Chapter 30 – A Bit Too Forward

The hidden guard standing outside heard Tang Chaoyang’s shout and immediately pushed the door open.

When he entered and saw his master holding Miss Tang from behind, his bloodshot eyes fixed on him, the guard’s face remained expressionless, but inwardly he was silently lamenting.

With the guard’s help, Tang Chaoyang finally broke free of Ling Gurong’s grasp.

Her waist was a little sore—he’d used real force just now.

She took out her silver needles and began performing acupuncture. After inserting needles at Baihui, Taichong, and other points, she wrote a prescription for clearing heat and detoxifying and handed it to the guard to decoct.

The medicine’s effect was limited—it could only ease some of his pain.

About half an hour later, Ling Gurong gradually regained consciousness.

Tang Chaoyang sat at the bedside. “Ultimately, withdrawal depends on your own willpower. Acupuncture and medicine are only supportive.”

Ling Gurong’s lips were pale. He endured the humiliation and pulled the quilt over himself.

Tang Chaoyang acted as if she hadn’t seen anything.

Ling Gurong had not expected that once he stopped taking the stuff, losing control would leave him so wretched.

He looked at Tang Chaoyang, his voice hoarse. “Thank you…and I apologize for offending you.”

What he was apologizing for was how he had lost control and held her, demanding the poppy.

It did look a bit too forward.

Weakly, he said, “Next time it’s about to happen, I’ll have someone tie me up in advance.”

Seeing his good attitude, Tang Chaoyang smiled. “You are a patient I am treating. In a doctor’s eyes, a patient is a patient, regardless of gender.”

“What should be avoided, I will avoid. But when treatment is needed, if I start acting shy, what kind of doctor would I be?”

Ling Gurong let out a low laugh. “Form, perception, sensation, consciousness—so it was me clinging to illusions.”

Tang Chaoyang nodded. “Yes, it was you clinging to illusions. From now on, come here in the early afternoon. I will do acupuncture for you, and you must also adjust your diet. In the coming days, you likely won’t have much appetite. Once you finish the medicine, you may leave.”

She gave her instructions—she still needed to hurry back to the general’s estate.

“I have things to do, so I’ll be going.”

Ling Gurong watched her departing figure. He slowly raised his hand, curling it into a fist, then opening it again.

The strong sense of power he’d once had was gone.

When the symptoms flared, anyone could end his life at will.

Ling Gurong truly despised this kind of weakness.

Once he returned to the palace, he would begin a thorough purge of his people.

**

The next morning, Dong Xinrui rose early. After watching Fei Yan leave for court, she went to pay respects to Old Madam Fei, then decided to enter the palace to see the Empress Dowager.

In recent days, the old madam had finally been able to sleep soundly after a long spell of restlessness.

After making her greeting, Dong Xinrui quickly went to change her clothes.

Today she had one goal in going to the palace—to ask the Empress Dowager to bestow a marriage upon Tang Chaoyang!

She wanted to send Tang Chaoyang into a good marriage!

When she reached Cining Palace, a palace maid went in to report. Before long, the senior palace matron personally came to receive her.

“Aunt, Xinrui came to see you.” Dong Xinrui entered Cining Palace, bowed, and spoke with delight. “Aunt, I truly missed you.”

Empress Dowager Dong revealed a kind smile and motioned for Dong Xinrui to rise and sit beside her. “It’s so cold outside—there’s no need to come all the way to the palace to see me.”

“These past days, how have you and Fei Yan been getting along? Has he treated you well?” the Empress Dowager asked with concern.

Dong Xinrui smiled gently, her cheeks tinged pink. “With you and His Majesty watching over us, my husband wouldn’t dare treat me badly. You needn’t worry.”

“Aunt, I have something I want to discuss with you.” Dong Xinrui looked at the Empress Dowager with eager eyes.

The palace matron signaled for the maids to withdraw.

Dong Xinrui didn’t beat around the bush. She spoke plainly. “I want Tang Chaoyang to marry.”

If Tang Chaoyang married, it would be settled once and for all.

The Empress Dowager didn’t ask too many questions. She only sighed, a trace of helplessness in her tone. “When she went to Hancheng last time, I asked if you wanted her to fall ill and die on the way. You refused. Now you want her married. Old General Su won’t agree.”

Dong Xinrui took the Empress Dowager’s arm affectionately. “If you simply issue an imperial decree, can the Su family defy it?”

The Empress Dowager shook her head. Her niece’s thinking was sometimes too naive. “Old General Su will petition the emperor. The Su family has guarded the border for generations—the emperor won’t chill a loyal subject’s heart.”

“But if you truly want her married, you don’t have to resort to an imperial marriage edict.” The Empress Dowager had survived the harem—she naturally had her ways.

She spoke calmly. “You only need to make sure someone in the Su family or Tang family takes the initiative to arrange it.”

Dong Xinrui’s mood turned from disappointment to delight. “Aunt, you’re brilliant.”

How could she get the Su or Tang families to take the initiative to arrange Tang Chaoyang’s marriage?

She had been planning to ask the Empress Dowager to decree a marriage between Tang Chaoyang and the eldest young master of Prince Cheng’s household.

That young master’s health was poor—rumor had it he was destined for an early death.

**

Tang Chaoyang had no idea Dong Xinrui was scheming to marry her off as soon as possible.

At this moment, she was listening to the Ma brothers report.

“I’ve already had someone deliver the letter to the eldest young master of Prince Cheng’s household,” Ma Jiang said.

These past days, he’d first befriended the servants of that household to gather information before having someone pass along the letter.

“The eldest young master has been ill for years and rarely leaves his courtyard.”

Tang Chaoyang nodded, then looked at Ma Ge. “And the matter of the school?”

Ma Ge respectfully replied, “No one near Yingtian Prefecture wants to sell their houses. I found someone on another street willing to sell.”

“Buy it.” Tang Chaoyang instructed Nanny Wu to bring out silver notes for Ma Ge.

Once the brothers had left, Tang Chaoyang went to the small kitchen to check whether the lotus root, peanut, and pork bone soup was done.

Lotus root clears heat and cools the blood while nourishing the stomach; pork bone nourishes the elderly body.

When the soup was ready, she brought it to her grandparents.

Old Madam Su drank her granddaughter’s soup, both happy and distressed. “In the future, leave this to the cooks.”

Old Madam Su had nearly been infuriated to death by Li Shi and Su Ling just now.

“Your second cousin is determined to enter the palace. I told Li Shi to arrange her engagement, but she refused. Truly reckless ignorance. The palace…forget it, there’s no point talking about it.”

Old Madam Su didn’t want to bother anymore, lest her granddaughter resent her.

Tang Chaoyang lowered her voice to comfort her. “Grandmother, don’t worry. Cousin might not be selected.”

Old Madam Su smiled faintly. “You’re right. Why should an old woman like me fret over nothing?”

Old Master Su came in. “What’s this you’re drinking? Smells delicious.”

Old Madam Su smiled. “Chaoyang was thoughtful enough to make us lotus root, peanut, and pork bone soup herself.”

When Old Master Su sat down, Tang Chaoyang served him a bowl of hot soup.

He drank, smacking his lips in surprise—he hadn’t expected his granddaughter’s cooking to be so good.

Delicious!

On the surface, he remained composed and said lightly, “Not bad.”

Tang Chaoyang pressed her lips together, smiling.

Old Madam Su glared at her husband. “Not bad? It’s excellent!”

“Yes, yes, you’re right,” Old Master Su said. After finishing one bowl, Tang Chaoyang served him another.

Drinking the steaming soup, his thoughts drifted to his eldest son at the border.

Winter was here, and supplies were scarce. He didn’t know how the soldiers were faring.

He set the bowl down, full of worry.

He knew the treasury was empty, and the new emperor was trying to find a solution.

“Grandfather, would you like more?” Tang Chaoyang asked gently, noticing his expression had grown serious.

Old Master Su waved her off. “Later. I was just thinking of your uncle and the others.”

Tang Chaoyang thought a moment, then asked softly, “Grandfather…will the soldiers have enough provisions this year?”