Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Be her legal husband.
It is said that illness comes like a mountain falling, and goes away like pulling a thread.
Although it was just a minor cold, Xie Tingyu's condition did not improve, but became worse.
Late at night, Ji Lian was sleeping soundly. In his dream, he seemed to be tightly entangled by two burning tentacles, and the force was tightened little by little until his heart felt suffocated, and he was half awake with a start.
Xie Tingyu hugged him tightly, her hoarse voice accompanied by hot breaths brushing against his ears, "Lianlian, please look at me quickly, I think my cold has worsened."
Ji Lian still had her eyes closed, and subconsciously reached out, mumbling, "What's wrong?"
Xie Tingyu dazedly grabbed the hand and reminded him, "I didn't ask you to touch here, I asked you to touch your forehead."
Ji Lian forced his eyes open. The hot touch of her forehead made his heart skip a beat, and then he regained consciousness. He threw off the covers, got out of bed, and lit a candle. The warm yellow light illuminated a corner of the bed.
Beneath the curtains, Xie Tingyu's cheeks flushed strangely, her hair drenched in sweat and clinging to her temples. Her nightgown was loose, revealing her collarbone, beaded with tiny beads of sweat.
Unlike her usual cheerful look, her eyes were now dull and hazy, as if she was suffering from illness.
Ji Lian whispered against her burning forehead, "Didn't you take medicine this afternoon? How come you're still in such a serious condition?"
Without waiting for a response, he hurriedly put on his coat and went outside to call for a doctor.
The doctor hurried over, medicine box in hand. After taking Ji Lian's pulse, he replied, "My dear, this is a floating, tight pulse, indicating an external attack of wind and cold. You must have been overworked while practicing earthwork a few days ago, and you got caught in the rain today, which is why the evil spirits have entered your body."
Ji Lian held Xie Tingyu's hand as the doctor continued to instruct: "You may experience chills, excessive sweating, nighttime fever, and loss of appetite in the next few days. I will go and boil some medicine."
When the medicine was delivered, Xie Tingyu smelled the strong bitter taste and stared at the dark medicine liquid. The terrible memory of drinking the medicine in the afternoon suddenly flooded into his mind.
It was so bitter that she really didn't want to drink it. One dose of such a painful medicine was enough.
Xie Tingyu stretched out his hand to block the medicine bowl and changed the subject, "Lianlian, go ask the doctor if there are any contraindications to taking the medicine. I'll take this medicine later."
Ji Lian had no suspicions. She had only spoken a few words to the doctor outside when he said, "It's already late at night. I'll go back and write down the dietary restrictions and send them back tomorrow morning. Don't worry, my dear."
He asked again, "How many days do I need to take this medicine?"
The doctor replied, "No matter how healthy a person is, it takes at least seven days to recover from a cold. My dear, please advise me to move less, rest more, and drink plenty of hot water for the next few days."
“How much hot water should I drink every day?”
"The more the better."
Ji Lian nodded and tiptoed back to the inner room. As soon as she walked around the screen, she saw the person who should have been lying on the couch sneaking around like a thief, holding a medicine bowl and moving towards the pottery basin in the corner.
Just as she was about to pour the medicine into the orchid, Ji Lian suddenly called out, "Xie Tingyu!"
She was so scared that her hands shook and the medicine splashed into the flowerpot.
Xie Tingyu: “…………”
Ji Lian: "......"
Xie Tingyu remained calm and said, "How did you come back so soon? You should have consulted the doctor for more advice."
Ji Lian took the medicine bowl from her hand and saw that the bottom of the bowl was clean, not even a drop left. He rarely frowned and said in a serious tone, "If you don't drink the medicine properly, you will suffer in the end."
Xie Tingyu defended himself in a low voice: "It's too bitter, I really can't swallow it." Before he finished speaking, his throat felt itchy and he couldn't help coughing.
Ji Lian remained unmoved. He went outside and called the servants, ordering them to boil another bowl of medicine. When the new medicine arrived, he personally brought it to the bedside and gently poked at the bulge in the bedclothes that had grown there at some point.
"Weren't you willing to drink this afternoon? Why aren't you willing to drink now?"
As he spoke, he gently shook the quilt.
A head popped out from under the quilt, the blush on the cheeks not only not fading, but even deepening. "I didn't realize it was so bitter when I drank it this afternoon, but now I've had enough. I won't be fooled a second time."
Seeing Xie Tingyu shrinking back inside, Ji Lian stared at the blanket for a long time, sighed softly several times, picked up the medicine bowl, and swallowed half of it. Then, he suddenly opened the blanket.
Xie Tingyu was stunned for a moment. Just as he looked up, he saw Ji Lian's figure approaching. So close that he could even make out his distinctly curled eyelashes. The next moment, his lips pressed against hers, pouring the bitter liquid over him.
The medicine was so bitter that it made her feel numb, but it was entangled and held by the wet and hot tip of her tongue, forcing her to swallow it bit by bit, forcefully yet gently.
His lips never left hers, but with a hint of punishment, he bit her lower lip lightly and licked the tiny mark repeatedly with the tip of his tongue.
Hearing Xie Tingyu's gasp, Ji Lian was about to get up, but suddenly felt dizzy and was grabbed by the other party's wrist and restrained on the couch.
"How could you bite me?"
"It's not the first time I've bitten you." Ji Lian extended her index finger, placed it on Xie Tingyu's lips, and whispered, "When you recover, you can do whatever you want to me. As long as... as long as you don't break me."
Xie Tingyu's eyes sparkled, and he bit Ji Lian's fingertips with his teeth. "You said it, no matter how much you cry and beg for mercy, I won't let you go." He kissed the corner of his eyes, "Now feed me the medicine."
Ji Lian stood up and, following the same pattern, fed the medicine to her mouth. He repeated this two or three times until the bowl was empty. He took a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the remaining liquid from the corner of her lips. "The doctor said you should rest more. Go to sleep."
The candle was gently covered, the flame suddenly went out, and silence returned to the room.
After the incident that night, Ji Lian had kept Xie Tingyu's drinking of the medicine in mind. From then on, whenever she talked about drinking the medicine, he would stay by her side, never leaving her side.
However, due to being unwell due to a cold, Xie Tingyu had to miss the new emperor Ji Xun's succession to the throne.
After Ji Xun ascended the throne, under the guidance of Fengge, the purge of the imperial court was finally concluded. Approximately 80% of the nobles involved in the forced abdication were exiled to Lingnan, many of whom held important positions at court. Former high-ranking officials, such as Yuan Zhaoyun, were personally escorted to the government office, shackled, and shackled, as the new emperor had just ascended the throne and the political situation was unstable. Once all was settled, they were publicly beheaded in the market as a warning to others.
The families of these aristocratic families were also implicated to varying degrees. Some, due to their blood ties, were stripped of their official positions and forced to flee Jiankang. Others, however, were spared due to their meritorious service and the support of the court. For example, Yuan Wangshu, while his official position was preserved, half of his family property was confiscated by the court.
This purge completely restructured the gentry within Jiankang. The Xie family of Chen County rose to prominence, even surpassing the Wang family of Langya.
Xie Tingyu sat back on the bed, quietly listening to Ji Lian's detailed account of the purge. He then took out a scroll of documents from his bosom.
"You were still ill, yet you urgently submitted a petition requesting the continuation of the Tujue. Now that the approval has been issued, you can finally rest assured."
After saying that, Ji Lian brought another bowl of medicine.
Xie Tingyu's mouth twitched slightly, and he turned his head and muttered softly, "Lianlian, you really don't want to miss a single bowl." He closed his eyes, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.
Ji Lian put away the medicine bowl and said, "From now on, when you drink the medicine, I will watch you. You are so grown up, yet you are secretly pouring medicine like a three-year-old."
Footsteps approached, stopping just outside the screen. A servant whispered, "Madam, two distinguished guests have arrived to visit."
Ji Lian and Xie Tingyu looked at each other, then he stood up and went to the outer room.
Two people walked in one after another. Yuan Wangshu bowed slightly to Ji Lian and went straight to the inner room.
Ji Lian took a few steps forward, raised his hand to stop Yuan Fuxue who was about to follow him in, and pressed his fingertips on the copper buckle of the medicine box together with Yuan Fuxue's.
Yuan Fuxue looked at the figure whispering with Yuan Wangshu behind the screen, raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Why are you so stingy? Can't I go in and sit for a while?"
"No." Ji Lian turned sideways to block the view, "You are not allowed to sit inside, and you are not allowed to look."
"You are being unreasonable. How can I treat her if I don't see her?"
Yuan Fuxue said as he put the medicine box on the shelf. "Just now, on the way here, I heard the servants talking about how Madam Tingyu refused to take medicine. How about I use acupuncture instead? I guarantee it will cure the disease."
"That's not necessary for you."
Yuan Fuxue opened his eyes and saw that Ji Lian's mouth corners were slightly raised, and her fingertips lightly touched the red mole on her lower lip, and her eyes moved with a hint of meaning.
"Passing medicine through your lips? That's a unique method. Aren't you afraid of the hardship?"
"The sweetness outweighs the bitterness. It's a pity that you can't experience the joy of it."
Behind the screen, on one side is a delicate battlefield of verbal confrontation, while on the other side, the days are still peaceful and quiet.
Yuan Wangshu poured a cup of tea from the kettle and gently placed it in Xie Tingyu's hand. "I know it was you who asked Grand Tutor Xie for a favor on my behalf."
"It wasn't me, it was you." Xie Tingyu took the teacup and said calmly, "If you had really swung a knife at the late emperor, nothing I could have said would have saved you."
Yuan Wangshu lowered his eyes upon hearing this, his fingertips gently caressing the warm wall of the cup. "At that time, I didn't want to disobey my mother, nor did I dare to betray the emperor's kindness. Ultimately, I was caught in a dilemma and couldn't make a choice."
"I heard that after you recover from your illness, you will go south to implement the Tuduan strategy?"
Xie Tingyu nodded.
Yuan Wangshu was silent for a moment, then raised her eyes with a serious expression. "You established your authority by killing Yu Yi. Many of the southern nobles must be wary of you. This journey won't be as difficult as last time." She paused, then added, "When you go south, I will also leave Jiankang."
"Where are you going?"
"Patrol commander of the northern border."
Xie Tingyu smiled, "That place is also nice. But your husband will probably miss you a lot."
The two chatted for a while longer, then Yuan Wangshu stood up to take his leave, followed by Yuan Fuxue. Ji Lian personally escorted the two out of the mansion, and as he turned back, he happened to meet Xie Qingyan, who had just returned from Fengge, in the corridor.
"Grand Minister of Justice." Ji Lian stopped and saluted.
The two then walked side by side under the corridor.
Xie Qingyan said, "Although it's summer, the heat is particularly intense in the south. Tingyu will be traveling south soon. Has everything been prepared?"
Ji Lian replied, "The emperor's approval, pass, change of clothes, and even food and fodder for the journey are all ready."
Xie Qingyan was very satisfied to hear this, but then frowned again: "It's just that she has caught a cold recently, which makes me a little worried. Although it's just the beginning of summer, the journey south is bound to be hot and humid, and she is easily affected by the heat. I am also worried about snake bites. She has a lively personality and is not always careful about the trivial matters of daily life."
Upon hearing this, Ji Lian stopped and solemnly saluted Xie Qingyan, saying solemnly, "I would like to accompany Yu Niang south to help her implement the Tuduan strategy. If the Grand Tutor approves, I will take care of all her daily affairs and will not let her worry about this."
Xie Qingyan was slightly startled when he heard this, and looked at Ji Lian with a bit of scrutiny in his eyes. "As a young man, the journey south is difficult, needless to say. You will inevitably have to sleep in the open air and enter dangerous places. I am worried that you are too weak to handle it."
Ji Lian's eyes were as clear as snow. "As long as I can always be by her side, even if there are thousands of hardships, I won't feel bitter."
Xie Qingyan's expression shifted slightly. Ever since Ji Lian entered Xie Garden, Wei Fenghua had been reporting to her daily on how he had managed all internal and external affairs in perfect order, and how he had personally cared for Xie Tingyu.
She now looked at Ji Lian with the eyes of a future son-in-law. "She is lucky to have you accompany her so disregarding reputation. Keeping you confined to the courtyard all day is really unfair to you. Let me think about it and find a suitable time to solemnly welcome you into the Xie family and become her legal husband."
Ji Lian gathered her sleeves and lowered her eyes. Her fingertips were already nervously twisted together in her wide sleeves. Her palms were dripping with sweat, but she still forced herself to remain calm. She only whispered, "Lian would like to thank the Grand Tutor."
According to the scheduled itinerary, Xie Tingyu departed Jiankang and traveled south, successively touring Wujun, Wuxing, and Jin'an counties, concluding her tour in Yuzhang. Her implementation of the local laws was swift and decisive. The nobles along her route, having heard of her reputation for beheading powerful clan leaders, acted with caution and followed her orders with unimpeded devotion. By the end of the year, the national treasury had seen a significant increase in revenue, demonstrating her remarkable success.
Emperor Ji Xun was delighted. On the day Xie Tingyu returned to Jiankang, he personally led all civil and military officials to greet him at the Taiji Hall. The following day, during a court session, he issued an edict promoting him to the position of Fengge Siyan (official envoy of the Fengge), granting him special authority to patrol the country on behalf of the emperor and command foreign troops. He also authorized the execution of officials below the rank of 2,000 dan (a rank of official with a rank of 2,000 stone) who violated military orders or national laws. Upon hearing this, the world marveled at his unparalleled talent and power.
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The author has something to say: What is coming to you now is that "because I couldn't complete the list for writing the first book, I was locked up in a small black room for a total of 7 weeks. During this period, the work did not receive any exposure, and even stopped updating many times, which lasted for a week at a time, and sometimes as long as a month and a half, resulting in dismal daily data, and even to the point where the daily income was only 0.1 yuan, which was embarrassing to see people. When I wrote the second book now, it was on the 20,000 poison list for two consecutive weeks, but I was still able to finish it diligently, so that I wrote more than 60,000 words in 2 weeks, and from September 1st to September 25th, I only took 2 days off without updating, and the daily income reached an astonishing and 'world-renowned' 1 yuan "newcomer author Xuedao
Let's invite Xu Song to sing a song called "No Makeup". "I heard you were working on something original. It seems to be just so-so. Why don't you take some time to think about it and figure out what it should look like?"
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Isn't there nothing written in chapter 118? You can lock it and still fail to appeal [Glasses][Glasses] (R u INSANE)
Even without kissing, the quality of the work can be guaranteed to be this high...
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