Chapter 149 My Background (Second Update)
Xiao Liulang looked at him coldly: "Are these your words, or his?"
he?
Does anyone refer to their own father like that?
Does he know who his biological father is?
A dignified First-Rank Martial Marquis, second only to the emperor and above ten thousand others.
Since ancient times, no imperial son-in-law has ever held a position in the court; Marquis Xuanping is the first.
He single-handedly restrained the entire Zhuang clan, and he is the person His Majesty trusts most.
He married a princess, his sister became empress, he successfully suppressed the eldest prince, and placed his nephew on the throne as crown prince at a young age.
Believe it or not, just say one thing: Marquis Xuanping is short of a son, and the line of people willing to be his son will stretch from the State of Zhao to the State of Liang.
This young master is quite something.
Does he need to concern himself with whether every word he says is what the Marquis truly means?
Wouldn't it be better to just obediently go back to the mansion and be a powerful and influential young master?
Steward Liu laughed and said, "Do you think I would dare to do this if the Marquis hadn't wanted to take you back?"
That's the absolute truth.
As for how to identify them and whether any methods will be used in the identification process, that is Liu's job.
Most people wouldn't think of this, but Manager Liu always felt that the young man in front of him had seen through every word he said, whether it was true or false.
This doesn't feel good.
Steward Liu frowned, then smiled and said, "Young Master, it's almost the twelfth lunar month. Don't you really want to consider going back to the Marquis's mansion for the New Year?"
Xiao Liulang ignored him and turned to walk towards Bishui Hutong.
Today is a holiday for elementary school students. Xiao Jingkong didn't come to the Imperial Academy; he can go home by himself.
His cane was found, and his clothes were changed; there was no sign that he had been bullied at the Imperial College.
Looking at his stubborn back, the servant asked, "Manager Liu, are we really not going to help the young master and just stand by and watch him be bullied by the people from the Imperial Academy?"
Manager Liu hesitated for a moment. Every time he thought he had the other party under control, the other party always managed to escape his control.
The servant said, "Manager Liu, how about we..."
Manager Liu raised his hand to stop him from saying anything more: "Wait a little longer. I don't believe he'll still be as tough as before when he gets to the Imperial Academy."
The capital is not a county town, and Zheng Siye is not just a mere county magistrate. Did he think this was all the difficulties he was facing? There are many people like Zheng Siye, and one day he will not be able to hold on any longer!
The servant reminded him, "Steward Liu, the young master is too stubborn. Shouldn't we think of another way? You promised the Marquis that you would take the young master back to the manor for the New Year, and there's only one month left."
Mentioning this, Manager Liu frowned.
He initially didn't think it would be difficult and even boasted about it in front of the Marquis.
It wasn't even summer when he went to the county town, and he felt he had plenty of time and wasn't in a hurry. Little did he know that more than half a year would pass in the blink of an eye.
But what other options are there?
"Well..." the servant said awkwardly, "Didn't the young master get married? Perhaps his wife would be willing to become the young mistress of the Marquis's mansion?"
Steward Liu narrowed his eyes: "You mean... the daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an who has been living among the common people?"
Since she was his young master's wife, how could Steward Liu not investigate her identity?
Furthermore, the Marquis of Ding'an's household did not keep it a secret very well, and it was easy to find out that she was the real daughter, while Gu Jinyu was the fake daughter who was switched at birth.
Manager Liu did not pay much attention to this young lady.
Because I didn't care, I didn't pay attention, and I never thought of starting with her.
Seeing that Steward Liu had taken it to heart, the servant quickly continued, "That young mistress grew up in the countryside and I heard she's quite timid and doesn't dare to go back to the Marquis's mansion. However, she's extremely kind to the young master. Several times when I came to the Imperial Academy to inquire about things, I saw her waiting for the young master outside."
Manager Liu thought for a moment and smiled, "That's not a bad idea."
Manager Liu was unaware that Gu Jiao had opened a clinic with someone else, so he went directly to Bishui Hutong.
The old lady was engrossed in playing cards with some neighbors and had no time to pay attention to anyone else: "If you want to see a doctor, go to Miaoshoutang!"
"What did she say?" Steward Liu asked from inside the carriage.
The servant scratched his head: "It seems... they want us to go to the Miracle Hands Hall."
"What is Miaoshoutang?" Manager Liu had never heard of it.
The servant thought for a moment and said uncertainly, "It seems to be a newly opened clinic next to the girls' school."
At this time, Gu Jiao was unaware that she had attracted someone's attention. During a riding and archery class at the girls' school, a girl fell off her horse and dislocated her arm on the spot.
The person was just brought in.
She was crying uncontrollably.
"What's your name?" Gu Jiao asked.
“I…I’m called…uh!” she cried, hiccuping.
Gu Jiao reached out to look at her arm, but she was afraid of the pain and howled like a pig being slaughtered: "Don't touch me!"
Gu Jiao said, "I won't touch you. You have abrasions on the back of your hand. I'll clean the wounds for you, but I won't touch your arm."
"Really? Really?" She looked at Gu Jiao with disbelief.
"Really." Gu Jiao gently held her hand in her palm, avoiding the dislocated area. "Your hands are so beautiful. What do you usually wash them with?"
No one dislikes being praised, she said, her voice trembling, "Rose water... uh! After washing... uh! Applying face cream... uh!"
Gu Jiao said, "I see other people applying it too, but none of them have skin as good as yours."
She said, "That's because I'm naturally beautiful... ah—"
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Jiao had already put her arm back in place.
A naturally beautiful girl looked at herself in the bronze mirror and was so frightened that she almost fainted.
Ah! Where did this crazy woman come from?! She's so ugly!
What kind of skilled and compassionate doctor is this? How could he possibly praise his own appearance like this?
The clinic had been open for many days but had little business, while the girls' school contributed a month's worth of revenue to the clinic thanks to a single riding and archery class.
After that little girl, several more people arrived with minor injuries or were too frightened.
Gu Jiao was so busy she barely had time to breathe.
After another patient with minor injuries left, the wooden door to the treatment room was pushed open again.
"Where do you feel unwell?" Gu Jiao asked, her head down as she tidied the medicines on the table.
The other person didn't speak.
Gu Jiao looked up curiously and saw a woman wearing a lake-blue short jacket and a pink and white flowing dress standing smiling at the door.
Unlike last time when she was weak and pale, her complexion was much rosier now.
"Do you remember me, Miss Gu?" she asked with a smile.
Gu Jiao nodded: "Third Imperial Consort."
She didn't bow, but the Third Prince's wife didn't seem to mind.
The Third Prince's wife stepped inside and said jokingly, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."
"Please sit down, Third Imperial Consort." Gu Jiao began the consultation process for the patient in a formulaic manner.
The Third Prince's wife pursed her lips, sat down in the chair, and placed her hand on the table, offering it to her.
"Let me check the wound first," Gu Jiao said.
"Could...not here?" the Third Prince's wife asked.
"Okay." Gu Jiao led the Third Prince's wife to her own courtyard.
This courtyard was reserved for her by the second master, and no one else had ever been here except for her and her family.
The Third Prince's wife's stitches have been removed and she is healing very well.
Gu Jiao took her pulse again, and it was very steady.
"It's nothing, Third Princess Consort, you can rest assured," she said.
"Um..." The Third Prince's wife hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Do you have any medicine that won't leave me with scars?"
Scar cream and scar patches can be used, but these two medications are not currently in my first-aid kit.
Moreover, she can't use the medicine now; she has to wait for the wound to heal completely.
Gu Jiao paused for a moment and said, "There is no specific medicine at the moment. Come back and check on me in three days."
"Alright," the Third Prince's wife replied.
Seeing that she was cold, Gu Jiao went to the stove, fetched a kettle, and poured her a cup of hot tea.
"Thank you." The Third Prince's wife picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and finally felt much warmer.
She looked around at the furnishings in the room and couldn't help but ask, "Do you live in the clinic?"
Gu Jiao said, "No, I live nearby."
Although the Third Prince's Consort had only met Gu Jiao twice, and the two were of vastly different social statuses, for some reason, she felt a sense of closeness to Gu Jiao.
The Third Prince's wife looked at Gu Jiao and said, "Your accent doesn't sound like someone from the capital."
Gu Jiao said, "I'm from the county town."
The Third Prince's wife nodded: "How old are you?"
Gu Jiao: "Fifteen."
The Third Prince's wife smiled and said, "I'm a few years older than you, and my surname is Du."
Gu Jiao was not good at speaking, and she would only answer whatever the Third Prince's wife asked.
However, the fact that she was willing to answer at least shows that she didn't have a bad impression of the Third Prince's wife.
"Eh? What's that?" The Third Prince's wife was a zither enthusiast and easily noticed anything related to the zither.
Gu Jiao looked at the box on the table and said, "A guqin (ancient Chinese zither)."
It was a zither given to her by Xiao Jingkong, and she made a zither case to put it in.
It was quite different from the zither cases sold on the market, so the Third Prince's wife couldn't recognize it at a glance.
"May I take a look?" the Third Prince's wife asked.
"Mm." Gu Jiao nodded.
The Third Prince's Consort put down her teacup, went behind the long table, and carefully opened the zither case.
A guqin with a blackened patch came into her view.
From the outside, this zither is not unusual; it is a Fuxi zither.
Is this another counterfeit piano?
The Third Prince's wife was a little disappointed.
Everyone in the market is proud to have a better replica of the Fuxi Qin, but the Third Prince's Consort would rather use an ordinary guqin than a replica of the Fuxi Qin.
When the State of Chen presented the Moon Shadow Fuxi Qin as tribute, it was the finest imitation qin. His Majesty originally intended to give it to her, but she refused. It is said that not long after, it was bestowed upon the daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an.
The Third Prince's Consort had originally intended to play a piece, but now she lost the desire to play. She touched the tail of the zither, politely praised it a couple of times, and then closed the lid.
Then she saw a token on the table—Xiao Jingkong had come to play, found it, and forgot to put it back. The clever and quick-witted Xiao Jingkong has a big flaw: he can't tidy up his things!
The token looked so familiar that the Third Prince's Consort picked it up and asked in utter astonishment, "Miss Gu, how... how do you have this?"
Gu Jiao calmly replied with an "Oh," and said, "I found it."
The Third Prince's wife breathed a sigh of relief and said, "This is the token of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence. It's an old token. Don't let anyone else see it, lest it cause unnecessary trouble."
This wasn't the first time someone had told her that getting involved with the Xuanping Marquis's mansion would cause trouble.
"What is an old token?" Gu Jiao asked.
The Third Prince's wife pointed to the totem on the signboard: "This is a design from more than ten years ago. Later, we felt that the meaning was not very clear, so we removed the vines here."
The vine was just a small piece, and ordinary people wouldn't be able to tell it was there. But she was a princess consort, and she had to be familiar with all patterns related to the royal family.
The token looked quite old, but Gu Jiao hadn't expected it to be that old.
The two talked for a while longer before the Third Prince's Consort took her leave.
The girls' school on the other side had also let out for the day. The clinic mainly served the girls' school now, and once they went home, the day's business was basically over.
The second landlord left Song He to guard the clinic, while Gu Jiao carried her basket home.
As soon as she turned the corner, a carriage stopped in front of her.
A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes stepped down from the carriage. He was kind-hearted and plump, and seemed honest and good-tempered, but his shrewd eyes revealed a sharpness that seemed to see through people's hearts.
"Excuse me, are you Miss Gu from the Marquis of Ding'an's residence?" The middle-aged man greeted him with a friendly bow.
He spoke with an air of certainty, even though it was a question.
Gu Jiao looked at him calmly: "Who are you?"
Manager Liu smiled and said, "My surname is Liu. I wonder if the young master has mentioned me to you?"
"Which young master?" Gu Jiao asked.
Manager Liu was somewhat surprised. Were the young couple so distant? She had come so many times, yet the young master had never mentioned her to her?
He reminded him, "I even sent someone to your house to deliver New Year's gifts, but unfortunately the young master didn't accept them."
"Oh." Gu Jiao remembered that someone had indeed come not long ago, bringing a cartload of silver charcoal, which Xiao Liulang refused without a second thought.
"Your young master, my husband?" Gu Jiao asked.
Manager Liu beamed: "Exactly."
Gu Jiao paused for a moment, then asked, "From the Marquis of Xuanping's residence?"
Manager Liu was taken aback.
Since the young master had never mentioned himself to her, how did she know that the young master was from the Xuanping Marquis's mansion?
(End of this chapter)
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