Chapter 463 - 462: Suspicion

Chapter 463: Chapter 462: Suspicion

Du Yunluo took the winter plum, took a deep breath, and the fragrance of the flowers was rich.

She closed her eyes and inhaled the fragrance, completely intoxicated.

Mu Lianxiao stood beside her with his hands behind his back, looking down at her lively appearance.

With her delicate eyebrows, petite nose, and rosy lips, she was holding the flowers and smelling them, radiating satisfaction and joy.

His gaze was gentle, and he subtly turned his head to glance in the direction Du Yunluo had come from, a hint of weightiness flashed in his eyes.

Mu Lianxiao had just been breaking off winter plums in the garden, on the other side of the corridor, and he had heard Mei and Du Yunluo’s conversation word for word.

He knew very well which year’s past events they were referring to.

Du Yunluo had been forced to jump out of a window to escape; that was when he had first met her at Qinglian Temple.

She had come in a panic, clutching his sleeve with tears streaming down, her hair disheveled, looking pitiful.

At the time, Mu Lianxiao had asked her what had happened, but Du Yunluo refused to say. Considering the situation, being forced by her cousin to such an extent, who wouldn’t find it unspeakable?

Especially in front of her fiancé.

Upon learning the whole story today, Mu Lianxiao felt both pity and anger.

It was less anger towards Zhen Wenqian and more anger towards the person mentioned by Mei who wanted to harm the Du Family.

At that time in Qinglian Temple, apart from the monks, it was either people from the Zhen Family or the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Could it be...

Thinking of the strife between the eldest and second houses, for a moment, Mu Lianxiao pictured Mu Lianhui in his mind.

Without any evidence, Mu Lianxiao could not assert that it was Mu Lianhui’s doing, but if this plan succeeded, it would indeed benefit the second house.

Whether the Du Family pursued the matter or not, Du Yunluo’s reputation would suffer. Mu Lianxiao might overlook it, but those like Madam Wu and Mrs. Zhou who had never met Du Yunluo could have negative thoughts.

Mu Lianxiao tightened his jaw.

The incidents in Qinglian Temple were uncertain, but he recalled the events in Wangmei Garden.

That day, Du Yunluo clearly wore a dark purple snow jacket, but the message Mu Lianhui gave him stated it was red.

And only Princess An Ran and Du Yunuo wore red.

When the young ladies passed by the lake, Du Yunluo, Du Yunuo, and Princess An Ran fell into a pile, and if they hadn’t been holding each other, Princess An Ran, who was closest to the lake, could have fallen in.

If he hadn’t met Du Yunluo earlier in the garden, and had he seen someone in bright red fall into the water, what would he have done?

Upon recalling this, even in the midst of winter, Mu Lianxiao felt a chill on his back.

At the time, he had no suspicions of the second house, so he didn’t investigate these trivial matters thoroughly. Looking back now, it was filled with schemes.

Schemes that startled and chilled him.

Mu Lianxiao thought of Fang Sheng again.

He had once wondered whether fifty taels of silver was enough for Fang Sheng to betray the Marquis Mansion and tamper with Du Yunluo’s horse.

It turned out it wasn’t betrayal but loyalty, with Fang Sheng being loyal to the second house.

And what about Mu Tang?

Mu Lianxiao exhaled deeply, deciding he would visit Qinglian Temple with Mu Liankang tomorrow to meet Mu Tang.

After delivering the winter plum to Yanxi Hall, Du Yunluo accompanied Mu Lianxiao to find Imperial Doctor Xing.

Imperial Doctor Xing was teaching Ning how to read.

Living comfortably in the Zhen Family, Ning had become more rounded and endearingly chubby.

Seeing Mu Lianxiao searching for him, Imperial Doctor Xing sent Ning to play in the courtyard.

Glancing at Mu Lianxiao, Imperial Doctor Xing frowned and said, "Why is your back bent? Just became a father and already competing with old men to be a grandfather?"

Mu Lianxiao sat down on a chair beside him and said, "I seek Mr. Xing to examine my back injury.

I was slashed from behind and got lost in the Great Desert, delaying treatment. Later, the military doctor bandaged me, and though the other injuries healed fine, my back remains crooked."

Finding the room warm enough, Imperial Doctor Xing asked Mu Lianxiao to remove his shirt.

On Mu Lianxiao’s back was a long diagonal scar, though healed, Imperial Doctor Xing could tell the wound had been deep, reaching the bone.

"Was it not treated promptly?" Imperial Doctor Xing’s brow furrowed tightly.

Mu Lianxiao nodded.

Du Yunluo thought for a moment, then added, "In the Great Desert, his personal attendant simply bandaged him, but the sand dyed the wound, and we had to reopen and clean it upon returning inside the pass."

Speaking these few words left Du Yunluo trembling in fear, her legs going weak.

Imperial Doctor Xing asked for more details about the injury and its circumstances, saying, "You were too hasty!"

Du Yunluo and Mu Lianxiao exchanged a glance.

"Injuries take a hundred days to heal, did you think doctors were exaggerating?" Imperial Doctor Xing scoffed, "Not only were you injured, but you fought fiercely with the Dazi, were carried several days by horse, it’s a wonder you weren’t shaken apart.

Instead of waiting for proper healing, you rushed back to the capital once the skin mended, yet the ligaments and bones were still hurt.

Luckily you didn’t foolishly try to straighten your back, or you’d never stand upright again.

I understand, Princely Heir, you soldiers have urgent matters at the border, leaving no time for slow recovery for the injured.

Treating injuries means not dying is enough; when manpower falls short, some are abandoned.

..."

Discussing the life of border military doctors, Imperial Doctor Xing spoke insightfully. His final point was that with the war over, why did Mu Lianxiao rush back to the capital instead of resting longer?

Mu Lianxiao smiled bitterly, mentioning Mu Liankang: "I request Mr. Xing to examine my elder brother and see if he can remember the past?"

"Elder brother?" Imperial Doctor Xing widened his eyes, realizing it was Mu Liankang who’d been missing for nine years, he clicked his tongue, casting Du Yunluo a glance, "Deep boudoirs are full of trouble."

Du Yunluo understood Imperial Doctor Xing referred to her having been drugged and smiled wryly, saying nothing.

Mu Lianxiao saw this but suppressed the urge to ask further.

According to Imperial Doctor Xing, until Mu Lianxiao’s back muscles and bones fully heal, he should primarily rest, lying down whenever possible.

"I’ll teach you some stretches, remember, only practice once your back is pain-free," Imperial Doctor Xing advised carefully, "otherwise, if it hunches, straightening it later will be difficult."

With these words, Du Yunluo felt somewhat relieved.

Imperial Doctor Xing never boasted; if he said the injury could heal, it certainly would.

After having dinner at the Zhen Family, Mu Lianxiao and Du Yunluo returned to the inn with Brother Yan.

Early the next morning, Mu Lianxiao and Mu Liankang planned to head to Qinglian Temple, as Imperial Doctor Xing had mentioned the day before, arriving at the inn early.

Familiar with wheelchair use, Imperial Doctor Xing could move freely within the house with just a wooden ramp over thresholds.

Mu Liankang and Imperial Doctor Xing exchanged greetings.

Imperial Doctor Xing pondered a moment and sighed, "Seems quite like his younger self."

Mu Liankang smiled.