pjbooks Chapter 97 Years in the Palace 5
Chapter 97 Years in the Palace 5
Another advantage of having a large family business is that you can always find a place to stay anywhere.
Liu Xingxing reluctantly asked Chu Chun to hire a carriage to take people into the city. Such a big person couldn't be carried very far by just the two of them, and dragging such a half-dead person around would attract attention. The carriage would be a good way to conceal them.
Moreover, I heard from Chu Chun that this guy is some kind of Prince Qi. If we really bring him back to the Liu residence, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause.
This girl is obviously on some secret mission and doesn't want anyone to know. If we really bring her back, we won't be able to keep her leaving the city a secret either.
"In early spring, go and find a doctor to treat his injuries. Keep a close eye on him. I'm going back to the manor now."
Zhang Shi parted ways with them the day before. He probably took the silver that Liu Xingxing had asked Chu Chun to get from the bank earlier and ran off with his family somewhere.
He claimed to be a doctor with a noble and righteous air, regarding money as dirt, but in the end he still accepted the money and ran away faster than a rabbit. But it was what he deserved.
If he's still here, there's no need to find another doctor.
"Oh, and if he wakes up and asks anything, just say that I asked you to do something, and you happened to pass by, rescued him, and temporarily placed him in this courtyard. Don't reveal my existence."
"Why is Your Majesty doing this?"
"I have my reasons. You don't need to ask any more questions. Just do as I say."
"Alright, Your Highness, please be careful on your way back."
"We're already in the city, what's there to be afraid of? I'm leaving now, take good care of him."
Once the matter was settled, Liu Xingxing left without saying a word, and Chu Chun hurriedly ran outside to find a doctor.
Meanwhile, Liu Qian and Madam Wang at the Liu residence were frantic, like ants on a hot pan. Their daughter, so grown up, had just disappeared without a trace, and had been gone for five or six days. They dared not search for her openly.
After all, they knew that Liu Baiyi was always a woman of her own mind. They knew what this girl was up to after the clothes-changing incident that day, and what else could they, as her parents, do but cover for her?
Moreover, the disappearance of the Imperial Concubine is no small matter. If they are not careful, even if they are the Imperial Concubine's parents, they will be accused of failing to take good care of her.
"Master, Madam, they're back! They're back! The Imperial Concubine is back!"
The steward hurried back, and seeing that no one was around, he whispered the good news: "Her Highness has returned to Qinyu Courtyard. She was very careful and no one noticed."
"Oh, she's finally back! That girl is really something, causing such a big mess without even letting us know. I'd like to see what excuse she has this time!"
Wang threw the handkerchief in her hand and strode angrily toward the courtyard where Liu Baiyi lived.
Liu Qian hurriedly followed: "Hey, hey, hey, Madam, slow down and wait for your husband. Yi'er is now a Noble Consort, so please don't say anything inappropriate."
"Hmph, once she becomes a concubine, she's no longer our daughter! What's wrong with a mother saying this about her own daughter?"
Wang showed no sign of slowing down. Once her temper flared, Liu Qian was helpless and could only try to persuade her from the sidelines.
"Madam, Yi'er must have her reasons. If you go to see her so openly, what's the point of all our efforts to cover it up these past few days?"
Wang rolled her eyes at him and said irritably, "That's why I left all the servants behind and had you come along. Oh, you think I've really lost my mind? I just rushed over to see if that brat was short of anything."
Liu Qiancai realized what was going on and chuckled, "Look at me, as expected, Madam is the smartest."
Wang sighed again. Seeing that they had arrived at Liu Baiyi's courtyard, she didn't say anything more to Liu Qian and hurriedly went into the courtyard to see Liu Baiyi.
In order to cover up Liu Baiyi's disappearance, they have been avoiding this courtyard every day, pretending to catch up, and even having a maid pretend to be her and wander around the door from time to time before returning to her room.
After all, Liu Baiyi hasn't been feeling well these past few days, so it's possible she hasn't been going out much.
"Father, Mother, your daughter is back."
Liu Xingxing was not surprised that Liu Qian and Wang Shi arrived so quickly, and she smiled sweetly.
As soon as Wang entered the room, she found a stool and sat down. Without even looking at her, she said in an annoyed tone, "Oh, you wouldn't dare. The Imperial Concubine is now of a high rank, and she doesn't need to consult with us lowly people about anything she does."
Liu Qian quickly picked up the teapot on the table and poured tea for Wang Shi, while constantly gesturing with his eyes to Liu Baiyi, who was still standing there.
Liu Xingxing didn't want to waste any more words. With a solemn expression, she walked over and sat down next to them, directly stating her purpose. However, she kept her voice low to prevent anyone outside from eavesdropping.
"Father, Mother, the reason I am leaving the palace to visit my family is because I feel something is wrong with my body, as if someone has done something to me."
Madam Wang was immediately alarmed and grabbed Liu Baiyi's hand, saying worriedly, "Yi'er, you..."
"Mother, please let me finish."
Liu Qian was so surprised that he quickly found a stool to sit down and listen to her story.
"I thought there was no major problem and it would be resolved in a day or two if things went smoothly. I didn't expect it to take so long. It's because my daughter discovered that someone had planted a Gu worm called 'Mother-Child Gu' on her body, and that's why her body has been getting weaker day by day."
"In order to expel this thing from her body, my daughter had to bleed to draw out the Gu, which is why she had to rest in the other courtyard for a few more days before her return journey was delayed."
Madam Wang hurriedly turned Liu Baiyi back and forth to examine her, her face full of anxiety: "Mother-Child Gu, what is that? Yi'er, are you alright now? Yi'er, no wonder you look so pale, don't frighten your mother!"
Liu Xingxing didn't explain clearly at this moment: "What the Mother-Child Gu is is not important. Anyway, I have removed it now. It's just that I lost a lot of blood and qi. I will be fine after eating more blood-nourishing medicinal food."
Looking at her with eyes full of heartache, Wang said, "You child, why didn't you ask your father and mother for help when you had health problems? You even secretly went outside to take care of it yourself. Don't you trust the people in your family?"
She really didn't trust anyone. At least, apart from Wang Shi and Liu Qian, she didn't trust most of the people in the Liu family. She didn't know anyone. She only took the gamble on the maid who changed clothes with her because she saw how trusting Chu Chun was.
“Yes, home is at least safer than outside, why do you have to go outside?” Liu Qian echoed with concern.
They could roughly guess Liu Baiyi's thoughts; otherwise, why would they dismiss everyone while waiting for news? They themselves knew how many people in the Liu family were not clean.
"Oh dear, we weren't sure if there was a problem at first, so we didn't want to make a fuss about it, and we were afraid of making a mountain out of a molehill. Now it's been perfectly resolved."
Wang noticed her reluctance to elaborate, so she didn't press further. Instead, she asked other questions with a serious expression: "Has Yi'er found any clues? Is it...?"
Judging from Wang's expression, Liu Xingxing knew who she was talking about. It was most likely related to him, but it also had a lot to do with Liu Baiyi herself. As for the truth, that would have to be investigated.
"I have my own way of verifying this, but I'm telling you this not so that you can interfere. Parents, just listen and don't do anything else."
Liu Xingxing spoke earnestly, genuinely not wanting them to get involved in this matter, but she couldn't fabricate a story that would fall apart at the slightest provocation, since she had clearly disappeared for five or six days.
Moreover, the root of the problem lies with herself. Even after the Gu poison was removed, aside from being a little clearer-headed, she still doesn't have Liu Baiyi's memories, so how could she know the whole story?
Damn illusion, can't you add more memories to these automatically generated NPCs?
Oh no, only she, this "outsider" temporarily occupying the NPC identity, has no memories of the original owner.
Then why did Lu Xihan inherit the original owner's memories? Even though it was a series of forgotten and filled-in memories.
As expected, she, who is an NPC inside and out, is not worthy at all!
╮(￣⊿￣)╭
"Yi'er, are you still..."
She particularly liked Jing Yanzhi, which is why Wang Shi was able to convince Liu Baiyi that she was protecting that man with just a few words?
"Mother, don't overthink it. We'll know the truth soon enough."
Liu Xingxing smiled faintly and glanced in the direction of the royal palace.