Chapter 417: Chapter 411: Junior Temple Master’s Charmed Life
Entering November, Li City became colder and colder, and the snow fell more frequently. The cold was so intense that one could hardly resist staying curled up in bed.
Zhou Ning felt the same way, but today she had to go to Feichang Dao. Groggily woken up by her maid, she got out of bed, yawned, and turned around to let Qin Shu put a cloak on her.
However, Qin Shu let out a sharp scream and instinctively wrapped her tightly with the cloak.
Zhou Ning was startled, her sleepiness vanished completely, and she asked in panic, “What happened?”
“Miss, Miss, woo… haha.” Qin Shu was a mix of shock and joy, laughing and crying.
Zhou Ning was even more perplexed and urgently said, “What exactly happened? Don’t scare me.”
“It’s my fault, Miss, you are cured, your illness is cured.” Qin Shu said with a laugh, wiping the corner of her eyes.
Cured?
Zhou Ning was stunned, suddenly realizing something, she pulled off the cloak and turned her head to look at her stark white underpants. A dash of bright red came into view.
“This…”
Qin Shu happily knelt down and said, “Congratulations, miss, you’ve become a grown girl.”
Zhou Ning was still dazed, and after a moment, tears began to roll down her cheeks as she hugged Qin Shu and cried.
That morning, she could finally cry out all of her accumulated grievances and fears.
Qin Shu patted her, saying, “Miss, please stop crying, I’ll go prepare those things for you to use.”
Zhou Ning’s face flushed, she nodded with teary eyes, and managed a smile.
Li City truly was her blessed land.
Zhou Wei found his sister acting oddly today, walking somewhat unnaturally as if hiding something, and with her head slightly downcast – it all looked very strange.
“Sister, what’s wrong with you? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?” Zhou Wei couldn’t help but ask.
Zhou Ning’s face instantly burned red, she looked up at him and shyly said, “Brother, my illness is cured.”
“Oh.” Zhou Wei’s eyes widened, “What?”
Her illness was cured?
Did he understand it correctly?
“The illness is cured, it means you…”
Zhou Ning immediately covered her face with her sleeve, too embarrassed and stomping her foot, “Brother.”
Seeing her reaction, Zhou Wei understood everything, his face also slightly flushed, his ear tips red, he coughed to cover it up and said, “Since the illness is cured, after seeing the master, we should head back. Father and mother are already urging us.”
Though his words were calm, his heart was extremely excited. His sister’s illness was cured, and their parents could finally be at ease.
Zhou Ning also wanted to share this good news with her parents, but she had to properly thank Qin Liuxi first. She said solemnly, “Brother, since the master cured my illness, let’s add a bit more to the consultation fee. You initially advance it, I’ll pay you back with my private savings later.”
Zhou Wei laughed heartily, tousled her hair, and said, “You don’t need to use your private money. Keep it for your dowry, don’t worry, your big brother won’t skimp.”
Zhou Ning pursed her lips, her cheeks blushing.
…
Qin Liuxi didn’t expect to be greeted with a big hug early in the morning, feeling somewhat stiff, she gently pushed Zhou Ning a little and looked up at her. Seeing her complexion rosy and radiant, a stark change from her previously sullen look, she looked lively and charming.
She felt Zhou Ning’s pulse and smiled, “You’ve recovered well. You don’t need to take the previous prescription anymore; I’ll give you a new one that nourishes the yin and enriches the blood.”
Zhou Ning, hearing this, teared up again and stepped back, giving her a deep bow, “Thank you so much.”
Qin Liuxi lifted her hand slightly and said, “No need for such formality. This wasn’t a serious illness, and since you provided a consultation fee and I provided the service, it’s all fair.”
Zhou Ning thought to herself that it might not be a serious illness for Qin Liuxi, but for her, it was a matter of great concern because if it couldn’t be cured, she would probably end up as a monk or living a lonely life in a secret manor.
Zhou Wei timely handed over a wallet and said, “Regardless, it’s only due to the master’s exceptional medical skills that my sister’s condition has improved. This is the consultation fee.”
Qin Liuxi took it without even looking and handed it to Chen Pi at his side, then handed over a new prescription and said, “Take this prescription for a month and you won’t need to come back for a follow-up. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day for your return journey. I wish you a smooth trip.”
“You knew we were leaving?” Zhou Ning was surprised.
Qin Liuxi laughed lightly, “You’ve recovered from your illness, naturally you want to share the good news with your parents, and your brother has secured an official position, so you can’t stay in Li City over the New Year, can you?”
“Can I still seek you out in the future?” Zhou Ning asked.
“It’s better if you don’t.”
Zhou Ning’s smile stiffened.
Qin Liuxi said, “If you come to find me, it means you’re ill or have encountered something evil, neither of which are good things.”
Zhou Ning breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Can’t it be for something else?”
“It could be,” Qin Liuxi said, “If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”
Zhou Ning sensed the distance in those words, sighed, and moved forward to hug her again, softly saying, “I thought we could become good friends.”
Qin Liuxi was taken aback and patted her on the back.
When the Dongyang Marquis and an old servant arrived at the shop’s entrance, what they saw was this scene, both of his sharp eyes wide open.
Even if this monk had the freedom to marry, embracing a girl in broad daylight, was this even acceptable?
Qin Liuxi pushed Zhou Ning away, looked at Dongyang Marquis who wore a deep, meaningful expression, and sighed heavily.
You misunderstood, it’s not what you think.
“Master, we’ve come for acupuncture,” the old servant coughed lightly. “I hope we’re not intruding?”
Qin Liuxi smiled and said, “No worries, my patient was just leaving.”
Zhou Wei watched Dongyang Marquis intently, his gaze falling on the Jade Pendant at his waist, eyes narrowing.
This person, seems to be the Dongyang Marquis, what brought him to Li City? It’s said that his legs are a bit infirm.
Zhou Wei then looked towards his legs.
Feeling observed, Dongyang Marquis’s gaze sharply met his face.
Zhou Wei bowed slightly and said to Qin Liuxi, “Master, we’ll take our leave now.”
“No need to see you out.”
Zhou Ning bowed to Qin Liuxi and reluctantly followed Zhou Wei out.
Upon exiting the shop, Zhou Wei unsurprisingly saw several guards at the door; their posture and the iron-blooded aura clearly came from military backgrounds.
It seems his guess was correct; the person inside was Dongyang Marquis, and his seeking acupuncture from Qin Liuxi wasn’t the first time, indicating previous treatments likely showed improvement.
Zhou Wei’s fingers curled up—if Dongyang Marquis’s legs weren’t crippled, then in the East Sea, it would still be him leading. Whoever dreams of encroaching on Yue Family Navy, well.
He needed to talk to his father about this; the Zhou Family also had connections there, best not looking for trouble.
Dongyang Marquis, unaware of Zhou Wei’s discernment and his cautious thoughts, sat down and half-jokingly remarked, “Junior Temple Master, blessed with good fortune I see.”
Qin Liuxi looked up, her face unchanging as she grinned widely, “You flatter me.”
Dongyang Marquis scoffed, about to remark on youthful indiscretions, when she added, “I forgot to tell you, sir, I’m actually female.”
Dongyang Marquis: “?”