"Hmph, a group of amateur doctors, incapable of healing my child."
The Princess saw the backs of the elderly doctors leaving and cursed with a face full of disdain.
"Mother, my son...my son is so painful. Will I be disabled in the future?"
Prince Jing lay in bed, writhing in pain and distorting his face as he spoke to the Princess.
"No, no, it's not that... it's not that. It's because these incompetent doctors lack skill. Mother will have someone go out and seek out renowned physicians for you; they will definitely heal you!"
The Princess, who was also in a hurry to cool down, walked over to the bedside and saw her son writhing in pain, feeling extremely worried. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn't forget to console him.
"Almighty, if this palace has done anything wrong, punish it upon me. Why must the punishment befall my son Jing..."
The Princess was crying so heartbreakingly that her eyes were swollen almost unrecognizable.
Suddenly, she had an idea and turned to ask the maid next to her: "Where is the Consort? Where did the Consort go? How could such a big thing happen without seeing him?"
The few maids in the room looked at each other.
Then, a maid came out and whispered, "Your Royal Highness, since the master left early this morning, he has not returned."
"Where did he go?"
The princess stared at the maid coldly and asked.
"Your Royal Highness, I'm not sure. However, Master has been leaving early every morning these days and doesn't return to the mansion until evening."
The maid answered truthfully.
The princess narrowed her eyes and frowned, "How long has the Consort been like this?"
"Your Royal Highness, for about four or five days."
The maid continued.
The princess's face instantly turned dark and ugly.
She didn't need to think to know that he was definitely lurking around somewhere, carousing.
She called a shadow guard and instructed him to quickly investigate the Consort's whereabouts.
The shadow guard respectfully acknowledged the command and quickly withdrew.
In the capital, at a certain mansion.
The lotus flowers are warm, and the whole room is full of spring.
The red wood bed swayed gently, and a few soft moans filtered through the light blue curtain.
Two beautiful women with enchanting appearances, resembling snakes in water, were entwined around a middle-aged man, engaging in something indecent.
"Master, you must not be partial to Yue sister. Please be more lenient with me..."
"Haha... Don't worry, my dear cicada. The master will take care of you very well..."
The man's voice was hoarse, he laughed softly, and then the entanglement continued.
The room was filled with a lurid atmosphere, making people's faces redden and their hearts race.
These women were carefully cultivated by Yangzhou, known as the "thin horses." They were all top-notch in terms of figure and beauty.
They are proficient in singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, chess, and calligraphy.
These women were originally intended as playthings for lower-level officials to offer to the prince, but they eventually ended up being sent to the Consort's mansion through various means.
These "thin horses" had only one task: to captivate the Consort so that he would never leave them, leaving the Princess alone in her room every day, becoming a discarded woman who was not loved by her husband.
In addition to the "thin horses" sent secretly from the Eastern Palace, there are also a few sent by Nan Gongyang.
Their appearance and figure are all top-notch, and they have all been carefully educated.
Their objectives are almost the same.
The Consort is unaware of the true origins of these "thin horses," and he simply thinks that some official is trying to curry favor with him by sending a few trinkets to flatter him in private.
The Consort is not only the husband of the Princess but also a second son of the Ning Gongfu family.
There are naturally many officials who want to curry favor.
He had no suspicion about anyone sending him "thin horses," and instead, he happily accepted them.
...
Yongling Marquis Mansion, front courtyard study.
"Father-in-law, I've heard that the Ministry of Rites is in charge of the assassination case. I have been honing my skills at the Hanlin Academy for so long and believe I have some talent. May I be transferred to help with this case?"
Li Luoshu looked at the Yongling Marquis who was sitting at the desk.
He had heard recently that there was a vacant official position in the Ministry of Rites.
It is the position of the Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites, a rank of sixth level.
He is currently a sixth-level official in the Hanlin Academy, and if he can be transferred to the Ministry of Rites and become the Left Minister, that would be a promotion.
Although it's only a half-level promotion, it's just enough, not too conspicuous.
However, this requires your father-in-law's help to maneuver.
The Yongling Marquis looked at his son-in-law in front of him and naturally understood his meaning.
Although he no longer has influence in the imperial court, he still has many connections. It would not be difficult to find someone to smooth things over and make this happen.
But he didn't know who Li Luoshu had offended. He had wanted to move his son-in-law out of the Hanlin Academy before, to get him into the Ministry of Personnel instead.
But no matter how he tried to use his connections, it just didn't work.
It was an old friend in the Ministry of Personnel who secretly told him that someone above was holding him back from promotion.
He had asked who was blocking his promotion, but the old friend would not say any more.
"Luoshu, have you offended any important people?"
The Yongling Marquis looked up at Li Luoshu, frowning and speaking in a low voice.
Li Luoshu was such a perceptive person that he immediately knew there was something wrong upon hearing this, and he became tense.
"Father-in-law, what does this mean?"
The Yongling Marquis looked at him complexly and did not hesitate to explain, "A few days ago, I wanted to put you in the Ministry of Personnel. It is responsible for the promotion of officials, and there happened to be a vacancy for an Undersecretary of State. If you went there, it would be a half-level promotion for you."
"Then what happened?" As soon as Li Luoshu heard this, his eyes lit up.
The Ministry of Personnel is a very lucrative position, and many people want to get in.
"I tried to smooth all the relationships and thought there would be no problem. However, there was no result. It was an old friend in the Ministry of Personnel who told me that someone above was holding you back."
The Yongling Marquis took a sip of tea and then spoke slowly again.
Li Luoshu furrowed his brow and pondered.
His father-in-law's meaning was quite straightforward. He had offended some important person, and someone was holding him back from promotion.
He tried to recall his past actions, wondering if he had done anything to offend anyone.
He worked diligently in the Hanlin Academy, taking his job seriously. He was always on time for work and leaving at the designated times.
He had a good relationship with his superiors and colleagues in the Hanlin Academy, and he had not encountered anyone during this period.
"Father-in-law, I truly cannot remember having offended anyone. Please, Father-in-law, enlighten me."
Li Luoshu stood up, bowing his hands and saying sincerely, "Father-in-law, please show me the way."
He bowed respectfully.
The Yongling Marquis looked at him and softly sighed, shaking his head, "I have asked before, but that old friend won't say anything."
Seeing that Li Luoshu was silent, the Yongling Marquis comforted him: "Don't be discouraged. I will go and ask someone again to find out what exactly is going on."
"If so, it will be troublesome for Father-in-law."
Li Luoshu bowed respectfully to the Yongling Marquis again and said.
The Yongling Marquis smiled and patted his shoulder, leaving Li Luoshu to have lunch at the mansion.
After lunch, Li Luoshu left.
...
Li Luoshu was thinking about this on his way, and even the Yongling Marquis couldn't get it done. He was afraid that it was a big figure above.
But he didn't know who it was and why they would make things so difficult for him?
As soon as he returned to the mansion, he saw his wife and mother arguing over a trivial matter in the courtyard, with the three newly acquired concubines watching the show on the side.
He furrowed his brow, feeling incredibly irritated in his heart.
The unrest in the inner court and the setback in his official career made him very unhappy.
He did not pay attention to how his mother and wife were arguing; he turned around and went into the study.
Li Luoshu sat in front of the desk, his mind flickering with Yucuan's face, which was arrogant and overbearing.
He remembered that Yucuan was originally supposed to marry the Jin Wangfei, but she married over because she loved him and used means to get married here.
At that time, he did not get angry because he thought Yucuan was more valuable than Yu Yao, and she had a good reputation, so of course he wouldn't be angry in his heart.
However, for the Jin Wangfei, it was a direct slap in the face.
The first daughter turned into a concubine, how could anyone be comfortable with it?
Li Luoshu's gaze was heavy. Could it be that the Jin Wangfei was angry because Yucuan married him, so they secretly had someone suppress his official position?
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was indeed so.
Then he quickly ordered his servants to prepare a generous gift and get ready to visit the Jin Wangfei's mansion tomorrow.
He felt that if he didn't resolve this matter, his official career might very well come to an end.
