Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 56 Peony Banquet, Layout
When he saw Zhang Changzong, Murong Huan once again felt Li Linghuan's anger and disdain.

"Zhang Changzong, during the Empress's later years and when she was senile, joined forces with his brother Zhang Yizhi to seize control of government. He bewitched the Empress, deceived her, framed loyal officials, and corrupted the government. He was arrogant, extravagant, and licentious, and extremely cruel. He led to the expulsion of wise ministers like Wei Yuanzhong and Zhang Shuo, and the deaths of Prince Shao Li Chongrun and Princess Yongtai as a result of his slander. All officials were furious, and so in the first year of the Shenlong reign, I and five other ministers, under the pretext of clearing the emperor's court, beheaded him in Jixian Palace."

So, do you want to kill this person to prevent future troubles?

"No, the Zhang brothers are just flatterers who are attached to the empress. If we kill them, there will be other Zhang brothers who will accompany the empress, just like Xue Huaiyi now. I just want to know who betrayed me in the end."

"Li Xian is a coward. If no one had given him advice, he wouldn't have had the guts to kill me at the end of the coup. After all, the five ministers were on my side at the time, unless someone among them betrayed me."

"Murong Huan, I want you to help me find this person and stand before the Empress again."

But I am not you, and what I am experiencing now is different from what you are experiencing.

"No, you are me, my future!"

……

As if in a dream, Murong Huan felt someone grabbing her arm, and she suddenly woke up and looked at Xiao Muchen beside her.

"Ah Huan, what happened to you just now?"

"I……"

She can now communicate with Li Linghuan in her sea of ​​consciousness, so what does Li Linghuan mean when he says that she is her future?
"I'm fine."

Murong Huan looked at Xiao Muchen and smiled: "I just saw the young man next to Her Royal Highness the Princess and was a little curious."

"He's the son of Zhang Xizang, the governor of Xiangzhou. Uh, he's now Princess Taiping's lover." Xiao Muchen replied somewhat embarrassedly, "In other words, a male concubine."

Murong Huan nodded.

At this time, Xiao Muchen called another guard from the Inner Guard Palace and said something in his ear. The guard then left as ordered.

After explaining everything, he turned to Murong Huan and said, "Let's go to the banquet!"

Murong Huan knew that he had already begun to make arrangements, so he did not ask any more questions. When he caught sight of Wang Wuniang, he thanked her and Liu, "Thank you, Madam Wang and Wuniang, for helping me out just now."

"Being able to be friends with this young lady is an honor I, Wang Wuniang, have longed for." As Wang Wuniang spoke, she carefully examined Murong Huan's attire and Qingyan's stunning appearance. "Even Wuniang didn't expect that with just a little makeup, this young lady could look so stunning, enough to outshine all the other beauties."

"Wu Niang, you're too kind!"

As Murong Huan spoke, he and Xiao Muchen walked into the banquet room of the Peony Flower Festival. They saw that countless scholars had already started reciting poems, and most of them were poems related to peonies.

Someone shouted, "Spring has returned to the forest garden, and the city of Luoyang is full of flowers." Immediately, the whole room cheered.

"Cui Jiulang is worthy of being the top-ranked Jinshi this year. His writing is brilliant and elegant, comparable to the Four Great Scholars. He possesses such talent at such a young age. Who else can match him?"

One person sighed, and everyone else echoed.

It turned out that the person they were complimenting was the young man named Cui Shi.

"There is no beauty that can surpass all others in the world. A beauty is pleasing to the eyes. Look, here comes a beauty!"

Murong Huan and Xiao Muchen had just walked into the banquet room when Cui Shi's words attracted the attention of all the gentlemen in the audience.

"She is truly a beauty, with skin as white as cream, delicate eyebrows, a charming smile, and beautiful eyes. I never thought that Xiao Zhongcheng would have such a beauty by his side."

"I wonder if this young lady can write poetry? Today we are writing a poem on the theme of peonies on this stone wall. Would you like to write one too?" Murong Huan said, "I am not very good at writing poetry."

The sentence "I'm not very good at writing poetry" immediately caused laughter from the young ladies around.

"You came to this peony flower festival, but you can't even compose a poem? How can you be worthy of standing beside Xiao Zhongcheng?"

"Yes! Xiao Zhongcheng is an eighteen-year-old Jinshi. My Great Zhou is a genius. Not to mention poetry, he is also an expert in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. How could he keep a young lady who can't even write a poem around him?"

Ah Shu was sweating coldly when she heard this: Oh my God! This Xiao Zhongcheng is so powerful!

But what does his strength have to do with my Ah Huan? Why should he attack my Ah Huan?
Ah Shu was like a cat with its fur standing on end. She suddenly shouted in displeasure, "What's wrong with not being able to write poetry? My girl is incredibly smart. Even if she can't write poetry today, she might be able to impress you tomorrow. Don't underestimate her! What's more, my girl can heal illnesses. Not only can she heal illnesses, she can even bring the dead back to life!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a group of noble ladies came up curiously and asked, "Young lady, can you really cure diseases and bring people back to life?"

"That's right! Didn't you just hear what Wang Wuniang said? It was my girl who cured her illness!"

It's not that I didn't hear it, but I simply couldn't believe it. Rumor has it that Wang Wu Niang has been buried in a coffin. Is there really any magic in this world that can bring the dead back to life?

Seeing Madam Cui's doubts and her intention to approach Murong Huan, Cui Shi intervened, "Sister-in-law, don't listen to what Wang Wu Niang says. She was only trying to help this girl out in a desperate situation. Don't you see the deep sisterly love between Wang Wu Niang and this young lady?"

The Boling Cui clan had a total of six branches. This Madam Cui was the headmistress of the first branch of the Cui family, and Xiao Muchen's former stepmother, Cui, was a concubine of the Anping branch of the Cui family.

Mrs. Cui was very disdainful of her sister-in-law who had cried and shouted that she wanted to marry into the Xiao family, but finally betrayed the Xiao family and ran back to the Cui family in disgrace.

After hearing what she said, Madam Cui angrily scolded: "Shut up, I'm talking to someone else, why are you butting in?"

Only then did Cui's face turn red and she stopped talking.

At this time, Madam Cui walked up to Murong Huan and said, "Young lady, do you really know medicine? Can you treat some strange diseases?"

Murong Huan nodded and asked, "Does Madam Cui suffer from frequent dreams and insomnia? Or does she often experience auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, chest tightness and shortness of breath, or even insomnia?"

At just one word, Madam Cui's eyes lit up and she exclaimed in surprise, "Yes, I do have this condition. Young lady, I've heard that doctors diagnose me based on observation, listening, questioning, and palpation. You were able to diagnose this condition just by looking at me?"

When Mrs. Cui said this, everyone around looked over curiously.

"So, what that little girl said is true, and this young lady really can treat illnesses?"

"So, Xiao Zhongcheng has found a young lady who can heal illnesses to be by his side?" Cui Shi couldn't help but sneer.

Mrs. Cui's heart was like a turbulent wave. When she was about to pull Murong Huan to say something, she heard another voice:
"What are you all talking about here?"

As they were speaking, Princess Taiping changed her clothes again and appeared in front of everyone. The fiery red cloak made her look even more graceful and elegant.

"Everyone, please take a seat! The banquet is about to begin! I have also prepared a very interesting game for you today!"

After she finished speaking, she waved to Xiao Muchen, "Zicheng, come here and tell me, what gift have you prepared for me today?"

Just when she left to change her clothes, Xiao Muchen sent someone to give her a letter, saying that there would be a special gift for Her Royal Highness the Princess today.

Xiao Muchen smiled, walked up to Princess Taiping, and replied with a bow, "Your Highness, it's a puppet show!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another voice came, "What kind of puppet show is this? I'm here to watch it too!"

　I am very grateful to Zizhuha, Lose Weight in a Dream, and Changtanyu for their monthly tickets. I also thank Yanzhihu1 and other relatives for their votes and comments. Thank you very much.
(End of this chapter)