016 Bewitched
After getting into the carriage, Yuan Chongjing began to think about how to 'naturally' take out the pastries from his sleeve.
They rarely use this carriage, and since he was unconscious at home recently, the servants had already removed all the tea and refreshments from it. Beihai has been so busy these past few days, he's completely oblivious and hasn't even bothered to urge them to put the things back up. I'll punish him by making him run errands when we get back this afternoon!
Yuan Chongjing muttered to himself for a moment before realizing that the oil from the pastries in his sleeve had gotten onto his wrist.
He rushed out, and fearing that someone would see him hiding the pastries, he simply wrapped them in a clean handkerchief and tucked them into his sleeve. The pastries were covered in sugar and oil, and now, warmed by his body heat, the oil stains began to spread.
A feeling of disgust rose in Yuan Chongjing's heart.
He used to be extremely clean, and he would change into new clothes even if there was a speck of dust on the hem of his clothes.
But now... he looked up at Li Yang, who was sitting quietly, and couldn't think of how to start the conversation.
Perhaps it was his prolonged staring that finally caught Li Yang's attention: "Brother Jing, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No, nothing," Yuan Chongjing replied immediately, his hand tightly gripping the handkerchief and pulling it into his sleeve, muttering to himself, "It's nothing."
"Oh," Li Yang responded without delving into the details. Yesterday was his first time receiving acupuncture, and the subsequent reactions were unexpected, which explained his somewhat flustered state.
She assumed Yuan Chongjing was also worried about acupuncture, so she advised him, "Yesterday I asked Doctor Tao, and he said that your head was hit hard and there is blood stasis that can't be dispersed, which is why you can't remember things from before. Once the divine doctor disperses the blood stasis with acupuncture, and with the help of medicine and rest, there should be no problem. There may be some pain during the process, but that's normal."
Yuan Chongjing gave a perfunctory reply: "Hmm."
The Yuan residence wasn't far from the divine physician's house, and Yuan Chongjing estimated that they should arrive soon. He squeezed the pastry in his hand, pondering how to begin the conversation.
"I noticed you hadn't eaten breakfast this morning, so I just grabbed this. Here, take it." No, no, she'd think he was being thoughtful and caring, which would only make her more arrogant and smug.
"Little Peach made this for me because she was worried I'd go hungry. It's all dirty, you can throw it away." But that won't work. Wouldn't that make her think I dislike Little Peach? She's his own daughter.
Or he could pretend he just discovered it and say in surprise, "Hey, what's this? Little Peach must have slipped it in when I wasn't looking this morning, Li Yang, what do we do?"
Yes, that's good, let's say that.
Yuan Chongjing held the handkerchief, moved the stiff muscles on his face, and was about to speak when the carriage slowly turned and stopped. Then, Bei Hai's smug face came in: "Second Young Master, Young Madam, we've arrived."
Yuan Chongjing: "..." This man from Beihai is absolutely his nemesis! He cannot be allowed to live!
Seeing that he didn't move, Li Yang got off the carriage first.
The young man was already waiting at the gate of the mansion. When he saw Li Yang, he smiled and came over. His tone was gentle, and he was much more respectful than yesterday: "Madam has arrived. Master has been waiting for you for a long time."
Li Yang was somewhat flattered. She smiled and said, "We apologize for keeping the divine doctor waiting."
The young man shook his head: "Madam, please come in."
As usual, Bei Hai stayed outside. Li Yang gestured for Yuan Chongjing to follow him, and the two walked behind the young man and entered the courtyard together.
It was the same pavilion as yesterday, but the people there were not the same. The Sixth Young Master had reverted to his male disguise; his white robes billowed in the wind, and his long black hair was bound by an exquisite jade crown. He was very tall, and just standing there quietly, his noble aura had already attracted the attention of everyone around him.
Upon seeing their arrival, the Sixth Young Master smiled slightly, as if everything in the world had lost its color, leaving only the faintly raised corners of his lips and the smile rising in his eyes.
He said, "Yangyang arrived very early today."
Li Yang said, "It's still too late. It's our fault for making the divine doctor wait."
As she spoke, she turned back and tugged at the absent-minded Yuan Chongjing, whispering, "Go say hello! You used to be so smooth, what's wrong with you today!"
Yuan Chongjing then came to his senses. He clasped his hands together and said expressionlessly, "Thank you for your help, Divine Doctor."
"No trouble at all," the Sixth Young Master said with a smile. He gestured for Yuan Chongjing to sit down and said to Li Yang, "Let's begin. I've already prepared everything else."
Li Yang nodded, and taking advantage of the fact that the Sixth Young Master was in a good mood, she quickly pushed Yuan Chongjing to sit down in their usual spot.
Seeing the Sixth Young Master deftly open the acupuncture kit, Li Yang stood curiously beside him: "Divine Doctor, what acupoints are these? My husband felt very unwell when he came home yesterday. Has the acupuncture started to work?"
The sixth young master held the silver needle in his right hand and parted Yuan Chongjing's hair with his left, carefully inserting it into the desired spot. As he did so, he said, "Don't call me that, it makes me sound old. My name is Song Xi, you can just call me by my name from now on."
Li Yang asked, "Song...Xi? Which two characters are those?"
Song Xi smiled, a hint of malice flashing in the corner of his eye: "Song Xi, of course, is the 'song' in 'sending someone to the west,' and the 'xi' in 'sending someone to the west.'"
"ah?"
Seeing that she was clearly stunned, Song Xi burst into laughter, a joyful laugh that came from the bottom of her heart.
After laughing enough, he wiped away the tears that had spilled from the corners of his eyes and said, "I was just kidding. My surname is Song and my given name is Xi, the Xi of hope."
Li Yang pondered for a moment: "Song Xi, Song Xi, what a fine name. Indeed, even the name of this divine doctor is different from those of us mere mortals."
"Stop flattering me," Song Xi glanced at her, her hands continuing to insert needles, and slightly raised her chin to indicate that she should look at her little apprentice: "My apprentice, please."
Li Yang turned her head and saw the boy who had brought them in these past few days. She asked, "Why is he called 'Qiuqiu'?"
Song Xi replied matter-of-factly, "Because I am a divine doctor. Every time I encounter a patient, they say, 'Please, please.' Over time, it has become 'please'."
Li Yang smiled and asked, "What's his real name?"
Song Xi said, “Yang Qing. He is from Chenzhou. His family was poor when he was young, and he had many brothers and sisters. His parents couldn’t support him, so they sold him to me.”
Chenzhou is mountainous with little water, and life was indeed very difficult in some remote villages and towns. At that time, her and Yuan Chongjing's four years of tireless efforts and all their resources in Chenzhou could only change the lives of a small portion of the people there. Further afield, their limited resources and influence meant they couldn't provide adequate support.
Upon hearing that Yang Qing came from Chenzhou, Li Yang couldn't help but look at him with a touch of pity.
“Hey, snap out of it,” Song Xi snapped his fingers in front of Li Yang when he saw her staring blankly at Yang Qing. “You and Yuan Chongjing are truly a perfect couple, always staring blankly at people.”
Li Yang smiled somewhat awkwardly: "The divine doctor should also know that my husband used to live in Chenzhou, so when I look at Yang Qing, I always feel that he is somewhat familiar."
"I've told you to stop calling me 'miracle doctor' all the time." Song Xi stared at her for a moment: "Tsk tsk, your face is so pale, and you have dark circles under your eyes. What's wrong? Didn't you sleep well last night?"
Li Yang nodded.
Song Xi looked up and shouted into the distance, "Please, please go to my room and bring me my makeup box."
He answered her pleadingly, turned around, and quickly walked out.
Li Yang had no idea what he was talking about. Looking at Yuan Chongjing, who was sitting on a stool with his eyes closed and covered in silver needles, with sweat beading on his forehead and nose, Li Yang asked with concern, "Master...Young Master Song, how is my husband?"
Song Xi said nonchalantly, "This is all normal, don't worry about it."
Qiuqiu left quickly and came quickly; in the short time it took to speak, he carried a large box and placed it on the stone table under the pavilion: "Master, I've brought it."
Song Xi pulled Li Yang to stand in front of the table and opened the box as if presenting a treasure: "Look, these are all my treasured collections. I would never normally take them out to use, except for you."
Li Yang glanced at it curiously and found that the box contained some delicate and small rouge and powder, as well as some strange little brushes and scissors.
Before she could speak, Song Xi helped her sit down.
Song Xi said confidently, "My childhood dream was to become the most beautiful woman in the world. Now I've achieved it. Yangyang, I hereby officially declare that with my help, you will be the second most beautiful woman in the world from now on."
Li Yang said with a smile, "No, thank you. Young Master Song is naturally handsome, so being a 'beauty' is no problem for him. I'm just an ordinary woman, so I'll be content to be a good wife to my husband and a good mother to my daughter."
Song Xi chuckled, reached into the makeup box and rummaged around before taking out a small box that complemented her skin tone. After opening it, she rubbed it with the pad of her ring finger, held Li Yang's head still with her left hand, and then gently wiped under her eyes with her ring finger: "You don't understand. Men are all fickle. If you don't have a pretty face, be careful he doesn't get lured away by those vixens outside."
Li Yang dared not move again, letting him rub and wipe her face.
She sat with her head tilted back, and he leaned against her. They were very close, so close that Li Yang could almost see his individual, curled eyelashes. The skin under his eyes was fair and smooth, as clean as snow on plum blossoms, pure and flawless, yet carrying a hint of coldness.
His eyes were large and beautiful, with clear black and white pupils and slightly upturned corners, carrying a hint of allure. His pupils were a pale, glassy color, which, even in the bright daylight, reflected her increasingly beautiful complexion.
Li Yang was unconsciously captivated by his earnest expression: "Young Master Song."
"Hmm?" Song Xi was focused on mixing the color of the face powder and replied unconsciously upon hearing this.
Li Yang chuckled and sincerely praised, "Young Master Song is truly handsome, no wonder he is the most beautiful man in the world."
Song Xi raised the corners of her lips smugly, glanced to the side, and said with ill intent, "Yangyang, your husband is still here. Is it really okay for you to praise me like this in front of him?"
Li Yang: "..."
Oops!
He's bewitched!
Brother Jing, let me explain!
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