Chapter 11 This Must Be a Trap
Feng Qingsui picked out a part of the thank-you gift sent by Princess Shouyang and gave it to Qi.
He kept a few pieces of satin and some jewelry for himself, and pawned the rest for five hundred gold.
Just as she was discussing with Wuhua whether Fanlou could give her an extra 500 gold, Fanlou sent someone to deliver a visiting card to Ji's house.
Qiao Zhenzhen actually wanted to meet her.
"Is this true?"
She almost thought she had met a scammer.
The person who delivered the invitation replied, "Miss Qiao has been experiencing wrist pain lately. She has seen several doctors but to no avail. I heard you are an excellent doctor, so I'd like you to take a look."
Feng Qingsui was even more surprised: "How did Miss Qiao know that I know medical skills?"
"It's been rumored in the red-light district that no doctor in the capital could cure Princess Shouyang's son's illness, but you cured him with just one stroke. They also say you are kind-hearted and treat all patients equally, regardless of their status.
Even if I have syphilis, as long as I kowtow a few times in front of the Ji Mansion, you will treat me."
Feng Qingsui: “…”
Isn’t this a rumor?
Treating syphilis for a prostitute is not a good reputation. If those noble ladies knew about it, they would definitely not associate with her.
The person who spread the rumor was trying to throw dirty water on her.
After returning to Beijing, she offended only a few people, and she knew who was causing trouble with just a little thought.
However, she had no time to pay attention to any of the others for the time being. After listening, she replied to the message to Qiao Zhenzhen, asking her to arrange a time so that she could meet her in person at Fanlou.
After receiving the reply, Qiao Zhenzhen's pretty face was filled with astonishment.
Although people praised Feng Qingsui's kindness to the skies, she actually didn't quite believe it.
She was considered one of the best singers in the capital, but she was a prostitute who sold her art but not her body. Occasionally, she would perform in wealthy families, but those ladies would never even look at her, let alone condescend to associate with her.
It was rare enough that Feng Qingsui, the wife of a general, was willing to treat her, but she actually had to go to Fanlou in person?
It looks fake no matter how you look at it.
But the reply was firmly in her hands.
"What's going on..."
She was puzzled and told her adoptive mother, Fan.
Upon hearing this, Fan was horrified: "Oh no! Could it be that the Prime Minister who confiscated property has set his sights on our Fanlou?"
"This must be a trap!"
"I guess as soon as Madam Ji comes in, Prime Minister Ji will come with the Imperial Guards and accuse us of abducting a noble lady and seal off Fanlou."
Qiao Zhenzhen was dumbfounded.
"No, no way, we haven't committed any crime..."
"The treasury is short of money!"
Fan sighed.
"Why do you think he confiscates my property every day? It's to fill the treasury. Although our Fanlou is small, we have a cash cow like you. In his eyes, you are a big piece of fat meat."
Qiao Zhenzhen regretted it deeply: "Mom, it's all my fault. I sent the visiting card without consulting you..."
Mrs. Fan patted her shoulder.
"It's not your fault for not being on guard. Mother didn't expect this trick either. That person is more cunning than the ants on the ground. Even if we don't fall for him this time, there are other tricks waiting for us."
Ji Changqing, who was more cunning than an ant, sneezed in the office.
"Why is it so cold again?"
He was about to call Baifu to add more charcoal, but he caught a glimpse of the brazier full of charcoal sticks out of the corner of his eye and was slightly stunned.
Could it be that those censors who have nothing to do and have enough food to eat are writing memorials to criticize him again?
We have to find a way to deal with them...
Qiao Zhenzhen recently heard a guest scolding Prime Minister Ji, but she never thought that one day she would want to do the same.
How could he be so cunning as to use his widowed sister-in-law as bait to deceive a poor person like her!
She lost her mother at birth. When she was four years old, her father was framed and died in prison. The family property was also robbed. She was left alone on the streets and was lucky enough to survive because she was adopted by the Fan family.
The business of Fanlou was not good to begin with. The restaurant was full of prostitutes who were not outstanding in anything, and there were very few customers.
Fortunately, she was good-looking, had a golden voice, and studied music, chess, calligraphy and painting hard, which made Fanlou famous.
Who knew...
"Mom, why don't I reply to the post and say that I've taken care of it and she doesn't need to come."
Qiao Zhenzhen didn't want to watch Fanlou being raided.
"If she doesn't come, then that person won't be able to do anything to us, right?"
"You're too naive."
Fan sighed.
"Didn't those wealthy families think of a solution? They were raided anyway. Let's close the shop tomorrow and wait. When Madam Ji comes, we can beg her sincerely. Maybe we can save our lives."
Qiao Zhenzhen wrote a reply with tears in her eyes, asking Feng Qingsui to come the next morning.
Fan arranged for everyone to sweep the beds and remove dust, and cleaned the building inside and out until it was spotless. She did not sleep a wink all night, and at dawn she sat at the gate, anxiously waiting for Feng Qingsui to come.
At noon, a tall black donkey pulling a simple carriage arrived outside Fanlou.
Two young men, one thin and one fat, got off the car.
The thin ones have a straight mustache, and the fat ones have a handlebar moustache.
The two men seemed to be oblivious to the words "Closed" posted on the door panel and walked straight towards Fan.
Fan raised her eyelids and said weakly, "Please come back another day. This restaurant is closed and not accepting reservations for the time being."
The young man with a mustache took out a note from his sleeve pocket and said, "I have an appointment with Miss Qiao."
That post was actually the reply that Qiao Zhenzhen wrote last night.
Fan looked at the other person in shock and realized that the other person looked a bit like a girl.
"You, you are Ji..."
Feng Qingsui winked at her: "I'm glad you know."
Fan fell to her knees with a plop.
"I am willing to offer all my wealth and fortune to you. Please help me and these poor women in this building to save their lives..."
Feng Qingsui: “?”
She quickly pulled Fan up.
"Mom, what's wrong? I'm here to see a doctor, not to kill you. Why are you kneeling to me?"
Mrs. Fan burst into tears: "I know you are here to confiscate my property."
Feng Qingsui: “…”
After roughly understanding what Fan was thinking, she was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
"You're overthinking it. I'm really just here to see a doctor. If there really was some trap, would I have to dress up as a man?"
Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, Fan slowly stood up straight.
Still worried: "If you want to see a doctor, you and Zhenzhen can just meet in a teahouse. Why take such a big risk and run to a red-light district..."
"Of course there is a reason why I must come."
Feng Qingsui replied.
"There are too many people outside, let's go in first."
Fan led her in. When Qiao Zhenzhen saw Feng Qingsui, she wanted to kneel down, but she stopped her.
"Let me make it clear that the rumors are wrong," Feng Qingsui said with a smile, "I do treat all patients equally, but you don't have to kowtow to me."
Qiao Zhenzhen was stunned.
Fan coughed lightly and said, "Quickly show Madam Ji the bump on your wrist."
After saying this, he asked Feng Qingsui to sit down and asked someone to serve tea.
Qiao Zhenzhen held out her wrist bewilderedly. Feng Qingsui took a look and said with a smile, "This is a ganglion cyst, very easy to treat. But I have a condition."
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