Chapter 43 The medicine takes effect; a doctor is summoned for Shen Chu.

Hongxiu laughed heartily.

"This Miss Zhao is really something else. No matter how the Marquis and his wife tried to coax her, she wouldn't come down, clinging to the white silk."

He kept saying that he had lost his innocence and was too ashamed to face anyone, and that the only way out was to die.

The onlookers had all sorts of opinions, and the Marquis and his wife were furious. In the end, they had no choice but to promise that the heir would marry her.

Unexpectedly, Miss Zhao was quite clever. She insisted that the Marquis's wife write down the marriage certificate on the spot, since verbal agreements were not enough.

You didn't see it; when the Marquis was writing the marriage certificate, his wife was so angry she almost vomited blood.

Shen Chu smiled, not surprised by the result.

When Zhao Yufang went to the library to find her, she discovered the girl's ambition.

How could someone who had endured years of poverty and was blinded by the wealth of the capital easily let go of an opportunity that had been within their grasp?

"Do you think Madam will really allow the young master to marry Miss Zhao?"

What do you think?

Hongxiu rubbed her chin and shook her head. "I don't think so."

Shen Chu smiled; she also thought it wouldn't happen.

Given Chen's ruthlessness, she would surely find other ways to ruin Zhao Yufang.

Once the Chen family makes a move, it will be time for her to deal with them.

Chen Chu changed her clothes and went to the main courtyard.

Last night, Zhao Yufang made a scene for a long time, and the Marquis of Changning was extremely worried and couldn't sleep well all night, suffering from a splitting headache.

When Shen Chu arrived, he was having a doctor take his pulse.

"I heard you bought medicinal herbs last night to apologize to the Sixth Prince?" Marquis Changning asked. "What did the Sixth Prince say?"

Shen Chu bowed, "My son is already helping the Sixth Prince find a divine physician. The Sixth Prince hasn't said anything, nor has he shown any resentment towards the Marquis's mansion."

Marquis Changning's expression softened slightly as he inquired about Shen Chu's situation at the Censorate.

"Since you've just arrived at the Censorate, you must show great respect to your superiors and colleagues, keep a low profile in all matters, and remember not to disgrace the Marquis's residence..."

Shen Chu listened absentmindedly to Marquis Changning's self-righteous teachings, unconsciously scratching her arm twice.

Why do I feel increasingly itchy all over?

"Did you even listen to what I said?" Seeing that he didn't speak, Marquis Changning frowned and looked over, and was taken aback.

What happened to your face?

When Chen Chu came to her senses, she found her face was a little itchy. She subconsciously scratched it a couple of times, and a stinging pain came from her face.

I reached out and touched it, and felt a dense mass of granules, like millet grains.

As she endured waves of itching that surged through her body, she instantly understood.

"The Sixth Prince gave me itching powder."

As the name suggests, "itching powder" causes intense itching all over the body, making people scratch incessantly.

Her skin is sensitive, and after being poisoned, she not only experiences itching but also develops many rashes.

Marquis Changning was slightly taken aback, then breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Itching powder? It seems that the Sixth Prince is going to give you a minor punishment as a warning, and he probably won't pursue the matter any further."

Shen Chu...should she thank Pei Yuan?

Suppressing the urge to scratch her entire body, she bowed and took her leave, saying, "If Father has nothing else, I will return now."

Marquis Changning frowned and called out to the doctor who was outside writing prescriptions.

"Dr. Liu, please come and take a look at my son."

A plump, fair-skinned old man entered from the outer room; he was the physician who served the Changning Marquis's residence year-round.

"Young Master, please sit down. Let me take your pulse first."

Shen Chu's eyes flickered slightly.

The pulse of a woman is different from that of a man, and a doctor can immediately tell that she is a woman disguised as a man.

"No need. I also got itchy powder when I was a child. The abbot of the Taoist temple has a remedy that can cure it, and he told my son about it."

"My son will go back and get the medicine now."

Marquis Changning frowned in disapproval, “Medicine cannot be taken casually, especially folk remedies from a Taoist temple. What if it causes problems?”

"Dr. Liu has been with our family for so many years, his medical skills are reliable, let him take your pulse and prescribe medicine."

Shen Chu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly found an excuse to refuse.

“Father, you don’t know, I’ve been most afraid of taking bitter medicine since I was a child. I vomit as soon as I take it, so even if Doctor Liu takes my pulse, it’s no use. I really can’t swallow the medicine.”

Doctor Liu chuckled and said, "Young Master, there's no need to worry. You have a skin condition called tinea. You don't need to take any medicine; just some topical medication will suffice."

Shen Chu... You are so thoughtful.

Marquis Changning snorted, "It's just a matter of having a doctor take your pulse, why are you making such a fuss?"

Do you distrust Dr. Liu's medical skills? Or do you think I would harm you?

Shen Chu replied smoothly, "Then it can only be because they don't trust Doctor Liu's medical skills."

"You!" Marquis Changning was speechless, choked by the retort.

Doctor Liu said sarcastically, "Since the young master doesn't trust my medical skills, then forget it. I hope the young master can find a skilled imperial physician and recover soon."

After saying that, she angrily packed her medicine box, turned around and left.

Marquis Changning's headache worsened with anger.

"Doctor Liu has been living in the manor for many years and has always been very dedicated to his work. Your words have truly chilled his heart."

"Don't you even understand the principle of leaving room for maneuver in your speech? How can you speak so arrogantly?"

Shen Chu looked completely innocent. "My father asked me whether I didn't trust Doctor Liu's medical skills or you?"

Even tigers don't eat their cubs, so naturally the son trusts you; it can only mean he doesn't trust Doctor Liu's medical skills.

Marquis Changning's short beard trembled with anger. "Did I mean that? No, what did you say?"

Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs? Are you calling me a venomous tiger?

Chen Chu blinked. "Oh, it was a slip of the tongue. If Father is unhappy, I could say it's unworthy of a human being to eat one's own child? Or that a snail dies for its child?"

What's the difference?

It's the same old thing in a new bottle.

Marquis Changning felt his blood rush to his head with anger, and shouted, "Get out of here!"

"Son, farewell."

Shen Chu dodged the teacup that was thrown at her, turned around deftly and went out the door, shutting out the curses from the Marquis of Changning behind her.

With so many rashes all over my body, I can't go to the Inspectorate.

Shen Shu sent Hongxiu to the Inspectorate to ask for a day's leave.

Aunt Qiao came in from outside carrying scallion chicken and was startled when she saw the rash on Shen Chu's face.

What's wrong with you?

Shen Chu was gently wiping her face with the boiled honeysuckle water, and muttered, "I was ambushed by a villain."

Aunt Qiao suddenly jumped up, "Who? It's not Chen who's trying to harm you again, is it? I'm going to confront her."

"No, it's the Sixth Prince."

“The Sixth Prince.” Aunt Qiao blinked and plopped down.

Shen Chu raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Aren't you going to argue for me?"

Aunt Qiao rubbed her hands together with a grin, "The grudges between you and the Sixth Prince are too complicated for me to get involved in."

Chen Chu.....

Aunt Qiao put the scallion chicken aside, stepped forward and took the handkerchief, "Here, let me help you wash it."

The greasy aroma of scallion oil chicken wafted over, and Shen Chu couldn't help but turn her head and gag twice.

Aunt Qiao quickly reached out and patted her back, "What's wrong? Did you eat something bad?"

Chen Chu patted his chest, still feeling a faint nausea rising in his throat.

"No, it's just that the smell of scallion oil chicken suddenly makes me feel nauseous. Could the scallion oil chicken have gone bad?"

"How could that be? I bought it from someone who just cooked it; it's very fresh."

Aunt Qiao paused, then, remembering something, she exclaimed in surprise.