Chapter 77 Applying Medicine
Jiang Liangxu tilted his head slightly, thus avoiding the portrait she threw at him.
He reached out and caught the falling portrait, then casually placed it back on the desk, feigning surprise, and said, "Does Madam mean that the agreement we reached before is null and void?"
Zhao Xian's eyes turned cold. "What do you mean by that? You didn't send anyone to find Master Huineng?"
Jiang Liangxu: "Didn't Madam ask the escort agency to help search for the person? Madam doesn't know whether I sent anyone or not?"
"Who knows if you've had someone do a perfunctory job?"
Jiang Liangxu touched his nose. He had acted impulsively yesterday, and now he was starting to distrust him.
Or did she discover that he had lied to her about Meng Yingniang?
But then he changed his mind. He had only told half the truth about Meng Yingniang. If Zhao Xian really remembered something, she shouldn't have reacted this way.
Zhao Xian took out a porcelain bottle the size of a rouge box from her sleeve and placed it in front of Jiang Liangxu: "I got a bottle of medicine from the royal physician. Remember to have Qin Da apply it to you."
His injuries weren't fatal, but there were so many of them; it was unimaginable how many dangers he encountered on his way to the border town.
"Qin Da has been sent out."
Zhao Xian knew he had many people around him, but usually only Qin Da handled things openly. "Let the other subordinates do it."
"With so many people around, everyone else is still kept in the dark and doesn't know I've returned. It seems I'll have to trouble you, Madam." Jiang Liangxu said, reaching out to undo his belt. "It's strange, I didn't feel any pain in my wound until you mentioned it, Madam. Perhaps it's because I was scratched yesterday, which aggravated the injury, but it does hurt a bit now."
Zhao Xian glared at him. Whose fault is this? He came back from his trip as if he were possessed.
Her slender, pale fingers gripped the porcelain bottle tightly, while Jiang Liangxu's belt had been unbuckled and his clothes were open.
In May, the weather is cool in the early morning and evening, but the temperature rises high when the sun comes out, so people wear lighter clothes.
The smooth silk fabric flowed down his shoulders and arms, stopping at the crook of his arm. Jiang Liangxu sat sideways and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam. The front is fine, but my back is really sore and itchy, and I can't reach it myself."
Walking around the table to the desk, Zhao Xian saw the wounds on his back, and her resentment towards him instantly vanished. Some wounds were deep, some shallow, and some were just traces of powder left after the scars had fallen off.
Opening the porcelain bottle, Zhao Xian scooped out a dollop of ointment with her fingertip and gently placed her hand on the wound on his back. "Why did you risk your life like this?"
Jiang Liangxu reached out and picked up the portraits one by one, looking at them without answering Zhao Xian's question. Once some things are done, they can't be stopped. He needed power to protect his family.
“This person is no good. His family traditions seem good, but his father has kept three mistresses outside the home. His grandfather liked to keep mistresses outside the home when he was young. It’s a family tradition.”
Zhao Xian glanced at him. They wouldn't have noticed if Jiang Liangxu hadn't said anything, because he was a good person in terms of family background and ability. It turned out that his family wasn't too clean; he was keeping a mistress outside.
"Put the unwanted ones aside." After saying that, she continued applying the medicine to him.
After the medicine was applied, he had looked at the portrait quite a bit.
Jiang Liangxu selected two cards and placed them in front of them. He stood up, put on his clothes, and said while tying his belt:
"The family of the Imperial Academy Chancellor, Lord Lu, is quite good, but his youngest son is not. But look at his eldest son. I remember Lord Lu is twenty-three years old, widowed, and has a five-year-old daughter."
Upon hearing her age—a year older than Han Mu and with a child—Zhao Xian instinctively felt that she wasn't a suitable candidate.
Cui Tingyue was only high school age and hadn't even graduated yet, and she married someone who was already working!
The disparity is too great.
"A widower with a daughter, what about him do you find satisfactory?"
"Young Master Lu has risen to the rank of Palace Attendant Censor, and his character is acceptable. One is a steady and reliable official in the court, while the other is still studying at the Imperial Academy, constantly spouting grand principles, but in reality, it's all empty talk. If you let Madam choose, who will she pick?"
"You're comparing those two brothers?" It's not like you have to choose between brothers.
“If Madam is not satisfied with them, then let them go. There is one more here, the youngest son of Lord Xu, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards. He is training in the city guard camp just like the second son. The Xu family has a decent family style.”
Zhao Xian wasn't dissatisfied with the two brothers; at least she was initially very satisfied with her younger son. "Actually, I've met Madam Lu, and she has no intention of marrying into our family."
It's because the groom's family isn't happy about it, otherwise the children would have met long ago.
Jiang Liangxu went straight to the point: "Are you inquiring about the eldest son or the youngest son?"
“Of course it’s the younger one.” Zhao Xian reached out and took the portrait. The lady who had implied that Cui Tingyue was about the same age as her son was Madam Lu.
Zhao Xian looked at the young man in the portrait and asked, "Is her eldest son really that good-looking?"
Seeing Jiang Liangxu nod, Zhao Xian pursed her lips: "I'll find an opportunity another day to sound out Madam Lu, and also tell me about the Xu family's son. Actually, both of these families were recommended to me by the Empress Dowager."
Afterwards, Zhao Xian was puzzled. The imperial power she had read about in the book was a complete synonym for tyranny. It never cared whether the two parties liked each other or not, and would just randomly arrange marriages without allowing anyone to refuse.
The Empress Dowager actually recommended three people to her, and two of them were chosen by Jiang Liangxu, which shows that the Empress Dowager's statement was not just a later one.
Could it be that she gained a good reputation because of the cotton and linen clothing incident last time? So, the Empress Dowager is repaying her?
When this idea came to her, Zhao Xian thought she was crazy, but she couldn't think of a suitable reason.
After all, the Empress Dowager allowed her to choose, rather than directly bestowing a marriage upon her.
Jiang Liangxu: "Did the Empress Dowager push it?"
"Hmm." Zhao Xian told him about entering the palace, including the matter of the Empress's nephew.
The Empress Dowager meant that these three families were chosen because they didn't want Han Mu.
"I originally wanted Lou Bai to investigate what was going on, but he looked hesitant, so I gave up."
"I understand. I'll go ask about it."
Zhao Xian took the portraits of the young masters of the Lu and Xu families. "Alright, I'll go see when to arrange a meeting with these two ladies so we can talk some more."
Before Zhao Xian could find an excuse to invite the two ladies out, the matchmaker who was supposed to arrange the marriage arrived first.
"My family name is Chen. I have met Madam Jiang. I have heard that your daughter is dignified, gentle and virtuous, and that the young master of the Marquis of Dingyuan is handsome and talented. The two of you are a match made in heaven. Today, I have been entrusted by the Marquis of Dingyuan to come and propose marriage."
Gifts brought from the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence were displayed outside the flower hall, tied with red silk, exuding a festive atmosphere.
Zhao Xian did not accept the gift list handed to her by the matchmaker. "I would like to trouble Madam Chen to send the gifts back to the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence. The Jiang family is not worthy of this marriage."
Everyone in Jin'an knows that the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan's family is a playboy. His handsome uncle climbed into the bed of the Princess and became her lover, and his whole family followed suit.
The title of Marquis of Dingyuan was inherited from the older generation. By the time of Marquis Dingyuan, it was merely a hollow title. Marquis Dingyuan was an incompetent man who relied on the influence of his ancestors to obtain a minor official position. Later, he relied on his younger brother to consolidate the family's title. As for the heir of Marquis Dingyuan, he had completely become a playboy who only knew how to run chickens and fight dogs.
Speaking of which, last year Jiang Heng even beat up the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion in private.
It was related to Lu Zhaoying falling into the water at the Princess's residence. One of those who swam towards Lu Zhaoying was the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.
The Marquis of Dingyuan's family was never on Zhao Xian's list, yet they still came directly to propose marriage.
With such a terrible reputation, what were they thinking? How dare they?
The matchmaker knew this was going to be difficult, since the heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan had a bad reputation in Jin'an. She smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Madam, please don't be in such a hurry to refuse. The heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan has changed his ways. He has started studying hard and claims that he will pass the imperial examination in three years."
Zhao Xian laughed. This hasn't even started yet, and they're already making empty promises.
Peony spoke up, saying, "Young Master is truly ambitious. Let's wait until he passes the imperial examination, then Madam Chen can come again."
The matchmaker, having received the money from the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence, showed no sign of letting the matter rest. Instead, she continued, "As the saying goes, 'Settle down before building a career.' With a wife and someone to keep him in check, the young master can focus on his studies and achieve academic success."
Zhao Xian didn't say much to her, just waved her hand, and Shaoyao immediately spoke again, "Someone, see the guest out."
Zhao Xian didn't take this incident too seriously. Perhaps it was because she had taken Cui Tingyue to various banquets a few days ago and inquired about families who were not yet married or engaged, which was overheard by the Marquis of Dingyuan.
Upon returning to Haitang Residence, Zhao Xian prepared two invitations, one for Madam Lu and the other for Madam Xu.
However, before the invitation could be sent out, chaos broke out in Jin'an.
It wasn't chaos in the true sense; in reality, the emperor suddenly issued an edict to confiscate property, with the chief and deputy chiefs of the Privy Council being the first to be targeted, including the family of the Right Chancellor.
At least a dozen officials were implicated.
They were extremely busy with house raids and arrests.
This incident is even more serious than the last time cheating in the imperial examinations was discovered.
The crime of treason and collusion with the enemy is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
The commotion caused panic in Jin'an, and the banquet was immediately stopped. No one dared to provoke trouble at this critical juncture.
Zhao Xian listened to the news brought back by the servants every day: the Jiang family father and son were involved in both upheavals.
It was practically a hunting ground for the father and son.
Zhao Xian was afraid of attracting attention to the Jiang family, so apart from Jiang Wei going to court every day, everyone else stayed quietly at home.
Haitang Residence.
After dismissing the servants, Zhao Xian instructed Shaoyao and Yingchun to guard the gate together.
After closing the door, Zhao Xian locked it again, just to be safe. Having done all that, she glared at the culprit and, in her own room, lowered her voice, saying, "What are you doing at Haitang Residence in broad daylight? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"
People outside are in a state of panic. They don't know that the events in the border town are related to him. If this news gets out, wouldn't people turn their anger towards him?
Jiang Liangxu picked up a chess piece from the chess box and played with it. "Tomorrow is my birthday."
“I knew it was tomorrow.” Zhao Xian sat down opposite him, suddenly realizing, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get your longevity noodles and birthday gift.”
Seeing her raise her eyebrows in surprise at guessing correctly, Jiang Liangxu smiled, picked up a piece, and said, "It's rather boring to be alone in the study. My wife, why don't you play some chess with me?"
Zhao Xian opened the box containing the chess pieces, and while placing a piece down, asked, "They've raided many houses outside, but I haven't seen anyone touch the Lu family's place. Is that...?"
"Lord Lu was unaware of the matter, but he cannot escape his guilt. However, thanks to his contribution in exposing the matter, his crime will not warrant exile, but it is hard to say whether he can keep his official position."
If there's no exile plot, would the storyline of the male and female leads in a sweet romance novel also be considered modified?
Will it affect their relationship?
"The marriage between Heng'er and the third daughter of the Lu family?"
Jiang Liangxu thought of the ending she had written down and suddenly lost interest. "As long as he doesn't regret it."
Zhao Xian didn't object to this, but then her eyes lit up. She thought to herself, "Shouldn't we go to the Lu family to ask for the wedding date and settle things as soon as possible?"
Dealing with Cui Tingyue's marriage alone is one thing, but arranging the marriage for the other characters in the sweet romance novel ahead of time is also not out of the question.
But he swallowed the words back down.
The matter of the Emperor confiscating property is not yet finished, and the final sentence for Lord Lu is still unknown. Let's wait and see.
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