Chapter 13 - The Biased Minister

Madam Xia arrived almost simultaneously with the doctor.

"Yue'er, what happened?" Madam Xia rushed in upon hearing her daughter's shrill scream, immediately pushing aside the maid who was in her way and asking in concern.

Su Yue was scratching at her face while angrily scolding the maid beside her. Upon hearing her aunt's voice, she instantly turned around, looking at Madam Xia with a pitiful expression.

"Mother..."

Madam Xia was startled. She saw that her daughter's face was covered in red rashes of various sizes, looking quite alarming.

"What happened? Yue'er, did you eat something unclean?"

Su Yue, feeling wronged, replied, "Mother, I ate just like usual. Mother, please go ask Father to bring the imperial doctor!"

Madam Xia hesitated, "But…"

If it were Su Li, it would be easy to handle, but to ask for an imperial doctor for a concubine's daughter—such a thing was unheard of.

Liu'er stepped forward and said, "Miss, let the doctor have a look first. It might just look more serious than it is."

Madam Xia quickly stepped aside to allow the doctor to approach.

"Doctor, please take a look at my daughter."

The doctor stepped forward and carefully checked Su Yue's pulse, asking about her eating habits.

Su Yue anxiously asked, "How is it?"

The doctor stroked his goat's beard and replied in a leisurely tone, "It's nothing serious, nothing serious. It's just a common allergic reaction. I'll prescribe some medicine, and if you take it on time, the rash will naturally go away in a few days."

Su Yue screeched, "A few days?! The Qionghua Banquet is tomorrow. How can I wait that long? Is there any faster treatment?"

The doctor hesitated, "Well... I am unable to help with that."

Su Yue looked at Madam Xia, pleading, "Aunt, you must ask Father to bring the imperial doctor. Even if it's in Su Li's name, please! I can't attend the Qionghua Banquet with this face!"

Madam Xia also wanted her daughter to make a good appearance. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I'll go find Father!"

The doctor added, "Then, should I still prescribe the medicine?"

Su Yue shouted, "You can't cure my face, but at least can you make the itching stop?"

The doctor cupped his hands and said, "I'll prepare the medicine right away."

Madam Xia, accompanied by her maid, headed toward the main courtyard. Coincidentally, today, Minister Su was resting at home.

"Master, Madam, Madam Xia is at the door," Wuxia entered to report.

Minister Su frowned, "Isn't she under house arrest?"

Wuxia replied, "It seems she said something happened with the Second Miss."

Minister Su glanced at his wife, who was reading the account books, without even raising her head.

"Let her in," Minister Su said.

Wuxia stepped out to lead Madam Xia inside.

"Master, please go to the palace and ask for an imperial doctor. Second Miss is unwell!" As soon as Madam Xia entered, she bypassed any formalities and urgently pleaded with Minister Su.

At this, Madam Su raised her head and asked, "What happened?"

Wuxia walked closer to Madam Su and whispered in her ear.

Minister Su furrowed his brow and said, "Just a regular doctor will do. The imperial doctor is for palace nobles, not our household's physician. How could we possibly ask for them?"

Minister Su was always strict and upright, so much so that he didn't even keep two family physicians. If anyone in the house fell ill, they would go to the clinic to see a doctor. Even when he himself fell ill, he would seek treatment outside; how could he make an exception for a concubine's daughter?

Madam Xia lamented, "Master, the outside doctor can't do anything, that's why I came to you! Please, Master, save Second Miss! When the eldest daughter was hurt, you were able to ask for the imperial doctor, so why can't you do the same for Second Miss? Master, you can't be partial!"

Minister Su was silent. He did, indeed, favor Li'er more.

That was his daughter with the woman he loved dearly; how could he not be partial?

At this point, Madam Su coldly snorted, "How serious was the injury to Li'er's face? Su Yue's face only has a few rashes. The doctor said it would get better in a few days. Why do you make it sound like Su Yue is dying?"

Minister Su's face darkened, "Nonsense!"

Madam Xia shot a glance at Wuxia beside Madam Su, secretly cursing, "Bitch."

Madam Xia continued, "Master, tomorrow is the Qionghua Banquet. With Yue'er looking like this, how can she attend?"

Minister Su looked confused, "With her face like that, why would she go to the Qionghua Banquet?"

Madam Xia paused and then said, "This is for your sake, Master. The eldest daughter's face is permanently ruined. Second Miss just wants to show her face and help you gain some good reputation."

Madam Su coldly replied, "Ha! You're hoping to climb up the social ladder at the Qionghua Banquet? Does Master's reputation need to be enhanced by his daughters? Everyone knows Master is upright and incorruptible!"

Madam Xia looked at Minister Su and said, "Master, the political landscape changes swiftly. A good marriage connection is always beneficial. Yue'er..."

Minister Su waved his hand to interrupt her, "No need to say more. The Qionghua Banquet is optional. Let Yue'er take the medicine on time, but I will not ask for the imperial doctor."

To go to such lengths for a small matter and invite an imperial doctor? Wouldn't that give the censors something to report to the court?

Madam Xia, seeing that she couldn't persuade him, stood up in disappointment and prepared to leave.

Su Yue applied the medicine and felt the itching subside somewhat.

When Madam Xia entered, she hurriedly asked, "Mother, what happened?"

Madam Xia shook her head.

Su Yue immediately swept everything off the table in a fit of rage.

"It's all your fault! If you were the legitimate wife, I would be the legitimate daughter. How could Father ignore me? Why can Su Li get the imperial doctor, but I can't! It's all your fault! Why are you so useless?!"

Madam Xia, seeing her daughter's enraged expression, took a step back.

Was this really her obedient daughter? How had she become so terrifying and selfish?

She had worked so hard to enter the Su household and provide her daughter with such a privileged life, and this is how she was treated?

"Yue'er, why are you saying such things to me?" Madam Xia said, heartbroken.

Su Yue didn't think she was wrong at all, sneering, "Mother? What kind of mother are you? You couldn't even win Father's heart, and now you've made me suffer too. Aren't you supposed to be so clever? Why can't you let me proudly call you 'Mother'?"

Madam Xia nervously looked around, relieved to see only their own people present.

"Yue'er! Are you going to shout like this? Do you want Madam to expel me from the household?"

Su Yue came to her senses a little. Looking at the tears falling from Madam Xia's eyes, she finally felt some regret.

"Aunt... Mother, I'm sorry. I was just so angry. Don't be mad at me." Su Yue moved forward and hugged Madam Xia, apologizing repeatedly.

Madam Xia sighed and held her daughter close, "Yue'er, I know you feel wronged. Trust me, this kind of life won't last long. Trust me."

Su Yue raised her head and said, "I believe you! I believe! One day, I will make Father regret being so biased!"

Madam Xia stroked her daughter's hair, "You won't go to the Qionghua Banquet tomorrow, right? There will be many more banquets in the future."

Su Yue immediately replied, "No! I'm going! If necessary, I'll go with a veil."

She had finally received twelve pieces of jade and had prepared several poems. How could she not go?

Madam Xia, seeing her daughter insist on going, said, "Then make sure you wear the veil and don't let anyone see your face."

"I know."

Everything that had happened here was reported back to Su Li by Si Qin.

Su Li smiled, "I really don't know what to say about my sister. Even in this state, she still wants to show off."

Si Qin said, "Maybe the heavens are watching. Though Second Miss received the twelve jade pieces from you, her face can't be shown."

Su Li laughed and looked out the window at the flowers in full bloom.

It wasn't the heavens watching; it was merely human scheming.

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