“Stupid things! She can’t even deal with a countrywoman! What can she do for me?!” Madam An kept her countenance but revealed coldness in her eyes.
She was opposed to An marrying Su Lun at that time. However, Minister An had agreed, so she had no choice but to agree.
Madam An was a truth-born daughter of a noble family. How could she allow her most beloved daughter to marry a man from a humble family? Moreover, it turned out that Su Lun had actually had a wife and a child. After knowing this, Madam An was so angry that she smashed everything in her room.
She even threatened not to see An again in her life. But she was her mother, after all, Madam An gradually accepted the facts after her anger wore off.
However, she could never expect such an incident now.
“Su Lun had sent her to Baiyu Temple. Madam, you must know that few can come back after being sent there. Even if she comes back, she will never be respected in the capital. But she can’t always stay away from the public forever.”
Madam An knew it of course. So she was not only angry about An’s incapability but also Su Lun’s ruthlessness.
“Zhao’s daughter does have some wits to expose Yurong.” Yurong was An’s maiden name.
If Zhao were capable, she should have done everything she could in Shunyang prefecture; she needn’t have waited until they moved to the capital. Therefore, the smart one was not her but Su Muge!
“Madam, what’s your plan?”
“Yurong has made a stupid mistake and has to be taught a lesson this time. Find someone to block the news. I don’t want to hear anything about Yurong going to Baiyu Temple.”
“Yes, got it.”
“Just let her stay there for a while. She must learn not to be stupid in the future. As for the mother and daughter, I’ll find a way to destroy them!”
Madam An leaned towards Gao Mama and whispered something in her ear.
…
In Peachblossom Courtyard, Su Mansion.
After breakfast, a maid came to report that Lu Mama sent by Su Lun had arrived.
Zhao hurriedly asked Meihua to dress her up.
“Mother, don’t worry. You are a master of Su Mansion anyway. It’s quite normal to make Lu Mama wait for a moment. Just explain to her later.” Lu Mama’s position in Su Mansion was exceptional. If Zhao behaved overcautiously, she might be underestimated by Lu Mama.
Hearing Su Muge’s words, Zhao settled down. “Well, I see.”
After Zhao went to see Lu Mama, Su Muge took Yueru to the small kitchen behind the courtyard.
“Is everything prepared?”
“Miss, it’s all ready. I’m afraid that the goat milk is not enough, so I asked to buy some from outside early in the morning.”
“I don’t think it’s not enough. You must be gluttonous and want me to make more, don’t you?” Su Muge glanced at Yueru with a teasing look. The girl was very similar to her; she was also a foodie but more restrained than Su Muge.
Yueru was not afraid of being exposed. “Miss, I beg you to make some more and reward me.”
“Naughty girl.”
After Yueru helped her make a fire, Su Muge put a small piece of sheep tail into the pan to stir-fry the grease out. And then, she put the uncooked rice into it and continued to stir-fry.
After the white rice turned brown, she poured it out of the pan into a bowl. After that, she boiled some superior black tea and put the fried rice into the tea. After a while, she poured the goat milk in. Soon, a strong smell of milk tea filled the kitchen.
“Go to get …”
“Pots, right? Miss, I’ve prepared them.”
Su Muge knocked on her head gently and asked her to pour the milk tea into two pots.
“Send the two bowls of milk tea to the eldest Madam and one for me. As for the rest, you share with others.”
“Thank you, Miss.” Xinche and others, who had long been waiting outside the kitchen, couldn’t wait to walk into the small kitchen. In a while, they had sent the milk tea to Zhao and brought one bowl into Su Muge’s room.
In the end, Su Muge was left alone in the small kitchen.
Over the small kitchen, Donglin and Zuoqiu were lying on the roof, completely tempted to the smell of the milk tea.
“Look, Miss Su has prepared two pots. One of them should be ours!” Donglin patted Zuoqiu hopefully.
Zuoqiu nodded firmly. “I think so!”
Su Muge rolled her eyes. Were they talking so loudly on purpose?!
“You two can come down.”
Donglin and Zuoqiu looked at each other and appeared in front of Su Muge the next moment.
“Thank you so much for your help this time. This pot of milk tea is my gift of thanks for you. And the other pot is for His Royal Highness. I don’t know if he likes it.”
“Thank you, Miss Su. His Royal Highness likes the bear paw you cooked very much last time and has eaten up …”
“Miss Su, don’t worry. His Royal Highness has drunk muddy water on the battlefield.” Zuoqiu interrupted Donglin, for fear that he would expose His Royal Highness’s wish to eat roasted whole lamb!
Zuoqiu’s words made Su Muge a little surprised.
“Miss Su, we’ll go back to report to His Royal Highness.”
Donglin couldn’t wait to hold a pot of milk tea.
“Okay.”
As soon as the two left Su Mansion, Donglin opened the smaller pot and took a deep breath. It smelled so good!
The two quickly returned to Jin Mansion.
Zuowei walked into the martial arts stadium.
“Your Royal Highness, Donglin and Zuoqiu are back.”
Xia Houmo finished his last move and threw the spear in his hand onto the weapon shelf.
“Let them come.”
“Yes.”
When Xia Houmo walked into the rest area, Donglin and Zuoqiu had been already waiting there.
“Your Royal Highness.”
“Well.”
Xia Houmo fell his eyes on the pots in their hands.
“Your Royal Highness, Miss Su asked us to send this to you.”
As soon as Xia Houmo removed the lid, a thick milky scent wafted out instantly and soothed his slightly frowning brows.
“What’s this?”
“Miss Su called it milk tea. It is made of goat milk and black tea, which is delicate, fragrant, and smooth …”
“Uh! Uh!” Zuoqiu coughed and touched Donglin. Donglin became aware of his talking too much and shut up.
Xia Houmo poured out a bowl of milk tea and took a sip.
He originally thought it sweet, but it was actually salty with no taste of mutton odor.
“Have you drunk it too?”
Donglin immediately lowered his head, and Zuoqiu could only bite the bullet and replied, “Miss Su has also given us a smaller pot, a very small one!”
Only then did Xia Houmo withdraw his gloomy sight. “Okay.”
Zuowei said, “Your Royal Highness, there are some movements of King Dingxi.”
Xia Houmo raised his eyes slightly. “How’s it?”
“Recently, King Dingxi has started collecting food in surrounding prefectures secretly.” Although many places in the northwest where King Dingxi was staying were relatively desolate, the weather had been quite good in recent years and there was no shortage of food.
King Dingxi started to collect food arbitrarily; he’s afraid that he was preparing food and forage for his soldiers and horses!
“Send the message to the Emperor.”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid Second Prince will take action soon.”
After the hunting party, Xia Houkun had been left in the villa for recuperation by Xia Hourui. It had been almost a month now.
Although Xia Hourui had punished the imperial guards after returning to the palace, it was nothing to Xia Houmo, which made Xia Houkun very dissatisfied.
Even though Xia Hourui asked him to recuperate in the villa for three months, he wouldn’t be so obedient!
Xia Houmo drank up the milk tea in the bowl. “It seems that the capital will soon become lively again.”
…
Along with the swaying carriage, the curtain was slightly lifted to bring a cool breeze into the carriage.
August 15th was around the corner, but the weather had begun to cool down in the capital. It was unknown how cold it would be in winter.
Su Muge had had a little coldness in her body since childhood. Every winter, she would boil water with wormwood leaves to soak her feet before going to sleep at night.
Today was the last day for her to treat Xia Hourui. Xia Hourui would be completely detoxified and she didn’t have to enter the palace so frequently after today.
The carriage stopped outside the palace gate.
The palace people who used to wait for her had already been standing outside the palace gate.
“Miss Su, pay my respects to you. The Emperor has already been waiting for you. This way, please.”
Su Muge followed the palace people all the way to Yangyi Palace.
Seeing some unfamiliar palace people waiting outside the hall, Su Muge didn’t step forward immediately.
“Miss Su, wait a moment. I’ll report right away.” The little eunuch guarding the door saw Su Muge coming and walked into the hall.
In a while, he came out.
“His Royal Highness and Her Grace have just returned from the villa and are greeting the Emperor now. Miss Su, please come with me.”
Xia Houkun and Concubine Qin were back?
It was only a month.
But one month was actually enough for Xia Houkun with his physique.
Su Muge walked into the hall with her eyes lowered. Sure enough, she saw Xia Houkun and Concubine Qin sitting in the hall. She kept her countenance and stepped forward to salute.
“Well, no need to be over-courteous. Get up.”
“No wonder I find Your Majesty’s complexion much better now. It seems that it is all due to Miss Su.”
“My injury was also treated by Miss Su. I haven’t been able to thank you yet, Miss Su.”
Su Muge kept her eyes lowered, appearing to have no intention to claim the credit.
“Your Grace, Your Royal Highness, you’re flattering me. It’s my duty to do these.”
The Emperor didn’t speak until they finished speaking, “Since you are all back, go back and take a rest. Kun’er has just got better. There’s no need for you to attend the morning court. You may retreat.”
Concubine Qin and Xia Houkun got up one after another.
“Please excuse my departure.”
“Please excuse my departure.”
After the two retreated, Xia Hourui walked from the dragon throne to the couch and sat down.
“Today is the last day.” He had ordered Su Muge to completely detoxify him within a month at first.
“Yes, I’ll give you the final acupuncture treatment, Your Majesty.”
“Okay.”
Staying outside the door, Concubine Qin and Xia Houkun didn’t leave at all.
“Your Grace, Your Royal Highness, Miss Su is treating the Emperor now in the hall. Please rest assured.” Eunuch Yi stood at the door and blocked the way, for fear that the two would rush in suddenly.