Chapter 36 A Slap in the Face
Shen Qingci coughed twice, not having a chance to answer Physician Li's question.
However, Physician Li didn't seem to care much. He simply asked Shen Qingci with interest, "I think there's nothing worth staying in this Marquis's mansion anymore."
"However, the Shen family was destroyed because of that wrongful case, and now the Shen residence has been sealed off."
"How about I introduce you to a potential spouse?"
Shen Qingci's attention, however, was focused only on the first sentence of Physician Li's statement: "Wrongful conviction? Physician Li believes that my father is innocent?"
"Of course." Physician Li sighed. "I know your father. I treated his injuries before. Your father isn't that cunning. He wouldn't do those things."
"But I have no evidence either. When your father got into trouble before, some people pleaded for him, which angered His Majesty and they were punished as well. After that, we didn't dare to mention the matter again."
Physician Li waved his hand: "Let's not talk about that. Let's get back to the matter of the marriage."
How about I introduce you to a marriage proposal?
Shen Qingci twitched the corners of her mouth, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart. Why does everyone like to talk about marriage with her lately?
Regardless of whether Shen Qingci was willing or not, Imperial Physician Li said directly, "You know this person too, it's Regent Chu Jichen!"
"I think he treats you differently! You should consider him!"
Chu Jichen?
Shen Qingci's eyelashes trembled slightly. Li Taiyi should not know about her and Chu Jichen's affair. Why would he have such thoughts?
Moreover, Chu Jichen is the regent, while Physician Li is just a physician. How could he possibly arrange a marriage for him?
Shen Qingci's mind raced as she tentatively asked, "Doctor Li and the Regent have a good relationship? Last time at the Regent's residence, Doctor Li seemed very respectful to the Prince."
Physician Li laughed: "The prince now wields immense power in the court, and sometimes when he gets angry, I'm quite afraid of him too."
“But…” Physician Li lowered his eyes: “Perhaps it’s because I’ve been the one who treated him when he was sick since he was a child. I always feel like I’m looking at a child I raised myself.”
“He wasn’t favored when he was young. I had just entered the Imperial Hospital and was just a medical attendant. Once, he was seriously ill, and one of his mute attendants came to the Imperial Hospital to find a physician, but the other physicians were busy treating the pregnant concubine and casually sent me to treat Chu Jichen.”
"From then on, I was the one who took care of him when he was sick."
Physician Li took out a cloth bag containing silver needles from his box: "Let me give you acupuncture. Although your condition is not as serious as I said in front of Marquis Yongning, it is true that cold has entered your lungs."
"Let's try acupuncture to stop the cough first."
"I'll prescribe two more doses of medicine later. One dose will prevent Madam from catching a cold from falling into the water, and the other will mainly treat lung ailments."
After inserting acupuncture needles into Shen Qingci, Physician Li continued, "Perhaps because I watched him grow up, I understand why he has become the way he is now."
"He's actually a really good person."
"I think his feelings for you, Madam..." Physician Li stroked his beard and shook his head, "are unusual."
"If Madam wishes to remarry, perhaps she should consider it?"
Shen Qingci lowered his eyes and laughed. Most of the rumors about the regent outside said that he was cruel and ruthless, and did not care about his own family.
Unexpectedly, someone spoke up for him, and it was the imperial physician who often treated him.
However, she had already met Chu Jichen several times, and Chu Jichen was indeed quite different from the rumors circulating outside.
Although Shen Qingci was rescued in time, she still developed a fever by evening.
The heat came on suddenly. Before Wanqing could even finish getting food from the kitchen, she returned to find Shen Qingci's face unusually flushed.
"Miss!" Wanqing touched Shen Qingci's forehead and immediately exclaimed, "How can it be so hot?"
"No, we still need to call a doctor! Should I go and fetch Physician Li?"
"Now that the head of the household is in charge, we can't trust the household physicians or servants."
Shen Qingci also felt that her forehead was a little hot, but fortunately, she was still quite conscious.
Hearing Wanqing say this, she couldn't help but laugh: "When Physician Li left earlier, he wrote a prescription, which included medicine for colds and fever. Go and brew it and bring it to me."
"Ah, yes, yes, yes!" Wanqing turned around and left in a panic: "This servant will go right away."
Perhaps due to the fever, Shen Qingci was feeling drowsy. After finally waiting for Wan Qing to bring over the medicine, she drank it and fell asleep immediately.
She didn't know how long she had slept, but as soon as she regained consciousness, she noticed someone touching her forehead.
Shen Qingci initially thought it was Chu Jichen, since recently only Chu Jichen had repeatedly broken into her room in the middle of the night.
Just as she was about to open her eyes and speak, she heard a soft sigh.
Shen Qingci immediately tensed up. No, it wasn't Chu Jichen.
That voice... it's Huo Yunzhan!
Between opening her eyes and telling Huo Yunzhan to get out, and continuing to pretend to be asleep to hear what Huo Yunzhan was up to, Shen Qingci chose the latter.
Huo Yunzhan sat down on the stool beside the bed.
After a long while, Huo Yunzhan finally spoke: "I'm sorry to you and our child."
"I never expected things to turn out this way."
“I really wanted this child, and I had high hopes for him. After all, he is my only bloodline in the public eye as Huo Yunzhan, and he is the child between you and me.”
On the surface...
Shen Qingci was disgusted by these three words.
They spoke as if it were a great favor to her.
Moreover, are high hopes placed upon them?
Is placing high hopes on someone like in his previous life, where he killed Liu Ruolan and the child with his own hands simply because they had a new child together?
Huo Yunzhan sighed: "Actually, I know that the matter of the child, and the incident of you falling into the water during the day, are most likely the work of Ruolan."
"But I really have no way to give you justice."
"But I hope you won't blame me."
"I had no choice, I had my reasons."
Shen Qingci clenched her hands tightly under the covers, almost wanting to open her eyes and slap him across the face.
Forced into a corner?
It's ridiculous. If he didn't want to, who would force him to take his two ounces of flesh and stuff it into Liu Ruolan's body?
“I want to obtain the title of Marquis of Yongning, and at the same time, climb higher so that you and the children can live a better life.”
"I did all this for you, for the children, for our shared future! You should be able to understand, right? You won't blame me, will you?"
For her and the child?
No, she can't carry such a heavy burden.
Shen Qingci, unable to bear it any longer, opened her eyes abruptly: "Who?"
She feigned surprise as she looked at the person in front of her. Just as Huo Yunzhan tensed up, Shen Qingci suddenly choked out, "Huo Yunzhan?"
"You've finally agreed to come into my dreams?"
Huo Yunzhan felt a little relieved. Did Shen Qingci think he was dreaming?
But in the next instant, Shen Qingci suddenly grabbed Huo Yunzhan's collar and slapped him across the face...
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