56. Getting a sore throat
A pale white shirt was thrown at my face.
Zhao Zhonggan: "However, the old man guards the medicine closely and only allows Tan Yun to handle it."
Upon hearing this, Ying Jianhua hesitated and pointed out, "Isn't this medicine being decocted for too long?"
He had seen it; the medicinal herbs for that prescription weren't hard to find. Doctor Lin was probably also anxious to wake Lady Hou up, so the medicine he prescribed only needed to be boiled briefly. Logically speaking, Tan Yun shouldn't have been gone for so long.
As soon as he finished speaking, Du Zhijin's nose twitched slightly, and he hesitated, asking, "Did you smell any medicine?"
Her reminder startled everyone else. Suddenly, Zhao Zhonggan's face paled: "Oh no, there's a side door!"
The group hurriedly returned to the house, where there was hardly anyone. Doctor Lin had been summoned to treat Marquis Jianchang, and only Wu Ti was attending to him by the bedside.
Add to that Tan Yun, who was holding an empty medicine bowl.
Upon seeing them enter, Tan Yun's hands trembled, nearly knocking over the medicine bowl.
Ying Jianhua frowned slightly.
Does this taste like a tranquilizer?
After confirming that Lady Hou was alright, Zhao Zhonggan turned to Tan Yun and asked, "You fed her that medicine, didn't you?"
Although it was a question, the tone was firm.
Sure enough, with a "plop," Tan Yun knelt down on both knees, holding the empty medicine bowl, and said in a trembling voice, "Young Master, the Lady Hou cannot not take her medicine... You can blame me and hit me, but I beg you, please don't take the Lady's life or death to heart." After saying this, she kowtowed twice with tears in her eyes, blood streaming down her forehead.
Zhao Zhonggan's chest heaved violently. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see her, but after a moment, unable to contain his anger, he opened his eyes again and snapped:
"You say I'm being stubborn... Ha, you're a loyal servant, you wouldn't harm her... I'm her son! Would I ever harm her!"
Tan Yun remained silent, then kowtowed several more times, looking as if she were remonstrating to the death. Zhao Zhonggan pointed at her, speechless, his temples throbbing.
If this continues, another one might faint. Du Zhijin lifted his leg, about to tell Tan Yun to leave first, when Madam Hou woke up.
She was helped to sit half-upright on the couch by Wu Ti. Her face was pale, but she was in much better spirits than before.
Wu Ti gently reminded her, "Aunt, please take your time."
Lady Hou nodded slightly and slowly raised her arm to beckon Zhao Zhonggan. Zhao Zhonggan immediately sat down, grasped his mother's withered wrist, and his eyes instantly reddened: "Mother, it's all my fault. I won't say those outrageous things again."
Lady Hou touched his face and gave a bloodless smile: "I didn't faint because of you. It's an old problem of mine. If it wasn't today, it would have been tomorrow. I'm used to it."
Zhao Zhonggan shook his head fiercely, his eyes resolute: "I will definitely cure you. Then we'll move out and not live in this unlucky place anymore."
“Yes, Aunt, you must take good care of yourself for the sake of your cousin’s filial piety,” Wu Ti echoed.
The mother, son, and aunt-nephew shared a deep mutual affection, a truly touching scene. Du Zhijin, looking at Ying Jianhua deep in thought, asked curiously, "Amo, did you figure something out?"
He had remained silent ever since he entered the room.
Ying Jianhua hesitated for a moment, but still told her what was on her mind: "I have cooked the medicine prescribed by Doctor Lin, and it smells different from the medicine in the room."
"It's probably because Tan Yun used a 'miracle drug'."
"That's the problem." He glanced quickly at the group of people not far away and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I have a feeling I've smelled this extra scent before. Aren't your five senses extraordinary? Did you detect anything unusual?"
They had lived and eaten together for so long that he rarely hid from her when preparing medicine. If the "miracle drug" was on his prescription, she would definitely be able to smell it.
However, things are clearly not that simple.
"I can't really tell by smell. But if the same herbs are placed in front of me, I'm sure I can recognize them," she said.
"...It was Young Master Mo who saved your life with timely acupuncture. Physician Lin said that the needle protected your heart meridian; the technique is beyond the reach of ordinary people." Wu Ti spoke up, and for some reason, the conversation between the three of them turned to Ying Jianhua. Hearing this, Du Zhijin nudged his back, making him stand forward.
The patient is thanking you.
Lady Hou shifted her gaze and saw that Ying Jianhua was about the same age as Zhao Zhonggan. She smiled kindly and said, "He's a good child too. If there's anything you want, just tell Zhonggan. You saved my life, so feel free to ask."
Normally, Jianhua would have just taken this as a polite remark and wouldn't have actually asked for it, but today is different.
"Thank you, Madam. I am very curious about that 'elixir of immortality.' May I borrow it to take a look?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Hou was taken aback and frowned slightly: "This is rather difficult. There is only one elixir per month, and I just took it. If Young Master Mo wants to see it, he will have to wait until half a month later."
Zhao Zhonggan: "Is there really no other way to find another one? Could other people have some in their residences?"
Lady Hou sighed, "Medicinal herbs are priceless; who would be willing to lend out something that can save their life so easily?"
Wu Ti also said, "That's right. Consort Li had a difficult childbirth, and Minister Qi borrowed from all over the capital to get a single pill for his daughter. Everyone treasures this elixir, so please don't worry and wait another half month."
Since things had come to this point, Ying Jianhua had no choice but to take her leave and leave with Du Zhijin.
After the banquet, night fell, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the lanterns on the vermilion building resembled the Big Dipper.
Du Zhijin looked up at the inky sky and exclaimed, "Huh? The handle of the Big Dipper points north, it's winter all over the world. The Southern Star returns to its constellation, spring will come at dawn and dusk... But it's clearly the height of summer now!"
Ying Jianhua stopped in her tracks: "You can read stars?"
She said guiltily, "Uh... the elders taught me a little, but I don't have much talent for astrology. Master Tianshui is the best among them."
The name sounded familiar. He thought for a moment and asked, "Is the Master Tianshui the one who has been in seclusion for many years but was 'invited' out by Marquis Jianchang to teach Zhao Zhonggan?"
He deliberately used the word "please" to avoid making his words too harsh, even though they all knew that the real person invited by the Marquis of Jianchang was an imposter.
She nodded and recalled, "I've only met this person twice, the most recent time being five years ago... If I could get his guidance, perhaps I could see why the celestial phenomena are unusual tonight. But it's more likely that I'm mistaken."
Neither of them dwelled on the topic anymore, as there were simply too many things to consider.
The map features demons, the senior healer Yu Nie Zhenren, and a suddenly appearing "immortal medicine."
Despite having spent half a day traveling, Du Zhijin did not give up his original plan and intended to climb over the wall to leave after sending Ying Jianhua back to "Youhuangyuan".
He told her to be careful, and before leaving, he slipped her a packet of modified poison. This poison was effective even against the phantom demons of Wanze City, so dealing with ordinary humans and demons would be a piece of cake.
"Be careful not to get poisoned by smelling it yourself."
“I know.” Du Zhijin carefully put away the poison, staring at him with emotion, “If we really find Master Yu Nie, maybe you can become her disciple.”
Ying Jianhua said, "I don't want to be someone else's apprentice. I was taught by my own mother. You should go now, Banzhu will be here soon."
When will this clandestine existence end?
"Oh." After she finished speaking, she disappeared in a flash. Just then, Ban Zhu knocked on the door to tell him that the hot water had been brought over. He responded and was about to change his undergarments when suddenly, the window was opened without warning.
Du Zhijin: "I might not be back tonight. I forgot to tell you to sleep well..." "Get out!"
She was stunned, and before she could react to what was happening, a moon-white top was thrown at her face, and she fell off the window frame along with the clothes.
it hurts......
Hearing her cry of pain, Ying Jianhua's embarrassment instantly turned to panic. He was about to lean out the window to check if she was alright when Ban Zhu, who hadn't gone far, heard his shout and rushed over, knocking urgently on the door: "Young Master Mo? Young Master Mo, are you alright? Young Master!"
Ban Zhu was Jianchang Hou's spy, and if he saw this, who knew what kind of rumors would spread. After weighing the options, Ying Jianhua could only choose to appease Ban Zhu first: "It's nothing, just a bird that accidentally flew in."
The "bird" dog cautiously poked half its head out of the window, threw in a piece of clothing, and then quickly scurried back inside.
Ying Jianhua was stunned.
He...wasn't wearing clothes just now?
My mind went completely blank, so much so that the strange "hehehe" sound didn't seem so odd anymore.
"Young master, don't be afraid! Banzhu is here to save you!" The wooden door, unable to bear the weight, was about to collapse. Before Banzhu could break down the door, he swiftly put on his clothes and blew out the candle.
The candlelight was bright, illuminating his inexplicable blush.
With a loud bang, the wooden door was kicked open. Two servants followed behind Ban Zhu, wielding wooden sticks and shouting menacingly, "Young master, where is the strange bird?"
He opened his mouth, about to force himself to say that he had misread it. Suddenly, the candle was relit by Ban Zhu, and in the bright light, a wrinkled bird stood on the windowsill, looking at the others in bewilderment.
"Chirp!"
The bird cried out once, then flapped its wings and flew into the night.
Ban Zhu complained, "Young Master Mo, please be more careful next time. It's terrifying."
Ying Jianhua stared blankly out the window, offering no reply.
Because the voice in my head rang out again—
[Pfft, you silly Zhouzhou, your nose is bleeding!]
————
Because of the strange noises last night, Ying Jianhua paid extra attention to Du Zhijin's nose when she saw her the next day.
stare--
Something seems a little strange...
He reached out and grabbed the person who was trying to run away, squinting his eyes: "Are you feeling hot-tempered?"
"Huh? Maybe?" Du Zhijin's eyes darted around, looking at the sky and the ground but refusing to look at him.
snort.
Ying Jianhua scoffed inwardly, her tone inexplicably pleasant, and handed her a packet of lotus seeds: "Ask the servants at the Marquis's residence for some lilies, and I'll cook them for you to drink."
"Oh, okay." She obediently agreed, tilting her head to look at him. "Amo, I'm feeling hot and bothered, but you seem quite happy about it?"
The corners of her mouth are always turned up.
He paused in peeling the lotus seeds and asked, "Is there?"
Why would he be happy? It's just that he discovered she got a nosebleed from being too aroused after seeing his body... What's there to be happy about?
“You’re mistaken. By the way, did you find anything last night?” He changed the subject. Sure enough, Du Zhijin stopped dwelling on the matter of getting angry: “No. I ran all over Liulijing with a map, and there wasn’t a single light on.”
"Could it be that the monster ran away?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a red dot lit up on the map, extremely close to them.
Du Zhijin immediately drew his Awakening Moon sword, staring at the red dot on the map, puzzled: "It's still moving? This direction is... towards the room we're in..."
She fell silent at the end of her sentence.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
A familiar female voice came from outside—
"Young Master Mo, are you there?"
The red dot is flashing; Wu Ti is right outside the door.
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