Chapter 62 Someone Else
The study room quieted down instantly; Xia Hourui narrowed his eyes, with a little bit of frustration shown on his face.
“I heard that Su Lun’s daughter saved Xi’er on the barge?”
The fire on the barge and the a.s.sa.s.sination of n.o.ble ladies and masters were widely implicated. So Xia Hourui must have been informed in detail.
“I’ve heard that.”
“After a few days’ stay in Shunyang prefecture, have you got some clues?” Xia Hourui’s question seemed normal but they actually implied his doubt about Su Muge’s medical skills.
Xia Houmo slightly turned his black eyes, knowing that no matter what he answered, he would put Su Muge into a certain situation.
“She’s smart.”
Hearing this answer, Xia Hourui smiled and stopped asking.
“I’m tired, you may retreat.”
“Excuse me.”
After Xia Houmo left, Eunuch Yi came in with tea.
Xia Hourui took a sip of hot tea.
“I’ve never seen him protecting a girl before.” Xia Hourui said with a smile, who seemed to be in a good mood.
On hearing this, Eunuch Yi knew at once who he was talking about.
“Your Majesty, after all, Miss Su looks not so presentable …”
“Yeah, she’s not good-looking. Such a pity!” Xia Hourui shook his head and closed his eyes.
As soon as Xia Houmo went out of the palace, he met Xia Houkun who had been waiting there.
Xia Houkun’s usual smile was replaced by his ruthless eyes looking at Xia Houmo.
“The King of Jin is so capable!”
Xia Houmo gave him an indifferent glance.
“May you prove your innocence as soon as possible.”
“You! If I find out who is behind this, I’ll tear him into pieces!” Xia Houkun glared at Xia Houmo with his teeth gritted.
Xia Houmo went directly past him and walked to Donglin; then he mounted his horse. Donglin also got on the horseback, and the two rode away.
Xia Houkun was so angry that his chest went up and down violently.
“Second Prince, what shall we do next?”
“Send someone, and find out those people! Also, keep an eye on Xia Houmo; if there is anything unusual happened to him, let me know immediately.”
“Yes.”
“Your Royal Highness, why did the Emperor ask Second Prince to investigate by himself?” Donglin followed Xia Houmo, wondering.
Xia Houmo answered with a dim expression. “The “venomous snake” must be drawn out of its hole with baits.”
…
After returning from Moon Lake, Su Muge had put the a.s.sa.s.sination behind her mind. She didn’t need to worry about this.
Although the fire and a.s.sa.s.sination had covered her rescue of Ninth Princess, it was not forgotten. In just a few days, someone visited the Su Mansion.
This morning, Su Muge was called to the study by Su Lun.
In the study, Su Lun was sitting at the table, frowned.
Su Muge was led in by a pageboy.
“My Lord, the eldest Miss is here.”
Su Lun looked up at Su Muge with a complex expression.
Judging from his look, she knew he was hesitating to make her do something.
Su Muge was tired of being roundabout with him and said straightway, “Father, better get it straight.”
Su Lun frowned. “General Valgime’s man came here yesterday.”
Su Muge knew that people had come to their door one after another these days; most of them had been refused by Su Lun, but he couldn’t afford to offend General Valgime who was a Grade-3 General with the military power of 50 thousand soldiers.
“Madam General Valgime has been sick recently. An imperial doctor has been invited but could do nothing at all, so she wanted you to have a try.”
Su Muge raised her eyebrows slightly, wondering why Madam General Valgime went directly for Su Lun instead of An to ask her for a treatment.
“I’ve promised the man from General Mansion, and they will come to pick you up tomorrow.”
“Father, how could you make a promise without asking me? I can’t afford the responsibility if I can’t cure her.”
Su Lun didn’t like Su Muge’s disobedient att.i.tude.
“What are you talking about? How can I harm my daughter? Without a pretty face, you must have some commendable talents; otherwise, how will you build a reputation here in the future?”
“Please excuse me if you have nothing else to say.”
Su Lun chocked and glared at her. “Get ready tonight and don’t be late tomorrow.”
Su Muge left the study; just as she returned to Peachblossom Courtyard, two maids brought many gifts over.
“Miss, Madam, these are for you. They are from My Lord. He said that you two are both with poor health and suggested more nutritious supplements.”
Su Muge looked at the cubilose and ginseng on the table with an ironic smile. She looked towards Yueru, the latter stepped forward and smiled knowingly. “Thank you, two sisters.” While saying, she stuffed two small bags filled with money into their hands.
“My Lord cares most about the eldest Miss and the eldest Madam. He says all the time that he’ll come to see the eldest Master more in the future.” After taking the money, the two maids would surely pick up some nice words to say.
Seeing Zhao’s eyes brightened with hope, Su Muge could only let out a sigh; she didn’t expect that Zhao would still have feelings for Su Lun after so many years.
After sending away the two maids, Zhao looked at Su Muge with a smile. “Your father is more and more concerned about you and Mo’er; I am so relieved.”
Looking at Zhao’s smiling face, Su Muge couldn’t bear to tell her that it was because of her value which could help Su Lun in his official career that he did this.
What surprised Su Muge was that Su Lun not only sent things here but also went directly to Peachblossom Courtyard for dinner with them that night!
Hearing the news, An nearly smashed the jade porcelain cup she was holding!
“What did you say? My Lord not only has made people send things but also is having dinner at Peachblossom Courtyard!?”
The little maid sending the message had never seen such a ferocious look on An and was so frightened.
“Yes, yes.”
“That old b.i.t.c.h! Shame on her to seduce daddy! No, I must go and teach them a lesson!” Su Jingwen had just recovered from the fright on the barge after a few days’ rest.
At home, Su Lun would always come to An’s courtyard and have a meal with her, and Su Jingwen would come and join the couple. However, who knew that he went to Peachblossom Courtyard tonight!
“Wen’er, stop!” An took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in her heart, and let the little maid retreat.
“Mom, why do you stop me? ! Dad has never done this before. Do you really want to see those two women treading on us!?”
An sipped the tea to suppress her anger slightly.
“If you go now, your father will only think you impolite and punish you.”
She had previously regarded Su Muge as n.o.body, but since Su Muge went to Zhou County for Su Lun, Anshi would have never again underestimated this little b.i.t.c.h.
“Why? If you stop me from doing anything about it, you can just wait for the old b.i.t.c.h to take over our mansion!” At the thought of Su Muge gaining the favor of Second Prince on the barge, Su Jingwen couldn’t tolerate her anymore!
Seeing Su Jingwen’s anxiety, An gradually calmed down.
“Don’t worry. Your father has been having meals with us for more than a decade, but he have just had one meal with them. Does it really deserve such a great anxiety?”
Su Jingwen snorted. “Mom, didn’t you promise to get rid of them before coming to the capital? But now they are still alive and kicking.”
An stared down at her dazzling red nails with a flicker of ruthlessness in her eyes. “Soon, they will be doomed!”
Early in the next morning, Su Muge got up and prepared her medical kit. After breakfast, she got on the carriage from General Mansion.
General Valgime’s mansion was on Third Avenue in the capital. The carriage did not stop at the front gate of General Mansion but directly entered the mansion through the side door.
In a while, the carriage stopped steadily.
“Miss Su, here we are.”
Su Muge got out of the carriage carrying her medical kit.
A maid in a nattier-blue dress came forward. “Miss Su, I pay my respects to you. I’m Shuhua. Madam has already been waiting for you. Please follow me.”
Su Muge nodded and followed her.
“I wonder what has been wrong with Madam General.”
On hearing that, the maid paused and slightly frowned.
It was normal for a doctor to ask about the patient’s condition. However, looking at the maid’s face, she wondered if it was too hard for her to talk about.
“Madam said that she hasn’t been able to sleep well recently, and she has often felt upset. We’ve invited the imperial doctor from the Palace for prescription, but after taking the medicine, she didn’t seem to get any better. It’s said that Miss Su is a highly-skilled doctor who has cured the plague, so we invited you here for a diagnosis.”
While speaking, the maid had taken Su Muge directly to the door of Madam General’s room.
“Sister Xianuan, Miss Su is here.” Shuhua walked to a maid in a pink dress and said respectfully.
Shuhua nodded at Su Muge, turned around and walked into the room.
Soon after that, she came out and led Su Muge in.
“Miss Su, please come in. Madam is inside.”
After Shuhua lifted the curtain, Su Muge bypa.s.sed a quartered screen with a painting of fairy cranes and saw Madam General leaning on the sofa.
Mrs. Lin (Madam General) seemed to be around thirty, wearing a moon-white stand-up collar coat, a pale red dress and a plain green jade hairpin in her hair. She looked simple but elegant, and indifferent.
Hearing the movement, Mrs. Lin opened her eyes and looked towards Su Muge.
The maids standing beside hurried up to hold her.
“Miss Su, you are here. Come and take a seat.”
There was an endeavored smile on Mrs. Lin’s face.
Su Muge stepped forward, bowed slightly and took the right-hand seat of Mrs. Lin.
“What’s troubling you, Mrs. Lin?”
Mrs. Lin’s eyes were a bit erratic, and she answered in a low voice, “I just can’t sleep well and have no appet.i.te, always feeling upset.”
Su Muge nodded. “Can I take your pulse, Madam?”
Mrs. Lin nodded and held out her hand.
Su Muge stepped forward and took her pulse for quite a while before she let go of her hand.
“Mrs. Lin, please show me your tongue.”
Mrs. Lin did as she said, and Su Muge had a careful check before sitting down.
“Judging from the pulse, you have no serious problem.”
Weak as her pulse was, it was very stable, so there was no big problem.
“Madam, I’m afraid your illness is not caused by your body but by your mind. If you want to recover, you’d better undo the knot in your heart.”
Only then did Mrs. Lin look up at Su Muge. “Miss Su, you are truly terrific. That’s right. I’m not sick. It’s someone else that I want you to treat today.”
Su Muge raised her eyebrows slightly. “Someone else?”