers.

Compared to her own son, her two brothers naturally carried less weight. Moreover, she had a very good impression of Fang Jifan.

Furthermore, the decision His Majesty made after the impeachment was clearly deliberate.

Now, thinking about these two causing trouble, Empress Zhang immediately felt furious: “Fang Jifan, go to the side hall and conduct the follow-up examination for the Princess.”

Her tone was calm, as if nothing had happened.

Fang Jifan said, “I obey your decree.”

Saying this, he left happily.

After Fang Jifan left.

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling still hadn’t recovered.

Then they heard Empress Zhang scold sharply: “Kneel down!”

Zhang Heling was stunned: “Sister…”

Empress Zhang looked angry: “I usually know you two have no respect for the law. This Palace, considering our sibling bond, repeatedly indulged you. Who would have thought you would even attempt to frame a loyal and good official?”

Zhang Yanling swallowed hard and cautiously corrected Empress Zhang: “Elder Sister, Fang Jifan is not a loyal and good official…”

“Silence! Speak on your knees.”

Zhang Yanling immediately said: “Sister, I won’t kneel. I’m not convinced…”

Before he could finish, he saw his brother Zhang Heling thump down onto his knees. Zhang Heling was just a tiny bit smarter than his younger brother. He had sensed something was wrong. Being practical, he knelt without hesitation.

Zhang Yanling immediately felt a sharp pain in his chest. His own brother… had actually sold him out. So, he lost all his backbone and promptly prostrated himself on the ground.

…

In the side hall, Fang Jifan faintly heard the wails of the Zhang Brothers. He felt pleased inwardly. Those two fools, they didn’t understand Empress Zhang’s thoughts at all. His own seemingly foolish, offhand remarks earlier clearly told Empress Zhang that these two brothers had messed up. And after the Emperor saw the impeachment memorial, not only did he not punish Fang Jifan, but instead entrusted him with an important task. Wasn’t it obvious that His Majesty was very dissatisfied with the Zhang Brothers for framing Fang Jifan, and had not a shred of trust left for these two living treasures?

Both thunder and rain were expressions of the monarch’s grace. Although His Majesty hadn’t said anything, his attitude towards the Zhang Brothers was unmistakable – he was extremely displeased.

They had caused trouble that reached the Emperor, and it was an impeachment memorial, something all the officials at court were watching. It would be strange if Empress Zhang didn’t punish these two brothers.

Did they really think this Young Lord only knew how to mess around?

Entering the side hall, inside the candlelight flickered gently. An Old Matron stood in the corner, expressionless.

The Princess seemed to have been waiting here for the examination. She sat leaning slightly forward on the Brocade Stool. A charming smile graced her face, her long eyelashes fluttered slightly shyly, and her starry bright eyes briefly glanced at Fang Jifan before quickly looking away. Her gaze seemed to hold gratitude, but also an indescribable complexity.

In the candlelight, Fang Jifan finally noticed that her face was exquisitely beautiful, vaguely resembling Empress Zhang, with absolutely no trace of the Zhu family’s genetics. He had seen her briefly before, once in the main hall and once on her sickbed. Back then, he hadn’t paid much attention. But this time, looking at her carefully, Fang Jifan’s heart suddenly began to pound. This girl actually gave Fang Jifan a feeling… as if he had already thought of what to name their future children.

Facing Fang Jifan’s intensely sharp and somewhat invasive gaze, the Princess still maintained her faint smile. But deep in her eyes, besides shyness, there was also a touch of anger.

Of course, she had to keep the faint smile. By her Empress Mother’s side, she had always been the picture of grace and smiles, her nature quiet and gentle. Since Fang Jifan said she had a Brain Illness, to prevent a relapse, Empress Zhang was especially attentive to her. Consequently, the Princess always had Old Matrons on three shifts watching her constantly.

Otherwise, if she showed a temperament different from before – for instance, right now she wanted to glare angrily at Fang Jifan and warn this brat not to be so presumptuous and disrespectful – she didn’t dare. She could only maintain a helpless faint smile, because that might make people suspect her Brain Illness had relapsed. A relapse meant she had to take medicine, and the medicine was very bitter. The Princess really didn’t want to take it.

Seeing the Princess smile at him, Fang Jifan felt warm inside.

Fang Jifan stepped forward, chuckling, and said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

The Princess seemed somewhat helpless, but still smiled at Fang Jifan and said, “Troubling… Zongqi Zhang.”

Fang Jifan immediately said, “Serving Your Highness, I would go through fire and water. How could I call it trouble?”

“Ahem…” The Matron in the corner spoke expressionlessly, her voice cold: “Zongqi Zhang, please begin the follow-up examination immediately.”

“Oh.” Fang Jifan felt this Old Matron was a real mood-killer.

The Princess also involuntarily wrinkled her nose slightly. Clearly, she was somewhat wary of the Old Matron and didn’t dare act out of line in front of her.

“Your hand.” Fang Jifan rolled up his sleeves. Actually, he didn’t realize that his posture for the follow-up examination looked less like a doctor and more like a pig butcher.

The Princess hesitated.

“How can I conduct the examination if you don’t extend your hand?” Fang Jifan said righteously.

The Matron finally spoke: “Should we place a handkerchief over it?”

It’s just taking the pulse… Fang Jifan said irritably, “It won’t be accurate with a handkerchief.”

The Matron seemed very helpless.

The Princess, shy and timid, extended her slender, delicate hand.

Fang Jifan comforted her: “Don’t be afraid. Anyway, when Your Highness was gravely ill, I already touched everything that needed to be touched.”

“…” The Princess’s slender hand instinctively wanted to pull back.

Fang Jifan had a somewhat bad reputation. How could she, even deep within the palace, not know?

Looking at his grinning face, he seemed… exactly like a frivolous nobleman, not serious at all. Although she was grateful for his lifesaving grace, her sense of caution was very strong.

But Fang Jifan grabbed her wrist and began taking her pulse with an air of seriousness.

Her heartbeat was a bit fast. The pulse was probably around one hundred fifty beats per minute.

Fang Jifan gave the Princess a meaningful look. Seeing her flustered, shy, and indignant expression, he immediately released her hand and laughed heartily: “Hmm, no problem. There are no signs of the illness recurring.”

The Princess was stunned. Her bright eyes fixed on Fang Jifan. She had thought Fang Jifan would take the opportunity to cop a feel.

Who would have thought Fang Jifan would just give a light grasp and then withdraw his hand.

Fang Jifan smiled again: “I am relieved that Your Highness the Princess is in good health. Well then, I take my leave.”

Not bothering to say anything more, he stood up and left, unwilling to linger, leaving behind a bewildered Princess.