Chapter 41 - 41 Who Are You Exactly
41 Who Are You Exactly
For more than one month after that, Su Ying and her group hurried onward on their journey. Fortunately, the weather was always sunny and clear after they had passed through Zhu Prefecture, and they were able to travel much faster than before. Before the end of the month, they finally arrived at Prince Ma City.
Su Ying looked at the towering city gate and felt that this place was different from the other places.
“Is this Prince Ma City the fiefdom of an anointed prince?”
Xiao Jin looked in the direction of the city gate and nodded. “Mm-hmm. Back then, the forefather Emperor slew the rebels and upheld justice, thereby establishing the great Chu Kingdom. Prince Ma was a capable battle general serving the forefather Emperor. After the forefather Emperor ascended the throne, Prince Ma was rewarded with a fiefdom, which was named after him.”
It was no wonder that Prince Ma City looked more dignified and solemn than other cities. The guards outside the city gate were also more strict. Everyone who wanted to enter the city not only had to show proof of their household registration papers but also had to submit themselves to body searches.
Prince Ma City was located more than 30 miles away from the nearest city, so the Imperial Court also set up a supplies point in this city.
In order to show his loyalty to the Imperial Court, Prince Ma naturally did not refuse.
Just as Su Ying was about to find a place to sit down, she saw a group of soldiers walking out of the city. The soldiers held notices in their hands and stuck them on the city walls. After they were done, the commoners came forward eagerly to see what was happening.
Some literate people read out the notice, “Due to Princess Consort Ma’s grave illness, His Highness Prince Ma hereby seeks reputable physicians inside and outside the city. If the said physician can cure the Princess Consort, he will be handsomely rewarded.”
Su Ying stood behind the commoners, and her eyes fell on the words “handsomely rewarded.”
Along the way, she had also found some resources in the mountains, but they were limited in quantity. When she saw that her posse was about to reach the northern wilderness, she did not want to miss any opportunity to get resources and money.
Li Da was about to enter the city with the rest when he turned around and saw Su Ying approaching him. Li Da tactfully asked someone to bring a set of clean official’s robes over.
“Your Highness, if you want to buy something, then follow us into the city.”
“There’s no rush. I have something to tell you, Lord Li.”
Li Da’s mouth twitched. “What is it?”
Su Ying revealed the notice in her hand and pointed to some words on it. “I’m responding to this appeal.”
Li Da’s skin tensed up after he read the notice. It was fine if Su Ying wanted to go into combat, but now she wanted to give treatment to sick people! And the patient was the Princess Consort Ma no less! If… if anything went wrong, he would get into trouble too.
Li Da instantly shook his head vehemently like a toy rattle.
“Your Highness, please stop joking.”
Su Ying raised her eyes slightly. “Do I look like I’m joking?”
“What if…”
“There’s no ‘what if.’ As long as you bring me into the city, I’ll settle the rest myself.”
Li Da was still a little worried. The risk involved in this matter was much greater than letting Su Ying escape. “Your Highness, this character Prince Ma is not to be trifled with.”
Su Ying raised her eyebrows. “Do I look like someone to be trifled with?”
Li Da choked. Fine, he’d just bring her into the city and let them fight it out.
Su Ying returned to Xiao Jin’s side and told him about her plans to enter the city.
“You’re going into the city to treat Princess Consort Ma?” Xiao Jin furrowed his brows tightly as if he didn’t quite agree.
“Yes. He’s the almighty Prince Ma. If I can cure his Princess Consort’s illness, the consultation fee will definitely not be low.”
“Prince Ma has a violent temper and is not easy to deal with.”
“I’m not afraid even if he’s the king of hell.”
When he saw how determined Su Ying was, Xiao Jin didn’t try to dissuade her again. “Tread carefully. You must not let him know your true identity.”
Su Ying murmured a reply. “Do you have a grudge against him?”
Xiao Jin’s dark eyes narrowed. “I guess so.”
“Alright, I know. If I don’t come back in time, take good care of the children.”
Xiao Jin’s brows furrowed even more. “If it doesn’t work, then think of a way to escape.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Apart from Xiao Jin and Li Da, no one knew what Su Ying was going to do in the city. The two little ones only thought that Su Ying was going to the city to buy things just like she had done before.
After changing into the official’s robes, Su Ying followed Li Da into the city without a hitch.
“Your Highness, please be careful. I won’t be accompanying you.”
“If I come back late, don’t wait for me. I’ll catch up with you guys myself along the way.”
Li Da thought to himself, “If you really don’t want to come back, it’s not impossible either!”
After parting ways with Li Da, Su Ying found a clothing store and bought an ordinary dress made of coarse cloth, which she then changed into. After that, she rented a carriage and went to Prince Ma’s Palace.
Prince Ma’s Palace occupied almost one entire big street. One could not even see the end of the building.
Su Ying had just reached the entrance of Prince Ma’s Palace when she was stopped by the guards on duty there.
“Who are you? Leave at once. This is not a place you can come to.”
Su Ying took out a notice and showed it to them. “I’m here to cure Princess Consort Ma.”
When the guards heard her say this, they looked at each other and saw the mocking smile in each other’s eyes.
“Where did this ignorant village woman come from? The Princess Consort isn’t someone a lowly commoner like you can see whenever you want. If you know what’s good for you, get lost now. Otherwise, I’ll throw you out.”
Su Ying gave a scornful laugh when she heard the guard. “So His Highness was just talking bullshit when he said that he was looking for capable and talented people. The people he is raising here are all condescending fools who don’t recognize talent they see one.”
“Village hag, what did you say? How dare you come to Prince Ma’s Palace and spout such nonsense? You’re really brazen!”
The smile in Su Ying’s eyes grew more chilly. “Why? Did I say anything wrong? Since you are unable to accept different ways to achieve the same result, why be so pretentious and still put up such a hypocritical notice? In your opinion, what should a physician look like?”
“How impudent! Arrest her!”
“Stop right there.”
Behind the guards, a bright and clear voice rang out.
The guards of the palace all retreated to one side respectfully when they heard that voice. “Greetings, Crown Prince.”
Su Ying turned around and saw a young man in a white scholar’s robe walking over.
He had a strikingly handsome face and his eyes were sparkling like bright stars. His scholar’s robe seemed to accentuate his jade-like gentleness.
Sima Chen walked up to Su Ying and nodded slightly. “We’ve offended you just now. I hope you can forgive us. Did you take down the notice to answer the appeal to treat my mother, the Princess Consort’s illness? ”
Su Ying nodded. “That’s right.”
Sima Chen smiled faintly and turned sideways. “Miss, this way please.”
Su Ying followed Sima Chen into Prince Ma’s Palace.
After going through the main door, there was a huge fish pond. As they walked along the sheltered corridor, there were pavilions and pagodas on both sides. There was man-made rockery everywhere, and every inch of the place exuded an air of elegance.
However, Su Ying wasn’t in the mood to appreciate the view. She only wanted to see the patient as soon as possible.
“Miss, may I know where you live, what is your name, and from which master did you learn from?”
Su Xun stopped in her tracks momentarily. “Young Master, you don’t have to be suspicious. You can get someone to conduct a body search on me before I see the patient. If you find me suspicious in any way, you can just lock me up immediately.”
Sima Chen was slightly stunned. He didn’t expect Su Ying to be so outspoken.
With the exalted status that Princess Consort Ma had, they could not simply bring anyone who came to Prince Ma’s Palace to meet Princess Consort Ma so casually.
“Young Master, I can see that your lips are slightly greenish-purple. Do you have a heart ailment? Moreover, you seem to have had this condition since birth.”
These words completely stunned Sima Chen. Not many people knew that he had a heart ailment. As he had been taking medicine all year round, his illness usually did not act up. He did not expect Su Ying to be able to tell with one look.
“Who are you exactly?”