Unbridled Medical Expert Consort: Demon Prince, Be Good - Chapter 45

Chapter 45a: How Did Her Mother Really Die

After some time, Dai Yue returned, her little mouth pouting in sadness.

“What is it, Dai Yue, what did you hear?” From what Luo Qing Luan could see, Dai Yue looked more like the person who’d been punished rather than someone else.

Just now, she secretly asked around. What she found was that there was a huge ruckus at the Side Madam’s courtyard. It appeared as if someone was being punished to be an example to others. Not only was all of the servants commanded to watch, moreover, a servant was told to ruthlessly strike that person’s face. Dai Yue’s face couldn’t help but hurt just from watching.

Only after hearing what Nanny Song had to say later on did she know that a servant maid seduced the master and was discovered by the side madam, resulting in the severe punishment. In the end, that servant girl’s face was beaten swollen, then dragged out and driven away from the General’s Mansion.

“Nanny Song told me that Sister Bitao absolutely did not seduce the master. Basically, the side madam doesn’t like her, so she purposefully found an excuse to beat and send her away.” Once she recalled this, Dai Yue’s little face frowned, both alarmed and terrified.

“So be it, if she doesn’t like her, just a little servant girl. Who wouldn’t Father’s Concubine punish whenever she wanted to? During these many years, she depended on Father not marrying anyone else and acted like she’s the mistress managing this household. Now that Elder Sister is Fifth Prince’s side consort, how can she still place other people in her eyes?”

Luo Qing Luan continued indifferently, “forget it. As long as she doesn’t punish you, it’s fine. There’s no need for us to mind other people’s business.”

She originally didn’t take this matter seriously, because this kind of matter happened frequently in the past. Who would’ve imagined that Dai Yue would say, “My Lady, it’s not like that. If the side madam punishes someone else, I wouldn’t have talked about it, but I heard Nanny Song say that Sister Bitao served our Madam before in the past.”

Eyes flashed, Luo Qing Luan was somewhat startled. “What? She’d served my mother before?”

She didn’t know about this at all. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have disregarded the matter. Her mother passed away early. She never even glanced at her mother before, and she didn’t have any status in the General’s Mansion at all in the past. Besides only Dai Yue to serve her, and Nanny Song to look after her, how would she know about anything that happened previously?

“What in the world did Nanny Song say to you? Dai Yue, tell me.” Subconsciously, Luo Qing Luan’s tone of voice deepened.

“My Lady, I also didn’t know anything previously. If it wasn’t for your asking me to make inquiries tonight, and I wouldn’t have happened to run into Nanny Song there. It was because she could no longer bear to watch that she spoke a bit more than usual.”

As she spoke, Dai Yue displayed some lingering fear and softly continued, “I heard that during these years, of the servants that the side madam had either beaten to death, or sent away, half of them had once served our Madam. Even those people who occasionally talked about the Madam had been sent away by the side madam. I also don’t know why the side madam hates the Madam so much when she’s already passed away for so many years.”

If it’s truly like that, could it be that there’s an issue in there somewhere?

Luo Qing Luan originally as going to have Dai Yue go find Nanny Song to get to the bottom of the matter, but she saw that it’s getting too late and was afraid of disturbing Nanny Song’s rest. Nanny Song was getting old and her health was poor. She’s already tired enough during the day. It’s better to let her rest properly at night.

Recollecting the past, it’s not that Luo Qing Luan hadn’t inquired about matters pertaining to her mother, but no one ever knew what happened. Either those servants wouldn’t tell her, or they simply ignored her. At the time, she was timid and stupid and basically also didn’t have the inclination look for answers. Even though she currently already turned over a new leaf, she also didn’t truly suspect anything before.

It seemed that she should properly investigate this matter now.

Why did Wang Xue Ru want to either kill, or send away all of her mother’s servants? Was it truly only because they made mistakes, or possibly merely because they made Wang Xue Ru unhappy? Or was there some unspeakable secret?

Early the next day, after breakfast, Luo Qing Luan prepared to step out. Dai Yue already asked around. That servant named Bitao from last night was already sent away after she was beaten. She was sent back home to never return. She was beaten so severely. If her injuries were not treated right away, she would very likely become totally disfigured.

Since Nanny Song knew something, but didn’t tell her, Luo Qing Luan guessed that there was some purpose behind it. However, this didn’t prevent her from making some inquiries first, so that she could learn something before getting to the bottom of what in the world happened that time.

Bringing Dai Yue, the two of them changed into men’s clothes and as before, they left through the back door.

But when Luo Qing Luan found the beginning of the remote alley at the north of the city, she saw people completely surrounding the area before her. From their discussions, she found out what happened.

Bitao was actually chased and killed by debt collectors. Not only her, even her parents, along with a very young younger brother had all been killed. Currently, the authorities were investigating, but from the looks of things, it was just for show. They casually looked at and walked around the little dwelling. Very likely, they simply wouldn’t be able to find out anything significant at all.

Luo Qing Luan had originally wanted to find Bitao to ask her what actually happened last night. If she found out that Bitao really served her mother before, then she could even give her some money to treat her wounds. Who would’ve known……she actually came late.

She absolutely didn’t believe that this scene was as simple as a case of being chased down and killed by a debt collector. If things were truly like that, then how could the entire street full of people know what went on so quickly? Shouldn’t those debt collectors be more discreet and cleaner, to avoid being discovered?

More likely, there were people who deliberately spread rumors in an attempt to find a reasonable justification for the deaths to hide the truth of this matter. These deaths were so coincidental. As it happened, Bitao was punished just yesterday and was already killed today. The implications within these events truly caused Luo Qing Luan to ponder.

“Let’s go, Dai Yue, let’s go home.”

“My Lady, Sister Bitao died so miserably……” Dai Yue was somewhat aggrieved, the rim of her eyes turned entirely red.

“If she truly died unjustly, I won’t easily let the murderer go free.”

Chapter 45b: How Did Her Mother Really Die

Luo Qing Luan returned to the General’s Mansion, and changed once again, then asked Dai Yue to bring Nanny Song.

“My Lady, what do you need from me?” Nanny Song’s face was filled with wrinkles, as if she was a bit tired. With one look, it was apparent that she had been busy. Luo Qing Luan allowed her to sit down, then had Dai Yue pour her a cup of tea. Only after she rested and drank some tea did Luo Qing Luan speak.

“Last night, I heard that Father’s Concubine’s room was quite noisy, so I had Dai Yue go make inquiries. Does Wet Nurse know the situation with the servant named Bitao?” She didn’t ask directly. Luo Qing Luan approached it a bit tactfully, not wanting to alarm Nanny Song.

“Sigh, why is My Lady asking about this?”

Nanny Song seemed to not have expected this question, but she still answered. “During these years, the side madam drove out all of the servants who once served the Madam. Otherwise, she found some reason to beat them to death. She truly has been ruthless. In the past, even I didn’t know that Bitao had once served the Madam. I suddenly understood something only when  I heard her yell something. If it weren’t for that, I’m afraid she also wouldn’t have been……”

With a glance, Luo Qing Luan asked, “what did she yell?”

Nanny Song creased her eyebrows, seemingly recalling memories. “At that time, I just happened to pass by the side madam’s courtyard and was getting ready to boil water in the kitchen, when I heard Bitao’s voice. She said something indiscernible, but was immediately slapped. After that, she screamed and said something about safflower soup.”

Nanny Song originally didn’t notice anything until she heard the ruckus from the side madam’s room, so she stopped to listen. Who knew that soon after, the side madam threw a fit and said that Bitao seduced the Master or something. It was a complete mess at the time, drawing the attention of quite a few servants. She also wasn’t able to hear very clearly.

Safflower soup? Once she heard this, Luo Qing Luan had a thought.

Even though safflower is a kind of medicine, it wasn’t something that anyone can casually use. If the dosage was too high, it could cause a miscarriage. Consequently, not matter whether it was the imperial harem, or an average home, this flower wouldn’t easily appear.

“Wet nurse, do you know that Bitao died today?” Luo Qing Luan asked probingly.

“Uh……died? Bitao died?” Nanny Song was shocked. Her eyes contained an unspeakable fear and surprise. She appeared completely dazed, as if she’d lost her soul, then lowered her head losing her composure. It was as if she’d forgotten that Luo Qing Luan was still beside her, muttering continually, mouth not stopping, but it was unclear what she was saying.

“Wet nurse, what’s up?” Once she saw Nanny Song’s appearance, Luo Qing Luan was even more suspicious.

Because Bitao already died, maybe besides Wang Xue Ru, no one else knew exactly what happened last night. However, Wang Xue Ru would absolutely not tell the truth even if she was asked. She merely scolded and beat a servant. As the side madam, even Luo Cheng wouldn’t casually find fault with her.

And the only other person who heard something at the time was Nanny Song, yet she also didn’t know the details. Moreover, from her appearance, she was clearly hiding something. She’s afraid that in order to investigate this matter properly, she still needed to start with Nanny Song.

“Wet Nurse, tell me, is it because Bitao once served my mother that Father’s Concubine had her beaten to death?”

With the mention of the former Madam, Nanny Song suddenly changed and looked at Luo Qing Luan with a solemnly, as if she sensed something. She was frightened, hesitating whether she should speak out.

It’s just that……she also merely suspected what might’ve happened at that time and did not have any conclusive evidence. If the Young Lady were to know, and she rashly went to find the side madam to make inquiries, how would that not be harmful to her instead?

It’s still better to wait. Presently, the eldest daughter had married, so the young lady is the only daughter left by the Master’s side. Moreover, the lady is no longer like she was in the past, perhaps the Master will slowly change his view of her. Maybe it would be much better to mention this matter to her when that time came.

“I also don’t know. After all, I don’t know Bitao that well. Regarding this……” Nanny Song already had a plan, so she did not disclose everything that she knew. Luo Qing Luan asked a few more questions, but wasn’t able to find out anything else, so she just dropped the subject.

Allowing Nanny Song to withdraw and go rest, Luo Qing Luan stopped their conversation as cleanly as possible, pushing this matter to the bottom of her mind. For the time being, she no longer pursued it.

Just as she prepared to go find Boss Li, Luo Qing Luan never expected that the father who never attached any importance to her at all would actually specifically come to see her.

The smiling expression on his face was brighter than usual, contrasting with Wang Xue Ru’s especially unsightly expression by his side. Luo Qing Luan had no idea what’s going on, but judging by Luo Cheng’s pretty good expression, it shouldn’t be something bad.

“Father had never visited my little courtyard before. Is there a reason you’re looking for me today?” Luo Qing Luan asked unenthusiastically, not smiling much at all.

An awkward expression flashed as Luo Cheng coughed then cleared his throat. “Does there have to be a reason for your father to visit you? Just now, Her Highness the Empress had someone send a verbal order and bestowed some things upon you. I especially brought them here to give to you.”

So that’s what it was. Not surprising considering that her father was someone who doesn’t do much without an ulterior motive. Only now did Luo Qing Luan notice that there were two servants following behind Luo Cheng while carrying some things.

After the servants left the items on the table top, Luo Cheng took another glance at her courtyard, which was not picturesque in the least. There were even weeds everywhere. As for Luo Qing Luan’s bedroom, it was even more simple and crude. There wasn’t even a single decorative item. He spoke. “Qing Luan, the courtyard you’re living in is a bit worn down, you should find someone to remodel it a bit. You also should have some people redecorate your dwelling.…..”

What’s the deal here now? The father who had never cared about her, when did he become so kindhearted?