Phoenix Reigns Over The Nine Heavens - Chapter 33

“Is Your Highness truly going to release Li Xue?”

“Of course, Li Xue must be released.” Yun Zishu walked slowly along the corridor, speaking calmly. “She is just a weak woman. If she is kept imprisoned in the Shadow Pavilion for too long, people will only think I am cruel and merciless for treating a defenseless, delicate woman so harshly. Over time, outsiders will soon forget what she originally did and only remember me being ruthless.”

Leng Yue said indignantly, “Isn’t this being too easy on her?”

“Letting her off easy?” Yun Zishu tilted her head to look at her and slowly shook her head. “Keeping her locked up in the Dark Shadow Pavilion would be letting her off easily.”

If someone like Li Xue were locked up for a long time, how would she have the chance to cause trouble?

By returning her back to the Xiao family and letting her face Madam Xiao all day long, what kind of deep feelings could they possibly develop?

Moreover, General Xiao probably already hates the entire Li family by now. Does Li Xue still expect to live the comfortable life she lived before?

Yun Zishu thought of something and turned to look at Leng Yue and Leng Shuang: “Didn’t Princess Jinning enter the palace yesterday to file a complaint? Why hasn’t there been any movement yet?”

“Oh, she was stopped by the Commander outside the palace gates and couldn’t submit her petition.” Leng Yue replied.

Yun Zishu fell silent. She was stopped?

Alright then.

Yun Zishu didn’t say anything further but ordered Leng Shuang, “Later, go and tell Si Cang to release Li Xue and continue to keep Li Xuan locked up. If his injuries are serious, administer medicine as needed. Make sure he doesn’t die.”

“Yes.”

“By the way,” Leng Yue remembered something. “The granddaughter of Imperial Physician Xue has already arrived. Since Your Highness went to the Grand Princess’s mansion yesterday, the steward of the mansion arranged for her to live in the servants’ quarters, waiting for Your Highness to summon her.”

Yun Zishu nodded when she heard this: “Have her come over. This princess will meet her.”

“Yes.”

Yun Zishu returned to her bedroom, and Leng Yue made tea for her. Not long after, the steward led over a girl dressed in plain clothes into the room. The girl had a clean and delicate appearance, and her attire was very simple.

Upon entering the hall, the young woman performed a proper curtsy: “This commoner, Xue Yi, pays her respects to Her Highness, the Princess.”

“Rise,” Yun Zishu looked at the girl in front of her and smiled faintly. “Xue Yi?”

“Yes.”

“How proficient are you in medicine?”

Xue Yi lowered her head and said, “I can treat common ailments like fever and coughs, and I also have a little understanding of the symptoms of female menstruation.”

Yun Zishu knew that practitioners generally did not boast. The “know a little” in the mouth of a self-effacing person basically meant that they were quite skilled.

What’s more, Xue Yi is the granddaughter of Physician Xue, the head of the Imperial Hospital.

“You don’t have to be so reserved. I don’t have any ill will towards you.” Yun Zishu took a sip of tea. “It’s just that I’m a woman, and I don’t want to alarm the imperial physicians in the palace when I have a cold or feel unwell. I think it would be more convenient to have a female physician by my side to take care of me.”

Xue Yi lowered her head and said, “It is my good fortune to be able to serve Your Highness.”

“There are many courtyards in the Princess’s Mansion. You can choose a room close to mine and set it up, allocating one room as a bedroom and another as a pharmacy. If you need money, you can tell the steward to provide it for you.” Yun Zishu said. “From now on, I will be responsible for your food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and I will pay you a monthly salary.”

Xue Yi nodded. “Yes.”

However, when it came to money, Yun Zishu frowned and said, “The princess’s residence is temporarily a bit short of funds. We’ll discuss it after I receive my official salary.”

“Yes.”

Yun Zishu had just moved back to her mansion not long ago, and at this time she suddenly remembered that she seemed to have no money in her hand. It was rather pathetic. As a princess, she received a monthly salary, but after marrying into the Xiao family, all her savings had been used to buy her dowry, and she also took some silver with her as private money.

However, the hardship in the Xiao family life was not about money, but rather that she was completely controlled by others. Not to mention the tragic past of her previous life, this time she left the Xiao family; she only focused on leaving and hadn’t retrieved her dowry and other belongings.

Thinking of this, Yun Zishu instructed Leng Shuang, “Find some time to take a few people to the Xiao family to sort out my dowry and bring it all back.”

Leng Shuang nodded, “Yes.”

There was nothing to do today. Yun Zishu had lunch in the mansion and took a peaceful nap afterwards. The days without disturbances were very comfortable.

Lying in bed, she calmly thought about what to do next. She was still just a princess without power or influence, so she couldn’t act too hastily.

Apart from ensuring that she will no longer be forced to compromise, everything else needed to be planned gradually.

She should pick a time to go see the Empress Dowager first. Only by clarifying some thoughts, would she be able to better understand what to do in the future.

……

In the afternoon, the Xiao family got busy because of the sudden arrival of Li Xue.

“Aunt!” Upon seeing Mrs. Xiao, Li Xue could not help but throw herself into her arms and cry. The fear and anxiety of these days had all turned into tears of terror. “Wuwuwu…”

“Don’t cry, don’t cry; it’s good that you’re back.” Madam Xiao was really happy to see that Li Xue was safe and sound. After pulling her away, she carefully looked her over. “Are you hurt? Did anyone torture you? It’s all because your aunt is useless that you’ve been wronged…”

“Aunt, I’m fine.” Li Xue’s eyes were red, making her pale face appear even whiter. “No one beat me or tortured me. I was just locked up for a few days… But they used whips on my elder brother; it was so scary…”

Madam Xiao’s expression darkened. Remembering how Yun Zishu had ordered someone to whip Li Xuan a hundred times and cut off his food and water for three days. She couldn’t help but silently curse the heartless little bitch. She quickly asked, “How is your elder brother now? Is he seriously injured?”

“My brother is fine; he just has some superficial injuries.” Li Xue said, a little frightened, “But he is still locked in the Dark Shadow Pavilion.”

“Still in the Dark Shadow Pavilion?” Madam Xiao’s face changed. “He didn’t come out with you?”

Li Xue shook her head.

Madam Xiao’s expression was uncertain, and she ordered people to prepare hot water for Li Xue to take a bath and change her clothes, with her mood growing heavy. “Go take a bath first, then come out to eat. I’ll have people prepare a few more dishes for you.”

Li Xue nodded and said in a choked voice, “Thank you, Aunt. You are the best to me.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Just as Li Xue was about to leave, she turned her head and asked timidly, “Auntie, is Brother Heng not at home?”

Madam Xiao’s face stiffened, and her tone became three points colder: “He is at the Princess’s mansion.”

“The Princess’s Mansion?” Li Xue was stunned. “Which princess’s mansion?”

“The Zhenguo Princess’s Mansion… it’s a long story.” Madam Xiao’s eyes became gloomy. “You go take a bath and cleanse yourself first, and I’ll tell you the details later.”

“Yes.”

The clothes on Li Xue’s body were already filthy beyond recognition and carried a stifling smell of blood. So she really needed to take a bath and change her clothes first.

The maids prepared hot water for her to bathe in. Madam Xiao was relieved, but when she thought of Yun Heng and Li Xuan, she couldn’t help but feel depressed again.

Yun Heng’s injuries were still very serious. He had been staying in the princess’s mansion for the past two days, and she didn’t know if he had been abused. Has anyone treated his injuries and changed his dressings in time? Had he been drinking his two doses of medicinal soup a day on time?

That little wretch Yun Zishu, I don’t know if she took the opportunity to retaliate against him.

And Li Xuan.

What exactly does Yun Zishu want to do? She had clearly promised her that as long as Yun Heng lived in the princess’s mansion, she would let Si Cang release Li Xuan and Li Xue, but now she only released Li Xue and continued to keep Li Xuan locked up.

This deceitful, cunning woman who doesn’t keep her word!

She must go to the princess’s mansion to have a look tomorrow. If Yun Zishu dares to do something to Yun Heng, she will never let her go!