Chapter 253
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 253
Chapter Title: Be Honest (1)
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Holy Flame Princess blankly gazed out the window.
This clinic really kept busy. Perhaps because of its reputation as a clinic for ladies, not only local women but also those from prominent families came from afar fairly often.
Of course, its excellent skills contributed to the high praise it received.
"But sometimes men come in too."
"Yes, Ma... Madam. They say they treat injuries only if they're minor. Anything leaving disabilities or threatening life gets turned away."
"Hmm, so only critical male patients get admitted. Now I get it."
Holy Flame Princess felt intrigued by Madam Um's answer.
Even the man entering now seemed to have severely injured his leg. Judging by his clothes, one might doubt if he could pay, yet the clinic accepted him without hesitation.
Medicine is often called a humane art, but treating patients who can't pay without worrying about the consequences naturally leads to deficits. Accumulated, it strangles the clinic's survival.
No matter how much donations filled the merit stele, they weren't infinite like a magic pot.
Yet they offered such charity. As a member of the imperial family, Holy Flame Princess couldn't help but admire their benevolence.
"But they say no to me...?"
"Ma, Madam?"
However, their kindness also reconfirmed that even they couldn't solve her problem.
'If there's truly nothing wrong with my body...'
If her concubine had truly been unfaithful, the issue grew even trickier.
A son was already born, yet Holy Flame Princess still had no news.
No matter her imperial status, the label of a barren woman would cast doubt on her words. Raising suspicions about a concubine surrounded only by women wouldn't be taken seriously.
Of course, they wouldn't openly rebuke an imperial like her.
They might even divorce the concubine if needed, but her in-laws would remember Holy Flame Princess's actions as unreasonable, gossiping behind closed doors.
'If there's a problem with my body and fixing it lets me bear a child, that would be the cleanest solution...'
"C-Come to think of it, Madam Peng isn't around. Is something...?"
Noticing the anguish on her lady's face, Madam Um forced a topic. Holy Flame Princess replied nonchalantly.
"Nothing serious. She knows the owner here and occasionally steps out."
"I see...?"
Come to think of it, Yang Ha-jeong had seemed in good spirits lately.
She wasn't so tactless as to flaunt it before someone with problems, but to Holy Flame Princess, her face brightened day by day.
Hard to explain, but she felt lighter, more vibrant.
'Even when looking at me, she seems to deliberately put on a somber face only briefly...'
"...Princess?"
"I'll step out briefly. If anything special happens while I'm gone, report it without fail. Understood?"
Not even hearing Madam Um bow and reply, Holy Flame Princess turned and headed outside.
Though she couldn't sense them at all, six escorts followed. Her steps held no hesitation.
"Excuse me. Have you seen my attendant?"
Grabbing a man dressed as a clinic worker, he shook his head, clueless.
She asked everyone in sight who looked like staff. Holy Flame Princess and Yang Ha-jeong were troublemakers here, so everyone knew Yang's face.
But strangely, no one had seen her.
[Princess, shall we send men to search...?]
The escort captain transmitted, but Holy Flame Princess, unable to use martial arts, shook her head no.
Wouldn't that make it seem like they were hunting her dear "aunt" Yang Ha-jeong like a criminal?
She planned to stroll leisurely, calling it a walk. No matter how big the clinic, she'd find her soon enough.
As Holy Flame Princess thought, it didn't take long. Yang Ha-jeong emerged from a remote building.
"Niece...?"
"Oh, Aunt. You weren't returning, so I came looking while taking a stroll. Here you were."
Greeting Yang Ha-jeong warmly, Holy Flame Princess spotted Kang Yun following and smiled broadly.
"Young Hero Kang was with you?"
"...Yes, Madam Seong. Haven't seen you these past days, but you look 'healthy,' so I'm relieved."
To her, Kang Yun resembled a grumpy puppy. Days after she planted herself here, his frustrated face remained.
Emphasizing 'healthy' to imply 'if you're not sick, leave already' was just adorable.
Ju Yak-seon seemed merely fulfilling her duty by refusing treatment, but this man appeared to have other motives.
"What's this place for?"
"This is the herb warehouse. Each doctor comes every morning to take their day's portion to their personal storage."
[We were looking into running a similar clinic for retired soldiers injured in the military.]
"Ho..."
Holy Flame Princess nodded, convinced by Yang Ha-jeong's transmission.
This was a peaceful era, but border barbarians constantly raided the prosperous Central Plains.
Veterans were always short, and poor treatment made recruitment hard.
If the state treated injuries responsibly, soldiers could face foes fearlessly.
'What a brilliant idea. If I mention this to Prince Zhou... Huh?'
Amid admiration, Holy Flame Princess spotted something odd.
A memory from her very young childhood, over twenty years ago, yet still vivid.
"I've seen enough here. Time to head back. Thank you, Young Hero Kang."
"No trouble, Madam Peng. Call anytime if needed."
The man naturally cupped hands and bowed. Yang Ha-jeong stood beside Holy Flame Princess and walked off together.
Holy Flame Princess glanced at the item around Yang Ha-jeong's waist, then looked ahead.
'Whew, thought we were caught.'
These past days, part of my routine was learning clinic tasks.
Ju Yak-seon led the doctors and handled operations mostly herself, but Tang Hye-won had managed finances, so I had to grasp herb and supply procurement.
But master that, and she'd handle the rest.
<Using special characters for numbers?>
Honestly, Hanja numerals were too long, hard to read, and space-hogging. I pushed for Arabic numerals.
They half-doubted the need, but Ju Yak-seon saw the value and backed it. Who'd refuse the owner and director?
We'd just started, still adapting, but she said everyone was noticing the convenience.
Anyway, with Arabic numerals back, calculations eased, slashing my work time dramatically.
Now, spare time. What to do?
I subtly transmitted to Yang Ha-jeong, who naturally slipped out. We met secretly for sex.
'Doing it twice was risky after all.'
Usually once and send her back, but today the herb scent oddly aroused us for seconds. Right after climax, I sensed approaching presence afar, hurriedly dressed, and opened the door.
We'd kept distance; luckily, it passed without notice.
'Can't keep this up forever though...'
Sex with Yang Ha-jeong was fun, but endless like this spelled trouble.
A month might pass in cramped shared space like camp, but longer? Fatigue sets in.
Mother's baby due soon; we needed to move before birth, yet that Seong woman...
"Young Hero Kang? What are you doing here?"
"Director Ju is..."
"I came for herbs, obviously."
Ju Yak-seon eyed me oddly. Mornings we took usual amounts, but heavy unexpected use meant fetching more.
"Ah, just checking herb inventory briefly..."
"I see. Good attitude."
Actual check was yesterday, but Ju Yak-seon smiled approvingly.
Sprayed deodorant, no smell worry, but my conscience stung hugely.
Other doctors brought apprentices or workers for herbs, yet Ju Yak-seon came alone.
"Came alone? Need help if it's heavy?"
"No, it's fine..."
"Might as well use me while I'm here."
She pondered, then accepted.
Her plump look made her seem ordinary, but her noble resolve to save lives with medicine earned respect.
Even shaming me, using the clinic as camouflage to hide my harem.
'This lady's amazing too.'
Tang Hye-won swore Ju Yak-seon's skills ranked top ten in the world.
With such medicine and smooth organization, as Tang Hye-won admired.
Maybe rude to her, but Ju Yak-seon was tailor-made for us.
'Hehe, Yak-seon darling...!'
Let's go long, Director Ju.
I couldn't say it aloud, but whispered it mentally at her back.