Chapter 72 - The Cost of Losing
Chapter 72 The Cost of Losing
After sending Xia Hourui and Xia Houyin back, An Mama held Concubine Qin to take a stroll in the imperial garden.
“It’s getting colder. Ask the imperial kitchen to make some mutton bone soup for the Emperor to warm up his body.”
Concubine Qin gently fiddled with a gorgeous orchid with her slim and fair fingers and said with a soft tone which made people feel like the spring breeze.
An Mama answered with a smile. “Yes, Your Grace, you’re really nice to the Emperor wholeheartedly.”
Concubine Qin raised the corner of her lips, but didn’t put on a smile.
An Mama glanced at the maids behind them, and the maids knowingly stayed away from the two.
“Your Grace, why didn’t you stop Eighth Princess just now? The Emperor seemed not to be pleasant about the competition?”
“Since the Emperor started to feel unwell, he has only allowed Deputy Director Chen to treat for him. Of the whole Chu, only Deputy Director Chen and the old Eunuch Yi know about his health conditions. I was really upset to be ignorant of his illness!”
Hearing her words, An Mama kept silent. Concubine Qin’s father was the civil prime minister, and Second Prince with both civil and military talents was also outstanding among all the princes; therefore, he had a great advantage in the competition of the Crown Prince.
One of his powerful competitors was Eldest Prince raised by the Queen. Although his biological mother was not high-ranking, he had the title of the eldest truth-born son. Besides, the Eldest Prince was quite sophisticated, so he was a strong opponent to Second Prince.
However, Concubine Qin’s greatest concern was not him but the King of Jin who had no support from his mother’s family but owned mighty power!
The King of Jin held massive military power outside guarding the Yanxia pass and served as the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards inside. Hence, he was far more advantageous than the Eldest Prince and Second Prince!
Under such circumstances, Concubine Qin certainly had to acquire more information to be fully prepared.
Among them, the greatest variable was Xia Hourui’s health…
“Deputy Director Chen and Eunuch Yi are both the Emperor’s trusted followers. They will never divulge the Emperor’s physical condition, so I can only find another way…”
If Su Muge could win the competition tomorrow, she would find a way to let Su Muge treat the Emperor!
…
“For tomorrow’s competition, what are your odds?”
It wasn’t long before Su Lun heard of the medical competition between Su Muge and Deputy Director Chen’s apprentice. On hearing the news, he couldn’t wait to return home and ask Su Muge in detail.
Su Muge was not nervous about the competition tomorrow. Judging from Doctor Chen’s treatment to the Emperor, she even had a chance to defeat Chen himself, let alone his apprentice.
“I’ve never even met Lord Chen’s apprentice. How could I know?”
Su Lun put on a grave look and walked around the room anxiously.
“Anyway, you must win the competition tomorrow!”
Su Muge lifted her eyelids and took a bite of the pastry without giving any response.
After returning to Peachblossom Courtyard, she packed all her prepared medicines and medicine powders into her medical kit.
The Emperor was so shrewd that he wouldn’t announce the rules until the day of the competition. Therefore, she must be fully prepared.
“No matter what comes out tomorrow, you can’t offend or irritate the nobles. I only wish you to be safe and sound.” Learning about the competition, Zhao frowned worriedly.
It was in front of the Emperor. Any mistake could have her killed!
“Mother, I’ll do my best. As for winning or losing … the sage Emperor won’t force a little girl to do anything even if I lose.”
It was true, but how could Zhao be assured by that?
“Mumu, I know you are quick-minded. Although this capital seems to be prosperous, there are too many hidden secrets. After this, I’ll ask your father to find you a good family. You … don’t go and treat anyone anymore, OK?”
Looking at Zhao’s worried expression, Su Muge softened her voice. “Mother, there is something that cannot be avoided even if we don’t want it to happen. What I need to do now is to become more capable of protecting us.”
Instantly, Zhao’s eyes turned red and tearful; she wondered if she should be happy or sad.
…
Early in the next morning, Su Muge went into the Palace with Su Lun.
Su Lun had to attend the morning court first, while Su Muge was taken to a palace.
The competition was in the afternoon, but she was required to enter the Palace early in the morning, and then she was left aside. Was this a humiliation to her?
When it was about noon, a maid in a blue palace costume came in with a food container.
“Miss Su, I’m Ling’er, maid of Concubine Qin. Concubine Qin learned that you’ve entered the Palace early in the morning and was afraid that you’re hungry, so she asked me to send you some food.”
Ling’er opened the food container with three dishes and one soup in it, which seemed ordinary but very delicate.
Su Muge kept her countenance and stood up to express gratitude.
“Thanks for Concubine Qin’s kindness.”
“Our Concubine Qin said that the competition will be physically challenging, so you can take a rest in the side hall after lunch.”
Su Mu’s eyes flickered slightly.
Physically challenging work?
Concubine Qin was insinuating her.
“Thanks for Concubine Qin’s advice.”
After Ling’er left, Su Muge didn’t go to the side hall after lunch but closed her eyes for a rest on the chair.
These nobles were all shrewd with plenty of schemes. It was certainly not because Concubine Qin found her adorable that she insinuated her, but because she found her probably useful in the future. Therefore, she decided to leave her a good impression first with just a few sweet talks and a meal, which was not difficult for her.
“Miss Su, Miss Su, the Emperor asks you to go to Ziming Palace. The competition will start soon.”
Su Muge nodded and set off for Ziming Palace with her medical kit.
Surprisingly, when she arrived at Ziming Palace, the place was already packed!
“Su Muge is here…”
With the report of the palace people, Su Muge walked into the main hall.
Su Mu looked steadily forward and stepped up to salute.
“Pay my respects to you, Your Majesty.”
Xia Hourui was sitting on the top of the main hall, wearing a dragon robe.
“Get up.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Su Muge glanced around the hall and found Xia Houmo!
Xia Houmo sat on the right of Xia Houkun. Meeting her eyes at this moment, he only glanced at her slightly and then looked away immediately.
Behind Xia Hourui was a large octavo screen. If she guessed right, Concubine Qin and Xia Houyin were sitting behind it.
There were also many high-ranking officials in their uniforms, who she had never met. Among them, Su Lun could only get the last and most inconspicuous position.
This position was reserved for him by Xia Hourui considering that he was Su Muge’s father.
“Yesterday you said that you wanted to compete with Deputy Director Chen’s apprentice in medical skills, so I found you some patients. Bring them here.” Xia Hourui said.
Immediately, the imperial guards carried in the wounded with boards and lined them up in the hall. All of a sudden, the hall was filled with the smell of blood.
“Here are a total of twenty patients. You only have two hours to treat all of them. In the end, the imperial doctors of the Imperial Institute of Medicine will judge your performance. The winner shall be rewarded. As for the loser…”
While speaking, Xia Hourui looked at Deputy Director Chen who was standing aside. Behind him was a young man in a blue robe, who bowed and stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I’m Zhang Yue. On behalf of my master, I’ll compete with Miss Su today. If I lose, I’m willing to cut my hands and no longer practice medicine for the rest of my life!”
Xia Houmo was picking up the wine glass; on hearing the words, he slightly paused and glanced at Su Muge.
Xia Hourui looked at Su Muge. “Su Muge, what do you think?”
Su Muge remained calm and stepped forward. “I have no objection.”
Eunuch Yi asked the palace people to bring a round table with various medicinal materials on it; then, he immediately took out the hourglass, stepped forward and announced. “The competition starts now!”
“Clang”
With the sound of a gong and drum, Su Muge and Zhang Yue approached the injured.
Zhang Yue firstly checked the injuries of all patients and then selected the one with the slightest injury to start treating.
Similarly, Su Muge checked the conditions of all the wounded, but she finally came to the most injured patient.
The man’s thigh was cut open horizontally with a long wound and blurred flesh and blood. When Su Muge untied the cloth covering his body, most people in the hall were greatly astonished.
Su Muge frowned at the sight of the gushing blood on his thigh.
He had injured his main artery. If the bleeding couldn’t be stopped, it wouldn’t take long for him to die of excessive bleeding!
Su Muge took the cotton cloth to press the wound firmly, trying to stop bleeding.
On the other side, Zhang Yue had completed the bandaging and treatment of the first patient. He had been constantly taking medicines from the round table. Since the medicines on the round table were limited in number, if one of them had run out of any medicine, there would be no more for the other one!
When Zhang Yue walked to the second patient, he looked up at Su Muge with a proud sneer hidden in his eyes.
She was so stupid to prioritize the most injured patient; it would not only be a waste of time but also have lower chances of a successful cure. It was simply ridiculous for a witless little girl to compete with him!
Seeing more and more patients being bandaged by Zhang Yue, Su Lun who was sitting in a corner couldn’t help being anxious. If defeated, she would lose her hands! She finally could be of some help to him, but without her hands, she would be useless!
Xia Houkun felt bored, turning his wine glass while watching the squatting Su Muge. Gradually, he felt her figure more and more familiar, as if he had seen her before. While wondering, he couldn’t help but frowned slightly.
“No, the bleeding can’t be stopped!” Su Muge found the cotton cloth on her hand completely stained with blood and the patient’s vital signs increasingly weaker.
The poison on her body had been detoxified, and the extraordinary talent of her palm was also available, but she found it hard in front of so many people…
Su Muge secretly gritted her teeth!
Damn it!
“He’s dying. Transfer to another patient if you don’t want to lose in a shame.”
Xia Houkun suddenly spoke; his voice was a bit abrupt in the quiet hall.
Su Muge tightly closed her lips but didn’t move after all. Xia Houkun thought in secret that she was so ungrateful; then he snorted and kept silent.
Just as Su Muge was trying to use the extraordinary talent of her palm, the patient on the board suddenly suffocated, tilted his head, and stopped breathing!
“The man is dead.”