"Actually, I used to be just like you."
"?" Minglan asked in confusion, "Miss Lingqin, weren't you in the General's Mansion before...?"
Xie Lingqin gave a bitter smile. "It's a long story, but what I want to tell you is that it's because I experienced those days, those..." Xie Lingqin's gaze was distant, as if recalling something, "that orderly routine, that bloody rot, that darkness without light, that... Ha!"
Xie Lingqin sneered, then raised her hand and tapped her brow. "So, if God gives you a chance to choose again, shouldn't everyone feel lost and cherish it?"
"Miss Lingqin, you..."
"So, you should understand what I mean. You and your brothers have already endured too much of this dark and perilous life. Now that we can finally settle down, why should we let them risk their lives? Admittedly..." Xie Lingqin smiled warmly, "Admittedly, as you said, I do need some strength, some highly skilled, calm, and meticulous people to help me..."
Xie Lingqin waved her hand, "You should go and rest first."
Sunlight streamed down from afar, and Xie Lingqin stood in the courtyard, her expression cool and aloof, her back straight, as if shrouded in a faint halo.
Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, were now tightly clasped together.
No one knows how much she craves power now, how much she longs to be in a position where no one can say she has lost.
"What a hypocrite, you little brat."
Suddenly, Xie Lingqin turned her head sharply and saw Old Dong jumping down from the wall.
Xie Lingqin's gaze sharpened, but she wasn't particularly surprised.
It's not surprising that Elder Dong knew this place since he was acquainted with Elder Qi, but his sudden appearance on the wall was quite unexpected.
He heard so much.
How high is this martial arts skill?
This capital city is truly a place where hidden talents abound.
"Why do you say I'm hypocritical?" Xie Lingqin's expression darkened slightly.
"You clearly want that kid to listen to you and form a force, but he's adamant, yet you won't let him."
Xie Lingqin remained calm even after being exposed, saying, "Just pretend he doesn't know."
"oh?"
“If they can’t be wholeheartedly devoted, if they can’t give their all, I won’t take them. They’re only staying because they feel indebted to me for saving them, or because they genuinely want to stay and help me. They themselves don’t know. Besides…” Xie Lingzhu raised an eyebrow, not to belittle himself, “Aside from being a little clever and agile, and saving them, I haven’t shown them any of my special abilities. To gain the obedience of a group of powerful people, either you need to have divine assistance, or your abilities… are so great that they are truly convinced. And these two things, I currently…”
Xie Lingqin sighed and shrugged, "I don't have any."
“That Minglan is no ordinary creature.”
“I don’t deny it, and besides, what I meant was something that others couldn’t understand, but he understood every word clearly.”
"Little girl, you really want to have your own strength that much."
Xie Lingqin looked at Elder Dong and said, "You are so old and highly respected. You have never felt as frustrated as I have."
"Feeling frustrated?"
"Being schemed against, going back on one's word, and being betrayed by a beautiful woman... In short, it's been humiliating enough, I don't want to talk about it anymore."
Xie Lingqin was talking to herself, completely unaware that Old Dong's eyelids, full of fine wrinkles, were twitching slightly beside her.
“By the way, speaking of which, Old Man Dong,” Xie Lingqin glanced at Old Man Dong, “since we are so frank with each other and have such a pleasant conversation, I think we can become close friends despite our age difference.”
Old Master Dong's face twitched, and he stepped back slightly. "You little rascal, your smile is too gentle; it can't be anything good."
"You said you've been a royal physician in the palace for most of your life, and you have neither a spouse nor children. Don't you feel especially close to me?"
"……fine."
"Otherwise, you can treat me as your granddaughter, I don't mind."
"So?" Old Dong sensed something was amiss.
"Let's not beat around the bush. You've worked hard and made great contributions in the palace for half your life. Not to mention how many favors others owe you, you must have a lot of money on you."
Old Dong stroked his stubble and laughed heartily, "Little girl, you've got your eye on my money."
"right."
"By the way, I was just about to teach you acupuncture. Do you still want to learn now?"
"Yes, of course I want to learn." I'm serious about this.
Putting aside the fact that she is currently poisoned, she is confident that she can cure it. Just consider that Old Master Dong used to be able to do whatever he wanted in Beirong with his medical skills. If she were to learn those skills, wouldn't that be a great bargaining chip?
Ideally, the crown prince would fall seriously ill or something...
A doctor cannot heal himself; no matter how skilled he is, he cannot save himself.
"But is it too late for me to learn now?"
"Let's see how it goes." Old Master Dong said these few words with a smile, then his old eyes became fixed.
Because at that moment, a spicy aroma wafted from inside a house not far away.
Xie Lingqin understood that Bai Yu was probably working on perfecting the business for the opening day, and she agreed with, admired, and fully supported this spirit.
"This is... what you're going to sell, Maocai (a type of Sichuan hot pot)."
“Yes, that’s right…” Xie Lingqin finished speaking, then raised her eyelids again, her face full of caution, “Elder Dong, I don’t think I ever mentioned this to you or Elder Qi that it’s maocai, and I haven’t let a single word slip out recently.”
Xie Lingqin's words carried a hint of wariness.
Old Master Dong looked at her, laughed heartily, and his old eyes gleamed. "If I wanted to know about the affairs of the world, it wouldn't be difficult."
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