Ji Dingbei's shadow, as he sat at his desk sketching, pierced through the door and entered Ji Wushang's eyes. Not wanting to wait, Ji Wushang stepped forward.
Yue Shisi, the servant, stood guard at the door. He opened his eyes, thinking it was someone else, but it turned out to be the young lady.
"Young Miss," Yue Shisi said, his gaze falling on Ji Wushang's hands. He immediately understood, and a touch of emotion flashed through his heart. "Young Miss, please come in!"
Ji Dingbei did not give any orders to keep people away, so Yue Shisi immediately invited them, especially since she was the young lady.
Hearing Yue Shisi speaking at the door, Ji Dingbei looked up and saw Ji Wushang gracefully approaching. In her hands were a bowl of lotus seed soup, a small dish of sliced sweet fruit, a small dish of glutinous rice paste with fennel beans, and a small pot of fine daughter's red wine. Her steps were light, as if a fairy had come, which made Ji Dingbei instantly forget all his troubles with joy.
"Seeing that Father is still working so hard on these documents, I've prepared some side dishes for you to enjoy with your wine and take a short rest. Once you've eaten your fill, you'll be full of energy to continue," Ji Wushang said with a smile, bowing slightly as he carried the dishes.
"You're such a good daughter, Father. Come quickly and sit with me." Ji Dingbei said with a kind smile, taking the food plate from Ji Wushang's hands and placing it on the table to the side. "You're so thoughtful!"
"It's what a daughter should do," Ji Wushang said with a smile. "Father has sacrificed so much for us, so I should do my best to be filial. These dishes may not be as delicious as the chef's, but I made them myself!" As she spoke, Ji Wushang smiled slightly and gently massaged Ji Dingbei's shoulder with her small hands to help him relax.
"Oh, Wushang!" Ji Dingbei drank the lotus seed soup she had just made, his heart warmed and he was deeply moved. He didn't know what to say, but tears had already welled up in his eyes.
After finishing the snacks, Ji Wushang chatted with Ji Dingbei for a while. Seeing that it was almost time, Ji Wushang got up, said goodnight, and went back to his courtyard.
Before they could even leave the study, a servant rushed into Ji Dingbei's room. Ji Wushang turned around in confusion and heard the servant kneeling and saying, "Master, something terrible has happened! The Second Miss has been poisoned and is unconscious!"
Ji Wushang was startled!
☆、023 Poisoned and unconscious? Serves you right for being so cocky!
No! No, this can't be true... What trick is Ji Meiyuan up to now? Ji Wushang thought to himself, then turned around and saw that Ji Dingbei had already come out. Ji Dingbei looked solemn, and when he saw that Ji Wushang hadn't left yet, he sighed.
"Father, let's go see Second Sister together!" Ji Wushang said, seeing his frown. If you're faking it, I'll make you regret it! If you've made Father worry for nothing, I'll skin you alive! Ji Wushang's face turned cold. Ji Dingbei, seeing her serious expression, nodded, "Yes, let's go see her together."
Before even reaching the plum garden, the sound of weeping could be heard, so mournful! In the darkness, it only amplified the somber atmosphere. Ji Dingbei frowned deeply. He strode into the garden and saw maids and servants kneeling in obeisance. Ji Dingbei shouted, "Where's the doctor?! What did he say?!" He never liked beating around the bush, so he asked directly and headed inside.
Aunt Bai was sitting by Ji Meiyuan's bedside, crying. When she saw Ji Dingbei arrive, she rushed over to him, crying, "Master! Waaah... my poor Meiyuan... waaah..."
Seeing her crying with tears streaming down her face, Ji Dingbei felt a little soft-hearted. He gently patted her shoulder and asked, "What's wrong? What did the doctor say?" As he spoke, he looked around. Several doctors were kneeling around him, all with their heads bowed as they looked at Ji Dingbei.
"Answer me!" Ji Dingbei helped the sobbing Aunt Bai to a chair, then roared at the doctors.
The one who spoke was Doctor Zhang, who had a long beard: "Reporting to your Excellency, the Second Miss is actually not seriously injured, it's just..."
"What do you mean there's nothing seriously wrong!" Aunt Bai shouted at Doctor Zhang, "You quack! You said the American aid worker was fine, so why is he still lying in bed! Are you trying to make me..." Aunt Bai almost said "a white-haired person burying a black-haired person," but seeing Ji Dingbei's cold and intimidating gaze, the words stuck in her throat, and she could only bury her face in the table and cry.
Ji Wushang couldn't help but find Bai Yiniang's reaction somewhat amusing. How could she be crying and wailing when her own daughter was sick? If it were her, her mother would have dragged her to the doctor at all costs. But here, the doctor was kneeling on the ground, and none of the maids or servants were even seen preparing the medicine. What illness could she possibly have? Who was she pretending to be?
Thinking about it, Ji Wushang walked to the bedside where Ji Meiyuan was lying. Aunt Bai saw this and immediately blocked Ji Wushang's way, "What are you doing?"
“My younger sister is sick, so of course I, as her older sister, should come and see her. Why doesn’t Aunt Bai like that?” Ji Wushang looked up at Aunt Bai. “If I, as her older sister, don’t come and see my sick younger sister, people will say that I don’t know how to cherish my younger siblings.”
Aunt Bai was speechless after hearing her words, but then she rolled her eyes and said, "Meiyuan's illness is... contagious... so you'd better not look at her!" Aunt Bai knew clearly that Ji Meiyuan was tugging at her clothes from behind, and that she meant to keep Ji Wushang away from her.
Ji Wushang frowned. "Contagious? Father!" she screamed, then rushed to Ji Dingbei's side. "Father, is Second Sister's illness contagious? Wasn't it supposed to be poisoning? How did it become a contagious disease?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Dingbei sensed something amiss. His eyes widened like bronze bells as he looked at Aunt Bai. "Is it a contagious disease?"
Aunt Bai was immediately filled with regret. What contagion?! Bah! Bah! Seeing Ji Dingbei's suspicious look, she quickly added, "After being poisoned, I caught a cold, which is why I didn't let Wushang get close!" As she spoke, she kicked the doctors next to her. Most of the doctors had been bribed, and they knew how ruthless Aunt Bai was, so they could only nod and agree.
Ji Wushang despised these people from the bottom of her heart. Then she stepped forward and said to Aunt Bai, "It's just a cold, not some smallpox or plague. Aunt, you can rest assured! I'll just go and check on the American aid from a distance." As she spoke, she looked at Ji Dingbei, who nodded. "Let her see that this is Wushang's concern. How can you, as her aunt, stop their sisterly affection!" With that, Ji Dingbei kicked a doctor surnamed Tang. "Why aren't you going to prepare the medicine yet! What are you doing here!"
Upon hearing this, the doctors immediately scrambled out. If it weren't for Aunt Bai telling them to stay and put on a show for Ji Dingbei, they wouldn't be here! Each of them retreated in frustration.
Aunt Bai couldn't persuade Ji Wushang otherwise, so she could only stand aside. "Don't get too close!" "Hehe, alright!" Ji Wushang smiled slightly. Afraid of being exposed if she got too close? Humph!
Ji Meiyuan was extremely nervous. If it weren't for the resentment she felt after lying in bed all day, she wouldn't have come up with this plan. Originally, she intended for Aunt Bai and a group of doctors to put on a show for Ji Dingbei, hoping to draw his attention to her, a concubine's daughter, and make her future marriage to Nan Jinxue, the Second Young Master of the South, easier! But why did Ji Wushang also come along? His mouth was so foul! Ji Meiyuan cursed inwardly, not daring to open her eyes or move her hands and feet. She felt someone watching her, and like the gaze of a wolf—yes, a wolf!
Ji Meiyuan felt a deep fear. Her hands, which were resting on the edge of the bed, unconsciously gripped the sheets tightly. She was afraid, a fear that came from Ji Wushang's eyes!
Ji Wushang watched with amusement for a while, then Ji Dingbei walked over and asked, "How is it?"
"Father, the doctor just said there's nothing serious, and I think so too." Ji Wushang tugged at Ji Dingbei's arm. "Father, don't worry."
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei stepped forward and took a look. Apart from Ji Meiyuan's face being slightly rosy and her cherry lips being slightly pale, there was nothing particularly special about her.
"Oh, right, when my mother and I were listening to Buddhist scriptures at the Buddhist temple, the abbot saw that my mother had donated a lot of money for incense, so he gave me a magic pill." Ji Wushang looked delighted, rummaging around in his pocket and pulling out a small, dark black pill. "Father, this is a magic pill given by the abbot. He said that if you mix it with the decocted medicine and drink it, you'll sweat it out and have diarrhea all night, and then you'll be able to get out of bed and walk around in two days!"
Upon hearing this, Ji Dingbei's eyes lit up. "Is there really such a good medicine?" This way, he could go to the frontier tomorrow with peace of mind. Otherwise, he wouldn't be at ease until Ji Meiyuan recovered!
"Well, how could I not believe the abbot's words?" Ji Wushang said earnestly. This was a small medicine he had just researched from a book, so he'd let her try it! He was sure the ingredients he added were correct! He'd definitely spare her life! She wanted to be sick? He'd make her spend the night in the outhouse, let's see what she does then! Pretending! Let's see if you can fool your father!
Just then, the maid Baoqi brought in the medicine. Ji Wushang saw it and immediately stepped forward to take the bowl away, saying, "You may leave now!"
Aunt Bai looked on, her spirits dampened. She had just heard about the effects of the medicine Ji Wushang had mentioned. Wouldn't that mean the American aid would be deprived of its potency all night? Before the maid Baoqi could get any instructions from Aunt Bai, Ji Wushang had already beckoned her to leave.
Ji Wushang sniffed the medicine in the bowl. It was hardly a medicine for treating colds and detoxifying; it was more like a tonic! "I'll show you what you're made of!" A sly glint flashed in Ji Wushang's eyes. He placed the bowl on the table and then put the pill into it.
☆、024 Ji Meiyuan suffers and is humiliated by taking medicine!
Ji Wushang had only stirred the medicine two or three times when Ji Dingbei turned around and saw him preparing it, asking, "Will it work?"
"Father, don't worry, it works very well." Ji Wushang nodded seriously. Because Ji Dingbei was taller, Ji Wushang had to stand on tiptoe to get close to Ji Dingbei's ear. Ji Dingbei knew she wanted to whisper something, so he also bent down and leaned in.
This alarmed Aunt Bai. She wanted to go forward and listen to what was going on, but she didn't dare to go forward. After all, one was the master of the house, and the other was the young lady... Aunt Bai was worried that Ji Wushang might tell Ji Dingbei the truth!
"Father, this medicine was secretly given to me by the abbot. He said it must not be told to outsiders. You must make sure everyone keeps this a secret!" Ji Wushang said mysteriously in a low voice. He didn't want anyone to tell the abbot! He didn't want to be blamed by the abbot or have his secret exposed!
"Yes." Ji Dingbei nodded seriously. Since the abbot and Wu Shang had said so, he naturally had to keep his word. Thinking this, Ji Dingbei turned to the people around him and said, "No one is to utter a single word about what happened tonight! Do you hear me?!"
"Yes!" Everyone assumed it meant revealing Ji Meiyuan's illness, so they all agreed. Aunt Bai was relieved to see that this was the case. However, when she saw Ji Wushang carrying a bowl of medicine to Ji Meiyuan's bedside, Aunt Bai became uneasy.
Was Mei Yuan really going to have to drink it and then have diarrhea all night? Aunt Bai's scalp tingled at the thought, while Ji Mei Yuan, lying in bed, was even more anxious. Getting up and refusing to take the medicine would definitely make Ji Dingbei suspect she was lying to him! Staying in bed meant she would definitely drink the medicine, which would be like making herself sick! Although she said the medicine would work in two days, she really didn't want to stay in bed! Ji Mei Yuan was filled with regret!
Aunt Bai stood in front, forcing a smile, and put on a kind expression as she said to Ji Wushang, "Wushang, I know you're tired. Here, give it to your aunt, I'll feed her!" As she spoke, she tried to snatch the medicine bowl away.
"Heh, do you think I'm a fool?" Ji Wushang chuckled inwardly, taking the medicine bowl. Would he really feed it to Ji Meiyuan? What a joke! Ji Wushang tilted the bowl slightly, using one hand to block Aunt Bai. "Aunt, how can I trouble you with such trivial matters? Besides, if you catch a cold too, who will help Mother manage the backyard?"
Aunt Bai felt a little smug listening to the talk about managing the backyard, while Ji Dingbei nodded in agreement, "How splendid!"
"Father, I can do it! This medicine is precious, and the maids and servants are clumsy; if they fall, it'll be gone!" Ji Wushang immediately stepped in. Ji Dingbei listened, nodded, and waved his sleeve at the maid Baoqi, "Go away!"
Bao Qi could only say "I'm leaving" and then leave.
Ji Wushang smiled slightly, then took a spoonful of medicine, blew on it, and brought it to Ji Meiyuan's lips. Ji Meiyuan, however, dared not open her mouth! Wasn't this like forcing "poison" down her throat?
Aunt Bai could only watch from the side, while Ji Dingbei carefully observed whether there was anything he could do to help.
Ji Wushang looked at her and leaned closer, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Second sister, be good! Take your medicine obediently, or Father will think you're not sick and that you're lying to him!" He practically bit the last sentence out.
Ji Meiyuan listened, truly suffering in silence! She absolutely couldn't let Ji Dingbei know she was playing tricks! Ji Meiyuan had no choice but to go all out. She slightly opened her mouth, and Ji Wushang smiled as he poured the medicine down her throat, spoonful after spoonful, until it was all gone.
Ji Wushang placed the medicine bowl on the table and, seeing Ji Dingbei observing Ji Meiyuan, said, "Father, don't worry, she should be fine."
"Hmm." Ji Dingbei nodded, gave Aunt Bai a few instructions, and then walked out of the plum garden with Ji Wushang.
As soon as Aunt Bai saw that the person had left, she immediately helped Ji Meiyuan up, but she didn't know what to do. She could only anxiously ask, "How are you, Meiyuan? Did you feel any discomfort after taking the medicine?"
"Cough, cough!" Ji Meiyuan coughed violently. After recovering, she looked at Aunt Bai and hugged her tightly. "Mother! Those medicines are so bitter!" Since it was just the two of them, she had gotten used to not calling her Aunt Bai anymore.
"Oh, Mother knows, Mother knows!" Aunt Bai helped him catch his breath, then looked directly at Ji Meiyuan's expression, "How are you? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Uh..." Ji Meiyuan hesitated for a moment, then looked at herself and found that she was fine. She shook her head and said, "I seem to be okay." As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Meiyuan felt a churning sensation in her stomach!
"I can't take it anymore!" With that, Ji Meiyuan felt an overwhelming urge to pull down her pants and relieve herself... But she held it in and rushed to the outhouse. However, before she even reached the outhouse, Ji Meiyuan felt herself having to defecate... Instantly, a pile of filthy stuff appeared on the ground... This was inside the garden! There were still some maids, servants, and household servants working there! The maids, servants, and household servants around her covered their mouths and noses and laughed.
Aunt Bai saw this and immediately became furious. "What are you looking at! Get out of here! Go do what you're supposed to do! Watch your jobs!" As she spoke, she felt sorry for Ji Meiyuan, who was still defecating.
"Granny Zhang, Granny Liu!" Aunt Bai gave the order, and two rough-looking old women rushed over. They both laughed when they saw Ji Meiyuan's inhuman appearance.
"Stop laughing! Help the young lady to the outhouse! Hurry up!" Aunt Bai was furious, but she didn't know how to vent her anger.
The two old women responded and helped Ji Meiyuan away. Although Aunt Bai had given a strict order not to tell anyone, the maids and servants of the Ji household laughed about it in private for a whole year.
Ji Wushang walked slowly along the path of the Ji residence with Ji Dingbei, followed by several servants and maids. Judging by the time, it was approximately Hai Shi (9 PM to 11 PM Beijing time), which was already quite late. Ji Wushang thought for a moment and decided to seize the opportunity to rescue Yue'er's younger brother, Xier, before her father had gone far away! After thinking it over, Ji Wushang said to Ji Dingbei, "Father, I don't know if I should say something."
“Speak. If you have something to say, tell your father! Your father will stand up for you!” Ji Dingbei turned to Ji Wushang and said.
A wave of warmth washed over Ji Wushang. In her past life, it was this very sentence that made her father volunteer to guard the frontier, which in turn led to the imperial decree ordering her to marry Nan Jinxue. Sigh! Ji Wushang sighed inwardly and said, "It's like this, I heard that Yue'er has a younger brother named Xier, who is very clever and cute. He is currently doing manual labor for my second sister. I want to ask Father to say a word and send him to me so that I can place him next to my brother Wuzi, so that Wuzi will have a companion. Anyway, they are about the same age."
Ji Dingbei nodded in agreement. “That’s a good idea.” Then, he turned to Yue Shisi, the servant behind him, and said, “Go and tell Steward Xue immediately to transfer Xier, who is by the Second Miss’s side, to the Eldest Miss tomorrow so that he can accompany Wu Zi in his studies.”
"Yes!" Yue Shisi immediately ran off to get to work.
Ji Wushang was overjoyed and took Ji Dingbei's hand, "Thank you, Father!"
"You've thought this through! Wu Shang, you've grown up and become sensible!" Ji Dingbei exclaimed.
"It's all thanks to Father and Mother's excellent teaching!" Ji Wushang said with a smile.
"Good, good, good! You've got potential!" Ji Dingbei laughed heartily...
The next day, the entire Ji family went out of the city to see Ji Dingbei off, except for Ji Meiyuan, who was lying in bed.
When I returned, it was already midday.
Ji Wushang had just returned to Xinyuan when Zhu'er ran over, beaming, "Miss! Here's a letter for you!"
"What letter?" Ji Wushang frowned and took the letter.
☆、025 My uncle wrote a letter saying that my mother is sick again.
Puzzled, Ji Wushang could only open the envelope and see that the handwriting was from Bei Junfeng! That was Ji Wushang's maternal uncle! Ji Wushang was overjoyed and stopped reading the letter. "Let's go to Mother's!"
"Yes!" Seeing Ji Wushang so happy, Zhu'er jumped up and down as well.
Upon arriving at Madam Bei's North Garden, Ji Wushang smelled that familiar, faint scent again and immediately cursed himself for his oversight. He stopped there, took out the letter, and read it carefully. It turned out to be an invitation for Wushang to return to the Right Prime Minister's residence in three days—the auspicious day of his eldest cousin's wedding!
Ji Wushang was overjoyed. This was good news. Perhaps he could tell his eldest and second uncles about the faint fragrance emanating from the North Garden, so they could also make a diagnosis or find a doctor to take a look. They absolutely had to find out who was responsible! They needed to act quickly to find out what was wrong! Otherwise, if his mother inhaled this fragrance too much, it might cause her health problems!
Having made up his mind, Ji Wushang greeted the servants guarding the door, and soon after, Madam Bei had someone invite him in.
As soon as Ji Wushang entered, he sensed something was wrong! There was a strong smell of medicine coming from inside! The worst thing about medicine is that his mother is taking it! This means his mother's health is not good! Ji Wushang quickly ran to Madam Bei's inner room, and sure enough, he saw Madam Bei lying on the bed. Although she was able to sit up and lean against the headboard, she was clearly not in good spirits.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Ji Wushang asked anxiously as soon as he saw her. "Have you seen a doctor?"
"Cough cough, I've seen him, it's nothing serious, just an old ailment." Madam Bei took a breath and looked at Ji Wushang sitting by the bed. "I already told the servants not to tell anyone, so why did you come all this way?"
"Sigh, why didn't you tell Father? He would have been able to find some good imperial physicians in the palace. None of the doctors in this manor seem to have any real skills!" Ji Wushang thought of the doctors he'd seen in Ji Meiyuan's room yesterday. How could anyone trust them? They were all so obsequious, practically begging to lick Ji Meiyuan and her daughter's shoes!
"Don't tell your father! Cough cough, I don't want him to worry! Your father is already working hard enough, cough cough, how can I make him worry too!" Madam Bei coughed twice, and after saying these two sentences, she frowned and covered her chest, "It's an old ailment, it needs to be treated slowly."