Chapter 8 Ji Yun
After passing through a hanging flower gate, Granny Chen led Meng Yutong to a quiet and elegant side room.
Two maids wearing lotus-colored vests were carrying incense burners as they came out. Upon seeing the people, they immediately curtsied and quietly pushed open the carved door.
The room was simply furnished. On a rosewood clothes rack by the window hung a newly prepared moon-white jacket embroidered with plum blossoms. The fabric was of the finest Wu silk, which shimmered with a warm, pearly luster in the sunlight streaming through the window.
Granny Chen took off the clothes and handed them to Meng Yutong, saying, "These are old clothes from when the madam was young. Please make do with them for now."
Meng Yutong thanked her and accepted the mirror. After changing her clothes, Granny Chen came over with the bronze mirror in her hand.
The person in the mirror, dressed in plain clothes, only accentuated their beautiful features.
Her moon-white dress reflected the faint light of the sky, and a light green silk sash was tied around her waist, making her look like a newly blooming, delicate magnolia.
Granny Chen couldn't help but praise, "This outfit suits you very well, young lady."
Meng Yutong smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Granny."
After they finished tidying up, the two walked back along the corridor. Meng Yutong slowly straightened her sleeves and chatted with her casually: "Madam never held a birthday banquet in previous years, but she suddenly organized one this year. Everything was done so well. She must have put a lot of thought into it."
Granny Chen paused slightly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes: "What makes you say that, young lady?"
She was an old hand in this household, so it wasn't easy to get information out of her.
In her previous life, after Meng Yutong married into the Ji family, Madam Ji rarely appeared in public, and all of her affairs were handled by this nanny, who was extremely meticulous.
Meng Yutong quickly covered her mouth with her handkerchief, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Please don't laugh, Granny, it's just..." Her voice trailed off. "I... have admired the eldest young master for a long time, and now that I'm about to enter the Ji family, I'd like to know more about my mother-in-law's preferences."
This display of girlish demeanor was so convincing that Chen Mama's gaze lingered on Meng Yutong's lowered eyelashes for a moment before returning to her usual expression. She said knowingly, "Madam is thinking that since the eldest young master is about to get married, he will need to reconnect with various families. Besides, after the young lady marries into the family, these social interactions will be unavoidable."
“I see,” Meng Yutong said, her eyes shifting slightly. “I wonder when the preparations for this birthday banquet began. If I had known earlier that Madam was going to hold a birthday celebration, I should have informed Grandmother sooner.”
"Actually, the preparations were rushed, and it was only finalized a couple of days ago."
Meng Yutong's heart stirred slightly; it had been just two days ago. She followed along somewhat absentmindedly.
Turning past the artificial rockery, Granny Chen stopped, and she stopped as well. Suddenly, they saw Ji Yun standing under the eaves with Ji Ming.
The young man, dressed in an indigo robe, stood upright against the wind, a blue sachet hanging from his waist. Sunlight filtered through the wisteria trellis in the long corridor, casting dappled shadows on his clothes.
Meng Yutong caught her breath when their eyes met from afar; it was Ji Yun.
The person in question overheard my casual remark about "admiration."
Her fingertips unconsciously curled into her palm, concealing the sudden freeze on her face, and she quickly lowered her eyes.
Ji Mingchao waved to her: "Sister Meng!"
"Is my sister here for my mother's birthday banquet today?" As Meng Yutong and her brother walked to the corridor, Ji Ming broke free from his brother's hand, jogged to a stop in front of her, and looked up at her.
Meng Yutong smiled and nodded, "Is the young master feeling any better?"
Ji Ming blinked, spun around in front of her, patted his chest, and exclaimed, "Thanks to Sister Meng, I'm all better now!"
Granny Chen was somewhat suspicious, wondering how Miss Meng and the young master had met.
Just as she was about to step forward and ask a question, she saw the eldest young master beckon her over and ask her to take the young master to the entrance of the corridor to wait.
She had no choice but to comply, pulling the reluctant young master out of the corridor.
As she left, she couldn't help but look back. Seeing the two standing far apart, seemingly unfamiliar with each other, she felt a little relieved.
The corridor suddenly fell silent, with only the rustling of the wind blowing through the wisteria.
“Miss Meng.” Ji Yun nodded slightly, his voice clear and melodious.
Meng Yutong gave him a slight curtsy, her expression distant and indifferent. "Is there something you need, Young Master Ji?"
This was the first time she had seen Ji Yun since her rebirth.
Unlike before, when she would blush and her heart would race at the sight of him, or be overwhelmed with emotion at the mere thought of him. Those girlish sentiments had long since been worn away in her previous life.
There was no resentment or bitterness as she had imagined. Standing before him, she felt only a sense of calm and stillness.
"My younger brother suddenly suffered from abdominal pain a few days ago, and I must thank you for your help, Miss. The Ji family owes you a favor for this." Ji Yun said calmly, her gaze slowly falling on the person in front of her.
His cool gaze seemed to lightly sweep over her waist, only to find that her waist was empty; the jade-green double fish pendant she wore the last time he saw her was not hanging there.
Meng Yutong replied, "That day it was raining heavily, and Young Master Ji also offered me an umbrella. I accidentally helped the young master, so this is my way of repaying the kindness of the young master who offered me an umbrella."
The wisteria blossoms cast dappled shadows, falling upon Meng Yutong's beautiful features. She lowered her eyes slightly, her gaze fixed on the graceful floral shadows on the bluestone slab, appearing docile.
However, he spoke a few minutes faster than when he spoke to Ji Ming.
Ji Yun watched quietly, vaguely sensing that she seemed a little impatient.
He turned his gaze, took out a pink sachet from his pocket, and slowly handed it to her: "My younger brother found this when he brought the sachet back. It must have been left behind by you, young lady."
He slightly opened his palm, his five fingers seemingly encircling the edge of the sachet, two pink ribbons hanging from between his fingers, swaying gently in the wind.
If you want to retrieve it, skin-to-skin contact is inevitable.
Meng Yutong then looked up at him. Her dark, bright eyes darted around, and she quickly realized what he meant. She reached out to take the sachet and said, "It is indeed mine. I suppose I accidentally gave it to you, young master, during that chaotic day."
She precisely pinched the dangling ribbon with two fingers and gently tugged. The sachet slipped from his palm like a swimming fish. "Please keep it safe for me, young master. I'll take it with me now."
A breeze swept through the corridor, and the shadows of wisteria blossoms shattered into flowing dappled patterns on the bluestone slabs.
Ji Yun slowly closed his empty palms, the faint medicinal fragrance lingering on his fingertips being dispersed by the wind.
He felt that she was somewhat different from when he had bumped into her outside the teahouse a couple of days ago.
At that moment, the way she looked at me was gentle and tender, with a hint of shyness.
"If Young Master Ji has nothing else, I will take my leave." She forced a smile, but her eyes were calm and cold. Her tone was quick, and the hem of her skirt swayed rapidly with her movements, as if some ferocious beast was climbing on her from behind.
"Wait a moment." Ji Yun suddenly stepped forward, the corner of his indigo robe brushing against the fallen flowers on the stone steps. The dark shadows of the flowers lingered on his handsome face. He asked, "The prescription you prepared for my brother is quite skillful." He lowered his voice, his gaze filled with inquiry as he quietly looked at her. "I don't recall ever hearing that you were proficient in medicine before. May I ask which master you studied under?"
Meng Yutong put the sachet back into her sleeve and said calmly, "My family runs a medicinal herb business, and I've only learned a little bit from the pharmacist. I won't show off my limited skills in front of Young Master Ji." She raised her eyes and met his scrutiny frankly. "I accidentally got my clothes wet during the banquet earlier, and I came out to change. It took me quite a while to change, so I'm afraid Madam Ji will be worried."
She clearly didn't want to say anything more to him.
The corridor was quiet for a few moments, then the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the flowers grew louder and louder.
A shadowy flower seemed to flash across Ji Yun's eyes, his emotions unreadable amidst the interplay of light and shadow. He cupped his hands and took a step back, saying, "It was my presumption."
She nodded and left. Ji Yun watched the direction she disappeared in, but frowned slightly.
Ordinary pharmacists only have a rudimentary understanding of medicine and can identify medicinal herbs; they are far from being able to cure diseases and save lives. What kind of pharmacist could have imparted such medical skills to her?
He rubbed his fingertips together, dispelling the lingering fragrance from his hands.
Well, whether she can treat illnesses or whether she is different from before is actually irrelevant.
He heard short footsteps and turned around to see Yunzhou standing behind him, holding a wooden box.
"Young master, here is what you asked me to get." Yunzhou opened the wooden box and handed it over, revealing a handwritten copy of "Pharmacology" with an indigo silk cover. This book describes the origins, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of medicinal materials. It was a masterpiece written by his grandfather, Ji Huaijin, when he served as the head of the Imperial Medical Academy.
My grandfather is currently traveling and is working on his second medical book, "The Medicine Contract," which mainly discusses the interactions and incompatibilities of medicinal herbs.
While Meng Yutong's prescription for Ji Ming's abdominal pain was unique and special, its medicinal properties were somewhat lacking. This book on pharmacology should be of great benefit to her.
However… Ji Yun narrowed his long, phoenix-shaped eyes and snapped his hand shut.
Since she said there was no need for thanks, there was no need to go through the trouble.
"Send it back." Ji Yun turned around and walked forward.
He could only scratch his head as he carried the box back home.
Although I didn't quite understand, I could only do as instructed.
Pulled along by Granny Chen, Ji Ming couldn't stay still. He kept looking around, standing on tiptoe and straining his ears, trying to hear what his brother and Sister Meng were whispering about.
Unfortunately, we were too far away to hear clearly. I only saw my brother return Sister Meng's sachet to her, and Sister Meng seemed to take a half step back when she took the sachet back.
Ji Ming's round black eyes darted around, as if afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
Only when he saw Meng Yutong walking towards him did he release Chen Mama's hand and go to greet her, "Sister Meng, what were you and your brother talking about? Why did you talk for so long?"
Meng Yutong looked at Granny Chen and, seeing that she did not stop her, patiently replied, "It's nothing important, just a few words of greeting."
Then Granny Chen stepped forward and pulled Ji Ming aside, saying, "Young Master, please wait here for him. This old servant will lead Miss Meng back to her seat first."
"See you in a bit, Sister Meng!" Upon hearing Granny Chen mention Ji Yun, Ji Ming was afraid that he might accidentally offend his brother again, so he quickly nodded and obediently waited by the pillar.
After the two walked away, he crossed one hand across his chest and pinched his chin with the other, and began to ponder.
Just now, he seemed to vaguely hear Sister Meng say that she 'admired' his brother, but when the two were alone, Sister Meng's attitude seemed very cold. Does Sister Meng actually like his brother?
He was somewhat confused.
If Sister Meng doesn't like her brother, will she also dislike him?
His eyebrows were furrowed together, and he looked very troubled.
"What are you thinking about now?" A cool voice came from above.
Ji Ming looked up and blurted out, "I'm thinking about how to subtly remind my brother that he's not very likable."
As soon as he uttered those words, they met his brother's deep, unfathomable eyes. Only then did Ji Ming realize what he had said, and he quickly covered his mouth. His eyes darted around, and a fawning smile bloomed on his face. "Brother, I meant that you are truly handsome and radiant today. All the flowers and plants in the courtyard must give way to your brilliance!"
Ji Yun scoffed lightly, too lazy to pay him any attention, and turned away with a flick of his sleeve.
The long sleeve slapped Ji Ming's arm, and he dodged it with a start. Then, with a shameless grin, he quickly caught up with him, saying, "Brother, wait for me! My legs aren't as long as yours. You can't take a step as long as me."
Ji Yun did not stop walking, only letting out a barely audible hum from his nose, whether out of helplessness or disdain, but his pace slowed down slightly.
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