Chapter 81
"You want me to help you set up a school?" Zhan Xian was a little surprised. "I'm too busy taking care of myself now. I'm no longer the warm-hearted Zhan Xian I used to be. I won't meddle in other people's business."
“I know. You don’t need to do anything extra. I need to see Gu Shuan, and I know you have a way.” Lin Yi’s voice was gentle, with a hint of persuasion. “You just need to help me see him, and I’ll talk to him myself. You don’t even need to meet with him.”
Zhan Xian shook her head almost imperceptibly: "He won't agree."
How do you know you won't?
"He just doesn't know how. He seems fair, upright, and polite, but in reality, he prioritizes his own interests above all else. If you want to get anything from him, you have to exchange it for something of equal value."
Lin Yi never expected that the male lead was this kind of person in Zhan Xian's heart.
"In his position, he certainly can't think as simply as you and I. Running schools is a good thing that benefits the people. More people in Anguo will be literate, and that's the benefit he can gain. Besides... isn't there some misunderstanding between you two? I see that he's sincere towards you." Lin Yi was really curious, and although it might be inappropriate, he still voiced his doubts.
Zhan Xian shook her head. "He's only nice to me because he feels guilty about what happened back then."
It seems the male lead has gone too far. The Zhan family case remains a thorn in Zhan Xian's side. No matter how Gu Shu'an tries to make amends, even if he goes against Emperor Zhaowen, the damage done to Zhan Xian by the royal family can never be easily erased.
Even though they couldn't resolve it, they still loved and hated each other all the way to the end.
Lin Yi said, "I believe he's a good prince, and you should have faith in him too. How about we make a bet? If he agrees to help me, you can sit down and have a good talk with him. Any misunderstandings can be cleared up. If you don't speak up and he doesn't speak up, the relationship will never be resolved."
"You've thought things through quite well. It seems the young marquis treats you very well." Zhan Xian tilted her head at her.
It was just a casual question, but the person who had been so insightful, eloquent, and articulate just moments before suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon.
This time it was Zhan Xian's turn to tease her: "It seems that you two don't get along very well either."
Lin Yi's lips twitched slightly, wanting to refute with "No way" or "We're doing great together," but knowing it would be self-deception, she ultimately let out a barely audible sigh, "It's always easier said than done."
Looking at her now, Lin Yi felt a bit like a sister who had gone through thick and thin together, but she also knew that "one should not speak too deeply with someone one has not known well enough." Her relationship with Zhan Xian was not good enough for them to confide their heartbreak to each other.
But it will be soon.
Lin Yi quickly regained his cheerful demeanor: "Let's not talk about this anymore. How about it? Do you want to make a bet with me? This matter is entirely beneficial to you. As long as you agree to arrange to meet him, I can cure your old ailment right now."
Zhan Xian and Gu Shu'an did indeed have contact. Gu Shu'an had found her when she returned to Mingzhou and given her the address of his undercover agent. Gu Shu'an would definitely come to see her if she went there. However, Zhan Xian never used it.
“This is too easy for me, but it's not worth it for you. If he's really willing to help you, I'll wait for you to get treatment.”
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow at her, and Zhan Xian vaguely saw the shadow of the young marquis in that expression. It seemed that after spending so much time together, they would unconsciously make similar gestures.
Lin Yi said, "Aren't you afraid I'll use this to blackmail him? You say one thing to my face and another behind my back. I'm saying this to you now, but when I'm talking to Gu Shuan, I'll tell him that only I can cure your illness. If he doesn't help, I won't cure you."
Zhan Xian looked at her in surprise, as if the perception she had previously built up about to be shattered once again.
Lin Yi then added, "This isn't helping, it's an exchange. Don't feel guilty. If you really feel bad, just pay me double the consultation fee when you've made it big."
It turned out that she was still afraid of making herself worry. Zhan Xian felt that her understanding of her was becoming more and more profound and comprehensive.
"If you agree, I'll give you acupuncture right now!"
Lin Yiyi persisted, and Zhan Xian finally gave in. She gathered her ponytail at the back of her head to her chest, revealing a smooth and fair nape of her neck.
“Your migraines and the arrow wound on your left arm have been going on for many years. They weren’t treated properly back then, and now that they’re left untreated, treatment will be very painful.”
Zhan Xian nodded to indicate that she understood, then gently closed her eyes and waited for her to proceed.
Seeing her unsuspectingly expose the many vital points on the back of her head to him, Lin Yi felt a mischievous urge. A bright white needle flashed across her fingertips, and Lin Yi said with feigned malice, "If I insert this needle, young lady, her life will be over."
Zhan Xian opened her eyes a crack, then quickly closed them again: "Then I'll trouble Doctor Qiu to be quick and efficient, so I can suffer less on the way."
Lin put down the needle and laughed heartily.
Hearing her laughing so heartily, Zhan Xian opened her eyes and, infected by her laughter, also laughed heartily, a laugh she hadn't had in a long time.
After the two had finished laughing, Lin Yi resumed acupuncture. She inserted the silver needles into Zhan Xian's Baihui acupoint and asked in surprise, "You really believe I won't kill you?"
"If you kill me, who will take you to see Gu Shu'an?"
"Yeah, I was right," Lin Yi muttered. "I'd completely forgotten about that."
Lin Yi inserted another needle. The silver needle entered the acupoint with a stinging pain. Perhaps to distract Zhan Xian, she kept talking, "Honestly, you really should go see them. They are all poor people who have been abandoned. They have nowhere else to go but to stay in my mansion for the time being. When you see them, you will know that what I said is true. This girls' school must be established."
Her words were gentle yet carried an undeniable power, as smooth and warm to the touch as pebbles, yet always making people forget that she was also a hard rock, and once she made up her mind, it was irreversible.
Zhan Xian suddenly realized that Qiu Qing was also constantly improving her impression of her. Although every interaction with Qiu Qing was purposeful, Zhan Xian could feel her goodwill. No one would feel disgusted by kindness shown to them, and Zhan Xian was no exception.
This person was not as bad as the rumors suggested. Zhan Xian even found her somewhat adorable and thought she was much more genuine and honest than those who looked down on Qiu Qingye and slandered her behind her back.
Thinking of this, Zhan Xian felt a pang of indescribable bitterness in her heart. This girl had been chasing after Gu Shu'an for over a decade. She had also lived in Mingzhou for a time when she was young. Back then, Qiu Qing was also arrogant and domineering, and not very likable. But now she had grown into such a graceful young woman, and her personality was much more pleasing than her own.
During the more than ten years she pursued him, did Gu Shu'an never feel anything? Zhan Xian couldn't answer that, because she wasn't by his side in those later years. She only saw it after returning to Mingzhou: Gu Shu'an truly kept his distance from Qiu Qing.
He has no taste at all, not even looking at a girl like that. I don't know how I caught his eye. Maybe it's like what she said to Qiu Qingye, because of the childhood sweetheart feelings and the guilt she felt towards herself and the Zhan family.
On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. The arrow wound on her arm was left from that time. Her headaches started after the Zhan family was raided and their property confiscated. They were exiled to a remote and miserable place. At first, she couldn't accept the double blow of betrayal and the confiscation of her property. But later, whenever there was thunder, rain, or even scorching sun, her head would ache terribly.
At this moment, the needles inserted into various acupoints on her head and cervical spine were undeniably present, especially on the top of her head. If she didn't know that they were acupuncture needles, she would have thought that a thick, angular wooden stick was being inserted into her brain and stirred around.
Cold sweat trickled down her sharply defined face like raindrops.
Zhan Xian was no longer thinking wildly. In her dazed state, she heard Qiu Qing say to her, "Does it hurt a lot? Just bear with it a little longer, it will be over soon."
It hurts, it hurts so much!
She clenched her teeth tightly, and with difficulty opened them, her voice trembling and unable to form coherent sentences: "I... just now, if you really wanted to... kill me, then..."
Lin Yi understood what she was trying to say. He had been worried that the treatment would be too dangerous, but seeing that she still had the mind to joke with him, he knew that she would definitely pull through.
"What do you mean by killing me? I'm a doctor who heals the sick and saves lives, not an executioner on the execution ground. I don't do things that harm people."
The excruciating pain lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before gradually subsiding. By the time all the needles had been applied, Zhan Xian's clothes were already soaked with sweat.
In the coolness after the sweat cooled, Zhan Xian's mind became much clearer.
After the continuous acupuncture, Lin Yi was also a little tired. She turned her stiff neck and said, "Two or three more times and I'll be fine. This illness is very tiring to treat, so I should eat something good to nourish myself recently."
As he spoke, Lin Yi looked around and saw that the house was completely bare. "Where's the money from last time? You didn't spend it all, did you?"
"Why are you asking this?" Zhan Xian said, her tone quite different from before. "You want your money back?"
"Of course not. That was everyone's contribution to revitalizing the Zhan family. What would I want with that money?"
"I just find it strange that your house is so empty, and there isn't even a water ladle on the kitchen stove."
Lin Yi felt more relaxed when she was with Zhan Xian, though she didn't know why.
"If it weren't for what happened before, we could have been good friends."
"Perhaps," Zhan Xian said.
Lin Yi also sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, her tone somewhat dissatisfied: "You should say that we can be friends now."
"The Zhan Xian of the past might have said that, but now I never make friends easily."
Lin Yi disagreed. "The Zhan Xian of the past and the Zhan Xian of the present, aren't they both you? Since you are the same person, why do you have to be so clear about yourself?" To separate the past and present self like this shows how dissatisfied you are with either the past or the present self!
"I really want to be your friend." Lin Yi looked up at the dusty roof. Perhaps because she had suffered too many setbacks these days, she felt that her nerves had become sensitive and fragile, and some words that should not have been said just flowed out. "I don't have many friends. Before... many people didn't like me."
Lin Yi wasn't referring to Qiu Qingye from before, but to her from the original world. Back then, Lin Yi had very few friends. After arriving here, she met quite a few people: Xueya, Cangxie, Wang Chunsheng, Erhei, Yue Mingzhang, Feng Zhengxian... They were either close, shared the same ideals, or admired each other, but she rarely had a moment to truly confide in them.
Lin subconsciously tried to stop thinking about that person.
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