Bai Wangsheng led Xin Jiuwei to the outside of a dilapidated thatched hut, which was his residence.
"Sir, you are a renowned physician of our time, why do you only stay here?" Xin Jiuwei asked softly.
Bai Wangsheng bent down to collect the herbs drying in front of the house, saying, "It's already difficult enough to escape being hunted down for possessing such a treasure; how can you flaunt it in public?"
His movements were slow, and he didn't look at Xin Jiuwei. "You stumbled upon the secret from back then, and your life is already in danger. What about me?"
"Would you be willing to save me, sir?" Xin Jiuwei asked. "My mother risked her life to give birth to me, and I don't want to die."
Bai Wangsheng put down the winnowing basket, his eyes, half-covered by his eyelids, staring silently at Xin Jiuwei.
"If you take the antidote from me, you'll be the one who faces the consequences of possessing such a valuable treasure. What difference would that make from death?"
“It’s different.” Xin Jiuwei took a slow breath and looked back without fear. “If I don’t get the antidote, the person afflicted with the Gu will kill me; if I get it, I still have a way, I can still live.”
Bai Wangsheng stared intently at him. "The royal family is cold-hearted, aloof, suspicious, and fickle. What methods do you have?"
Xin Jiuwei said, "Even if there is no perfect solution, I will try, be thorough, and resist."
"I'm only sixteen years old. My mother wouldn't want me to die here."
An hour later, Xin Jiuwei left Bai Wangsheng's thatched hut.
"Miss!"
Their conversation touched on a royal secret from back then, which Wang Qing and Mian Feng were unaware of, and she did not allow them to get close.
Mianfeng, being more impatient, asked, "What did Miss say to him? What did he mean by 'saving you from dire straits'? He just said that if you want something, you should go with him. What does Miss want?"
Xin Jiuwei smiled and patted her shoulder, telling her not to rush.
Wang Qing asked, "Did you get what Miss wanted?"
She didn't know what Xin Jiuwei was doing or why she said those things to the old man, but she cared about the outcome for Xin Jiuwei.
Xin Jiuwei shook her head. "Let's go back."
Bai Wangsheng did not give her the antidote, but Xin Jiuwei was not disappointed.
Sometimes, she is actually quite good at waiting.
Before returning to the Qi residence, Xin Jiuwei visited Xin Kui and Liu'er again and gave them some money.
Liu'er had completely lost the timid and easily bullied demeanor she had shown at the Qi residence. She happily counted her silver notes and left.
"This is an extra gift for you." Xin Jiuwei placed a piece of paper in Xin Kui's hand. "From now on, you are free."
Xin Kui unfolded it and saw that it was her indenture that the brothel owner had hidden away.
"Thank you." She thanked Xin Jiuwei with tears in her eyes. "Third Miss is a person who keeps her promises."
Xin Jiuwei said, "You and Liu'er risked your lives to help me a lot, this is what I should do."
Xin Kui said, "Qi Huaiyu is cunning and vindictive. He lost face in Yuncheng and will definitely seek revenge in the future. Does Miss San have any ideas on how to deal with him?"
“He fell into my traps time and time again because he underestimated me.” Xin Jiuwei smiled slightly. “You are now free, so leave as soon as possible.”
Xin Kui gave Xin Jiuwei a few deep looks, pulled her cloak hood over her head, and turned to leave.
However, after taking only a few steps, she stopped and suddenly turned back.
“Third Miss.” Xin Kui looked at Xin Jiuwei with bright eyes, “Xin Kui is willing to follow you and serve you.”
A few days later, Xin Jiuwei bid farewell to her maternal grandfather and set off back to Yingzhou.
After Qi Huaiyu was kicked out by Qi Huaihe that day, he slunk away first. He returned to the Xin residence a few days earlier than Xin Jiuwei, and he would definitely say something to Xin's father.
Xin Jiuwei knew what was going on, but after returning home, she did not rush to see her father. Instead, she first washed and changed her clothes before taking the things she had brought back to the study.
On the way, she asked and found out that Qi Huaiyu had just left Xin's father's place not long ago.
Xin Jiuwei entered the study carrying a box, but did not mention Qi Huaiyu when she spoke.
"Father, look what this is."
When Mr. Xin saw the box in her hand, his hand holding the pen paused, and he quickly put down the pen and took it from her.
Opening the intricately carved wooden box, one finds a set of translucent jade jewelry inside.
“My maternal grandfather said that after my mother was buried, he asked my eldest uncle to get it back from you. It was a memento left to my mother by my maternal grandmother, and it was my mother’s favorite set of jewelry.”
Xin Jiuwei said softly, "When I left Yuncheng, my maternal grandfather instructed me to bring them back to you. He also said—"
Mr. Xin hurriedly asked, "What did you say?"
“Grandpa said that Mother has worried about you for most of her life, and he hopes that you will not forget Mother either,” Xin Jiuwei said with a smile. “He also asked us to discuss whether the two families should spend the New Year in Yuncheng or Yingzhou this year.”
Mr. Xin remained silent for a long time, his eyes gradually reddening, and his hand trembling as he touched the jewelry.
"Good, good, really good." The usually learned man couldn't utter any pleasant words, and could only nod repeatedly.
“Father.” Xin Jiuwei gently took her father’s arm. “Wei’er has not failed in her mission.”
Mr. Xin patted the back of Xin Jiuwei's hand, "My son, you've worked so hard."
He carefully and solemnly put away the set of jade jewelry, and after calming down for a while, he said again:
“Your older cousin sent someone over a few days ago to tell me about your maternal grandfather’s birthday celebration.”
Xin Jiuwei wasn't too surprised; Qi Huaihe was always meticulous in his work.
Father Xin said, "Qi Huaiyu came by just now, and I didn't believe a single word he said this time."
Xin Jiuwei did not speak immediately.
Sure enough, Xin's father said, "But I don't believe him because my daughter is on the opposite side of him in this matter. But Wei'er, let me ask you, did Qi Huaiyu really become a dissolute scoundrel and harass that singer?"
Xin Jiuwei looked at her father frankly and said, "Never."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
