"Jin'er, you must not be willful." Wei Shiwan shook her head disapprovingly. "You can read the books later. Your health is too weak now, and after last time's misfortune you were laid up for a full half-month before recovering. How can you not rest properly? If your health fails and the worst should happen, how could I ever face the late Princess Consort under the nine springs?
[九泉之下 (jiǔquánzhīxià): lit. Under the nine springs; fig. The netherworld, the afterlife]
To make Li Jin drink the medicinal chicken soup that had been tampered with, Wei Shiwan did not hesitate to bring up Gu Rulan to persuade him.
Li Jin smiled. "I will remember the Successor Princess Consort's kindness. To be frank, His Majesty the Empress already had me drink medicinal chicken soup while I was in the palace. If I drink more now, I fear my weak constitution cannot handle such tonics."
"Uh... Then Jin'er, you can drink it later. This medicinal chicken soup was specially stewed for you, it would be a true pity to waste it." Knowing that getting Li Jin to finish it on the spot was already impossible, Wei Shiwan decisively changed her approach. "Xiao Tao, you stay and serve Jin'er until he finishes it."
"Yes, Princess Consort."
Xiao Tao's back stiffened, and she immediately nodded.
"Jin'er, then you read your book well. I will not disturb you further."
After giving her instructions, Wei Shiwan took her leave. However, before leaving, she secretly gave Xiao Tao a warning look, instructing her to ensure Li Jin finished the entire bowl.
Li Jin paid no mind to Xiao Tao standing behind him, concentrating intently on his book. He read for a good long while, straight until Xiao Tao became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, feeling very frantic and impatient.
Simultaneously, a certain indescribable discomfort spread through Xiao Tao's body. Gradually, Xiao Tao couldn't help but show a pained expression.
"What's wrong with you?"
Having tired from reading, just as Li Jin was about to drink some tea, he noticed Xiao Tao's standing posture was somewhat strange and her complexion had changed, so he asked.
"It's nothing... it's just... this servant needs to use the privy..."
Xiao Tao couldn't help but say it out loud, feeling very embarrassed to say such things in front of Li Jin. But soon, Xiao Tao felt it was Li Jin's fault. If he hadn't been putting on airs and refusing to drink the soup, would she have needed to wait here so painfully?
"Go ahead."
Li Jin glanced at Xiao Tao and agreed.
"Yes, this servant will return shortly."
Xiao Tao bowed to Li Jin and hurriedly ran out.
"His Highness, the thing is prepared." Not long after Xiao Tao left, Zhou Yunting, who had been waiting secretly outside, immediately entered carrying something in his hand.
"Switch them."
"Yes." Zhou Yunting promptly placed what he was carrying on the table and opened it, exposing a bowl of medicinal chicken soup identical to the one in the original bowl before the two of them. He then swiftly switched the two, afterwards carefully taking away the tampered medicinal chicken soup.
Having memories from his previous life, Li Jin was naturally prepared. Thus, he had specifically brought back the medicinal chicken soup that Gu Rushuang had ordered to be stewed, and it immediately came in handy.
A short moment later.
Xiao Tao returned, panting.
"His Highness, this... this servant has returned."
"Hmm."
Li Jin remained composed, turning the pages of his book, not giving Xiao Tao a single glance.
Seeing that Li Jin had no intention of scolding her, Xiao Tao instantly breathed a sigh of relief and stood behind Li Jin as before.
This scene continued until the sky grew dark. Xiao Tao was the first to grow impatient. "His Highness, you should drink this medicinal chicken soup now. This servant is still waiting to report back to the Princess Consort. If His Highness finds it unpleasant cold, this servant will take it out to heat it up immediately."
"Unnecessary. I am not so particular. You are quite loyal to the Successor Princess Consort."
Li Jin left these words full of meaning, before finally picking up the cooled medicinal chicken soup and drinking it.
Xiao Tao smiled but did not reply.
Li Jin didn't mind either. After finishing it, he directly handed the bowl to Xiao Tao. Xiao Tao immediately took the bowl joyfully, bid farewell to Li Jin, and left.
After leaving, Xiao Tao did not dare to delay. Holding the bowl, she walked quickly to where Wei Shiwan was.
Wei Shiwan looked at the empty bowl that had originally contained the medicinal chicken soup and said, "Xiao Tao, you are certain you 'personally witnessed' him drinking it all?"
"Yes, Princess Consort." Xiao Tao immediately told Wei Shiwan everything that had happened after she left, though, of course, Xiao Tao concealed the matter of her going to the privy.
Wei Shiwan nodded with satisfaction. "Very good, you may go."
"Yes, this servant takes her leave."
Xiao Tao hurriedly withdrew.
Watching Xiao Tao's retreating figure, Wei Shiwan curled the corners of her lips. "It seems Li Jin is still very guarded against me. But it doesn't matter, he has already drunk that medicinal chicken soup. Shen'er and I will definitely be able to attend the grand banquet smoothly."
Elsewhere.
"His Highness, are these the flowers?"
Ping'an gloomily handed a bunch of wildflowers to Li Jin, his heart full of confusion, completely unable to understand why Li Jin had suddenly sent Zhou Yunting to tell him that he and Zhou Yunting were to go pick wildflowers.
"Naturally, they have a use."
Li Jin took the wildflowers and placed them in a vase on the table.
"Uh... His Highness, you are... you are..."
Ping'an was utterly confused by Li Jin's action.
Generally speaking, vases were used for precious, famous flowers. Li Jin, however, directly put these worthless wildflowers inside.
"To appreciate the flowers." Li Jin replied nonchalantly. "Otherwise, why would I have you pick them? Wildflowers, naturally, are better at surviving than pampered flowers. I truly hope my life can be like these wildflowers."
"His Highness is greatly blessed and destined for a long life, it certainly will be."
The moment the topic of Li Jin's health was mentioned, Ping'an replied without thinking.
Li Jin chuckled lightly. "Then I shall accept your auspicious words."
"His Highness..."
Ping'an had only just begun to speak when Zhou Yunting walked in and reported to Li Jin, "His Highness, the matter has been handled."
"Very good."
Li Jin nodded, not inquiring further.
Regarding Zhou Yunting's ability to handle tasks and maintain confidentiality, Li Jin still trusted him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have secretly used Lin Zhong to transfer Zhou Yunting to his side without attracting attention.
What Zhou Yunting meant by 'the matter has been handled' just now referred precisely to disposing of the tampered medicinal chicken soup.
"His Highness, Zhou Yunting was truly detestable earlier. Clearly, you said for us to go pick wildflowers together, but he was good for nothing, always disappearing." Seeing Li Jin reuse Zhou Yunting, who had been transferred over after making a mistake, Ping'an was naturally very happy. But remembering Zhou Yunting's attitude towards him earlier, he felt displeased and couldn't help but list Zhou Yunting's offenses.
Wait, will saying this harm Zhou Yunting?
Ping'an quickly realized that his words were very unfriendly towards Zhou Yunting and hurriedly tried to remedy it. "However, he indeed was helpful earlier. It's just later... later... later I don't know where he went."
What in the world am I saying.
Seeing Ping'an's conflicted little expression, even Zhou Yunting couldn't help but laugh secretly to himself.
He liked seeing Ping'an like this.
Li Jin shook his head in amusement and explained to Ping'an, "Ping'an, this Zhou Yunting was sent by me to handle another matter. He wasn't slacking off. You misunderstood him."
"Uh... Then why did he say he was going to... Zhou Yunting... you tricked me again." Ping'an glared indignantly at Zhou Yunting, his eyes full of accusation.
If Li Jin weren't present, Ping'an would have long since been unable to resist arguing with Zhou Yunting.
"I did not." Zhou Yunting shook his head calmly. "I told you before I left. I thought you would be able to guess."
"..."
Ping'an was speechless.
You suddenly said you were hungry and were going to find something to eat. Who could guess what that meant? What should I do? I really want to dig a pit right here and bury this fellow Zhou Yunting in it.
No comments:
Post a Comment