Chapter 95 Mrs. Zheng Receives a Letter
From then on, the palace gate gradually became bustling with activity. Every day, a few villagers would come. In this simple clinic, Qingwu would use the simplest herbal medicine to relieve the villagers' pain.
Half a decade later, villagers from Hexi Village, which was even farther away, came to Qingwu for medical treatment.
"Hey, my daughter is married in Hedong Village. She said you are a good doctor and your medical treatment is cheap."
All of this was seen by spies from various royal palaces. At first they were shocked and suspicious, but finally they asked the spies to take a closer look and found that Qingwu was using common herbs from the countryside, so they put their minds at ease.
"They're just using wild herbs, how can they have any real skills? I think they're desperate and are trying all sorts of methods. They want to heal Xiao Ji's leg, so they taught themselves medicine and used those mud legs to practice."
Coupled with the spies' report of Xiao Ji practicing walking with the help of a cane, and hearing his description of how the pain was so severe after taking a few steps that he could not walk anymore, the masters of the various royal palaces all smiled sarcasticly.
Prince An even played with the jade pendant and said to his staff with a smile: "My sixth brother is really down and out now. He can't even afford a proper doctor. He can only let his wife treat his illness with wild herbs."
When the news reached the palace, the emperor was reviewing memorials. Bai De'an carefully presented the spy's secret report to the emperor, who immediately put down the memorial and read it intently. Seeing his concubine collecting herbs to treat villagers, he couldn't help but ask a question.
Bai De'an stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, I have investigated the Xi family's background. The second daughter of the Xi family was lost and learned medicine. The concubine must have learned some basic skills through observation and imitation."
The emperor's frown softened slightly upon hearing this. He stroked the edge of the memorial, then thought of Xi Jianan, whom he had deliberately transferred to Jingzhou, and sighed deeply.
"Xi Jianan is quite a good person. He must be blaming me this time."
Upon hearing this, Bai De'an quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I understand. Lord Xi is a very loyal and honest person. He will never blame Your Majesty."
The emperor raised his hand to stop him, "How can I not blame you? I made his most outstanding daughter a commoner, but... this is only temporary. Once Xue Nu realizes her mistake, everything will be fine..."
Hearing this, Bai De'an lowered his head even more. The implication of this statement must be pondered. Xiao Yuancheng on the other side was still saying, "But this concubine is indeed of good character...Bai De'an."
"The servant is here."
"Help me do something."
The emperor stroked the white jade ring in his hand, a gleam in his eyes: "Pick some high-quality medicinal herbs, and add a few pieces of soft smoke silk newly tributed from Jiangnan, and help me send them to the palace."
A faint smile played on his lips. "Pick some high-quality medicinal herbs, and add a few rolls of soft smoke silk newly imported from Jiangnan."
There was a faint smile on his face, but Bai De'an felt a chill in his heart - this was not a simple reward, it was clearly an opportunity to warn those princes who were ready to make moves: although the deposed prince was demoted, he was still in the emperor's heart.
"I'll do it right away." Bai De'an bowed and walked out of the hall, with sweat on his forehead.
He knew the emperor's intention very well: those medicinal herbs would remind the princes that the prince's leg injury was always a thorn in the emperor's heart.
The cloth awarded to the concubine was a warning to them—he even cared about a female relative, let alone the former crown prince? Moreover, the father of this female relative was still in the position of provincial governor, and was not affected at all.
The palace roads were slippery and difficult to walk on after the rain, but Bai De'an walked very steadily. He looked at the eunuchs sent by the princes to gather information in the distance and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This was not a reward, but arsenic wrapped in honey.
Your Majesty's move not only appeased the deposed crown prince, but also made those princes who were secretly making moves feel very uneasy.
…
When the vegetable seedlings planted by Qingwu himself grew to the height of a palm, Xi Jianan's letter was sent back to the Xi family, along with the package that Aunt Liu sent to her daughter Xi Qingmian.
Aunt Liu used to be the head maidservant of Madam Zheng. Madam Zheng trusted her very much and sent her package to the courtyard of the Third Lady without even checking it, and then returned to her own courtyard.
She thought for a long time before she dared to open the letter. Even though she was prepared, Mrs. Zheng's hands still trembled slightly as she unfolded the letter.
When she read "Although Qingwu has married a good man, she is still a new bride...you need to visit her often", her nails unconsciously dug into her palms.
The letter gradually crumpled in her hands, just like her tightening heart. She thought of Qingwu on the day of the exchange, the last look the child gave her, a look so calm that it startled her.
"Madam..." The teacup handed to her by Xiyu hit the table, making a crisp sound.
Mrs. Zheng suddenly came to her senses and realized that her hands had crumpled the letter into a mess.
She frantically tried to smooth it out, but the wrinkles were like the sins she had committed, and could not be erased.
"I feel sorry for Qingwu..." she whispered to herself, her fingertips lightly tracing the smudged ink on the letter paper, "But Qingtong has been spoiled since childhood, how could she endure the hardships of the imperial palace?"
Mrs. Zheng lowered her head slightly, and her casual glance happened to fall on the word "visit". She was so startled that she slammed the letter shut as if it had been burned.
"I'm..." Her throat was tight and her voice was hoarse, "I'm doing this for my whole family..."
"Qingtong has an arrogant personality. If something happens in the palace..."
Madam Zheng suddenly raised her voice, as if trying to convince someone, "That would implicate the whole family! Qingwu... Qingwu is calm and composed, and would be the most appropriate..."
But no matter what, the deep concern for her two daughters in the letter burned Mrs. Zheng's heart, and as soon as she closed her eyes, she thought of the word "visit".
"Go prepare the carriage." Madam Zheng suddenly stood up, her voice returning to her usual calmness. "I'm going to the Song residence to visit my daughter."
Didn't she want to go visit? Then she could go.
On the other side, Xi Qingmian held the Jingzhou preserves brought by Aunt Liu, and couldn't help but curl up the corners of her mouth.
She held the apricot in her mouth. The sweet taste reminded her of the candies her aunt secretly gave her when she was a child.
"Third Madam, this is against the rules..." The maid Chuntao stamped her feet anxiously as she watched her wife rummaging through boxes and cabinets looking for a food box.
"What are you afraid of?" Xi Qingmian carefully placed the candied dates into the lacquer box with a lotus pattern. "My aunt wrote to me asking me to send some to my second sister."
She paused, then lowered her voice, "Go to the gatehouse and tell them I'm going to Da Ci'en Temple to burn incense. Remember to prepare a car from the west corner gate."
Chun Tao's eyes widened: "But the Madam clearly didn't let you go out..."
"That's why I need you to take care of it." Xi Qingmian took out a silver ingot from her dressing table and stuffed it over, with a cunning glint in her eyes.
"My aunt wrote me that she had been ill for a few days and was already well, but I was afraid I had to go and pray for her."
But as soon as they arrived at the door, they saw Mrs. Zheng getting into the carriage from afar.
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