78 078 Little Peach◇
◎【1】◎
[Ten years later]
When Xiao Taozi was fifteen years old, she had already made some progress in her medical skills.
After Prince Yu ascended the throne, he bestowed upon Xiao Taozi the title of Princess and doted on her greatly. Knowing that she loved medicine, he specially found a famous doctor from the Imperial Medical Academy to teach her medicine.
Little Peach truly loved learning and studied diligently, unafraid of hardship or fatigue. Because of this, the doctors at the Imperial Hospital were all happy to teach her. After completing her studies, whenever Yuan Chongjing and Li Yang experienced any health problems, Little Peach would be the first to excitedly take their pulses and prescribe medicine.
With nothing to do that day, and Yuan Chongjing and Li Yang both out, Xiao Taozi slipped out the back door, intending to go to the pharmacy on the street to provide free medical consultations. This was something she had been doing for the past two years; the pharmacy and the nearby residents all knew her, knew she was a skilled doctor with a powerful background, so no one dared to interfere.
She had only been on the street for a short while when she saw a crowd of people blocking the road, making a lot of noise.
Little Peach squeezed through the crowd, bending low, and saw an empty space in the middle where an elderly man, probably in his sixties or seventies, lay unconscious for quite some time. A sense of duty to save lives welled up within her, and she pushed through the crowd to check on the old man.
After examining him for a long time, she still couldn't figure out the old man's condition. His pulse and facial features were normal, but he remained unconscious.
Little Peach was at a loss. Just as she was about to have someone carry the old man to the clinic, she saw a middle-aged man walk out from the opposite side. He squatted down and carefully examined the old man's pulse, then looked at his eyes and face. He then took out a small blue porcelain bottle from his pocket and placed it under the old man's neck.
Unexpectedly, the old man's eyelids twitched, and he slowly opened them.
Little Peach stared in disbelief as he regained his senses, listened to the young man's instructions, and then swayed away, leaning on his cane.
A cheer erupted from the crowd. Little Peach dispersed the crowd, and seeing the middle-aged man about to leave, she immediately followed: "Uncle, uncle, what medicine did you give that old man? How come he woke up so quickly?"
The man didn't even look at her, turned around and walked forward without glancing to the side.
Little Peach followed him, observing him closely. The man was of average appearance, looking to be around forty or fifty years old, and dressed in ordinary coarse cotton clothes, nothing unusual. In recent years, she had become obsessed with medicine, knowing all the imperial physicians in the palace's medical academy, and having met most of the renowned doctors and physicians in the capital; she simply didn't recognize this man.
The medicine he possesses is so effective that he must be either a reclusive divine physician or some extraordinary person who has just come to the capital from out of town.
Regardless, she wanted to make the acquaintance.
Her mother had said that people with special abilities always had strange tempers. Little Peach followed the middle-aged man at a leisurely pace. When the two left the main street and entered an alley, the man, perhaps annoyed by being followed, turned to look at her and said, "Miss, the sleeping potion is a family secret of mine, and I really cannot tell you. Please do not follow me any longer."
Little Peach said, "I know, I didn't come to ask about medicine. I just wanted to ask where you live and which clinic you work at. I want to learn how to treat and save lives from you."
"I'm sorry, I don't intend to take on any disciples."
After being repeatedly discouraged, Little Peach lowered her head and pouted, "What's so amazing about it? If my sixth uncle were here, he could definitely save her too."
The man paused in his departing steps, turned around and looked at Xiao Taozi: "Your sixth uncle?"
Seeing that he was interested, Little Peach proudly raised her head: "That's right, my sixth uncle is a world-renowned divine doctor with miraculous healing skills. My mother has told me many stories about him. His medical skills are superb. Any illness is a piece of cake for him. He doesn't take it seriously at all."
"What's your name?"
Little Peach didn't notice his trembling voice and excited expression. She puffed out her chest and raised her head: "My name is Little Peach. Go and ask around. Everyone on this street knows me. I have a real talent for medicine!"
After she finished speaking, she waited for a long time without receiving a response from him. When she looked up, she saw that his eyes were red and filled with tears.
"What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?!" Little Peach asked in surprise, stammering.
The man's voice was hoarse, and after a long while, he finally managed to say with difficulty, "Little Peach? You've grown so much?"
Little Peach looked at him strangely, realizing that this person must be someone she knew from before, or someone who had seen her when she was a child. She stared at him intently, then suddenly exclaimed, "Wow, Uncle, you wouldn't happen to be the miracle doctor my mother told me about, would you? You're my sixth uncle?"
The man suddenly realized and shook his head: "No."
"You're lying, you are!" Little Peach circled him twice. "I can tell, you're disguised. Sixth Uncle is a master of disguise. Mother says he can turn into a man, a woman, or an old person, and that's you. This isn't your real appearance, is it? Tell me quickly, or I'll go tell my mother and have her come find you herself!"
"No!" Song Xi hurriedly stopped him.
Little Peach's eyes lit up: "Right, right? You're my sixth uncle, aren't you?"
Song Xi nodded: "You must keep it a secret from Yangyang, don't let her know I'm back."
"Yes, Uncle Liu, is the story my mother told me true? You are the miracle doctor, right?" Little Peach asked.
Seeing her cautiously seeking confirmation, Song Xi said with amusement, "Didn't you just confidently say that your sixth uncle is a miracle doctor with miraculous healing skills?"
Little Peach was a little guilty: "My mother denies it, saying these are all stories, stories she made up herself, all fake. But I think they must be true. Sixth Uncle, are you?"
Song Xi said, "If you want me to be, then I will be."
That's really true.
Little Peach jumped up in surprise, tugging at his sleeve and calling out, "Sixth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, when did you come back to the capital? Why didn't you come to see me? Mother said you loved me the most when I was little."
Song Xi patted her head: "I just told you, have you forgotten again? Remember, you absolutely mustn't let your mother know I'm back, understand?"
Little Peach nodded and looked at him with a grin: "Sixth Uncle, teach me medicine. I want to become a miracle doctor too."
"Okay, come with me first. I'll be staying in Kyoto for a while this time, so come over whenever you have time," Song Xi said affectionately.
Little Peach pulled his arm and walked forward, laughing, "Then there's no time like the present, let's set off now!"
Helpless, Song Xi had no choice but to take her back to his rented courtyard. There was already someone inside. Song Xi pushed open the door and went in. Upon seeing him, the person immediately put down what they were doing: "Master is back. This is..."
Little Peach jumped out from behind Song Xi: "My name is Little Peach."
"Little...Little Peach?" Xiao Han looked at her in surprise, then looked up at Song Xi: "Master."
Song Xi raised her hand to stop him, saying, "It's nothing, we just bumped into each other on the road. Little Peach, this is my apprentice, Xiao Han. Why don't you follow him and look around?"
Xiao Han looked at him with some worry. Seeing that he went straight into the house, she didn't say anything more and said to Xiao Taozi, "Princess, come this way."
Little Peach said nonchalantly, "Brother Xiaohan, you can just call me Little Peach, that's what everyone calls me."
“Okay, Little Peach, these are the herbs that Master planted and the medicinal materials that are being dried. I heard from people in Kyoto that you are very interested in medicine now. Do you recognize them all?” Xiao Han asked.
"Hmph," Little Peach stepped forward to check: "You underestimate me too much. I also have a piece of fertile land at home where I grow medicinal herbs."
Song Xi removed his makeup and came out to see Xiao Taozi arguing with Xiao Han. Xiao Taozi, with her sharp eyes, spotted him and ran over laughing, "Sixth Uncle! Wow, you're so handsome! You've totally blown my mind!"
As he spoke, he pretended to dislocate his jaw and stroked it as he spoke.
Song Xi smiled and tapped her forehead: "Exaggeration."
Little Peach rubbed her forehead and chuckled, "I wasn't exaggerating at all. Sixth Uncle truly deserves to be called the most beautiful woman in the world."
Song Xi laughed and said, "Then why do you say you're the third most beautiful woman?"
"Then who's second? Do you know him, Uncle Liu?"
Song Xi said, "It's your mother. You're the one who set the rankings for us. Don't you remember?"
Little Peach shook her head: "I don't remember. But my mother is very beautiful, so if I have to put her ahead of me, I, Little Peach, will give in."
"When it comes to shamelessness, you're the undisputed champion," Song Xi said. "Do you still have that copy of 'The Materia Medica' that I gave you before?"
Little Peach said, "I've kept it. I've read it many times and can recite it from memory. However, there are some parts that I don't quite understand, and I've asked many people but still can't figure them out."
“Well done. That book was compiled by my father and it embodies his life’s work. Study it carefully and ask me again if you don’t understand anything. Once you have thoroughly understood the ‘Medicine Classic,’ your medical skills should surpass most of the doctors in the capital.”
Little Peach agreed: "Okay, thank you, Uncle Six."
Having received assurances from Song Xi, she happily returned to the Yuan residence.
Li Yang has returned to the manor and is playing with Yao Yao. Yao Yao is Xiao Tao Zi's fourth younger sister, named Yu Yao, and she is only six years old this year. Unlike Xiao Tao Zi, she is in poor health and doesn't like to eat anything all day. She is as thin as a matchstick. Xiao Tao Zi went to great lengths to prepare medicinal meals for her, but she only ate a couple of bites reluctantly.
Xiao Taozi told Song Xi about Yao Yao's situation and, with his guidance, decided to have Yao Yao's body examined again. Seeing that she and Li Yang were both there, she ran over excitedly: "Mother, Yao Yao."
Yao Yao was most afraid of her older sister, who forced her to eat all sorts of strange things all the time. Seeing Xiao Taozi running over with a smile, Yao Yao hid in Li Yang's arms, tugging at her clothes and whispering, "Mother, I'm afraid of my sister."
Li Yang hugged her and comforted her, saying, "That's your older sister. Why are you afraid of her? Did she come up with something new for you to eat?"
Yao Yao nodded, looking aggrieved.
As they were talking, Little Peach came up to them and said, "Yaoyao! Why are you hiding from me? I can't eat you. Quickly stretch out your hand. I received some guidance from a master today, and I'll take your pulse again."
Yao Yao refused and snuggled straight into Li Yang's arms.
"Sister wouldn't hurt you, hurry up." Little Peach said, reaching out to grab her hand.
Yao Yao was so frightened she was about to cry. Li Yang comforted her and shooed Xiao Taozi away, saying, "Go, go, go find your two younger brothers to take their pulses. Don't bother us here."
Little Peach pouted, stood up, and walked outside.
"Wait!" Li Yang noticed something was wrong and called out to her, "Did you go out of the manor today? Did you run into some expert? Don't you know all the doctors in the capital?"
Little Peach pretended to be normal, trying to get away with it by being cute: "Hehe, he must be a reclusive master. Today I went out and saw an old man who was unconscious on the street. I couldn't do anything about it, but that person saved him in an instant. Speaking of which, Mother, you were right. There are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. It seems I can't be arrogant anymore. I have to work hard."
“For you to have this awareness, it’s clear he’s a truly remarkable person.” Li Yang still stared at her suspiciously: “I admire him, but tell me where he lives and what his name is, and see if I know him.”
Little Peach pursed her lips, looked at Li Yang with a pleading expression, and said pitifully, "Mother."
"Stop playing the victim with me." Li Yang said, "You're my child. I can tell whether you want to fart or go to the toilet just by looking at you. You think you can hide this little trick from me?"
Little Peach complained, "Oh dear, Mother, why are you speaking so rudely? If Father hears you, he'll scold you again."
"Your dad wouldn't dare!" Li Yang said, then stared at Xiao Taozi and muttered, "Don't change the subject. Tell me quickly, which expert did you encounter? Did you verify him? Is he a bad guy?"
"He isn't!"
Little Peach immediately retorted loudly, then realized she had exaggerated and explained, "Mother, I'm fifteen already. I can tell whether he's a bad person or not. Mother, please don't worry about it so much. Let me go out and make my own way."
Little Peach was raised by Li Yang, so naturally, none of her little schemes could escape Li Yang's notice.
Li Yang feigned sadness and sighed, "Fine, you're all grown up now, and your mother can't control you anymore."
“Mother~” Little Peach sat down next to her and snuggled against Li Yang’s shoulder, saying, “Mother knows that’s not what I meant.”
Li Yang smiled and said, "Go ahead and get busy."
Little Peach stood up and saw Yao Yao peeking out from Li Yang's arms, looking at her. She rolled up her sleeves and leaned towards Yao Yao, grinning mischievously, "No, I still have to take Yao Yao's pulse."
Yao Yao screamed and burrowed into Li Yang's arms.
Li Yang patted her and said to Xiao Taozi, "Why do you always bully her? Get out of here."
Little Peach smiled smugly and skipped away.
After she was discharged from the hospital, Li Yang called Xia He over: "Go ask the people around Xiao Taozi where she went today."
The current emperor favored Xiao Taozi and had people following her around. Later, Xiao Taozi disliked having people around her, so the emperor withdrew most of them, leaving only two or three to secretly follow her in shifts. Xiao Taozi was unaware of this, and Li Yang didn't interfere further.
Xia He quickly returned and said, "Miss really encountered a remarkable person today. He was also a physician who had only recently arrived in the capital, but his medical skills seemed extremely advanced. Even someone Miss couldn't treat, he simply used a small ointment to save her. Miss talked to him for a long time afterward and even went to his residence. Madam, perhaps I should find some time to go there and take a look?"
Li Yang nodded: "Little Peach has been spoiled by His Majesty and Brother Jing for many years, so she is still a bit naive and doesn't have any guard against people. Go and take a look, and while you're at it, check their backgrounds. As long as they don't have any ulterior motives, that's fine."
"Yes." Xia He responded. Taking advantage of the early hour, she went to the mansion based on the description given by the people around Xiao Taozi.
It was already late, and Song Xi didn't change his makeup after removing it, so Xia He easily recognized him.
Ten years had passed, but he seemed unchanged. His appearance was still as exquisite and radiant as ever. Bathed in moonlight, he resembled a mysterious fairy under the moon, seemingly about to fly away.
Xia He was greatly alarmed. She avoided the crowd and quickly returned to the Yuan residence.
Yuan Chongjing had not yet returned to the manor. Li Yang had put Yao Yao to sleep and was in the kitchen preparing her dinner. Xia He walked to her side and whispered, "Madam."
Xia He had been by Li Yang's side for decades and was always the most composed and reliable. Her serious expression immediately made Li Yang take notice: "What's wrong?"
Even though no one was around, Xia He still lowered her voice and said, "I just went to that courtyard and saw that the expert that Miss met today was... was Young Master Song."
The dough in Li Yang's hand immediately fell to the ground.
It took her a moment to process what she was saying before she stiffly asked, "Is it Song Xi? He's back?"
Xia He nodded: "I've confirmed it, it really is Young Master Song. Xiao Han is with him too, I can't be mistaken."
Li Yang lowered her eyes and continued kneading the dough: "Don't tell anyone about this, and don't let anything show to Brother Jing either. He's very perceptive and can detect even the slightest abnormality in the manor."
"Yes. Madam, should we tell the eldest young lady about this?"
Li Yang said, "She just left the palace yesterday, so His Majesty shouldn't be summoning her back for the next couple of days. I'll find a time to talk to her."
Xiao Taozi can't keep anything to herself. If she were to enter the palace, she definitely wouldn't be able to hide anything from the Emperor. Although ten years have passed and the Emperor hasn't mentioned it again, the Emperor's heart is unpredictable. Who knows if he still minds Song Xi's existence?
After Li Yang and Xia He finished talking, they never mentioned the matter again.
Little Peach, on the other hand, was all smiles the whole time, and secretly slipped out again early the next morning.
Li Yang had someone secretly follow her, and learned that she had spent another day with Song Xi.
That night, she took Xia He with her and left the Yuan residence.
The two arrived outside Song Xi's residence. Li Yang stopped, took a deep breath, and said to Xia He, "Go knock on the door."
Xia He stepped forward and gently knocked on the door latch.
Inside the room, Song Xi and Xiao Han exchanged bewildered glances. They had been in Kyoto for several days, and although they had treated and saved patients, a sudden illness would usually be accompanied by a loud and rapid knock. The polite and gentle manner they were witnessing indicated that the visitor was not seeking medical help.
Xiao Han said, "Could it be that Miss Peach is here again?"
Thinking of Xiao Taozi's carefree personality, Song Xi smiled helplessly: "Go and take a look."
Xiao Han responded and went into the courtyard to open the door: "Miss Peach, have you forgotten something again? It's so late..."
Song Xi sat by the window, and when he heard him stop speaking halfway through his sentence, he got up and walked to the door, smiling broadly as he said, "Xiao Han, is Xiao Taozi here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, his smile froze when he saw who it was.
The bright moonlight, like silver light, shone on the ground, illuminating the faces of the two people with exceptional clarity.
Overwhelmed with emotion, they looked at each other in silence.
Xiao Han looked at the two staring at each other, feeling a little anxious. He gestured with his eyes for Xia He to say something. Xia He glanced at him but ignored him, looking up at the moon.
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