After Marrying The Paranoid God of War (Rebirth) - Chapter 12.3
She used the name Ruan Gu to hide her identity
“Are you sure that Ruan Gu from Jiazhou is in Chang’an City?”
“Yes, young lady, I am sure. This servant heard it very clearly and also sent someone to investigate her details. She even brought a boy of about three years old, who seems to be her grandson.”
Li Shuying listened lazily, only lightly outlining her eyebrows in the mirror.
The reflection showed a peerlessly beautiful face with rosy lips, a delicate nose, and captivating eyes like autumn water, exuding a dazzling charm. She had an extraordinarily bright appearance, adorned in a gorgeous brocade dress and flower hairpin, resembling a blooming peony.
The maidservant who brought the news couldn’t help but sigh at Li Shuying’s beauty, thinking that the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Li was truly a national treasure. Her dignified and elegant temperament explained why she had been chosen as the Crown Prince’s intended bride.
Li Shuying casually set aside the eyebrow pencil in her hand and ordered, “Go and meet her for me first. We need to see how skilled this female physician is before deciding whether to employ her or not.”
“Of course.”
Some time ago, an old servant in the Li family passed away. This servant had been Li Shuying’s nurse since childhood, and Li Shuying trusted her deeply.
It is said that loyal servants are hard to come by, and with the old servant gone, Li Shuying felt somewhat restricted in her actions. The other maids were either not agile enough or lacked stability.
Before entering the Eastern Palace, she wished to find a loyal and capable servant to assist her. If this servant had some medical knowledge, it would be even better.
Li Shuying thought that “a snake should be hit at seven inches,” and this Ruan woman, who understood medicine, could be the ideal choice, especially given that she had brought her grandson to Chang’an. This way, she could ensure the loyalty of her new servant by holding her family hostage.
The more Li Shuying pondered, the more convinced she became that this knowledgeable Ruan woman was the best candidate.
***
The next day, Ruan An, having worked on a new prescription for the acne on He Xinyan’s face, went to a nearby herbal medicine store with Ruan Xi. There, she noticed a young woman nearby who had been observing her and Ruan Xi.
Ruan An was puzzled and looked in the direction of that person.
The woman had a large mole on her forehead, and small eyes with a sharp glint. As Ruan An observed her, she began to feel a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
Upon noticing Ruan An’s gaze, the woman appeared flustered and quickly left the herbal pharmacy.
At this moment, Ruan An suddenly felt a flash of white light in front of her eyes, and a sharp pain surged on her forehead. It felt as if something was about to explode from her brain, making it so painful that she couldn’t breathe.
Ruan Xi, by her side, naturally noticed her abnormality and anxiously asked, “Mother, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Ruan An’s slender back shivered intensely, and her heart pounded wildly. She couldn’t utter a single word in response to her son.
In an instant, her clothes were soaked with cold sweat, and in her mind appeared a glamorous and dazzling beauty dressed in splendid attire.
The beauty stood above her, speaking with an extremely gentle tone but delivering the cruelest words at the same time:
“Your son is in my hands. He has no household registration in Chang’an. If I want his life, it’s just a matter of words. It’s easy to dispose of the body of a boy, and the officials in Jingzhao Prefecture won’t be able to find out.”
“Physician Ruan, I respect your medical skills. If you’re willing to work for the Eastern Palace, I can ensure the safety of your son’s life.”
“Do you agree or not?”
The face of the beautiful woman and her delicate features gradually became clear. She was the current Crown Princess, also the most favored granddaughter of Minister Li—Li Shuying.
The words she said echoed in Ruan An’s ears and mind, extremely harsh. At this moment, Ruan An’s consciousness seemed to be tightly held by an invisible hand, as if trapped in an endless nightmare. She quickly lost consciousness, and in the astonished gazes of the people in the pharmacy, she fainted beside the rosewood medicine cabinet.
At that moment, Li Yifang, accompanied by the street enforcers on patrol, happened to pass by. Upon catching a glimpse of their hurried figures, Ruan Xi hastily rushed out of the familiar pharmacy with his short legs.
As soon as he saw Li Yifang, the little fellow called out with a hint of a sob, “Uncle Li! Please help me! Sob, sob, sob, my grandmother has fainted!”
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Translated by: All Things Fluff