Chapter 67 Swindling the Crown Prince for a Fortune

Chapter 67: Screwing the Crown Prince Over

Someone's eyes darted around, and they asked, "Does Princess Ye have a way to cure this baby girl?"

As they finished speaking, everyone's eyes landed on Ji Yuntang.

Some looked hopeful, curious, or trusting; others were scornful, dismissive, or mocking.

Everyone's expression was different. They knew Ji Yuntang could get amputees back on their feet, but this baby's face was a birth defect—something considered hopeless.

Ji Yuntang saw right through it. She knew someone was trying to use this to tear her down again. Like hell she'd let them get away with it!

She stood up and laid it out for the crowd.

"This is a cleft lip, also known as a cleft palate. It's usually from genetics or environmental stuff. Since this lady doesn't have it herself, it's probably from morning sickness, loss of appetite, or being picky with food during pregnancy, which starved the baby of nutrients."

"Or it could be from the mom drinking or smoking while pregnant—bad habits that up the odds of a cleft lip baby. Or maybe she took hormone meds while pregnant, messing up the baby's development."

Back in modern times, moms could catch these defects early with hospital ultrasounds.

But in this day and age, that wasn't an option.

Ji Yuntang's words were solid and made sense, leaving the crowd stunned.

They didn't get it all, but they were blown away.

Wasn't she just saying this baby wasn't some bad omen?

Luo Feizhou narrowed his cold eyes, a sly glint flashing in them.

"Third Sister-in-Law, you've talked a lot, but can you actually cure this baby?"

"If you really can, then I and everyone here will believe she's not a bad omen."

"Otherwise, with a face like that, she'll be burned alive in public."

Ji Yuntang: "..."

Damn it, Prince Qi was such a sneaky bastard.

She should've slapped him twice more yesterday.

Luo Feizhou was clearly threatening Ji Yuntang with the baby's life.

If she could fix the cleft lip, the baby would live.

If not, she'd be labeled a bad omen and burned alive.

The kid was innocent, and a cleft lip wasn't hopeless—it just needed surgery.

Before Ji Yuntang could speak, the woman holding the baby dropped to her knees with a thud, sobbing hoarsely, tears streaming.

"Divine Healer Ji, please save my daughter! She's so little, can't even walk yet. I can't stand to see her burned alive!"

"Please, if you can save her, I'll work like a mule for you for the rest of my life. I swear!"

The woman sobbed heartbreakingly, and the baby in her arms wailed too. It tore at Ji Yuntang's heart, like a thorn stabbing her chest.

Ji Yuntang stepped forward to help her up. "Ma'am, you're still holding the baby. Please get up. I'll treat your daughter."

A mother's love was strong, and Ji Yuntang couldn't just stand by and watch someone die.

Especially after Prince Qi threatened to burn the kid.

She had to change her mindset, blaming Luo Feizhou for this and vowing to get even when she got the chance.

The woman finally stopped crying, got up, and thanked Ji Yuntang over and over.

"Thank you, Divine Healer Ji. Thank you for saving my daughter. I, Yaoniang, swear I'll work like a dog for you forever."

Ji Yuntang didn't care. She turned to Luo Jingshen and said, "Your Highness, please get me a clean, quiet room, with no interruptions."

Luo Jingshen raised an eyebrow, confused. "This isn't something we can all see?"

"Yes. The baby's young and cries easily. A noisy place won't help me treat her. I'll explain everything when I, this Princess, come out."

Luo Jingshen's gaze was searching. He didn't know if Ji Yuntang was really confident or just buying time.

But he knew that saying no now would be like slapping Luo Feizhou in the face.

Though they were at odds, in this medical contest, they were on the same team. Slapping Luo Feizhou's face would be slapping his own—no point.

Luo Jingshen glanced at his attendant and, without Ji Yuntang asking, started giving orders, "Fine. Go set up a clean room for Princess Ye. Get hot water, liquor, towels, and a knife ready. Let her treat the baby."

Seeing him act all high and mighty, Ji Yuntang's eyes lit up with a plan.

This was a golden chance. She'd be an idiot not to make Luo Jingshen cough up some cash.

"By the way, Your Highness, to treat the baby's cleft lip, I need some herbs, but I don't have them on me. Can you send someone to get them?"

Luo Jingshen waved a hand casually. "Sure. The medical contest gives out herbs for free. Just say what you need, and I'll have them brought."

He didn't think much of it. How many herbs could treating a baby need? At most, four or five kinds.

Besides, Ji Yuntang was a country girl who, from what he'd heard, didn't even know medicine. What fancy herbs would she know?

If she asked, he'd give!

He wanted to see what she could really do.

Luo Feizhou thought the same thing.

The two of them unknowingly agreed on this.

Seeing the fish bite, Ji Yuntang curled her lips a little and started listing herb names.

"Meteor Grass, Five-Element Flower, Purple Dan Luo, Nine-Fragrance Bug, Seven-Leaf Lotus, Sky-Green Earth-White Fruit, Century-Old Blood Coral, Century-Old Lingzhi, Century-Old Fig…"

Ji Yuntang rattled off over twenty herb names, each one super rare and not found in regular pharmacies.

Not only were the doctors there stunned, but Luo Jingshen was totally floored!

Didn't she know nothing about herbs? How could she name that many in one go?

And she deliberately picked the expensive ones.

Leaving aside the first few, the Century-Old Lingzhi and Century-Old Blood Coral were only found in the imperial pharmacy—tributes from other nations to the emperor, which he treasured and let no one touch.

Was Ji Yuntang doing this on purpose?

Luo Jingshen looked up to gauge her expression, meeting those clear, sparkling eyes.

The young woman blinked, her demeanor slightly innocent. "What's wrong, Your Highness? Are you backing out? But these are all the herbs I need to treat the baby. If you don't provide them, how can I start?"

Luo Jingshen nearly spat blood.

How was he supposed to know Ji Yuntang would demand such precious herbs?

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