Chapter 96 A Small Gathering

Even Jingfu, who was enjoying the Emperor's favor, was in such a predicament. It seemed that she, a commoner doctor with no one to rely on, was extremely fortunate to have survived and kept her clinic in this power struggle among the nobles.

A deep sense of helplessness washed over me like a tide, lingering for a long time.

It's just unknown whether she was caught up in this situation by chance and became the scapegoat, or whether the person who orchestrated it had a two-birds-with-one-stone plan.

She had no dealings with the Empress Dowager, and in this life she had already broken off her engagement with Ji Yun. Logically speaking, Jin An shouldn't have gone to such lengths to deal with her when she was still young and inexperienced.

To understand the reasons behind this, perhaps she should return to the Meng family mansion and ask her grandmother.

Her mind was racing, but her face remained calm. She simply lowered her head and said, following Jingfu's words, "What the Dowager Consort says is also reasonable. Your Highness should indeed prioritize taking care of your health now. If you keep a clear mind and think less, your illness and worries will naturally lessen."

"You really are someone who remains unfazed by both honor and disgrace." Jingfu looked her over, then changed the subject, his tone becoming more inquisitive and teasing. "This whole affair has dragged you into it, yet you seem completely unaffected. On the contrary, some people have been running around doing things for you, putting in a lot of effort."

She spoke frankly, disliking beating around the bush, "My nephew, I rarely see him care so much about others. I just wonder if anyone appreciates all his hard work and even risking his life?"

Meng Yutong paused slightly, a faint ripple spreading across the depths of her cool eyes.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them, perfectly concealing the complex emotions that flashed through her eyes, making them impossible to discern.

"I am deeply grateful for Physician Ji's great help in relieving Zhaoyutang's predicament, and I will never forget it."

She was finding it increasingly difficult to understand Ji Yun.

“Miss, Miss,” Bai Zhi waved her hand gently in front of Meng Yutong’s eyes to bring her back to her senses, “What’s wrong with you these past two days? You seem so absent-minded. I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Before Meng Yutong could respond, Bai Zhi pulled her outside, saying, "Miss, look! People from the Princess's residence have arrived."

Meng Yutong stepped forward to greet them. The person who came was Granny Wu, the head maidservant of Princess Jingfu, followed by several maids, who respectfully held a beautifully framed scroll in their hands.

The scroll was made of deep purple brocade, with red gold scroll ends engraved with auspicious cloud patterns. The edges were faintly visible with intricate dark patterns, making it clear at a glance that it came from the imperial palace and was of noble and extraordinary quality.

Granny Wu stepped forward, her face solemn, and said in a clear voice: "Hear the decree, Lady Meng of Zhaoyu Hall: Her Highness Princess Jingfu decrees: Lady Meng Yutong is wise and skillful, with miraculous healing abilities. When the Princess was in danger, she identified and cured the poison, and her merit is immeasurable. Therefore, she is hereby bestowed with a calligraphy work by the Princess herself to commend her virtue and commemorate her merit."

Granny Wu had the scroll re-rolled and presented it to Meng Yutong with both hands. Only then did a genuine smile appear on her face, and her tone became much warmer: "Doctor Meng, His Highness specifically instructed me to personally deliver this to you. His Highness said that if it weren't for you this time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. You truly deserve the title of 'miraculous healer'."

Meng Yutong accepted the gift with both hands and bowed slightly: "Thank you for your generous gift, Your Highness. I am unworthy of it."

Granny Wu smiled and said, "Today happens to be the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Princess's residence has hosted a small family banquet for His Highness's close friends and family. His Highness specifically asked me to come and ask if you would like to come to the residence for a chat and celebrate the festival together?"

Meng Yutong politely declined, saying, "Thank you for your kind invitation, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful. However, on this festive day, all the staff at the clinic need to relax and enjoy themselves. We have prepared some simple food and drinks, so it is inconvenient for us to leave. Please ask the nanny to convey my best wishes to Your Highness for good health, a speedy recovery, and a happy holiday."

Upon hearing this, Granny Wu did not insist, and nodded with a smile: "In that case, I will not disturb Doctor Meng and everyone's reunion any longer." After saying that, she led her people to take their leave.

When Granny Wu came to bestow the gifts, it was quite a grand affair, and many neighbors on Peach Blossom Street saw her leaving.

In no time, the news that Princess Gyeongbokgung had personally bestowed the calligraphy "Miraculous Healing" upon Zhaoyutang spread throughout the streets and alleys.

The bad rumors surrounding Zhaoyutang, stemming from the princess's poisoning and the closure of the clinic, vanished completely with the arrival of these four powerful characters, and no one dared to utter a single word of criticism against Zhaoyutang regarding this matter.

As dusk approached, a magnificent sunset unfolded across the sky, a breathtaking spectacle of orange, pink, gold, and red. A refreshing autumn breeze swept away the last traces of daytime dryness, and the sweet fragrance of osmanthus blossoms filled every corner of Peach Blossom Street.

The scroll with the inscription "Miraculous Healing" was quickly sent by Wu Mingxing for careful mounting and then hung in the most prominent position in the main hall of the clinic.

Meng Yutong looked up at the four characters written with vigorous strokes, and a faint smile involuntarily spread across her beautiful face.

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and it is also a rare occasion that the calamity of Zhaoyutang has just been resolved. Bai Zhi and Wu Ming suggested early on that they should prepare a table of good wine and food and invite Liu Sijun, He Haochuan and other close friends to have a happy gathering.

After treating a few patients during the day, and with time still early, everyone quickly tidied up and set up a large round table in the backyard.

The dishes ordered in advance from Qinglai Restaurant were carefully cooked by Aunt Sun, and Wu Ming kept bringing them back.

The table was laden with a dazzling array of dishes, all seasonal autumn delicacies, such as plump steamed crab and heartwarming braised chicken with chestnuts. The aroma was irresistible, and the preparation was extremely lavish.

With such a pleasant atmosphere, Meng Yutong asked Granny Gui to bring out the two jars of fruit wine she had treasured for many years, which she had originally intended to open when Meng Yutong got married.

By the time everything was ready, it was already getting dark.

In the courtyard, the persimmon tree, its branches growing ever fuller, swayed gently in the evening breeze. The bluestone brick floor had been carefully swept, and the herbs drying in the corner emitted a sweet and refreshing fragrance, mingling with the aroma of the delicious dishes on the table.

Such a warm and vibrant scene is enough to soothe all the tension and hard work of the past few days.

Liu Sijun and the others arrived early and helped with the arrangements for a while. After the teahouse finished its work, He Haochuan also hurried over, carrying a food box of mooncakes he had made himself.

Upon seeing this, Liu Sijun immediately joked, "Oh, I didn't know you had such skills, Haochuan! These mooncakes are quite well made, and the fillings look exquisite. You're truly a very virtuous woman!"

He Haochuan blushed deeply after being teased, and awkwardly handed the food box forward, whispering, "Everyone...everyone, please try it."

Seeing that most of the guests had arrived, Meng Yutong signaled Wu Ming to fetch the two jars of hawthorn wine in preparation for the banquet.

Wu Ming laughed and said, "Master, please wait a little longer, there are still some people who haven't arrived yet."

Meng Yutong's gaze swept over the faces of the seated people, a suspicion creeping into her mind. Could the person Wu Ming spoke of be…?

"Here you are!" Wu Ming looked towards the entrance of the courtyard, immediately stood up to greet him, and said in a warm tone, "Physician Ji, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you!"

Meng Yutong looked up and her gaze met Ji Yun's as he entered the courtyard.

Under the gradually fading soft light, the outlines of everything become hazy, but precisely because of this, they lose their usual sharp edges and appear exceptionally gentle.

Ji Yun was dressed in a purple robe with cloud patterns, the color of which made his handsome face and tall figure stand out even more. A matching sash was tied around his waist, from which hung a sachet with a butterfly pattern that was somewhat out of place with his temperament and had rough embroidery.

After a few days apart, he seemed to have lost some weight, and there was a hint of weariness between his brows, but his phoenix eyes remained calm and serene as he looked over in the twilight.

This was the first time the two had met since he returned from gathering herbs at Phoenix Mountain after being injured.

Wu Ming smiled and explained, "You said that today is a festive occasion and you should invite familiar and friendly people, so I took the liberty of inviting Physician Ji as well."

As soon as Wu Ming finished speaking, everyone in the courtyard saw Ji Yun and greeted him warmly.

Liu Sijun put down his wine cup and asked with concern, "Brother Ji, I heard that you injured your hand when you went to Phoenix Mountain to collect herbs last time. Is it all healed now?" As he spoke, he patted the seat next to him, gesturing for Ji Yun to come closer.

Ji Yun slowly walked into this warm and cozy place. His cold face softened a bit under the twilight and lamplight. He replied, "Thank you for your concern. It's just a minor injury. I'm fine now."

He Haochuan was holding a plate of freshly cut mooncakes when he heard this, and he came forward with a shy but sincere smile on his face: "Physician Ji, come and try my mooncakes! There are red bean paste, mixed nuts, and lotus seed paste. What flavor do you like?" His eyes were full of anticipation.

"Five-nut filling will do." Ji Yun walked to the table, his gaze sweeping over the dazzling array of dishes and the smiling faces of everyone. This feeling of being naturally accepted into the lively circle was somewhat unfamiliar to him, but not unpleasant.

When He Haochuan handed him the mooncake, he felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

The round table was set up under the persimmon tree whose leaves were turning yellow, and Meng Yutong's seat was right next to the tree, facing the entrance of the courtyard.

Liu Sijun sat to her left, with Cui Da, Mei San, and a few others next to him. He Haochuan was busy distributing mooncakes and hadn't sat down yet. Bai Zhi sat to Meng Yutong's right, while Wu Ming sat to Bai Zhi's right.

After leading Ji Yun in, Wu Ming returned to his seat and casually pulled up Bai Zhi, who was taking small bites of mooncake: "Get up, get up, sit here."

Bai Zhi, confused, asked vaguely with half a mouthful of mooncake in her mouth, "What's wrong?"

Wu Mingchao gestured towards the plate of glistening braised chicken with chestnuts in the center of the table, saying, "Isn't this your favorite dish? Sit here, it'll be easier to reach for the food!"

Bai Zhi's eyes lit up, and she suddenly realized, "That's right! You're so clever!" She then smiled and moved to Wu Ming's right side.

This left the seat to Meng Yutong's right empty. Seeing this, Ji Yun readily sat down in the empty seat, and everything seemed to fall into place naturally.

After he sat down, Meng Yutong turned her head to look at his wrist, which was still wrapped in a thin cloth, and asked softly, "How did you get hurt?"

"I had bad luck while gathering herbs. I encountered a bear guarding the herbs and was scratched by its claws while trying to fight it." He said calmly, then turned to Meng Yutong, a hint of tenderness in his eyes that he himself did not notice. "Don't worry, I feel much better after using the medicine you brought."

As he spoke, he naturally stretched out his hand, slowly spreading his five fingers in front of Meng Yutong, then slowly closing them again. Although his movements were still a little stiff, they were indeed flexible. "You see, there's nothing seriously wrong."

"Hmm." Meng Yutong nodded. Seeing that he said so, she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she picked up her chopsticks and invited everyone, "Everyone must be hungry after a busy day. Let's start eating."

In an instant, clinking glasses and chopsticks filled the air, laughter and chatter filled the courtyard, and the warmth of cooking filled the room.