Chapter 34 Competition Update (Three-in-One)
However, after making a lot of inquiries, Zhu Xuanning didn't get any useful information from Zhu Xiyue. When she asked more questions, Zhu Xiyue only said one sentence: "Father hopes that we are of one mind and one heart."
Zhu Xuanning didn't say anything, gave a few perfunctory words, and then made an excuse to leave.
My sister is in a bad mood.
Zhu Xiyue noticed this and felt sad, but he turned to the servant who was attending to him and said, "Go and pick out all the things that my little sister Kuli will like."
Lu Ming bowed and said yes. He then selected many items for Zhu Xiyue to inspect. Zhu Xiyue picked out some items that were not suitable to be sent over, and then asked Lu Ming to put all the remaining items into a small box and carry it over.
"And these too." Zhu Xiyue added some books: "I heard that my elder sister loves to read, but I don't know which books she likes to read. After you send them over, remember to ask Sister Pomo about which books my elder sister often reads."
Lu Ming immediately did as instructed. After he had people carry the things out of Tan Ying Xuan, the page who served Zhu Xi Yue said, "Miss Zhu sent you rabbit cakes because she had something to ask you. Why is the young master so attentive to Miss Zhu?"
The young master is kind and compassionate. Miss Cousin has lost both her parents, so he pities her. Shenxin can understand this, but Shenxin cannot understand why the young master has become so attached to an outsider, even more so than to the proper young lady of the manor.
Yes, in Shenxin's heart, this orphan girl was an outsider. Shenxin disliked the orphan girl who came to the Zhu family because she scolded the young master, gave him a cold look, and even her attempts to get close to him were clearly for ulterior motives. She also sowed discord between the young master and his cousin.
Zhu Xiyue was immediately displeased upon hearing this. He rarely got angry, but when he turned cold, the imposing aura he had cultivated since childhood as the heir immediately frightened Shen Xin, making her face turn pale.
"In this world, who can do things without desires and wants? Even my closeness to my elder sister is because I have something to ask for. My elder sister and I are of equal status. If I hear you disrespecting or belittling your master again, you don't need to serve me anymore." Zhu Xiyue didn't punish him, but her cold words were more severe than punishment for Shenxin.
He immediately knelt down.
Zhu Xiyue didn't tell him to get up. She just held up one finger and said, "Go outside and kneel down. Think carefully about where you went wrong and what your name is."
Shen Xin did as instructed. He knelt down to reflect on his actions and knew he had made a mistake, but even so, he still felt sad.
He was not a son born into the Zhu family, nor was he raised from childhood to serve as a page to the future young master. Rather, he was bought by Madam Zhu from a broker because of his cleverness and understanding of reason.
Therefore, there are many things he does not understand.
Lu Ming was sent by Zhu Xiyue to deliver medicinal oil to Shen Xin. Upon hearing about this, he only sighed and said, "Why did you have to anger the young master?"
Shen Xin listened and burst into tears: "I just feel sorry for the young master."
Shen Xin could see ambition in that young lady's eyes. She wasn't entirely sincere towards the young master. Besides, there were already many voices echoing the young master's sentiments, so he could only be the one to refute them.
Lu Ming pulled down his pants, poured the medicated oil onto his hands, and then rubbed it in vigorously.
Shenxin endured the pain without crying out, but her tears fell even more freely.
Shen Xin nodded, though he had some doubts. He knew that this was all Lu Ming could tell him, and anything deeper was a secret that someone of his status couldn't hear.
Lu Ming placed the medicated oil on Shen Xin's bedside table, then hurriedly went back to keep watch.
Zhu Xuanning was completely unaware of what was happening at Tan Yingxuan.
She simply sat in the study on the east side of Luoxue Courtyard, constantly pondering the one or two words that Zhu Xiyue had let slip.
The more Zhu Xuanning thought about it, the more cold sweat broke out on her brow.
Was Zhu Yuli summoned in the middle of the night because of the succession struggle?
Thinking of this, Zhu Xuanning suddenly clenched her sleeves, her breathing rising and falling.
The fact that the emperor summoned him immediately even when it came to matters involving the succession struggle was enough to show how much favor he had bestowed upon him. Not only that, Zhu Yuli also stayed overnight in the palace, and the next day after court, he not only brought the rewarded eggs with him, but also skipped his roll call at the Hanlin Academy and went straight home to rest.
A sense of fear and helplessness washed over Zhu Xuanning, and she unconsciously let her hands fall to her sides.
Is this kind of favor something that anyone she chooses can really bring down?
Zhu Xuanning felt a sense of relief, and even her shoulders slumped inward.
Po Mo silently opened the snack box on the bookshelf, peeled open a translucent honey candy, and brought it to Zhu Xuanning's lips.
Zhu Xuanning opened her mouth and ate, then remained silent for a moment before saying, "I want to write a letter."
"Is this for Young Master Yu?" Po Mo asked.
"No, it's for the Duke's heir."
Splashing ink began grinding ink. After Zhu Xuanning finished writing a letter, she planned to wrap it up and send it out, but Zhu Xuanning stopped her.
"Don't send any of these. Just cut some more decorative stationery. I want to continue writing," Zhu Xuanning instructed.
It took Zhu Xuanning four days to complete the letters that had never been sent. During this time, Zhu Xuanning only sent a letter to Yan Hengdan via a splash of ink, but no good news came.
Yu Xuan waited and hoped, but apart from receiving a brief reply on the first day, the Zhu family never followed up again.
Yu Xuan was no longer sure. He polished the jade carving in his hand, which was beginning to become smooth, poured a handful of water on it, and couldn't help but ask Shu Qing, "Is there a letter from me?"
Shuqing shook his head and said no.
After listening, Yu Xuan said nothing, then lowered his gaze and focused on polishing the jade carving in his hands.
This kind of conversation is repeated twice a day.
He endured until the day before the spring outing.
The jade carving in his hand was finally finished. Yu Xuan lovingly touched the small, white jade cicada, then carefully placed it into a small wooden box and put it into his purse.
He slept until the next day, when Shuqing woke him up at dawn.
She bathed and burned incense, cleaned her face and teeth, tied her hair up and wore a crown, and drew her eyebrows and applied lipstick.
After that, Shuqing brought out the clothes that had been laid out on the incense burner and scented with incense for a day.
The servants tending to the flowers and plants in the warm pavilion stood on the outside, lined up in a row, holding pots of flowers for Yu Xuan to choose from.
Shuqing's gaze fell on the only two peonies, and a thought struck her. She said, "Young master, please wear this one."
Wearing flowers in one's hair has long been a popular custom, and among these flowers, young men especially love to wear peonies and peonies. Moreover, April is no longer the blooming season for peonies, making the two peonies in this warm pavilion all the more precious.
"Why break such a beautiful peony? Let it bloom and fade as it pleases." Yu Xuan smiled, and as his gaze shifted, the observant flower servant came forward with a pot of crabapple blossoms.
He spoke in a flattering and respectful manner, saying that the crabapple blossom was beautiful and alluring, and perfectly suited his master.
Yu Xuan indeed stepped forward. Hua Nu thought she had grasped her master's thoughts and her eyes lit up with joy, but she saw Yu Xuan simply extend two fingers and gently pinch the crabapple blossoms that were still covered in dew.
His gaze softened, but he didn't pick the flower. He turned to Shuqing and said softly, "Bring me the velvet flower I accepted."
Although Yu Xuan did not pick any flowers, he still selected some pretty ones to take to the carriage.
This was a private banquet for the younger generation, so Wei Xiuqi only invited people who were close to him, including Yu Xuan. To put it more simply, Wei Xiuqi should call him her junior brother.
When Wei Xiuqi was young, he couldn't sit still, so General Wei asked the emperor to let the head of the Yu family take care of him for a while. At that time, the head of the Yu family was teaching the young prince that herding one sheep or two sheep was the same, so when the emperor gave him the sheep, the head of the Yu family also taught him.
Yu Xuan was taught by the Yu family, and his relationship with Wei Xiuqi was limited to exchanging gifts during festivals. Therefore, when the invitation that Wei Xiuqi sent out of courtesy was accepted, the people in the General's Mansion were quite surprised.
"Yu Xuan greeted Wei Xiuqi when he arrived, and then he saw Yan Hengdan and Ji Yucheng among them."
When Ji Yucheng saw Yu Xuan arrive, he nodded to him, showing no sign that the two had previously argued.
Upon seeing this, Yu Xuan walked over.
Yan Hengdan casually raised his eyes and found that his two friends were still the same as before. He felt a little strange, but because he had been busy lately, his mind was a little dull, so he couldn't think too much about it.
When the Zhu family's carriage arrived, many young men and women looked over, including Yan Hengdan.
Before he even got off the carriage, Wei Xiuqi's face turned red. Fortunately, his skin was dark, so the slight redness was not noticeable.
The private banquet only began after the Zhu family arrived.
Wei Liuniang did not come. Zhu Baoyue, who said she did not like Wei Xiuqi, was already overjoyed with the deliberate flattery of the young man in the martial arts outfit. After having her servants give Zhu Xuanning a few instructions, she rode her horse into the forest to hunt.
Only Zhu Xiyue was still talking to people at a distance, glancing at Zhu Xuanning from time to time.
Before long, the young men who had been talking to Zhu Xiyue also invited him to go horseback riding and hunting.
Zhu Xiyue was about to shake her head in refusal when she saw Lu Ming walk over. He whispered a few words in her ear, then looked at Zhu Xuanning. Zhu Xuanning smiled at him and waved, signaling him to go play.
Her smile was gentle, but her gaze was firm.
"The girl said not to sacrifice yourself for her, otherwise she will never speak to you again." Zhu Xiyue could still hear the words that Po Mo had relayed to Lu Ming.
So Zhu Xiyue lowered his head and left. Before leaving, he muttered to himself that he wanted Lu Ming to go and give Zhu Xuanning a reply.
"When did you become like my mother, talking about people like that?" Wei Jiawulang was the only child in the General's Mansion who had shown a talent for studying. He and Zhu Xiyue were classmates. The two did not have much interaction in the academy, but they have become closer now because of their elders.
Zhu Xiyue sighed, and didn't forget to look back at Zhu Xuanning, saying, "You don't understand, my elder sister is different from us, I always have to worry about her."
At this point, Wei Wulang fell silent. He nodded, becoming more serious, and stopped teasing Zhu Xiyue: "That's how it is."
He also has an older sister who is quite different from others.
Wei Wulang, who already liked Zhu Xiyue, became even closer to her because of her words. Remembering the praise he had received from the teacher recently, he asked, "Is your recent hard work also because of this older sister?"
Zhu Xiyue paused for a moment after hearing this, then shook her head: "Part of it is because I want to support my older sister in the future, but that's only part of it. After all, whether or not my older sister is there, we who walk this path all have to work harder."
Zhu Xiyue then steered the conversation toward reading. Neither of them particularly enjoyed hunting, so after riding around for a while, they found a thatched hut by a stream, sat down to brew tea, and exchanged ideas.
Therefore, when she saw that Yu Xuan and Ji Yucheng had been taken away for a hunting trip, she found a grove of trees and had Po Mo lay out a soft felt made of leather on the ground. Then she took out a tea table, a soup stove, a food box, and other things, and then planned to brew tea and enjoy the flowers.
Unexpectedly, someone came to our door.
"Giddy up!" Yan Hengdan gave a short shake of the reins, and the horse that had stopped on the ground reared up and galloped forward.
Zhu Xuanning was taking small bites of a piece of water chestnut cake, her eyes glancing almost imperceptibly towards the direction from which the noise was coming.
The moment Zhu Xuanning saw Yan Hengdan riding a horse, she intensified her biting of the pastry, but she didn't pay much attention, assuming that Yan Hengdan was also going to join the main group for the hunt.
It was only because Yan Hengdan was so slender and outstanding, and her brows seemed sickly, that even wearing a snow-white riding outfit gave off a different kind of feeling, so Zhu Xuanning took a few more glances at her.
Zhu Xuanning only put down the unfinished horse hoof cake in her hand when the horse came straight towards her.
What is he here for?
Just a while ago they said there was still no news, so Zhu Xuanning didn't think the other party was going to come and tell her about it again in person.
Yan Wu wasn't that bored, but Zhu Xuanning was even less inclined to believe that the other party had deliberately come to talk to her, because it was really unnecessary. Wei Liuniang wasn't even there, so who was Yan Hengdan trying to impress?
Po Mo didn't have a good impression of Yan Hengdan. When he saw Yan Hengdan riding straight towards his girl, Po Mo thought that Yan Hengdan was going to harm Zhu Xuanning. He suddenly pounced on her and tried to shield Zhu Xuanning with his body.
"Whoa!" Yan Hengdan suddenly tightened the reins, and the horse neighed and reared up high under the blazing sun, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Yan Hengdan's expression vanished, and he sat on his horse, looking down at the master and servant. A mocking look appeared in his bright eyes.
"Zhu Wu." Yan Hengdan controlled the horse, which sneezed and backed away. His pale and handsome features appeared somewhat gloomy due to his lack of expression.
Po Mo shuddered, not daring to look directly at Yan Hengdan, but instead protecting the person in front of him even more tightly.
Zhu Xuanning gently patted the ink-splashed girl's back, then pushed her away and calmly looked at Yan Hengdan: "Fifth Young Master Yan, may I ask what brings you here?"
Seeing that Zhu Xuanning wasn't afraid of him, Yan Hengdan felt his previously terrible mood brighten considerably. He snorted, raised the hand holding the riding crop, nodded, and pointed in a direction, indicating for Zhu Xuanning to look.
Zhu Xuanning looked in the direction Yan Hengdan pointed.
A fair-skinned, beardless young man was leading a chestnut-colored foal over.
She recognized the person; it was Qiu Man, who had always served Yan Hengdan.
Zhu Xuanning's eyes first showed a hint of surprise, then turned to confusion as she looked at Yan Hengdan.
The white-clad youth, straddling his horse, didn't look at her. He merely sneered and said in a low voice, "Prejudice in people's hearts is truly a mountain. I just rode here to show you my horsemanship and do something like teaching you, but in other people's eyes, it's as if I'm trying to harm you."
In one sentence, even the ink-splashed face became ashamed.
She immediately knelt down and kowtowed to apologize. When Yan Hengdan saw this, she said sarcastically, "How dare you! Get up quickly, lest others think I'm bullying you."
Zhu Xuanning was speechless. Although she knew he meant well this time, hearing his sarcastic words made her feel that she couldn't suppress her anger.
“Fifth Young Master Yan.” Zhu Xuanning spoke up, and Yan Hengdan glanced at Zhu Xuanning out of the corner of his eye, waiting for her to continue.
"Are we on good terms?" she asked, frowning, leaving Yan Hengdan speechless.
Yan Hengdan's silence was the answer; in reality, their relationship wasn't good, and the current improvement was only due to someone mediating between them.
Then, Zhu Xuanning sneered.
Yan Hengdan was stunned for a moment. It was the first time he had seen this beautiful and pitiful guy show his sharp edges.
"The first time, you brought other girls to ridicule and mock me; the second time, you accused me of having an affair for no reason; now, given our previous bad relationship and your behavior, what's wrong with me, a foolish maid who only knows how to be loyal to her master and is afraid that you will kill me on the spot by your hoof?"
Zhu Xuanning's face turned cold, making Yan Hengdan's expression turn ugly.
"You reap what you sow, Young Master Yan, don't you agree?" Yan Hengdan didn't react on the spot, so Zhu Xuanning went a step further.
Yan Hengdan took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the reins, and glanced at Zhu Xuanning, who was holding a teacup, with his cold, phoenix-shaped eyes.
He saw the girl's five fingers gripping the cup tightly, so tightly that even her thin finger bones trembled slightly.
Yan Hengdan's gaze shifted to Zhu Xuanning's beautiful and composed face, and suddenly, he wasn't so angry anymore.
"Hmm." Yan Hengdan gave a reluctant reply, feeling that she shouldn't take it so seriously. This guy was just a paper tiger putting on a show, and besides, what she said did make sense.
Yan Hengdan was trying to calm herself down, but instead of being grateful, this paper tiger in front of her became even bolder and more presumptuous.
She parted her cherry lips, which were covered with lip rouge, and said, "Then please ask the Fifth Young Master to apologize to my maid."
The ink-splashing figure, who was already kneeling on the ground, widened his eyes in shock; even Qiu Man, who was leading his horse over, was so startled by these words that he almost tripped over the horse and fell to the ground.
The atmosphere suddenly became quiet. Yan Hengdan lowered her gaze and looked at her coldly.
Zhu Xuanning did not back down and calmly met Yan Hengdan's gaze.
Yan Hengdan saw her eyelashes tremble slightly, and her lovely dark almond-shaped eyes were veiled with a faint mist. Yan Hengdan vaguely reminded him of the first time they met, when he used girls from brothels to humiliate her.
"You're utterly insolent." Yan Hengdan tightened the reins, her eyes lowered, and spoke without emotion.
Zhu Xuanning didn't answer, she just looked at him quietly.
There seemed to be swirling dark clouds between the two, and it was a matter of who could take that step back.
After a long silence, Yan Hengdan suddenly turned his face, closed his eyes, and exhaled: "I'm sorry."
After saying that, he felt so embarrassed that he glared at her fiercely: "Is this alright?"
Zhu Xuanning smiled with her lips pursed. In the dappled sunlight of dawn, the girl sat amidst the lush greenery and laughed. She casually pushed away the cup in front of her and rested her head on her pale pink sleeves, like a beautiful butterfly.
"Then my maid and I apologize to you. We misunderstood your good intentions."
"It's good that you know." Yan Hengdan looked away, unwilling to look at her anymore.
“All those noble ladies went off on horseback, leaving you all here alone. I took pity on you and hurriedly sent someone back to the manor to fetch a gentle little pony to teach you. I've done all this, and your maid still behaves like this. Ask yourself, how can I not feel heartbroken?” Yan Hengdan lowered her eyes, paused after speaking, and swallowed back the words she wanted to say.
He didn't want to say it; it would be too embarrassing.
Zhu Xuanning lowered her eyelashes, concealing the thick darkness in her eyes. She simply listened quietly to Yan Hengdan's statement without saying a word.
"Zhu Wu, do you want to ride a horse?" Because of Zhu Xuanning's long silence, Yan Hengdan could only continue to ask her.
"I dare not, I'm scared." Zhu Xuanning buried half of her beautiful face in her pink sleeve, her voice muffled as she replied.
A dull metallic sound rang out, and Yan Hengdan dismounted and walked straight to her.
"What's there to be afraid of? I'll teach you." Yan Hengdan stopped being sarcastic and started speaking properly.
When Zhu Xuanning looked up and met Yan Hengdan's gaze, she noticed that the look of disgust and resistance in his eyes was gone, replaced by something more complex.
"Are you going or not?" Yan Hengdan tilted her head and continued to ask.
"Okay." Finally, Zhu Xuanning relented.
Her obedient nod softened my heart.
Yan Hengdan seemed to understand why Song Zhaohan liked this guy.
"Let's go." Yan Hengdan turned her back, and Zhu Xuanning got up as well.
This time, it was Yan Hengdan's turn to lead the chestnut pony. His horse was led by Qiu Man, and Po Mo tactfully stepped back a few paces to walk alongside Qiu Man, but his gaze remained fixed on his young lady.
Neither Yan Hengdan nor Zhu Xuanning spoke; they simply walked quietly to the open space. This peaceful atmosphere gave Yan Hengdan the illusion that the two were close friends.
"We've arrived." Yan Hengdan thought to herself, and her tone softened as she spoke to Zhu Xuanning.
"Try to help me up and step on the stirrups." Yan Hengdan first demonstrated to Zhu Xuanning, then dismounted. Her movements were so nimble that she didn't look like a sickly person who had been bedridden for years. Zhu Xuanning took a few more glances.
"What are you staring at my clothes for? Have you seen anything interesting?" Yan Hengdan glared at her.
Zhu Xuanning didn't answer, she just nodded and then extended her hand.
Seeing this, Yan Hengdan raised his hand, palm up, to catch her.
Zhu Xuanning placed her hand on it and gripped it tightly, while using her other hand to pull the pony's mane upwards.
She carefully stepped onto the stirrups, her movements stiff and awkward, like a fledgling bird learning to walk.
"No need to be so careful. It's common to fall off a horse. The more afraid you are of it, the less you can ride it." Yan Hengdan suddenly spoke up, startling Zhu Xuanning, who kicked hard and lost her balance. The once docile horse suddenly lifted its hooves and neighed.
"Let go!" Yan Hengdan's expression suddenly changed. She stretched out her arm and forcefully pulled Zhu Xuanning around the waist.
Zhu Xuanning stumbled into Yan Hengdan's arms, causing the thin young man to groan in pain and take a step back.
The foal neighed and galloped wildly. Qiu Man anxiously said a few words to Po Mo, then immediately mounted his horse to stop the foal.
"Are you alright?" Yan Hengdan asked, still shaken, as she released Zhu Xuanning, helped her to her feet, and asked.
Zhu Xuanning's face turned pale, and she was speechless for a moment, her lips trembling.
Yan Hengdan stared at her, her heart sinking.
"Zhu Wu." He put his arm around Zhu Xuanning's arm and called out to her, "Are you alright? Were you frightened, or did you twist your ankle?"
Zhu Xuanning, who had been looking down, suddenly burst into tears. She gripped Yan Hengdan's arm tightly and only managed to lift her face when she heard his question.
The young girl's lips paled, her deer-like eyes were filled with tears, her hair was slightly disheveled, and even her forehead was beaded with sweat.
She was crying and couldn't speak.
Yan Hengdan immediately understood what was going on and, disregarding all formalities, picked the person up.
"Go quickly and summon the young marquis. Don't disturb anyone else. Just say I have urgent business with him." Po Mo had already gone to fetch the doctor, but Yan Hengdan's first thought was still Ji Yucheng. He immediately instructed the guards.
"No, I won't look for him." Zhu Xuanning finally managed to speak, sobbing through her tears.
Yan Hengdan didn't want to listen, but when he saw that Zhu Xuanning was willing to endure the excruciating pain and struggle to get down rather than accept Ji Yucheng's treatment, he had no choice but to back down.
Finally, Zhu Xuanning went into the small hut to rest, and Po Mo called a doctor to examine her.
Fortunately, no bones were broken, only skin and flesh injuries. It looked rather horrifying, covered in bruises.
Yan Hengdan breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the results.
When Yan Hengdan went in to see Zhu Xuanning, Zhu Xuanning was sitting on the couch. As soon as she saw Yan Hengdan enter, she turned her head away, not wanting to talk to her.
Knowing he had made a mistake and feeling guilty, Yan Hengdan didn't mind her coldness and pulled up a stool to sit down.
"I have already shot and killed that foal, and I have ordered the groom who trained it to be flogged," Yan Hengdan said in a gentle voice, words he believed to be sincere.
When Zhu Xuanning heard that Yan Hengdan didn't think she had any problems at all, she found it somewhat ridiculous.
"And what about you?" Zhu Xuanning's voice was a little hoarse because she had been crying.
"Me?" Yan Hengdan raised her voice, thought seriously for a moment, and then understood: "You think it was because I suddenly spoke that you were startled and fell off your horse, is that right?"
He calmly countered with a question that made one inexplicably uncomfortable, and Zhu Xuanning responded with an "Mmm."
Yan Hengdan laughed in exasperation: "I was just trying to be helpful, and you think I'm wrong?"
"If this foal were better trained, even if you kick wildly in fear, would it go crazy and throw you off?"
"You weren't afraid when I rode straight at you on horseback, so why would you be afraid of something I say out of the blue?"
When he finished speaking, Yan Hengdan paused, and his arrogance subsided somewhat. However, Zhu Xuanning kept her eyes down, refusing to look at him or answer. This cold attitude made Yan Hengdan, who had already suppressed his anger, suddenly even angrier.
"Say something! Why aren't you saying anything?" Yan Hengdan stared at Zhu Xuanning, and started acting crazy again.
Such questioning finally elicited a response from Zhu Xuanning. She raised her head, biting her pale lips, but remained silent. Yet, just looking at him with her eyes misty with tears, Yan Hengdan suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness.
He averted his gaze, and said with a cold laugh in a deep voice, "Do you want me to apologize again?"
Zhu Xuanning didn't answer, and Yan Hengdan knew that was her answer. He stood up, said nothing more, and left with a flick of his sleeve.
After he left, Zhu Xuanning stopped crying. She felt a little tired, gave a few instructions to Po Mo, and then went to sleep.
Their already fragile relationship took a sharp turn for the worse because of this incident.
Ji Yucheng made an excuse to come back. When he heard that Yan Hengdan had called a doctor, he looked him over. He couldn't tell where he was injured, but he could tell that Yan Hengdan was in a bad mood. So he asked bluntly, "You're heartbroken. If you want to see a doctor to help with your emotional state, you should come to me. The doctor who is good at treating emotional issues has already been taken to the border by General Wei."
Upon hearing this, Yan Hengdan's expression darkened further.
Qiu's mouth was full of bitterness. He felt that it would be better if the Marquis didn't care. The young master had finally calmed down, and now his emotions had been stirred up again.
"I'm not sick. If you have nothing better to do, why don't you take a look at Song Ming's precious darling?" Yan Hengdan said coldly, not expecting Ji Yucheng to actually ask.
"What's wrong with her?" Ji Yucheng's concern made Yan Hengdan glance at him again.
Perhaps it was because his mindset had changed that he felt Ji Yucheng's attitude was a bit off.
"How come someone who usually doesn't say more than two words in three minutes has become so extroverted lately?"
Ji Yucheng opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but instinctively realized something was wrong, so she immediately turned cold.
Yan Hengdan looked at her again and felt that Ji Yucheng was right, so she said, "She fell off a horse while teaching her to ride and injured her foot."
Ji Yucheng suddenly stood up, the movement startling Yan Hengdan.
"You said she injured her foot." Ji Yucheng stared at Yan Hengdan, her cold voice seemingly suppressing some anger, but it was too calm to be certain.
Yan Hengdan nodded, still feeling somewhat guilty when the matter was brought up again.
"You know perfectly well that her foot injury has only recently healed, yet you still took her horseback riding. Neither the Wei nor the Zhu families knew to let her learn to ride horses, but only you knew to let her ride horses?" Ji Yucheng's face finally showed a change of expression when she got angry.
Yan Hengdan's slight guilt vanished when faced with Ji Yucheng's questioning. He flicked his fingers, tapped the table, raised his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, and looked directly at Ji Yucheng, saying, "Actually, I don't quite understand why you lost your temper with me. He's just one of your patients, is it really necessary? If Song Ming were standing in front of me arguing like this, I could understand."
"Ji Yucheng, don't tell me you've developed feelings for this guy."
Yan Hengdan raised his thin lips and uttered words that nearly made Ji Yucheng lose his composure.
His face gradually turned pale, and even his fingertips trembled slightly.
Ji Yucheng wasn't afraid of the two of them falling out, but rather that Zhu Xuanning would be attacked by rumors, since Yan Hengdan valued Song Zhaohan the most and disliked her from the beginning.
He stood there almost at a loss, hesitated for a moment, and then immediately threw the topic back: "Yan Wu, you are really interesting. When I got angry, it was because I had feelings for Miss Zhu Wu. But when you took the initiative to teach her to ride a horse, it wasn't because you had feelings for her."
"Be strict with others, but lenient with yourself. Is that right?"
Ji Yucheng rarely speaks at such a long pace, and he almost never argues with anyone. When he's angry, he simply ignores people. But when Zhu Xuanning is involved, he always changes.
Yan Hengdan immediately flew into a rage and smashed a teacup on the table.
With the mournful sound of shattering cups, Yan Hengdan said coldly with a dark face, "What do you mean, Ji Yucheng?"
Yan Hengdan knew he was on the verge of a fit of rage, but he didn't know why he was so angry.
"Watch your mouth." Ji Yucheng said coldly, then turned and left.
The news of their argument didn't reach Yu Xuan's ears. His mind wasn't on riding the horse; he only rode around a few times, hunted two rabbits, and then showed signs of fatigue, making an excuse to return.
Yu Xuan looked around but didn't see Zhu Xuanning, so he returned to his small house and sent Shu Qing to inquire. Only then did he learn that Zhu Xuanning had gone to rest.
More than an hour later, Yu Xuan asked Shu Qing again, "Has Fifth Miss not gotten up yet?"
Shuqing said not yet.
Yan Hengdan kept what happened during the day a secret, so Yu Xuan only thought that Zhu Xuanning was deliberately avoiding him. Although he understood, he was still inevitably depressed.
Yu Xuan squeezed the purse containing the small wooden box, thinking of Zhu Xuanning who hadn't appeared in public all day, and couldn't help but ask, "Didn't Po Mo say that Fifth Miss is unwell?"
"Replying to your question, young master, the Fifth Miss is fine; she just wishes to take a short nap," Shuqing replied.
After hearing this, Yu Xuan was still worried. After pondering for a while, he decided to go and visit her.
When Yu Xuan arrived, he happened to run into Ji Yucheng, who was carrying a medical kit.
"Didn't you say that Fifth Miss is alright? Why did Young Master Marquis bring a medical kit?" Yu Xuan turned to Wen Pomo.
When Po Mo saw Ji Yucheng carrying a medical kit, he knew he was in trouble. When he heard Yu Xuan ask him this question, his mouth tasted even more bitter.
Ji Yucheng glanced at the splashed ink and said in a low voice, "If Miss Zhu doesn't want to make a fuss, why make things difficult for her?"
Yu Xuan's gaze shifted to Ji Yucheng because of his words.
Their eyes met, and they fell silent for a moment. Finally, Yu Xuan, who was closer to the door, took a step back.
Ji Yucheng also stepped aside.
She opened the door and went in, and not long after, she came out again and bowed to Ji Yucheng.
Ji Yucheng glanced at Yu Xuan, then went inside.
Yu Xuan saw it and remained silent for a long time, his eyelashes lowered. This silence pained Shu Qing.
While the two were talking outside, Zhu Xuanning had already woken up. She sat up to clear her head, and when Po Mo came over to report, Zhu Xuanning made her choice.
When Ji Yucheng entered, he saw Zhu Xuanning sitting on the couch. His heart, which had been empty for days, was instantly filled by this one glance.
He stepped forward, moved a stool over so that Zhu Xuanning could stretch her legs, then put down his medical kit, and his cold, jade-like voice began to warm up: "Let me see your injury."
Zhu Xuanning did as instructed and did nothing else to try and attract Ji Yucheng's attention.
Ji Yucheng carefully examined the wound and, finding it wasn't as serious as she had initially thought, felt relieved.
"I'll rub it in for you, it might hurt a little, just bear with it." After saying that, Ji Yucheng took out some medicated oil, and then moved a small stool to a place closer to Zhu Xuanning.
When Ji Yucheng sat down, Zhu Xuanning smelled the medicinal scent emanating from the young man. It was a clear and slightly bitter smell, quite unique, and stronger than usual.
It seems he has been studying medicinal herbs all this time.
Zhu Xuanning was lost in thought, trying her best not to focus on her ankles, and therefore did not notice that Ji Yucheng had placed the handkerchief beside her.
As Ji Yucheng intensified her movements, the girl gradually found the pain unbearable and began to bite her lip.
"Don't bite yourself." Ji Yucheng still managed to keep an eye on Zhu Xuanning's actions, and seeing the deep marks on her lips, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
He took out one hand and placed it on the handkerchief beside Zhu Xuanning, then rolled it into a strip before pinching it up and handing it to her.
Zhu Xuanning opened her mouth and bit down on the strip of handkerchief.
The pain intensified, and a pitiful soft sob escaped from the handkerchief, while tears welled in the girl's almond-shaped eyes.
"How much longer?" she sobbed, her voice filled with pain and pitifulness.
Ji Yucheng saw that she was in unbearable pain, and that her jade fingers were even digging into her palm.
He sighed and reached out his hand again.
"Hold onto me, don't hold onto yourself, I'm fine." He pressed Zhu Xuanning's hand onto his arm before pouring the medicated oil.
Zhu Xuanning was about to pull back, but she couldn't resist the sudden pain and gripped Ji Yucheng's arm tightly.
A soft sob could be heard, and Ji Yucheng felt sorry for her, so she could only speed up her movements.
When the wound was rubbed open, the girl's black hair was wet and stuck to the side of her face.
Her vision blurred, and she leaned back weakly, her hands falling limply as Ji Yucheng pulled her into his arms.
Zhu Xuanning was too weak to push him away, and she cried unconsciously while being held by Ji Yucheng.
Ji Yucheng didn't speak, but gently helped her catch her breath, then reached out and touched her tight lips, carefully removing the handkerchief the girl was biting.
After doing all that, Ji Yucheng whispered to comfort her, "It's alright now. You've rubbed it in this time, so you won't have to do it again next time."
Zhu Xuanning remained silent, only shedding tears. She was in pain, but now, thinking about how she was suffering, she felt wronged as she cried.
Power, power. Power!
It's because she lacks power that she has to take so many risks to get close to those things.
After crying for a while, Zhu Xuanning slowly stopped crying.
Ji Yucheng carefully helped her lie back down, then walked around the room until he found a teacup and poured a cup of hot water. He gently stirred it with a spoon, took a small sip, put the spoon down, took a new one, and carried the warm water to Zhu Xuanning's bedside.
Zhu Xuanning saw Ji Yucheng bring her water. She didn't have much energy to talk to him, but she was really thirsty, so she sat up.
"It's not hot anymore. Sit down and drink slowly." Ji Yucheng thought Zhu Xuanning probably didn't have the strength to hold the teacup, so she scooped up the tea and brought it to her lips one spoonful at a time.
Zhu Xuanning glanced at him, did not refuse, and took small sips.
Ji Yucheng felt somewhat happy, and even the corners of her mouth curled up slightly.
After Zhu Xuanning finished drinking half a cup of warm water and shook her head in silent refusal, Ji Yucheng took the cup away.
He opened the door and went out, and Yu Xuan, hearing the noise, turned around.
Ji Yucheng glanced at him, then turned to Pomo and asked, "Where is the clean silk handkerchief your young lady usually uses?"
Yu Xuan immediately tightened his grip, his emotions becoming unstable.
Po Mo paused for a moment, then, thinking about what the young lady had instructed him to do, told Ji Yucheng where the silk handkerchief was stored.
Ji Yucheng nodded, then glanced at Yu Xuan again. Seeing that her friend wasn't in high spirits, Ji Yucheng had a wicked urge to smirk, but she suppressed it.
He briskly fetched a basin of water, wrung out a silk cloth, and gently wiped Zhu Xuanning's cheeks.
Zhu Xuanning let him finish before asking, "Was that animated painting your own idea?"
Ji Yucheng suddenly stopped. He turned around, remained silent for a moment, and then replied softly, "It was my idea."
"I thought this might stop you from being angry with me anymore."
"I know I was wrong."
Ji Yucheng's voice grew softer with each sentence.
Zhu Xuanning listened quietly, somewhat lost in thought.
After not receiving a response from Zhu Xuanning for a long time, Ji Yucheng unconsciously clenched the silk handkerchief. He mustered his courage, walked over, leaned closer, and then half-bent down.
"Don't ignore me." His voice was slightly nasal, his eyelashes were wet, but he only dared to press against Zhu Xuanning's pillow and plead softly.
It's unclear which sentence touched Zhu Xuanning, but in the end, she went along with Ji Yucheng's wishes, raised her hand, tentatively placed it on Ji Yucheng's head, and gently patted him.
Ji Yucheng, his eyelashes trembling, was suddenly overjoyed. Without even hesitating, he reached out and gently grasped Zhu Xuanning's fair wrist, then shook it slightly up and down so that the girl could stroke his hair.
Yu Xuan didn't wait for Ji Yucheng to come out. He lowered his eyelashes, kicked a non-existent pebble on the ground, and then left.
Yu Xuan went to the kitchen, personally processed the two rabbits, and then began cooking.
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