"You, you actually wanted to kill the Fourth Miss?"
"My lord, how could I have thought that!" Concubine Bai immediately knelt at Ji Dingbei's feet, tugging at his sleeve. "My lord, I saw that the Fourth Miss was sleeping soundly and felt that she was weak, so I had someone prepare this nourishing chicken soup. I never expected that I would think of this. My intention was good, but because I don't know anything about medicine, I naturally overlooked such a thing... Please forgive my ignorance, my lord!" Concubine Bai said, immediately kowtowing to Ji Dingbei.
Ji Dingbei helped her up. "Sigh, I know your intentions were good. Well, get up and rest. Let them handle things here." Ji Dingbei sighed and looked at Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang sneered inwardly. Her father's heart was always with Aunt Bai!
"Wu Shang, that's enough. Let Fourth Sister get some rest!" Ji Dingbei said.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Yes." He then placed the chicken soup on the table, but then said, "Father, I know this chicken soup is very nourishing, especially for pregnant women. My aunt is having a hard time carrying the baby, so please let her drink this chicken soup!"
Ji Dingbei thought it made sense, "Hmm, Aomei, drink all the chicken soup! It's good for your health."
Aunt Bai was speechless. Others might not know how much Polygonum multiflorum and Angelica sinensis were in this chicken soup, but she knew it! If she drank it, she would get a lot of internal heat and definitely get a nosebleed!
"Master, I... I don't need to drink such nourishing chicken soup. Sigh, why don't you let Miss drink it? Wasn't Miss unwell recently? Now is the perfect time for her to recover," Aunt Bai said, declining the offer.
Seeing this scene, Aunt Xie knew there was definitely something wrong with the chicken soup. Ji Wushang said, "Auntie, how could Wushang dare to drink the chicken soup you made? If Wushang drinks it, wouldn't people laugh at Wushang for being unfilial? Auntie, you should drink it yourself! It will only benefit the baby!"
Aunt Bai was so angry that she wanted to pry open Ji Wushang's mouth and force him to drink the chicken soup!
"Aomei, drink it." Ji Dingbei said in a deep voice. This chicken soup was indeed as Ji Wushang said, and it was very beneficial to the baby. Besides, it was made by Aunt Bai herself, so it was definitely safe. Why should we hesitate or refuse?
"Yes." Aunt Bai listened, her mind only thinking about going up and slapping Ji Wushang a few times! But Ji Wushang had already moved the chicken soup in front of Aunt Bai with a smile, "Please enjoy, Aunt."
Aunt Bai gave a cold snort before picking up the chicken soup. Taking a sniff, her heart churned. She immediately said, "Master, I..."
“If you don’t drink it soon, Auntie, the chicken soup will get cold. Once it’s cold, it won’t be as nourishing. Father is worried about you. If you don’t drink it soon, Father will be sad,” Ji Wushang said first.
Aunt Bai turned her head and glared fiercely at Ji Wushang.
Aunt Xie then added, "Yes, Sister Bai, you should drink it quickly!"
Aunt Bai cast a vicious glance at Aunt Xie, but Aunt Xie was also looking at her, very provocatively and arrogantly!
"Aomei, I don't need to say it a second time!" Ji Dingbei's tone became more serious. Did these women think they could act lawlessly just because they were favored by him?
"Yes." Aunt Bai had no choice but to pinch her nose and gulp down a few mouthfuls. When it came to the last bit of residue, she didn't want to drink it, but Ji Dingbei's gaze was cold as he looked at her. Aunt Bai was at a loss and could only continue to drink the residue, almost licking the juice off the edge of the chicken soup.
“It seems that Aunt really likes this chicken soup. Father, why don’t we have the kitchen make the exact same chicken soup for Aunt from now on, so that Aunt can have a good nourishing meal every day?” Ji Wushang said earnestly.
"Yes, let the doctor adjust the prescription." Ji Dingbei nodded.
Aunt Bai immediately wished that Ji Wushang would die right then and there!
"Thank you for your kindness, Miss, but I don't need to drink it every day! Although it's nourishing, it's not suitable to drink it every day!" Aunt Bai said through gritted teeth.
Ji Wushang laughed and said, "Then, being separated by a sky, the baby who will be born in the future will surely grow up to be tall and big."
"Let the kitchen take care of it!" Ji Dingbei said.
"Yes," Aunt Xie replied, as she was still in charge.
Ji Wushang listened with a smile. He turned around and looked at Ji Yinxue. Seeing that she was still suffering from a high fever, he decided not to stay any longer. He had an important matter to attend to today: to wake up Ji Meiyuan. This would require some effort.
Ji Wushang thought of Doctor Cui, thinking it best to have him cover for them. This time, he was going to use her as an experiment! If he could save her, he would let her give Ji Yinxue a good blow; if he couldn't save her, she would just be a failed experiment of his!
Having made up his mind, Ji Wushang turned to Ji Dingbei, who was standing to the side watching, and said, "Father, there are some things I don't know whether I should say or not."
"Go on," Ji Dingbei nodded, looking at Ji Wushang. This daughter had completely overturned the laws he held in his heart.
Ji Wushang pulled Ji Dingbei aside, then glanced at Aunt Bai, who was currently suffering greatly. Ji Wushang looked back at Ji Dingbei and said, "Father, I'm very worried about Second Sister, who's been lying in bed like a living dead. So, I've dared to ask you to allow me to personally invite Doctor Cui from Panyaoju. Doctor Cui saved my life once, and today I beg him to come and save Second Sister and Fourth Sister as well. Let's see if he can find a way to help them recover so they can get married in style on the fifteenth of November."
Upon hearing this, Ji Dingbei was greatly impressed and placed his hands on Ji Wushang's shoulders. "This is my daughter, Ji Dingbei's daughter! She always thinks of the bigger picture, of our Ji family, and of her younger sisters. Ah, Wushang, Wushang, if your mother were still here, she would smile if she saw how much you care for your sisters!"
“It’s what Wu Shang should do. As the eldest sister, this is all I can do. I only ask that Father agrees.” Ji Wu Shang was about to bow when Ji Ding Bei helped her up. “Do it well, Wu Shang. As long as you feel it’s right, then do it.”
"Yes, thank you, Father." Ji Wushang nodded earnestly.
Ji Dingbei patted her on the shoulder, "Go!"
"Yes." Ji Wushang immediately went out.
Aunt Bai watched as Ji Wushang and Ji Dingbei spoke in the distance, but she couldn't hear them. Then she watched Ji Wushang walk away, and with a question in her mind, she saw Ji Dingbei come up to her and asked, "Master, what were you and Miss talking about just now?"
"Hmm, I didn't say anything." Ji Dingbei said calmly. If he could wake up Meiyuan and Yinxue, then he could give the people in the manor a surprise. If not, he would just give up. It would be better than saying anything now. He was just afraid of getting disappointed.
Seeing that he wouldn't say anything, Aunt Bai had no choice but to keep quiet. Aunt Xie, watching from the sidelines, was also trying to guess what they meant. But then, Ji Dingbei stepped forward and said to Aunt Xie, "Thank you for your hard work these past few days."
"It's not hard work. Master, you're the one who's had a hard time!" Aunt Xie was all gentleness at this moment, and came forward to massage Ji Dingbei's shoulders.
Ji Dingbei nodded, enjoying the moment, "Let's go back!"
"Yes." Aunt Xie was just hoping he would say that, and then she left with Ji Dingbei.
Aunt Bai glanced at the direction Ji Dingbei and Aunt Xie had gone, snorted coldly in her heart, looked at Ji Yinxue on the bed, and was helped out by Tianxiang.
"Damn it, I will definitely deal with you all!" Aunt Bai cursed inwardly.
Ji Wushang, with Tie Feng and Zhu'er on his back and a few iron guards, then took a carriage and headed towards the Panyao Residence in the Imperial City.
The journey was relatively safe, and soon we arrived at Panyaoju. Unfortunately, Panyaoju was closed.
A hint of disappointment flashed through Ji Wushang's heart, but he still lifted the curtain and waited, watching the medicine dish.
Pearl felt something was amiss. "Miss, what are you waiting for? Panyaoju is closed. Shall we go back? Or perhaps we should find another doctor?"
"No, wait, just wait a little while," Ji Wushang said. "Go down and wait." He had a feeling that someone was definitely inside, but it was inconvenient to open the door, so he decided to go and see if that was really the case!
Ji Wushang got out of the car and walked forward. Tie Feng immediately followed to protect Ji Wushang.
Pearl followed along.
Ji Wushang looked up at the three characters "Pan Yao Ju" and felt that they were written by Nan Xuzong. He suddenly thought of him and realized that he really missed him.
I've been at my residence or the Right Chancellor's residence all this time, and I haven't seen him at all.
Just then, the door really did open from the outside, and someone shouted, "We're open for business!"
Ji Wushang was stunned. What kind of pharmacy talks like that?
"Miss? Should we buy medicine or call a doctor?" The servant seemed to only just notice Ji Wushang and asked with a smile.
Ji Wushang said, "I'd like to invite Doctor Cui. Is Doctor Cui in the hall?"
"Yes, yes. Please come in." The servant said, immediately gesturing for him to enter. Ji Wushang nodded and then went inside.
"Please wait here for a moment, while I go and report," the servant said, bowing and scraping.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, young man."
At this moment, Tie Feng and Zhu'er were standing to one side. Ji Wushang looked at them and said, "I have something to say to Doctor Cui. You two wait for me by the carriage!"
"Miss, what if..."
"Go down," Ji Wushang said in a deep voice. If this were a dangerous place, why would he have become a disciple of Doctor Cui? And why would Doctor Cui be sitting here practicing medicine?
“Yes.” Zhu’er nodded, and Tie Feng glanced at Zhu’er, then nodded to Ji Wushang, “Yes.”
Just as the two left, Ji Wushang saw Doctor Cui emerge from inside, radiant with health. Although his beard was somewhat gray, his spirit remained sharp.
"Greetings, Master." Ji Wushang stepped forward and was about to kneel down to pay his respects, but Doctor Cui immediately helped Ji Wushang up. "Get up quickly, there's no need for such a grand ceremony."
Ji Wushang stood up and said, "Master, there are some things I want to tell you, and I would like to ask you for your help."
"Yes, I know. Let's go inside and talk. It's a bit inconvenient here," Doctor Cui said, then gave Ji Wushang a wink, and then gave the shopkeeper a wink as well.
"Yes." Ji Wushang followed him inside and found that it was a courtyard with several corridors visible from afar. Ji Wushang followed closely behind Doctor Cui, who then led him to a hall. He had a servant serve tea, and after the tea was served, Doctor Cui said, "Speak!"
"Yes." Ji Wushang then explained the situation, and finally said, "Master, I've been thinking of trying my hand at acupuncture. This time, please let me give it a try!"
“Well, also, I thought I’d take this opportunity to inform your household of our relationship,” said Doctor Cui.
"How is it?" Ji Wushang asked.
"Conditions," Doctor Cui said with a smile.
Ji Wushang nodded, "Master is truly a cunning old fox!"
“You little fox are even more cunning than this old fox! Alas, I only wish that your heart will not be blinded by hatred.” Doctor Cui brought up this topic.
Ji Wushang listened and fell silent. If he knew the suffering he had endured, perhaps he wouldn't have said that! Oh well, he had lived two lives, how could he care about so much?
“Master, if they hadn’t provoked me, I would never have harmed them. My heart has always been against my will. I have always longed for a peaceful life, without strife or murder. But I was born in this General’s Mansion, in the deep courtyard, and I have no choice but to strive for survival.” Ji Wushang sighed and said after a long while.
Doctor Cui nodded, "I know you've had a tough time. Alas! I was just ignorant."
"No, I will keep Master's words in mind," Ji Wushang said earnestly.
Dr. Cui nodded.
After another moment of silence, Ji Wushang stood up, picked up the wine pot, and poured wine for Doctor Cui. "Master, drink up."
"I won't drink any more wine," Doctor Cui said. "But an old friend of mine wants to see you." Before Ji Wushang could ask why, Doctor Cui immediately said so.
"An old friend?" Ji Wushang wondered. "Who?"
“You’ll know once you turn around,” Doctor Cui said. “I’ll go and make some preparations. I’ll be waiting for you in the hall after three incense sticks have burned.”
Ji Wushang nodded as he listened, then turned around, but he didn't see anyone! He immediately said, "Master, there's no one here!" He turned back to look at Doctor Cui, but unexpectedly, he saw him instead.
At this moment, he was dressed in full attire, wearing a jade crown, a dot of cinnabar between his eyebrows, and a longevity lock around his neck. His eyes, filled with endless longing, were looking at Ji Wushang. Ji Wushang saw his own reflection in his eyes, very clearly.
Ji Wushang pursed his lips. His appearance truly captivated her.
"I miss you so much." That was his first sentence.
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded, a slight blush on her face.
Nan Xuzong then rolled up the gold thread in his hand, put it in his sleeve, and looked at her again, saying, "You've lost weight."
"You too." Ji Wushang really couldn't find the right words. Being thin wasn't what he wanted... But, could he say something else to himself?
It made me feel incredibly embarrassed.
"You look beautiful today," Nan Xuzong said again.
Ji Wushang's face flushed red. "Thank you," she said, bowing her head.
"I really want us to get married tomorrow." Nan Xuzong looked at her, his burning gaze leaving Ji Wushang nowhere to escape.
Ji Wushang nodded without speaking.
He suddenly reached out and stopped at her chin, slowly pressing his fingertips against it. Then, he lifted her head. "Why aren't you looking at me?"
“I…” Ji Wushang looked at him, speechless.
Nan Xuzong looked at her, and suddenly smiled. "Your appearance fills me with ecstasy."
“Nan Xuzong.” Ji Wushang looked at his roguish smile, which was completely out of place with his attire! Ji Wushang couldn’t help but blurt out a sentence.