Chapter 123 Leaving the Capital (Part 7) A Twist of Fate (First Update) ...
Upon arriving at the Bao family's residence, the house was filled with guests. Yu Qi went to exchange pleasantries with Bao Xianwei, who then gestured for his two daughters to lead several young men and women from relatives' families, and invited Jiu Li and Du Zhong to sit in the east wing.
A group of young people huddled together in the room, chatting and laughing by the fire. Amidst their conversation, Jiu Li secretly observed Bao Guilan. Although she wasn't exactly a stunning beauty, she was a pretty and delicate young woman with delicate features. Moreover, she spoke with grace and poise, and her temperament was gentle and kind. Even Jiu Li was starting to like her.
She said to Du Zhong in secret, "I think Guilan is quite nice. Why did you pretend not to hear when people asked you questions? Even if you don't like her, you should at least be polite, so that people won't say that your uncle didn't teach us well."
Du Zhong glanced at Bao Guilan and saw that she was stealing glances at him, so he had no choice but to make a forced conversation, "My medical skills are not very good, and I don't know what kind of disease this is. You can ask my master later."
Bao Guilan didn't mind his somewhat cold tone, and nodded with a smile, "How many years have you been studying medicine?"
"It's been over ten years." He sounded a little impatient, deliberately putting himself in a bad light. "Studying medicine depends on talent, and I probably don't have that talent. I can't become a miracle doctor just by working hard."
Guilan covered her mouth and chuckled, instead offering words of comfort, "How many truly skilled doctors are there in the world? As the saying goes, 'Heaven rewards diligence.' Anyone who can prescribe medicine and treat common ailments is already a good doctor." Then, she turned to look at Jiuli, "Which of you two is older?"
Jiuli was inside the screen watching others do needlework when she heard this. She put down her embroidery hoop, stepped out of the screen, and glared at Du Zhong. "I'm a little older than him, but he's very stubborn. He refuses to admit it and never acknowledges my sister."
The Bao sisters also came out and took the opportunity to praise Du Zhong, "Although Brother Zhong is a little younger, he is very steady in his actions. Not only is he good at medicine, but he can also help the yamen handle cases. Did you hear about the murder case in Liyuan at the beginning of the year, Sister? It was Master Yu who led the siblings to help the yamen handle it."
These few words made Guilan even more excited. She just smiled and looked at Du Zhong, "So you have this skill. It doesn't matter if your medical skills are not perfect. Maybe you can become an official in the future!"
Everyone laughed and flattered him, and Du Zhong's face gradually turned red. He could only humbly decline. Seven or eight young men and women sat back down. On the long table against the wall was a sprig of winter plum and a pot of cyclamen, their red and yellow leaves scattered, and the aroma of the flowers wafting from the stove.
The weather outside suddenly changed, and it looked like it was going to snow. The warm atmosphere inside made people gradually feel intoxicated. Du Zhong originally wanted to make an excuse to leave first, but he felt heavy and could not get up. So he had to sit down and have tea and baked some dried fruit and snacks with everyone. Before he knew it, it was after lunch.
Sure enough, it started to snow, as light and thin as willow catkins. Xiuzhi happened to return to the Yu family home. Yuqing asked her about her son and mother-in-law's health, and she smiled and said, "They're all better, otherwise I wouldn't have dared to come back. Where are the master and the others?"
"It's Dr. Bao's birthday today. Master Bao has taken Xiaoyuer and Du Zhong to visit someone. It's good that you're back. I'll tell you where the Bao family lives in a bit. Take two cloaks to Master Bao and the others. It was very sunny when they left this morning, so they didn't wear them. I don't know why, but there are so many people getting medicine at the shop today, I can't leave."
Xiuzhi couldn't help out at the shop, so she had to run errands. There was nothing to complain about. After sitting for a while and having a bowl of hot tea, she took three cloaks and headed to the Bao family.
Upon entering the second courtyard, they heard lively chatter coming from the main room. It was rare to hear Yu Qi talking so openly in such a setting. Xiuzhi followed an old servant from the Bao family to the corridor. While the servant was waiting to go inside to deliver a message, she overheard someone mentioning Eucommia ulmoides.
“I thought Du Zhong was a good guy when I was in Liyuan. It just so happens that our Guilan is of marriageable age. Why don’t you go back and discuss it with your wife, brother? Why not marry Guilan to Du Zhong? I think they are a match made in heaven!”
He sounded like he was joking, but since he said it in front of Yu Qi, it was obvious that he was just using the joke to make things happen.
Sure enough, someone replied with a smile, "I had long heard my brother say that there was a handsome and refined young master in the Yu family. Seeing him today, I know it was no exaggeration. If Yu doesn't mind that Guilan is uncouth, I will tell my wife about it when we get back today."
Then Yu Qi chuckled and replied, "Not at all, I am honored that Master Bao thinks highly of my unfilial son."
At this point, the old servant sent word to lead Xiuzhi out. He called out to Xiuzhi three times in a low voice before she came to her senses. She nodded with a smile and followed him into the small hall on the right, telling Yu Qi that he was there to deliver a cloak.
Yu Qi glanced at her, then a thought crossed his mind, and said, "Yu'er and Zhong'er are in Miss Bao's room. Why don't you take them there?"
The old servant immediately led Xiuzhi to the east wing, went inside to say something, and then came out to invite Xiuzhi in. Xiuzhi lifted the thick cotton curtain and saw several chairs arranged in a circle around a small stove in the center, where some kind of tea was being brewed. A young woman she didn't recognize was sitting with her back to the chair, one hand outstretched to the side. Du Zhong was sitting next to her, holding her hand and looking down, seemingly engrossed in something.
A scent of frankincense mixed with the aroma of tea wafted over, and the warmth of the heater almost made Xiuzhi sneeze, but she couldn't. The scent lingered in her nasal cavity, tasting intensely sour.
"Sister Guo?" Jiu Li turned her head in surprise. "You're back?"
Du Zhong also thought that Xiu Zhi was still at home and that it would be Yu Qing who brought the cloak. He turned his head and, with a mixture of surprise and delight, got up to greet her, "Gou'er's illness is cured?"
Xiuzhi glanced at everyone and smiled faintly, handing him the cloak. "Alright, thanks to the medicine prescribed by the doctor."
Seeing that she was wearing a thin cotton-padded long coat and her shoes were a little wet, Du Zhong said, "Come and warm yourself by the fire, and we'll go back together when the snow stops."
Feeling guilty, Jiuli glanced at Guilan, but Guilan was still smiling and obviously hadn't noticed anything. Instead, she beckoned to Guo Sao, "Come on, we're making milk almond tea here. Have a bowl to warm yourself up."
All the other siblings had left long ago, leaving only Guilan and the Bao sisters. The Bao sisters recognized Xiuzhi and invited her to sit down. With Du Zhong's strong persuasion, Xiuzhi had no choice but to bow and thank them, and went to sit on the stool next to Jiuli.
Then Guilan stretched out her right hand to Du Zhong, "Look, it seems it hasn't been pulled out yet."
Miss Bao said, "Let's use a needle to pick it out. We don't have fingernails, so we can't pick it out."
It turned out that Guilan had gotten a small piece of almond shell stuck in her palm while peeling almonds, and Du Zhong had just been helping her remove it. Xiuzhi knew the truth, but she didn't feel any better. Her mind kept replaying the conversation between Yu Qi and Bao Xianwei in the main room. Judging from their tone, the other gentleman was Bao Guilan's father. The two Bao gentlemen were cousins. All the other guests had left, but Yu Qi, unusually, was sitting comfortably with them at one end, while only Miss Guilan remained at the other end. Without much guesswork, it was clear that the two families had gathered specifically for Bao Xianwei's birthday celebration.
She glanced at Guilan and Duzhong's hands; their ten or so slender fingers were joined together, making it almost impossible to tell whose was whose. Since the two were picking a fight, they didn't shy away from it, and everyone viewed it with normal eyes, without feeling that men and women shouldn't touch each other.
But who can truly discern whether they are truly "intimate" or not? Based on Xiuzhi's experience of spending several years with a man, she knows that men are often fickle when it comes to women. Du Zhong, however young, is still a man, and compared to older men, he is inherently less reliable.
The teapot boiled over, and someone poured her a bowl of almond tea. She glanced at him and saw him intently "fighting" the thorn in Guilan's palm. As she picked up the teacup, the hazy, sweet white smoke carried a hint of fishiness.
"Sister Guo, you only brought two cloaks?" Jiu Li asked, leaning closer.
She blinked sharply and smiled, "I've already sent Master's piece to that room."
Jiuli was merely changing the subject casually, smiling sheepishly, "Miss Guilan is Uncle Bao's niece—"
"I know." Xiuzhi smiled and took a sip of tea, her gaze fixed on the tea canister.
A thin layer of milk skin floated on top, which Bao Er Guniang easily broke with her chopsticks. She then poured tea for Xiuzhi and teasingly asked, "Sister Guo, what do you think of our Sister Guilan?"
Guilan reached out and slapped her, scolding, "Why are you asking this out of the ordinary!"
Miss Bao said, "What's so strange about asking? Sister Guo is from the Yu family and served their old lady for a while before. She must know their old lady's temperament and preferences. If Sister Guo says it's good, then it's good to the old lady."
"What?" Xiuzhi was slightly surprised, then looked Guilan up and down carefully, and nodded with a smile, "Good, she has a good face and a good figure. What's rare is that she's young. The old lady will definitely like her."
Du Zhongfang sensed something was wrong, quickly released Guilan's hand, and smiled apologetically, "My eyes were also blurry from looking at it too."
Guilan touched her palm, then smiled with delight, "It seems I've already picked them out, thank you so much!"
Miss Bao said again, "There's no need to thank me. It's what Brother Zhong should do."
The second young lady was young and spoke without much restraint. A casual joke struck like a hammer blow, leaving Du Zhong, Jiu Li, and Xiu Zhi all embarrassed. Just then, the old servant from the Bao family came in and said, "Master Yu told you to tell the young lady and the second master that they will be having dinner at our house before returning home. He also told the young lady to eat less snacks, as we have some good dishes to serve later!"
Jiuli guessed Yu Qi's intentions. He wasn't after the good wine and food from the Bao family; he just wanted to make Xiuzhi back down. He even sent someone to tell Xiuzhi that the two families were getting along very well and that the marriage was almost certainly settled.
Xiuzhi probably understood what he meant, so she got up to say goodbye to everyone and went home first. Du Zhong also quickly got up and said, "I'll go back with you. I won't eat dinner here."
Xiuzhi glanced at him but said nothing, continuing to walk away, with Du Zhong hurrying after her. The three Bao family girls' expressions changed slightly at the sight. Jiuli, seeing Guilan, was even more astonished and flustered; whose side should she take now?!
After much deliberation, she decided to side with Du Zhong. She rushed out and grabbed him under the eaves, frowning and scolding, "Aren't you afraid your uncle will beat you when he gets home?! I'm telling you, if your uncle didn't have something important to do, who would he be sitting at from morning till night? He's made up his mind. If you go against him now, see if he won't get angry! This time, even if I beg you, it won't work! You should at least wait until after dinner to go back together. Can't you even endure that short time?"
Xiuzhi walked into the courtyard and overheard Yu Qi talking about whether or not to hit him. She couldn't help but turn around to look. Du Zhong was being pulled along by Jiu Li under the eaves, hesitant and indecisive. Was he afraid of being beaten? She suddenly found it amusing. Only children are afraid of being beaten by adults. She, at her age, was actually flirting with a child. It was truly laughable.
When they came out of the Bao family's gate, Du Zhong was not seen following. The snow fell even harder, and it seemed as if the sky was about to darken. There were far fewer pedestrians on the street, and the road was already making a rustling sound as they walked, which gave them a stiff and numb feeling.
Suddenly, she heard a carriage slowly approaching from behind. Xiuzhi stepped aside, but the carriage stopped. The person inside lifted the curtain, revealing a familiar face. Xiuzhi quickly looked around, hesitated for a moment, and knowing she couldn't avoid it, she had no choice but to get into the carriage.
After sitting down for a moment, she said in a low voice, "You really haven't left yet."
The man smiled; he was Jiang Xu, one of Chen Jia's servants. He leaned against the carriage wall, scrutinizing her and shaking his head repeatedly, "In this cold weather, look at what you're dressed for—Yu Qi's monthly allowance may be more than other families, but it's still not as much as our Chen family's."
As he spoke, he moved closer to her, grinning crookedly, "The master and second master sent me here this time to handle this matter. If things aren't done well, I won't be able to explain myself when I get back. Think about it carefully, if even I can't explain myself, what good will happen to you, a widow and orphan?"
Xiuzhi turned her face away and glanced at him, her gaze wandering involuntarily, but she remained silent.
"Aren't you afraid of the consequences? Think about the benefits your father promised you. Wouldn't your son's future be secured? He can go to the capital to become your father's godson. Are you worried about not being able to afford a good tutor? Let me tell you, by then, he can pick and choose any of the old scholars in the Hanlin Academy. Those people are so learned that they could teach even a dog to become a top scholar! Even if he doesn't get the official title, with the Empress and the two masters around, they can easily find him an official position. Are you worried about not being able to get it? Why are you so clueless? You've worked for the Yu family your whole life and you're still just a servant. How much affection do you have for the Yu family? It's our relatives who are more reliable."
He paused, and seeing her gaze gradually shift to his face, he smiled again, "Besides, there's nothing to be afraid of. The Qinglian Temple case was such a big one, but our Second Master returned to the capital and everything was fine, wasn't it? Even if it turns out to be you, it's no big deal. It's just a formality. The Master and the others will protect you. When our little prince is made crown prince in the future, won't you be a meritorious official?"
Xiuzhi finally couldn't help but ask, "Is Du Zhong really a prince? But as far as I know, his biological parents were just an ordinary couple in Suzhou. His parents died one after another, and Yu Qi adopted him."
Jiang Xu crossed his arms and chuckled, "Yu Qi is ruthless and cunning. Who knows if he's telling the truth or not? Just look how much the Yu family's young lady looks like Aunt Quan from the palace. These two siblings are definitely connected to the royal family!"
"But they are not siblings."
"This is what the Yu family members themselves said. When the two of them stand together, who wouldn't say they're twins? Maybe Yu Qi deliberately made up these things to deceive outsiders in order to protect Du Zhong."
"Even if they are of royal blood, it doesn't necessarily mean they are the current emperor's bloodline."
Jiang Xu paused for a moment, then waved his hand. “Anyway, whether it’s true or false, whether he’s a descendant of Prince Feng or the Emperor, it’s better to kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free! I’m just afraid that having Prince Zhao isn’t enough, and then another ‘prince’ born to the Emperor will appear and compete with our little prince. As long as Du Zhong dies, the Empress and our entire Chen family can rest easy. If he’s really just an orphan from an ordinary family in Suzhou, then he’s dead, and it’s no loss.”
Having said that, Xiuzhi had no more reason to argue and could only lower her head.
After a long silence, she suddenly felt something being slipped into her hand. Opening her hand, she saw it was a small yellow paper packet. With a slight twist, she knew it contained a poison that would cause one's intestines to rot.
-----------------------
Author's note: Thank you for reading.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
