radicalducati Chapter 142 The Bright and Elegant Fake Gold 19
Chapter 142 The Bright and Elegant Fake Gold 19
Day two.
When Liu Yunshu got up, the space beside her was mostly empty, and the faint scent of ink and snow pine lingered on the bedding.
Looking at the smile on his master's lips, Xiao Ba recalled his master's singing, recitation, acting and fighting last night. Tsk tsk tsk, yet another innocent man has been completely conquered.
Biyan carefully combed her long hair, and seeing the smile on her lips and the faint dark circles under her eyes, her heartache was almost overflowing.
"Miss, did you not sleep well last night?"
Biyan gently tied her hair up, bit her lip, and looked annoyed. "Miss didn't say anything. I thought she was asleep. I should have stayed."
Xiao Ba: Your young lady is so excited!
Liu Yunshu chuckled at Biyan's annoyance and gave her a reassuring look, "It has nothing to do with you, don't blame yourself."
Just as Liu Yunshu finished tidying up, Biluo came in and curtsied, "Miss, Miss Qingqing has arrived."
"Quickly, invite her in."
Biluo led Liu Qingqing in, and Liu Yunshu stood up to greet them.
His gaze fell on Liu Qingqing, and seeing that she was dressed simply today, he suddenly remembered that she was still in mourning.
A complex emotion flashed in her eyes as she thought of Liu's parents.
"Biyan, go and pick out a simple and elegant dress."
Although Biyan was puzzled, she quickly went to the wardrobe and a moment later took out a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with orchid embroidery.
Liu Qingqing looked at Liu Yunshu with a puzzled expression and asked, "Yunshu, what's wrong?"
"The begonia red I'm wearing today is too bright. I should change into something more understated," Liu Yunshu said, heading towards the inner room.
Liu Qingqing was taken aback for a moment, then quickly stepped forward and took her hand. "Yun Shu, this matter is not yet settled, you don't need to be like this."
"Qingqing, if this is true, then it is my duty to observe filial piety. If it is false, since I consider you a friend, how can I dress so smartly and flaunt it in front of you?"
With that, she turned and went into the inner room to change her clothes. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, she came out wearing a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).
Her usually bright and striking eyes appeared even more gentle and soft against the backdrop of the moonlight, and the subtle orchid patterns were faintly visible in the morning light, adding a touch of serene elegance.
She then went to the dressing table and removed all the hairpins from her hair bun, leaving only a white jade hairpin.
She then picked out a white jade hairpin, walked up to Liu Qingqing, and gently put it on her hair.
"Biyan, look at us, don't Qingqing and I look like sisters?"
Biyan and Biluo, their eyes red, nodded hurriedly, "They look alike! So alike! Miss and Qingqing standing together look just like sisters!"
Liu Qingqing touched the warm, white jade hairpin in her hair, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, her voice trembling with emotion: "Yun Shu, you..."
Chun Tao also watched Liu Yunshu with emotion from the side.
Xiao Ba silently watched the people who were touched by Da Da's warmth and thought to herself: Sure enough, my Da Da has a knack for winning people over. His charisma is off the charts.
Liu Yunshu patted Liu Qingqing's hand with a smile, her tone light and cheerful: "Alright, don't be sad. Breakfast should be ready. Let's go to the front hall."
As soon as they reached the corridor, Wen Zhimiao came towards them.
He wore a moon-white brocade robe with a dark jade belt around his waist. His dark hair was tied up high, and the morning light fell on his eyebrows and eyes, making his figure appear even more upright.
When he saw Liu Yunshu's attire clearly, he paused slightly, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile.
"Why are you dressed so plainly today?"
Liu Yunshu twirled in front of him, leaned closer, and wrinkled her nose. "Brother, don't you think it looks good?"
Wen Zhimiao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his gaze fixed on her, his voice softer than usual: "Beautiful, how could it not be beautiful?"
He reached out and tapped her nose, his tone tinged with affection, "It's just that you usually wear bright and eye-catching colors, but today you're dressed so simply, you look like a fairy of orchids who stepped out of a painting."
Liu Yunshu's cheeks flushed from his words, and she quickly took half a step back, gently scolding, "Brother is teasing me again."
Liu Qingqing stood there, watching the natural intimacy between the two, a hint of envy flashing across her eyes.
In the front hall, Lord Wen and his wife were already seated in the main seats, with an exquisite breakfast laid out on the table, steam rising gently.
Upon seeing the group enter, Madam Wen immediately smiled and waved, "Yunshu, Zhimiao, come and sit down. Qingqing, please sit down too, don't be so formal."
Liu Yunshu and Liu Qingqing sat down as instructed. Wen Zhimiao naturally sat down next to Liu Yunshu and casually picked up a crystal bun for her: "This is your favorite. Try it."
Madam Wen used serving chopsticks to place a jade vegetable bun in Liu Qingqing's bowl, saying gently, "Qingqing, don't be shy, make yourself at home. There aren't many rules in the manor, feel free to take whatever you want to eat."
Liu Qingqing quickly stood up and curtsied, her eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you, Madam Wen, for your trouble."
She picked up her chopsticks, took small bites of the vegetable bun, and felt a warm glow in her heart.
She had never felt such genuine warmth since her parents passed away.
After the meal, the butler led Chief Physician Li hurriedly into the front hall, bowing and announcing, "Master, Madam, Chief Physician Li has arrived."
Li Yuanzheng stepped forward and bowed to Lord Wen and his wife, saying, "This old man greets Lord Wen and his wife."
Lord Wen returned the greeting, "I presume that Chief Physician Li has prepared the items for inspection? Thank you for your trouble today."
"You're too kind, sir. It's my duty, but this blood test for kinship isn't entirely accurate."
Dr. Li stroked his graying beard, his tone serious, "To reach a conclusion, we need to combine the tokens given to Madam Wen during her childbirth, the midwife's testimony, and further compare her pulse and muscle texture to ensure accuracy."
Lord Wen nodded in agreement and said in a deep voice, "Academician Li has considered everything thoroughly, so let's do as you say. This matter concerns Yun Shu's background, so we must be extremely careful."
He looked at Liu Yunshu, his tone softening, "Yunshu, don't be afraid, your parents are here."
Madam Wen quickly grasped Liu Yunshu's hand, the warmth of her palm soothing her trembling fingertips.
"Yes, no matter the outcome, you will always be your mother's good child."
Liu Yunshu felt a warmth in her heart and nodded: "I understand, thank you for your trouble, Father and Mother and Chief Physician Li."
Soon the preparations were complete, and Lord Wen, Liu Yunshu, and Liu Qingqing each dripped a drop of blood into two bowls of water.
A moment later, in the first bowl of clear water containing the blood droplets of Lord Wen and Liu Yunshu, two drops of blood slowly approached each other, but ultimately did not mix, instead gradually dispersing.
In the second bowl of clear water containing the bloodstains of Lord Wen and Liu Qingqing, the bloodstains slowly intertwined and eventually merged into a single drop.
The atmosphere in the lobby froze instantly; even the air seemed to stand still.
Lord Wen sat up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief. Madam Wen covered her mouth, staring in astonishment at the blood droplets in the bowl, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Liu Qingqing staggered back half a step, her eyes fixed on the bowl of blood droplets mixed together, her voice trembling rapidly.
"Impossible... There must be some mistake! My parents are the Liu family, how could they be related to Lord Wen by blood?"
Madam Wen felt a tightness in her chest, and her grip on Liu Yunshu's hand tightened even more as she suppressed her astonishment and asked, "Director Li, is...is this result truly correct?"
Li, the chief physician, bent down and examined the pulse pillow carefully for a couple more times. He then took out the pulse pillow and placed it on the table. "Madam, please rest assured. The blood test is only a preliminary diagnosis; the pulse diagnosis is needed to confirm it. Please, Miss Liu, come forward so that I may take your pulse."
Liu Qingqing hesitated before stepping forward, her fingertips resting coldly on the pulse pillow.
Li Yuanzheng took the patient's pulse with his fingertips, closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment, then slowly opened them, his tone grave:
"Miss Liu's pulse and skin texture do indeed bear some resemblance to Lord Wen's, which is no ordinary coincidence. Combined with the blood test results, I dare to assert that the young lady and Lord Wen are definitely related by blood."
These words struck the front hall like a boulder. After calming down, Lord Wen ordered the steward to escort Imperial Physician Li back to the palace.
A short while later, Wen Lin walked in, looking travel-worn.
"Master, Madam, Sir, your subordinate has found the old midwife from the Wen family!"
Wen Lin strode forward, beads of sweat still clinging to his forehead, followed by an elderly woman with gray hair and a troubled expression.
As soon as the old midwife entered the front hall and saw Lord Wen and Madam Wen, she immediately knelt down with a thud, her voice trembling:
"This old servant...this old servant greets you, sir and madam. It has been many years since we last met. Are you well?"
Madam Wen abruptly stood up, strode to the old midwife, and asked anxiously:
"Wang the Midwife? It really is you! Did something happen when I gave birth? Yun Shu and Qing Qing... what exactly is their background?"
The midwife, Wang, lay prostrate on the ground, trembling violently, not daring to raise her head: "Madam, please forgive me, back then... back then I was so foolish!"
It turns out that back then, in the clinic, Madam Wen and Madam Liu gave birth to baby girls at the same time.
Because the clinic was crowded during the Lantern Festival, the two baby girls looked so alike that they were indistinguishable.
"This old servant didn't notice it at first, until one day I heard you, Madam, joking with Granny Lin, saying that you were in a daze after giving birth and even mistook a red mole on Miss's shoulder."
"I was shocked. Miss was born with a red birthmark. I quickly checked the swaddling cloth, only to discover that it wasn't the one prepared for her at all."
Wang the midwife's voice trembled so badly it was almost incoherent, her forehead pressed against the cold ground, she didn't even dare to breathe.
"This old servant was terrified! It was a chaotic day. There were people celebrating the Lantern Festival and setting off firecrackers outside the clinic, and two women in labor came in at the same time. The maids and servants were so flustered that they switched the two swaddled babies!"