After everything was done, Yi Huatuo went to the well to get water and wash his hands. Yi Qiling, who was sorting out the scattered medicinal herbs, glanced at her mother who was squatting by the well to wash her hands. She immediately put down her work and walked over, squatting beside her mother.
"Mother."
"Are you all done?" Yi Huatuo pulled out a handkerchief from his waist to wipe his hands. His rolled up sleeves revealed half of his jade-like arm. There was an obvious pink mark on his arm that looked like a lotus flower.
"Mother, are you hiding something from me?”
"Why would Mother hide anything from you?" Yi Huatuo stood up and deliberately turned his head to avoid the silent question in his daughter's eyes.
Yi Qiling did not believe Yi Huatuo's words!
She rushed forward and grabbed her mother's hand in front of her, pressing the veins on her wrist with her fingertips.
"Mother, tell me, what is it?"Tell Ling 'er honestly what is going on. Ling' er is pressing on mother's meridians now. If mother lies, her pulse will definitely be out of order. This was what mothers taught their daughters. It was very easy to find out if that person was lying.”
Yi Huatuo could not help but laugh at his daughter's threats."Teaching you medical skills has only trapped me instead.”
"Mother!"
Yi Huatuo pulled Yi Qiling and sat down on the stone steps at the side. "Recently, there have been more people coming to see the foot disease because a small river outside our city was poisoned.”
"Poison?" Yi Qiling was shocked.
"The person who released the poison did not want the people in the city to die. He only wanted the people in the city to be unable to walk.”
"Why? Why is the person who released the poison so cruel?”
Yi Huatuo patted the back of Yi Qiling's hand to comfort her."Ling 'er, some things are the will of the heavens. Since it's the will of the heavens, mortals can't resist or redeem anything. They can only follow the will of the heavens, do you understand?”
Yi Qiling stood up excitedly. "Mother, of course I don't know! I don't know what kind of person would do this to the people in the city. They were just ordinary people who lived and worked in peace and contentment. This was unreasonable!”She was so angry that she tightened her skirt. "Don't the authorities want to investigate?"
"Ling Er, listen to me. We can only do our best to save people. At least don't let everyone's feet fester until they can't walk for the rest of their lives. The rest can only depend on the heavens. There are some things that we can't change.”
"Mother!"
"Ling 'er, mother forbids you from interfering in this matter.”
"Mother!"
"If you don't listen to Mother, then don't call me Mother.”Yi Huatuo turned around and entered the house after saying those harsh words.
The kind-hearted Yi Qiling became more and more indignant as she sat down angrily.
How could she not try to solve it? She knew almost everyone in the city, and everyone had such a good relationship. How could she not do something?
Her mother did not want her to interfere, and this alone made her feel strange. Logically speaking, her mother was a doctor, and she was a doctor. How could she be indifferent to such an illegal and life-threatening matter?
There must be something fishy about this!
The first thought in Yi Qi Ling's heart was to find Fan Xu to discuss, and without thinking much, she hurriedly went out.
Yi Huatuo, who was in the room, shook his head helplessly when he heard his daughter's voice. She had made up the story of releasing poison. She knew that all of this was just a means by the heavenly soldiers to force her to come forward and return. That was why they deliberately scattered unknown objects in the river to infect the people.
The reason why no one had died from the disease was because they did not want the lives of innocent people at all. They only warned her that she should go back.
But how could she go back? She was worried about her daughter. She couldn't let go of her precious daughter who had relied on her since she was young and supported each other.
At the very least, she had to see her find a good home.
However, she knew that Ling 'er would never have an ending with the young master of the Fan family, because the emperor of her life was just about to appear.
" The capital sure is lively." Ever since Xiao Shui entered the capital, she had been astonished by the extraordinary liveliness of the capital. This was something she had never seen in Luoyang.
Although Luoyang was also a large city, it was far less crowded and lively than the capital. Moreover, there were many things in the capital that could not be seen in Luoyang. There were people from other countries, items from other races, and even spice stores!
" Spice shop?!" Xiao Neng, who had stayed in the capital before, had once said that the spice shops in the capital sold the most famous spices from all over the country, as well as rouge and perfume. Xiao Neng had said that when the perfume was applied to one's body, it smelled so good. The young ladies of the rich families in the capital would use that kind of water to bathe, and it smelled even better than bathing in flower petals. She really wanted to take a fragrant bath when she heard that.
"Xiao Shui, go to the inn and book a room. Sixth Young Master and I will go to the painting shop in the city.”
Jin Hai instructed Xiao Shui as he turned to look at Zhangsun Lie, who was sitting in the carriage behind him. He saw Zhangsun Lie playing with the grass in his hand. He had plucked the grass along the way. He had been playing with it until now, which showed how bored he had been along the way.
"Young Master?"
"Let's do as you say."
" Oh." Little Shui ran into the inn and called for the waiter to help carry the luggage from the carriage.
"Young Master, the painting shop should be on this street.”
Zhangsun Lie jumped off the carriage and left Jin Hai behind.
Jin Hai could only shake his head with a bitter smile. He took out a scroll from the carriage and quickly caught up.
According to the signature on the scroll, they knew that it was painted by a person named Changshan Dweller. After asking a few calligraphy and painting shops, they finally found the residence of Changshan Dweller in a remote alley.
" Knock on the door." Zhangsun Lie didn't seem to be interested at all. He lowered his head and walked in circles.
Jin Hai knocked on the door a few times, and a woman came out to answer the door.
As soon as the door opened, the fragrance of tea wafted into their noses. Zhangsun Lie and Jin Hai were stunned. They had never heard of such a strong tea fragrance. Even the best tea would not have such a strong fragrance.
"What do you want?"
"Auntie, we are looking for the person from Long Mountain Residence.”
The woman frowned and said in a displeased tone, as if they were bad people."Why are you looking for him?"
Jin Hai raised the scroll in his hand. "Long Mountain Residence once drew a painting of a beauty for our Old Master. We want to ask Long Mountain Residence about the residence of the beauty in the painting.”
"Since it was your grandfather who commissioned the painting, he must know very well where the woman in the painting lives. Why is he asking us?”
The woman wanted to close the door without a word, but fortunately, Jin Hai was a step faster and held the door open to prevent her from closing it.
"Auntie, don't close the door yet."
"You!" The woman was so angry that her face turned red. "Barbarians!"
"Auntie." Jin Hai could only smile bitterly and beg his master to save him.
However, his precious master leaned to the side and made up his mind not to appear.
"Auntie, we are really in a hurry to find the woman in the painting. Could you please help us tell the people of Long Mountain Residence that we are here to see Ruoke?”
"No, no, no! There were no residents of the Long Mountain Residence here. Get lost!”The woman looked at him with disdain.
"Looking at your appearance, you're definitely not a good person.”
Jin Hai had nothing to say to the woman's criticism. He could only smile bitterly and plead.
"Auntie, we really hope to meet the people of Long Mountain Residence. Can you please help us inform them?”
"I told you there's no such person here. You don't understand, do you?”
"We asked the owner of the painting shop in front of the street. The owner said that the people of Long Mountain Residence live here.”
"No, no, no!"
"Husband, let him in." Someone in the room couldn't stand it and said.
The woman was still a little hesitant. She turned around and asked,"But…"
"It's fine. Let him in."
The woman unwillingly opened the door.”
" Young Master, you can go in now." Jin Hai really didn't understand. Since his master had already come out, why wouldn't he be willing? The sooner he found her, the sooner he could go back.
Zhangsun Lie glanced at the woman before walking in. The moment he entered, he saw an empty courtyard. The courtyard was filled with tea leaves. So that was where the strong tea fragrance he had smelled earlier came from. However, the fragrance of this tea was very special.
" Come in, young man." Someone called out from inside.
Zhangsun Lie pushed open the door and entered. Everything in the room was very simple except for the large table. The four treasures of the study were placed on the table. It seemed to be more valuable than this room. His gaze naturally locked onto the stationery on the table.
"Heh, that table seems to attract your attention more than me.”
Zhangsun Lie quickly turned around and saw an old man sitting on a bed with a book in his hand.
The old man seemed to be quite intelligent. His snow-white beard grew to his chest, and his eyebrows drooped because they were too long.
"You are?"
The old man put down the book in his hand and poured a cup of tea. "Aren't you looking for the people of Long Mountain Residence?”
"Yes."
"Then sit down and spread out the painting.”
Zhangsun Lie was curious that the old man actually knew their purpose for coming. "Jinhai, spread out the painting."
Jin Hai untied the string and placed the painting on the table.
The old man took a closer look at the beauty in the painting and laughed heartily.
"Hehehe!"
Zhangsun Lie didn't like the old man's laughter. It contained a disgusting ridicule and mockery.
"Is this the girl you're looking for?”
"Elder, do you know her?”
" Young Master Zhangsun…" The old man opened his mouth to answer.
"Wait!" Zhangsun Lie hurriedly shouted for them to stop, his brows tightly knitted together. "You know who I am?"
The old man continued to laugh, but Zhangsun Lie's expression turned uglier and uglier.
"Of course I know who you are. I have never drawn a picture of a beauty, except for this one."This portrait was the object he had drawn. He caressed the painting."This painting was drawn by Old Minister Zhangsun of Luoyang. The woman in the painting is as beautiful as an immortal. I have never met a second person with that immortal temperament in my life.”
The old man's words caused Zhangsun Lie's heart to waver. His gaze naturally focused on the woman in the painting, imagining what kind of girl she was in reality.
"Old Minister Zhangsun said that the girl in this painting is the granddaughter-in-law he wants to find for his sixth grandson. I also expected that you would come looking for me, Sixth Young Master.”
Zhangsun Lie was displeased that he had satisfied his father.
"Are you so sure that I'll ask you and not tell me myself?”
The old man laughed again. Zhangsun Lie's expression was already colder than the ten-thousand-year-old snow mountain.
"Old Minister Zhangsun told me that he would never tell you, Sixth Young Master. He wants you to have a taste of searching.”
"Puff!" Jin Hai, who was standing at the side, couldn't help but cover his mouth and snicker. The Old Master really planned to play with the Young Master, hahaha.
Zhangsun Lie glared at Jin Hai.
"Sixth Young Master Zhangsun, are you planning to bring this girl back to Luoyang?”
Zhangsun Lie could hear the confusion in the old man's tone. "Is there a problem?"
"Yes, this…"
"Old man, there's no harm in saying it."
The old man sighed. "This girl is actually quite famous in the city. She and her mother live in the southernmost alley in the city. The mother and daughter depended on each other for survival. Her mother was a doctor who specialized in treating the poor people in the city. Because of her superb medical skills, the people in the city called her mother Yi Huatuo. As for her real name, no one knew.”
"What about the girl?"
"To be honest, the people in the city are saying that she and the young master of the Fan family like each other. However, because the old master of the Fan family values family status very much, it is still unknown whether the two of them can be together.”The old man sighed helplessly.
A couple!
When these three words entered Zhangsun Lie's ears, he only felt that it was ear-piercing and unbearable.
Wasn't she originally chosen by him as his wife? Even if he was unwilling, she was still his, wasn't she? But now, she and another man were called a couple?
Zhangsun Lie felt suffocated in his chest and was extremely upset. He stood up stiffly. "Thank you, old man."
The old man called out to Zhangsun Lie, who was about to leave. "Sixth Young Master, don't you want to know this girl's name?”
Zhangsun Lie stopped and turned around after a moment of silence. "What's his name?"
"Yi Qiling."
After hearing this, Zhangsun Lie turned around and left. If he didn't leave this place, his entire life would be ruined by this old man.
Xiao! Ever since he was born, he had never been ridiculed like this.
Damn it!
Jin Hai awkwardly thanked the old man and chased after his master. After a few steps, he hurriedly ran back and rolled up the scroll on the table.
After they left, the woman said angrily,"Old man, why did you say so much to him? You don't need to tell the Zhangsun Clan's Sixth Young Master anything about Miss Yi and the Fan Clan's Young Master.”
The old man leaned against the headboard, overjoyed.
"Old man, what are you laughing at?" The woman asked in confusion. She picked up a cloth and wiped the table that her old man treasured the most. Half of the reason why the table was so bright and dust-free was because she kept wiping it every day. Who told her that this was the most precious thing of her old man?
"You don't know, but this was instructed by Minister Zhangsun.”
The woman stopped wiping the table because of her husband's words. "Old Minister Zhangsun instructed you to do so?" She was puzzled.
" Hahaha!" Whenever he thought of what Minister Zhangsun had said to him, he would feel worried and sad about the young man's future.
Sigh, he was really pitiful to be tricked by his own father.
"Old man, what are you laughing about?”
" I'm fine, I'm fine." The old man laughed until he was out of breath.
"If you laugh like this, you'll be fine if you see ghosts!”
The woman had a bad temper and was very irritable, but the old man was used to it. He didn't think that there was anything wrong with her swearing, but he smiled even more happily.
The old man pointed at the small table beside him. "Honey, this place is dirty."
The woman was furious when she heard that. She reached out and threw the cloth at him.
"Wipe it yourself!"
Zhangsun Lie sat in the teahouse and drank Shuangjing tea. The fragrance assailed his nostrils, and the drink was like sweet dew. He brought the cup close to his nose and sniffed, revealing a satisfied smile.
Without Jinhai and Xiaoshui by his side, it was much quieter.
Zhangsun Lie was sitting in the building and drinking tea. He had just sent Jinhai and Xiaoshui away and ordered a few things for them to buy.
Zhangsun Lie covered his mouth and snickered. They would never be able to buy all those things.
When he picked up his teacup to take another sip, he tilted his head and saw the poem on the wall.
The name of Shuangjing is famous all over the world, and the spring scenery of Jianxi has no brilliance.
It is said that Shuangjing Tuancha is very beautiful. It is not as good as Hongdu.
He frowned and reached out to pull a waiter who was busy. "Waiter, that poem."
"That poem was personally written by Huang Tingjian, praising the fragrance of Shuangjing Tea.”
Zhangsun Lie found it funny after hearing it. Although he did not like reading, he had heard of the famous poet Huang Tingjian of the Northern Song Dynasty. He also knew that the poem was Huang Tingjian praising the fragrance of Shuangjing tea.
He was just curious, why would a small shop have a calligraphy section personally mentioned by a great poet?
Just as Zhangsun Lie raised his head, wanting to see the authenticity of the calligraphy piece again, his body suddenly trembled and he stared straight ahead.
Yi Qiling knew that Fan Xu would come to this teahouse to drink tea every day, so she came to find him. As expected, she saw Fan Xu sitting by the window and sipping tea. She happily walked over.
"Fan Xu."
"Qi Ling."
Yi Qiling chose to sit opposite Fan Xu. "I thought you were drinking tea here."
"What's the matter?" Fan Xu picked up a clean cup and poured a cup of hot tea for Yi Qiling."Try it. It's very pure cloud mist tea.”
"I have something to ask you for help." After Yi Qiling took a sip, she immediately felt the fragrance of the Cloud Mist Tea spread in her mouth. The tea was green and clear, and the fragrance was clear and distant. The taste was fresh and sweet, and the fragrance could be drunk.
"Why are you looking for me?"
"Didn't you see the patient who was brought in for treatment today? His feet were festering, but he didn't feel any pain. After you left, I asked my mother. My mother said,"Yi Qiling looked around, not sure if it's appropriate to say this in such a public place."
"What did your mother say?"
Yi Qiling leaned forward, and Fan Xu followed suit. The two of them seemed to be very close.
"My mother said that the river outside our city was poisoned.”she whispered.
" What?!" Fan Xu was extremely surprised. "How could that be?"
"I also think that person is too bold and too vicious. The people in the city are all so kind. What he did was nothing more than to destroy the ability of the people in the city to work. My mother said that although this poison won't take a person's life, it can make people unable to walk and work.”
"How can this be? We have to report this to the authorities." Fan Xu stood up excitedly.
"Don't be like this!" Yi Qiling grabbed Fan Xu's hand and pulled him down. "My mother forbids me from meddling in this matter. Don't cause trouble for me.”
"This is a huge matter. How can we not do anything about it?”
"Mother said that if I insist on interfering, she will sever all ties with me. Don't harm me.”Yi Qi Ling was still puzzled by her mother's words.
"But…"
"I came to you to discuss if there are any other solutions.”
"There's no other way except to report this matter to the authorities. Fan Xu lowered his voice and whispered."Being poisoned is a serious matter. What can the two of us do?”
Hearing Fan Xu's words, Yi Qiling drooped her shoulders dejectedly."So, you can't do anything about it?”
"Unless your mother agrees to report it to the authorities and let them investigate, there's nothing we can do.”
"But seeing everyone injured like that, my heart aches.”
Fan Xu gently held Yi Qiling's hand."I know you've always been merciful, but this matter can't be solved by you alone.”
Being held by Fan Xu boldly, Yi Qiling wanted to pull her hand back, but Fan Xu's strength was too great. She could only struggle slightly, but her hand was still held tightly.
" Fan Xu." Yi Qi Ling lowered her head shyly.
"Qi Ling, can you consider our marriage? I really want to marry you."Seeing Yi Qiling raise her head and want to refute something, Fan Xu took the first step to stop her from saying anything."I don't want to hear you say that you don't want to get married. I don't believe that you don't have feelings for me and don't want to be a legitimate husband and wife with me.”
"Fan Xu, it's too early to talk about this.”
" No! It's not too early!" The moment he thought of how his father had already summoned a matchmaker and was preparing to go to the Hua family to propose marriage, his heart was filled with fear.
He didn't want to marry the Hua family's little daughter, he didn't want to marry any woman other than Qi Ling!
" Fan Xu." She didn't understand why he had changed completely these few days. Become so positive, so positive
"Qi Ling, you know that I like you. You always knew that. Fan Xu revealed a sad expression.
"Did something happen at home?" she asked, frowning. I see that you look quite lonely recently. Is there something wrong at home?”
Fan Xu simply shook his head.
Yi Qiling sighed. "Fan Xu."
"Qi Ling, don't say so much." Fan Xu deliberately changed the topic."I heard from your mother this morning that you went up the mountain early in the morning to pick medicinal herbs. Have you considered bringing them to the shop to sell? Otherwise, how are you going to live if you don't receive a single cent when you treat people?”
"That's not bad. Auntie Liu always brings me some vegetables that she grows herself.”
"However, it's not enough if you don't have a few coins on you.”Fan Xu took out a few coins of silver from his belt.
When Yi Qiling saw Fan Xu's actions, his face turned ashen on the spot.
"You…"
"What are you doing?" The unsmiling Yi Qiling had a bit of coldness, making people feel that she was very, very far away.
"Take it. If you have an emergency, you won't run out of money.”
Yi Qiling immediately stood up and glared at Fan Xu, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Who do you think I am? Yes! My family is poor, but my mother and I help poor people. Although we don't charge a cent for treating them, we feel very happy.”She felt so wronged that she wanted to cry. However, this was a teahouse, and everyone could see it. Even if she was about to die of anger, she could only curse softly. She was so angry that she even had the urge to hit someone, but she could only hold the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
"Qi Ling, you misunderstood."
"What's there to misunderstand? You've been acting strange for the past few days, and now you're actually giving me money."She wanted to stop crying, but tears still fell. She wiped the tears from her cheeks."Even if my family is poor, I don't want your money!”
Yi Qiling turned around and left. Fan Xu wanted to chase after her but was timid. He thought of the marriage that his father had decided on.
At this moment, Zhangsun Lie picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea. He had seen and heard everything that had happened just now.
When he first saw her, he was sure that she was the woman in the painting. When he was alone, he would stare at the painting. Her figure had long been imprinted in his heart, so he could recognize her at first sight.
To be honest, when he had heard from the residents of Long Mountain Residence that she was a couple with the young master of the Fan family in the city, he had not only been shocked, but he had also felt a sour feeling in his heart.
He didn't expect to find her so soon, nor did he expect to see her meeting her lover here.
Seeing the scene just now, there was only one definite answer in his heart.
Indeed, he knew him well. Yi Qiling was indeed the type of girl he liked.
Zhangsun Lie's lips curled up helplessly as he sipped his tea.
From the beginning to the end, he could not escape from his father's palm.
Even if he wanted to break free, he would return to his father's palm after going around in a big circle. His father probably knew more about the twelve brothers than their biological parents.
Because of his delay, there were only a few months left until the year that his father had set. No matter what, he would bring her back to Luoyang. He would do this not because of his father's rules, but because of him.
I like her!#
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]