80 080 Song Xi◇
◎Open ending◎
After leaving Xiaohan in Kyoto, Song Xi left again without anyone by her side.
The carriage moved leisurely forward on the official road, and the driver asked from the front, "Young master, where would you like to go?"
Song Xi remained silent in the car for a long time, suddenly realizing that in all the vastness of the world, there was nowhere he could go that he both wanted to and could go. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Let's go to Chenzhou."
Chenzhou is where Yangyang and his family of three lived together, and he wants to go back and visit.
After Prince Yu ascended the throne, Yuan Chongjing's status rose accordingly. Chenzhou was the place where he first served as an official, and it held special significance for him. Under Yuan Chongjing's special care over the past few years, Chenzhou had gradually developed, and although it could not compare with the capital, it had made great progress compared with other prefectures.
After more than ten years away, Song Xi returned to Chenzhou with mixed feelings. He had spent some time near Chenzhou in the past and knew a doctor in the city. Following the doctor's directions, Song Xi arrived at the doctor's clinic without any trouble.
He told the driver to stop, lifted his robe, and went inside. The clinic wasn't crowded. An apprentice, seeing his distinguished attire, immediately stepped forward to greet him, "Young master, are you here for a consultation or to buy medicine?"
Song Xi said, "I came to see Doctor Tang, Doctor Tang Yi. I wonder if he is still here?"
The apprentice said, "Yes, Doctor Tang is in the back room. Please wait a moment, young master."
He assumed Song Xi had come specifically to see Tang Yi for treatment, so he quickly invited her over.
Tang Yi, now nearly seventy, remains vigorous and insists on coming to the clinic every day to treat patients. Hearing his apprentice's words, he leaned on his cane and came to the front hall: "Which young master wishes to see this old man?"
Song Xi stood up and smiled slightly at him, saying, "Dr. Tang."
Tang Yi was stunned for a moment, then looked at him with a slight stutter: "Mr. Song? It really is Mr. Song."
Song Xi nodded: "It's me."
Tang Yi walked excitedly toward him: "I never thought that I would see you again in my life, sir. Please have a seat."
Years ago, when he went up the mountain to collect herbs, he accidentally slipped and fell down the slope. Thanks to Song Xi's rescue, Song Xi also gave him a lot of guidance in pulse diagnosis and medical skills, which enabled him to achieve what he has today. It is no exaggeration to say that Song Xi was both his mentor and his savior.
"It's been fourteen years since we last met, and you haven't changed at all, just like you were back then," Tang Yi said with delight.
Song Xi smiled and said, "Dr. Tang, you're still so healthy."
Tang Yi said with some shame, "I'm already an old man. If it weren't for my concern for the people in this city, I probably would have passed away long ago."
Song Xi said, "As I walked along, I found that this place is completely different from before. It seems that Chenzhou City has become much more prosperous."
Tang Yi nodded with satisfaction: "Thanks to the imperial court's grace and the fact that Prefect Zhao is also thinking of the people, the common people now have hope for the future. Mr. Song, what brings you to Chenzhou? I wonder if I can be of any help?"
Song Xi said, "I'm afraid I'll really have to trouble Doctor Tang with this matter. I'd like to buy a house and stay here for a while. I don't have any other old friends here, so I've come to bother Doctor Tang."
"Mr. Song, you're too kind," Tang Yi said with trepidation. "I'll leave this to you. It's our good fortune that you're able to stay in Chenzhou for a long time."
Song Xilian said he dared not: "I don't want to disturb others, and I hope Dr. Tang can keep my identity a secret."
Tang Yi immediately agreed.
He was a local, and even though Song Xi had some requirements for the house, she found a suitable house for him in half a day.
Song Xi settled down in Chenzhou.
His residence was not far from Tang Yi's clinic. He usually spent his time tending to his flowers and plants or going out for leisurely strolls. Occasionally, Tang Yi would come over to discuss any difficult or complicated illnesses he encountered. Fortunately, Tang Yi's medical skills were quite good, and there were very few illnesses that could stump him.
Just as Song Xi was about to take a nap that day, there was a knock on the door, and Tang Yi's somewhat anxious voice rang out at the same time: "Mr. Song, Mr. Song."
Song Xi opened the door and saw that Tang Yi's face was covered in sweat from anxiety. She quickly asked, "Dr. Tang, what happened?"
Tang Yi hesitated for a moment, but still mustered his courage and said, "Mr. Song, I have no other choice but to bother you. The eldest daughter of Prefect Zhao's family has fallen seriously ill. My medical skills are too limited to know how to treat her. I would be grateful if you could come and take a look."
Prefect Zhao Jun was a good official who cared for the people, Song Xi had heard this from the residents of Tangyi Street more than once. He locked the door and walked out: "Doctor Tang, let's talk as we walk."
Zhao Jun was an upright man, not adept at currying favor with officials, which offended many of his colleagues at court. Later, Yuan Chongjing transferred him to Chenzhou as its prefect. History proved his decision correct; Zhao Jun indeed governed Chenzhou very well.
Now Zhao Jun is fifty years old and has only two daughters. His eldest daughter, Zhao Tingyu, is in love with a carpenter in the city and insists on marrying him despite her parents' objections. The two have been married for many years without children. The carpenter is under increasing pressure from his mother because of his lack of offspring, and his irritable temper gradually comes out. Yesterday, during an argument between the two, he couldn't help but hit her.
Just then, Zhao Tingyu was pregnant. Her husband pushed her, and she fell to the ground, almost losing her baby.
Zhao Jun and his wife felt sorry for their daughter and took her back to the Zhao residence that very night.
Tang Yi sighed for a long time, then said sincerely, "Lord Zhao is a good official. If possible, Mr. Song, I really hope to save Miss Zhao."
"I'll go take a look first," Song Xi said.
The Zhao family had been waiting for a long time. As soon as the carriage stopped, they eagerly led the two inside. Judging from the situation, it seemed that Tang Yi had stopped halfway to rescue Song Xi.
Zhao Jun looked at the two men with a worried expression: "Doctor Tang, who is this?"
"This is the Mr. Song I mentioned. Lord Zhao, please wait a moment while I have Doctor Zhao go and check on the young lady," Tang Yi said.
Zhao Jun stepped aside, and a servant led Song Xi into the inner room.
Song Xi carefully examined Zhao Tingyu's body and said to Zhao Jun and his wife, "The child cannot be saved, but I can try to save the mother."
Zhao Tingyu had been unconscious for nearly a day and a night, and it took Tang Yi a great deal of effort to finally bring her back to her senses. Upon waking, she heard Song Xi's words and struggled to cry out, "Mother! I want my child! Save my child! Mother!"
Madam Zhao cried with heartache, "Tingyu, my dear, Mother is here."
She looked at Song Xi and Tang Yi pleadingly.
Song Xi turned around, secretly shook his head at Tang Yi, and explained to Madam Zhao Jun, "Doctor Tang has already given the medicine, and I think he has done his best to keep us alive until now. If we delay any longer, not only the child, but also the adults will be in danger... Lord Zhao, we still need to make a decision soon."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tingyu broke down in tears, crying, "No! I want my child! I want my child!"
"Don't get excited," Song Xi leaned down to persuade her, "Getting excited will cause your blood vessels to dilate and you'll bleed a lot."
Zhao Tingyu grabbed his hand: "Divine doctor, divine doctor, please, save my child, save my child."
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, Song Xi paused, patted her hand, and then stood up and walked out: "Lord Zhao, Madam Zhao, may I speak with you in private?"
The two went to the outer room, and Song Xi said, "Lord Zhao, Madam Zhao, your daughter's health has been depleted for the past few years. In addition, she has been restless and anxious all year round. Being pregnant now is almost too much for her mental and physical health. Now that she has fallen to the ground, it is a double injury to her body. Originally, the child could not be kept, and it could not be kept."
Madam Zhao pleaded tearfully, "Mr. Song."
Song Xi said, "Your daughter's emotions are unstable right now. If we insist on saving the child, it's not impossible. But I can't guarantee how long we can save her, and I can't guarantee that if the child is lost, the mother will still be able to survive."
Zhao Jun said, trembling, "So either we save Tingyu now, or we save both of them now, but something might happen to them at any time in the future?"
"right."
Zhao Jun gasped. He looked at his wife, both of them looking troubled.
At this moment, a woman dressed in a blue dress came out of the house and said to the two of them, "Father, Mother, listen to your sister and save the child."
Madam Zhao was somewhat shocked: "Ruyu, you..."
This person was none other than Zhao Ruyu, the second young lady of the Zhao family. She was about twenty-five years old, slender, with delicate features and fair skin, but her face carried a hint of aloofness and a calmness that was inconsistent with her age.
Zhao Ruyu was very talented and had a keen eye for talent, helping Zhao Jun achieve considerable success in political and court affairs. However, because of this, almost no one in Chenzhou could catch her eye, so much so that she remained unmarried to this day, becoming what everyone called an old maid. Zhao Ruyu herself didn't care about these worldly opinions, and since Zhao Jun and his wife didn't force her, she continued to live a carefree and comfortable life in the Zhao family.
Zhao Ruyu said, "My sister is already heartbroken enough. If she loses the child, she will break down."
Madam Zhao disagreed: "But after Tingyu gets divorced, how will she live if she takes the child with her? Besides, judging from Mr. Song's words, it's not certain whether the child can be saved. If both mother and child die, how will the mother live?"
This is also something that needs to be considered.
Zhao Jun said, "Then...we don't want it?"
"No," Zhao Ruyu said. "Without the child, how will my sister live? Father and Mother, do you think she would want you to do this?"
Seeing that Zhao Jun and his wife were still hesitating, Zhao Tingyu's crying came from the inner room again. Zhao Ruyu bowed to Song Xiying and said, "Mr. Song, I'm leaving my sister in your care."
Song Xi said, "I hope you are mentally prepared that for the next nine months, she must not be subjected to any stimulation, not even ordinary bumps. Moreover, she may suddenly suffer a massive hemorrhage tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or some day in the future, and there may be no cure."
Zhao Ruyu paused for a moment, then turned to look at Zhao Jun and his wife, before saying in a deep voice, "Please, Mr. Song, prescribe a prescription."
It's not appropriate for outsiders to make decisions for them in this matter. After considering it for a moment, Song Xi wrote down a prescription and handed it to Madam Zhao: "Go and brew the medicine. The precautions are all written on the paper."
Zhao Jun busied himself arranging for the medicine to be brewed, while Madam Zhao went to the inner room to comfort Zhao Tingyu. Zhao Ruyu, however, calmly inquired about Zhao Tingyu's future health and what they should do in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Song Xi explained everything to her before leaving the Zhao residence with Tang Yi.
Tang Yi still felt guilty towards Song Xi, and kept apologizing all the way: "I'm so sorry to have troubled you, Mr. Song."
Song Xi said, "It's alright. Zhao Jun is the people's father and father official. It's only right to do something for him."
Tang Yi sighed, "It's such a pity that such a good official as Lord Zhao has such a tragic fate for his two daughters."
"Life is unpredictable, and no one can say for sure what will happen. Let's just wait and see," Song Xi said.
Zhao Tingyu's health was extremely poor, and the carpenter, after hearing that she was pregnant, kept making a fuss around the Zhao residence, saying he wanted to take Zhao Tingyu home to rest and prepare for childbirth. Zhao Jun ordered everyone to stay by Zhao Tingyu's side and prevent her from being exposed to outside news.
But no matter how well it's concealed, there are always oversights. Zhao Tingyu eventually found out about the commotion outside the Zhao residence.
She went to see him without telling Zhao Jun and his wife, and the two ended up arguing again. Zhao Tingyu became emotional and fainted before she even reached the room.
Tang Yi dared not prescribe any more medicine and hurriedly invited Song Xi over.
The baby is beyond saving.
Even Zhao Tingyu's health was worrying; her pulse was weak and almost disappeared.
The Zhao family members were pacing anxiously outside the house, while Song Xi stayed inside for a day and a night before finally stabilizing Zhao Tingyu's condition.
He sighed with relief, his face full of fatigue: "She's alright now. Let her rest well and try not to upset her anymore."
After Song Xi finished speaking, he stood up, but everything went black before his eyes, and he was about to fall to the ground. Zhao Ruyu, who was standing beside him, quickly caught him: "Mr. Song."
"It's alright, go see your sister." Song Xi stood up, holding onto the table, and gestured for her to go see Zhao Tingyu.
Seeing that Zhao Jun and his wife were surrounding Zhao Tingyu, Zhao Ruyu went to help Song Xi: "My father and mother are watching over you, so it's alright. Mr. Song, let me take you home."
"No need, I'll go back and rest first. If anything comes up, I'll have someone call me." After saying that, Song Xi forced herself to go home and fell asleep almost as soon as she hit the bed.
He slept through the night and didn't wake up until after noon the next day. Tang Yi was waiting in the courtyard and rushed over when he saw him get up: "Mr. Song."
Song Xi asked, "How is Miss Zhao doing?"
Tang Yi said, "She's awake now. She's been silent since she learned the child was gone, but she seems to be in good health. Lord Zhao is furious and wrote the divorce papers for her; the documents have already been processed at the government office."
Song Xi sighed, "That's good. If Miss can maintain a stable mood in the future, she should be able to recover in another year or two."
"Alright. Mr. Song, shall we go to the Zhao residence now?"
Song Xi said, "Yes, let's check her pulse again. Otherwise, if something else happens, it will damage my reputation."
Tang Yi smiled and said, "Sir, you are too kind. This way, please."
As the two left the courtyard, they happened to see Zhao Ruyu getting off the carriage: "Mr. Song, Dr. Tang, my sister has woken up. My father asked me to invite you both to the mansion."
Tang Yi said, "Mr. Song and I are on our way to the Zhao residence, so we'll have to trouble you, Miss."
Zhao Ruyu smiled, softening the coldness in her eyes, and said, "It's alright, gentlemen, please get into the carriage."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Song Xi, then quickly lowered her head.
Such an unusual occurrence naturally did not escape Song Xi's notice. He didn't say anything, pretending not to have seen it, and turned to get into the carriage.
Just as Tang Yi had said, Zhao Tingyu's pulse had stabilized, but she was sitting on the bed in a daze, her eyes empty and lifeless.
After examining her condition, Song Xi left a new prescription.
Zhao Ruyu saw him off when he left.
“Your sister’s condition is still very unstable. Remember to keep her from having any major emotional fluctuations recently and let her rest and recover,” Song Xi said.
Zhao Ruyu nodded: "I know. I'm just afraid my sister might do something rash."
Song Xi smiled and said with emotion, "There's nothing to be upset about. Time will heal all wounds."
Zhao Ruyu looked at him and said, "It seems Mr. Song has 'come to terms with it'."
The two had already arrived at the gate of the mansion, but Song Xi did not respond to this, saying, "Miss Zhao, please wait. I will return first."
"Take care, Mr. Song." Zhao Ruyu curtsied and saw him onto the carriage.
The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly started moving. As it passed by her, Song Xi lifted the curtain and said to her, "If your sister has any further questions, she can come to me anytime."
A faint smile appeared in Zhao Ruyu's eyes: "Thank you, Mr. Song."
The End
A note from the author:
The story is now complete. Let's leave Song Xi with an open ending.
I'd like to recommend my next book, "My Keeper's Mistress Ran Away," a historical romance. Please add it to your favorites!
[Copywriting]
Xuechen was Chu Zhaoyang's mistress.
She was originally the daughter of an official, but after her father was accused of committing the crime of deceiving the emperor and the whole family was imprisoned, she was sold to a brothel.
Because of her good looks and figure, she was given to Chu Zhao after changing hands several times.
Chu Zhao held a prominent position in the court, but was cold and ruthless. He framed loyal officials and eliminated dissidents for power, earning him a long-standing reputation for being cunning and ruthless.
Xuechen wanted to use him to investigate her father's wrongful conviction, so she did her best to play the role of a mistress.
From resentment at being forced into submission to a passionate devotion that disregards life and death for love, Chu Zhao continued acting step by step until she finally relaxed.
Xuechen became nervous.
She discovers that the mastermind behind her father's wrongful conviction is none other than Chu Zhao.
The hatred for the murderer of one's father is irreconcilable.
In front of Chu Zhao, she became even more immersed in her role.
***
Faced with Xue Chen's undisguised affection, Chu Zhao felt smug, thinking that he was so charming that she loved him so much.
One day, Chu Zhao returned to his residence and found that she had vanished without a trace.
He searched for a long time, only to find out that she was by his side only to gather evidence of his crimes.
Her sworn enemy was working with her from the inside.
He was also her childhood sweetheart.
After obtaining enough evidence to get him imprisoned and beheaded, they fled together!
☆1V1 SC, outdoor ball-dribbling, old-fashioned style
☆This is a fictional story; all are welcome to discuss and exchange ideas~
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