Chapter Fifty-Two: Duke Zhao Scolds the Third Party in Zhao State
Every time Zhao Yu left the Xu family, his expression was never pleasant.
Guan Yan kept her eyes down, pretending not to see the red marks on the young master's face and the wound on the corner of his mouth, and carefully drove the carriage back to the Duke's mansion.
Today, His Majesty has reinstated the Duke of Zhao to his original post, and the father and son happened to meet at the gate of the Duke's mansion.
Zhao Yu could only call out "Father" first.
The father and son headed into the mansion. Along the way, maids and servants noticed the marks on Zhao Yu's face and quickly lowered their heads.
Zhao Yu remained calm, as if nothing had happened, no different from any other day.
Duke Zhao shifted his gaze without revealing his expression. "I heard you arrested several spies a few days ago and imprisoned them at the Xishan camp?"
Zhao Yu responded with a "hmm".
Duke Zhao had almost figured out the matter between Zhao Yu and Xiao Qingyan by morning. He found out not only what had happened in the past few days, but also the month-long ambiguous relationship between the third branch of the family, Zhao Chenyu, and the two of them.
Duke Zhao sneered, "You're really something."
Zhao Yu's expression remained unchanged, as if he was determined to go through with it even if he knew it was a dead end.
Suddenly, the Duke of Zhao smelled a faint scent of rust.
"Your wound reopened?"
Zhao Yu didn't seem to care much, his expression indifferent: "It's just a minor injury."
The Duke of Zhao spoke with anger, "Don't go near your mother these next few days."
Zhao Yu responded with a "hmm".
Upon entering the study in the courtyard of the Duke of Zhao, the Duke stared at Zhao Yu for a while before speaking: "Why should a great man worry about not having a wife? If she is unwilling, why force her?"
Zhao Yu pursed his lips and remained silent.
The more the Duke of Zhao thought about it, the angrier he became. "She's your cousin's older sister! By all accounts, she should call you cousin. Even if you have ulterior motives, you can't treat her so disrespectfully!"
Zhao Yu then frowned slightly, "There is no contempt involved."
Duke Zhao sneered: "Then what about the injury on your face?!"
As for the wound on the corner of his mouth, Duke Zhao was too embarrassed to mention it!
Suddenly, Duke Zhao's expression changed. "You've been building this courtyard lately, and even sending your servants to find strange and unusual things. Is it all for her?"
Zhao Yu stood upright like a pine tree from beginning to end, his expression calm and composed. "I want to marry her."
Duke Zhao laughed.
I was so angry I laughed.
Duke Zhao lowered his voice and rebuked, "Miss Xu loves Xiao Qingyan, not you, Zhao He'an. How is your behavior any different from that of a third party?"
Zhao Yu's eyebrows twitched slightly as he stared intently at his father, his expression tense.
After a long pause, she finally spoke: "No, she likes me."
Duke Zhao was taken aback, looking at his son with a troubled expression.
Duke Zhao came from a military background and spent several years on the border in his early years. He had heard all sorts of unrestrained talk in the military camp, but he had never seen anyone as arrogant as Zhao Yu.
"They're a perfect couple, and you're the third party who's ruining their relationship!"
Zhao Yu pursed his lips, his expression grim.
Duke Zhao snorted coldly, "A gentleman should know what to do and what not to do. He'an, I have never asked you to be as enlightened as a saint, but the descendants of the Zhao family should know the principles of ethics and morality. If this matter gets out, what will people in the streets and alleys say about you?!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu's expression remained unchanged. "If Father came here to say these things, there's no need for that."
After saying that, Zhao Yu turned around, pushed open the door, and left.
Back at Songchi Courtyard, Zhao Yu's face was still gloomy.
He took off his outer robe, revealing his inner garment stained red with blood.
My shoulders, chest, and abdomen were all red.
Xu Chumian did all of this.
Guan Yan hurriedly brought over the ointment, and Zhao Yu moved swiftly, as if he felt no pain, applying the ointment and then putting on gauze.
Guan Yan brought over the medicine.
Zhao Yu's face remained gloomy. In his past life, if he was injured, Chu Mian would be the most anxious, rushing to apply medicine and help him recover, and she would secretly shed many tears, unlike her indifferent reaction now.
Thinking of the past, Zhao Yu's chest heaved, as if many silver needles were churning inside, causing the corners of his eyes to redden.
Guan Yan said tremblingly, "Master, drink your medicine."
Zhao Yu took it and drank it down in one gulp.
Guan Yan couldn't help but say, "Those lips..."
Zhao Yu glanced at Guan Yan indifferently, and Guan Yan fell silent.
Zhao Yu: "Get down."
Guan Yan: "Yes."
"Wait," Zhao Yu called out to Guan Yan. "Give the order to make a bow and arrow that a young child can use."
Guan Yan was taken aback. "Yes."
When Mu Mu was young, she was protected by Xu Chumian. When Mu Mu grew older and became more sensible, she took on the responsibility of protecting her older sister.
Whenever Zhao Yu angered Xu Chumian, Mu Mu would stand guard at the door, preventing Zhao Yu from entering. Not only that, she would also occupy the bed next to Xu Chumian, acting as Xu Chumian's guardian star.
Zhao Yu let out a deep breath, "Get it done as soon as possible."
Zhao Yu was the only one left in the room.
His long shadow stretched to the ground, and the dim light blurred Zhao Yu's face.
...
That night, Xu Chumian had two dreams, both about Zhao Yu. She couldn't remember the details of the dreams, but they were all about Zhao Yu relentlessly pursuing her.
Xu Chumian got up early in the morning and sat in the courtyard with a gloomy expression.
Mu Mu came to her sister's side and shook her sister's wrist: "Let's eat."
Xu Chumian's expression softened slightly. After having breakfast with Mu Mu, she went to see Doctor Chen next door.
When Dr. Chen saw her, he shook his head. "Young people's affairs are really complicated."
"The missing ingredient has been purchased, and the treatment is now almost halfway complete. It will take another three or four months to basically finish."
Xu Chumian followed Doctor Chen's gaze and saw a medicinal herb in a bamboo basket under the eaves.
She nodded slowly and sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, Dr. Chen."
The rotten flesh on Mu Mu's face decreased day by day, and the drooping eyelid of her left eye gradually opened up, allowing both eyes to see normally.
Mu Mu chimed in, her voice still sweet and childlike, "Thank you... Dr. Chen."
Doctor Chen stroked his beard and shook his head. He looked at Xu Chumian and asked, "Does Miss Xu remember when this strange illness appeared?"
Xu Chumian shook her head. She only remembered that one morning when she woke up, her stepmother Zhao Ying's courtyard was in chaos. Her younger sister's left cheek was red, and it got worse and worse.
Xu Chumian frowned: "Dr. Chen has discovered something else?"
Dr. Chen opened his mouth, but swallowed the words he wanted to say.
Fine, he'd better tell Zhao Yu anyway.
If this gets out, it could bring death to Xu Chumian and her sister, who have no way to protect themselves.
Dr. Chen decided to keep quiet for now, "No, I was just asking out of curiosity."
Dr. Chen then added, "The little girl is very smart and learns to read quickly. Have you thought about sending her to school?"
Xu Chumian's original plan was that if the treatment period was long, she would teach her younger sister at home, which would be better than her being bullied by others while studying outside. Now that the treatment process is faster than in her previous life, Xu Chumian has other ideas.
Choosing a school and hiring a tutor requires careful consideration.
Before we knew it, it was Mu Mu's birthday.
When Liu Da opened the door in the morning, he saw a long box placed at the doorway.
When the box was opened, there was a bow that a young child could use, which was studded with jewels.
Mu Mu loved it. She ran around the yard with the little bow in her arms.
Xu Chumian stared at the empty box on the table, her expression unreadable.
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