Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 61 Male favorite, sick

As the sun sets in the west, a fragrant breeze blows across the huge peony flower venue, and thousands of flower branches sway. No one would have thought that a peony flower banquet would end in this way. Some people cried, some laughed, some cursed, and some made a fuss. But what happened today was enough to make this flower banquet go down in history and be passed down forever, and some people may even leave their names in history.

The dramatic life of Guo Hongba, the censor who tasted feces, ended here, and the cruel official Qiu Shenji was also charged with treason under the investigation of the Dali Temple.

However, this is a story for later.

However, Princess Taiping, the host of the banquet, was somewhat uninterested. Being at the political center, she had deeply felt the undercurrents in Luoyang City through this banquet.

Her mother has always forbidden her to participate in politics because she is afraid that she will leak some dark and dirty secrets in the court. But although she does not participate in politics, it does not mean that she is a fool who knows nothing about politics.

Maybe there are some things that she should take action on.

"Princess, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing her staring blankly at the deserted banquet hall after all the guests had left, and even lost in thought as she watched Xiao Muchen's departing back, Zhang Changzong whispered softly in her ear in a very ambiguous tone.

"A wonderful peony banquet was ruined by this puppet show arranged by Xiao Zhongcheng. The princess didn't have a good time today, did she? Liu Lang really doesn't understand why the princess indulges this kid when he takes advantage of the princess's kindness to speak up for others and even offends the King of Wei. Is it really because of his handsome face?"

Princess Taiping smiled and said, "Is Liu Lang jealous? Zicheng is different from you. His branch of the Xiao family had no intention of competing in the court. But when mother was weakening the power of those noble families, she killed his entire Xiao family based on a false accusation. In the end, we are sorry for him.

I still remember when he was very young, about this height, about eight or nine years old, and he went to school at the Hongwenguan. He was very lively and cute, with a little mouth as sweet as honey, which made both the emperor and the empress dowager very happy. Not only the empress dowager, but I also liked him very much, so I often took him to play with his brothers. Whether it was playing Cuju or riding a horse, or even his best arts of playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, he could learn them quickly and was very smart.

When Xue Shao died, he came to comfort me. To be honest, he treated me well."

After a pause, Taiping's face showed a hint of sadness and guilt after the longing smile.

"But look at him now. He's no longer the lively and clever boy he used to be. Not only has he learned to hide his emotions well, he's also learned to assess the situation and use the power of all parties to maneuver. However, this is also good. At least it makes me feel better."

Clearly sensing her loss, Zhang Changzong added, "It seems the princess truly considers him a close friend. In her heart, he should be even more important than Liu Lang. But why are you so sad?"

Taiping sighed, "He won't live long. When I touched his face just now, I could clearly feel the coldness of his body. Ever since I met him, he seems to have had this strange disease. Every time it attacks, he suffers inconsolably, and his life is gradually slipping away."

Upon hearing the last sentence, Zhang Changzong's lips curled up slightly, and he immediately pretended to be sad: "That's such a pity. Xiao Zhongcheng is a rare young talent!"

"Yes, he is indeed rare!"

Taiping sighed softly, took Zhang Changzong's hand and walked around a large flowerbed. She picked a bright red peony and put it in Zhang Changzong's bun. She smiled and said, "Sixth Prince, why don't you take my place and serve my mother well?"

Zhang Changzong knelt down in fear and said, "Princess, what did Liu Lang do wrong?"

"No, you've done a great job and are very good at pleasing me. It's precisely because of your talent and beauty that I want you to enter the palace to replace Xue Huaiyi and become my mother's new male favorite."

……

After leaving Princess Taiping's Mansion, Xiao Muchen's carriage rushed towards the Xiao Mansion, and the entire carriage seemed to be filled with a cold air. Murong Huan took off his cloak and wrapped it around him.

"You were so excited at the banquet just now that you triggered the cold poison, right?" Murong Huan asked. Xiao Muchen nodded and said, "Stay away from me. I'm afraid the cold air will hurt you."

"Every time I see you, you make tea. It's because tea can dissipate the cold in your body, and the little animals in your Xiao Mansion can also make you feel good and suppress the onset of the cold poison, right?" Murong Huan asked, "Xiao Muchen, you are already very good at controlling your emotions. Why are you angry today?"

"My dear, can't you see? Isn't it because of you that my husband is so angry?" Xuan Yu's voice came from outside the car. "He brought you to this peony banquet because he wanted you to become famous in Luoyang City and never be bullied again. But those people kept saying bad things to you, so my husband couldn't help but get angry!"

Murong Huan felt a pang of sadness in his heart, and inexplicably felt a warmth and emotion that he had never felt before.

She didn't understand what this strange feeling meant, and just urged Xuan Yu: "Hurry, speed up, we need to get to the Xiao Mansion immediately."

"Here!"

Xuan Yu replied, then said with some worry, "Oh no! My dear, the cold poison has taken effect. I don't know when it will be cured, and the Saint wants him to come to Ziwei Palace in two hours."

He whipped the whip again to speed up the carriage, only to find that the pedestrians on the roadside suddenly retreated. At this moment, a flute sounded again in the carriage.

The melodious sound of the flute is like a stream of warm spring water flowing into people's hearts, making people happy and comfortable all over. Even pedestrians on the street can't help but listen to it.

"Where does that sound? It's such a beautiful flute!"

Before they knew it, the carriage had passed the streets of Zhengpingfang and soon arrived at the Xiao family mansion in Xiuwenfang.

"My dear, we're here!"

Xuan Yu suddenly opened the car curtain and saw Murong Huan holding Xiao Muchen tightly in his arms. His face flushed and he quickly lowered the curtain and said, "Just pretend I didn't see it!"

He had thought his rash action would make the young lady shy, but she stared at him with her big, dark eyes wide open, looking at him with a puzzled expression, and sternly urged, "What are you still standing there for? Hurry and bring your husband to the house. Prepare some hot soup, some golden needles, some ephedra, and some white licorice. Oh, and tea, too. You should know the kind of tea he usually drinks, right?"

"oh, I know!"

Xuan Yumu responded blankly, then brought Xiao Muchen into the Changqing Pavilion in the mansion and ordered Aunt Ning to arrange for the maids to boil some hot water. He then went to the warehouse to get some medicinal herbs himself. Since he didn't know the quantity, he filled a box with herbs and sent it to Xiao Muchen's bedroom.

But just when he opened the door, he actually saw Murong Huan personally undressing Xiao Muchen, and the ear room next to him was already filled with steam and mist.

To make sure he wasn't mistaken, Xuan Yu rubbed his eyes and looked again:
That’s right, if he continues to dig deeper, his husband’s innocence will be completely gone.

"Young lady, don't you know the difference between men and women?" Xuan Yu couldn't help but said anxiously.

Murong Huan then said, "Human life is at stake. Is there any need to distinguish between men and women?"

Xuan Yu was a little dumbfounded, not knowing what to say. Then, she said solemnly, "In two hours, he has to go to the palace to pray. It's almost time now, right?"

"Xuan Yu, I need you to help me find the source of the Ice Silkworm Poison in his body."

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(End of this chapter)