Qu's
Xiao Yue took three days off due to illness. Today the academy is closed for ten days, so Lin Yan wanted to go and see how Xiao Yue was recovering.
It happened that Zhong Ningning came to the Lin Mansion to find her, so Lin Yan took her to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
In the Zhenguogong Mansion
Xiao Yue sat in front of the mirror and asked Azhu to put on makeup for her. She didn't want Master Lin to see her pale look.
Ah Zhu looked at the frail appearance of his young lady and said distressedly: "Miss, why don't you talk to Master Lin? The medicine prescribed by Doctor Zhang in the mansion is useless. Mrs. Qu insisted that the doctors outside the mansion are not good and would not allow us to invite a doctor from outside the mansion. If this goes on, how can your illness be cured?"
"It's okay, it will be fine in a few days." Xiao Yue's expression darkened. "I don't want to make Master Lin worry."
Thinking of the scene a few days ago when she was sick and Master Lin carried her back home, Xiao Yue's lips curled up. It would be great if Master Lin was there every time she was sick.
In the past, Xiao Yue hated being sick the most because Mrs. Qu would find many excuses to stop her from seeing a doctor, and every time she was sick, it took her a long time to recover.
Ah Zhu watched from the side, sighing helplessly, but there was nothing he could do.
Qu was married to Duke Xiao Jin seven years ago. At that time, Xiao Yue was only nine years old and he was still the crown prince. Everything was fine at first. However, Xiao Yue's mother, Gu, was deeply saddened by the fate of her second daughter. She developed mental problems due to her growing regret and went crazy.
The health of the Duke of Zhenguo was deteriorating. He knew that he would pass away soon. There was no mistress in the mansion. The Duke of Zhenguo knew that the mansion would not be able to survive after he was gone, so he arranged an excellent marriage for the prince so that there would be someone to help him after he was gone.
When Qu first got married, she treated Xiao Yue very well, and never badly treated her in terms of food, clothing, housing and transportation. But after the Duke's death, the Crown Prince inherited the Duke's title. In order to support this huge Duke's Mansion, and because the Song Dynasty was in turmoil in those years, the Duke was often away fighting.
However, Qu gradually became resentful because of this. She blamed Xiao Jin for leaving her alone in the empty room and having no children. Later, she found out why Xiao Jin didn't want to have children. It was all for his good sister Xiao Yue. If she gave birth to a child, she would definitely not treat Xiao Yue sincerely.
When Qu discovered the truth, she took out all her anger on Xiao Yue. As long as the Duke of Zhenguo was not at home, she would find ways to make Xiao Yue's life miserable.
After that, Xiao Yue was always short of food and clothing, and could not see a doctor when she was sick. Qu would beat and scold her when she got angry. At that time, Xiao Yue was only twelve years old.
Ah Zhu wanted to tell the Duke everything, but was stopped by Xiao Yue. Xiao Yue said, "The Duke's Mansion is no longer what it used to be. It still needs the support of my sister-in-law's family. We can't put my brother in a difficult position."
Ah Zhu stomped his feet in anger. If the Madam hadn't gone crazy and the Second Young Miss hadn't been lost, his own young lady wouldn't have had such a hard life.
When she was older, in order to protect her own reputation, Qu stopped beating Xiao Yue and even sent her to an academy. However, Xiao Yue's life in the academy was not easy. There were people ordered by Qu who were always trying to make things difficult for her. This was why no one was close to Xiao Yue in the academy at the beginning.
The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion has been thriving in recent years. Young ladies who don't know the ins and outs of it may be afraid of Xiao Yue's identity, but none of the noble ladies who know about it would look up to her.
Before the age of twelve, Xiao Yue was loved by her brothers and spoiled by her parents, and she lived a carefree life. But after the age of twelve, Xiao Yue had nothing, which made her timid and afraid to resist or cause trouble to others.
Xiao Yue looked at herself in the mirror, her complexion still rosy after putting on makeup, nodded with satisfaction, coughed lightly, and instructed: "Azhu, Master Lin should be here soon, you go wait outside the mansion."
Azhu: “Yes.”
For the sake of her own reputation, Qu Shi would not stop anyone from looking for Xiao Yue, and never stopped outsiders from entering the mansion. But it can also be said that she never thought that anyone would be friends with Xiao Yue. After all, based on what she had done over the years, she didn't think anyone would be willing to get close to Xiao Yue. Lin Yan and Zhong Ningning smoothly followed Azhu into the mansion.
Walking along the corridor and passing by a pool, a lady suddenly appeared, grabbed Lin Yan's hand and shouted: "Yan'er, are you Yan'er?"
Lin Yan gathered her strength when this person rushed over, but when she saw her slightly old face, she immediately lost her strength and looked at Azhu in confusion.
Azhu hurriedly pulled Mrs. Gu and said, "Madam, you are wrong. She is not the second lady."
The nanny who was chasing Madam Gu also caught up and said in a gentle voice, "Madam, let's go."
Mrs. Gu refused to go no matter what, with a willful expression on her face, "I won't go back, I want to find Yan'er", and pointed at Lin Yan, "She is my Yan'er."
Seeing that Madam Gu refused to leave, Azhu and the nanny both looked embarrassed. The nanny bowed to Lin Yan and the others and said, "I'm sorry, Madam is in a good mood today. I wanted to take her out for a walk and get some fresh air, but I was distracted and let her run away."
If my guess is correct, this person is Xiao Yue's mother, Madam Gu. It is said that Madam Gu is in poor health. Now it seems that Madam Gu is not just sick.
Lin Yan winked at Zhong Ningning, who understood and quietly felt Mrs. Gu's pulse.
Seeing Zhong Ningning nodded, Lin Yan took Mrs. Gu's arm and whispered, "Can we go back to the yard?"
Miraculously, Mrs. Gu listened to Lin Yan's words and went back as the nanny held her hand.
Ah Zhu looked at this scene and felt strange, "When Madam becomes willful, she won't listen to anyone, but Master Lin just said one sentence and was able to persuade Madam."
"Mrs. Gu treats me as her daughter, so she will naturally listen to me," Lin Yan explained.
"So that's how it is." After saying that, Ah Zhu was stunned for a moment, "How do you know she is..."
"It's hard not to let others know if you keep calling me Madam," Lin Yan consoled her. "Don't worry, we won't tell anyone what we just saw."
Azhu breathed a sigh of relief and continued to lead the way: "Master Lin, let's go. The young lady must be waiting anxiously."
Lin Yan nodded and looked in the direction where Mrs. Gu left as she left. She wondered why she felt a little strange in her heart just now.
Seeing that Lin Yan had not come yet, Xiao Yue became a little anxious and stood at the door looking around.
Azhu brought Lin Yan and the other man into the yard. Seeing his young lady outside in the wind, he hurried into the house, took out a cloak and put it on her, complaining, "Miss, it's so cold, why don't you stay indoors? Be careful that your condition gets worse."
"It's not cold," Xiao Yue said guiltily, then looked at Lin Yan with a smile, "Master Lin, you are here."
Zhong Ningning teased: "Oh, you act like I don't exist."
"I saw it," Xiao Yue stuck out her tongue, "It was intentional."
Ah Zhu looked at his young lady with satisfaction. Only when she was with them did she become more lively.
"Cough" Xiao Yue couldn't help but coughed softly. Her breathing was a little difficult, so she exhaled carefully. She thought no one noticed, but when she looked up, she saw Lin Yan looking at her seriously.
Xiao Yue's breathing tightened and she tried to get away with it, "Come in and have some tea."
The weather was cold, so Lin Yan followed her into the house. After Azhu closed the door, he said, "You are not well yet."
"No, I'm much better." Xiao Yue looked at Lin Yan calmly, afraid that she would find out.
Lin Yan was no match for her little trick, so he exposed her directly: "You put powder on your face, are you trying to cover up something?"
Seeing that she couldn't hide it any longer, Xiao Yue didn't dare to tell anyone about Qu's affairs. She quickly came up with an excuse: "The medicine is too bitter, I don't like to drink it."
After hearing what the young lady said, Ah Zhu hesitated to speak, sighed silently, and helped the young lady to cover up the lie: "Yes, Master Lin, tell me about my young lady. She refuses to take the medicine."
The master and servant worked together seamlessly, and Zhong Ningning believed it. Lin Yan thought they were hiding something, but since they were unwilling to say it, he didn't force them.
"Qu Zhi was expelled from the academy"
When Xiao Yue heard Lin Yan suddenly mention Qu Zhi, she was stunned for a moment, then realized who she was talking about and asked, "Why was she expelled from the academy?"
Lin Yan unconsciously turned his fingers to the teacup and looked at Xiao Yue, "The academy found out that the person who pushed you into the water was Qu Zhi, and the person who repeatedly bullied and framed you was also Qu Zhi. And those who bullied you in the academy have also received the punishment they deserved."
"Why does Master Lin know all this..." Xiao Yue's throat was a little dry, and she didn't dare to look into Lin Yan's eyes.
"If I don't investigate, do you want to keep it a secret and swallow all the grievances?" Lin Yan's voice was filled with anger. Somehow, seeing Xiao Yue like this, his heart ached.
"It's not like that..." Xiao Yue waved her hands in panic, but she had no way to explain.
Zhong Ningning asked in confusion: "Ayue, you are the legitimate sister of the Duke of Zhenguo after all, why do they bully you?"
Xiao Yue didn't say anything, lowered her head so that no one could see her expression, and the atmosphere in the room became heavy.
After listening to the conversation between several people, Azhu was very upset when she learned that Qu Zhi was expelled from the academy. Before, the young lady had been giving in again and again because of the other party's identity, and no one supported her. The young lady didn't know how much grievance she had suffered because of her.
Seeing that Lin Yan could easily solve his young lady's troubles, Azhu made a decision, knelt down in front of Lin Yan, and told him everything that Qu had done.
Xiao Yue hurriedly tried to stop Azhu, but Azhu was determined to tell everything this time. The young lady had suffered for so many years, and finally someone had supported her. Azhu did not want to miss this opportunity.
Zhong Ningning was stunned after hearing this and said angrily: "How can there be such a vicious sister-in-law? Doesn't the Duke of Zhenguo care?"
After saying this, Ah Zhu was already in tears, and she choked up as she spoke: "The young lady doesn't allow us to tell this to the Duke, for fear of causing trouble for him. Besides, the Qu family comes from a wealthy and prominent family, and the young lady is afraid that the Duke will offend the Qu family because of her."
Azhu looked at Lin Yan hopefully, hoping that she could rescue the young lady from this dire straits, but Lin Yan remained silent, and Azhu's heart instantly withered.
Yes, even if Master Lin is the sister of the Dali Temple Minister, how could she possibly offend the Qu family for the young lady? What's more, this is a family affair of the Zhenguo Mansion.
Seeing Lin Yan's drooping eyelids, it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Ah Zhu thought that it was Lin Yan and there was nothing he could do.
But Zhong Ningning felt her sister's low mood and knew that she was angry, so she lowered her head and drank some tea, waiting for her sister to make a decision.
Xiao Yue never thought of asking anyone to deal with the Qu family, nor did she want Lin Yan to offend the Qu family for her. She was tough and said, "Azhu, these are my affairs and have nothing to do with Master Lin. Don't talk about these things in the future."
"It has nothing to do with me, so Miss Xiao San is planning to cut off all contact with me and continue to stay in this wolf's den?" Lin Yan's tone was cold, and his whole body was filled with chill.
Zhong Ningning shrank her neck. It was over. Her sister was really angry now.
Xiao Yue's eyes were red and tears kept flowing out, "No, it's not like that, I... I have always regarded Master Lin as my elder sister, and never thought of breaking off the relationship between us."
After saying that, Xiao Yue started coughing and felt a little dizzy. She grabbed the table and was about to fall down. Lin Yan supported her in time and called out, "Aning."
Zhong Ningning hurried over to take Xiao Yue's pulse, her brows furrowed.
"Her pulse is weak. Ayue has never been cured of this disease. She was very sad just now and her body can't hold on any longer."
Lin Yan turned to Azhu and asked, "Is there any medicine in your house?"
Azhu: "Yes, there is medicine, but the prescription was written by Doctor Zhang in the mansion. He is from the Qu family and the medicine he prescribed is completely useless."
"Atractylodes macrocephala, Coptis chinensis, Saposhnikovia divaricata..." Zhong Ningning listed a few medicinal herbs and asked, "Do you have them?"
Azhu was stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect Zhong Ningning to go back to the hospital. He immediately reacted and said, "I'll go and take a look."
Half an incense stick later, Azhu brought all the medicinal herbs available in the mansion and said, "I don't recognize these herbs, please take a look, young lady."
Zhong Ningning picked out the herbs, told Azhu the dosage and cooking temperature, and asked her to boil the medicine.
Half an hour later, Azhu boiled the medicine and fed it to Xiao Yue.
After Xiao Yue drank the medicine, she fell asleep completely. Zhong Ningning estimated and said to Lin Yan, "Ayue will probably sleep for a long time."
Looking at Xiao Yue's sleeping face, Lin Yan thought for a moment and said, "I'll take you home."
He turned to Azhu and said, "I will take care of Qu's problem. I will send someone to deliver the medicinal herbs she wants to drink. Just boil them according to the prescription given by Aning."
Azhu looked at Lin Yan with gratitude in his eyes, "Thank you, Master Lin."
Looking at the backs of Lin Yan and Zhong Ningning as they left, Azhu felt that the young lady's hard days were over.
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