Chapter 41: Staying Behind

Chapter 41: Staying

The old madam's eyes lit up.

"The number doesn't matter, be it a few or even dozens, we'll accept them all."

Xie Erli sat down in front of the old madam and smiled bitterly.

"She said she doesn't need the status of a legitimate young lady or a cousin. She just wants to be considered a distant relative staying with us."

"How can that work? How can we let that girl suffer like that? Besides, what good family would a distant relative marry into?"

The old madam shook her head repeatedly. "No, absolutely not."

She just agreed to everything, but now she's objecting to the first one?

Xie Erli's smile turned even more bitter.

"The second condition is that she gets to decide her own marriage."

"No, no, no!"

The matriarch's eyes turned red with anxiety.

"How can she, a young maiden, distinguish right from wrong or understand human nature? If she gets deceived, how could I face her grandfather?"

"Is there a third condition?" The indolent Third Master Xie unexpectedly interjected.

"There is!"

Xie Erli replied, "She doesn't want the dowry from the Xie family. All she asks for is a quiet courtyard where she can find solitude, without having her freedom restricted or her whereabouts interfered with. Only then would she agree to stay in the Xie family."

The matriarch stammered, "T-T-This... This... This..."

Third Master Xie, who had been too tired to keep his eyes open, suddenly snapped them wide shut upon hearing this.

After a moment of silence, he leaped to his feet.

"Ancestress, I'll be out for a while."

"The matter about Yan isn't settled yet."

"There's nothing to deliberate. If we want her to stay, we have no choice but to agree for now. There's no other way around it."

With that, he left the Zhen En Hall without looking back.

Outside the courtyard, Zhu Qing noticed her master rushing out and hurried to greet him.

"Master?"

"Get the horse ready."

"Master just returned from the office. Where are you off to?"

"The Imperial Hospital."

Zhu Qing furrowed her brow.

Why would he go to the Imperial Hospital all of a sudden?

...

As twilight descended, the lamp outside the Imperial Medical Academy's residence flickered in the breeze, swaying unsteadily.

Dr. Pei emerged from the main entrance, descending a few steps before his vision was illuminated.

"Cheng Yu, why are you here?"

Third Master Xie stepped forward, his peach blossom eyes curling into a winsome smile. "Uncle Pei, I've come to visit you."

"Is something the matter with your health?"

"No, I just missed you and wanted to come over for a visit."

Just look at that sweet tongue!

Doctor Pei had watched Third Master Xie grow up since he was a child. Compared to his own offspring who never had a kind word to say, this young man was an angel on earth.

"Uncle Pei, how about we have a drink together?"

Pei Yu had spent the day bustling around the Imperial Hospital and was indeed in need of a small libation to unwind.

"Let me make it clear, your Uncle Pei is treating today."

"Whoever pays makes no difference to me."

Xie Zhifei slung his arm around Pei Yu's shoulder. "The crucial thing is that the wine has to be Green Bamboo Shoot. Only when my Uncle Pei drinks Green Bamboo Shoot does it hit the spot."

Remembering even what I prefer to drink, what a thoughtful young man!

In the Spring Breeze Pavilion, the well-mannered Third Master Xie booked a private room, ordered six dishes, and half a catty of Green Bamboo Shoot. They started by downing three cups each with his Uncle Pei.

After those three cups, Doctor Pei's brows relaxed, and his small eyes narrowed into a contented squint. It was then that Third Master Xie suddenly posed a question.

"Uncle, there's something I want to ask you. When you diagnosed that relative of mine the other day, why did you secretly shake your head several times?"

Doctor Pei reached out and tapped him.

"You have sharp eyes, boy."

"Well, when Uncle Pei comes to my house, my eyes are always on you."

"You weren't watching me, more likely you were eyeing that beautiful relative of yours."

"You guessed it right."

Xie Zhifei whispered in the lowest tone possible, "I just find something peculiar about this girl."

"You noticed it too?"

Doctor Pei instinctively looked around before leaning in closer.

"I started learning medicine at five and began diagnosing people's pulses at seven. I've never seen a pulse like hers before."

Xie Zhifei's heart skipped a beat. "Quick, tell me, what's her pulse like?"

Doctor Pei shook his head. "I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Uncle, what do you mean by 'hard to put into words'?"

"It means I can't diagnose it!"

"What?"

Third Master Xie's eyes widened in disbelief. "Say that again, please?"

Doctor Pei: "..."

"Uncle, please speak up, what do you mean by being unable to diagnose it?"

"It's just that there's a pulse, and it beats normally. However, I'm unable to discern its specific pattern,"

Dr. Pei took a sip of wine and embarked on imparting some common medical knowledge.

"You've been nurtured in a vat of medicines since childhood, so you must have some understanding. There are twenty-eight pulse patterns in the world, eighteen of which are common: floating, surging, weak, deep, hidden, tense, slow, rough, and intermittent..."

Xie Zhifei had no patience to listen to his digression and promptly interrupted, "Could it be that she doesn't belong to any of those categories?"

Dr. Pei nodded in agreement.

"You… How did you write her prescription?"

Dr. Pei seemed a bit embarrassed. "I noticed her wrists were cold, so I assumed she might have caught a chill. Hence, I prescribed a remedy to dispel the cold."

If I call you an incompetent doctor, would you dare to accept it?

"By the way, this young lady's body temperature is also abnormal."

Dr. Pei shook his head and clicked his tongue. "It's lower than that of a normal person. How should I put it… She feels icy cold."

Xie Zhifei shuddered violently, imagining the girl wearing only a thin layer in such frigid weather. goosebumps immediately covered his entire body.

"Still, the world is vast and full of wonders; perhaps it's merely my limited knowledge."

Dr. Pei abruptly changed the subject. "By the way, which branch of your family does that young lady belong to?"

How could he possibly reveal that?

Xie Zhifei hurriedly smiled and feigned nonchalance. "To be honest, even I'm not entirely sure about the connections on my grandmother's side. Uncle, could you take my pulse? Lately, I've been feeling rather uneasy inside."

"I knew there had to be a reason you invited me for a drink. Alright, place your hand here."

As Xie Zhifei extended his arm, he shot a glance at Zhu Qing. She left the private room to settle the bill with the waiter.

Satiated with food and wine, Dr. Pei was slightly tipsy by the time he climbed into his carriage.

Xie Zhifei watched the carriage depart before clearing his throat.

Zhu Qing promptly whispered, "Master, what's the matter?"

Xie Zhifei replied, "Send someone to Yunnan Prefecture."

Zhu Qing's expression shifted. "Your Highness, do you mean...?"

Xie Zhifei hummed in response, speaking calmly, "This person is incredibly intriguing, intriguing enough for me to have to investigate her!"

Zhu Qing took a long while to recover. "Your Highness, what makes her interesting?"

"Interesting in every way!"

It was understandable for a man not to be afraid of the cold, but for a woman to be immune, what was she made of?

Despite her young age, her words and actions were mature beyond her years.

Her own sister, just a year younger, knew nothing but to care about pretty clothes, new jewelry, and marrying into a prominent family.

Grandfather Yan had been exiled to Yunnan Prefecture, leaving their home empty. As his granddaughter, where did she get so many banknotes?

From those demands, it seemed she had no intention of staying with the Xie family.

If that was the case, with her aloof personality, she could have simply refused outright, and no one would have been able to force her. So why did she choose to stay?

What point is there in staying like this?

Truly an enigmatic person!

Xie Zhifei patted Zhu Qing's shoulder, wearing a profound and teasing smile.

"Send two diligent and trustworthy individuals."

"Yes!"