Chapter 94 Pine Nut Candy
Night fell early, and all was quiet.
The chill of early autumn seeped into the air, the sky was as black as ink, and the oppressive atmosphere made one feel suffocated.
Before long, a torrential downpour began, the dense raindrops pounding on the tiles and the ground, making a noisy and continuous sound, as if trying to wash everything in the world clean.
Li Jing and his party stayed for most of the day, until it got dark and a downpour was imminent, before they finally left.
After the others left, Meng Yutong returned to her room and, by the flickering candlelight, opened the book "Pharmacology." The wind howled outside the window, occasionally swirling into the room and causing the lamplight on the desk to flicker, just like her restless mind.
After flipping through a few pages, she finally couldn't read any more. She sighed softly, closed the book, and rubbed her slightly furrowed brow with her slender fingers.
She got up and went to the window, opening it a crack. Outside, the rain poured down like a waterfall, making the pomegranate tree in front of her house tremble and sway violently.
Gazing at the pomegranate tree that struggled in the wind and rain yet never broke, she suddenly remembered what Ji Yun had once told her:
'You too can write your own medical book.'
A few unripe fruits, the size of pebbles, still hung on the tree, looking so fragile in the raging wind and rain, as if they would fall to the ground and turn to mud at any moment.
But those seemingly slender branches are incredibly resilient, struggling to maintain their shape amidst the wind and rain, and resisting fiercely.
A flicker of emotion crossed Meng Yutong's eyes. Cool raindrops seeped into the cracks, pattering on the back of her slightly warm hand, sending a shiver down her spine.
She gently closed the window, shutting out the sound of wind and rain outside, and then spread out a sheet of plain white Xuan paper, picked up her brush and dipped it in ink.
As her pen fell, the first thing she wrote was the three characters 'Begonia'. Then, relying on her memory, she meticulously copied down everything in Shen Bing's book about the appearance and medicinal properties of Marigold, the various symptoms of poisoning, and the antidote.
She even sketched out the outline of the eerie, poisonous flower from memory.
The brush moved with exceptional ease, as if aided by the wind. In no time, a sheet of Xuan paper was covered with densely packed characters.
She did not stop there. She then wrote about the previous outbreak of diarrhea in the city, and recorded the many difficult and complicated diseases she had encountered and her treatment experience during her months of practice at Zhaoyutang.
She was completely absorbed in her writing, her pen moving swiftly and gracefully. By the time she finally put down her pen, the rain outside the window had stopped, and the sky was already bright. Unbeknownst to her, she had been writing furiously all night.
Pushing open the window, the courtyard was no longer filled with biting cold, but with the fresh morning breeze carrying the scent of earth and grass after the rain. As it brushed against her face, Meng Yutong felt her mind clear up, and the gloom of the past few days was dispelled considerably.
She looked down at the few pages of paper with the ink still wet in front of her, and a thought suddenly occurred to her.
If she can safely weather this storm, she might actually be able to begin writing her own medical book. It could not only record the difficult cases she encounters in her medical practice, but also incorporate her unique insights into ancient prescriptions and old texts, and even new prescriptions that she concocts based on the symptoms she observes.
Thinking of this, the stifling and silent feeling of being confined to the clinic for days was gradually replaced by a new expectation.
I just wonder how things are going with Ji Yun?
For two whole days, there was still no news of him. Phoenix Mountain is a treacherous place, fraught with danger, far more complex than it appears. Could something have happened to him?
Just as she was lost in thought, Bai Zhi came running from the front hall, lifting her skirt. Her face was filled with undisguised joy. Before she even arrived, her voice preceded her: "Miss, Miss! All the guards outside have left! They said Princess Jingfu has taken the antidote you prepared and has woken up! We're safe now!"
The antidote she concocted?
Meng Yutong suddenly stood up, quickly went out of the room to greet Bai Zhi, and took her hand, asking, "Is Ji Yun back? Did he find the Seven Star Grass?"
Bai Zhi shook her head: "I don't know the specifics either. I only know that when Aunt Sun brought us food just now, it seemed that someone from the Princess's residence came to deliver a message, saying that Her Highness the Princess had woken up and personally ordered the guards to be withdrawn, and gave them a good scolding."
She blinked and lowered her voice, "I secretly struck up a conversation with the eunuch who delivered the message and learned that it was actually the Imperial Concubine Dowager who ordered the closure of our clinic, not the Princess's own intention. I don't know when we offended this Imperial Concubine Dowager. The Princess hasn't said anything, but she's so idle that she's punishing us first..."
Meng Yutong gently patted the back of her hand, signaling her to be careful with her words.
Bai Zhi understood, immediately fell silent, looked around, and whispered, "This servant understands."
Now that the sealing order has been lifted, Zhaoyutang can resume normal operations.
Meng Yutong straightened her clothes and walked towards the front hall. Several old neighbors from Peach Blossom Street had already gathered there, all of whom had come to inquire about the situation after hearing the news.
Meng Yutong explained everything, saying it was all a misunderstanding that had now been cleared up.
Seeing her calm demeanor and composed manner, which showed her composure even in the face of adversity, and considering their close relationship as neighbors over the past six months, everyone trusted her character even more. They offered words of comfort before dispersing.
He Haochuan arrived shortly after.
"Sister Yutong, how have you been these past few days?" The young man asked anxiously, his face filled with worry. "I've been wanting to come see you, but there are people blocking my way outside. I can only stand by and watch helplessly, unable to do anything to help."
Meng Yutong gently reassured her, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern."
He Haochuan waved his hand, his face showing some shame and lingering fear: "I didn't really help much... But Physician Ji suffered a lot in Phoenix Mountain these past two days. I told him I was familiar with the mountain paths, so I took him into the mountains. But he was worried about my safety and only allowed me to lead the way to my family's tea garden. He insisted on not letting me follow him to the more dangerous parts, and only took one personal attendant with him."
He recalled the scene with a furrowed brow: "I waited in the tea garden for a day and a night, but he still didn't come down the mountain. I was getting anxious and was thinking of going down the mountain to find someone to go in and look for him... when I finally saw him come out."
He Haochuan's voice was still tinged with fear, "My sister went to gather herbs during the day last time. You don't know, deep in Phoenix Mountain, after nightfall, the air is thick with miasma, and there are still many poisonous snakes and insects at this time of year. The paths are slippery and difficult to traverse, fraught with danger... When Physician Ji came out, he looked quite disheveled. I saw that his right arm seemed to be injured, hastily wrapped with a strip of cloth, and his robes were covered with mud and bits of grass. I've never seen him look like that before..."
"He's injured? Is he alright?" Meng Yutong asked hurriedly.
He Haochuan shook his head. "I can only see that he is injured on his hand. I don't know much about the other parts. I asked him several times and he always said that he was fine."
He paused, then continued, "By the way, we descended the mountain at the crack of dawn today. As soon as we came down, his servants immediately escorted him back to his residence to heal his wounds. After I returned to the teahouse and rested for a while, I came out and saw that your guards had left. It must be that Physician Ji sent back the medicine in time and prepared the antidote to save the princess. I just don't know how his own injuries are now."
Seeing the worry etched on Meng Yutong's face, He Haochuan quickly comforted her, "Sister Yutong, don't worry too much. Physician Ji is a highly skilled doctor himself, and he will definitely handle it properly. He didn't want me to tell you these things, but I know your personality, and I think these things... you should know."
“I understand,” Meng Yutong nodded slightly, her eyes filled with complex emotions. “Thank you for telling me this.”
"Sister, there's no need to be so polite! If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know!"
"You've been traveling through Phoenix Mountain for two days; you must be exhausted. Now that I have nothing more to do here, you should go back and rest to recharge your energy," Meng Yutong said gently.
He Haochuan agreed and turned to leave Zhaoyutang.
After he left, Meng Yutong silently walked back behind the counter. With practiced ease, she opened each small drawer, took out several herbs for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and treating external injuries, and also prepared two prescriptions for dispelling cold and strengthening the body. She carefully wrapped them in mulberry paper and tied them with hemp rope. Then she called Wu Ming over and handed him the medicine package: "Take these to the Ji residence and give them to Ji Yun."
Wu Ming took the medicine and asked in confusion, "Master, what happened to Physician Ji? Could it be that he was injured while gathering herbs the other day? Is it serious?" He asked one question after another, even more anxious than Meng Yutong.
Meng Yutong gently shook her head: "I don't know the specifics either. When you take him there, if you see Yunzhou, ask him carefully about Ji Yun's injuries and see if there's anything we can do to help."
"Okay, I'll take care of it!" Wu Ming readily agreed, took the medicine bag, and turned to leave.
"Wu Ming," Meng Yutong suddenly called out to him.
Wu Ming turned around: "What else do you need, sir?"
But Meng Yutong hesitated, a rare hint of hesitation appearing on her usually cool and composed face. Wu Ming scratched his head, looking at her with confusion.
She finally added, expressionless, and spoke a little quickly: "When you go to deliver the medicine, if you pass by Chen's Pastry Shop, please also pick up a bag of pine nut candy and deliver it to them."
"Oh, okay." Although Wu Ming was surprised, he readily agreed.
As he walked out, he muttered to himself: Pine nut candy? Physician Ji looked so aloof and composed; he didn't seem like the type to need candy with his medicine…
Oh well, whatever, it's on my way anyway. He might as well buy himself a pack too!
With that thought, Wu Ming's face lit up with a smile. He picked up his medicine bag in one hand, hummed a tuneless little tune, and walked briskly into the flow of people in the streets and alleys.
After Wu Ming left, Meng Yutong had a simple breakfast and then started her clinic as usual.
Although the events of the past two days had somewhat affected the number of patients visiting Zhaoyutang, fewer people were coming than usual, but some were gradually returning. She composed herself, focused on dealing with the situation, and temporarily suppressed her chaotic thoughts.
Around noon, Wu Ming returned with the medicine. Meng Yutong found a moment to call him aside and inquire about Ji Yun's condition.
Wu Ming replied, "When I went to deliver the medicine, I happened to run into Physician Ji, who was about to leave, as if he was in a hurry to go to the palace. His right hand did look rather clumsy, and it was wrapped up tightly. I asked him a few questions, and he said he was fine and asked me to thank you for the medicine on his behalf."
He paused, then added, "Oh, I also sent the packet of pine nut candy that you specifically asked for."
Meng Yutong's gaze fell on the prescription in her hand, and she simply replied, "It's good that you're alright."
Wu Ming added, "It's strange, Doctor Ji usually seems aloof and doesn't talk much, but today he seemed to be in a very good mood and even invited me to stay for tea. However, I saw that he and Yunzhou seemed to have important matters to attend to, so I didn't bother them any longer."
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