Chapter 99, August 16th
Before Zhang the Blind Man could finish speaking, Ji Yun began to remove his valuables without expression: a warm jade pendant, a heavy silver ingot, and even a jade crown to tie his hair up... one by one, they were piled up on Zhang the Blind Man's dilapidated wooden table without any hesitation. In the end, only the butterfly sachet at his waist, which was not quite in line with his usual temperament, remained unremoved.
Zhang the blind man rubbed his eyes hard again, afraid that he hadn't seen clearly.
Looking at the pile of wealth before him, enough to secure his livelihood for the rest of his life, his eyes widened. He swallowed the rest of his words, and a smile instantly spread across his face, his tone becoming incredibly smooth: "Oh! You should have said so earlier! I'll change it! I'll change it right away! I'll think about it and make sure it's perfect and joyous for you! So that the two lovers can finally be together and live a happy life!"
Ji Yun said no more, then turned around and disappeared into the night outside the door.
After leaving Zhang the Blind, Ji Yun went straight back to the Ji residence.
Inside the study, the candlelight flickered. He sat quietly for a moment, his face regaining its usual coldness, but deep in his eyes, there was a hint of melancholy and heaviness than ever before.
A short while later, Qing Shu walked in with his head bowed and stood respectfully before the desk: "Young Master, you wanted to see me?"
Ji Yun didn't look up, his gaze fixed on the flickering candlelight. His voice was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure: "Since when did you start working for Jin'an?"
Upon hearing this, Qing Shu's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, a hint of panic flashing in his lowered eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure, raised his head, and displayed just the right amount of confusion and innocence on his face: "Young Master... what do you mean by that? Qing Shu doesn't understand. Qing Shu has always been dutiful and loyal only to you."
Ji Yun finally raised his eyes, his gaze icy, and stared straight at Qing Shu.
Ji Yun's eyes were sharp as knives, as if they could see through all pretense. The chilling aura emanating from him caused the temperature in the study to drop several degrees.
“I don’t like to ask a second time,” he said, his tone still calm but carrying an air of authority. “You know, once I open my mouth, it’s not without reason.”
Qing Shu knelt on the ground, her back ramrod straight, trying to take all the blame upon herself: "Young Master, please understand, this matter has nothing to do with Princess Jin'an. It is only because when the Eldest Young Master was alive that he took great care of Her Highness the Princess and was deeply devoted to her. Although the Eldest Young Master is no longer here, Qing Shu believes that if he knew in the afterlife, he would certainly hope that someone could continue to take care of the Princess in his place."
Ji Yun laughed in anger, his voice growing even colder: "I never knew you were such an eloquent and silver-tongued person. Is it because of your brother that you've shown her so much favor, or have you already forgotten your place and can't even tell who your master is?"
He leaned forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. "If one day Jin'an asked you to kill someone, would you do it?"
Qing Shu lowered his head and remained silent.
This silent acquiescence instantly ignited Ji Yun's suppressed rage. The image of Meng Yutong dying from poisoning in his previous life, lying in a pool of blood, suddenly crashed into his mind, causing his heart to clench and his vision to blur.
He suddenly grabbed the white porcelain teacup beside him and smashed it hard against Qing Shu's chest!
Qing Shu neither dodged nor evaded, taking the blow head-on. The teacup struck his chest with a dull thud, then shattered on the floor, soaking his front. He groaned, his face paling, but he remained kneeling upright.
"Qingshu's life was saved by the eldest young master. He should have been dead long ago, but the eldest young master is kind and let me live for these many more years."
His voice was low and resigned, almost numb. "Now that I have offended you, young master, I will accept whatever punishment you may give me. I only ask that you... do not forget the promise you made to the eldest young master, and that you will cure Princess Jin'an's heart ailment."
Ji Yun sneered, but the smile didn't reach his eyes; instead, it made the surrounding air even colder.
He stared coldly at Qing Shu, his eyes chillingly sharp: "I will naturally fulfill my promise to my brother. I already have a clue about Jin An's prescription."
Qing Shu, who had initially appeared unyielding and submissive, had a subtle flicker of emotion in his eyes when he heard the words "already had a clue."
This slight fluctuation was noticed by Ji Yun without the slightest deviation. He sneered inwardly, "Just as I thought."
Ji Yun raised his phoenix eyes slightly, revealing a sharp edge in those eyes that were usually hidden by his aloofness and indifference, with a cold scrutiny.
If he was once like a silent abyss covered with a thin layer of snow, awe-inspiring yet unfathomable, then he is now like a vast ocean suddenly swept by wind and clouds, calm on the surface but turbulent beneath, ready to swallow one whole at any moment.
"Do me a favor," Ji Yun said calmly. "If you do it well, perhaps the research and development of the medicine formula on my end can proceed more quickly."
Qing Shu raised her head, her unease growing stronger: "What does Young Master want Qing Shu to do?"
"Tomorrow, I will find a pretext to send you into the palace. From then on, you will stay by Jin'an's side, nominally as someone I sent to take care of her illness."
Ji Yun spoke slowly, each word crystal clear, "I need to know her every move, down to the smallest detail."
Qing Shu's expression changed, and he blurted out, "Young Master, this is probably not a good idea! There are many eyes and ears in the palace. If the princess finds out..."
“You can choose not to go,” Ji Yun interrupted him, his gaze sweeping over him coldly. “Or, you can go and then outwardly comply but inwardly defy him, just like you are now.”
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone carrying a precisely controlled sense of pressure: "But you also know that Jin'an's heart condition has only been stabilized after years of my treatment. Now, a cure is in sight, but as for when it will be completely completed..."
He paused slightly, a chilling smile curving his lips. "Besides judging my abilities, we'll also have to see how you perform."
Ji Yun recalled the events of her previous life, and suddenly the reason why Jin'an poisoned Jingfu became clear. She wanted Jingfu dead, and then took Jingfu's place by sacrificing herself to save the emperor.
Now that Gyeongbok is still alive, she certainly won't let this go.
Whether she repeats the same tricks she used in her previous life or comes up with some other scheme, this time, he will not let her succeed.
Qing Shu stood frozen in place, his expression shifting unpredictably.
Finally, as if all his strength had been drained, he slammed his forehead heavily onto the cold ground, his voice hoarse: "Yes... Qing Shu, I am at your service, young master."
The eldest son was the one who saved his life, and Princess Jin'an was the person the eldest son was most worried about when he passed away. He should fulfill the eldest son's last wish so that he could rest in peace in the afterlife.
The following day, August 16th, the sky was clear.
In the small courtyard of Zhaoyutang, the birdsong was crisp and melodious, creating a lively atmosphere. Meng Yutong was awakened by the cooing of a pigeon under the eaves.
After preparing the antidote for Princess Jingfu, Ji Yun also sent some to Zhaoyutang.
Meng Yutong fed the unfortunate poisoned pigeon some food, and before long, the pigeon recovered. Now, judging from its strong call, it seemed even more energetic than before.
She had some of the antidote left over, so she simply put that portion into her jade gourd.
Meng Yutong sat on the bed, rubbing her throbbing temples. Last night, she had indulged herself unusually, drinking several extra cups and becoming completely drunk.
Perhaps it was because he had figured out some of the entanglements from his past life that the heavy boulder in his heart had been lifted, and the pressure had lessened considerably, which is why he acted this way.
But... how did she get back to bed? She vaguely remembered that she was lying on the table, and everyone in the courtyard was also slumped over. Could it be that she found her way back to the room by herself?
She sat for a moment until the dizziness subsided, then got up and went to the courtyard. Bai Zhi was already up and busy cleaning up the mess left by last night's dishes.
Meng Yutong stepped forward to help and noticed a half-finished jar of wine on the corner of the table. She picked up the jar and found it quite heavy, and couldn't help but smile: "There's still half a jar of hawthorn wine left. It seems that none of us can hold our liquor."
Bai Zhi turned around upon hearing this and corrected her, "Miss, that jar in your hand isn't hawthorn wine. Granny Gui brewed two jars, one with hawthorn and the other with loquat. The jar you're holding is loquat wine. Last night, after opening it, everyone passed out after only a few cups. You probably haven't even tasted it yet."
Meng Yutong looked doubtful, but did as instructed, breaking the clay seal on the wine jar and bringing it close to sniff.
A refreshing and mellow aroma wafts up, carrying the unique sweetness of loquat fruit, which is truly delightful and invigorating; it is undoubtedly loquat wine.
Is it loquat wine?
Meng Yutong suddenly felt a bit confused.
If this jar is loquat wine, then the one that Ji Yun took away under a pretext in the previous life, causing him to break out in a rash the next day, should also be this jar of loquat wine.
Her heart beat slightly faster. If it wasn't hawthorn, then where did his rash come from that day?
Seeing that she was lost in thought, Bai Zhi asked, "What's wrong, young lady?"
Meng Yutong snapped out of her reverie and shook her head. After tidying up the courtyard, she went to the main hall to see patients as usual.
At night, after seeing the patients, Meng Yutong and Bai Zhi sat in the courtyard chatting.
The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly through the courtyard of Zhaoyutang, covering the bluestone ground with a layer of silver frost.
"The clinic hasn't been too busy lately. I'm thinking of taking a couple of days off to visit my grandmother at her estate outside the city. She's been staying there for some time now; I wonder if she's doing well."
Bai Zhi smiled and massaged her shoulders. "Don't worry, Miss. You have Granny Gui and Granny Wu taking care of you. Besides, Granny Gui often comes back to deliver messages, doesn't she? The old lady is doing well and told you not to worry."
Before the words were finished, a familiar voice, strong and slightly angry, came from outside the courtyard gate:
"How could I trouble someone as busy as you to come see me! If I hadn't come back soon, I'm afraid your clinic would have been raided and demolished without me even knowing it!"
Hearing the sound, Meng Yutong stood up and saw Old Madam Meng, supported by Granny Wu, steadily stepping into the courtyard, with Granny Gui following closely behind. Seeing this, Bai Zhi quickly moved a chair, then excused herself to make tea, and slipped away in a flash.
"Why did Grandmother suddenly come back?" Meng Yutong stepped forward, bowed, and helped the old lady Meng sit down.
Old Mrs. Meng snorted coldly, glancing at her: "If I hadn't come back, I'm afraid I would have had to collect your corpse!"
Meng Yutong knew that her grandmother was angry because she hadn't sent anyone to the estate to report the previous incident when her clinic was shut down.
She softened her voice and said gently, "Grandmother, don't worry, things have calmed down. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would be troubled while you were far away on the estate."
"It's over?" Upon hearing this, Old Madam Meng raised her hand, curled her fingers, and lightly tapped her smooth forehead. "Do you know why they framed you? Do you know what kind of vortex you've been dragged into? You haven't even figured out the root of the problem, yet you dare to say it's over! This time it was just luck, but what about next time?"
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