Chapter 329 Madam
Jixiang looked at Liu Yuyi in surprise, his eyes gleaming with all the light that his acting skills could express, "Really?"
In order to make the acting more realistic, the voice was trembling.
Imperial Physician Liu was pleased by Jixiang's reaction and said more confidently, "That's right. Because of the poison on Miss Jixiang's arm, the entire Imperial Hospital, especially Imperial Physician Wu La and I, have been asking almost all our friends for a folk remedy to detoxify."
Jixiang looked at him gratefully, "Thank you, Lord Liu. I... I..."
Imperial Physician Liu waved his hand, blocking Jixiang's words that sounded like "I can't repay you for anything", and said, "Miss Jixiang, whether this prescription is effective or not, none of us can say for sure, we can only try it first."
Jixiang nodded, "Just being able to try is already a great hope."
A hint of sadness flashed across her excited eyes.
Imperial Physician Liu caught this trace of sadness and asked tentatively, "Your Majesty, are you really unwilling to let Concubine Qi see your arm?"
Jixiang lowered his head, pursed his lips, and was silent for a moment without responding. He just asked, "What is the folk remedy that Imperial Doctor Liu mentioned?"
She didn't answer, but Imperial Physician Liu had already gotten the feedback he wanted. Jixiang resented Su Qingqing because of the poisoning!
The original purpose of doing this was just to get Concubine Qi released.
Who would have thought that although Su Qingqing was on high alert and refused to give in, she gained something else: Su Qingqing and the two maids in front of her, Jixiang and Xiaorui, who were both her right-hand men, now resented her!
This is simply a blessing from heaven.
Liu, the imperial physician, did not dare to reveal too much for fear of arousing suspicion, and only said, "I am a registered doctor at Tongji Pharmacy in Beijing. The neighbor of the owner of this pharmacy is the chief escort of the famous Weiyuan Escort Agency in Beijing. This chief escort has traveled far and wide, and I heard that he has collected many kinds of folk prescriptions at home."
"Really? Then I'll go to his house now and give him any amount of silver." As a person tortured by poison, Jixiang showed the expected desire and urgency.
Imperial Physician Liu shook his head. "The antidote is in the hands of the chief escort's wife. His wife is not in Kyoto right now, but I have asked someone to talk to the chief escort. He said he is willing to help. He has sent someone to pick up his wife. The earliest she can come back is tomorrow."
Imperial Physician Liu paused and said with some embarrassment, "But tomorrow is the Hundred Flowers Festival. As the most favored maid of the Queen, you should not be able to leave the palace. At least you have to wait until the evening banquet is over."
Jixiang immediately said, "I can't go out but she can come in!"
Imperial Physician Liu was clearly here to ask for an invitation, but he still looked confused. "She came in? How did she get in? Tomorrow's banquet will be attended by all the noble ladies. How can an ordinary person like her..."
Jixiang interrupted Liu the Imperial Physician directly, with a look of determination that left no room for negotiation.
"You can come in. If I say you can, then you can. In this case, I still have to go back to serve the queen. I'd like to trouble Imperial Doctor Liu to go to the head escort's house and tell him that the palace's Hundred Flowers Banquet invites his wife to attend and ask him to prepare."
Imperial Physician Liu's eyes widened. "How do I invite you? You need a post to participate."
Jixiang said, "Tell her to prepare the ointment and dress up nicely. As for the post and consultation fee, I will prepare everything for her. I will personally go to the palace gate to greet her tomorrow."
Imperial Physician Liu was skeptical, "Is it okay?"
Jixiang said, "Of course you can. You also said that I am the most favored one in front of the queen. If I can't even do this, how can I be considered favored? I will trouble Lord Liu to help me with this matter."
Imperial Physician Liu hurriedly said, "It is because our Imperial Hospital is incompetent that we cannot help Miss Jixiang detoxify. We have been unable to sleep or eat these days. If her prescription works, we can feel at ease."
Jixiang smiled and bowed respectfully to Imperial Physician Liu.
When they returned to Su Qingqing's bedroom, Jixiang turned around and mentioned this matter to Su Qingqing. Xiaorui was standing in front of Su Qingqing, and when she heard this, she burst out laughing.
"Our little prince's shopping spree really made them furious, and they are really eager to enter the palace."
Jixiang said, "The wife of the chief escort leader was able to mess up the marriage between Miss Qin and the Second Prince like that. She must not be a good person. We must be careful tomorrow."
Xiao Rui nodded, "Don't worry, Sister Jixiang, I will try to grow eight eyes tomorrow."
Jixiang just smiled and glared at her.
Su Qingqing said to Jixiang, "The one you really need to be careful about tomorrow is you. When you face the wife of the head escort, you must remember that you don't need to test her or take risks to get any information. If you feel there is any danger, you should withdraw immediately. Do you understand?"
"I know, don't worry, Madam. I still have to serve our little princess and little prince, so how could I put myself in danger?"
…
The Hundred Flowers Festival, which has been anticipated by everyone for a long time, finally ushered in the morning light amid the turbulent struggle among various forces.
Early in the morning, Jixiang had someone deliver the invitation to the chief escort's home.
Holding the invitation, the wife of the chief escort smiled seductively at the mirror, her rouge-red lips glowing with luster. She specially asked the servants to prepare a set of clothes that Concubine Qi had sent earlier.
"I heard that this dress is the style and color that the Queen likes to wear most. There are only slight differences in some minor places. Otherwise, if you don't look closely, they are almost exactly the same.
Our queen doesn't usually interact with the ladies in the palaces. If you go there dressed like this, she won't be able to blame you even if she wants to. After all, we are just ordinary people, how can we know the queen's preferences !"
The maidservant helped the wife of the chief escort to put on her clothes and pinned a few pearl flowers on her head, which were also the styles specified by Concubine Qi.
Looking from the back, she looks almost exactly like Su Qingqing.
Back then, she was able to use this method to make Qin Wanru and the Second Prince, two people who were obviously in love, become enemies in the end. Why couldn't she use the same method on Su Qingqing and the Emperor today?
Which man can escape her tenderness?
Her fair fingers picked up the gold-sprinkled invitation on the table. She looked at herself in the mirror and stood up with satisfaction.
Just as he was about to go out, the chief escort came in from outside.
The maids who served the lady met the chief escort and bowed to each other and left and right before retreating.
As soon as the maids left, the lady changed her dignified and elegant posture, took a step back, and saluted the chief escort, "Greetings, Master Jin."
The chief escort looked her up and down, then suddenly leaned forward and pinched her cheek.
"Look at you, how come you can always look like whoever you pretend to be? You used to pretend to be Qin Wanru, and now you pretend to be Su Qingqing. You say you are so capable, how can I love you?"
The lady knew her place well and nodded her head, saying respectfully, "It is my blessing to be able to serve Master Jin. I don't ask for anything else."
Chief Escort Master Jin pinched her chin, forcing her to lift it up. "If you can really do it this time, I can really consider making you a real...wife."
