Chapter 20 Chapter 20 "My Lord, judging people with prejudice,...
After Zhu Niang left the clinic, the hall was silent for a while, with only the lights flickering.
The old doctor sat back down beside Jiang Ci's bed, concentrating for a moment. He then took out a silver needle and gently pricked her wrist. Her skin trembled as the needle penetrated, and after a moment, her pulse, which had nearly ceased, finally beat faintly beneath his fingertips.
The doctor's eyes flickered, his heart trembled, and he quickly took out a few more needles and pricked Jiang Ci's Neiguan, Shenmen, and Renying acupoints one after another. His fingers were as steady as a mountain, but his breathing gradually became rapid.
Jiang Ci, who was lying on the couch, frowned slightly and his eyelashes trembled.
She seemed to be still struggling in the depths of a nightmare, her breathing disordered, but her limbs were no longer stiff and cold, and her palms and fingers moved slightly, as if floating ice had begun to melt.
"It really works..." the doctor muttered softly, his forehead covered in cold sweat, but a hint of joy appeared on his face. He was about to give another injection when he suddenly heard a very soft, hoarse whisper in his ear:
“Don’t… don’t go…”
He was startled and looked carefully, only to see that the woman on the couch had slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were still a little confused, but she was extremely clear-headed.
"Second Madam, you..." The doctor was so startled that he almost dropped the silver needle in his hand, and hurried forward to support her.
Jiang Ci struggled to stand up, looked around, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Is this... a clinic?"
"Yes, yes." The old doctor nodded quickly, his voice trembling with excitement. "You were poisoned and fell into a state of suspended animation. It was the eldest son who rescued you from prison."
Jiang Ci's heart trembled, and she instantly understood all the key points. Shen Ru'an must have believed that the poison she had been infected with was fatal. She slowly raised her hand and pressed the corner of her forehead, which was aching slightly from the impact of the drug. Her eyes quickly regained their former clarity and determination.
"Doctor," she raised her eyes, her gaze calm, "What are the properties of this medicine? Is there any solution?"
The old doctor, instead of panicking when she woke up, immediately inquired about the pharmacology. He was amazed and replied respectfully, "I don't know the name of this medicine, so please forgive my limited knowledge. However, it has unique properties. You will wake up in twelve hours, but your Qi and blood will be greatly depleted, which will seriously damage your foundation. I just gave you acupuncture to help you wake up earlier and strengthen your foundation."
"Thank you." Jiang Ci nodded, then his tone became extremely serious. "Doctor, I believe in your compassionate heart. I was poisoned and framed, and I'm lucky to be alive now, but the person who harmed me will definitely strike again. If I wake up now, once the news leaks out, it will only bring me another fatal disaster."
The old doctor looked at her frail but calm face and nodded in agreement: "Madam, what do you want me to do?"
"I only ask one thing of you," Jiang Ci said calmly, looking straight at him. "From now on, if anyone comes looking for me besides the eldest son, you must tell them that I'm still asleep, suffering from the poison, and hanging by a thread. I want those who harmed me to believe I'm doomed and to let down their guard."
These words were clear and logical, and the pros and cons were clear. The old doctor was shocked when he heard it, and solemnly bowed and said, "Madam, don't worry, I understand."
She gritted her teeth, thinking over and over the letter, and muttered to herself quietly, "I have been falsely accused of collaborating with the enemy.
The handwriting on that letter was an exact imitation. Every stroke was expertly imitated, but the more it resembled, the more eerie it became. The more it resembled, the more it suggested the person had done it deliberately. She wasn't imitating, she was setting me up for death.
Jiang Ci thought back to the night Ji Yang had dropped the letter in front of her. She had risen from her knees, picked it up, and scrutinized each word. It was a handwriting familiar yet distant. The tip of the brush was concealed, the ink subtly and elegantly colored—unmistakably a woman's.
She patted her forehead gently and forced herself to calm down.
"It was written by a woman. She not only knows how to read, but has also practiced calligraphy. There aren't many people in the Dongyang Marquis's mansion, and most servants can barely read, let alone someone with such calligraphy skills."
Jiang Ci's eyes were calm, and his mind was quickly screening the women in the mansion.
"Besides me, there are only Shen Ru'an and Ji Qiu. Ji Qiu is timid. Although she has selfish motives and fantasizes about Ji Yang, she doesn't have the courage or the intention. If she really wanted to harm him, she wouldn't be able to come up with such a fatal trick. Shen Ru'an..."
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"She never showed any hostility towards me, always smiling gently and speaking appropriately, never losing her composure in front of others. Imitating my handwriting on that letter would have taken time. Others wouldn't have the patience or time, but she had both the talent and the leisure to do it."
She lowered her head, her eyes gradually becoming cold.
"But why does she hate me? Why does she want to kill me?"
She couldn't figure it out, but she knew this was a losing battle.
At this moment, hurried footsteps and Bai Yang's shout were heard from outside: "Doctor! My young master..."
Before he finished speaking, the door curtain was suddenly opened, and Ji Xu, still in a dusty state, walked in quickly, supported by Bai Yang. He had obviously just rushed in from the mansion, and when he saw Jiang Ci lying on the couch with his eyes open, he was completely stunned.
Their eyes met, and the astonishment, worry, and relief in his eyes intertwined together, and finally turned into a low, hoarse call: "Sister-in-law...you're awake."
Jiang Ci looked at his haggard appearance, his heart ached, and he forced a smile: "Brother, I have troubled you to this extent because of my affairs."
"Don't talk." He whispered, emotions surging in his eyes, but he suppressed them and didn't show them. His face was slightly pale. He coughed twice and supported his chest.
"Listen to me." His tone was gentle, but with unquestionable certainty.
Jiang Ci nodded quietly, his eyes falling on him, an indescribable emotion rising in his heart.
Ji Xu said, "I know you were framed. Ji Qiu... has already escaped from the city, but don't worry, I have sent people to chase her and will definitely bring her back. Until she returns, I will protect you."
Jiang Ci was startled when she heard this, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She still didn't know what had happened in the mansion, but her heart was even more alert. However, she couldn't openly tell him about her investigation back home. She could only suppress her emotions and softly replied, "Thank you, brother."
She paused, her tone soft and sincere: "It's just...how did big brother find out?"
Ji Xu looked at her, his brows calm, yet revealing a hint of coldness: "That bowl of porridge was sent by her. She changed into the clothes of a maid in the mansion, used a token, and sneaked into the Governor's Office through the side door."
"As for framing you for collaborating with the enemy, I can't yet conclude that it was her doing. There's no concrete evidence yet... but wait until she's brought back."
Jiang Ci lowered her eyes and nodded slightly, but another undercurrent was rising in her heart - the clues and guesses she had obtained on this trip had already merged with what Ji Xu knew, but she was the only one who knew that the real person behind the plot was someone else.
She was about to speak when she suddenly felt a dull pain in her chest. Her face turned pale and she couldn't help but cover her heart gently.
"You have to be careful." Ji Xu immediately stepped forward to support her, his voice low and slow but full of nervousness, "Now that you're awake, stay here and take care of yourself. I didn't reveal your news to anyone in the mansion because I was afraid that the person who hurt you would strike again."
"Rest assured, I'll come see you tomorrow."
Jiang Ci closed his eyes and replied softly, "Okay."
He looked at her and said solemnly, "Don't worry, I will never let you suffer this in vain."
Jiang Ci listened to his resolute words, and a warm feeling flowed through her heart. She was silent for a moment, and suddenly remembered something. She grabbed Ji Xu's sleeve, her eyes filled with earnest requests.
"Brother, I have something to ask of you."
"you say."
"Wan Niang and Yin Shuang are still in prison," she said, her voice weak but every word clear. "They've been through the pain because of me, and they must be frightened right now. Big Brother, could you... could you send someone to look after them? Just send some clean food and thick blankets, and tell them I'm still alive, so they can rest assured."
She paused, her eyes slightly red. "They have been with me for many years and are like family to me. I have no other wish now, except that they can suffer less."
Ji Xu looked at her, only to see that her face was pale. Even in danger, she was still thinking about her maid. The deep love between master and servant moved him and made him admire her even more.
He stretched out his hand, just as he was about to gently pat the back of her hand that was holding his sleeve, but he withdrew his hand, his voice more gentle and firm than ever before:
"Don't worry, I'll make the arrangements right away. You can just rest here and take care of it. Leave everything outside to me."
The candlelight beside the couch was gentle. Ji Xu stared at her lying figure, his eyes filled with restrained heartache. He turned his gaze to the doctor beside him and whispered an order.
"Take good care of her." He took out a bag of silver from his bosom and handed it to her. "Whatever medicine you use, as long as it can make her get better quickly, just ask."
The doctor took it with both hands and nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Don't worry, sir, I will not make any mistakes."
Ji Xu stood there for a while, but in the end, he said nothing more. He just gently lifted the curtain and walked out.
The next day, Qingzhou.
Ji Yang stood before the camp desk, draped in his undershirt, his face as gloomy as frost. He had just woken up, and there was a tightness in his chest, as if something was blocking it, making it hard to breathe. He stood up and dressed, and as he lowered his head, his fingers accidentally brushed the inside of his shirt.
He rubbed the amulet gently with his fingertips for a while, his expression changed, and he finally stood up and sat at the desk.
"Someone, call Lu Linchuan."
Not long after, Lu Linchuan entered the room in armor, clasped his fists and bowed, "My lord, are you calling me?"
Ji Yang looked straight at him, his voice as deep as a drum: "Xingzhou, do you still remember the booklet on flood control written by Jiang Ci that I asked you to take with you before you set out on the expedition?"
Lu Linchuan was startled, then nodded: "I remember. I always carry such important items with me."
Ji Yang said "hmm" and stretched out his hand: "Give it to me."
Lu Linchuan pulled out a palm-sized booklet from his pocket and handed it to Ji Yang. Ji Yang unfolded his notebook, remained silent for a moment, then took out the letter of treason from the drawer and spread it out on the desk.
The light flickered as he leaned forward to examine it for a long time, his brows furrowed and his gaze sharp. Suddenly, he pointed to a certain spot on the letter and spoke:
"Look at these words—the '場' in '战场' (battlefield). She always writes with a horizontal stroke. I counted twice, and she wrote two '場's in all her notes. But in this letter, every '場' is written neatly, not a single stroke is wrong."
"Not just one or two words, but every single one," he said, throwing the letter back onto the table. "How could someone so familiar with her handwriting not know about her years-long writing habits?"
Lu Linchuan picked up the letter and read it carefully, a trace of solemnity appearing between his brows.
"My Lord is right... This letter does look almost identical, but the aura of the writing is still different."
He paused, then said slowly, "The handwriting is good, but writing is like being a person. The weight of the beginning stroke, the pause at the end, no matter how similar you are to the original, it will only be similar in the end."
"If I hadn't practiced calligraphy for many years since I was young, it would have been difficult for others to notice."
"Furthermore... Madam was able to foil my assassination plan that day, so how could she be so foolish as to leave such a handwritten note even though she knew the situation in Dongyang Prefecture was precarious? If she truly wanted to collude with the enemy, why would she hand something over to a crude coachman?"
He raised his eyes and looked at Ji Yang with a steady gaze.
"My Lord, this letter is definitely not written in her handwriting."
The tent was silent for a moment. Ji Yang stared at the familiar yet unfamiliar handwriting on the table, his expression dark and unpredictable, his knuckles tapping gently against the surface.
He remained silent and motionless for a long while, but he was also a little shaken in his heart.
Seeing that he was silent, Lu Linchuan suddenly added slowly, "My lord, if you look at people with prejudice, you will never be able to see their true nature."
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