Chapter Sixteen: Shame

  Liu Rong actually noticed Zuo Tingxuan's gaze, but completely ignored him and spoke to the old doctor who was in a state of frenzy: "Alright, stop shouting, let her suture properly, what if it doesn't work out, this arrowhead is taken out properly, because the suturing didn't work out, excessive bleeding leads to an accident..."

  The old doctor immediately covered his mouth with his hand and stood still on the side, that appearance made Liu Rong can't help but smile slightly.

  Zuo Tingxuan suddenly seemed to have discovered a new continent: "I didn't expect that apart from being clever and not looking your age, you also have a bad temper and are so good at teasing people."

  Liu Rong glanced at Zuo Tingxuan: "Don't forget you still owe me four requests, this is the first one, you don't want me to use it now, do you?"

  Seeing Liu Rong's indifferent attitude, Zuo Tingxuan was slightly stunned, with some confusion in his eyes: "Use it now?"

  "Yes, it's just right that I can ask you not to talk to me from now on!" Liu Rong closed her eyes and leaned against the bedside, resting.

  She was too tired, not just physically exhausted, but also mentally drained.

  In the past, every time she performed surgery on someone, as long as she had her surgical knife ready, she could just follow what she had learned and proceed step by step according to the rules. But these two times, not only did she have to think carefully about each step in her mind, but also deal with a group of people who were obstructing her from saving lives, which was so exhausting, how could she not be tired?

  "You seem to dislike me, why?" Zuo Tingxuan awkwardly rubbed his own nose, looking at Liu Rong who was closing her eyes, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as if thinking about something, and couldn't help but ask.

  Liu Rong was taken aback for a moment, did I offend you?

  It's probably because I'm too tired, some thoughts just naturally run into my mind. And with this self-inquiry, she suddenly realized that it was indeed annoying, but why?

  Because of his selfishness, he is too similar to that bastard man I met in my previous life!

  Liu Rong Meng suddenly opened her eyes: "I extremely dislike people who are selfish and don't know how to consider or respect others."

  Liu Rong interrupted her own thoughts and continued to speak coldly to Zuo Tingxuan: "I'm tired, I want to rest for a while. After I rest for an hour, wake me up and send me back to the Wendinghou Mansion!"

  It's been so long since I left, Mother must be worried! Thinking of this, Liu Rong slowly closed her eyes.

  After Xian Liu Rong finished speaking, she ignored herself. Zuo Tingxuan felt a bit awkward, and when he looked up, he met the gaze of his old master who was staring at him deadpan. Zuo Tingxuan couldn't help but feel even more awkward, and hastily explained: "I've never seen anyone with such a bad temper."

  While speaking, Zuo Tingxuan walked over to the girl who was stitching the wound of the man on the pallet, pretending to watch seriously.

  The old doctor, however, paid no attention to Zuì Tíng Xuān's evasion and instead approached him, asking: "Where did you find this little girl with such a strange temper and excellent medical skills?"

  "The Mansion of Duke Wen Ding." Zuo Tingxuan replied casually.

  "Uh..." The old doctor was stunned.

  "I didn't believe that such an immature face could save Lian at first sight..." Zuo Tingxuan told everything that happened when he arrived at the Liu residence.

  "You're really going too far! If I were Rong Jie, I would definitely have the same attitude towards you!" The old doctor suddenly stood on Rong Jie's side: "Don't you understand the situation of Wen Ding Hou Fu? It's already been defeated and empty, but still holding onto the Hou Men's genealogy, ending up with nothing."

  "But according to what you said, those madams all had a bad attitude towards Rong Jie, and Rong Jie, as a fallen di daughter, would definitely have it even harder in a declining family. If you do this, Rong Jie's marriage will probably be even more troublesome in the future. What if she is married off to an old and frail man by the Hou family for money, wouldn't that make you the culprit who ruined her life?"

  After finishing speaking, the old doctor no longer paid attention to Zuo Tingxuan because the wound of the man on the bed had already been sutured. So the old doctor hurriedly went to fetch the golden medicine rewarded by the palace.

  Zuo Tingxuan was stunned by the old doctor's words, originally being a big shot, he had never been in contact with such things, and suddenly hearing that his actions might have such an impact on a girl's life, he really felt entangled and guilty.

  "Quiet girl, is it really as serious as Old Liu said?" Zuo Tingxuan couldn't help but ask the girl who had stood up.

  "I don't know much about the situation, but I've also heard some things from those who serve them. Unlike the women in the palace, the families of girls outside the palace attach great importance to reputation. If one of them is tainted by something and loses her reputation, it's hard for her to find a good family again." After saying this, Shangguan Jing'er paused slightly: "But you don't have to worry too much either, as long as we keep this matter hidden well, it won't affect her."

  "Besides, even if there's a problem, with our abilities, we can just think of a way to help out when the time comes." Shangguan Jing'er said with a smile.

  "Hmm." Zuo Tingxuan nodded slightly, but his eyes involuntarily turned to Liu Rong's body leaning against the bed and sleeping with her eyes closed.

  This will take a closer look, the childishness on Liu Rong's body is even more obvious. Weak breathing, with that small melon face, the chin is sharper, looking softer and weaker, not seeing the momentum of opening one's eyes at all, not giving in to each other.

  Nor did she know what Liu Rong was thinking of, but she slightly turned her head, and her eyebrows were tightly furrowed, as if still restless in her dreams.

  Zuo Tingxuan's heart softened a little, and he thought to himself that when the time came, he would add another condition.

  When Liu Rong woke up, she found herself lying in a carriage instead of on the bed. Neither Zuo Tingxuan nor the young girl who had stitched her wound nor the old doctor was anywhere to be seen.

  With her stiff body propped up by her hands, she heard the voice of the carriage driver outside: "Miss Liu, are you awake? The master guessed that you would wake up soon and asked me to send you back to the manor. If we delay any longer, it won't be good when we return to the Wen Ding Marquis's manor."

  Liu Rong was taken aback for a moment, that selfish and inconsiderate behavior, what kind of impact would it have on a girl living in a patriarchal society, when did he ever have a conscience.

  "Where are we now?" Liu Rong lifted the small curtain on the car and looked outside, the sky was slightly dark, with a layer of yellowish clouds hovering low in the distance, as if foreshadowing something.

  Pedestrians on the road are in a hurry, probably because of the cool weather. There are few vendors by the street, with only a handful scattered around.

  "It'll just take another cup of tea's time to arrive, if Miss Liu is tired, she can rest for a while longer."

  "Uh-huh, okay. Yawn!"

  The cold wind ran into the carriage in the direction of progress, Liu Rong couldn't help but sneeze, and hurriedly pulled down the curtains.

  It's been a long time since I've felt so calm, it seems like ever since I came into this world, it's either been illness or hustle and bustle.

  He sent it to the small door, and the car helper helped Liu Rong get off the carriage, and then helped Liu Rong knock on the door. The door opened quickly, and a young servant came out from inside, seeing that it was the car helper and Liu Rong standing beside him.

  "Is Sister Rong back?" The young servant asked hastily, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

  Liu Rong's heart skipped a beat: "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing, I was sent by Li Mama, waiting for you to come back, and then call me to take you back, but..." The young servant hesitated.

  "What's wrong?" Liu Rong looked at Xiao Shuai and asked, looking into his eyes, she couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy. Apart from being worried about Zhong Shi, the one she was most worried about was Er Nai Nai.

  The little servant quickly glanced at the coachman beside Liu Rong, then continued to speak to Liu Rong: "However, Madam knew that Li Mama had given such an order, so she also left a message saying that you should go see her as soon as you return."

  In the main room, Mrs. Ta sat quietly beside her, Mrs. Er sat tensely on only one-third of the chair, Liu Dàniáng's face looked somewhat unpleasant, while in the center, Liǔ Yuán knelt and wept bitterly.

  The Grand Lady glanced at the Empress Dowager, saw that her face was tightly clenched, clearly heartbroken, but she bit her tongue and didn't speak up this time. She turned back to her own daughter: "Xuan'er, you may have fooled Rong's sister, but you can't fool me. The name on the list of women selected for the palace is yours."

  The madam paused for a moment before continuing, "If it were usual times, I would also be heartbroken to part with you, my youngest daughter, entering the palace. After all... after all, if I may say something irreverent, His Majesty's age is indeed... advanced."

  "But you are the daughter of the Wen Ding Hou Fu, and you must take on your responsibilities! Since the seventh brother of the emperor, Mu Qin Wang, rebelled and implicated the Zhong family, although we escaped a disaster, we can see that day by day it is weakening, no longer seeing the bustling scene of the past. The big madam sighed slightly: "The girls in the mansion are also married one by one, and the days are difficult. You were spoiled since childhood, how can you bear such hardships?"

  The lady gritted her teeth: "It's better to enter the palace and fight for a future, for myself and for the Wen Dinghou Mansion."

  "Can't Rong Jie, who looks like me, replace me? Why not call her to go!" Liu Xuan suddenly raised her head: "Why, am I not your most beloved daughter?"

  The lady was silent.

  "If it were before today, I would have asked Rong to replace you. Your father was confused and sent your name in by mistake! The old lady sighed slightly: "But after what happened today, it's absolutely impossible."

  "Why?" Liu Xuan's watery eyes gazed at Tai Furen.

  "Because the Crown Prince's son knows that Rong Jie is not you, and because of her reckless personality, if she enters the palace, it would be better if she wasn't chosen. If she were to be chosen, not only would she not help the Wen Ding Hou Fu, but also due to that so-called 'operation', she would bring about the downfall of the Wen Ding Hou Fu! The old lady's face was filled with indignation as she spoke, and then immediately turned into concern as she looked at Liu Xuan: "Xuan Er can only be wronged by you."

  "Xuan gnashed her teeth: 'It's all because of Rong Jie, it's all Rong Jie's fault!'"

  "Miss Rong has returned." Just then, a maid outside reported.

  Liu Xuan bit her lower lip and looked at Madame Tai.

  The old lady's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she said lightly: "Call her in!"

  Before long, Liu Rong followed the maid and walked in, saluting Lady Tai. As she raised her head to take in the situation in the room, her heart tightened involuntarily. Wasn't it over yet? Did they still want her to replace Liu Xuan and enter the palace?

  The madam, however, glanced at the elder madam, who nodded slightly to her. The madam then smiled soothingly at Liu Rong: "I called you here today to tell you something. Starting tomorrow, your aunt Xuan will begin preparing for the imperial selection of concubines. At that time, she'll be following the instructress every day to learn, so you can accompany your aunt on the side."