Chapter 337: Chapter 337

337 Leaving the Capital

Zhao Zhitong asked back, "Aren’t you excited?"

Wei Shulan chuckled. "I am."

The two young sisters held hands, laughing together.

Across the street, a window opened, and a woman in a peach-colored dress leaned out to watch the street below. Her gaze fell on the white horse, and she couldn’t help but admire the handsome figure of the man with a gentle smile on his face.

"Is this this year’s new top scholar? Quite a handsome man."

He seemed even more attractive now than when she first saw him at the Princess Mansion, especially that faint smile which left her utterly captivated.

Her maid beside her replied with a nod, "Yes, Your Highness, that’s this year’s new top scholar, Qiao Muchen. He visited the Princess Mansion a few days ago."

"Oh, I know." Looking down from the window, Princess Jiahe’s eyes shimmered like water as she quietly murmured Qiao Muchen’s name.

She thought that even his name sounded so lovely.

Just then, the maid suddenly pointed at the other side of the street and said, "Princess, Princess, look, who’s that?"

Following the direction of the maid’s finger, Princess Jiahe saw Zhao Zhitong and her friends standing among the crowd and exclaimed with surprise, "It’s Divine Healer Zhao, Miss Zhao! Quickly, invite her over."

The maid responded and immediately rushed downstairs.

While Zhao Zhitong and her friends were excited, a young maid ran up to them, said she was Princess Jiahe’s maid, and added, "Princess Jiahe has invited you."

Zhao Zhitong originally did not want to go. But upon seeing Princess Jiahe waving at her, she nodded in agreement. For origınal chapters go to 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⚑𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⚑𝙣𝙚𝙩

Their group then followed the maid upstairs.

As Zhao Zhitong and her companions were about to pay their respects to the princess, Princess Jiahe hurried forward and grabbed Zhao Zhitong’s hand. "Don’t be so formal with me. You are my lifesaver. Come, sit."

She pulled Zhao Zhitong to the window seat, laughing. "From here, you can view the entire street! Look."

Zhao Zhitong looked down and indeed could see very far.

After exchanging pleasantries, Princess Jiahe asked with a smile, "What brings you here? Are you here to see the new top scholar?"

Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Yes, he is my friend."

Princess Jiahe couldn’t help but be surprised. "Your friend?"

"Yes," Zhao Zhitong replied politely with a smile.

Wei Shulan chimed in, "Not just friends, but also childhood sweethearts who grew up together."

Princess Jiahe looked at Wei Shulan. "Oh? Really?"

Her words were even-toned, making it difficult to discern her emotions.

Wei Shulan nodded and continued, "Yes, the Qiao Clan and Zhao Family get along very well. Qiao Muchen often says that they are like one big family."

Zhao Zhitong glanced at Wei Shulan with some surprise, finding her a little odd, but she didn’t stop her.

They were good friends who had grown up together, and she trusted Wei Shulan completely. Therefore, she merely smiled and nodded in affirmation.

Princess Jiahe nodded, her expression unchanging, then averted her gaze from Wei Shulan and resumed chatting with Zhao Zhitong.

After they exchanged pleasantries for a short while, Qiao Muchen’s parade concluded. Zhao Zhitong then rose to bid the princess farewell, and afterward, their group went downstairs.

Only when Zhao Zhitong and her companions were out of sight did Princess Jiahe stand up. "Let’s head back; we’ve been out long enough," she said.

Xiao Cui hurriedly supported Princess Jiahe and, observing her expression, asked, "Your Highness, should we inform Her Grace, the Princess?"

Princess Jiahe retorted, "Tell Mother what?"

Xiao Cui whispered, "Your Highness, Young Master Qiao is the new top scholar and exceptionally handsome. Her Grace, the Princess, often praises him and would surely approve. You are Her Grace’s daughter; if Young Master Qiao knew, he would undoubtedly be a hundred times willing."

"No need," Princess Jiahe frowned. "Don’t tell Mother about this. Moreover, never mention this in front of her again."

"Ah, why?" Xiao Cui was somewhat puzzled.

Her Grace had been quite pleased with Young Master Qiao before they left. Why, after seeing him, did Her Highness now forbid any mention of it?

Wasn’t Young Master Qiao handsome?

Princess Jiahe pursed her lips and finally told Xiao Cui, "Didn’t you hear what Miss Zhao’s friend said? She was intentionally telling me, this princess, that Young Master Qiao’s heart already belongs to someone—his childhood sweetheart."

"Miss Zhao is my lifesaver. Besides, I am the esteemed daughter of Princess Anping. What can I not obtain? I certainly will not debase myself by pursuing someone whose heart does not lie with me."

With that said, she lifted her chin high and descended the stairs with proud, elegant steps.

Meanwhile, after returning to the inn, Zhao Zhitong had been intending to ask Wei Shulan about what had just happened.

However, Gongsun Wan, from the emperor’s side, arrived bearing an imperial edict.

This interruption made Zhao Zhitong forget the matter entirely.

After Gongsun Wan finished reading the imperial edict, Zhao Zhitong was rather surprised.

She had assumed the emperor’s reward would be, at most, some gold, silver, and jewels. She never expected the imperial edict to appoint her as a medical officer.

Zhao Zhitong was taken aback. Previously, when the emperor had personally summoned her and asked if she was willing to stay in the palace, she had refused, and the emperor hadn’t forced her.

Why, then, had he suddenly appointed her as a medical officer now?

Gongsun Wan, noticing Zhao Zhitong’s thoughts, closed the imperial edict and smiled. "The emperor learned from Elder Song that Miss Zhao is not only exceptionally skilled in medicine but also proficient in autopsy, having helped the County Magistrate of Anyang County solve countless cases."

"The Great Zhou Dynasty has always lacked capable coroners. The emperor cherishes talent. However, he feared that bestowing the title of coroner upon you, young lady, might tarnish your reputation and hinder your future marriage prospects."

"Thus, after much deliberation, he deemed it more appropriate to grant you the title of medical officer. Naturally, you need not remain in the palace. You can assist Master Qiao in bringing justice to the common people."

It was only then that Zhao Zhitong learned Qiao Muchen had declined the emperor’s offer of a position in the Shanglin Park.

After careful consideration, and upon Song Renying’s suggestion, the emperor dispatched Qiao Muchen to Suzhou to serve as a judge.

Adhering to the principle that the ’iron triangle’ should not be separated, Zhao Yue chose to follow Qiao Muchen to Suzhou, taking up the post of assistant judge.

Elder Song’s reasoning was that the young ones were still inexperienced and should start from the grassroots level to gain more practical experience.

This also aligned perfectly with Qiao Muchen’s own wishes.

After seeing off Gongsun Wan, who had delivered the imperial edict, Zhao Zhitong and the others gathered in their room to discuss packing and their departure from the Capital City the next day.

Before heading to Suzhou, they first needed to return home.

After bidding farewell to Elder Zhang, Elder Song, and others, the group departed the Capital City. Looking back at the bustling metropolis, Zhao Zhitong felt a wave of emotion.

They had been there for less than two months, yet so much had happened.

Fortunately, the outcome was relatively positive: Elder Song was reinstated and appointed as the Cishi of Weizhou.

Not long after their arrival in Suzhou, Elder Song was transferred to Youzhou to serve as its Dudu, awarded a purple robe and a turtle-patterned belt as symbols of his loyalty. A year later, he was once again appointed Grand Chancellor.

「Naturally, these were all events that would transpire later.」

At that moment, Zhao Zhitong and her party had just passed through the city gates, preparing to leave, when suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from behind them.

Turning around, they saw Pei Yuanqing approaching in a hurry.

Pei Yuanqing still looked quite gaunt. Evidently, the two weeks of confinement had taken their toll.