Dongfang Heng put down his teacup, his eyelids furrowed, and his thin lips uttered two words: "The villa!"
On the very day he saw the Huasheng, Dongfang Heng sent his secret guards to Xiliang's capital to procure and inquire about the villa where they would stay. The villa was carefully selected, located in the suburbs of the capital, surrounded by sparse population and lush greenery, with an extremely beautiful environment.
When Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng arrived at the villa, they found guards already waiting there, who respectfully reported everything they had gathered:
"Ye Qianmei's mother is named Mu Zixin. She is thirty-six years old and is the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Mu's family. She entered the palace at the age of fifteen and became a Consort Shu five years later. She is very much favored by the emperor. The Duke of Mu's family is full of military talents. The eldest son and the second son both hold the position of general..."
Shen Lixue's eyes narrowed: "Mu Zixin is a favored concubine in the palace and rarely leaves the palace. There should be three sources for that Huasheng: one is the emperor's favor and a gift to her; another is the care from her family and a gift to her; and the third is that others are trying to curry favor with her and giving her a gift."
Regardless of the possibility, Mu Zixin is the key to finding out the source of Huasheng. To find out who Huasheng came from, it is necessary to get close to her and investigate her.
The matter is somewhat complicated, and finding out the truth will not be a matter of a day or two. It requires careful unraveling of the clues, in other words, it will take a certain amount of time to investigate slowly.
The palace was heavily guarded and difficult to infiltrate. The Duke of Mu's mansion was also under strict security. The Duke of Mu was naturally suspicious, and even if he disguised himself as a servant, he could not get close to the core personnel. It was unknown when he would be able to get any accurate information.
Of course, if Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue came to Xiliang as a prince and princess, they could directly approach Consort Shu, which would be convenient for them to do their work, but it would also alert the enemy. If the enemy were to strengthen their vigilance, it would be difficult for them to find out the truth. Therefore, if they wanted to find out the truth safely, they could only do so secretly.
Unable to find a breakthrough in their investigation, the two left the villa and went to the capital for sightseeing.
The capital of Xiliang was bustling and prosperous. As far as the eye could see, there were towering buildings and a dazzling array of goods. Perhaps because of its proximity to the Western Regions, there were many rare items from the Western Regions. Their unique shapes, whether curved, long, or flat, were like perfect works of art, captivating the eye.
Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue walked side by side down the street, watching the people coming and going. The two were dressed elegantly and had handsome faces, looking like an outstanding pair of brothers, attracting many people to stop and watch.
Dongfang Heng glanced at Shen Lixue, who was dressed in men's clothing, and looked at the clothing shop not far away: "Lixue, would you like to try on Xiliang clothing?" Xiliang and Qingyan have different customs and culture, and their clothing is also different. The clothes here are mainly made of light gauze, with beautiful rings on them, which have a Western Region style and are very beautiful.
"Okay!" Girls love unique and beautiful dresses, and Shen Lixue was no exception. Looking at the beautiful dresses displayed at the entrance of the clothing store, her beautiful eyes crinkled as she hurried over.
A glint flashed in Dongfang Heng's obsidian-like eyes. Finally, she could change back into women's clothes. It was really awkward for two grown men to go shopping together without him being able to hold her hand or put his arm around her waist.
"Come and see! Come and see! The Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion is offering a fortune for a divine physician! All you divine physicians, don't miss this opportunity!"
The sound of gongs mingled with a man's loud shouts, and Shen Lixue's steps toward the clothing shop abruptly halted. A fortune for medical treatment? What was going on? Her beautiful eyes darkened, and she changed direction, heading toward where the crowd was rapidly gathering.
Walking into the crowd, I saw a notice posted on the wall directly in front of me. It read that the old lady of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion was suffering from headaches. Whoever could cure her would be rewarded with 10,000 gold pieces!
"The old lady of the Marquis's mansion has been suffering from headaches for several years now, and they've never been cured!"
"As people get old, they inevitably fall ill. The descendants of the Marquis are filial, and they have spent ten thousand taels of gold to seek medical treatment for their grandmother..."
Hearing the whispers of passersby, Shen Lixue lowered her eyelids slightly and looked at the notice with a cold gaze. "Has she been ill for several years and still hasn't been cured?"
"You want to go to the Marquis's mansion to treat that old lady's illness?" Dongfang Heng saw through Shen Lixue's thoughts at a glance.
Shen Lixue smiled awkwardly: "I think the old lady of the Marquis's mansion's headaches are a good opportunity!" The Marquis's mansion is a prestigious noble family in Xiliang. If she enters as a doctor, she will be respected and will be able to frequently come into contact with the master of the mansion, which will be very beneficial for investigating Huasheng's affairs.
"Can you guarantee that you can cure that old lady's headaches?" Dongfang Heng's sharp gaze fell on the notice. It wasn't that he didn't believe in Shen Lixue's medical skills, but rather that she had suffered from headaches for several years, and doctors from various countries had no solution. The possibility of Shen Lixue curing her was extremely small.
Furthermore, he knew nothing about the Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion in Xiliang, and the situation in Xiliang was somewhat complicated. If Shen Lixue left his side, she could be in danger at any time.
"I can't guarantee it!" Shen Lixue had only read the medical notes of the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang and had not become his apprentice. Her medical skills were not very good, and she was not 100% sure she could cure the old lady's headache.
"The Marquis's mansion only said that if the illness is cured, the reward will be ten thousand gold pieces. They didn't say that if the illness can't be cured, it would be a scam. We can't find a breakthrough in the short term, so let me try. If I can't cure her illness and can't find an opportunity, we'll think of another way."
If she cures the old lady's illness, the Marquis's mansion will owe her a favor, which will make things much easier for them in Xiliang.
As the Crown Prince of Xiliang, Ye Qianlong knew Xiliang very well. Logically speaking, it would be most appropriate to ask him for help. However, she was already married, and Ye Qianlong had once had romantic feelings for her. As proud as Dongfang Heng was, he would definitely not accept help from his rival. Shen Lixue also wisely did not mention him.
“I’ll go with you!” Shen Lixue insisted on going, and Dongfang Heng didn’t want to stop her. He was worried about her traveling alone in the unfamiliar capital of Xiliang.
Shen Lixue sized up Dongfang Heng. His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards, his face was like carved white jade, and his snow-white complexion made the blazing sun pale in comparison. The cold and indifferent aura of the battlefield inspired awe. His white robes fluttered lightly in the wind, and his handsome and noble appearance made it impossible to look away.
Her beautiful eyes were full of mockery: "Prince An, your aura is too dazzling. A smart person can tell at a glance that you are not an ordinary person. By accompanying me to the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion, you are clearly telling others that we have ulterior motives for treating people's illnesses."
Dongfang Heng's face instantly turned as black as ink, but he had to admit that Shen Lixue was right. Even if his going to the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion didn't expose their identities, it would still arouse suspicion.
"If you're really worried, let Zimo come with me. You go back to the villa and wait for our news!" Shen Lixue blinked, her clear and innocent eyes making it hard to refuse.
Dongfang Heng sighed and solemnly warned, "Be extra careful!"
“I know!” Dongfang Heng nodded, and Shen Lixue smiled slightly. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she walked slowly to the wall and reached out to tear down the notice.
"Young master, are you here to seek medical help for the old lady of the Marquis's mansion?" A man carrying a gong approached Shen Lixue and scrutinized her closely. This young master is so young.
Shen Lixue smiled: "Of course!" The purpose of accepting the challenge is to treat people's illnesses.
The man withdrew his gaze and politely pointed to the road beside him: "Please follow me!"
The Zhenguo Marquis's mansion was located on a relatively quiet street. The mansion was magnificent and covered a large area. Shen Lixue followed the man into the mansion and went directly into the living room without being announced: "Madam, a divine physician has accepted the challenge!"
"Really?" With a joyful female voice, a beautiful young woman in her thirties walked over, gently supported by her maid. The old lady of the Marquis's mansion was well known in the vicinity of the capital. The notice had been posted for a long time, but no one had come to take it down. Now that she heard that a divine doctor had come, she was naturally happy.
But the moment she saw Shen Lixue, her joy froze slightly: "Is this the miracle doctor who answered the call to action?" How come he's so young?
In her mind, a highly skilled doctor should be an old man with a long beard and a weathered face, who has practiced medicine all his life and has rich experience and can cure all kinds of stubborn diseases. This young man looks no older than her son. Even if he practices medicine, he doesn't have much experience. Can he cure the old lady's illness?
Shen Lixue noticed the beautiful young woman's doubt and smiled, "I am not very talented. I have been learning medicine from my father since I was a child. My medical skills are not superb, but I have achieved some success, especially in the area of headaches. I have done some research. I have not seen the old lady's condition yet, so I cannot guarantee that I can cure her. However, I can relieve her symptoms in a timely manner!"
Her humility and politeness, her calm and composed demeanor, instantly won the favor of everyone present. The beautiful young woman smiled shyly; to doubt her medical skills after she had spoken so modestly would be to judge her with a petty mind.
"My mother-in-law is in the backyard. This way, please, young master!" Judging from this young man's appearance, he is gentle and refined, and full of knowledge. He is not an ordinary person. Perhaps he really has a way to cure the old lady's illness.
In the backyard, an old woman lay on a recliner with her eyes slightly closed. A nanny stood behind the recliner, gently massaging her temples and sighing softly from time to time. The old lady had been suffering from headaches for several years. When they flared up, the pain was unbearable. When would she be able to find a miracle doctor to cure her completely?
The curtain was lifted, and the beautiful young woman from before slowly walked in. Seeing the old lady lying on the recliner with her eyes closed, she lowered her voice and asked, "Is Grandma asleep?"
"No, I just have a headache and want to take a nap!" It wasn't the nanny who spoke, but the old lady. She opened her eyes, looked at the beautiful young woman, and said kindly, "Is there something you need?"
The beautiful young woman smiled and walked to the recliner, gently rubbing the old lady's hand, saying, "A renowned doctor just answered the call for help..."