Chapter 83 Congratulations, you can be a couple even underground...
Yu'an waited at the mansion for several days before Madam Zhou finally arrived with a gift of thanks.
The matter of human trafficking has reached the Emperor's attention and has been handed over to the Three Judicial Offices.
Four or five days later, Madam Zhou's eyes were still swollen, and Yu An could still hear her crying as she spoke.
Every parent feels heartbroken to see their own daughter suffer such a cruel fate.
This was especially humiliating for a prefect, who was a man of high status.
“Our daughter told us that when you visited last time, you left them a bag of money, which is how they survived. Today, on behalf of my husband, I also promise you that if you ever need our help in the future, we will definitely do our best to help you.”
Yu An had no idea that her small act of kindness would lead to this outcome. As Madam Zhou left, the smile on her face remained unchanged.
Heart-protecting herbs are hard to find, so Yu-an didn't have high hopes.
The small plot of land belonging to the Chu family was a rare haven of tranquility in the vast capital city. However, within just one day, news of the Xia family case being thoroughly reinvestigated spread like wildfire, causing quite a stir.
Yu An couldn't stay at home, so she went to the palace.
The Empress Dowager had heard about the Zhou family's affairs and summoned them two days ago to get a general understanding of the situation. Coincidentally, Yu An came, and she also had some questions to ask.
Yu An raised her hand to press down the incense ash in the incense burner, while listening to the Empress Dowager's question.
It was just a matter concerning the Zhou family, so Yu'an answered truthfully, there was nothing to hide.
"As you know, I risked my life to file a lawsuit last year to clear my family's name. All the evidence pointed to the Xia family. But after the case was closed, during the three months I spent at Tantuo Temple, I remembered something strange. Before my father had his accident, he left me a letter. My father's personal steward said that it was obtained from the deaf and mute servant of the Xia family."
"Because I had tattoos on my body, I thought of investigating the estates under the Xia family, which led to the current situation."
The Empress Dowager put down her prayer beads and sighed, "This Xia Zhao is truly vicious. All the more than one hundred people in the village were abducted. I saw the Zhou family's daughter; she was such a beautiful child. It's such a pity that she was poisoned and made mute and deaf."
Yu An lit incense, and as she smiled, her eyes looked towards the Empress Dowager. "Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty to have the imperial physicians of the Imperial Hospital take a good look and see if they can cure this patient..."
Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, the Empress Dowager laughed at her for being so soft-hearted, saying, "Why are you so soft-hearted?"
Yu An smiled and lowered her head, saying nothing more.
"Actually, I also have other matters to ask the Empress Dowager."
Yu An stood up and said, “The Empress Dowager is the mother of the royal family and has the role model of a mother to the whole country. The government has cracked down on it severely, but there are still a lot of women and children being sold on the streets and alleys. Even the daughter of the prefect has not been spared. I beg the Empress Dowager to protect the safety of the women and children of our dynasty.”
The Empress Dowager pondered for a moment, "I have heard you say that you have seen him on the streets of Lizhou."
Yu An knelt on the ground, saying, "Not a single lie was told."
"I know, please get up."
Yu An slowly stood up and saw the Empress Dowager leaning back on the couch, so she simply stood quietly to the side and listened to her speak.
"I don't concern myself with matters of the court. Even when the women of the inner palace are involved, it's always the Empress who does it. I will listen to what you say, but I also want to remind you that you should only say these things to me and not spread them around."
"I was also moved by the Zhou family's situation, so naturally I won't stand idly by."
That last sentence was a reassurance to Yu'an.
Isn't it just a fear that the waves we stir up aren't high enough? Then let's stir things up even more, for fear that someone will underestimate us, for fear that someone will forget us.
"I thank the Empress Dowager on behalf of those people. With the Empress Dowager's intervention, things are bound to be good."
The Empress Dowager smiled and said that she loved to say nice things to coax her. Yu An denied it outright, and the two naturally returned to their usual joking manner.
"When I'm with you, it often feels like I've gone back to when I was younger. I always feel like I haven't aged at all, just like before I got married. I can laugh like an idiot over the smallest things..."
Yu An put away her smile and said gently, "It shows that my trip was worthwhile; at least I made the Empress Dowager truly happy."
The Empress Dowager suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, the reason I wanted to see you was to ask you about your plans for marriage."
Yu'an looked up, meeting her eyes with a blank expression, "What are your plans?"
"Don't play dumb. What I mean is, have you taken a fancy to anyone, or is someone else interested in you?"
Yu An: "Of course not, I never thought about remarrying."
Empress Dowager: "Why wouldn't you want to? You and Ji Jinghe are already divorced, and you're both married. Why wouldn't you want to?"
"I've found someone for you. He's never been married and is currently an official in the Hanlin Academy, though his rank is rather low, unlike the Ji family, which is so wealthy and powerful..."
Yu An blushed and waited until the Empress Dowager finished speaking before shaking her head and speaking.
"I just left, I'm not in a hurry to look for someone, and I don't want to..."
"Could it be that you still can't let go of Ji Jinghe?"
"no."
The Empress Dowager sighed, "He's already been dismissed from his post, and you still care? Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your brother."
"Dismissed? Why...?"
Seeing her surprised expression, the Empress Dowager became even more certain of her answer and said irritably, "Let's not concern ourselves with matters of the court. Tell me, what exactly do you mean?" She refused in every way, and her expression was no longer as pleasant as before. In fact, she looked as if she were facing a formidable enemy. Her cheeks were flushed, but she refused to budge and did not even want to see the person she was referring to.
There was no way to force them to do this, so I simply let it go.
As Yu'an emerged from Shou Kang Palace, a gust of cold wind blew against her burning face, offering a brief respite from the heat.
Snow had accumulated on both sides of the passageway, and coarse salt had been scattered on the bluestone bricks. Although palace servants were sweeping it, it was still no match for the unpredictable weather, and a layer of ice had silently formed on the ground.
Baozhu helped Yu'an, and the two walked slowly.
"In my opinion, the young lady should ask the Empress Dowager to keep an eye on her marriage. If she doesn't like this one, who knows, she might find someone she likes in the future."
Yu An carefully watched the path beneath her feet and said in a low voice, "You silly girl, I'm not in a hurry, why are you in such a hurry?"
"This isn't like trying to read a script while riding a donkey; we'll see how it goes..."
The carriage stopped at the palace gate. The road ahead was quite long. Just as they arrived at the palace gate, they ran into Yan Ling, who had just gotten off the carriage.
The saying "enemies are always more hostile when they meet" is absolutely true, and Yan Ling's hatred seems to be even stronger than her own.
"You're always busy, coming to fawn over me again."
"Lord Yan's mouth hasn't changed at all. Be careful, or you'll suffer a great punishment because of that mouth in the future."
Yu An accepted all the insults without hesitation and returned them without holding back.
Just as there were no idle people at the palace gate, Yan Ling spoke his mind and did not intend to let her off easily. Yu An could see that, and before he could speak, she glared back fiercely.
"Lord Yan is very busy with official duties, unlike me, a woman confined to my chambers. After all, I owe you a debt of gratitude for allowing me to be poisoned, don't you think?"
Yan Ling sneered, a sinister glint in his eyes, "Then congratulations to you, that you can also be a pair of star-crossed lovers with Ji Jinghe in the underworld."
Startled, Yu An was still processing what had happened when the man looked away and scoffed, “It seems you don’t know that Ji Jinghe, whom you once deeply loved, lost not only his position as Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies but also his position as Censor-in-Chief to save you that day, and now he’s about to lose his life.”
"But don't worry, his injuries are more serious than yours, and he'll die faster than you. He'll be good at scouting the road to the underworld for you."
The arrogant face from before vanished instantly, replaced by almond-shaped eyes that stared intently at him, her expression dark and unpleasant.
"Yan Ling, you're talking nonsense!"
Yan Ling didn't take it seriously, "Believe it or not."
"Chu Yu'an, you really should think about your own problems. From childhood to adulthood, almost everyone you've been associated with has ended up badly. If I were you, I would have no face to live in this world long ago."
After uttering those last words, Yan Ling turned and left. Yu An looked back, her heart filled with only lingering anger.
His words were like empty words that passed through her ears. Yu An clearly remembered them, but they didn't stay in her heart. Unbeknownst to her, a faint soreness was seeping into her chest, quietly seeping into her heart.
Yan Ling wasn't lying. They had known each other since childhood. She didn't have many close friends when she was young, but one by one they would get into trouble, either breaking bones or falling seriously ill for no reason.
After a while, she had no friends left.
Years ago, those words sounded like a sharp blade that could cut through iron like mud, and they still do today.
Sitting in the carriage, she recalled the scene at the Imperial College that day.
No wonder he was able to quickly take out the medicine from his pocket; he probably prepared it for himself and didn't expect to use it on her.
It seemed that Ji Jinghe's complexion had not been good since he went to Jiangling.
Was he injured that day?
She asked out of the blue.
Baozhu took a breath, paused for a couple of seconds, and then nodded. "It seems... when Grandpa carried you back that day, he seemed to have an injury on his arm, but he didn't say anything, so I didn't pay attention. I also didn't hear Qingque mention it, so I thought it was nothing serious..."
Yu An: "If he doesn't say, who would know?"
It sounded like a complaint, or perhaps anger, but there was no sign of concern.
Baozhu remained silent for a while, then hesitated before saying something kind.
"After all, you got poisoned because of the girl, so don't be angry. The old man didn't say anything, probably because he was thinking of the people around him."
There is also an elderly person in the Ji family who is ill. If this were to indicate that Ji Jinghe is "not long for this world," they probably wouldn't be able to bear it.
Not only her, Yu An also had her own considerations. It was precisely because she understood Ji Jinghe's situation and predicament that a sense of resentment arose in her heart for no reason.
I had just gotten home and the chill hadn't completely dissipated when I sat down at my desk.
After writing the letter, he handed it to Baozhu and quickly sent someone to deliver it to Li Baozhong in Changping.
Her uncle has been selling herbs for many years and is very knowledgeable. If given the opportunity, he might be able to find the whereabouts of the Heart-Protecting Herb someday.
Now, not only does she need it, but Ji Jinghe does too.
Just then, Baozhu brought over a medicine bottle and hot water, and reminded her to take the medicine on time.
"The young lady hasn't had a relapse since taking this medicine, so she might be mostly recovered. Let's see what the imperial physician says when he comes tomorrow."
If it's really as I imagine, that would be wonderful.
Who would willingly entrust their life to fleeting days, constantly remembering that they might die at any moment... No one.
Yu An was on tenterhooks all day, but when the imperial physician arrived the next day, he was greatly disappointed.
The imperial physician knew nothing when asked and could not answer what she wanted to hear.
"Lord Ji's condition is similar to that of the lady, but as for the degree of severity, I must admit I do not know."
How could the head of the Imperial Medical Academy not know? He was introduced by Ji Jinghe.
Yu An guessed that Ji Jinghe had made arrangements for him, not wanting him to talk about it in detail, so he didn't make things difficult for him. He asked Baozhu to pack some things and planned to go to the Ji residence to find out the truth.
Ji Jinghe's dismissal was no small matter.
Just as she finished changing her clothes and was about to leave, she heard the news that Chu Zhuoan and Duoluo had both disappeared.
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Author's Note: The next chapter is about the younger brother!
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