Chapter 19 Bet
After Pei Jinnian was taken home, his grandmother and mother cried again and again when they saw his injuries.
After examining his injuries, his grandfather told him that his engagement to Cui Ying would soon be on the agenda.
Pei Jinnian knew that this was not just a matter between the two of them, the younger generation.
It was also a formal alliance between the Cui and Pei families.
He had met Cui Ying before; she was beautiful and had a dignified demeanor.
He had also read her poems and admired her paintings.
She was exceptionally talented, but she was also dull and rigid, and her every word and action strictly adhered to the standards of a noble lady, making her rather uninteresting.
However, Pei Jinnian did not reject it. On the contrary, he felt that Cui Ying would be a good candidate for the matriarch of a noble family.
She manages the household affairs, supports her husband, and raises her children, keeping him free from trivial matters.
He too grew up according to the standards of a scion of a prominent family.
They are all the same kind of people.
But Qin Jinzhi is not.
Even if prestigious families look down on those from humble backgrounds, they also look down on these newly rich people who came from humble origins.
However, Qin Jinzhi did indeed possess an exceptionally noble status and confidence.
She is not bound by any rules, and there are no dogmas to regulate her.
She can cause trouble without restraint, without needing to represent any identity.
Everything was based on her own likes and dislikes.
Aristocratic families always consider themselves superior, even to the point of having a greater sense of superiority than royalty.
But no one in the aristocratic families could have the life she had.
So he hated her, even before Qin Jinzhi took a liking to him.
After everyone in the capital knew that Qin Jinzhi liked him.
Pei Jinnian loathed her even more.
She often appeared by his side, but they actually didn't exchange more than a few words.
People in the capital always say that Qin Jinzhi is head over heels in love with him.
Pei Jinnian did not sense it.
Qin Jinzhi's preferences were too empty, lacking any support.
He always scolded her, but she didn't care.
This bothered him a lot.
Actually, Qin Jinzhi was an exception to him.
Aside from his relationship with Qin Jinzhi, he never allowed anyone to clearly sense his emotions.
Gentle and refined are people's first impressions of him.
Until he got engaged to Cui Ying.
Qin Jinzhi actually threw the person directly into the water, and Cui Ying almost lost her life.
All the holes were filled in an instant.
No one knows that Qin Jinzhi went to the city gate on the day she was driven out of the capital.
Even when she was driven out of the capital, Qin Jinzhi still had a smug look on her face.
At that moment, Pei Jinnian understood why he disliked Qin Jinzhi.
It wasn't because of her wrongdoings, nor because of her heinous crimes.
He was jealous of her.
As darkness fell, Pei Hong had not returned home, nor had any message been sent.
Pei Jinnian's mother, Madam Lu, sent a servant to investigate.
They were informed that Vice Minister Pei and Prime Minister Cui had been summoned back to the palace that day, and there had been no further news since.
Madam Lu immediately sensed something was amiss and hurriedly went to find her father-in-law, Pei Qing.
Pei Qing frowned after hearing this. "You mean after Pei Hong and Prime Minister Cui entered the palace, all the news was blocked?"
Mrs. Lu nodded anxiously. Having news is not scary; not having news is scary.
If something really happened, they wouldn't know how to respond without any news.
Pei Qing's face darkened. "First, send someone to the Cui family, then arrange for people to take care of things in the palace. Make sure you find out exactly what happened."
After Madam Lu left, Pei Qing's expression turned sour.
A storm is brewing!
Soon news came from the Cui family that Prime Minister Cui had not been heard from since entering the palace.
Pei Qing's expression turned even more unpleasant.
Even the Prime Minister's residence was unaware of the news!
What on earth happened?!
Pei Qing said with a gloomy expression, "Immediately send a message to the people in the palace. We must find out what happened to those two after they entered the palace!"
Liu Yiyi timed it perfectly and led the Empress to Qin Jinzhi's room.
About fifteen minutes later, Qin Jinzhi slowly woke up.
Liu Yiyi barely managed to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.
Others may not know if she could hear clearly, but Qin Jinzhi had actually fallen asleep!
As soon as the Empress saw Qin Jinzhi wake up, she immediately cried out anxiously, "Jinzhi! Good child, you're finally awake! You scared your grandmother to death!"
Feiyan immediately stepped forward and helped Qin Jinzhi up, pretending to ask, "Grandmother, what's wrong with me?"
Liu Yiyi was afraid she would laugh out loud—was this still the same mischievous devil she knew?—so she closed her eyes tightly.
The Empress said angrily, "The Cui and Pei families conspired to poison you. They even poisoned that brocade box. Don't worry, your grandmother will definitely get justice for you!"
Qin Jinzhi glanced at Liu Yiyi, who was standing there like a wooden statue, and coughed lightly. "Don't all aristocratic families pride themselves on being upright and honest? How come they resort to such underhanded methods to take my life?"
The Empress's hatred remained undiminished upon hearing this. "The 'pure stream'? I think they are the most despicable of all."
Qin Jinzhi reassured her, "Don't worry, Grandmother, I'll be fine with Liu Yiyi here. Liu Yiyi has checked your pulse."
The Empress breathed a sigh of relief and said, "This young lady did speak, but you are still unconscious, so I have no mind to take your pulse."
Qin Jinzhi gestured for Liu Yiyi to step forward, saying, "Liu Yiyi is an exceptionally skilled physician, especially adept at treating various women's ailments. I brought her to the palace this time to help you with your health."
The Empress gently stroked Qin Jinzhi's hair with heartache. Her beloved grandson was so filial, yet these heartless bastards had poisoned him!
She sighed, "They are all chronic ailments. The Imperial Hospital doctors come every month, but the effects are negligible. I really don't want to drink those bitter medicines anymore."
Qin Jinzhi said firmly, "Liu Yiyi is not like those good-for-nothings from the Imperial Hospital. Believe me, she will definitely cure your stubborn ailments."
Seeing that the Empress was not interested, Qin Jinzhi spoke up again: "Grandmother, how about we make a bet?"
The Empress chuckled as she looked at Qin Jinzhi, who had regained some of her health. "Oh? What bet does Jinzhi want to make?"
"Let me hear what kind of bet you two, grandfather and grandson, are going to make!"
The emperor rushed over as soon as he heard the news that Qin Jinzhi had woken up, and the first thing he heard when he entered was Qin Jinzhi's playful voice.
Qin Jinzhi immediately smiled and said, "I made a bet with my grandmother about whether the people I brought can cure her old ailment."
The emperor immediately looked at Liu Yiyi standing to the side, "Are you saying that this young lady in her early teens is comparable to my entire Imperial Hospital?"
The Empress's chronic illness had always been a source of anxiety for the Emperor.
Back then, the Empress accompanied him on his campaigns. The conditions were harsh, and the wounds she sustained did not receive proper medical treatment. Before she could fully recover, she would suffer new injuries, which eventually became chronic and intractable illnesses.
Once it flares up, the pain is unbearable, but the Imperial Medical Academy has been unable to find a way to cure it completely over the years.
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Grandfather, would you like to join the betting?"
The emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this, his worries easing somewhat. "You want to make a bet with me, you rascal? What are your stakes?"
Qin Jinzhi immediately sat up straighter. "If Liu Yiyi cannot cure the Empress Dowager's illness, Jinzhi will stay obediently in the palace from now on, listen to all of my grandparents' teachings, and obey all of my grandparents' arrangements."
The emperor immediately became interested; heaven knows how difficult this scoundrel was to manage!
The temptation of having a grandson who will obey all his arrangements from now on is too great!
"A gentleman's word is his bond?"
"What's done is done!"
The emperor looked at the confident Qin Jinzhi and said with a smile, "Alright, I'll take this bet with you. Let me hear what you want if you win!"
Qin Jinzhi had been searching among the common people for a miracle doctor to cure the Empress's incurable illness, but this was the first time he had brought such a person into the palace.
This young lady can actually detoxify; she must have some skill.
Qin Jinzhi would never harm the Empress. If she could truly cure the Empress's illness, it would relieve him of a great worry.
If it can't be cured, then it would be a good thing if this rascal stayed quietly by their side from now on.
Qin Jinzhi grinned, "I want Liu Yiyi to be admitted to the Imperial Hospital!"
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