80. Doctor Ye

The things of this world are truly wondrous and indescribable.

Outside the city, on the mountainside, the autumn air was crisp and clear. Qi Gu stood in the pavilion, gazing at the end of the road. Sima Hong had said that Physician Ye would be coming to the capital today, and had brought her here from the palace an hour ago.

Sima Hong sat calmly in front of the stone seat, sipping his tea. Qi Gu stood beside him, watching his graceful movements. A gentle autumn breeze blew, ruffling his clothes, and the aroma of tea brought a touch of life to his cold eyes.

A faint, relaxed smile played on his lips, which truly horrified Qi Gu. In her past life, she had followed him for three whole years and had never seen him so relaxed.

He is always very busy. He has a lot of official business to handle, a lot of people to meet every day, and a lot of things to do every day.

So as not to disturb her, she would silently watch him while he was handling his official duties. Even without saying a word, she felt happy.

When she met people, she would hide behind the screen and secretly watch him. Sometimes he would frown. There were too many things that required his attention, such as land reform, poor harvests, salt and iron tax collection, etc. Many people had received his favors, and many people hated him and tried to trip him up. Even someone as powerful as Sima Hong was just a person, not a god.

Everyone said he was a banished immortal, but during the years she silently followed him, she also saw his exhaustion in the dead of night and the perilous situation when he was assassinated, his life hanging by a thread.

They all forgot that he was also human, and that humans have limitations, make mistakes, and get tired.

However, no one saw his human side. When Sima Taigong saw him, he placed high hopes on his grandson, hoping to revitalize the family and making him the most important grandson who could not afford to fail. When his mother saw him, she appreciated and praised him, but also used him as an important minister who could not afford to make mistakes in controlling the court and governing the country. When the court officials saw him, they either flattered him or regarded him as someone to be respected.

He was expected to achieve great things, was praised and lauded, but he was also hated, antagonized, and assassinated.

She remembered staring at his aloof back and asking him, "Xiuyuan, are you happy?"

Under the moonlight, Sima Hong turned around and actually smiled. She looked at the man, who seemed like an immortal under the moonlight, shrouded in a faint glow.

"No one has ever asked me if I'm happy or not, Aunt Qi. Whether I'm happy or not doesn't matter." The clear moonlight also dimmed.

Qi Gu didn't know why, but that night, under the moon, he made her feel heartache.

"I just feel like I haven't seen you smile in a long time. Have you been busy lately?"

In fact, without even asking, one should know that at that time, the situation of the previous dynasty was at its most critical. Prince Yi was already secretly preparing to rebel and was even colluding with the Guo family.

The Emperor's health was deteriorating, and the younger brother's health was not much better. The Empress Dowager was basically in charge of the court.

Court officials questioned the younger brother's position as crown prince, and the turmoil over changing the crown prince intensified. Sima Hong, who was already a member of the crown prince's faction, not only had to ensure that the policies he proposed could be implemented in an orderly manner, but also had to prevent turmoil caused by the struggle for the crown prince's position.

In his past life, he didn't understand Sima Hong, but in this life, after so many things, she understood him. At that time, he was preoccupied with national affairs and had no time to reciprocate her feelings.

He didn't think she was completely ignorant, and he didn't annoy her and drive her away; that was already being exceptionally polite to her.

She did the wrong thing at the wrong time, and fell in love with the wrong person at the wrong time.

I wonder if he had an easier time after he died in his previous life. At least without Prince Yi and the Guo family, and with his mother and Sima Hong working together, the Great Jin Dynasty should be doing well under his mother's and his joint rule. He must have finally realized his ambition and become the respected Grand Minister of Works, living a relaxed and happy life.

Thinking of his dedication and hard work, Qi Gu felt that she shouldn't be so cold to him.

From now on, I should treat him with more kindness and gentleness.

Qi Gu was lost in thought when Sima Hong handed her a cup of hot tea: "Have a cup of hot tea. Doctor Ye should be here soon."

"Sima Hong, you..." Qi Gu wanted to ask, are you happy now? You've been strategizing and reborn, knowing so many things in advance, so can you handle all the troubles with even more ease?

But she shook her head in the end, reached out and took the teacup from Sima Hong. Her fingertips accidentally touched his hand. She felt the distinct knuckles and the warmth of his hand. She quickly withdrew her hand, spilling tea on both of their hands.

"You're not burned, are you?" Sima Hong got up, walked over to her, and checked her hand. It was a little red, but fortunately, there were no blisters.

"Why are you dodging? What if you get burned?" Her tone was somewhat anxious, and she turned back to Ah Xiang and said, "Go get some burn ointment."

Seeing his husband's concerned expression, A Xiang was astonished, but he dared not show any unusual behavior as before. After receiving the order, he quickly went down the mountain to find burn ointment.

"No, no need, I'm fine. I'm thick-skinned, how could this little bit of tea burn me?" She tried to pull her hand away from Sima Hong's tight grip.

But Sima Hong wouldn't let go. He gently and carefully wiped the tea off her fingers with a handkerchief, and looking at the red spots, he even lowered his head and blew on them.

A tingling, slightly itchy sensation spread across her skin and hands, which not only failed to cool her down but also caused Qi Gu to suddenly feel feverish all over.

"Sima Hong, you...you..." Qi Gu's heart was pounding as if someone was hitting it with a mallet. Her heart was beating like a drum, thump, thump, thump...

Sima Hong looked up, his eyes fixed on Qi Gu. He gently stroked Qi Gu's face, which was now burning hot and could no longer be covered. His fingers were dry and warm, and his thumb rubbed her face as if it were some kind of interesting toy.

"Aunt Qi, your face is so hot." There was a hint of teasing in her voice.

Qi Gu was filled with shame and indignation. "Sima Hong, stop!" She tried to break free from his grasp, but to no avail.

Sima Hong held onto Qi Gu's hand tightly, and even went further, putting his arm around her shoulder. Standing in the pavilion, they looked like a match made in heaven.

He looked down at the person in his arms. Since returning to the capital, she had become a little fairer than when she first arrived, but her skin was still a light brown color, and she exuded the naturalness and vitality of brown.

"Qi Gu, don't be afraid of me, don't run away from me." His eyes gleamed with a dark light, because you can't escape me. Being with me is our destiny.

Qi Gu felt a pang of panic. "Sima Hong, what are you saying? Let go!" Her face flushed.

Just then, the sound of carriage wheels came from under the pavilion, at the end of the road, a small carriage slowly approaching.

Qi Gu pointed at the carriage and exclaimed with delight, "It's Doctor Ye!"

In her excitement, she forgot that Sima Hong was still holding her hand. Sima Hong stood beside her, looking at the carriage, and said to Atai behind him, "Go and take a look."

Before long, Atai brought forward an old man with a long beard, who looked thin but had sharp eyes.

"Is it really you, Doctor Ye?" Aunt Qi asked, her voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement.

The old man clasped his hands together and said, "Your Highness, this humble citizen Ye Ming is correct."

"Dr. Ye, do you still remember me? Back then, my father and I met you while we were fleeing, and you were treating that being with the plague." Qi Gu looked at Dr. Ye, but she couldn't help feeling the pain of being gripped tightly by Sima Hong's hand.

She looked at Sima Hong with a puzzled expression, only to see a hint of heartache on his face.

Ye Ming looked up at the young woman in front of him. He had been practicing medicine for many years and had met too many people. He did not recognize the woman in front of him, but he remembered that he had indeed met a father and daughter in Shi County that year, and he had a deep impression of the father teaching the old man how to use barnacle sap to irrigate millet and wheat.

"It turns out to be an old friend. I never expected that the thin and frightened little girl from that day would also have such a wonderful encounter. She turned out to be the princess of the founding emperor and empress. The things in this world are truly wonderful."

Qi Gu laughed and said, "I hit my head that day and forgot about my past. I never thought I would see Doctor Ye again in this lifetime."

"I wonder who the man was that took care of you that day?"

"Oh, you mean my adoptive father? He's in Ducheng now, and he's probably harvesting millet and wheat on the outskirts of the city today."

Doctor Ye smiled slightly. It seemed that even after becoming a princess, this young lady had not forgotten the kindness of her adoptive father and had even brought him to the capital.

He had seen too many people and too many things, and he had seen the wickedness of people's hearts, but of course, he had seen even more sincere and kind people.

Only then did he look at Sima Hong, who was holding Qi Gu's hand and said with a normal expression, "It's been many years since we last met. I wonder how old Master Sima is doing?"

Sima Hongdao said, "Thanks to you, my grandfather has always been healthy and well."

"You two know each other?" Aunt Qi asked curiously.

"Hahaha," Doctor Ye laughed a few times. "Old Master Sima and I once lived in seclusion together and went fishing. Because I had offended someone, Young Master Sima solved this problem for me, so I owe him a favor."

Qi Gu naturally replied, "So, this time, Sima Hong invited you to the capital for this reason?"

Doctor Ye nodded.

Qi Gu looked at Sima Hong with a complicated expression, "Why do you have to do this?"

Sima Hong seemed to know what Qi Gu was thinking: "Qi Gu, your uncle's health is also related to the stability of the court."

Having been reborn, Sima Hong had long seen through the wolfish ambitions of the Prince of Yi. Therefore, he had a plan in mind as soon as he was reborn. The arrival of Doctor Ye at this time was actually quite appropriate. After all, if the Marquis of Dingyuan could really live, then the Prince of Yi, the Guo family, and the Xiongnu would not dare to make any rash moves.

Therefore, he made his position clear to the Empress in advance in order to make arrangements ahead of time.

Qi Gu pursed her lips. "Anyway, consider it an obligation I owe you."

"The burn ointment for you has been found, my lord." Ah Xiang's voice rang out at an inopportune moment.

The three turned around and saw that A Xiang was holding a porcelain bottle. Only then did Qi Gu realize that her hand had been held by Sima Hong the whole time, and that Doctor Ye had been looking at his hand while holding hers.

Qi Gu shook off Sima Hong's hand, and this time, Sima Hong finally released the soft hand in his grasp.

"Dr. Ye, it's getting late, let's go into the city." He led Dr. Ye ahead.

Watching Qi Gu walk ahead, sulking and refusing to look at him, Sima Hong had a faint smile on his lips.

Looking at the burn ointment in his hand, Ah Xiang asked Ah Tai, "This, sir, don't you want it?"

"fool!"

A-Xiang: ? ? ?

[Author's Note]

Ah Xiang: Please give me peanuts!!!