Chapter 43 Benefits of Ji Hua’s Lineage
Chu Lianmo rubbed his temples in frustration.
His words were meant for Jiang Liming, not to actually punish Murong Ying. Why did Jiang Wan have to make things even more complicated?
“No! It was clearly my initiative, Madam just wanted to take the blame for me!” Murong Ying also wanted to protect Jiang Wan.
“Enough!” Chu Lianmo shouted, “You both want to be punished, do you? Fine, go back to your respective rooms for a day of self-reflection.”
“…Yes.” Murong Ying gave Jiang Wan a look, who understood that Chu Lianmo wanted to end the matter peacefully, so she obediently walked towards her room.
Now Jiang Liming was also starting to have a headache.
What kind of relationships were these people in the Rui Wang’s mansion having?
However, one was his daughter, and the other was a young master from the Murong family. They were only chatting in the garden, and he couldn’t keep making a fuss about it.
Qi Xiaojun saw that both Jiang Liming and Chu Lianmo were a little embarrassed, so he timely changed the subject: “Lord Jiang, there is something I would like to ask. Did you know a famous female physician from Qi when you were young?”
“A famous female physician from Qi?” Jiang Liming looked bewildered. “This old man has never been to Qi and has no impression of this.”
Qi Xiaojun was startled—was Jiang Liming deliberately refusing to admit his past affairs? But, if he really had this past, his instinctive reaction would be shock, not the bewildered look he had now. Or was his acting so good?
At this time, Chu Lianmo interjected, “As far as this Wang knows, Father has never been to Qi.”
Qi Xiaojun frowned even more. Logically speaking, it was difficult to lie about this kind of thing. Jiang Liming came from a distinguished family and was already a prominent figure in the court in his twenties. If he had been to Qi, it would be impossible for no one to know, right?
“Then, Your Highness and Lord Jiang, do you know anyone among the high-ranking officials in this capital who only married one wife and had two sons and two daughters?”
“This…”
Jiang Liming pondered for a long time, then said, “As far as this old man knows, the Liu family should also be in this situation.”
“That’s right!” Qi Xiaojun’s mind was also suddenly jolted—yes, wasn’t Liu Han Yue, the father of Crown Princess Liu Min, also the father of two sons and two daughters? Perhaps Ji Hua had already assumed it was Jiang Liming when he investigated, and overlooked Liu Han Yue.
“Lianmo,” Qi Xiaojun whispered in Chu Lianmo’s ear, “My friend Ji Hua might be Liu Han Yue’s illegitimate son. To help him find out, I want to go to the Liu residence. You and Lord Jiang can chat first.”
Qi Xiaojun wasn’t really suitable to be in this kind of situation and found a convenient excuse to leave.
Chu Lianmo clicked his tongue, “If I didn’t know that this friend of yours can’t do anything to you, I would really drown him in vinegar with how much you care for him.”
Qi Xiaojun glared at Chu Lianmo, signaling him not to flirt in front of his father-in-law, and then turned to leave.
He hurried to the Liu residence and asked to see Liu Han Yue.
The gatekeeper of the Liu residence said, “The master is not at home right now, he will be back later.”
Qi Xiaojun said, “Can I wait for him here for a while?”
“Please wait, I’ll go tell Madam.”
After a while, the gatekeeper returned to the gate, “Madam says she’s in the garden, and asks you to go find her.”
“I understand.”
When Qi Xiaojun saw the richly adorned Madam Liu in the garden of the Liu residence, she was leaning on a recliner, trimming her long red fingernails.
Hearing the footsteps, she looked up and glanced at Qi Xiaojun disdainfully, then continued to lower her head to trim her nails, “You are Zhou Jun, the Rui Wang’s concubine? What brings you to my Liu residence?”
Her attitude was understandable. The Liu family were supporters of the Crown Prince, and almost everyone in the court could see the tension between Chu Ziqian and Chu Lianmo.
“Nothing important, just some private matters I want to discuss with Lord Liu.”
“Private matters?” Madam Liu snorted, without raising her head, “You, a male concubine, what private matters could you have to discuss with my husband?”
“…”
This matter was certainly not convenient to tell Madam Liu directly. Just as Qi Xiaojun was thinking about how to reply, Madam Liu’s youngest son, Liu Jun, came walking over with a flattering smile on his face.
“Mother~” Liu Jun called sweetly, shaking Madam Liu’s arm, “I’ve run out of money this month, can you give me a little more?”
“Get out of my sight!” Madam Liu got up angrily and slapped Liu Jun’s buttock hard, “You’re just like your father, you only know how to spend money! Besides, the money I give you every month is three times that of your father’s, how can you spend it all? What good deeds have you done?!”
These words made Qi Xiaojun understand that Madam Liu held all the financial power in the Liu family. This was rare in Chu, especially since Liu Han Yue was the Prime Minister.
Perhaps it was because she held the purse strings so tightly that Liu Jun, despite being a rich young master, could be bought off by himself and Chu Lianmo with money to frame Chu Tianlin.
“Oh, Mother, I really didn’t do anything, I just treated some friends to dinner.” Liu Jun rubbed his sore buttock, looking aggrieved, but he dared not ask for more money, so he turned and left resentfully.
He ran into Liu Han Yue who was just returning home.
“Father!” Liu Jun looked like he had seen a savior, “Look at Mother, she hit me again and won’t give me money! Can you give me some money?”
“I呸!” (I spit!) Liu Han Yue was also furious, “Father doesn’t even have enough money, how can I give you any?! Go, go, go somewhere cool.”
Madam Liu sneered, “Like father, like son. When have I ever shortchanged you on food or clothing? You still have to go out and enjoy yourselves.”
Liu Han Yue awkwardly said with a forced smile, “Men will always need money for some things outside, Madam, don’t be angry.”
Liu Han Yue’s fear of his wife made Qi Xiaojun almost want to give up, but since he had come all the way, he could only grit his teeth and say, “Lord Liu, I have something I want to talk to you about privately, are you free?”
“Hmm?” Liu Han Yue was stunned. “What is it?”
“It’s…I have a friend who is a divine doctor from Qi, and I have something I want to confirm with him.”
When Liu Han Yue heard the words “divine doctor from Qi,” his expression changed drastically, and he readily agreed: “Good, let’s talk!”
But after answering, he remembered to ask his wife for permission: “Madam, can I chat with this young brother?”
Madam Liu sneered, “So it’s your past romantic debts coming to collect? That shameless woman actually came thousands of miles to find her husband?!
“…” Their reactions confirmed that Liu Han Yue was Ji Hua’s real father.
However, Qi Xiaojun felt uncomfortable with Madam Liu’s words, “Madam Liu, please watch your words. Your husband hid his past actions first, and besides, that person has passed away. The divine doctor from Qi I’m talking about is her son.”
“Son?!” Liu Han Yue exclaimed, “She actually gave birth to the child?!”
“That’s right.” Qi Xiaojun nodded, “And she also trained him to be an excellent physician. A Hua is in Chu’s capital city now, do you want to see him?”
“See!” Liu Han Yue answered decisively, “Of course I want to see him.”
“See your head!” Madam Liu poked him hard on the forehead, “Don’t blame me for not warning you, if you cut ties with those shameless women from Qi from now on, I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, if your precious son is missing an arm or a leg, don’t blame me…”
“You dare!” Liu Han Yue roared angrily, “I’ve had enough of you, this evil woman! I also warn you, if you dare to hurt my son, don’t blame me for being impolite!…Come on, young brother, let’s go see Hua’er now!”
With that, Liu Han Yue strode ahead angrily.
Qi Xiaojun quickly followed.
Liu Han Yue took him on a carriage, along the way still complaining resentfully: “You wouldn’t believe it, not a single person in my family is easy to deal with! My two sons spend all day indulging in pleasure, and my two daughters are even more ferocious than each other. My eldest daughter even refuses to marry, and took a poor scholar as her husband, just to control him tightly…As for that she-devil, don’t even mention it.”
“…” Qi Xiaojun recalled hearing Jiang Yingnan vaguely mention some conflicts with the Crown Princess, were the women of the Liu family all she-devils?
“Sigh, in those days, my family was poor, so marrying that she-devil was considered climbing up the social ladder. With her family’s support, I gradually rose to the position of Prime Minister…If it weren’t for this kindness, I would have divorced her long ago!”
Qi Xiaojun couldn’t help but think, so Liu Han Yue was actually a grateful person. It seemed that he had only gratitude and no love left for his original wife.
When the carriage arrived at Ji Hua’s stall, it was already completely dark.
But Ji Hua hadn’t packed up yet.
Perhaps there were too many patients in line today, or perhaps he was in a good mood today, in short, he was still diligently seeing patients.
Looking at Ji Hua’s busy figure from afar, Liu Han Yue showed a relieved smile: “This is the one most like me, far more promising than his two wastrel brothers.”
Qi Xiaojun thought: but he may not want to recognize you as his father.
Sure enough, when Ji Hua noticed Qi Xiaojun, he came over with a friendly attitude: “A Yun, what’s up today?”
“A Hua, I helped you investigate your background, and found that the person you mentioned is not Lord Jiang, but Lord Liu here. So I brought him to see you.”
“…What?” When Ji Hua’s gaze fell on the excited Liu Han Yue, it immediately turned cold, “Who authorized you to act on your own accord!”
“Hua’er, I’m your father!” Liu Han Yue choked, “How have you and your mother been all these years?”
“Good?” Ji Hua curled his lips into a cold smile, “Thanks to you, Mother was depressed all day and is already gone.”
“…Xiaoqian…” Liu Han Yue’s eyes immediately reddened, “It’s all my fault!”
“Get lost!”
Ji Hua coldly uttered a single word, then turned and left, “I’m packing up and going home to rest today. Blame this unexpected visitor.”
After hearing this, the patients who were queuing up all looked at Liu Han Yue with resentful eyes, and surrounded him to rebuke him:
“You, we finally met Doctor Ji who is willing to see more patients today, why did you come to ruin his mood!”
“That’s right, we have to wait until tomorrow, you owe us!”
“…” Liu Han Yue wanted to catch up with Ji Hua, but he was surrounded by the crowd and couldn’t get out, he couldn’t help but feel a little amused and helpless.
Qi Xiaojun helped him catch up with Ji Hua, “A Hua, can you listen to me for a few words?”
“Go ahead.” Ji Hua knew that Qi Xiaojun was only concerned about him and didn’t want to blame him, so he softened his tone.
Qi Xiaojun lowered his voice, “Now Lianmo and the Crown Prince are at odds, you should know this. Recently, the Crown Prince has greatly offended the Emperor, they are almost at the decisive moment, and the most important thing now is for Lianmo to win the support of more court officials. Lord Liu, as the Prime Minister, his help is undeniably important.”
Ji Hua frowned, “You want me to help you win over Liu Han Yue? I don’t understand these court affairs, and I don’t want to bow and scrape to anyone.”
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