Chapter 44
"Master! You're finally back!!"
Before Gu Yanling even stepped into the gate of Yaowang Valley, Zhaocai got the news from somewhere and came hurriedly to greet him. Zhaocai was his personal servant who had served him since he was a child and was about the same age as him. He had told his family that he came to Yaowang Valley to celebrate his senior brother's birthday. Only Zhaocai came to Yaowang Valley and brought the birthday gift he prepared for his senior brother. He changed his identity and sneaked into Xiao Xinghan's mansion.
Behind Zhaocai was a man wearing coarse linen clothes.
Gu Yanling threw the bag to Zhaocai and quickly opened his arms to the tall, graceful man with a gentle smile behind him, "Senior Brother!!"
Wu Jingmo came over and hugged him, patted his back, and said with a smile: "Ayan, are you done with your work?"
Gu Yanling hadn't seen her senior brother for a long time, so she was naturally happy. She smiled and said, "That couldn't be better! Later when we eat, I'll tell you in detail what good things I did!"
Wu Jingmo is the only son of his master. He is an excellent doctor and has a compassionate heart. He often provides free medical treatment to villagers in the nearby town. The two have been together since childhood and have a deep relationship. His senior brother has a good temper and is only one year older than him, but he is very steady. He loves him like his own brother and the two can talk about anything.
Without waiting for Wu Jingmo to speak, Zhaocai said, "Master, what on earth have you been doing? The master and the mistress have sent several letters. I asked Master Jingmo to open them and read them. They all asked why you haven't returned yet."
Gu Yanling didn't even take a breath, not knowing what was happening in Yangzhou City. "There's nothing to worry about when I go back. No rush. I'll reply soon. I need to stay here for a while. I haven't seen my brother for a long time. I still need to help him treat the villagers!"
Wu Jingmo smiled and said, "It just so happens that we are going up the mountain to collect herbs tomorrow. Don't you like going to the mountains the most?"
After hearing this, Gu Yanling suddenly thought of the last time she and Xiao Xinghan went up the mountain to pick mushrooms. It felt like it happened yesterday.
"Ayan, what are you thinking about?"
Gu Yanling came back to his senses and saw that his senior brother and Zhaocai were looking at him. He smiled and said, "I was wondering if there were any pheasants left in the mountains. I haven't eaten roasted chicken in a long time."
Wu Jingmo laughed: "Are you hungry? Do you want to take a shower first or eat first?"
Gu Yanling: "Let's take a shower first. We're exhausted from the car ride. Let's take a medicinal bath to relax."
"Master is not here again?"
Zhaocai went to ask the medicine boy in the manor to prepare the medicinal soup, while Wu Jingmo sat in the house with Gu Yanling, "You came at an unfortunate time. Dad just went out a few days ago."
Gu Yanling had gotten used to it. His master loved to travel the world, leaving for months, sometimes even half a year, only to return for ten days or half a month before leaving again. Thanks to his master's love of traveling, he wouldn't have had the chance to be taken to Medicine King Valley for treatment. When he was five years old, he fell seriously ill, and the doctors in the city were helpless. It was only then that his master came to Yangzhou and, sensing a connection between them, took him back to Medicine King Valley for treatment.
"This New Year's Eve, you and Master should go to Yangzhou and we will celebrate together."
"We'll see when the time comes. Aren't you going to have a good talk with me about what big thing you did?"
Gu Yanling: "Yes, didn't I tell you before that our prefect, that bastard official, and his brother-in-law are colluding with officials and businessmen. His brother-in-law is extremely despicable."
Wu Jingmo remembered this incident. Gu Yanling was extremely angry at the time and said that sooner or later they would be punished. "You said at the time that your uncle's business had been suppressed and he was humiliated when he visited you. Your uncle was so angry that he couldn't eat for three days."
Gu Yanling felt very happy when she mentioned this: "That bastard official has been dismissed from his post, his property confiscated and he's been thrown into prison. When the emperor executes him, his brother-in-law has already been beheaded!"
Wu Jingmo had lived in Yaowang Valley for a long time and knew that the most powerful official in Yangzhou City was the prefect. "Who has such great ability?"
Gu Yanling said proudly: "Of course it's our young master——"
Wu Jingmo heard his quick words and saw him pause, and asked curiously, "Your young master?"
Gu Yanling pursed her lips and said, "It's a long story."
Even if he could talk to his senior brother about anything, he would be too embarrassed to tell him that he was someone's male concubine.
"What happened was this. I accidentally saw the dog official groveling and cringing before a man. I guessed that man must be an important figure from the capital, so I asked Zhaocai to go to Yaowang Valley first, and I took the disguise pill to sneak into the mansion of that important figure."
Gu Yanling omitted the details of her improper relationship with Xiao Xinghan, and only said that she had sneaked into the courtyard of an important man and worked as a servant, and was very much liked by the important man. In the end, she took the opportunity to report the corrupt official and his brother-in-law.
Wu Jingmo naturally didn't think much about it. He just thought that since the official position was so high, the important person should be about the same age as the Yangzhou prefect. He completely forgot that Gu Yanling just mentioned the young master. His eyes sparkled when he mentioned it. "Then this is indeed a good thing."
Gu Yanling: "Of course, the people cheered when the corrupt official was removed from office. However, I only told this to my senior brother. Please don't tell Zhaocai. My father must not know about this."
Wu Jingmo: "Why? Since it's a good thing, if your uncle knew it was you who did it, he would definitely be pleased."
Gu Yanling thought to himself that it was because your uncle had seen him and Xiao Xinghan kissing in the street and thought they were immoral. Although his father looked at him eagerly that day, all this was based on the fact that he didn't know that the immoral person was him.
"Oh, no one can know this, Brother, you have to keep your mouth shut!"
Wu Jingmo nodded: "Brother, I understand."
Gu Yanling also knew that his senior brother was tight-lipped, unlike him.
"Master, the medicine is ready, please come and take a bath."
Gu Yanling: "Here I come!"
Zhaocai prepared washing utensils for him and did not leave. He kept telling him that he was almost bored to death in Yaowang Valley these days.
Gu Yanling, soaking in the medicinal soup, found the noise so annoying that she leaned over the tub and said, "Then go back to Yangzhou first and bring a letter to my parents. Tell them that I'm treating the villagers nearby with my senior brother and won't be back for a while."
"Yes, that's right. When you return to Yangzhou, take a close look to see if there are any major events happening in the city. If so, remember to write to me."
Zhaocai: "No, I still have to serve the young master. If the young master doesn't go back, what am I going to do alone?"
Gu Yanling: "I don't need to wait on you. Just go back if I tell you to."
Zhaocai had indeed stayed here for too long. Wu Jingmo was different from his young master. He spent his days collecting and drying herbs or treating patients. Unlike his young master, he often took him to eat, drink and have fun in Yangzhou City. "Then I will go back and report to the master and the mistress that I am safe. If you plan to go back, please write to me and I will come to pick you up."
Gu Yanling: "Okay, that's perfect. You can go back tomorrow in the carriage I hired."
The coachman also stayed in Yaowang Valley today, otherwise if he set out today, he would not be able to make it back to the inn in the town.
"Then Zhaocai will go back tomorrow. Master, do you really not need my service?"
Gu Yanling: "No, I haven't needed your help lately. Do you think I've changed at all?"
Zhaocai: "I think the young master looks good."
Gu Yanling snorted. He ate and drank well all day long and had people serving him. If Xiao Xinghan would bother him less, he would look better.
Why am I thinking of Xiao Xinghan again?!
Gu Yanling felt a little dizzy, so she got up from the tub and put on her clothes, "Help me up."
Zhaocai hurriedly helped him sit on the stool next to him and asked worriedly, "Master, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
Gu Yanling: "Maybe I'm hungry. I've been feeling hungry lately."
Zhaocai had something to say: "The food here is too bland. There's a new stir-fry place in town that's quite delicious. You can go try it tomorrow."
Gu Yanling: "Then I'll go try it tomorrow."
The farm in Yaowang Valley is large, and it is full of little medicine boys sent by nearby people to help with their studies. There are very few servants, and there are only two people in the kitchen, one is responsible for purchasing outside the farm, and the other is responsible for cooking. Their cooking skills are very average. Gu Yanling is a greedy person, and once he specially brought a cook from Yangzhou. He originally wanted to keep the cook here to cook for his senior brother, but his senior brother refused. After all, when he was busy, he sometimes had to eat out, and his senior brother was not picky about food.
Wu Jingmo and Gu Yanling's rooms are next to each other, and they eat together.
Gu Yanling poked the rice in the bowl.
Wu Jingmo: "What's wrong? No appetite?"
Gu Yanling did have a bit of a loss of appetite. He had been getting hungry easily recently, but when he really wanted to eat, he was picky. The things he used to like to eat, he had not been very interested in recently.
"Maybe it's because I've been traveling so fast lately, I always feel a little uncomfortable."
Gu Yanling knew medical skills himself. After hearing what he said, Wu Jingmo wanted to check his pulse, but gave up and said, "Then you should have a good rest tonight."
Gu Yanling nodded, ate a bowl of rice, drank a bowl of soup, and then put down her chopsticks.
Seeing that he still had an appetite, Wu Jingmo didn't think much about it.
After finishing her meal, Gu Yanling pulled Wu Jingmo aside to chat for a while, then yawned and said, "I'm so sleepy."
"Rest early."
Gu Yanling muttered, "I've been really tired lately. I'm always sleepy."
Without even seeing Wu Jingmo off, he had already climbed onto the bed and fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
Another good night's sleep.
The next day, Gu Yanling and Wu Jingmo went to the mountains to collect herbs. Wu Jingmo saw him squatting in front of mushrooms and asked, "Do you want to eat mushrooms?"
Gu Yanling stood up and said, "No, I just thought about the last time I went to the mountains with the young master to pick mushrooms. Brother, you don't know that those people from the capital are the most particular. Going up the mountain and doing this and that is really boring."
Wu Jingmo felt something was wrong: "Young Master? How old is that important person? Why do you call him Young Master?"
Gu Yanling laughed and pretended to be serious, "I don't know either. He must be quite old. But his servants all call him Young Master, so I just follow suit."
Wu Jingmo: "Is that so."
Gu Yanling didn't want to bring it up anymore, so she quickly changed the subject: "See if there's any pheasant over there. I haven't eaten it in a while!"
Wu Jingmo carried the medicine basket on his back and said helplessly, "I just miss it."
However, after walking around in the mountains, Gu Yanling didn't see any pheasants, let alone even a sparrow. She was exhausted.
The next day, he went out to see the villagers, but he couldn't get up, so he simply gave up.
After spending half a month in Yaowang Valley, Wu Jingmo finally realized something was wrong. "Ayan, why are you always sleepy lately?"
Gu Yanling was about to pick up his chopsticks, but before he could say anything, the kitchen brought over a bowl of fish soup, and he vomited a few times.
"I don't know either. I feel like I can never get enough sleep. Ugh, brother, this fish soup smells fishy. Take it away quickly, take it away from here. Ugh."
Seeing him retching at the corner of the table, Wu Jingmo quickly had the fish soup removed and said with concern, "This fish soup doesn't sound fishy. I wonder if your stomach has caught a cold. Let me take a look at you."
After all, Gu Yanling is a man, so there would be no reason to associate him with pregnancy.
Gu Yanling also thought that he caught a cold because he didn't cover himself with the quilt properly at night, so he reached out his hand to his senior brother.
Wu Jingmo took his pulse on his wrist, and the more he felt, the more he felt something was wrong, and he thought he had made a mistake.
Gu Yanling saw his senior brother frowning, "Why do you look like that?"
Wu Jingmo confirmed it three times in a row without saying a word.
Gu Yanling quickly took his hand away and checked her own pulse. When he felt the pulse, her face suddenly changed. She was so shocked that she stammered, "How can this be a pregnancy pulse?"
“How could I be pregnant!!!”
Wu Jingmo: "..."
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