Chapter 27 Why bother choosing another chapter? [Next chapter...]

As night deepened, it was nearly 11:45 PM. A cool night breeze blew by, dispelling some of the weariness between the visitor's brows.

Ji Yun emerged from the alley and stepped into the gate of the Ji residence.

I made several house calls today, especially two critical cases, which took up most of my energy, so I had to put aside the official work piled up on my desk.

The servant followed him with a thick stack of books, and gently placed them on the rosewood desk in the study. He whispered, "Young master, these are the documents we retrieved from the Imperial Medical Academy today. They mainly contain the registration list and preliminary case files for the medical examination in seven days."

After saying this, he bowed and withdrew.

The study quieted down, with only the occasional crackling of the lamp wick on the desk.

Ji Yun took off his outer robe, sat down behind his desk, and casually picked up the list of applicants for the medical examination and began to look through it.

He turned the pages one by one, his gaze calmly sweeping over the names in the book. This was just a routine glance, and there shouldn't be any problems.

He was about to put the book down when he seemed to notice something, and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

His fingertips paused, then he turned the booklet back to the previous page.

On the page, the ink was clearly written:

Meng Yutong, aged seventeen.

Meng Yutong?

Why would she sign up for the medical licensing exam?

He stared intently at the information in the booklet.

My gaze fell on the small portrait pasted next to the name.

Although the drawing is simple, it depicts a striking and radiant face. Unlike ordinary young ladies who lower their eyes and smile gently, she gazes straight ahead quietly, her eyes seeming to look through the paper, revealing a stubbornness.

It was definitely her.

Almost instantly, her clear words from last night, amidst the dim lights in front of the Hele Tower, echoed directly in his mind:

“I come from a merchant family and have a stubborn personality. In the future, I may do many things that others find shocking, and I am not the choice of a virtuous bride.”

Is she taking a medical licensing exam to practice medicine?

It is indeed somewhat shocking.

Ji Yun stared at the list in silence for a moment, then slowly closed it.

The lights shone brightly, casting flickering shadows in his calm eyes.

A very soft laugh escaped from his throat, carrying a hint of amusement that even he himself was unaware of.

His fiancée is quite interesting.

"Young Master." Qing Shu's voice rang out from outside the door. After receiving permission, he pushed the door open and came in, holding a small cloth bag in his hands. "I have found the lychee shells you requested. However, it is not the right season right now. Fresh lychees are hard to find, and dried lychee shells are also scarce. I went to seven or eight shops and only managed to collect these."

He carefully placed the cloth bundle on the table; inside was a small pile of shriveled, brownish shells, about half the size of his palm.

Ji Yun glanced at it and nodded slightly: "Yes, that's enough."

His voice was calm. "Remove all the incense from my room tomorrow. I'll prepare the new incense for you later."

Upon hearing this, Qing Shu paused noticeably, a look of surprise and hesitation on his face: "Young Master, wasn't the original incense specially prepared by Princess Jin'an? She said it was a recipe from the Southern Frontier, the best for calming the mind and aiding sleep. Why are you suddenly not using it anymore?"

He cautiously observed Ji Yun's expression.

Ji Yun did not answer, but simply cast his gaze indifferently towards the vast night outside the window.

He had been suffering from insomnia for seven years, during which time he had tried many remedies, all to no avail. He knew long ago that it was his own inner demons at work, and that medicine was ineffective, so he gradually gave up and stopped struggling in vain.

Princess Jin'an's incense was sent a year ago.

When the incense is lit, it emits a strong and strange fragrance, and the amber smoke has a pungent and acrid smell, which can indeed bring a few days of shallow sleep at first.

But every time I wake up, I feel an indescribable pain in my heart, and as soon as I close my eyes, those memories always resurface in my mind...

This effect was more like drinking poison to quench thirst; after only a month or so, he needed to double his efforts. Now, even with the room filled with the aroma of alcohol all night, it was no longer possible to suppress his turbulent emotions.

He focused his gaze on the lychee shells on the table.

This fragrance is quite special, with a sweet scent tinged with a slightly bitter and sour aroma that soothes and calms, bringing an indescribable sense of peace.

Seeing that the young master was silent, Qing Shu did not dare to ask any more questions and stood aside with his hands at his sides.

Just then, Yunzhou hurried in and bowed, saying, "Young Master, the Old Master has returned to the manor and is currently in Songtao Courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yun stood up, straightened his robes, and maintained his calm and aloof demeanor.

"Understood." He took a step and walked towards Songtao Courtyard, where his grandfather lived.

Songtao Courtyard is the most serene and solemn place in the Ji family mansion. As its name suggests, the courtyard is planted with ancient pines, which give it a cool and refreshing feel even in summer.

Ji Yun walked to the door of the main house and was about to knock when the clear voices of conversation inside came through the door.

"...Since that's the case, our Ji family shouldn't force it. We might as well take this opportunity to look at other families' daughters of marriageable age. There should be quite a few in the city who are about the same age as Huaizhi and come from similar families."

This was the voice of the father, Ji Hongye, his tone carrying a hint of caution and consideration.

Ji Yun frowned almost imperceptibly, and his fingers, which were resting on the door, paused in mid-air for a moment.

"Um."

Inside the house, the grandfather responded softly, which was taken as agreement.

Without further hesitation, Ji Yun raised his hand to knock on the door knocker, and then pushed the door open and went inside.

The house is brightly lit.

Grandfather Ji Huaijin sat upright in the main seat.

His face was thin and his back was straight. Although his temples were gray, his eyes were bright and clear.

He wore a dark blue brocade robe meticulously, neatly pressed and without a single wrinkle.

My father, mother, and younger brother were all sitting below me.

Ji Yun bowed respectfully and meticulously to the elders present, saying, "Grandfather, are you well? Father and Mother, are you well?"

Ji Huaijin's gaze fell on him, carrying a scrutinizing tone. After a moment, he spoke, his voice deep and slow: "What books have you been reading lately? Has your medical skill improved? I mentioned the symptoms of 'qi stagnation, vomiting, and insomnia' before I left. Have you found a suitable prescription?"

He simply sat there, and an invisible pressure descended heavily upon him.

Ji Yun lowered his eyes and answered calmly as usual: "Grandfather, I have been studying the 'Secret Essentials of the Outer Terrace' recently. Regarding the symptoms you mentioned, I consulted several ancient books and combined them with several medical cases from previous dynasties to devise a prescription. It is based on Xuanfu Daizhe Decoction, with the addition of Pinellia and Tangerine Peel to resolve phlegm and dissipate nodules, Poria to strengthen the spleen and drain dampness, and a little ginger to warm the stomach and relieve nausea."

Every time my grandfather returned from his travels, the first thing he did was test his medical skills.

If he is found to be negligent or lax, he will be severely reprimanded.

This is the grandfather. In his eyes, Ji Yun is first and foremost the heir to the Ji family's medical skills, and only secondly his grandson.

He was always concerned with how much Ji Yun's medical skills had improved, and rarely inquired about his grandson's daily life or what he was thinking. Ji Yun was already used to it.

He explained everything clearly and logically, his tone calm and composed, showing no trace of youthful impetuosity.

Ji Huaijin listened without any change in expression, only nodding almost imperceptibly when Ji Yun spoke of the crucial point.

After Ji Yun finished answering, the room fell silent for a moment.

He raised his eyes and turned to his father, Ji Hongye: "Father, what do you mean by choosing another daughter? Wasn't the marriage with the Meng family already arranged? If it's already arranged, why bother choosing another one?"

A note from the author:

The next chapter will be available for purchase! [doge head with rose in hand] Below are my pre-orders, please feel free to add them to your favorites!

The Lady's Eloquent Tongue

When Ming Shan came of age, a "speaking lotus flowers" system inexplicably bound itself to her mind.

You must praise ten people every day, otherwise you will be plagued by bad luck and everything will go wrong.

In order to protect herself, Ming Shan turned herself into a master of flattery, speaking to people in a human way and to ghosts in a ghost way, making the whole capital city overjoyed with her praise.

Unexpectedly, during a palace banquet, she accidentally fell into the water and, in her panic, dragged Xie Heng, the cold-faced Yama King who held immense power and influence, into the water as well!

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, his clothes were completely soaked.

Xie Heng, who was in charge of criminal justice, was as hard-hearted as iron and despised sycophants. When a royal decree granted him a marriage, he concluded that the woman was cunning and manipulative, and that her only aim was to curry favor with the powerful.

After marriage, he coldly watched her use all her charms:

"My husband possesses an innate majesty that makes one forget the mundane world upon seeing him!"

Xie Heng: Ha, superficial.

"My husband's calligraphy is so powerful and vigorous, it truly penetrates the paper!"

Xie Heng: You're ignorant.

"My husband's manner of dining is so elegant and noble, it's truly captivating."

Xie Heng: ...Boring.

He patiently waited for her to reveal her greed, but instead she praised the maid for her skillful hands, the servant for his cleverness, and even the old man across the street for his heroic beard!

Xie Heng finally realized something was wrong: Was there something wrong with her brain?

It wasn't until the banquet at the Duke's mansion that he saw her smiling radiantly at the young master, her words so practiced they startled him: "Young master, you are truly elegant. This jade crown perfectly complements you, making you the most outstanding person in the capital..."

The jade chopsticks in Xie Heng's hand snapped in two.

That night, he trapped her in the brocade tent, his eyes surging with jealousy and obsession he himself was unaware of. "Ming Shan, are you so 'deeply affectionate' to everyone? How much of your affection for me is truly genuine?"

Ming Shan (system alarms blaring in her mind): !!! Seriously! 100%! You are incomparably handsome, have a powerful aura, and are wise and mighty… (urgently recalls all compliments)

Xie Heng was furious and leaned down to seal his mouth with a kiss: "...Shut up."