Chapter 57 Entering the Imperial Palace to Meet the Emperor
“How did you cure the plague?”
Su Lun fixed his sharp eyes on Su Muge’s face as if to say, if you dared to lie, I would expose your lie immediately!
Su Muge didn’t expect that Su Lun would ask her to come over and explain this.
She indifferently blew the tea in the cup and said smilingly, “Father, you may have forgotten.”
“What?” Su Lun frowned.
“I have died once.”
Having heard this, Su Lun suddenly changed his countenance.
“Don’t think you can fool me like this! I never believe in ghosts and G.o.ds!”
“Father, you have not experienced death. How can you be so sure that there are no ghosts or G.o.ds?”
Looking at Su Muge’s face in the candlelight, Su Lun found that, reflected by her pale complexion, the dark red birthmark on the corner of her eye became much scarier.
Even though he had never been attentive to his truth-born daughter, he could also know clearly what her character should have been in the few contacts of a year…
But since she crept out of the coffin … everything had seemed to be different!
Su Lun changed his expression again, subconsciously taking two steps back.
His behavior was really funny to Su Muge.
“Father, don’t worry. Since I have come alive, I’m certainly a living person.”
“You, you…”
After such a long journey, Su Muge had been so tired already, feeling that her body almost fell apart. So, she would no longer waste any time here with Su Lun.
“Father, if you have nothing else, please excuse me.”
Seeing Su Muge leaving, Su Lun realized that he had forgotten his main purpose!
Yeah, what was he afraid of? She was now a living person, as well as his daughter! Besides, maybe she was talking nonsense!
“Wait! Go to the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor with me tomorrow morning.”
Su Muge paused, frowned and turned around. “What? To meet the Emperor? Me?”
Seeing Su Muge frowning, Su Lun felt triumphant, raised his chin and said, “Yes, I have explained to the Emperor that it was you who have cured the plague.”
Su Muge was shocked; she had never expected Su Lun to do so.
Of course, Su Lun wanted to claim this credit, but he had never read a medical book, let alone dealt with the plague. With the majority of the residents in the capital being officials, he was afraid of being invited by them for medical service. If so, his lie would be easily exposed.
So, he gritted his teeth and confessed Su Muge’s deeds. Anyway, the detailed process would not be inquired about, as long as they knew it was his daughter who had cured the plague!
“Get well-prepared tonight. You must make no mistake tomorrow.”
After coming out of Su Lun’s room, Su Muge slowly eased her brows.
She had always wanted to become famous, and now this was exactly a good chance.
However, being exposed by Su Lun still made her uncomfortable.
Without strong support in the capital, she must be extremely meticulous, or she could be trampled to death at any time!
The next morning.
Before dawn, Su Muge had been pulled out of the bed by Yueru.
The temperature in the capital was slightly lower than that in Shunyang. Now the weather was getting colder, she could feel a little chilly getting up in the morning.
“Miss, My Lord has already sent someone here. Hurry up.”
Having known last night that Su Muge was about to the Imperial Palace to meet the Emperor, Yueru worked up her full energy, in fear of getting up late and making any mistake.
Being prepared, Su Muge got into the carriage and headed for the Imperial Palace.
With no imperial edict, Su Lun’s position or promotion hadn’t been decided, so he didn’t need to attend the morning court.
As soon as they arrived, the palace people led their way and made them wait outside the Imperial Study.
Having got up early this morning without eating anything, Su Muge had already cursed the Emperor in her heart thousands of times standing under the blazing sun!
Sure enough, it was a wicked society ruled by imperial power!
“Your Majesty is here.”
Hearing the eunuch’s sharp voice, Su Muge bucked up and stepped forward to salute with Su Lun.
“Your Majesty.”
Su Muge only felt a bright yellow robe pa.s.sing through her eyes with a low but hollow voice.
“Get up.”
Su Muge stood up with Su Lun and followed the Emperor Xia Hourui into the Imperial Study.
Xia Hourui sat down on the dragon throne and took a glance at Su Muge, who was standing behind Su Lun.
“Ai-Qing (a term of endearment of officials by the Emperor )Su, is that your eldest truth-born daughter?”
Su Lun stepped forward and said respectfully, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Su Muge felt a sight fixed on her with inspection and examination.
“You have such good medical skills at a young age. According to Ai-Qing Su, you have been fascinated with medicine since childhood, is it correct?”
Provided a good reason by Su Lun, of course, she had to make good use of it.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I was sickly at an early age, so I made up my mind to become a medical master when I grow up to help more people like me.”
“Good, you’re a self-improving child. Well, don’t be so restrained. I don’t want to scare a child.” Xia Hourui laughed in a low voice.
Su Muge then raised her eyes slightly to see the person sitting on the dragon throne in front of her.
Xia Hourui, in his forties, was supposed to be a handsome middle-aged man. But, his hair was nearly half white; his eye-bags were hung under his eyes; his eyes were slightly cloudy and dull, but still showed majesty and dignity. His body was a little swollen, and his complexion looked unusually pale.
At first glance, she knew it was Yang-deficiency of spleen and kidney.
“You have cured the plague. Tell me, what do you want for a reward?”
Money!
“I haven’t made up my mind yet. Your Majesty. Can I tell you when I have decided?”
“Muge! Don’t be impertinent!” Su Lun’s face flushed with anxiety. How could she say that!
Xia Hourui froze for a moment, and then laughed out loud. “Hahahaha, okay, okay, you have my promise. I’ll reserve this reward for you.” After that, he looked at Su Lun. “Ah, Ai-Qing Su, don’t scare the child.”
“Yes.” Seeing that Xia Hourui was not angry, Su Lun was finally relieved.
After that, Xia Hourui felt not so well and let them retreat.
After coming out, Su Lun attempted to rebuke Su Muge, but considering that it was improper to do so in the Palace, he held back his words.
Walking quickly on the long palace road, Su Muge only wished to leave here as soon as possible.
A slightly fat figure in an official suit slowly walked towards them.
At first, Su Muge didn’t pay much attention, but she noticed that Su Lun’s body stiffened.
Su Muge observed the man secretly and found that his features were a little similar to An.
“Lord An,” The palace people saluted one after another.
As the two sides approached, Su Lun stepped forward to bow in salute. “Lord An.”
Su Muge also stopped and slightly bent over.
An Zhongxing glanced over the two and nodded with a smile. “Well, get up. I heard that you brought this child into the Palace today, so I am here just to meet you. The Palace is not an appropriate place for a talk. Let’s go outside.”
Su Lun lowered his head, hiding his look.
“Yes.”
Su Muge looked up; the closer she was to Su Lun’s second father-in-law, the more she found him looking like a Maitreya Buddha.
However, whether he had the Buddha’s kind and mercy heart or not was unknown.
“Miss Su, please wait.” A young eunuch ran towards them breathlessly and said after respective salutes, “Miss Su, Ninth Princess invites you to come over.”
Invited her?
Su Muge was puzzled, even Su Lun couldn’t figure out why Ninth Princess wanted to see her.
An Zhongxing laughed and said, “I heard Ninth Princess has been interested in medicine study since childhood. Hearing about this child, she may want to meet her.”
Summoned by a princess, she had no reason not to go. Without explicit official position yet, Su Lun didn’t want to offend any bigwig.
“Since Ninth Princess invites you, just go. Don’t forget the etiquettes.”
Unwilling as Su Muge was, she knew she had no right to refuse.
These royals were really troublesome.
“Okay.”
Before entering the Imperial Palace, Su Lun had roughly told her that Xia Hourui’s wife and concubines had given birth to more than a dozen children, but only half survived, even fewer grew up.
This Ninth Princess was born by a Guiren (the Grade-6 Imperial Concubine), whose maiden family was featured with generals. With a medium rank in the Palace, the Guiren could not hinder the promotion of other concubines or suppress them. As a result, she could have avoided plenty of trouble, and this Ninth Princess could grow up safe and sound till now.
Two quarters later, she came outside of the Ninth Princess’s Palace.
“Ninth sister, do you really have to see a girl from the countryside?”
“Eighth sister, if it is annoying you, you can just go back.”
“Humph!”
“Ninth Princess, the eldest Miss Su is here.”
Hearing this, Xia Houxi nodded and said with a poker face, “Bring her in.”
“Yes.”
Su Muge was taken to a pavilion by a palace maid. When she looked up, she saw two women in palace dresses sitting inside.
“Her Royal Highness, nice to meet you.”
Su Muge, standing on the steps, bent over slightly.
Xia Houyin glanced over Su Muge, and then put on a look of disdain.
“So shabby. The material of her dress is even not as good as that of my maids.”
Su Muge lifted her eyes slightly, gazing on the talking woman in a lilac palace dress.
At a similar age to hers, she had an oval face, and her skin was so tender that it seemed water would come out if someone poked on her cheek. Her eyes, with slightly raised corners, were typical phoenix-look eyes, but they were revealing a domineering look. The girl must be a spoiled naughty child.
“Eighth sister, you can go back.” Xia Houxi remained expressionless.
Then Su Muge set her sight on Xia Houxi.
Compared with Xia Houyin’s mellow and pretty figure, Xia Houxi, in a nattier-blue palace dress, was a lot skinnier. Her light almond-like eyes showed a somewhat indifferent emotion, which was unusual for such a young age.
While Su Muge was looking up and down at Xia Houxi, Xia Houxi also looked at her. Since Su Muge’s head was slightly lowered, Xia Houxi could not see her face clearly, but her dress was indeed … ordinary.
Xia Houyin snorted and ignored Xia Houxi’s words. She walked to Su Muge, raised her chin, and squinted at her.
“You are the one that Father said to have cured the plague? You look so shabby that I believe you can’t read at all, can you? How could you cure those patients? !”
Last night, Xia Hourui slept in the chamber of Xia Houyin’s mother and mentioned Su Muge, which aroused Xia Houyin’s hatred. At her age, a girl could never tolerate the fact that there was someone better than her!
“Why don’t you speak? Are you dumb? !”
Xia Houyin was a little annoyed to see there was no response coming from Su Muge, so she reached out to raise Su Muge’s face.
“Ah!”