Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

Upon arriving at Jiang Xiuzhi's quiet and elegant courtyard, Xiao Lan softly said, "Aunt, just now Doctor Cui mentioned that he wants to examine Uncle's old wounds. Why don't you and Uncle move inside for a detailed discussion, so that Doctor Cui can make a thorough diagnosis? As for us, we plan to stay in the courtyard and enjoy some tea with my brother, cousin, and Yunniang for a while. The delicious food we just had was so good that I accidentally ate a little too much. This fragrant tea will help us digest."

Jiang Xiuzhi smiled and looked at Xiao Lan, who was also smiling and nodding gently at her. In that instant, it was as if an invisible understanding flowed between the two, making Jiang Xiuzhi feel at ease, knowing that everything had been arranged properly.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Xiuzhi turned to the others and said in a gentle voice, "Gentlemen, why don't you rest for a while in the outer courtyard and enjoy some fragrant tea to help ease your indigestion?" After speaking, she turned her gaze to Doctor Cui, who was standing to the side, and raised her hand to gesture for him to enter, saying slowly, "I hope Doctor Cui can come inside with me and the General; there are some matters that need to be discussed in detail." With that, Jiang Xiuzhi took the lead and walked towards the door, her graceful and poised figure drawing everyone's attention.

After Wu De, Jiang Xiuzhi, Cui Sumu, the nanny, and the steward entered the room, Xiao Lan turned to Wu Yuyu and said with a smile, "Yuyu, does your aunt have any candied fruit in this courtyard? If so, could you please fetch some for me? Preferably the kind that's a bit sour. Sigh, I don't know why, but I think I ate a bit too much tonight. My stomach is rumbling, and I feel like I'm about to burst!" As she spoke, she gently rubbed her slightly protruding belly, a look of slight pain and embarrassment on her face.

Wu Yuyu, her face innocent and naive, showed no suspicion whatsoever. A sweet smile played on her lips as she said sweetly, "Sister, wait a moment! I'll go to the kitchen and see if there are any dishes you like." Before she finished speaking, she skipped and hopped excitedly towards the door like a lively little rabbit. Her light and cheerful steps seemed to tread on clouds, and in the blink of an eye, she disappeared from Xiao Lan and the others' sight.

Xiao Lan looked at Wu Yuyu and smiled as she said to Xiao Mu'an, "Little Yu'er is still so lively."

Xiao Mu'an couldn't help but chuckle: "That's true! I heard that last time in Shaozhou, it was she who took you up a tree to pick longan. Well, one of you accidentally fell and cracked her head, and the other injured her leg. You two sisters, neither of you is easy to take care of!" He shook his head as he spoke, a helpless yet doting smile on his face.

After a brief pause, Xiao Mu'an suddenly remembered something important. He turned to Xiao Lan and continued, "By the way, Lanlan, I heard that the Fifth Prince will be setting off for Xiwu Prefecture soon. Should you remind him to stop by Yu Prefecture to pay his respects to our father and mother? After all, we don't even know if the letters we sent have been delivered yet." As he spoke, Xiao Mu'an's gaze casually swept towards the door, and he saw that Madam Cui, Liu Yun, had already followed Wu Yuyu out. His reservations lessened somewhat. Therefore, he no longer hesitated and spoke frankly with Xiao Lan.

In truth, Xiao Mu'an knew perfectly well that the crucial imperial decree of marriage would most likely only be sent to the Xiao Marquis's residence in Xiwu Prefecture. And given Xiao Jin's usual modus operandi, there was probably an over 80% chance that the Xiao Marquis's residence wouldn't inform Xiao Daren and his wife, who were far away in Yuzhou. Although rumors circulated that Yan Nan Hui had a reputation as a spoiled brat, after several encounters, Xiao Mu'an found him to be quite decent, especially towards his younger sister, whom he treated with genuine affection. His doting affection was such that if his sister wanted the stars, he wouldn't dare pluck the moon from the sky to appease her. It was precisely because of this that Xiao Mu'an had the idea to remind the Fifth Prince, hoping he could establish a good relationship with his parents, lest his reputation as a spoiled brat spread to Xiwu Prefecture, causing his parents to disapprove of the marriage.

Originally, this marriage was bestowed by the Emperor himself, and regardless of whether the parties involved were willing or not, they were obligated to marry. However, the situation was far from simple. Consider Jiang Nihuang and Xiao Daren; they were no ordinary people! First, Xiao Daren was a man who, to thwart Xiao Jinshi's ambition to seize the marquisate, resolutely refused even the hereditary title. His unwavering resolve and profound strategy were truly beyond the reach of ordinary people. Then there was Jiang Nihuang. Although a woman, she wielded considerable influence in both the Jiang and Xiao families. This alone showed that she was no ordinary person either. Because of this, Xiao Mu'an was genuinely worried. He feared that if his parents learned of his sister's impending marriage to the Fifth Prince, they would be displeased, potentially triggering a series of unforeseen events. After all, given the abilities of people like Jiang Nihuang and Xiao Daren, if they really started making trouble, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Xiao Lan's lips curled into a faint smile, understanding her brother's concerns. She parted her lips and said slowly, "Brother, that imperial decree of marriage was actually issued to silence the Ye family. Although it's called an engagement, we haven't formally exchanged betrothal gifts or other formalities yet, so there's no need to be so anxious! Besides, our parents haven't even met yet; isn't it too early to talk about these things? Look at the royal family; they haven't summoned me to the palace to meet His Majesty and Consort Tong. So, brother, please relax and don't be so impatient." However, Xiao Lan had no idea that her words today would lead to a sudden imperial edict arriving at the Xiao family just two days later, demanding she immediately enter the palace to meet the Emperor. This trip to the palace nearly resulted in her death and caused her considerable suffering. But that's a story for another time…

Seeing that Xiao Lan had no other opinions, Xiao Mu'an remained silent. The two then began discussing the interior decoration of the shop, mainly Xiao Lan and Xiao Mu'an's idea of ​​what poems to write in the rooms.

At this moment, Wu De lay unreservedly on Jiang Xiuzhi's soft and comfortable bed. His upper body clothing had already been removed, revealing his strong and muscular chest and broad, thick shoulders. Cui Sumu, standing beside him, stared intently at Wu De's previously injured abdomen, carefully examining the progress of his recovery.

A thin yet deep black scar stretched across Wu De's abdomen, resembling a long, thin black line. However, perhaps due to inadequate care and treatment during the initial healing process, the scar had taken on a winding, meandering shape, like an ugly, twisted little snake coiled there. Combined with its dark black hue, from a distance, it gave the impression that a long worm was indeed parasitizing Wu De's abdomen, creating a chilling visual impact.

Cui Sumu asked, "General, your injury seems to have relapsed and required further treatment, but I'm not sure if I'm right." He looked at Wu De with a sincere expression.

Wu De had indeed enjoyed many fine wines and spirits at the lively banquet earlier. However, it was now the golden autumn season, and the night was chilly. As he walked from the spacious and bright main hall to the courtyard where Jiang Xiuzhi lived, the chill and the breeze he encountered had largely dissipated the effects of the alcohol. In addition, he had sipped some fragrant and pleasant tea, and his mind gradually cleared.

Hearing that Cui Sumu's words were so accurate, Wu De couldn't help but feel admiration. He quickly gave him a big thumbs up and praised, "Doctor Cui, your medical skills are truly superb! Back then, my sword wound wasn't properly treated for various reasons. Later, the wound became infected and inflamed, causing me to have a persistent high fever. Only then did I realize the situation was serious, but unfortunately, I had already missed the best time for treatment. I wonder if this old wound will leave me with any hidden dangers or chronic illnesses?"

As he spoke, Wu De involuntarily glanced at Jiang Xiuzhi beside him. He felt a pang of guilt towards her for what he had done. After all, it was his own reckless and impulsive actions that had led to this mess. He dared not utter a single word of reproach to her face, fearing it would remind her of past unpleasantness, and also that she might become angry and give him the cold shoulder again, or even run back to her parents' home in a huff. Fortunately, he noticed that Jiang Xiuzhi merely lowered her head slightly, offering no rebuttal or showing any displeasure, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling reassured for the time being.

Having received instructions from Xiao Lan, Cui Sumu spoke solemnly, "General, rest assured, your injuries are merely superficial. However, due to some improper treatment earlier, you'll need proper care. In my opinion, a few doses of appropriate medicine, taken on time, will ensure a full recovery! However…" He paused, his gaze shifting meaningfully to the maids standing in the room. His gaze, seemingly casual, held an unspoken meaning, arousing curiosity. Everyone followed his gaze, wanting to understand his intentions. However, Cui Sumu merely smiled, offering no further explanation, as if deliberately keeping them in suspense. The atmosphere in the room became subtly tense.

Just then, Jiang Xiuzhi parted her lips slightly and said in a slow voice, "Steward and Qiaozhu, I'll trouble you two to go to the outer room to wait. As for the rest of you, please go to the courtyard to stand guard."

It turned out that the outer room of Jiang Xiuzhi's residence was specifically used for receiving guests, separated from the inner room by an exquisite screen and a latticed door. This layout was ingenious; if those inside spoke in a low voice, those outside would have difficulty hearing them. However, Cui Sumu, being a man from another family, was present in the room. Even with Wu De accompanying her in the inner room, Jiang Xiuzhi, out of caution, felt she should maintain some secrecy. Therefore, she deliberately left her steward and personal maid in the outer room. This way, she could ensure that what happened in the inner room wouldn't be easily observed by outsiders, while also preventing gossip and wild speculation.

Cui Sumu glanced around and, seeing that most people had already left the room, breathed a slight sigh of relief. Then, with a smile, he clasped his hands in a respectful salute to General Wude. Lowering his voice, he said softly, “General, please forgive me! After examining you, I found that although you have many old injuries, fortunately, they are not too serious. In my opinion, you only need some gentle tonics to recuperate, and given time, you will recover completely. However…” He paused slightly, a mysterious glint in his eyes, and continued softly, “I specifically requested to examine your old injuries because there is something else I wish to discuss privately with you and your wife. This matter is of utmost importance, and I hope you will dismiss everyone else so I can explain it in detail.”

Upon hearing this, Wu De's slight flush from drinking vanished instantly, and he began to ponder inwardly. From the other person's words, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss. Could it be that he truly had some serious problem? Just as he was about to ask, Jiang Xiuzhi continued, "Doctor Cui, you are my Lan'er's subordinate. I naturally have complete faith in your medical skills and character. Our general, however, is a warrior who detests all that flowery, roundabout talk. So, please speak freely without reservation!"