FULL NOVELXO Special Thanks to these patrons for their support!
S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.] contemporary romance
O R A N G E S T A R
[Fazzienaz] [K.Rom] [Reece P.] [Suong D.] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Chlaudette P.] [Gwyneth T.] [Manon] [Passerby] [Xena]
G O L D S T A R
[Lord_Wolve] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy] [Roxanne C.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Allie] [Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Peggy F.]
T H E S U N
[Ava C.] [Caroline] [Galetron] [kuroneko_chan] [Lily J.]
[Malinkat] [Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Scorpion Princess] [Smurfinbatik] [Sophia W.]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧?≦*)
Gu Jiao, being a physician, naturally cared about her patient's diet. She asked the servant girl and found out that Mo Qianxue hadn't eaten much, only a couple of dishes and soup, and she barely touched them too.
Gu Jiao opened the food box, took out a stack of crystal-clear hawthorn cakes, and said, "These are the hawthorn cakes made by my Granduncle. Try one."
When one person cared about another, their focus became quite peculiar.
Mo Qianxue sneered, "Your grandfather doesn't have a sibling. Where did this granduncle come from?"
Gu Jiao's gaze paused, "You investigated me."
Mo Qianxue's eyes flickered.
Oops, she let it slip!
It was only after Mo Qianxue was rescued by Gu Jiao and brought back to the medical hall did she recognize that Gu Jiao was the mute young master who had taken liberties with her.
However, Gu Jiao had never disclosed who she was or who her grandfather was.
In other words, before recognizing Gu Jiao this time, she, Mo Qianxue, had investigated the Marquis Ding'an Estate's daughter.
This was quite intriguing.
Why did Mo Qianxue investigate her?
Mo Qianxue regained her composure and casually said, "Is there a need for investigation? It has long been common knowledge that the Marquis Ding'an Estate's eldest daughter is working as a physician in a medical hall."
Gu Jiao stared at her, unblinking, "So you're so sure that I am that physician?"
Mo Qianxue nearly couldn't handle her seemingly casual yet sharp gaze, "Aren't you surnamed Gu?"
Gu Jiao nonchalantly placed the hawthorn cakes in Mo Qianxue's hand, "That's true."
Mo Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, thankful for her quick thinking!
After handing the snacks to Mo Qianxue, Gu Jiao left to prepare Mo Qianxue's medicine. Restoring the body's vitality required proper Chinese medicine.
Once she left, Mo Qianxue took out a packet of powder and sprinkled it on one of the hawthorn cakes.
She wiped away the excess, seamlessly blending the faint powder with the sugar on the cake, making it undetectable.
Mo Qianxue was sitting at the head of the bed with a cold and aloof expression when Gu Jiao returned to the room holding a bowl of steaming medicinal soup.
There was a plate of hawthorn cakes on the bedside table next to her. She disdainfully said, "What's this mess of a smell? Did your Granduncle really make this stuff? If you don't want to deal with me, just say it, no need to buy random things from street stalls to fool me!"
"Does it taste bad?" Gu Jiao asked oddly.
Mo Qianxue grumbled, "It tastes awful! Don't believe me? Try one yourself!"
Gu Jiao picked up the top piece of hawthorn cake.
Mo Qianxue grabbed her hand, asking, "Aren't you afraid I might have poisoned it?"
Gu Jiao retorted, "Would you?"
Mo Qianxue slowly released her grip, coldly saying, "Yeah! Of course! I really want to poison you, you little swindler!"
Gu Jiao took a bite of the hawthorn cake and furrowed her brow, "Well, it's a bit too sour. My mistake, this was made for Grandaunt."
"Physician Gu! We have a patient who fainted over here!"
Little San’s voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
"Coming!" Gu Jiao placed the half-eaten hawthorn cake down and hurriedly left the room.
Mo Qianxue glanced at the partially nibbled hawthorn cake and then at a bird on the snowy ground outside eating another piece of hawthorn cake. In frustration, she kicked her feet about under the quilt!
Next time... next time, she definitely wouldn't show any mercy!
If she went softhearted again, she, Mo Qianxue, would write her name backwards!
……
Meanwhile, on the other side, Minister Xing left the city overnight with Xiao Heng to investigate a case.
Xiao Heng held the position of Chief of Records at the Ministry of Justice. In theory, he shouldn't be directly involved in case investigations.
However, Minister Xing originally recruited him specifically for his investigative abilities.
One could say the Chief of Records position was just a facade.
Minister Xing of the Ministry of Justice had the surname Xing and given name Shuwen.
The name “Xing Shuwen” didn't quite sound like someone fit for a high-ranking ministry official, but Xing Shuwen managed to rise to the position.
Xing Shuwen was a rare case among the ministers, born into a humble background. He had faced numerous challenges and hardships at the beginning before finally entering the Ministry of Justice.
Lacking support from a powerful family, his ascension through the ranks was much more difficult compared to those aristocratic officials.
He had experienced two demotions: one due to offending someone and the other for interfering with forces he shouldn't have.
But somehow, his luck had held, and he had weathered through it all.
He possessed upright character and a respectable family background, meeting the Emperor's criteria for employing officials, provided he gained the Emperor's attention.
"In a way, it was a coincidence. During my second demotion, I was a Magistrate in a small county near Mount Fengdu. I handled a case where the victim belonged to the Princess Mansion." Minister Xing said to Xiao Heng while they were on the carriage.
Xiao Heng wasn't aware of this matter.
Before leaving the capital, he hadn't expected to join the six ministries, so he hadn't paid much attention to their affairs.
However, Princess Xinyang monitored the political dynamics at court, so he could occasionally hear about certain officials' wrongdoings, like Dean Zheng of the Imperial Academy being involved in bribery.
But evidently, Minister Xing wasn't among those with any incriminating evidence against them.
He was an upright and honest official.
As the carriage bumped along the rugged path, both of them couldn't help but sway a little.
Minister Xing continued as he wobbled, "To be honest, it was just an insignificant commoner who was abused by a local gentry. That gentry had some connections with people here in the capital. Do you know what others would have done in my place?"
Xiao Heng understood he wasn't being asked a question.
Sure enough, Minister Xing continued on his own, "Downplaying significant matters and minimizing minor ones. Sometimes, the lives of common people don't matter, and the lives of the lower class don't either. At that time, Princess Xinyang asked me, 'County Magistrate Xing, do you dare to investigate this case?'"
Xiao Heng could almost imagine Princess Xinyang's expression at that moment.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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