It was very quiet in the residence. Even though many people outside were celebrating the coming of many war heroes, the Nan Family couldn't participate in the spectacle. It was not like they didn't want to, but it was because they were in difficult position.
Despite the ongoing war, there were no lack of idle people. The people in the Capital City couldn't do anything when they were in the war, so all they could was to follow the news while they were also busy with any kind of matter they could bring themselves to be busy with.
One of them: rumors.
There was no lack of dramas from various household and many types of story swirled around. One of them was naturally from Nan Family.
At this time, Nan Hua had returned to Nan Family Residence. She headed straight to her quarter and sneaked inside. Xiao Yun was staying near the bed while Mu Yan was standing outside the door, guarding it. The other two were busy somewhere else and Nan Hua had no interest to find them either.
Inside her room, Ku was acting as Nan Hua and rested on the bed. She was holding a bamboo scroll in front of her, which made her look as if she was reading the content. Though, she was merely rereading the report that the Dark Moon Organization had given secretly.
"Ku."
Ku was stunned to hear that familiar voice. Even though it was pleasant to hear, the owner of this voice was more than capable to send chills to many people who dared to face her.
"Master." Ku immediately rise and knelt on the ground. She was someone from Dark Moon Organization and only trained by Nan Hua because of their similar physique. Aside from the difference in their faces, their height was indeed quite similar.
Nan Hua could sense the smell of medicine the moment she stepped inside. She looked at Xiao Yun, who had stood up and bowed towards her.
"What had happened lately?"
"Princess Hu sent an invitation letter. Since it's impossible to come, I had to use the bottle you give to me before, Master." Ku showed the now empty bottle.
Glancing at the bottle, Nan Hua could guess what had happened while she was away. Aside from the casual visit from Nan Xin, there were not many others who would visit Nan Hua because their relationship with each other was not really good.
But an invitation from Princess Hu came.
Because Princess Hu was part of the Imperial Family, it was impossible for Nan Hua to reject her invitation outright. She had to have a suitable reason to reject such invitation or she would be deemed as traitor or having the crime of disrespecting royal family branded on her head.
Ku naturally couldn't possibly replace Nan Hua in this kind of setting. Their difference would be clear to see and Ku was not that familiar with everything that the nobles needed to do. Thus, her only option was to make herself sick by ingesting the poison that Nan Hua had given to her.
Yes, the bottle Nan Hua gave to Ku back then was a bottle of poison.
It was not a fatal poison, but it would cause Ku to be unable to walk around well for at least two weeks' time.
But because it was technically poison and not sickness, it also caused another problem. Nan Family ended up having another drama because of 'Nan Hua' getting poisoned by someone.
Nan Shu Cheng was forced to find a scapegoat for this matter and handed that person to the authorities. But it still destroyed his image, making it harder for him to seize the promotion chance that he had been wanting to get all this time.
It was as if there were so many things hindering his path.
From his household to many other things, everything was stopping him from being able to fully become a higher grade official. Nan Shu Cheng was in bad mood and naturally, it also meant the entire Nan Family too.
"How long is left?" Nan Hua stepped forward and checked Ku's pulse. She calculated the time by the remain of the poison in Ku's body and determined that 'Nan Hua' should be deemed healthy tomorrow.
"I think, another day or two?" Ku replied, a bit unsure. She did study medicine, but she was not as good as Nan Hua.
"One more day." Nan Hua looked at Ku for a moment. "Replace me tomorrow for the morning and afternoon. I'll come in the evening."
"Yes, Miss."
After that, Ku naturally disappeared outside to blend with the servants. Meanwhile, Nan Hua changed her clothes and allowed Xiao Yun and Mu Yan to help her dress up. She didn't put on any makeup nor any heavy accessories. After all, she was supposed to be still sick and only on the process of healing.
It would still take time for her to fully heal.
At least, that was on the surface.
Xiao Yan changed everything inside the room swiftly while Nan Hua sat on the chair, listening to Chu Yue telling her the other things that happened while she was away. There were really not many important matters, but it could be said that Nan Family was slowly crumbling with Nan Shu Cheng's condition getting worse each day.
Nan Hua was not surprised.
"Miss, Concubine Mu is here to visit you." Mu Yan came in and curtsied.
Concubine Mu?
It took Nan Hua some time to remember which concubine this was. Nan Shu Cheng had a total of six concubines but most of them were not really active or they were already being oppressed so badly. Lately, only Concubine Su seemed to be winning since Nan Shu Cheng gave her all of his attention.
Nan Hua had never met with Concubine Mu privately even though she still remembered the other party. During the dinner together, Concubine Mu would always attend, but she never tried to attract Nan Shu Cheng's attention.