Chapter 977 Doubt
Although Tang Ning's body was damaged, she recovered a lot in just a few days with Madam Qin around. After the poison in her body was eliminated, Madam Qin tried her best to recuperate her. Tang Ning felt that she was getting weaker day by day, but she still pretended to be sick in front of Lu Zhinian.
Lingyun Temple was crowded with pilgrims, but the Zen Courtyard in the back mountain was exceptionally quiet. People living in the temple only knew that a wealthy businessman from Jiangnan had come to the Zen Courtyard to pray for his seriously ill wife. In addition, Lu Zhinian never shy away from appearing in front of people, and always behaved generously and appropriately.
The monks in the temple "certified" their identities, so no one doubted their identities.
News from the capital continued to arrive. On the eighth day after Tang Ning was abducted from the capital, the army returned, and the news that Xiao Yan had been attacked and disappeared could not be concealed.
There was an uproar in the court and the capital was in chaos. Fortunately, Prince Ji returned to the capital with the army, and Cao Dejiang, Liang Guangyi and others were in charge of the court. In addition, although the queen was injured after giving birth to a daughter, she still sat firmly in the palace. Therefore, although people were in an uproar, at least there was no major chaos.
In the Baoming Palace, the wife of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Shao, and the eldest daughter-in-law of the Wenyuan Earl had just finished burning incense. When they stood up, the Shao family's nanny walked in quickly.
"Madam, a message has arrived from the palace saying that the court has been unstable these past few days. The attack on His Majesty has caused a huge uproar. Although Prince Ji is helping the Empress stabilize the court, the master is still worried that some restless people may have some intentions, so he asks you to return home as soon as possible."
Mrs. Shao frowned when she heard this. Her husband was promoted by His Majesty after he ascended the throne. Later, the Empress Dowager competed with the aristocratic families for power and used her husband to make him the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Their Shao family had been labeled as the emperor and empress very early on.
The Shao family relies on the emperor and empress, and the Ministry of Revenue is a position of real power coveted by countless people. Now that His Majesty has been attacked, she naturally understands what her husband is worried about.
Madam Shao turned her head to look at her niece who had married into the Wenyuan Marquis's mansion. Wenyuan Marquis's eldest son, Qu Yiming, had also gone to the northwest and later followed His Majesty to the tent. She glanced around and lowered her voice:
"Ayin, do you know what happened when His Majesty was attacked?"
Madam Qu shook her head. "I don't know either. I only know that His Majesty was attacked near Pingchong Mansion and later fell off a cliff and disappeared. The Empress's previous shock in childbirth was due to this incident. However, the palace sent the Black Armor Guards to Pingchong Mansion a long time ago."
Mrs. Shao's face looked a little bad: "What is going on..."
The battle of Beiling finally ended. The Wei Dynasty won a great victory and completely conquered Beiling. It should have been a cause for celebration for the whole country, but who could have expected such an accident to happen? Although the Queen gave birth to a little princess, she is just a daughter after all. If something really happened to His Majesty, there would probably be chaos in the court again.
Madam Qu Shao was also a little worried. Her husband, Qu Yiming, was a close ally of His Majesty. He had made great contributions on the northwest battlefield and was appreciated by His Majesty. Originally, as long as he could return to the court smoothly, he would surely have a bright future and the Wenyuan Marquis's Mansion would also prosper. But who knew that His Majesty would suddenly get into trouble. Qu Yiming, who was supposed to return to the court with the army, led his men to Pingchong Mansion and has not returned yet.
"Aunt, don't worry too much. Yiming sent me a message earlier saying that the Empress had already sent the Black Armor Guards to search for them. Yiming and his men also led the troops there, and it seems that His Majesty has already arrived..."
"Donor Rong?"
Mrs. Qu was speaking when she suddenly heard the voice of a young monk outside the door. The words she hadn't finished were cut off instantly. She turned around and saw the thin man she had met once before standing outside the hall.
Mrs. Qu's eyes darkened. She was wondering if this man had heard something he shouldn't have heard, when she saw him responding to the young monk next to him in a very open and honest manner.
"I copied some Buddhist scriptures for my wife these past few days and wanted to offer them to the Buddha in Baoming Hall. I have already informed Master Huici about this."
The young novice monk quickly said, "So that's what's going on. Senior Brother Huici told me about it, and he's already prepared a place for the Buddhist scriptures. Please allow me and you to go in."
Lu Zhinian followed the young monk inside with the brocade box in his hand. When he arrived in front of the hall, he nodded to Madam Qu and the others in the inner room. Then, according to the instructions of the young monk, he placed the brocade box in an empty niche at the lower left of the Buddha statue. He knelt on the cushion with his hands clasped together and bowed with an extremely pious expression.
After he finished bowing, he stood up and apologized to the two women beside him, "I didn't realize you two were talking in the inner room just now. I accidentally overheard some of it outside the hall. I apologize, but don't worry, Rong is just a merchant, and I dare not say too much about your affairs."
Mrs. Shao didn't expect him to say that. Her expression softened slightly when she heard him say, "This matter is already known to everyone outside. It's not as serious as you say. However, it concerns the royal family, so we should be cautious."
"I understand."
Lu Zhinian said in a young voice, "In the past few years, the aristocratic families were rampant and the government was in chaos. Merchants like us had a hard time. After His Majesty ascended the throne, the court became much more tolerant towards merchants. Even the sons and nephews of merchants like us have the opportunity to take the imperial examinations and make a name for ourselves."
"Your Majesty has conquered Beiling and strengthened the Great Wei. You are an unprecedentedly good monarch. Rong also hopes that your Excellency will be well and the world will be peaceful."
Mrs. Shao's expression became even more amiable after hearing this.
Mrs. Qu was a little unhappy at first, but seeing that the businessman named Rong spoke frankly and she didn't say anything too important, she didn't pursue the matter. After Lu Zhinian left, she and Mrs. Shao came out of Baoming Palace.
Mrs. Shao said, "In the past, people said that merchants value profit, but this man values friendship."
"I heard from people in the temple that since the Rong couple entered Lingyun Temple, Mrs. Rong's old illness has relapsed. The Zen Monastery has been using her for medicine every day. Her husband even ordered people to buy medicine from outside at a high price. A few days ago, he spent three thousand taels of silver on a ten-year-old scorpion tail frost."
Madam Qu turned her head and asked, "How did my aunt know?"
Madam Shao said, "Of course it's because the scorpion tail cream happened to be from your grandmother's shop. I happened to see it when Manager Zhao was delivering the medicine up the mountain."
Her niece's mother, Xu, was from a family that sold medicines. However, few people knew about her because she married her brother and came to the capital. However, the two families still had contacts, and the Xu family's medicine business also spread to the capital.
Two days ago, she accidentally met the steward of the Xu family and asked him about it.
Madam Shao said, "And you don't know that there are more than a dozen servants in the Chanyu Courtyard. Their food, clothing, and daily necessities are all extremely fine. Madam Rong's husband is extremely concerned about her. He sends people back and forth to the foot of the mountain every day to buy her favorite snacks and food. This kind of care is not something that ordinary people can do."
Lingyun Temple is located halfway up Queshan Mountain, and it is not very convenient to go up and down the mountain. Although the Rong family is wealthy, even the richest families would rarely go to such lengths for a bite to eat.
Madam Rong has never left the Zen Garden since she entered the temple. She must be very sick, but her husband still takes care of her so carefully. The two of them are really in love.
Mrs. Qu frowned slightly as she listened to Mrs. Shao talking about the Zen Temple.
Scorpion tail cream?
This thing is rarely used on a daily basis, and ten-year-old scorpion tail cream is extremely rare. It can be used with other medicinal materials to prepare many unconventional soups, but it has absolutely no effect on healing the body.
Madam Rong was in poor health and had been bedridden for years. The last time I saw her, her steps were weak and she looked like she was suffering from a deficiency of Qi and blood. Even the medicines on her body were mostly for replenishing Qi and blood. Even if her old illness had relapsed, she shouldn't have needed Scorpion Tail Cream.
This stuff is mostly used to detoxify...
Mrs. Qu Shao became suspicious. Was Mrs. Rong really "sick"?
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