The Divine And Demonic Doctor [EN]: Chapter 343

Only then could Dan Akseon guess why the Empress Dowager had asked him to examine her daughter.

As blood relatives, it was impossible to know when the same illness might manifest.

So, it wasn’t just a vague worry.

Moreover, it wasn’t as if the possibility was entirely nonexistent.

‘They said the eldest son died only five days after birth, right?’

He had once heard about the imperial family’s lineage from Neung Somil.

And the eldest daughter, Jangnyeong, who was now promoted to Grand Princess, had also died young at the age of four.

The Yeongsun Princess, whom the Empress Dowager had requested to examine, was the fourth daughter.

Originally a Princess, her title naturally rose to Grand Princess when her brother became Emperor.

She was four years younger than the Emperor.

Only one year younger than Dan Akseon.

Following the Empress Dowager, Dan Akseon arrived at Janyeong Palace.

“The Empress Dowager has arrived.”

At the voice of the eunuch attending the Empress Dowager, a person hurriedly walked out.

A woman whose girlishness had not yet faded.

As if there had been no prior notice, she was clearly flustered by the Empress Dowager’s sudden visit.

“Yeongsun greets her mother.”

The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded at her daughter’s graceful appearance as she paid her respects.

Then, she gestured towards Dan Akseon.

“Dan Akseon from the common people of Muwi greets Grand Princess Yeongsun.”

Not all women of imperial blood were the same princess.

The Emperor’s aunt was called Grandest Princess, the Emperor’s siblings were Grand Princesses, and the Emperor’s daughters were Princesses.

Similarly, a Prince’s daughter was called Princess, and a granddaughter was called County Princess.

“Dan Akseon?”

Grand Princess Yeongsun tilted her head, as if she had heard the name somewhere before.

“He is the one who will examine you.”

At the Empress Dowager’s words, Grand Princess Yeongsun couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

“But I don’t have any pain.”

“It is up to the physician to judge that. He is a famous doctor called the Divine Medical Sage in the Jianghu [the martial arts world], so don’t refuse. It would be good to receive treatment from a doctor other than the royal physician on this occasion.”

“Divine Medical Sage? Ah!”

Realizing something belatedly, Grand Princess Yeongsun wore a surprised expression.

She thought it was a coincidence to hear Dan Akseon’s name, but it turned out to be the Divine Medical Sage himself, whom she had only heard rumors about.

Seeing that, the Empress Dowager smiled slightly and tugged at Han Seolhwa’s sleeve.

“Shall we wait outside, then?”

Han Seolhwa, slightly frowning, reluctantly followed the Empress Dowager towards the flower garden.

After a while.

“She didn’t look sick at all?”

The Empress Dowager was slightly taken aback by Han Seolhwa’s words.

“Still, you never know.”

“There isn’t another reason, is there?”

“……”

“Could it be?”

The Empress Dowager, with a troubled look, sighed softly.

“What can I do? Having a daughter is a sin.”

“So, the examination was just an excuse from the beginning?”

“Please understand.”

“Even so, deceiving Doctor Dan…”

“Just watch. It’s not just because she’s my daughter, but she’s a really good child. She’ll be very happy to know that the person examining her is the Divine Medical Sage.”

“Does the Princess know about Doctor Dan?”

“Being trapped inside the high walls of the Forbidden City, she likes stories from the outside. The two are about the same age, so they might become good friends, don’t you think?”

The smile on the Empress Dowager’s face deepened.

“It would be even better if they developed into an even better relationship.”

“……”

* * *

It was after a long time that Dan Akseon, who had been seriously taking Grand Princess Yeongsun’s pulse, opened his mouth.

“Well… First of all, Grand Princess Yeongsun…”

“Just call me Princess. Grand Princess, Grandest Princess, those are just to distinguish ranks in the imperial family.”

Dan Akseon looked embarrassed at Grand Princess Yeongsun’s words.

“But why are you speaking so formally to me?”

“I’m about to undergo Haga [a princess’s marriage], so I’ve been following the etiquette of commoners recently. I don’t want to make a mistake later. It’s become so ingrained that it’s more comfortable now. So, you don’t have to worry about it.”

“What is Haga?”

“Ah!”

Grand Princess Yeongsun gave an awkward smile at Dan Akseon’s question.

“Haga… is another way of saying a princess’s marriage.”

She was seventeen years old.

According to imperial etiquette, her marriageable age was not particularly early.

“I see. Congratulations.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun’s expression turned gloomy at Dan Akseon’s words.

“Actually, it’s not something to be congratulated about.”

“Yes? Why?”

“The Haga has been canceled.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun continued to explain.

“According to imperial regulations, a princess’s spouse must be a commoner.”

This was to guard against the rise of maternal relatives.

Therefore, she could not marry the son of a civil or military official.

“So, the family of the princess’s husband, the Fuma [驸馬, princess’s husband], is often from a humble family with no political influence. Because they marry into a family with worse conditions than the imperial family, it is expressed as Haga.”

The problem was that it was not easy to select the princess’s husband, the Fuma (駙馬).

“From the perspective of a commoner, they can gain wealth and glory by forming a relationship with the imperial family. So, all sorts of schemes are rampant.”

“Schemes?”

“It’s embarrassing and shameful to even mention it, but what’s the point of hiding it now?”

Grand Princess Yeongsun sighed as if the ground was sinking.

“The reality is that the selection of the Fuma (駙馬) candidate has no choice but to rely on the recommendations of others. And the closest to the Emperor are the eunuchs.”

That’s how a man named Jin Soe (陳釗) was designated as the Fuma (駙馬), and the date for Haga was set.

“But a problem broke out belatedly.”

The biological mother of Jin Soe, who had been decided as the Fuma (駙馬).

The fact that she had remarried and become another person’s concubine was revealed belatedly.

“Of course, the imperial family was turned upside down. Marrying His Majesty’s sister to the son of a concubine is a terrible insult to the imperial family.”

In the end, Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a secret agency] came forward and began to thoroughly investigate the Fuma (駙馬) selection process.

“It turned out that the Jin family had poured a lot of money into bribing several eunuchs and officials from the Ministry of Rites.”

The Emperor was furious and punished them with harsh penalties, and immediately canceled the Haga.

“So, I heard that the Ministry of Rites is like a battlefield to find a new Fuma (駙馬) candidate urgently.”

“So, that’s why your pulse was so unstable.”

Nodding, Dan Akseon smiled at Grand Princess Yeongsun.

“It’s a combination of sleep deprivation and fatigue. There is nothing particularly wrong with your health itself. Try to manage your anger through exercise and walks as much as possible.”

“I will.”

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun called out to Dan Akseon, who was bowing and trying to get up.

“Just a moment.”

“What’s wrong?”

Grand Princess Yeongsun stared intently at Dan Akseon.

It was very rare for her, who resided deep within the imperial palace, to meet someone from the outside.

Excluding family, all she had were palace people and eunuchs.

Dan Akseon’s attitude, which was clearly different from them, naturally attracted her interest.

His appearance of faithfully advising her as a doctor without distinguishing between high and low status, as well as his warm tone and eyes, were the same.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Divine Medical Sage.”

“My title is very grand, isn’t it?”

Unlike Dan Akseon, who smiled awkwardly, Grand Princess Yeongsun shook her head.

“No. Meeting you in person like this, it seems like the rumors don’t even match the truth.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun, glancing at Dan Akseon, carefully opened her mouth.

“Um, if you don’t mind… could you tell me the story of when you obtained the joint letter [a letter of recommendation from multiple factions]?”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

Since there was still time, Dan Akseon readily nodded.

“Of course.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun asked with a bright expression.

“I’ve heard everything else, but how did you persuade the Common Faction? I heard that the relationship between your mother, Physician Ma, and the Common Faction is bad.”

Dan Akseon’s expression clouded over for a moment.

Grand Princess Yeongsun waved her hand in embarrassment at the sight.

“You don’t have to tell me if it’s difficult.”

“You seem to like stories from the Murim [martial arts] world.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun smiled shyly at Dan Akseon’s words.

She, the precious daughter of the imperial family, had last experienced outside the Forbidden City seven years ago, before her brother, the Emperor, ascended the throne.

As such, she couldn’t help but be curious about the outside world.

“It’s free there.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun, who started like that, quickly continued her words.

“Actually, I’ve heard a lot about the female warrior who came with you. I wanted to talk more with her, but I couldn’t, which is a shame. Although it was a short meeting, she, whom I met in person, is truly beautiful and full of dignity, just like the rumors.”

“That’s right. Auntie Han is a really wonderful person.”

“Then, can you answer my question from earlier? The palace people who told me the story also heard it from the gossipmongers outside the palace, so they don’t know the details.”

“There’s nothing to hide. It’s not a big secret.”

Dan Akseon mentioned the fact that Cho Akryang and Beom Gyewi had stepped in to save the two disciples of the Common Faction who had been kidnapped by the warriors belonging to the Demonic Sect.

“At the time, I didn’t know that the people who kidnapped them were from the Demonic Sect.”

“Ah! The Demonic Sect!”

Grand Princess Yeongsun, who exclaimed, cast a worried look.

“Then, are you fighting them now?”

“Yes. Because it’s something I have to do.”

“It’s not an easy path.”

“That’s why I’m so worried.”

“……?”

“Already, many people have been hurt or killed in the fight against them. It will continue to be like that in the future. I’m afraid of that. I’m afraid of losing more precious people.”

“Ah……”

Grand Princess Yeongsun let out a pitiful sigh at Dan Akseon’s eyes, which were filled with deep pain.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun grabbed Dan Akseon, who was saying goodbye, once again.

“Can we meet again? I want to hear more stories……”

“Come to Muwi anytime. If you come there, you’ll be able to hear many stories.”

Grand Princess Yeongsun’s face lit up.

“Can I really go?”

Dan Akseon couldn’t help but smile at her cute appearance of asking back with wide eyes.

“It’s not a place you can’t come to, is it?”

The declaration of Muwi as a forbidden area was only for the righteous Murim.

If she came, there was no justification to refuse her.

Dan Akseon and Han Seolhwa, who had finished all their schedules in the imperial palace, left the palace to return to Muwi.

Surprisingly, the Empress Dowager walked with them all the way to the Royal Garden and personally saw them off.

After keeping the maids who were guarding and attending to them at a distance, the Empress Dowager asked Dan Akseon a question.

“Do you perhaps have a woman in your heart?”

“Yes? A woman?”

“I’m talking about a spouse you’ve set your sights on. At sixteen, you’re not exactly young anymore.”

“Hmm……”

After pondering for a moment, Dan Akseon answered honestly.

“I don’t know if there’s a woman who would like someone like me.”

An orphan with no family who had lost his parents.

Moreover, he was destined to wander the Jianghu like a duckweed until he finished the battle with the Demonic Sect.

He couldn’t be sure if there would be someone who would walk that path with him, where danger was always lurking.

“Still, you never know if there might be a connection somewhere.”

The Empress Dowager’s expression brightened as she confirmed that Dan Akseon had no set marriage prospects.

“Just like the saying 赤繩繫足 [chì shéng xì zú, tied together by a red string], the old man under the moon who presides over the relationship between men and women may have already tied a red string without their knowledge. It may be closer than you think.”