Chapter 14 Taking His Pulse

He looked at Wen Ning, who was as lively and agile as a rabbit, and felt like the gurgling spring stream flowing into his heart.

Xie Jinglan suppressed his inner impulse and did not approach her. He knew very well that he must not touch her again today, otherwise he would be the only one to suffer.

"In that case, how about you help me diagnose my illness?"

A bright light flashed under the raven-green eyelashes, "Slave girl, is this okay?"

"Of course." Xie Jinglan said as he sat up, bent his elbows, and pushed his sleeves to his forearms.

Wen Ning seemed to have returned to the days when she followed her master. At that time, her master often tested her, just like now, and asked her to take her pulse.

She solemnly folded up a soft towel and used it as a pulse pillow. Xie Jinglan placed his wrist steadily on it with his palm facing up.

Wen Ning looked at Xie Jinglan's forearm, which was strong and firm, with clean lines extending from the elbow to the wrist bone, and the blue veins were faintly visible under the tight texture.

She suddenly remembered last night, the man's strong chest, solid waist and abdomen...

She didn't dare to think about it anymore, she just felt her cheeks getting slightly hot, and for a moment she didn't dare to look up at him.

Wen Ning placed her fingertips steadily on his wrist pulse, her three fingers slightly bent, her nails trimmed neatly.

At this moment, all of Xie Jinglan's senses were concentrated on the small space on his wrist. He felt her fingertips slowly moving and carefully exploring every inch.

Wen Ning lowered her eyes and concentrated on taking the pulse, her pink lips tightly pressed into a line.

It was almost a quarter of an hour before Wen Ning's fingertips slowly withdrew from Xie Jinglan's wrist.

Her eyelashes trembled, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and the inside of her lower lip was gently bitten by the tip of her teeth.

Seeing her expression, Xie Jinglan asked, "How is it?"

Wen Ning put away the pulse pillow, lowered her head and whispered, "Although the pulse can detect the symptoms of poison, it is difficult to identify the source of the poison. This servant cannot diagnose this poison, but only knows the pain of the poison."

"Oh? Tell me about it."

"Your pulse appears strong on the surface, but beneath the skin, there are signs of unusual movement. This poison is usually hidden, but when it attacks, it forces Qi and blood to flow backward, causing the Governor Vessel to burn like charcoal, burning tendons and searing bones, causing...unbearable pain. The interval between attacks is unpredictable, usually once every five to ten days. Because of the impact on Qi, blood, and meridians, the poison leaves traces on the pulse."

A look of surprise flashed in Xie Jinglan's eyes. He didn't expect that she could describe the symptoms he had when the poison took effect so accurately. He really underestimated her.

"You modestly claim you've only learned the basics, but in my opinion, you're no less skilled than the doctors at the Imperial Medical Bureau. The famous doctors I've consulted in the past were no better than you!"

"I dare not compare myself with the medical officer."

Wen Ning had been in the Marquis' Mansion for many days and had never heard Xie Jinglan mention the pain of the poison. Although she was afraid of him, she still couldn't calm down when she knew he was suffering such torture.

Wen Ning said helplessly, "It's a pity that my master is no longer with us. Otherwise, he might be able to treat this poison for the Marquis. He is best at treating difficult and complicated diseases and strange poisons."

Xie Jinglan comforted him, "It's okay."

The corners of Wen Ning's eyes turned slightly red, and a trace of sadness rose in her heart.

Xie Jinglan saw her pair of peach blossom eyes with a faint red color, just like peach petals soaked by spring rain.

The cherry lips are delicate, as if filled with the fragrance of honey.

In the end, he couldn't hold back any longer, so he reached out and pulled her into his arms, one hand caressing her slender waist, the other hand sliding up her shoulders and gently covering her lips.

"My Lord!"

Wen Ning instinctively shrank back like a frightened little animal.

She thought back to last night... She was really afraid of him. After all, she had a fetus in her belly, and she really couldn't bear being tormented by him like this for two consecutive days.

Their lips were forced to touch and then separate. Xie Jinglan stared at the person in his arms with deep eyes. Seeing that she was no longer as lively as before and was hiding from him, he said solemnly, "Do you hate me?"

Wen Ning was stunned. Did she hate him?

He is the Marquis of Anyuan, who has made great military achievements. He is the famous man in the capital, known for his swords and horses. He is the man that many girls in the boudoir dream of.

Did she like him? She had never thought about it, nor did she dare to think about it, because she knew that there was no possibility between them.

She didn't even dare to imagine what Xie Jinglan would do if he knew that she was pregnant with a child whose biological father was unknown. He might even kill her!

Wen Ning felt as if she had walked into a whirlpool, unable to climb out or move forward.

She shook her head and said, "I dare not."

"What does 'dare not' mean? Do you hate it? Or do you like it?"

Wen Ning: Is there no third option?

His nose brushed against her trembling eyelashes, his thumb rolled across her cherry-like lower lip. Xie Jinglan threatened, "Huh? What is it?"

Wen Ning didn't know how to answer, but Xie Jinglan refused to let her go.

"Answer me, do you hate it or do you like it..."

Before he could finish his question, Wen Ning quietly lowered her eyelashes, put her cherry lips under his nose, and awkwardly tapped his lips again and again to stop his endless questioning.

Xie Jinglan was gripped by the sudden softness, afraid that any movement would scare her.

Wen Ning knew that her kiss was completely chaotic, and her fingers gripping the fabric of his robe trembled slightly. Just as she was about to withdraw, Xie Jinglan suddenly grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her back, their noses touching. Xie Jinglan said in a deep voice, "It's not up to you..."

The dark tide in his eyes was mixed with smug satisfaction. Unlike her superficial kiss, Xie Jinglan's kiss was hot and domineering.

The unique scent of sandalwood filled the air, and Wen Ning trembled unconsciously in his arms.

At this moment, Qing Feng's voice came from outside the door, "Master, the old lady wants you to come over immediately."

Wen Ning pushed Xie Jinglan away in panic, immediately stood up and stood behind him, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Xie Jinglan glanced at the figure outside the door with a serious look in his eyes. He turned around, gently held Wen Ning's soft hand with one hand, and used the other hand to tidy up the slightly messy hair at her temples.

Then he drank the bowl of bamboo fungus and duck soup that Wen Ning had served him, and then left the study.

Qing Feng saw that his master looked at him with a sharp look, and he immediately had a bad feeling.

"Stop talking too much and get ten sticks!"

"ah……"

…

When Xie Jinglan arrived at the old lady's place, Tangli was sobbing on her lap.

Seeing the Marquis coming, she hurriedly got up from the old lady's arms.

"Greetings, My Lord." Tang Li saluted Xie Jinglan with a trembling voice, then covered her trembling lips with a handkerchief and ran out sobbing.

The old lady scolded Xie Jinglan, "Look, you've hurt her. Do you know why Tangli hasn't been to Tingsongyuan these past few days?"

Xie Jinglan seemed to have heard Wen Ning mention a few days ago that Tangli claimed to have caught a cold and needed to rest for a few days.

Xie Jinglan didn't know what the old lady was thinking at this moment, so he didn't want to involve Wen Ning, so he said: "Grandson doesn't know."

The old lady sighed, "She hanged herself the day before yesterday. Fortunately, a maid who lived with her saw her and saved her."

Xie Jinglan frowned. After a moment's thought, he analyzed the situation with the old lady, "So she came to Grandmother to complain, saying that she had already married your grandson. Although they hadn't done it yet, she couldn't marry anyone else. She asked Grandmother to make the decision for her. I wonder if your grandson is right?"

Xie Jinglan said everything the old lady wanted to say, leaving her speechless for a moment.