Chapter 199: She Was a Widow
She took off the baby's shoes and socks, lay down on her side, and gently patted his back.
"Go to sleep, your mother is right here."
Qinghe blinked her big eyes twice and nodded.
After just a couple of gentle pats, Qinghe had already fallen into a deep sleep and completely forgot what he wanted to say.
Looking at the well-behaved and sensible little boy, Ji Shu felt a pang of melancholy.
Ultimately, it was because she was an incompetent mother; she had never taken care of him for a single day since his birth.
She knew in her heart that sometimes her child wanted to ask her if she was really his biological mother.
Perhaps out of fear of leaving again, or perhaps out of fear of upsetting her, he was sensible enough not to bring it up again.
He brushed the stray hairs from his forehead behind his head, his eyes welling up with tears.
After venting his anger, Pei Yanzhi came out and saw Ji Shu sitting on the edge of the bed, her back view exuding a sense of loneliness.
He said, "Qinghe just asked me inside if I wanted you to sleep with him. I couldn't decide that, so I told him to ask you."
Ji Shu replied in a hoarse voice, "What am I to you now? And what am I to him?"
Pei Yanzhi paused slightly as he dried his hair, then casually draped the handkerchief over the screen and slowly approached.
He sat down beside her, turned her shoulder, and looked deeply into her eyes with his dark eyes, leaving her nowhere to hide: "You can come back anytime you want."
"After all these years, do you really not know how I feel... I just want you."
"...But why is it so difficult?"
Ji Shu reacted indifferently to this, and suddenly asked, "If you really love me so much, would Qinghe stay by my side?"
"Now that Pei Xingjian is sitting in the position of Crown Prince, Qinghe will simply be a leisurely prince in the future. But as a member of the royal family, no one can guarantee that Qinghe will be able to live a peaceful and stable life."
"You have your grand ambitions and boundless plans, but Qinghe is different. Like me, he enjoys a free and unrestrained life."
Ignoring the turmoil in Pei Yanzhi's eyes, she continued calmly, "You can name your terms. As long as you keep him by my side, I will agree to any condition."
Pei Yanzhi hadn't expected her to say that. Just moments ago, the two of them had been intimately intimate, and now it had only been a blink of an eye.
She could say such hurtful things, yet he was completely helpless against her.
Just then, Pei Qinghe seemed to be startled and turned over.
The two held their breath, and only when they saw that the child did not wake up did they breathe a sigh of relief. The child turned over and continued to sleep.
Ji Shu felt weak and didn't want to say anything more. After getting up, she said to him, "Your Majesty, please think it over carefully. As long as you are willing to leave Qinghe behind, any condition is acceptable."
After saying that, he took a deep look at the person sleeping on the bed.
He turned and left.
After that day, the person seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Even Qinghe, who hadn't seen Pei Yanzhi in a long time, had no idea what he was busy with.
After breakfast, Chunzhi took Qinghe to the river to catch small fish and shrimp, while Jishu continued to see patients and dispense medicine in the hall as usual.
Just then, a man walked in and asked, "Is Madam Sheng here?"
Ji Shu looked up and saw that the person who came was dressed in rich clothes. Xiao De went up to greet him and said, "My wife is here. Do you need a doctor's visit or medicine?"
The man simply said, "My wife has recently fallen ill with some ailment. She can't eat or sleep well, and has lost a lot of weight. I've heard that Madam Sheng of Guangmin Hall is a highly skilled doctor, and I'd like to come to your residence to examine her."
Ji Shu then spoke up: "I haven't been going out to see patients these days."
When the man saw her, his eyes lit up, but he seemed to be wary of something. He hurriedly said, "You must be Madam Sheng? My lady said that money is no problem, but this illness has indeed been treated by doctors of all levels, and none of them can cure it."
"We learned of your superb medical skills through a recommendation. If you're willing to come, we'll cover all your consultation fees for this month."
"Tell me in detail about your wife's symptoms first."
Seeing that Ji Shu no longer refused, the man carefully recalled, "About a month ago, my wife often woke up in the middle of the night... but not every night. I'd still trouble you to go and take a look."
With the patient's condition being the priority, Ji Shu could only say to Xiao De, "I'll be right back. If Chunzhi comes back later, remember to tell her."
"Yes, my wife."
The carriage bumped and swayed for an unknown amount of time before finally coming to a stop.
Ji Shu lifted the curtain and saw the three characters "Qin Prince's Mansion" clearly written on the plaque.
Ji Shu was secretly alarmed; she simply couldn't believe that the prestigious Prince Qin's mansion wouldn't have a good doctor.
unless……
Suddenly remembering something, he pinched his palm with the hand hidden in his sleeve, reminding himself to stay calm.
She gripped the strap on the medicine box tightly and pretended to be completely unaware as she walked in. Along the way, she noticed that the Qin Prince's mansion was strictly regulated, though she wondered if it was just her imagination.
I have a feeling that everyone here is watching me, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
After winding their way through several turns, they entered a room. The man bowed and said, "Doctor Sheng, my master is inside. Please come in."
As Ji Shu stepped inside, she found the room completely quiet; even her footsteps on the carpet made no sound. Ji Shu's heart tightened involuntarily.
Thinking of the dagger he had prepared in the medicine box, he felt a little more at ease, and his hand reached into the medicine box where no one could see it.
Upon touching that cold object, it silently tucked into its sleeve.
Ji Shu was in the study of the Prince of Qin's mansion. As she walked in, she saw a man with his back to her. He was eight feet tall and wore a four-clawed python robe.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Qin Yi slowly turned around, his eyes flashing with cold light as he stared straight at him.
When he saw Ji Shuyu's face, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had thought that his subordinate's words were exaggerated, but he did not expect that they were true.
How could such a beautiful place as Ganzhou, such a poor and remote place, have such stunning scenery?
Yesterday, I learned from my subordinates that the reason why that person stayed in Ganzhou for so long was actually related to this widow.
Not only did he treat her son as his own, but he also ate and lived with her in the widow's courtyard these days.
He looked the woman up and down and saw that she was calm and composed, which meant that she already knew his identity.
That does have some merit.
What a pity... she was a widow, what a waste!
Ji Shu put down the medicine box in her hand, bowed and said, "This commoner greets Your Highness."
Qin Yi stroked his chin, showing some interest in the woman before him. "You know me?"
Ji Shu lowered her eyes and said calmly, "Nowadays, who in the world doesn't know that besides the Prince of Anping, there is also you, the Prince of Qin, who is not of the same surname?"
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