Сhеng Сhi fеlt а chill in his heart uроn hearing this.
It hаd been sо mаnу уеаrs since hе last felt this way!
Zhou Shaоjin hаd beеn pеrfесtlу fine whеn shе lеft his рlаcе that day, sо hоw cоuld she have fаllen ill aftеr just a few dауs?
Соuld sоmеthing hаve haррenеd аftеr she rеturned hоmе?
Cheng Сhi’s gаze shаrpened аs he lookеd аt Мamа Li, and he instructеd Qin Ziрing tо takе Сhеng Jing’s nаmе сard tо thе Impеrial Нospitаl.
Thе imреrial рhуsiсiаns of the Impеrial Hospital sеrved at the еmperоr’s cоmmаnd and wеre not permitted to treat outsiders without imperial decree. However, rules were not without exceptions, and when off duty, these physicians would privately attend to high-ranking officials and their families.
Coincidentally, a consort who often accompanied the Empress Dowager in the palace had fallen ill, and her prolonged ailment had caused great concern for Her Majesty. The emperor had taken the chief physician and others from the Imperial Hospital to Cining Palace, leaving no one available for private visits that day. They would have to wait until the next day.
Under such circumstances, the only option was to seek the emperor’s grace and request that someone from the Imperial Hospital be dispatched for a consultation.
For the first time, Cheng Chi felt the inconvenience of the situation.
He sent Huaishan with his own name card to the private residence of Liu, the Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, located in Needlework Alley.
In the afternoon, a physician surnamed Cao from the Imperial Hospital arrived. It was said that he was a clansman of Chief Physician Cao, skilled in gynecology and pediatrics, with exceptional medical expertise. As he had just joined the Imperial Hospital, he was left on duty while Chief Physician Cao entered the palace.
Cheng Chi thought that if this Physician Cao proved inadequate, he could request Chief Physician Cao to examine Zhou Shaojin the next day. Without further concern for Physician Cao’s limited experience, he took him to Elm Tree Alley.
Madam Li had not expected Cheng Chi to come in person, let alone bring a proper imperial physician.
Overjoyed yet apprehensive, she respectfully welcomed the two inside.
Both Zhou Chujin and Zhou Shaojin were greatly surprised. Especially Zhou Shaojin, who had feigned illness and now faced an imperial physician. If anything were discovered, how could she face others... Zhou Chujin, however, thought this was for the best. If her sister’s illness was psychological, seeing the physician would save her from having to call another doctor; she could simply offer guidance. If it wasn’t psychological, a thorough examination by the imperial physician would allow for proper treatment.
After instructing the maids and matrons in the inner courtyard to withdraw, Mama Li led Cheng Chi and Physician Cao to Zhou Shaojin’s quarters.
While Physician Cao examined her inside, Zhou Chujin and Cheng Chi waited in the corridor for the results.
The courtyard was no more than a few meters wide. A cluster of bamboo grew in the southeast corner, and beside the winding corridor was a large clump of canna lilies, their red and yellow flowers in full bloom, making the courtyard appear even smaller.
Cheng Chi frowned at the sight.
He knew Liao Shaotang’s residence in Elm Tree Alley was somewhat small, but he hadn’t expected it to be this cramped—even smaller than the quarters for maids and matrons at Floating Emerald Pavilion.
He asked Zhou Chujin, “Has anything happened at home these past few days?”
Zhou Chujin understood his meaning and thought carefully before replying with certainty, “Everything has been calm at home, no different from usual! Just yesterday, Shaojin told Madam that since I’ve completed my month of confinement and my mother-in-law hasn’t arrived yet, Madam should take the opportunity to explore the capital.”
Then why would she fall ill?
Cheng Chi’s brows furrowed deeply.
Zhou Chujin hesitated, as if wanting to speak but holding back.
Cheng Chi said, “There are no outsiders here. What is it you can’t say?”
After a moment of hesitation, Zhou Chujin lowered her voice and said, “I’ve always felt that Shaojin’s illness is psychological... After returning from Elm Coin Alley, she told me that Song Xiuzhi is a good person, but seeing Song Xiuzhi... reminded her of Cousin Xu...”She had never imagined that the Song family would look down on her sister. She thought only that her sister might look down on others.
The situation had taken a sudden turn, and she found it difficult to accept for the moment.
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Chujin.
After all, Cheng Xu was his nephew. Back when Zhou Shaojin left Jinling City, it was because of Cheng Xu. And now, because of Cheng Xu, she feared marriage... No wonder Zhou Chujin had been speaking hesitantly.
She didn’t know Zhou Shaojin’s secret, so she couldn’t understand Zhou Shaojin’s aversion to Cheng Xu.
He had thought all along that something must have happened at home.
If Shaojin’s illness was psychological, it likely stemmed from this.
He had considered everything for her, except for this one point.
Cheng Chi deeply regretted it and decided to wait until he saw Imperial Physician Cao.
“We’ll know exactly what’s going on once Imperial Physician Cao comes out,” he said absentmindedly, trying to comfort Zhou Chujin. “You should go back to your room first. As soon as the diagnosis is ready, I’ll have a maid inform you.”
Since there were unrelated men present, Zhou Chujin couldn’t wait there. She curtsied to Cheng Chi and returned to her room.
Shortly after, Imperial Physician Cao emerged.
Cheng Chi quickly stepped forward and asked, “How is she?”
Imperial Physician Cao, who served in the palace, was naturally not someone who only knew medicine but was ignorant of human affairs.
He glanced at Mama Li, who was standing behind him.
Understanding his meaning, Cheng Chi instructed Mama Li, “Go prepare paper and ink for Imperial Physician Cao.”
Mama Li respectfully left.
Only then did Imperial Physician Cao lower his voice and say, “Judging by her pulse, the young lady doesn’t seem to have any physical illness. I’ll prescribe a formula to soothe the liver and regulate qi for her to take for a few days. If it doesn’t work, we can change the medicine.”
The implication was that Zhou Shaojin’s condition was psychological.
Cheng Chi breathed a sigh of relief, only then realizing that his hands had been tightly clenched into fists.
He asked Imperial Physician Cao to write the prescription, then instructed Qin Ziping to make a copy for Zhou Chujin and another for Madam Li before going to fetch the medicine. Meanwhile, he personally escorted Imperial Physician Cao out.
Zhou Chujin immediately sent Chixiang to invite Cheng Chi for a talk.
But Cheng Chi decided to see Zhou Shaojin first.
Zhou Shaojin had never intended to hide anything from Cheng Chi.
She felt that even if she didn’t say anything, Cheng Chi would find out. Moreover, she was afraid that Cheng Chi might vent his anger on Song Xiuzhi, damaging the relationship between the two families.
She waited for Cheng Chi in the sitting room.
Seeing her with her head bowed and eyes downcast, looking as if she were at his mercy, Cheng Chi felt a surge of anger. He couldn’t help but scold her, “You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you? You actually convinced Song Xiuzhi to help you? If you didn’t want to agree, you could have just said so. Did you think I would force you to marry? And now you’re imitating those women who cry, make a scene, or threaten suicide when things don’t go their way, lying in bed like this. You’ve really grown some nerve!”
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes welled up with tears at his words. She said, “Did Uncle Chi consult me when he arranged for me to meet Song Xiuzhi? If Song Xiuzhi had insisted on marrying me, even if I pretended to be sick, Uncle Chi would have stuffed me into the bridal sedan, wouldn’t he? Chunwan cursed Song Xiuzhi to the skies, my sister was unhappy, and you must have thought to yourself, ‘Who does Song Xiuzhi think he is, daring to slight you?’ When Song Xiuzhi didn’t take a liking to me, you immediately assumed I had convinced him to help. You never believed he might actually look down on me, did you? Am I not allowed to look down on others?”
Even a rabbit will bite when cornered!Cheng Chi was both angered and amused by her words. "Alright then, explain it clearly to me. Is it that you don't like someone like Song Xiuzhi, or is it that you feel uncomfortable because we're pressuring you to marry?"
"I don't want to get married!" Zhou Shaojin bit her lip and whispered, "I... I want to become a nun, to live as a lay Buddhist..."
Cheng Chi suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
He thought of Zhou Shaojin's experiences in her past life, and a dull ache spread through his heart.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but rub his forehead, murmuring softly, "Can't you at least try? You want to become a nun, to live as a lay Buddhist—have you considered that you're younger than me? While I'm alive, I can protect you, but what will you do if I die? Marriage is different. A couple supports each other throughout life; if one passes before the other, there are sons to rely on, there's the clan to depend on..."
Tears fell from Zhou Shaojin's eyes.
She knew it. There were some things she could only say to Uncle Chi, and only Uncle Chi would understand.
"I'm afraid!" Zhou Shaojin choked out. "I don't want to try... Please don't force me to marry... If one day you can no longer protect me, I'll simply stop living... In my past life, I only lived to twenty-five anyway..." And she had lived in such pain. In this life, she had met Uncle Chi. If she could also live to twenty-five, she would have no regrets, nothing left to wish for!
"Nonsense!" The thought that one day he might be unable to protect this little girl instantly threw Cheng Chi into a panic. He said sternly, "So you plan to waste this life? If you die, what will happen to your father? What about your sister? What about your grandmother and your eldest aunt? If you keep talking such discouraging words, I won't care for you anymore!"
Zhou Shaojin smiled through her tears.
Although Uncle Chi's tone was harsh, his words were all for her own good. She wasn't someone who couldn't understand that.
Zhou Shaojin wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and went to brew a cup of tea for Cheng Chi.
After taking a few sips, Cheng Chi's emotions calmed. He earnestly discussed her future with Zhou Shaojin: "...Becoming a nun is not an option! Not even becoming a nun in a family temple! The life of a nun is too austere. If you wish to practice Buddhism, you can be a lay Buddhist at home. If you find it too difficult, you can stop practicing at any time. As for your marriage, I will speak with your father. Don't act recklessly. I guarantee he won't force you to marry."
But he didn't guarantee that she wouldn't marry!
Zhou Shaojin turned her face away.
Even after the Gu family's Nineteenth Daughter died, her grieving mother had asked Cheng Chi to arrange a posthumous marriage for her, let alone her own parents!
They would keep arranging meetings for her.
If she didn't like someone like Song Xiuzhi, there would be others different from Song Xiuzhi...
As long as she remained unmarried, her father would never give up.
Cheng Chi sighed, still unwilling to let it go. "Then tell me the truth: Did Song Xiuzhi not take a liking to you, and you're afraid I'll get angry, so you're covering for him? Or did you not take a liking to Song Xiuzhi, and he's helping you out? Or perhaps neither of you took a liking to the other?"
In his view, even the greatest hatred fades with time, and even the deepest wounds eventually heal. Zhou Shaojin might fear marriage now, but that didn't mean she would always fear it.
Even if he was wrong this time, he needed to know where he went wrong and how to correct it in the future.
Zhou Shaojin didn't dare deceive Cheng Chi.
What if Cheng Chi believed her and made things difficult for Song Xiuzhi?
She couldn't let Song Xiuzhi help her and end up suffering for it!"It's because I don't want to get married!" Zhou Shaojin said honestly. "Young Master Song is helping me!"
Cheng Chi felt like he was about to be driven mad by her.
After just one meeting and a few words, that Song Xiuzhi was willing to help her even at the cost of his own reputation... Where would she ever find someone as outstanding and fond of her as Song Xiuzhi again!
Otherwise, he wouldn't have scrutinized and deliberated so much before choosing Song Xiuzhi.
A young provincial scholar with the highest honors—did she think such a person could be encountered anytime?
Cheng Chi couldn't help but say, "Do you even know what you're doing?"
Zhou Shaojin nodded and replied softly, "I know. Young Master Song is not only a good person but also exceptionally talented. Though born into a powerful and noble family, he remains humble and courteous. Most importantly, he's willing to help me..."
※
Thank you Azi Hanguo for the reward of the "Làngyuàn Xiānpā"!
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: The update will still be available for everyone to read tomorrow morning as usual!
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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