Leaving the residence
A few days later, Mei Sheng woke up in the small house where the group lived, and changed into a gray short jacket and long skirt prepared by the Pei family's kitchen.
She packed the few things she needed to take with her when she went out, and then hurried to the side gate of the Pei residence to wait.
Today is the usual day for the kitchen to make purchases. Since the banquet that night, Pei Jue has been missing, and the eldest master of the Pei family has been staying at the brothel for a long time and has not bothered her again.
The bell came from the winding path, took out her mansion pass and showed it to the gatekeeper, whispered a few words in his ear, and the gatekeeper let them out.
As soon as she stepped out of the side gate, fresh air immediately filled Mei Sheng's lungs. Her eyes brightened, and she looked around at her surroundings with great enthusiasm.
Never stopping for a moment.
Suddenly, I saw Lingdang deep in thought, biting her lip and remaining silent, as if she wanted to see a hole through the list in her hand.
Mei Sheng happened to be in a good mood at the moment, and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
"Qingrou, do you know how to pronounce this character?" Lingdang scratched her head, pursed her lips, and said with a wry smile, "Never mind, you..."
The character "麝" in "麝香" (musk).
The bell shook the paper, her eyes gleaming. She looked back at Mei Sheng with eager anticipation, her brows furrowed with joy: "Qingrou, you can actually read?"
Lingdang had only asked casually and had no expectations.
After all, for a servant, being able to recognize her own name and not signing any harmful contracts is already a great blessing.
"I've only been fortunate enough to know a few of them."
Hearing this, Lingdang was not disappointed. It was good to recognize a few people. Looking at them up close, she noticed that the two of them were sunbathing, but Mei Sheng's neck was even whiter, as if it was about to glow.
She clicked her tongue in disbelief, feeling a little envious.
Mei Sheng glanced at the prescription, seemingly lost in thought: "Isn't this supposed to be purchased by the kitchen? Why are there medicinal herbs?"
Lingdang withdrew her gaze, stuffed the two sheets into her sleeve, and was also a little confused and puzzled: "When I passed by the old lady's place, a maid learned that I was going out to buy things, so she asked me to bring some medicine that the old lady usually needs."
Then, Lingdang muttered softly, "I also find it strange, but I guess they just want to shirk their responsibilities and only make us servants do the work."
Mei Sheng had only been in the mansion for a few days and was unable to make any judgments. So he listened to the young girl's complaints and offered some comfort from time to time.
It was quite a coincidence; she had been looking for an opportunity to visit the pharmacy, and now she didn't need to think of any excuses.
Upon arriving at Guangping Street, Lingdang visited several familiar shops and, as always, ordered the dishes she needed for the next few days. Since Pei Jue returned to the mansion, it had gradually become more lively, with people frequently coming to pay their respects to him, causing the kitchen's food supplies to run out quickly.
As they walked out of the last shop, Lingdang rubbed her back, suddenly had a sudden inspiration, and bluntly advised her: "Qingrou, I heard you used to be a maid in the master's house, so why did you come to such a messy place as the kitchen where you do manual labor? Listen to me, go back."
"I've also heard that the master is diligent in his duties and spends all day in the government office handling official business. There's no mistress or anything in the master's house, so the maids are the most carefree. I really envy them."
"Also, the night the master came back, a maid tried to seduce him, but she didn't succeed and didn't sell herself. The master is really good-natured."
It was noon, and Lingdang peeled off the oil paper in her hand, took out a cake, and handed it to Meisheng, speaking as if it were a serious matter.
Mei Sheng sneered inwardly, disagreeing. Where was the good temperament in that?
After considering it for a moment, she replied, "While the master's place is nice, it's not as comfortable as the kitchen."
Lingdang gave her a strange look. This Qingrou actually liked the kitchen? She had a sore back from working there every day, and it was stuffy and hot inside. She hated it the most.
How strange.
By the time they finished their last bite, the two had reached the entrance of Jishetang. Before they even reached the steps, they heard a heavy thud behind them, which made them stop and look.
The figure staggered to his feet, clutching the horrific scar on his left cheek, his face ashen. He cursed, "Bah! You heartless, rotten clinic! You can't even heal the wound on my face, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a miracle doctor's clinic? Are you trying to emulate the Jishitang clinic across the street? When I get back and tell my master, he'll tear this shabby place down!"
The handsome young servant, holding a broom, stood upright at the door. Hearing such slander, he could not contain his anger: "You...you shrew! My master clearly said he could cure you, but you complained that it was too expensive and refused to be treated. Now you're blaming us?"
The servant hurriedly retorted, but seemed to know very little how to curse. He blushed as he spoke, and in a fit of anger, he swung the broom in his hand with great force, sweeping it towards the man's feet.
The figure was so frightened that it took a few steps back, dodging left and right, pointing frantically and saying hatefully, "You shabby, fraudulent clinic, you just wait!"
It was in that turn of her body that Mei Sheng saw her face clearly—it was Chun Tao!
Chun Tao glared angrily at the onlookers, gritting her teeth and saying, "What are you looking at! Get lost!"
She limped toward the Jishetang pharmacy across the street.
Mei Sheng stopped watching the commotion and, before Chun Tao could glance over, moved behind the crowd of onlookers and turned her back.
Lingdang, distracted by Mei Sheng's erratic behavior, kept her distance and paid no attention to him.
"It's all that bitch's fault, she made me look like this. Madam won't let you get away with this, just you wait..." Chun Tao grinned, her tone sinister, talking to herself.
Once those people in the brothel find her, they will surely avenge their disfigurement...
Others might not understand, but doesn't Mei Sheng know?
She stood there, the scorching heat behind her threatening to burn her up.
Chun Tao stared intently at that slender figure; she looked just like that bitch!
She paused, stopping unconsciously, squinting as she looked him up and down, a hint of suspicion flashing across her face.
Just as Chun Tao was about to step forward and lift the man's veil, a figure emerged from Jishetang, calling to the pharmacy clerk behind him to toss a large bag of medicine into Chun Tao's arms, and sarcastically said, "Here, Miss's medicine, take it."
As soon as I got close, the person covered their nose and mouth with a handkerchief and scolded me with disgust: "Where did you roll from? What bad luck!"
Chun Tao's face immediately turned ashen, a stark contrast to her earlier tantrum, all of which vanished.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Mei Sheng followed Lingdang's footsteps into the hall.
"Hey, you..."
Cui'er's expression changed, and she slapped Chun Tao hard, silencing her words.
Do you know who that person is?
Cui'er looked at the bell and realized she looked familiar. She scolded angrily, "She's a maid from the Pei family. Don't you dare cause me any trouble. If it weren't for your mother protecting you, would you still be alive?"
A maid from the Pei household? Chun Tao glanced at the fleeting glimpse of a garment as the maid entered the room, chuckled, and gave a strange look.
Cui'er moved a little further away from her, her brows furrowed, thinking to herself: Is this person crazy?
Lingdang put the medicine packet into her basket and walked towards Meisheng.
"There are all kinds of people these days. You should definitely avoid people like that in the future."
Mei Sheng nodded, but her mind was on something else.
What's the story behind that person talking about the young lady's medicine? She clearly escaped. Could it be that Aunt Lin found someone else to replace her?
Mei Sheng felt a little bitter. She told herself that she didn't even have the strength to protect herself, so how could she have the time to worry about whether others were safe?
Mei Sheng looked at the shopkeeper and remarked casually, "This Jishetang is really big. I wonder who runs the clinic across the street."
“Of course, this clinic is backed by the Prime Minister’s residence, it’s very powerful. The newly opened Divine Doctor Hall across the street... it must be an itinerant doctor.” Lingdang hesitated for a moment before making her judgment.
This Jishetang has a close relationship with the Prime Minister's residence, so Mei Sheng can no longer easily take out the silk cloth in his arms.
Regardless of whether the medicine the maidservant from the Prime Minister's residence had just brought was from the same source as the medicine she was drinking, she dared not test it here. For a moment, Mei Sheng was troubled.
Reaching the door, Lingdang slapped her head and exclaimed, "Oh no! My grandma specifically told me to go to the market to look for green plums today. My memory is terrible!"
"Qingrou, wait for me here!"
After Lingdang finished speaking, she untied the straps of the basket, stuffed them into Mei Sheng's hand, and hurriedly left.
Mei Sheng's thoughts were interrupted, and she sighed sadly.
The small clinic across the street was packing up its stall, and the young man hurriedly took the cloth strip that read "Divine Doctor's Hall" into the house.
Mei Sheng gritted her teeth. Today, she spent most of her savings to go out and replace Aunt Jin Hua, who was supposed to go out today.
If we gain nothing this time, it will be a real loss.
She resolutely walked into the house, determined to take a gamble, just because someone in the crowd had been shouting that the two families were rivals.
"Hello, is the divine doctor here?" Mei Sheng bowed and asked softly.
Bai Jiu looked up in a bad mood and glanced at the woman. She was dressed simply and wearing a veiled hat. She looked mysterious.
Suddenly he remembered that the woman from earlier had been like that, half-concealed, half-revealed. He couldn't help but say firmly, "Let's make it clear beforehand, we don't offer credit in our establishment!"
Mei Sheng nodded subconsciously, thinking that he shouldn't be able to see her, so she lifted the veil of her hat, smiled and nodded at him: "Young man, I understand."
The woman who appeared had delicate features, and even in such simple clothes, her beauty could not be concealed; she was charming and lovely.
Bai Jiu dropped the broom in his hand. Meeting the woman's questioning gaze, he immediately blushed and said, "Master is indeed not here. Why don't you come again tomorrow, young lady?"
Mei Sheng hesitated for a moment, then took out a piece of silk from her sleeve, composed herself, tore it in half, and handed it over: "Young man, if your master returns, you can help me see what the medicine does. This is a deposit."
After receiving it, Bai Jiu solemnly agreed.
After Mei Sheng left, an old medicine book was thrown at Bai Jiu on the back of the head: "You brat, all you ever do is cause trouble for your master."
Bai Jiu touched her head, looking very aggrieved.
Immediately afterwards, a gentle and composed voice came: "Bai Su, I'd also like to know what the effects of this medicine are."
If Mei Sheng were here, he would be quite surprised, never expecting that someone he hadn't seen for several days would be in this small clinic.
Holding the found plum blossom in her arms, Lingdang was overjoyed. After entering the mansion, she casually greeted Mei Sheng and headed towards Old Madam Pei's courtyard.
Mei Sheng rolled up her sleeves, sighed, and hurried to the kitchen to put firewood on the stove. If she was late, she might get a scolding from Granny Liu.
Unexpectedly, a short while later, several men kicked open the kitchen door with menacing expressions, looked around the room, and shouted, "Which one is called Qingrou?"
Mei Sheng paused for a second before dusting herself off and standing up: "I don't know..."
Before she could finish speaking, the strong old women pressed down on her shoulders. Mei Sheng didn't react in time and suddenly knelt down, a sharp pain shooting through her knees.
As Mei Sheng was dragged away by those old women, she was filled with grief and indignation, her anger surging within her.
What happened?
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