She shook her head, wiped her face haphazardly with her sleeve, and mumbled, "To myself."
From the moment she met him, she had received so much love and care so easily, that she didn't have the courage to ask him to leave with her in this situation. Paradoxically, she couldn't help but become greedy, wanting more affection that had nothing to do with any promises or favors. Even though she knew he wouldn't simply leave her without a care, she still couldn't help but doubt whether she was good enough to feel at ease pursuing what she wanted.
Yan Shu remained silent, gazing into her eyes with a gentle look in them.
“I’ve never been in love with a woman before,” he said, reaching out to pull away the sleeve covering her slightly reddened eyes and lowering his head to look away. “But at least I can tell the difference.” He then gently and respectfully placed a kiss on her delicate forehead.
"The so-called Miss Nie I know and am familiar with is you from beginning to end."
Does everyone, no matter how calm and confident, become anxious and cautious when it comes to liking or loving someone?
Nie Qingyue didn't know the answer, and just let Yan Shu lead her slowly through the streets and alleys of Mojing, aimlessly but feeling a sense of security with every step.
There was no such thing as a fear of birthmarks. Miss Nie had secretly gone out and gotten lost when she was young, but Nie Qingrong, still a teenager, quickly found her. Those words, those maids, that waiter—it was all a trap Nie Qingrong deliberately set for her to hear and see when she suspected her. Those who are guilty and panicked will naturally fall into the trap, feigning genuine fear to protect themselves.
But she, unfortunately, did not.
The act of confession, which could almost be seen as giving up, inadvertently dispelled Nie Qingrong's suspicions. Nie Qingrong's nervousness and caution just now were naturally because she thought that Nie Qingrong was angry because she did not trust her brother.
Clever deceit is no match for honest clumsiness; that's how unpredictable life can be.
If Yan Shu hadn't been by her side, she might not have had the courage to face the situation, and might even have fallen into the trap of feigning the fear befitting a young lady of the Nie family. However, reality doesn't allow for "what ifs." The thought of him seeing her deliberately deceiving herself for the sake of a peaceful life made her feel suffocated, uncomfortable, and ashamed, even though it wasn't the first time she had carefully acted to deal with Nie Qingrong's questions.
She couldn't do it, nor was she capable of doing it, in front of Yan Shu.
When you like someone, even if you know it's impossible, you still want to leave your best impression on them. It doesn't matter if you always make mistakes or embarrass yourself; at least your efforts to protect them are genuine and can be felt.
She silently tried to justify her actions, clenched Yan Shu's palm, and closed the half-step gap to walk side by side: "Where are we going now?"
Yan Shu glanced at her and said with a faint smile, "I've got all the gold, silver, valuables, and my lover. What do you say?"
...She should have known long ago that the day when Doctor Yan would stop teasing her would never come.
She turned her face away without saying a word, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
-->
Are you really not a problem child?
No wasteland.
Nie Qingyue was stretching and loosening her muscles outside the courtyard when a loud commotion came from afar.
"Hurry, we're here!" came the anxious, burly middle-aged man's voice.
"Pick the young lady down, be careful of her head." Then came a shrill female voice with a tone of eagerness to do it herself.
"Put on your mink coat, don't catch a cold." His concern and worry were evident in his words.
...The half-open lacquered door was kicked open with a "bang," and a group of people rushed in like a school of fish.
The honest and simple-minded man at the head of the group looked around the large courtyard and saw Nie Qingyue with her hands outstretched and her mouth slightly open. He rushed over and asked, "Where is your master?"
"Huh?"... Nie Qingyue was still a little slow to react.
"Your master, my young lady needs to see him for a medical consultation." The man asked her anxiously, trying his best to suppress his emotions, his eyes fixed on her face.
"Not here." As soon as Linghui came over, she felt like she was being treated like a maid. Nie Qingyue considerately added to comfort her, "Don't worry, she'll be back by sunset at the latest."
The man grew even more anxious, but before he could say anything, Nie Qingyue turned around and was grabbed by the sleeve by a heavily made-up woman: "Where can we find him?"
“…Perhaps, the Forget-Worry Pavilion?” Nie Qingyue looked at the middle-aged woman’s slightly surprised eyes and pulled back his pitiful sleeve: “It could also be the Wuhuang teahouse and theater, or the Shili Bridge Riverside.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the woman waved her pink handkerchief, and five or six people in the crowd quickly turned and ran out the door, heading in different directions. The crowd dispersed almost entirely, and Nie Qingyue finally saw the people who had been gathered inside.
She was completely wrapped in a gorgeous mink robe, with only her small but already perfectly oval face visible. Her round almond-shaped eyes were slightly red, yet they couldn't hide her delicate and intelligent charm. She looked to be only eight or nine years old, but the potential for beauty was already evident.
"It's windy outside, may we come in and sit down?" the man asked, rubbing his hands together. The servant carrying the young lady had already started to move inside. Nie Qingyue shrugged and waved for them to follow.
“Nie Qingyue, don’t think that just because you’re outside you can avoid getting injections.”
The moment she stepped inside, a clear, childlike voice, tinged with maturity, addressed her. Everyone stopped; the man and woman in the lead exchanged glances, then turned to look at her in unison.
"So it's Miss Nie. I apologize for my earlier intrusion." The man scratched his head and looked at her apologetically.
"It's alright." Nie Qingyue scratched his head awkwardly. "Please make yourselves at home."
Turning around, she saw little Yan Yuche standing in front of her, holding a needle case in one hand and a pillow in the other, staring at her.
She covered her face, her voice leaking through her sparse fingers: "You brat, with so many people around, at least give me some face."
At first glance, this guy seemed good-looking, naive, and easy to fool. But after six months of getting to know him, he turned out to be a completely different person – a cunning and ruthless wolf in sheep's clothing. Is it true that appearances can be deceiving? Was she the one who was actually fooled back then?
Nie Qingyue was deeply conflicted. Seeing the gleaming silver needles swaying in front of his eyes, he suddenly remembered: "Kid, do you know how to diagnose?"
Little Yan Yuche looked incredulous and didn't even bother to answer. His tone was slightly pained and resentful: "Master's taste is so bad."
Nie Qingyue ignored the implication and beckoned the person sitting there to come over.
The servant placed the person on a chair beside the round table, and as soon as he let go, someone handed a purple-gold hand warmer to the little girl. The little girl did not take it, remaining silent, her face still turned to the other side.
“An hour ago, Miss and Master were talking about this when suddenly this happened,” the man said, distressed. Nie Qingyue observed for a long time before realizing that “this happened” meant—the neck couldn’t turn.
"You must have slept in the wrong place and hurt your neck," she asked, touching her chin.
Little Yan Yuche rolled her eyes at her.
The heavily made-up woman added softly, "I was fine when I woke up this morning, but suddenly I'm like this. I'm afraid I've been exposed to some evil spirit or bad luck."
Nie Qingyue nodded. Very good. Little Yan Yuche's eye roll has been redirected.
"Let me see." Little Yan said as he walked up to the girl and reached out his hand. Before his white hand could even touch the girl's chin, the woman slapped it away with a handkerchief: "How can you touch my young lady like that? What are you doing here, you little brat?"
Little Yan Yuche stopped, his watery eyes staring at the woman, blinking repeatedly, looking utterly aggrieved yet obedient.
The heavily made-up woman's expression softened. She glanced at Yu Che twice, her gaze remaining fixed on her young mistress's delicate and pretty face. Suddenly, she sighed with a hint of pride, "My young mistress is still the prettiest."
...The expression on one of the children's faces was quite interesting, and Nie Qingyue was in a good mood. The little white rabbit with the fair face finally had a day when it got the short end of the stick.
After sulking and pounding the table, Nie Qingyue composed herself and explained seriously, "This kid is Doctor Yan's, uh, his last disciple. You can trust his medical skills."
The heavily made-up woman moved her lips but said nothing. It was the seemingly simple-looking man who spoke firmly: "Miss's symptoms are very strange. We can't be careless. Let's wait for Young Master Yan to return."
“As you wish, Uncle,” little Yan Yuche continued, blinking his bright eyes, but his attention was entirely focused on observing the little girl’s face and neck: “Did she suddenly turn her face away an hour ago and then not be able to turn it back?” His voice was childish, but his tone was serious.
Seeing that he was only looking and not planning to make a move, the honest-looking man politely responded.
"Why did you only bring it over now?" Nie Qingyue joined in the questioning.
“I consulted a doctor I know before, but he couldn’t find anything wrong and prescribed medicine, but Miss won’t take it.” The heavily made-up woman straightened her mistress’s tightly wrapped collar and slowly added, “Someone recommended that Young Master Yan live here and practice medicine, so I came to try my luck.”
Half an hour later, the people who had gone out earlier returned one after another, all looking disappointed.
The last person to enter was about to close the door when it was blocked by a slender hand. A person in a blue robe with wide sleeves slowly stepped in, and it was Yan Shu with a calm expression.
Yan Shu paused, glancing at everyone in the room, before sitting down next to Nie Qingyue and pulling over the red cloth needle case that Yu Che had placed on the table to examine it. He then focused intently on administering acupuncture to her, twisting and lifting the needles with varying pressure.
The honest-looking man watched anxiously, afraid of disturbing Doctor Yan's work. He hesitated, then said haltingly, "My young lady..."
"Yu Che," Yan Shu instructed.
Little Yan Yuche immediately stopped examining the little girl and walked up to him, earnestly explaining: "No obvious external injury was found on her neck, but she has been unable to turn over for more than an hour, and has not received any medication." After a pause, he added: "They won't let me see anything else."
Yan Shu nodded slightly: "It's yours."
Little Yan Yuche's eyes lit up, and then he brazenly reached out and slightly pulled open the thick robe and collar around the girl's neck. The movement was so sudden that by the time the servants standing beside him reacted, Yuche had already withdrawn his hand.
"Young Master Yan, isn't this inappropriate?" the honest man asked hesitantly, looking at his young mistress's indifferent expression with concern.
Yan Shu put away the silver needles on Nie Qingyue's arm and said calmly, "I am only responsible for performing acupuncture and decocting medicine. From now on, all the medical consultations here will be handled by Yu Che."
Yu Che's eyes grew brighter and brighter, while the servants' expressions became increasingly conflicted and hesitant.
"Does your neck hurt? Did you feel anything when I pressed it just now? Can't you turn it around?" Faced with Yu Che's barrage of questions, the little girl just huddled in the chair, turning her face away and not answering, the red marks at the corners of her delicate eyes still visible.
Yan Shu watched quietly for a while, his brows furrowing slightly, his order to leave clearly firm: "Please go back first, everyone. After the princess recovers, I will personally escort her back to the prince's residence."
The group of people stood still.
"Don't you believe Master's words?" Little Yu Che tilted his head, looking puzzled. In Nie Qingyue's eyes, it was pure acting.
"Of course not. Young Master Yan's medical skills and ethics are well-known throughout the country. Since Young Master Yan has given his guarantee, we will take our leave now." The heavily made-up woman hesitated for a moment, then quickly agreed, pulling the honest-looking man along with the others as they left.
"Don't leave too many people guarding the area," Yan Shu said in a low voice. The woman who was backing out paused, nodded, and quickly walked out.
Soon only two adults and two children remained in the hall.
Nie Qingyue looked thoughtfully at the little princess that Yan Shu mentioned. No wonder he acted so grandly, as if he wanted to take her pain for her.
"Didn't you want to learn how to brew medicine? I'll teach you." Yan Shu suddenly pulled her towards the prescription.
"Huh?" Nie Qingyue looked back several times as she stared wide-eyed at the two children in the room. "Is it alright to leave her like this without anyone to take care of her?"
“A group of people surrounding you is when there’s a real problem.”
Wash the herbs, soak them in sequence, decoct and filter.
Yan Shu explained each step of the process to her in detail, his slender fingers moving slowly and meticulously among the various dried herbs. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the old, tattered paper windows, casting a warm glow into the dimly lit pharmacy, making the dust motes floating in the air seem to move slowly under the beams. His voice was gentle and calm, his bright black eyes occasionally meeting hers to make sure she heard him clearly.
At first, Nie Qingyue listened attentively to the instructions on frying before adding ingredients, but halfway through, she became lost in thought, gazing at the blurred sunlight reflecting off the handsome lines of his face, which appeared exceptionally soft and vivid.
The room suddenly fell silent, filled only with the mingled aromas of various herbs, both sweet and bitter, and the musty smell of the huge wooden cabinet.
"Do you remember what I just said?" he asked softly, putting down the teapot.
Nie Qingyue snapped out of her daze, a hint of embarrassment in her voice as she recalled, "...filter residue?"
"no."
"Um, could you please tell me the second half again?" She looked down at her toes guiltily, "I was just spacing out."
Yan Shu chuckled, his eyes and brows radiating a gentle, pleasant warmth, and answered decisively, "I only teach my apprentices once." He gathered up the scattered items on the counter and said, "Go back now."
"Really not going to teach anymore?" That doctor's got some nerve.
"Well, it doesn't really matter if you can't learn it..." Yan Shu wiped his hands clean with a cloth, looked down at her, and left a blank space that left people guessing, as if the second half of his sentence had been hidden.