Yuchang Marquis Manor was both the maternal family of Consort Yu and the Empress Dowager.
Although the Empress Dowager no longer involved herself in trivial matters, Consort Yu was currently at the peak of imperial favor, causing her family members to act quite arrogantly. The Empress couldn't be bothered to deal with them.
Regarding the "secret matter" involving Qin Shi that had been discussed at Liu Jia today, while Liu Furen had recounted it with great enthusiasm, the Empress found it utterly disgusting.
A daughter using despicable means to frame her own mother.
And even exploiting the Yuchang Marquis Heir in the process… truly vile enough.
"Just invite them then," the Empress said with an indifferent expression.
Xiao Beili, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow and suddenly became interested. After a moment's thought, he called out, "Qingshan?"
Qingshan entered from outside.
Xiao Beili instructed, "Go with Zhi Yuan to get some good medicine, then accompany the imperial physician to Yuchang Marquis Manor to check on the Heir. Have the physician administer that medicine to him."
The corner of his mouth suddenly curved up in an amused smile. "Tell him that this Prince had no intention of provoking him or causing his injury, and that it was truly this Prince's fault."
Though Qingshan couldn't figure out what scheme he was plotting this time, he still acknowledged the order and left.
"Li'er," the Empress called out.
Xiao Beili raised his hand to stop the Empress from continuing, his lips still curved in that smile. "Mother should just enjoy the show."
The Empress said nothing more, though she sighed deeply in her heart.
Back then, because his father had been too impatient and aggressive, the Great Zhou Kingdom had been defeated by the Southern Jin Kingdom, forcing Li'er to suffer so much hardship. How could he possibly not resent his father for that?
After his return, seeing how the father who had once doted on him beyond measure now had his heart completely devoted to that mother and son in Yanxi Palace, how could he not feel bitter?
A year had passed, and he still hadn't called him "Father" even once.
Well then.
Such is fate.
Qingshan went to get the medicine from Zhi Yuan, then intercepted the imperial physician on his way to Yuchang Marquis Manor. He handed the medicine to the physician and followed behind him.
Soon the group arrived at Yuchang Marquis Manor.
Before they even reached the entrance to the Heir's courtyard, they could hear piercing, pig-slaughter-like howls coming from inside.
Qingshan raised his hand to scratch his ear and glanced at the accompanying Physician Wang.
Physician Wang, clutching the medicine in his robe, tremblingly nodded at him.
Although he was the regular imperial physician who often visited Yuchang Marquis Manor, this young master had privately pressed a dagger against his back and ordered him to switch the medicine – how could he dare disobey?
One still had to prioritize immediate life and death.
The group was led into the room, where they immediately saw the shirtless Heir rolling around on the bed, his pale belly exposed.
As he rolled, he continued howling, creating quite a spectacular scene.
The Heir's Wife sat nearby with a cold expression, occasionally scolding him to stop his howling.
"Physician Wang," the Heir's Wife greeted them as she stood up.
After casting a somewhat disgusted glance at the bed, she said, "Our Heir was cut on the arm by a dagger and seems to be in unbearable pain. The manor's physician didn't dare treat the wound, so we must trouble Physician Wang again."
While she claimed the physician didn't dare treat the wound, the truth was that the physician hadn't even touched the wound before being howled into hesitation.
They had no choice but to summon Physician Wang.
Only after the Heir's Wife finished speaking did she notice the young man dressed as a guard accompanying them.
"And this is?" she asked, looking at Qingshan.
Qingshan bowed to her. "Greetings, Heir's Wife. This subordinate is a guard serving Prince Rui. After returning, His Highness thought it over and felt he was at fault. He specifically sent this subordinate to offer apologies to the Heir."
The Heir's Wife remained silent.
At that moment, upon hearing Qingshan's words, the heir instantly stopped his wailing. He sat up from the bed and glared darkly at Qingshan. After a long pause, he snorted coldly, "Prince Rui's apology—did he send you empty-handed? My arm is severely injured!"
"Naturally, there is a gift." Qingshan glanced at the imperial physician beside him.
Physician Wang quickly raised the ointment in his hand, suppressing his conscience. "Heir, this medicine is a superior secret golden sore ointment from the palace. The entire Tai Hospital has only one bottle. Prince Rui specially begged the Empress to obtain it."
"Apply it…" He gritted his teeth. "Within two days, the wound will heal."
Apply it, and at best, the wound will itch and fester; at worst, it will cost a life—Physician Wang silently added in his heart.
He truly couldn't gauge how ruthless Prince Rui could be.
The Yuchang Marquis Heir snorted again, pointing at his injured arm. "Hurry up and apply it for me."
Physician Wang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately stepped forward to apply the medicine.
The ointment, however, was intensely cooling. Upon contact with the wound, it immediately alleviated most of the pain, bringing a pleased expression to the Yuchang Marquis Heir's face.
The Yuchang Marquis Heir looked at Qingshan, his attitude openly contemptuous. "I also want that woman of Prince Rui's."
Qingshan inwardly cursed him as shameless and despicable.
But outwardly, he smiled. "This subordinate will return and ask Wangye."
"Go ask now. I can't wait," the Yuchang Marquis Heir clenched his fist.
Once he got that woman, he would make her taste the flavor of living death. Yet, thinking of that face, his heart itched again.
What a charming and spirited beauty!
By the time Qingshan and Physician Wang left, the Yuchang Marquis Heir could hardly feel any pain. He even sensed a refreshing pleasure from the wound.
The Heir's Wife looked at him and said coldly, "Since Prince Rui has already apologized, let the matter of Liu Jia end here today."
Her husband repeatedly claimed that Liu Jia had prepared a beauty for him today, but Prince Rui had taken her first, leading to his injury by the beauty's dagger.
But this matter… reeked of absurdity.
At Old Madam Liu's birthday celebration, who would idly prepare a beauty for him in the rear courtyard? Unless it was to scheme against him or use him to plot against others.
It was just that she had a headache this morning and hadn't accompanied him, allowing him to act recklessly at Liu Jia.
"No, I must—"
The Yuchang Marquis Heir retorted indignantly, but before he could finish his sentence, a slap landed on his face.
The Heir's Wife shouted sharply, "Sun Yu'an!"
"Someone really said they prepared a beauty for me. Otherwise, why would I have gone?" Sun Yu'an covered his face with his uninjured hand, his bravado fading, making him appear rather pathetic. "Can you at least help me investigate that beauty's background?"
The Heir's Wife turned away with a cold expression.
Once outside, her maid asked, "Is Madam going to find another woman for the Heir?"
Since Madam married into Yuchang Marquis Manor, she appeared prestigious and strong on the surface. But in reality, the Heir was lustful, unable to resist any woman, and the troubles he caused had forced Madam to clean up his messes time and again.
"Find what?" The Heir's Wife sighed. "Since Prince Rui returned to the capital, there hasn't been a woman by his side. Now, one has appeared."
She guessed that the beauty her husband spoke of was most likely Shen Jia's Er Guniang.
So what she needed to investigate was: who exactly had exploited her husband's lecherous, foolish, and arrogant nature to scheme against others? Was it Second Daughter Shen? Or someone else?
How could the prestigious Yuchang Marquis Manor allow itself to be so easily deceived?
If she ever found out who was behind this, she would never let them off lightly!