Tomorrow was Wei Lingyun's birthday. On the way home, Jiang Yuqing specially detoured to Silver Tower, wanting to choose a piece of jewelry as a gift.
She wasn't very clear about the preferences of fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls in this era, and finally, under the recommendation of the shopkeeper, chose a set of twelve pearl hairpins as a gift.
The next day, September 20th. Wei Lingyun's birthday.
This was the first time Jiang Yuqing had come to the General House of Brave Cavalries. Unlike the graceful refinement of the gardens in the south that were like the Marquis of Qingzhou, it was also different from the extravagance of Princess Ronghua.
There were no valuable flowers and plants in the garden of the General House of Brave Cavalries, nor were there artificial hills and flowing water, only an extremely spacious martial arts field, and the evergreen pines and cypresses along the edge of the field that were there all four seasons.
Simple and unadorned, but also broad and bold.
Wei Lingyun’s father, General Wei Qing, was stationed in the northwest border all year round with his eldest son.
Therefore, there were only Wei Lingyun’s elderly grandmother, mother, and a pair of young twin brothers and sisters in the General House of Brave Cavalries, with an extremely simple population.
The general's house was usually low-key, and was not conspicuous among the crowds of nobles in the capital.
This time, for her birthday, Wei Lingyun only invited cousins from her marital family and some girls from the families of fifth and sixth grade military officers who she was familiar with. In addition to this, there was Yuan Wuyang from the Duke of Zhenguo’s residence and Jiang Yuqing.
After greeting each other, everyone sat together to drink tea and chat.
When talking happily, Wei Lingyun even ran to the martial arts field on the spur of the moment to perform a set of swordsmanship.
Yuan Wuyang watched with interest, and also randomly picked a sword from the weapon rack to join in, and the two staged an extremely exciting duel like those that could only be seen in TV dramas before.
Soon, several girls from military official families joined in, and the field suddenly turned into a melee with sides of three on three.
Knives, spears, swords, axes, hooks and forks, all kinds of martial arts took turns coming on stage, and it was extremely wonderful.
Seeing this, the girls cheered and applauded one after another, and Jiang Yuqing was even more excited that she clapped her hands red.
These girls were so handsome and heroic.
She thought that this was what her imagined female warriors and heroes should be like, full of heroic spirit and heroic grace.
After the girls finished, they were covered in sweat and went to the room to change into new clothes.
When they came out and saw Jiang Yuqing looking at them with bright eyes, as if looking at some incredible character, she even personally took the teapot to pour tea for them, which really made the girls feel flattered.
Due to Wei Lingyun’s relationship, the girls were not unfamiliar with Yuan Wuyang. But this was still the first time Jiang Yuqing had seen her.
After a while of chatting, they were surprised to find that this legendary little county magistrate was not as unapproachable as they had imagined.
On the contrary, she was very lively and lovely, and easy to get along with.
For example, at mealtimes, she would refuse the service of the maids and finish all the food in her bowl without leaving a single grain of rice. She was also not a picky eater.
Also, for example, she would say thank you to the maid who was waiting on her with tea. That kind of respect was not a deliberate performance, but a kind of naturalness that was ingrained in her bones, as if it should be so by nature.
It was said that when she first arrived in the capital, she did not even bring a maid with her, and did everything by herself. The two she had now were still rewarded to her by Empress Dowager seeing that she was helpless.
Worldly status and position seemed to be nothing but fleeting clouds in her eyes.
While the girls breathed a sigh of relief, they also felt that befriending such a little county magistrate was a great honor. Regardless of status, just being able to have fun together without reservations as friends was great.
Jiang Yuqing also liked them very much. Gentle but not pretentious, literate and martial, it was so comfortable to get along with them.
As for those young ladies who looked weak on the outside but schemed viciously behind people's backs at the slightest provocation, crying and waving their kerchiefs, forget it, no thanks.
When it was time to leave, Jiang Yuqing made an appointment with the girls that if there was a day when they were free, they would go horse riding in the suburbs together. Everyone agreed.
When she returned home, Steward Zhao said that three strangely accented people had come to look for her that day, and when they heard that she was not at home, they left.
Jiang Yuqing immediately guessed that they must be those three Xiongnu people. After finding out that her master favored her, they were preparing to find a breakthrough through her.
What a joke!
However, these Xiongnu people were unlikely to give up so easily.
Sure enough, the next morning, while Jiang Yuqing was teaching medical students in An Medical Academy, an eunuch from the palace came to invite her, saying that His Majesty had summoned her to the palace for an audience.
Jiang Yuqing recognized this eunuch Lin. He was Li Deshun’s adopted son. Last year, he had come to her house in Qingzhou as an imperial messenger to announce an imperial edict.
She remembered that she had even rewarded him with a small purse full of copper coins. She had also seen him several times in the palace afterwards and greeted him, so they were still relatively familiar.
So she asked Eunuch Lin, "Do you know why His Majesty is looking for me?"
Eunuch Lin looked around and whispered in her ear, "It seems to be related to the Xiongnu. This slave vaguely heard a few words outside the door, something like treating illnesses."
Jiang Yuqing immediately understood. It looked like her previous guess was correct.
Taking advantage of the sleeve's cover, she slipped a bulging purse, "Thank you, Eunuch. Take this money and have a cup of tea."
She guessed that after those Xiongnu people were rejected by her master, they had no choice but to find Emperor Xia Jing to use his power to pressure people.
And Emperor Xia Jing himself was not a weak emperor. Naturally, he would not be biased towards the Xiongnu.
The reason for this was probably because these Xiongnu people had exchanged some kind of benefit with Emperor Xia Jing, in order to force her master to take action.
How despicable!
However, Emperor Xia Jing was also hindered by his previous imperial decree and could not openly look for Doctor Qiu, so he could only look for his apprentices to find out the reason and then prescribe the right medicine.
Her eldest senior brother on duty should be the first choice. She guessed that he did not get any useful information, so they set their sights on her.
Jiang Yuqing gritted her teeth.
She was planning to give these Xiongnu cubs a good lesson.
Jiang Yuqing followed Eunuch Lin all the way to Ziguang Pavilion instead of Qinzheng Hall. It could be seen that this was indeed an unofficial discussion.
That is to say, these Xiongnu people were seeking an audience with Emperor Xia Jing in their personal capacity rather than in the name of their country.
When Jiang Yuqing arrived, the main hall of Ziguang Pavilion was already full of people.
In addition to Emperor Xia Jing, Crown Prince Jing Yan, Eunuch Li, Qin Jue, Tian Guang and others she was familiar with, she did not recognize anyone else.
Looking at the colors of their official hats and badges, there were civil servants and military generals.
In addition, there were those three people.
At this time, they had changed back into their original Xiongnu clothes. Among the three people, there was also an attendant. The one with the fur hat and the guy who looked a bit like him next to him turned out to be the master. It looked like they were brothers.
Jiang Yuqing paid her respects.
Emperor Xia Jing then said to the Huyan brothers, "This is the Magistrate of my Great Xia's Linghui County, and she is also a closed-door disciple of the divine doctor."
The two brothers perfunctorily bowed with their right hands on their chests.
The emperor said to Jiang Yuqing again, "These two are Huyan Xuri Gan, the eldest son of King Huyan of Xiongnu, and Huyan Abalu, the seventh prince."
Those two people had expected Jiang Yuqing to bow to them, but what they got instead was Jiang Yuqing giving a loud "humph".
The little girl tilted her head to the side with her chin up and her little arms hugged, a look of disdain on her face.
Everyone was immediately surprised and looked at her.
It was said that this little county magistrate was the most talented and understood propriety. How could she seem so...inconsistent with the rumors?
The emperor also felt strange. What was wrong with the little girl today? So he frowned and said, "Linghui, do not be rude!"
Jiang Yuqing still turned her head without saying a word.
The emperor couldn't quibble with a child, so he softened his tone, "Linghui, these two princes went to look for your master, Doctor Qiu, to treat their illness yesterday, but your master refused them. Do you know the reason?"
Jiang Yuqing then lowered her arms and said, "I know. I told my teacher not to treat them."
As soon as she said this, everyone in the hall was stunned. Abalu Xiongnu straightened his eyes and was about to do it when Xuri Gan stopped him.
The emperor was also surprised. "Why? Did they offend you?"
Oscar-winning actress Jiang Yuqing instantly came online, her little mouth pouted and her big eyes brimmed with tears flowing down like strings of pearls. Pointing at Abalu, she cried, "It was him. He snatched my roast chicken in the street. I had waited in line at Li's Roast Chicken Store for so long to buy it.
When the big brother at the roast chicken shop argued with him, he pulled out his saber and smashed the shop's door. What a big bully, wah - sob - " The aggrieved dumpling cried and tattled at the same time.
It was now or never to tattle.
"..." Everyone was dumbfounded and looked at Abalu together.
In the room, everyone knew that Huyan Abalu, the seventh prince of the Xiongnu, was caught by the Five City Military Office and beaten with boards a few days ago for robbing on the street. But no one asked in detail what he had robbed.
It turned out that the victim was the Magistrate of Linghui County.
This bear-like big guy bullied a three or four-year-old child and robbed something worthless like grilled chicken...
Is this something a normal person would do?
Jing Yan immediately walked up and pulled Tuanzi into his arms, gently patting her little back. His gaze towards Abalu was as if he wanted to skin him alive.
Emperor Xia Jing also knew about Abalu's robbery. He didn't know there was such a lawsuit between him and the little girl. No wonder Linghui's attitude was wrong today. So this was the root cause!
Dammit!
The little girl cried messily and pitifully. Her parents and family were not by her side. Emperor Xia Jing felt extremely distressed seeing this.
Moreover, it was very likely that this little girl would become his future daughter-in-law. She was his own, so of course he had to protect her.
Thinking of this, Emperor Xia Jing heavily put down the paperweight in his hand on the table. He said expressionlessly to Abalu, "Seventh Prince, shouldn't you give Us an explanation?"
Abalu really couldn't stand it anymore. He yelled at Jiang Yuqing, "Shut up! I clearly gave money." He said that this little lamb seemed to have been seen somewhere before. It turned out to be the little rascal who he had robbed that day.
Qin Jue sneered, "Just because you gave money, she has to give it to you? According to Seventh Prince's reasoning, We the Prince would also like to have your entire Xiongnu's royal court. Shouldn't you also hand it over obediently?"
"This gentleman, please watch your words!" Xuri Ri said gloomily, "Your words have gone too far!"
Qin Jue crossed his arms. "This official is only speaking from facts! Has this gone too far? You Xiongnu people boast that you are the descendants of the Snow Wolf God and the heroes of the grasslands.
Hah, heroes who rob three-year-old children of grilled chicken. Today, this official has really witnessed it!" After speaking, he held his fists and bowed slightly to Xuri Ri, indicating that he was willing to admit defeat.
Xuri Ri's face turned green. His chest heaved up and down. His head also began to throb with pain. His fists clenched and unclenched as blue veins protruded.
He hated both Da Xia’s aggressive questioning and his own foolish younger brother who had offended the most treasured disciple of the genius doctor.
