Doctor Cui entered carrying a medicine box and greeted the old man with a smile.
"Sir, you're too kind. Please get up quickly. My aunt's face is pale for some reason. Please take a look." Ji Wushang stepped forward, bowed slightly to Doctor Cui, and said.
"Alright." Doctor Cui didn't waste any words. After all, there were so many concubines around, and he knew the relationships involved, so this was just a token gesture.
Several people entered the inner room, where Doctor Cui examined Aunt Zhao. After a while, he put her back under the brocade quilt, stood up, and stroked his white beard. "To be honest, Aunt Zhao's illness is probably incurable, but I can alleviate her pain and prolong her life. How long she lives depends on her will."
"In that case, I am already very grateful to the old gentleman." Ji Wushang stepped forward. "May I ask, why did my aunt become like this?"
"This should be poisoning, but the poison was hidden too well. It was actually applied to her black hair. The poison emanating from her black hair will react with the medicine she took, which is why she foams at the mouth. Originally, the poison had already invaded her bone marrow and heart, but her will is very strong, which is why I was able to try!" Doctor Cui said meaningfully.
Those around nodded in agreement. This old doctor was truly exceptional! He was practically a miracle worker! If anyone in the household had an illness, they could have Dr. Cui examine them; he would surely bring the sick back to life with his miraculous healing abilities!
Aunt Jin breathed a sigh of relief. This doctor was incredibly skilled; he could even uncover such a secret. If Ji Wushang continued his investigation like this, wouldn't he implicate her? No, she had to deal with it immediately!
"Since Doctor Cui has been able to cure Sister Zhao, I will head back now. There are still some matters to attend to in the courtyard. Princess Consort, please take good care of them!" said Aunt Jin.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Yes."
Aunt Jin left with Nan Xianxian, while Nan Zhaoxue smiled, bowed, and went out.
Ji Wushang watched her retreating figure, thought for a moment, and thought to himself, "I must find an opportunity to test Nan Zhaoxue!"
Ji Wushang had Doctor Cui prescribe medicine and instructed the maid to take good care of Aunt Zhao. Then he led his men towards the courtyard, where many servants from Zhuangshu Garden were already standing.
This time, won't I cut off all your wings? Thinking of cultivating power? Dream on!
"Who among you is responsible for Aunt Zhao's washing and dressing? Especially, her hair!" These servants were unaware that someone had put poison on Aunt Zhao's hair, so when they heard Ji Wushang's question, several maids came out.
Ji Wushang looked at them and asked, "Have you all done Aunt Zhao's hair?"
"yes."
"Fine, I'll ask you, who among you soaked the poison in the sesame oil and then smeared it on Aunt Zhao's hair?" Ji Wushang asked coldly. Women from wealthy families often liked to apply sesame oil to their dark hair, believing it would make it smoother and more beautiful.
The maids immediately knelt down, crying, "Princess Consort, spare us! We don't know anything! We don't know anything!"
Ji Wushang stepped forward and said, "Who was in charge of helping Aunt Zhao with her makeup today? No one will escape my punishment! Everyone will pay for their crimes in blood!"
"It's her!" The maids trembled with fear, not wanting to be implicated. They knew that the lightest punishment Ji Wushang could receive was ten strokes of the cane, while the heaviest was being caned to death or being expelled from the manor!
In this situation, she will certainly be punished most severely, and even if she doesn't die, she will definitely have no way to survive when Aunt Zhao wakes up!
The maid who was pointed out immediately kowtowed to Ji Wushang, "Princess Consort, spare my life! I didn't know anything, I'm innocent! I was just doing things according to the usual procedure, I didn't have any intention of harming you, Aunt!" She said, tears and snot streaming down her face, still kowtowing, hoping to soften Ji Wushang's heart.
Ji Wushang's gaze swept over the maids. "What do you think? You all work together, so you should sometimes be able to see what she's doing, right?"
"Ah, Your Highness, I am truly innocent!" The little maid cried as she kowtowed until blood flowed from her forehead.
Ji Wushang raised an eyebrow at the other maids, who immediately began to accuse her, "It was her! Xiao Tao once said she really liked Aunt Zhao's black hair! I think she was just jealous, that's why she did such a despicable thing!"
"Yes, this servant saw that she did it!"
"It's her!"
"It's definitely her!"
...
Ji Wushang looked at them with some amusement. This maid named Xiao Tao had only wanted to flatter Aunt Zhao by saying some words of praise, but unexpectedly, it was now being used as verbal evidence to frame Aunt Zhao! These maids were vying for their mistress's favor. On the surface, they could laugh and joke, but once their interests were threatened, they would all flee for their lives, trampling on each other, wishing that others would die while they themselves survived!
Ji Wushang shook off his thoughts. "Take it slow. None of them can escape!"
"Xiao Tao, you're crying so pitifully, and I can sense what you're thinking. Perhaps you didn't do it, and someone is framing you. Here, take Xiao Tao to the woodshed and lock her up for now. The truth will surely come out!"
Hearing that she could temporarily save her life, Xiao Tao immediately kowtowed repeatedly to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness! I am truly innocent, I am completely blameless!"
"Take him away!" Ji Wushang didn't want to hear any more of this nonsense.
The maids, seeing this, thought the matter should end there and breathed a sigh of relief. But then they heard Ji Wushang say in a cold tone, "You are all part of Zhuangshu Garden, yet you have allowed Aunt Zhao to suffer such persecution. What use are you?"
"Princess Consort, spare us! Spare us!" All the maids, servants, and nannies in the courtyard knelt down and begged for mercy.
Ji Wushang said, "I don't want to wrong an innocent person, nor do I want to let a wicked person go unpunished. Therefore, I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly, and I will settle all old scores and grievances! It would be best if that wicked person stepped forward himself, otherwise, I will definitely make you pay!"
Everyone was startled, and those who had done bad things in the past were especially terrified.
"Although you may not be the murderers, you are still culpable. Guards, drag them all out and give each of them twenty lashes as a warning to others!" Ji Wushang said coldly.
The people in the courtyard immediately begged for mercy, but Ji Wushang remained cold and unmoved.
The sounds of the clappers pounding echoed throughout the Marquis's residence.
Such punishment is reasonable. If word gets out, people will only say that Ji Wushang strictly disciplines his servants and will never be lenient with evil people such as servants who persecute their masters, and will also punish those servants who neglect their duties!
Ji Wushang returned to the inner room, looked at Aunt Zhao, and smiled. "I won't let you die so soon. I'll torture you slowly! Just like you tortured me before, I'll repay you a thousandfold for all the pain I suffered then!"
Ji Wushang took Zhu'er directly to the main hall to wait for the Marquis's return. Rather than being in a passive position, it was better to seize the initiative and leave others unable to retaliate!
At this moment, Doctor Cui walked in from outside, and Ji Wushang immediately stepped forward, "Old sir." There were still people watching here, so he couldn't very well call him master.
"Well, let me tell you about Aunt Zhao's illness."
"Sir, Miss Wu's eyes have suddenly fallen ill. Would you be so kind as to examine her?" Ji Wushang asked, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, but many maids heard him. The Princess Consort was truly remarkable; she cared for both her concubine and the young lady of the household. It was truly a blessing to have such a mistress in the Marquis's mansion!
Hearing Ji Wushang's words, Doctor Cui nodded, "Please lead the way, Princess Consort!"
Ji Wushang, who was already standing, stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Doctor Cui, saying, "Thank you so much, sir."
Doctor Cui nodded, truly his good student!
Ji Wushang smiled and led Doctor Cui to Nan Zaiqing's courtyard. Unexpectedly, before they even reached the courtyard, a scream came from inside, "Ah, help! Help! Ah!"
Chapter 190: He Deserved to Be Disfigured!
"What's going on?" Ji Wushang asked in surprise, and immediately went inside, with Doctor Cui following closely behind.
Ji Wushang walked in and saw Nan Zaiqing frantically smashing things, with broken pieces all over the floor, and the maids crying and shouting, "Miss, Miss!"
"Get out! Get out!" Nan Zaiqing was furious, smashing countless things. He was extremely irritable, and the maids and nannies were helpless.
"Fifth Miss, what's wrong?" Ji Wushang called out as she entered without waiting for the maids to announce her arrival.
Upon hearing Ji Wushang's voice, Nan Zaiqing immediately looked at Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang was startled; there were several scratches on her face, and if she didn't get treatment quickly, she would be disfigured!
"Princess Consort? Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, save me, save me!" Nan Zaiqing saw that it was Ji Wushang and immediately rushed over. "I, I don't know what's wrong with my eyes, and they're so itchy! I, I just couldn't help scratching them, I, my face!" Nan Zaiqing was at a loss, her face full of terror, and she knelt down at Ji Wushang's feet. "Please, sister-in-law, save me, please save me!"
"What happened? How did you do this?" Ji Wushang asked anxiously. If her face was ruined, it was her own business and had nothing to do with him! If anyone wanted to hold a grudge, it would ultimately come down to Aunt Zhao!
Nan Zaiqing, Nan Zaiqing, I never intended to disfigure you. I only wanted to make your eyes less clear, your vision blurry, so that you wouldn't be worthy of those noble young men and would marry a heartless scoundrel! Although you are a concubine's daughter, you are still born into a marquis's family and could become a proper wife in a common household. But I never expected that you would do this to yourself and not blame anyone else!
"I don't know either. It's all because of those quack doctors who said it was nothing, so I didn't pay attention. But after lying in bed for a while, I felt very itchy, so I scratched it a few times... It's so uncomfortable! Sister-in-law, please save me!" Nan Zaiqing cried.
"Quickly, go and invite Aunt Leng over, hurry!" Ji Wushang ordered anxiously. How could he let Aunt Leng miss such a good opportunity! Ji Wushang gently helped her up. "Fifth Miss, just lie down first. These things can't be rushed. There's definitely a way to treat your illness, don't worry."
"Princess Consort, this eye disease is contagious, you must be careful!" Doctor Cui stepped forward and said.
Ji Wushang was taken aback and immediately said, "Old sir, please take a look at Miss Wu's illness. Please also be careful."
"I'm fine!" Doctor Cui nodded, then stepped forward to examine Nan Zaiqing's eye ailment. However, when he saw the scratches on her face, he was shocked and said, "Fifth Miss, you should be prepared for the scratches on your face. You shouldn't have kept such long fingernails. Once your face is scratched, it can't be repaired!"
"What should I do? Please, sir, save me! Please save me!" Nan Zaiqing suddenly kowtowed to Doctor Cui.
Ji Wushang glanced at her. When it's in her own interest or when she needs something from others, she's willing to kneel and kowtow, even do anything! But when she doesn't need anything from others and feels that others are inferior to her, she treats them like a pile of shit! How can such a person not be punished properly?
Ji Wushang said, "Old sir, I hope you can do your best to treat Miss Wu."
"I will definitely try my best, but I'm afraid it's too late! Alas!" Doctor Cui shook his head.
At this moment, a maid announced that Consort Leng had arrived, and Ji Wushang stepped forward and greeted her.
"What's wrong?" Aunt Leng ignored Ji Wushang's greeting as soon as she entered, and instead anxiously looked at Nan Zaiqing. In her anxiety, she forgot that Nan Zaiqing's eye disease was contagious...
Seeing her anxiously looking at Nan Zaiqing, Ji Wushang naturally made way for her. She thought that if it hurt, she would definitely have to grant her wish!
When Nan Zaiqing saw that it was Aunt Leng, she threw herself on her and wailed, "Auntie, I'm going to die! I'm going to die! It hurts so much, it hurts so much!"
"It doesn't hurt, doctor. Are you a doctor? Please take a look at my daughter!" Aunt Leng looked at Doctor Cui and saw that he was carrying a medicine box, so she pulled him over to look at Nan Zaiqing.
"Please step aside, Auntie," Doctor Cui said, his tone slightly indifferent.
"Yes, yes." Aunt Leng immediately stepped aside.
Nan Zaiqing was helped inside and laid down on the bed before Doctor Cui took her pulse.
Looking at the shards scattered on the ground, Ji Wushang immediately ordered, "What are you standing there with your head down for? Hurry up and clean all this up! Can't you do things without being ordered? You elves are completely useless!"
"Yes, yes!" The maids immediately went to carry out the order.
Ji Wushang followed her into the inner room and saw Aunt Leng standing to the side examining the eye. He stepped forward and said, "Aunt, this eye disease is contagious. You have to be careful. Why don't you go back first? I'll take care of Miss Wu."
"Aren't you afraid?" Aunt Leng asked, a question arising in her mind. Wasn't Ji Wushang afraid that the eye disease would be passed on to her? But if it really were, how wonderful that would be!
Ji Wushang said, "I will try my best to be careful. After all, someone still needs to keep an eye on things, otherwise, the Marquis's mansion will fall into chaos, won't it?"
“That’s true.” Aunt Leng nodded.
"I'll have the doctor prescribe some medicine, brew some herbs, and have everyone drink it. Then I'll clean up the whole yard to see if there's anything unclean. It'll be good for everyone to take precautions."
The maids and nannies around them were filled with gratitude towards Ji Wushang. If what she said was true, they wouldn't have to worry so much. As servants, they had to serve Nan Zaiqing and had the most contact with her, making them highly susceptible to catching the eye disease. If they did, they would probably be carried out of the manor immediately. But now… how wonderful it was that the Princess Consort! If it were Aunt Zhao, she would never do such a thing; if someone died, they would die, but if they contracted the disease, they would be kicked out!
Ji Wushang nodded slightly as he looked at the grateful gazes of the crowd.
Aunt Leng glanced at Nan Zaiqing. Since she heard Ji Wushang say that, she could also take a look at Nan Zaiqing. After all, she was her daughter, and she should take good care of her!
Even if it's for no other reason than to think about your future! It's such a pity, is there any chance to remove those scratches on your face? If they can't be removed, you'll be ruined!
Ji Wushang stepped forward, "Old sir, how is the situation?"
"The eyes can be saved, but it will take time. As for the scratches on the face, I'm afraid they will be difficult to remove. Miss Wu's nails are really too long, and they also caught the virus from her eyes, causing inflammation. Her face is ruined!" Dr. Cui sighed regretfully.
Upon hearing this, Nan Zaiqing immediately burst into tears, crying, "Auntie, Auntie!"
Aunt Leng was furious. "Blame it on you! Why did you grow your nails so long! You don't even know how to trim them! Oh, Qing'er, don't be sad. I'll find a doctor to take care of your face." She was initially angry, but the more she spoke, the more heartbroken she became. All this was because she had gone to Aunt Zhao's Zhuangshu Garden!
Ji Wushang said, "I'd like to trouble you, sir, to prescribe medicine so that Miss Wu's illness can recover quickly."
"Hmm." Doctor Cui nodded. "I will prescribe some medicine for everyone to drink; this can help prevent this eye ailment. As for the courtyard, we can use incense to fumigate it."
"We will do as you say, sir," Ji Wushang said, bowing, and then immediately ordered his servants to carry it out.