Chapter Sixty-Six: Doubts Surround Mu Mu's Origins
Zhao Yu returned to the Duke's mansion.
He didn't go through the main gate, but instead used his light-foot technique to return to Songchi Courtyard.
After a quick bath, Zhao Yu put on a black robe and came out of the bathroom, the belt around his waist casually tied.
In the mirror, two teeth marks, one higher and one lower, appeared on Zhao Yu's left shoulder and neck, and on his right shoulder.
The wounds from Red Leaf Valley and the fight with Xiao Qingyan had not yet healed, and now another wound has been added.
The new wound is a little above the collar, and it will be visible even when wearing an undershirt. The previous bite has healed, leaving only a faint mark.
Xu Chumian had just lost her temper and even tried to bite him without regard for her position, which showed how angry she was.
When Guan Yan came to deliver medicine to Zhao Yu, he was shocked to see the bloody wound.
"Sir, what's wrong now?"
When Guan Yan got closer and saw the injury clearly, he awkwardly took a step back. No wonder the young master wasn't angry.
It must have been Miss Xu who did it.
Guan Yan chuckled twice.
Zhao Yu glanced at it, and Guan Yan immediately fell silent.
Zhao Yu frowned slightly. "Bring me the wound medicine."
Guan Yan will present it immediately.
Zhao Yu expressionlessly wiped the wound with a handkerchief, and after it dried, he casually applied some ointment.
If Xu Chuming knew that he was showing off his wound in public, she would definitely be angry with him again.
The following day, Zhao Lingyao arrived at Songchi Academy with a bitter and resentful expression, preparing for the assessment.
Although the girl was nervous, she thankfully passed the test in the end.
Zhao Yu said calmly, "Prepare well."
"Okay!"
Zhao Lingyao left in high spirits. With her elder brother vouching for her, her mother would surely agree to let her go to Luming Academy.
Not far from where Zhao Lingyao had gone, she ran into her aunt, Madam Zhang.
Lady Zhang herself had no daughters, but she always doted on Zhao Lingyao.
"Yaoyao, are you going to see your older brother?"
Zhao Lingyao chuckled twice, flirted with Zhang Shi for a while, and then ran off in a flash.
Zhang regretted not having a daughter, so upon seeing Zhao Yu, her first words were: "He'an, you should get married quickly, so that you and your husband can give me a granddaughter."
Zhao Yu looked helpless. "Mother."
"I was just joking with you, you child, you can't even take a joke properly."
Zhao Yu did not respond.
Madam Zhang glanced at her son a few times, then frowned and asked Guan Yan.
"Guanyan, your master has lost a lot of weight recently. How have you been taking care of him?"
Guan Yan immediately felt as if he had thorns in his back.
The young master is so busy every day that he's spinning like a top. He has injuries that he doesn't take good care of, and they keep recurring. It would be a miracle if he didn't lose weight.
Zhao Yu: "I've just been busy with official duties lately, so Mother doesn't need to worry."
Madam Zhang frowned. Zhao Yu had lost weight and his cheeks were slightly sunken. She was still worried. "Is his injury not healed yet? Go and ask the doctor to come and take a look."
Suddenly, Zhang noticed something unusual under Zhao Yu's collar.
What happened to your shoulder?
Zhao Yu's expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of distress. "It's just a minor injury, something that happened a few days ago."
Zhao Yu covered the wound with a thin layer of gauze, making it impossible to see the details of the wound.
Madam Zhang then advised, "He'an, you hold a high position; there's no need for you to do everything yourself."
Zhao Yu nodded, "Mother, there's no need to worry."
Madam Zhang sighed inwardly and repeatedly reminded Guan Yan to keep a close eye on Zhao Yu and prevent him from taking any risks.
Even the meals delivered at noon were highly nourishing medicinal dishes.
Not long after the meal, the bodyguard Zhao Qi came to report: "Master, there is news about Third Aunt's matter."
Zhao Yu frowned. "Speak."
“The Prince of Ding also attended the New Year’s Eve banquet that year, but he left after a short time. My third aunt had two head maids serving her back then. One of them went to Jiangnan with her, while the other, named Zijuan, stayed in the capital and got married.”
"My subordinate found Zijuan and used her man to coerce and entice her into speaking," Zhao Qi said with a strange expression. "According to Zijuan, Third Aunt originally intended to drug Prince Ding during the New Year's Eve banquet... but Prince Ding became suspicious and left the palace early. Third Aunt was drugged and then had sex with the palace guards..."
Zhao Yu's phoenix eyes were dark. "Continue."
"According to Zijuan, by the time the Duke and the old lady found out, it was too late. Since it was at a palace banquet and it concerned the reputation of the Third Aunt, it was not convenient to let His Majesty and the others know. The old lady and the Duke did not kill the guard, but had to give him silver to appease him."
"It just so happened that Xu Yubai went to the capital to take the imperial examination and fell in love at first sight with his third aunt, who was out for a walk. However, his third aunt discovered that she was pregnant and was preparing to break off contact with Xu Yubai. But Xu Yubai was determined to marry her and took her back to Jiangnan to get married. After that, he returned to the capital to participate in the imperial examination in March, but he did not pass. So he later returned to Jiangnan to do business."
After saying this, Zhao Yu's expression turned somber.
"What about the guards?"
"It disappeared without a trace the day after the palace banquet."
Behind the desk, Zhao Yu lightly tapped the surface with his fingers, his cold voice ringing out.
"Investigate Consort Ning."
This matter is inextricably linked to Consort Ning.
Since the child in Zhao Ying's womb was that guard's, and her father's family had no power, and her mother was just a disfavored young lady from the Duke's mansion, no one would have any reason to poison the child who was far away in Jiangnan.
A mocking smile played on Zhao Yu's lips.
"yes!"
The next day, Zhao Lingyao got up very early, which surprised the second wife of the Zhao family. She was preparing to go to school early, but she did not expect to run into her eldest brother at the door.
"Brother, are you going to the yamen?"
Zhao Yu said calmly, "Get on, I'll take you with me."
Just as Zhao Lingyao was about to get into the carriage, she coughed lightly, withdrew her foot, and nimbly boarded Zhao Yu's carriage.
On the way, Zhao Lingyao couldn't help but ask, "Brother, the Dali Temple and the school aren't on the same route."
Zhao Yu glanced over.
"I'm worried about you going to report for duty on your first day."
Zhao Lingyao: "..."
Zhao Lingyao chuckled twice, finding it impossible even to herself.
They soon arrived at the school gate.
Zhao Lingyao never expected that she would start eating gossip so quickly on her very first day.
At the school gate, Xingyang stopped a slender woman and they were talking about something.
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