Chapter 169 - 167: Someone in This Household Wants to Harm Her (Second Update)

Chapter 169: Chapter 167: Someone in This Household Wants to Harm Her (Second Update)

The well-prepared Xu Jing wasn’t surprised at all and smiled, saying, "Young Madam Zhao, you don’t have to be so polite with me. Just tell me if there’s anything."

Having finally grabbed hold of Zhao Shao Hua’s thigh, Xu Jing wished she could owe Zhao Shao Hua a few more favors. After all, if she wanted to develop in the Western Capital in the future, she would need Zhao Shao Hua’s help in many things. Owing her more favors would be beneficial, not harmful.

Zhao Shao Hua coughed lightly and said, "Here’s the thing. Didn’t I help you inquire about Guangming Hall regarding the Jiang Family yesterday? Jiang Erlang is from the Jiang Family. Yesterday, when I was speaking with my husband outside the Wang Family estate, I happened to encounter Jiang Erlang, who hadn’t left yet. I thought, why not ask directly and did just that."

Xu Jing raised her eyebrows slightly.

That Jiang Erlang was from the Jiang Family was a fact Xu Jing had long suspected.

At that time, she was waiting for Zhao Shao Hua on her carriage, not expecting that Shao Hua had already asked on her behalf.

No wonder she was able to respond so quickly.

"Jiang Erlang asked me why I was inquiring about the relationship between the Jiang Family and Guangming Hall. I told him about your friend’s family situation and said frankly it was you who asked me to inquire. To my surprise, he seemed very interested and asked me many questions about you."

Xu Jing was slightly stunned, then heard Zhao Shao Hua continue, "I thought he developed a bit of curiosity about you due to the matters at the estate, so I praised your medical skills enthusiastically. Unexpectedly, after hearing it, he said he wanted to invite you to see his sister."

This development was quite a twist, Xu Jing couldn’t help but chuckle, "So that’s how it is. Diagnosing is just a small task for me. From your earlier expression, Young Madam Zhao, I thought it was something monumental."

"Ahem, this is indeed something I got into without your consent beforehand. Still, I didn’t agree to him directly; I just said I’d ask you first. At that time, I thought of waiting until he dug out the information about Guangming Hall and then telling you together."

If it really was the Jiang Family behind Guangming Hall’s suppression of Tianyi Hall, how could she feel comfortable asking Xu Jing to diagnose someone from the Jiang Family?

Luckily, the outcome was acceptable.

Xu Jing nodded, "I have no problem with it. I can go anytime to see Jiang Erlang’s sister."

Zhao Shao Hua’s eyes lit up instantly, "That’s good, Jiang Erlang said his sister is suffering from a common cold. Normally, taking medicine as prescribed would have her well in two or three days. But his sister’s condition hasn’t improved after a few days of medication and even worsened, prompting Jiang Erlang to invite you to take a look.

His sister got married three years ago to the Heir of Huaiyin Marquis, and the Huaiyin Marquis Residence is not far from my home. If you are free tomorrow, you can come to the Zhao Family in the morning and I’ll take you over."

When the Grand Ancestor Emperor was alive, he had laid down an unwritten prohibition to prevent the Xiao, Zhao, Wang, and Jiang families from becoming overly powerful—banning intermarriage among them.

Therefore, after the founding of Great Chu, there had been no intermarriage between the four families, but as the four great families, they still interacted with each other.

Xu Jing smiled, "I’m free tomorrow morning. I’ll come over after having breakfast."

As she spoke, she pondered inwardly, taking medicine for several days with the cold not only unimproving but worsening? Could it be that the doctor’s diagnosis was wrong? Or was it that she wasn’t actually suffering from a cold?

Xu Jing was still contemplating when Zhao Shao Hua suddenly said, "Jiang Erlang also said that he hoped I could talk more with his sister when you go to check on her since her mood has not been great lately. Though his sister’s temperament is generally gentle and kind, I’m not very familiar with her, having only met her a few times at various banquets. Thank goodness I’m not going alone, or I’d be at a loss for words."

Mood not quite right? A person’s mood does affect their physical health, much like Zhao Shao Hua.

Her prolonged illness might also relate closely to her mood.

Xu Jing then asked, "Why is Jiang Erlang’s sister not in a good mood?"

Zhao Shao Hua, upon hearing this, suddenly leaned closer to Xu Jing, "Jiang Erlang said a thief recently got into his sister’s room, and many of her hairpins went missing. He said the theft is the reason for her sour mood, but I think it’s just one of the issues.

About half a year ago, the Huaiyin Marquis Residence suddenly welcomed a guest, claiming to be a niece from Lady Huaiyin’s natal family. Her parents died in an accident a year ago, and so she came to the Western Capital to depend on the Huaiyin Marquis Residence. Lady Huaiyin is known to be Buddhist and very compassionate, and seeing this young lady alone, she took her in."

It’s said that the lady’s surname is Hua, and she is incredibly beautiful. Because of her background, she has attracted considerable sympathy. When she arrived at the Huaiyin Marquis Residence, she had already come of age, yet the old lady had yet to arrange a marriage for her."

On the other hand, Jiang Erlang’s sister, having been married into the Huaiyin Marquis Residence for three years, remains without a child. It’s said she’s been taking various medications to condition her body. If she wasn’t from the Jiang Family, the Lady Huaiyin probably would’ve insisted on getting a concubine for her son long ago."

As the saying goes, good news doesn’t leave the door while bad news travels a thousand miles, and these love affairs spread through the Western Capital faster than the wind.

It’s unsurprising that Jiang Erlang’s sister would be in a bad mood with a young and beautiful lady eyeing her husband.

Xu Jing thought a bit more and asked, "Was the one who stole her hairpins a servant from their home?"

Zhao Shao Hua shrugged, "I don’t know about that either; Jiang Erlang didn’t explain specifically. But apart from the family servants, who else could slip into the master’s rooms unnoticed? We’ll find out once we go there tomorrow."

The next day, Xu Jing arrived at the Zhao Family as scheduled and proceeded with Zhao Shao Hua to the Huaiyin Marquis Residence.

As Zhao Shao Hua mentioned, the Huaiyin Marquis Residence was not far from the Zhao Family, taking less than a quarter of an hour by carriage.

Zhao Shao Hua handed over her nameplate, and they were immediately ushered in with respect. They waited in the front yard hall for only a short while before a very capable-looking maid approached, smiling as she greeted them, "Greetings to Young Madam Zhao and Doctor Xu from this servant. Please, call this servant Jing Dan. Our Young Madam sent me to escort you both inside."

Xu Jing observed Jing Dan thoughtfully; the maid’s face was rosy, but her eyes showed obvious signs of exhaustion. Was it because she was taking care of their Madam?

Jing Dan guided them toward the back courtyard. As they reached the gates of a courtyard, they suddenly saw a pure, lovely lady dressed in an orange-yellow mixed chest-length dress, like a flawless jade after the rain, holding a tray and accompanied by two maids, approaching slowly.

Jing Dan halted her steps, and Xu Jing caught sight of her expression suddenly darkening to the utmost, like a sky at its most overcast, looking at the lady with evident hostility, "Lady Hua, what brings you here?"

Hearing her voice, the lady seemed startled, her eyes widening fearfully as she timidly responded, "I... I just went to see the old madam, and she was worried about Sister Xia’s health, so she sent me to deliver a bowl of nourishing soup to her..."

"How dare you!"

Before she finished speaking, Jing Dan harshly interrupted, "What gives you the right to address our Young Madam by name directly!"

At this rebuke, Lady Hua trembled, like a frightened kitten, her big eyes quickly filling with tears as she stuttered, "I... I was wrong, but this soup was meant for Sister Xia... for our Young Madam as ordered by the old madam..."

The two maids accompanying her were clearly from the old madam’s side, and seeing Lady Hua in such a state, they frowned, glancing sympathetically at her, their eyes casting some dissatisfaction towards Jing Dan.

Even Zhao Shao Hua couldn’t help but furrow her brows slightly.

Jing Dan, however, continued with her cold demeanor, "Give the strengthening soup to this servant, and this servant will deliver it to the Young Madam."

Lady Hua quickly handed the tray to Jing Dan, holding back tears before turning and hastily leaving.

Her demeanor was as if she was pitiable and adorable.

Once Lady Hua was out of sight, the sternness on Jing Dan’s face gradually faded. She bit her lip and looked toward Zhao Shao Hua and Xu Jing, "I apologize for making Young Madam Zhao and Doctor Xu laugh. Our Young Madam has been overthinking lately, always saying that she feels someone in the house is out to harm her. Yet, when asked why she thinks so, she can’t articulate a reason. And for the past few days, she keeps having nightmares...

Our Young Madam’s mood is quite unstable right now, so I can’t let her see Lady Hua. Normally, our Young Madam is very kind to Lady Hua."

Afraid that Zhao Shao Hua and Xu Jing might misunderstand, Jing Dan couldn’t help but emphasize the last sentence with extra weight.