Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 54: Famous Doctor
After passing a Taoist temple, a Buddhist hall and several pavilions, the two arrived at the place where the grand event was held. It was a venue that could accommodate hundreds of people. There were winding corridors, jade bridges and flowing water, as well as large flower beds that were like morning glow and clouds, connecting to the sky.

It is a bright and beautiful spring season, and peonies of various colors are competing with each other for beauty, which further highlights the grandeur of this mansion and the noble status of its owner.

The people coming and going, whether they were young men or young ladies, were all dressed in luxurious clothes and had exquisite makeup, all of them exuding the arrogance and confidence of coming from a wealthy family. It was no wonder that most of those who were invited by Princess Taiping to enter this grand event were sons of noble families, ladies of famous families, or at least well-known Jinshi or high-ranking officials from humble backgrounds.

But when Murong Huan glanced over, he actually saw Qiu among a group of noble ladies walking towards him on the Jade Bridge.

Logically speaking, the Su family was not of high status. Even though they had once produced a famous general who had made great military achievements, he was now just a sunset glow. Qiu, who married into the Su family, was not qualified to receive an invitation from Princess Taiping.

"After all, Qiu is the daughter of Qiu Shenji, the Grand General of the Jinwu Guard. I've heard that she often accompanies her father in and out of the Prince of Wei's residence, and is said to be on good terms with several ladies from the Cui and Zheng families."

Xiao Muchen seemed to understand her thoughts and explained.

Murong Huan laughed secretly: The so-called friendship is nothing more than a relationship of mutual benefit. Qiu has always been good at dealing with people. She can even curry favor with the wife of the Boling Cui family, who claims to be the most noble in the world among the Five Surnames and Seven Aristocrats. I think apart from money, she also relies on the good relationship between her father and the King of Wei.

"Mother, look at that person. Isn't that the crazy girl who came back from the countryside?"

A girl in a light green dress with light green peonies embroidered on the cuffs pulled Qiu and pointed at Murong Huan, shouting, while turning to the girl in an apricot-yellow hibiscus shirt beside her: "Third sister, look, is that her?"

The girl in yellow was staring blankly, and she couldn't take her eyes off Murong Huan since she saw him. She still remembered that when she first returned to the Su family, she was wearing a plain old robe, and she didn't know how to dress up. She just tied her hair into a high ponytail, making her look androgynous. But now she seemed like a different person.

She was only wearing a snow-white Liuxian dress embroidered with orchids and a red cloak, but it actually brought out her beauty to the extreme. She was as captivating as an elf, both distant and mysterious, and bright and noble. She was even more eye-catching than the peonies in the garden.

"Yes, that's her!"

"Who is she with then? The man next to her is so handsome! Could she have secretly run off to become someone's concubine? No wonder I heard she never came back after leaving the Su family that day?"

Having said this, Su Wuniang suddenly thought of something and her face turned pale.

With silver hair and a handsome face, could this be the legendary Xiao Zhongcheng who escaped the annihilation of his family with his beauty and talent?

After hearing the girl's cry, Murong Huan also looked at these noble ladies and young ladies, and saw that Qiu had actually brought Su Sanniang and Su Wuniang with her as well.

Su Sanniang is the eldest daughter of the Qin family. She is now seventeen years old and has reached the age for marriage. Su Wuniang should be no more than twelve years old.

Su Sanniang is gentle and reserved, and she won't talk nonsense in front of others, but Su Wuniang is different. She is outspoken, arrogant and difficult to deal with, and yet Qiu dares to bring her here.

Because Su Wuniang's screams were so loud, they soon attracted a group of young men and noble ladies to gather around.

Ah Shu was also furious and shouted loudly, "Su Wuniang, are you uneducated? In front of everyone, you slander Ah Huan like this. What good does it do you? Does it prove that you are eloquent and better than Ah Huan?

It was clearly your Su family who kept saying that Ah Huan was a lunatic and a monster. Ah Huan couldn't stay there any longer, so he came to the Xiao family as a doctor to treat Xiao Zhongcheng."

"You are uneducated! What big talk are you talking about, you slut? What kind of disease can a wild girl from the country cure? I think it's just an excuse you made up." Su Wuniang was so angry that she cursed and mocked.

As Su Wuniang finished her words, another young woman's voice interrupted, "Madam Su, you didn't even know she could heal? That's just your ignorance. How can you mock others with your own ignorance? Not to mention, she's a member of your Su family. Does Madam Su understand the principle of 'great knowledge is idle, small knowledge is busy; great talkers are fiery, small talkers are loud and clear?'" Su Wuniang was furious upon hearing this, and glared at the visitor again. But she saw that the visitor was wearing a jade hairpin with golden phoenix pearls on her head, a flower ornament between her eyebrows, and a moon-white cloak. She looked elegant and refined, with a dignified temperament, and she was obviously a girl from a wealthy family. She immediately lost her confidence and asked awkwardly and unyieldingly, "Who are you?"

The young girl bowed to the ladies, headed by Madam Cui, and said in a clear voice, "Wang Wu Niang greets all the ladies. Wu Niang knows that all of you are wives of prominent families, having studied sage books since childhood. You will certainly not be swayed by the nonsense of a young lady."

After saying this, she turned to Murong Huan and bowed respectfully and gratefully: "I am the Fifth Lady of the Wang Family. Thank you for saving my life!"

"Life-saving grace? Wang Wuniang, where does this grace come from?" A curious young man who came over asked with a smile.

Wang Wu Niang looked at the onlookers around her and said sternly, "As you all know, not long ago, rumors spread throughout Luoyang that I, Wang Wu Niang, had committed suicide by jumping into a lake because I didn't want to marry into the Zhou family. I was already on the verge of death, and my heart was broken. It was this woman, slandered by the Su family's wife, who came to my Wang family and saved my life. She helped Wu Niang regain her desire and faith in life, and understand the true meaning of being human."

"I don't care what others say, but for me, Wang Wuniang, I will repay the favor of saving my life with my whole life. Therefore, anyone who slanders this girl in front of me is my enemy!"

After Wang Wuniang finished speaking, she looked coldly at Su Sanniang, Su Wuniang and Qiu. Although she was a delicate and weak girl, her eyes were filled with a firm and cold aura.

Su Wuniang couldn't help but take a step back.

Qiu forced an awkward smile and said yes to the other ladies, but she was horrified: How could she be here, and dressed like this? Could it be that her father hadn't started yet?

I originally thought that once she entered the Imperial College, I could use her disguise as a man as an excuse to imprison her and avoid future troubles. I never expected...

"What Wang Wuniang said makes a lot of sense. We should repay even the smallest kindness with a spring, let alone a life-saving favor. I wonder who this girl is and why she is with Xiao Zhongcheng?" A young man asked curiously.

Xiao Muchen was answering when Murong Huan immediately continued, "Murong Huan, I'm not from any family. I'm just a wandering doctor. The reason I'm with Xiao Zhongcheng is because I want to treat his illness."

"Oh? How come I didn't know that Xiao Zhongcheng was suffering from a chronic illness?"

Suddenly another voice interrupted him, and Xiao Muchen reflexively looked at the person who came, a noble lady wearing a long dress with wide sleeves and embroidered cuffs with dazzling golden lotuses.

It was his former stepmother Cui!

The moment he saw Cui, Murong Huan felt that Xiao Muchen was tense and the coldness in his eyes deepened.

The look this Cui gave Xiao Muchen was clearly filled with a hint of disgust and hatred.

Although Xiao Muchen only said a few words about Cui's dislike for him, judging from the situation, the extent of her dislike was far more than what he said.

"Zicheng, as your former mother, I still have to teach you a lesson. Don't do anything out of line that will ruin the reputation of your Xiao family. Oh, I was wrong. Your Xiao family no longer has any reputation to speak of. But you still have to be cautious and don't follow in your father's footsteps."

Before Xiao Muchen could respond, Murong Huan continued, "Madam, since she was once my mother, she is no longer my mother. Why are you lecturing me here? Could it be that you still have feelings for the Xiao family and want to be someone else's mother again?"

　There is another update today

(End of this chapter)