Chapter 573: Iron Caltrop
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This was simply the behavior of a tyrant!
Enough is enough! Never had they seen a Wangfei so arrogant. Even if it were the empress or the empress dowager, they would never allow their maids to threaten the wives of officials openly with force.
People have their dignity, especially women. The few women stood up angrily, intending to leave as a protest against such domineering behavior. Although Madam Qian was somewhat regretful, she didn’t mind, nor did she see them off, just apologizing to Mingzhu, “This has troubled Ying Wangfei.”
Mingzhu smiled faintly, “Madam is too polite. With a celebration in the house, the doors are open to guests, and isn’t it beyond Madam’s control whether others keep their mouths shut or not?”
Madam Qian continued, “Ying Wangfei is indeed generous. I remember a few years ago, when the late emperor was still in power, and even when the Empress Dowager was the Empress, if someone behaved improperly and uttered slander, they would be dragged away by the palace servants and punished by mouth-slapping. Since then, the atmosphere in the capital has quieted down a lot. Nowadays, the Empress Dowager stays secluded in the palace, and some people seem to have forgotten about that incident.”
The expressions of the few women became even uglier. Their own Empress Dowager Min was even more overbearing back then, directly dragging people over to slap them in the mouth. Now, it was just a maid accidentally sticking a chopstick into their hair and teacup lid. How polite.
Madam Qian’s brother’s wife heard Madam Qian’s words and couldn’t help but shed tears inwardly. Sister-in-law, you’ve also committed slander. Be careful not to let that person from the palace know, or you’ll be dragged over to get your mouth slapped. You’re the most notorious rumor-monger in the capital.
Mrs. Qian discreetly pulled her sister-in-law’s hand, which was clinging to her sleeve, away. Her husband had instructed her that once they embraced Ying Wang’s thigh, she must be cautious. Would being cautious mean that the other party wouldn’t cause trouble for them? The most taboo thing about embracing someone’s thigh is wavering from side to side; that would make one unreliable.
Mingzhu chuckled and said, “Madam is clever; no wonder my mother likes talking to you.” She had only known that Madam Qian loved to inquire and spread rumors, but she didn’t know she was a resolute heroine. Just this fearless determination alone had already surpassed many people. No wonder her mother had always wanted to associate with Madam Qian.
Madam Qian kneeled respectfully, “Ying Wangfei overpraises. Today, knowing that Ying Wangfei was coming, I specially prepared a few short plays. Please, Ying Wangfei, choose one.”
Among all the people present, Mingzhu had the highest status, so she agreed to choose a joyous play, while the rest refused to choose any. Madam Qian would have to arrange them herself. After the play had been performed for a while, An Xiaogu and her mother-in-law, Runan Marquis, arrived late.
Mingzhu lowered her voice and asked her, “Why did you come late?”
An Xiaogu frowned, “We were supposed to leave early, but we encountered something on the way. We were walking along nicely when suddenly the carriage in front had a problem and blocked the road. Our coachman went to help inspect and said something had gotten stuck in their horse’s hooves. They spent a long time unloading the horse and removing the thorn. Even if we were anxious, we could only wait.”
Mingzhu casually asked, “What was it?”
“It was an iron caltrop.” An Xiaogu gestured to show Mingzhu, “Do you know what an iron caltrop is? This thing is used in marching and war, especially in streets and alleys. When thrown on the ground, it makes it impossible for people or horses to pass. It’s really strange to see this thing on the street in broad daylight. I wonder which child from which family was playing around and caused such trouble for that horse.”
Mingzhu was surprised. How could such a thing appear on the streets of the capital? She was silent for a moment and said, “Xiaogu, I have to go back first.”
An Xiaogu looked puzzled, “Why? I just got here. The bride hasn’t even left yet. If you’re not in a hurry, stay a while longer.”
Mingzhu felt a sense of instinctive danger and urgency. She smiled, “No, it’s urgent. If you want to chat, I’ll invite you to my house another day.”
An Xiaogu was helpless, “It’s so boring. How about I go with you? Wait for me, I’ll go inform my mother-in-law first.”
Mingzhu shook her head, “No, it’s not good. I have something to do, and you came out with your mother-in-law. It wouldn’t be right to leave her and follow me, right?” If the thing she imagined really happened, it was better not to harm others.
Madam Qian walked over mysteriously, “Ying Wangfei, earlier our master heard about your mother’s illness and has been inquiring about good doctors and medicines. Fortunately, the heavens have not disappointed the well-intentioned. He has found a good doctor. Can you guess who that is?”
Mingzhu shook her head, “I don’t know.”
Madam Qian enthusiastically grabbed her hand and exclaimed, “Jiang Zhouzi! It’s the famous Jiang Zhouzi!”
Found Jiang Zhouzi? Mingzhu’s heart suddenly raced. This legendary divine doctor actually found by the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple? She was about to follow Madam Qian to meet this Jiang Zhouzi, but then stopped.
In the past, when the Great Empress Dowager had a good relationship with her family, her father and brothers had spared no effort to find doctors outside for her illness, including this elusive Jiang Zhouzi, almost resorting to public announcements. Later, when the relationship deteriorated, the family stopped seeking Jiang Zhouzi. However, the Great Empress Dowager had never given up looking for him privately. So many people searched, but Qian Muyi easily found him?
Also, she remembered that in her previous life, no one had found Jiang Zhouzi until her death. Iron caltrops on the street, Jiang Zhouzi suddenly appearing at a wedding… Mingzhu apologized to Madam Qian, “Thank you very much for the kind intentions of Lord. and Madam Qian. Hearing this news has made me very happy, and I can’t wait to bring him home immediately. But I have urgent matters at home, so please, Lord and Madam Qian, take the time to escort him to our mansion. I am deeply grateful.”
With that, she turned and left. Su Mei and the others were used to her impulsiveness, so when they saw her hurriedly leaving, they didn’t ask why, but surrounded her and walked out together. The little maid Qingqianhad already gone outside to call the carriage. Mingzhu boarded and said, “Hurry back to the palace, take a different route, the fastest one.”
Today, she was escorted by Jing Song and others. Jing Song ordered the carriage to proceed, then followed closely on horseback and asked in a low voice, “What’s going on, Your Highness? Is there something wrong?”
Perhaps she was overthinking it? Mingzhu whispered, “Two things. One is that the women from Runan Marquis’s family came to the banquet and encountered a problem with their horse on the way. The horse stepped on an iron caltrop. The other is that Lord Qian suddenly found Jiang Zhouzi and wants me to meet this divine doctor. It all seems too coincidental, so I hurried back home.”
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