Chapter 312 Suspicion
Jixiang turned around and greeted a little palace maid outside through the beaded curtain. This little palace maid also followed all the way from Zhao State. She was not very old, but very smart. Jixiang liked to entrust her with tasks, and she always did it clearly.
"Xiao Rui has gone and will be able to send back news soon."
Turning back, Jixiang poured a cup of tea for Su Qingqing.
Su Qingqing didn't drink it, but just put it aside and pointed to another house, "How much do you know about this escort agency?"
Jixiang said: "We don't know much at present, but General Wang has sent people to investigate. Now we know that the head of this escort agency is surnamed Mao. He was a half-leader of a sect in his early years. Later, I don't know why he was expelled from the sect. He spent many years in the underworld and later came to Jingdu to establish this escort agency.
This escort agency is quite famous. Many officials or wealthy businessmen in Kyoto basically look for them when they need to escort something.
When some wealthy merchants travel, even if they don't ask them to escort them, it's still effective to put up their flags on the road, which can intimidate many people anyway."
“How many years has it been open?”
"She has been in Kyoto for seven or eight years. I heard that the wife of the head of this escort agency has some friendship with Miss Qin. In the early years, when Miss Qin was still married, they often traveled together.
Later, Miss Qin married the Second Prince, and they stopped communicating.
Some people say that he is avoiding suspicion, others say that the Second Prince has taken a fancy to the escort leader's wife. Anyway, there are all kinds of rumors. However, judging from the Second Prince's infatuation with Miss Qin, I feel that there must be another hidden story."
Su Qingqing thought about Qin Wanru's father.
A healthy person suddenly had a stroke.
How did you get it?
Is he really sick or is he trying to cover up something?
Su Qingqing swiped the tabletop with her index finger, thought for a while and said, "How old is Qin Wanru? She is already a good friend of the escort leader's wife?"
Jixiang immediately smiled and said, "I knew you would ask this. I was also surprised when I first got the news. It sounds like the escort leader has been in the business for many years, right?
In fact, he is not very old. He is not even 30 years old this year. I heard that he was raised by the leader of a sect in the martial arts world since he was a child. He was treated as half his own son and the sect was going to be passed on to him.
Later, he got into trouble and was expelled from the sect. After a few years, he came to Kyoto. He sounds experienced, but he is really young.
His wife is probably three to five years older than Miss Qin. We have to wait for General Wang to find out the details."
Su Qingqing nodded, "Pay attention to the women of Tongji Pharmacy and the escort agency. They are usually close to the ladies of Kyoto. During the Hundred Flowers Festival, make special arrangements for them."
Jixiang immediately obeyed the order, "I understand."
Just as he was saying this, Xiao Rui came back from outside, "My Lady."
The crisp voice came through the beaded curtain, interrupting the already not-so-loud voices of Su Qingqing and Jixiang. Jixiang turned around and glanced at her, "Come in and talk."
The beaded curtain fluttered, and Xiao Rui came in with her head lowered.
Jixiang looked at her and was a little dazed for a moment.
"How about it?"
"To answer your Majesty, today both Imperial Physician Liu and Imperial Physician Wu La are on duty. Yesterday, the two Imperial Physicians were seeing patients together at Tongji Pharmacy. However, there were fewer patients yesterday, so Imperial Physician Liu returned to the palace early. Imperial Physician Wu La was delayed for some time because he encountered a patient who fell from his horse, and returned almost an hour later than Imperial Physician Liu.
On his way back, he happened to meet the Director of the Imperial Observatory at the palace gate, and the two chatted for a while at the gate.
After returning to the Imperial Hospital, Imperial Physician Ula went directly to Imperial Physician Liu's room to have dinner. After dinner, a master of the Ping'an Marquis's Mansion was scalded. The Ping'an Marquis's Mansion sent someone in and asked for the emperor's order to let Imperial Physician Liu leave the palace to take a look.
By the time I get back, the palace gates will almost be closed."
This was the first time Su Qingqing listened to Xiao Rui's report. After she finished, she couldn't help laughing, "Oh, your mouth is so sloppy. You must have practiced it."
Xiao Rui lowered her head in embarrassment , "My father and brother are both jugglers and performers, and they make a living by talking."
Su Qingqing said to Jixiang, "Jixiang, you are in danger. Your position as the first palace maid will soon be surpassed."
Jixiang immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "Come on, Xiaorui, hurry up, I'm looking forward to giving you a seat, so that I can rest for a few days."
Xiao Rui didn't have many opportunities to come into direct contact with Su Qingqing, and usually Jixiang was the one serving her. She couldn't stand such teasing and her face and neck turned red.
"Okay, go ahead."
Su Qingqing waved her hand, grabbed a handful of fruit and stuffed it into her hand, then sent her out.
As soon as Xiao Rui left, Su Qingqing turned to ask Jixiang, "What were you staring at when she came in just now?"
Jixiang was stunned for a moment. In fact, he was distracted for a very short time. He didn't expect that Su Qingqing noticed it.
"Nothing. The moment she lifted the curtain and came in, I felt that she looked a bit like you, especially when she lowered her head. That day, Concubine Qi deliberately dressed up like you, but there wasn't much resemblance between them. But Xiao Rui looks very similar.
I didn’t feel that before, but now that she has opened up, she has become more charming.”
Su Qingqing just smiled.
She discovered it too.
Seeing that Su Qingqing didn't say anything, Jixiang said, "How about I transfer her to the courtyard to serve and not let her into the house? You are getting older day by day, and you definitely can't be with His Majesty... Let's leave someone like this in front of you, what if something happens?"
Su Qingqing shook her head. "That's not necessary. If he really wants to do that, I can't stop him. For things like this, let nature take its course and let things happen as they should."
Jixiang said, "But the ones in other places are different from those in our own palace, especially since she came from Zhao State."
"You want to talk about the feeling of betrayal, right? Actually, it's okay. Apart from you and Aunt Xu, I don't feel much about others."
Jixiang immediately cried out, "My master, what kind of words are these? If Aunt Xu heard this, she would definitely hit you. She is so old, and you still mention her."
Su Qingqing also laughed, "Isn't this just a random conversation?"
Su Qingqing took the cup of tea that Jixiang had just poured and took a sip. "Go call Imperial Physician Liu and tell him that I'm not feeling well and ask him to come over and take a look."
Jixiang looked Su Qingqing up and down.
"What's wrong with you?"
Su Qingqing said, "Where's the tacit understanding?"
Jixiang said immediately: "I know what you mean, you want to test him, but, when people come, they have to feel your pulse, and if they feel your pulse, they will find out that you are pregnant, and we are still hiding it from the outside world.
Besides, if you ask him to come here, there must be a symptom that looks like a real disease. If not, he will be suspicious."
