...

Although Jiang Rao had thought in her mind that she would run west of the city more, so that the young man could change her impression of her as soon as possible, but the successive dreams made her more and more afraid of him.

When she saw him now, she would think of how ruthless he will be in the future and how he will take revenge on her.

Kneeling for a long time in the dream, when woke up, knees were sore. As soon as she saw him, all she could think about was running away, let alone what she could do to make him change his impression of her.

The instinct to stay away from danger made Jiang Rao choose to be a shrunken tortoise for a few days, and ordered a servant to guard her outside the hut in the west of the city, lest the teenager be bullied by those rogue children again.

This night, Jiang Rao dreamed of the grown-up boy again, which was clearer than any previous dream.

Because of the fact that the four princes belonged to the same party, she and her family became prisoners after the new emperor ascended the throne.

She was originally a slave, but he bought her back, and he was going to kill her. After a while, he didn't kill her, but made her a servant he served with him.

From then on, she took pleasure in torturing her every day.

The delicate little girl who has been pampered by her family has suddenly become someone else's slave, serving a moody master, she has fallen from the cloud into the mud, and she is miserable.

But she owes him a debt, she is angry and dare not speak, she can only bear it day by day...

In the dream, life was worse than death all night. When he woke up, Jiang Rao's face was extremely bitter.

Her life is miserable.

With a bitter face, she went out to send a letter to her grandfather after breakfast.

Although Jiang Rao couldn't make it back for the 60th birthday of the old uncle, he chose a birthday gift carefully and sent it to his grandfather in Jinling, the imperial capital, to fulfill the wishes of a junior.

The snow continued for a few days, but the sky was still gray, with occasional snowflakes falling.

There was heavy snow on the way out of the city, so the county magistrate sent someone to put up a notice-don't leave the city for the life of a gentleman.

Just eight words, quite binding. People in the whole city cherish their lives like gold, stay obediently, and no one leaves the city.

After Jiang Rao finished sending the letter, she came out of the inn with her head down and her expression full of indescribable anguish.

That dream last night made her feel that there were still endless hidden dangers on the side of the boy.

So even if she was afraid, she could only endure it. She had to coax him first.

Otherwise, when her family leaves Yecheng, she will have no chance.

In the teahouse near the post house, there are people who have lost their lives because they can't get out of the city.

the people who do things.

When Jiang Rao saw the people gathered there, she thought about it, walked over, and asked the local people about things related to the teenager.

The people here told her that the boy came to Yecheng a year ago.

He is the concubine of a big family in Jinling. He came to this small town to recover from his injuries. His family found a local man named Wang Zhou to be his servant for him, and he sent monthly money every month.

Jiang Rao asked his name carefully. Since he came from Jinling, he might have dealt with her family before.

But about this, the people here shook their heads one after another, no one knew.

After half an hour, Jiang Rao went to the hospital.

She heard people say that when the boy first arrived in Yecheng a year ago, he saw him here to get medicine.

But it's been a year now, and his legs haven't changed.

Jiang Rao couldn't help being curious, and wanted to ask the old doctor what was the matter with the young man's leg injury.

...

The curiosity finally turned into a slight distress and pity.

At first, she only knew that he had an injury on his leg. After chatting with the old doctor, she knew how serious the injury was on his leg.

When he first arrived at the hospital, the wound on his calf was festering, deep enough to see the bone, and the bone was broken, but he has been enduring it. The old doctor said that in order to save some money, he did not use anesthesia when picking up the broken bone. , he made no sound.

When Jiang Rao listened to the old doctor's words, she thought of how he was sweating as he endured the pain. He was only a thirteen-year-old boy at that time.

Usually, when her brother knocked down and broke his skin, she would feel distressed for a long time, but he had endured all the most serious skin wounds, flesh wounds, and bone wounds.

To say that he is terrible is really terrible; but to say that he is pitiful, it is also really pitiful.

When she stepped into the hut in the west of the city again, she was holding a square bag in her hand, which was heavy.

The bound hemp rope had several fine prints embedded on the oil-wrapped paper, which was filled with traditional Chinese medicine prescribed by the old doctor.

The old doctor said that in the past year, the young man has only been to his place once, and after he left, he never went to his place to get medicine again.

He clearly instructed the servant beside the young man to ask Yueyue to come over and take medicine for his young master. However, from the cold winter to the hot summer, and then to the cold winter, the cold came and the hot, the eleven months passed in a flash, but the old doctor never saw him. The servant had been there once.

With his leg hurt like this, and there is no medicine, how he managed to survive, Jiang Rao is a little unimaginable.

The small courtyard is still the scene of yesterday, deserted and depressed, as silent as a tomb. Heavy snow has piled up the courtyard, and every step you take on it will leave deep footprints.

After a night of wind blowing, the door that didn't look strong enough was even more shaky, just raised his hand and knocked twice, the door creaked and shuddered, and it opened by itself.

The house is messy.

Jiang Rao didn't expect that she would see such a scene - the boy fell to the ground.

He knelt down weakly on his two legs, and a quilt that was so thin that he could even ignore it was pressed under his knees.

The long hair is draped behind him, and the back is slightly arched. The back image is of a trapped beast with sharp teeth cut off and bones removed.

The action seems to be to support the ground with his elbows, so as to facilitate the force, and support him to stand up.

But even though his arm muscles tightened, it seemed that he had exhausted all his strength, but his legs seemed to have fallen thousands of pounds of rocks and could not move a bit.

The red eyes were filled with defeat and depression.

She walked over silently to help him.

But he was so frightened that he stopped moving when he suddenly raised his icy gaze.

Rong Ting heard her voice coming in.

He glanced at her sideways, and coughed twice uncontrollably, "What are you doing here?"

Jiang Rao lifted the medicine bag in his hand to show him, "I went to the medical center and got some medicine for you."

Rong Ting remained silent.

His temperament has long been worn out by the cannibalistic deep palace, twisted and suspicious, and every person he has seen since birth has laughed and scolded him, but none of them have been sincere to him.

He has seen a lot of hypocritical smiles hiding a knife in a smile. For him, an overly enthusiastic gesture is not much different from bullying and neglecting.

Even if she wanted to make amends because she felt guilty for him, it was enough to do so.

No one really treats him so well.

He looked coldly at the concern on her face, as if looking at poison wrapped in honey.

But he didn't have time to say the words of seeing off the guest, and fainted because of a burst of burning pain.

...

When he woke up, a pair of warm hands were applying a wet handkerchief to his forehead, with gentle movements.

The thin and cold quilt on his body seemed to be replaced by a new one, warm and thick.

He blinked his eyes, and a surprised and soft question came from his side, "Are you awake?"

Jiang Rao, holding a wet handkerchief in her hand, squatted beside his couch, her head flush with the edge of the couch, and looked at him in surprise.

After he passed out, his forehead was sweating all the time, his brows were furrowed, and he didn't know if it was painful, but he dreamed of something bad.

Afraid of scaring him, her voice was soft, "Just now you passed out suddenly, which startled me. I called the old doctor from the hospital to come to see him. He said that the wound on your leg was serious again. When you caught the cold, I gave you a few more medicines, and when you fell asleep, the old doctor personally boiled the medicine and asked me to feed you."

Rong Ting pursed his lips, the sweet and bitter taste of herbs reverberated in his mouth.

There was even a faint bitter taste on his body.

Only then did he see a piece of medicine stained on the front of his shirt.

Jiang Rao also noticed, her eyes swept across the front of his shirt, then quickly swept away, her long eyelashes hanging down, "But I'll feed you a half bowl."

An embarrassed thin red rose on her cheeks, and weakly explained: "It was only half of the bowl that was fed, and the rest was spilled on... you."

Rong Ting raised his eyes, looked directly at her, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Did you feed me the medicine?"

"Um."

Jiang Rao wanted the maid to feed him, but he didn't know why. As soon as the maid approached him, he fainted, and even consciously strangled people's neck...

It's not enough to change the old doctor.

Even after he fainted, he was so repulsive. Jiang Rao made corrections to his character in his heart. He was not suspicious, but very suspicious. The kind that went deep into his bones was also really violent.

But when she approached, he was unusually quiet, and Jiang Rao came to feed him.

When he closed his eyes, the gloomy aura in his eyes disappeared, and he was weak and pitiful. She was not afraid, and even felt a little distressed. When he fell asleep, he couldn't help but trace his beautiful eyebrows and eyes with his hands. .

Rong Ting lowered his eyes.

The color of his commoner is darker, and the brown medicine spilled on it is not obvious.

On the contrary, it was her, the lily-of-the-valley cuff was soaked in a deep brown, which was very abrupt.

Seeing his glance, Jiang Rao subconsciously folded up his sleeves.

Most of the girls from high-class families pay attention to their appearance and neatness, especially their appearance and clothes.

Jiang Rao knew how to be the most decent and good-looking-beauty not only depends on the face, but also on the appearance.

It was rare for her to have ashes on her clothes, not to mention the sticky and wet medicine smell on her sleeves like now.

She was serving people for the first time, and she was unskilled and clumsy.

Jiang Rao lowered her head and almost subconsciously wanted to hide her sleeves, but she didn't know that all this had already fallen into Rong Ting's eyes.

She can obviously take credit for this and emphasize how tired she is.

But she didn't.

His eyes stayed on her for a long time, dark, like a silent pool in the depths of the forest.

Jiang Rao was stared at him awkwardly, and quickly changed the subject, "You are awake now, do you feel better?"

Rong Ting looked away, he sat up, wanted to speak, but coughed heavily for a while.

It was as violent as coughing up all the internal organs.

Jiang Rao suddenly felt worried for him, and handed him a cup of warm water to drink, "Why do you have such a bad cough?"

Although Rong Ting took the glass of water that she handed over, he hesitated for a moment when he put it to his lips.

In the end it was drink.

Seeing that he was now willing to drink the water she gave, Jiang Rao snickered a little, and when his eyes swept away, the smile was immediately put away.

She squatted aside, pointed to one after another and said, "This is a medicine for the treatment of wind-cold, this is for your leg disease, this bag should be decocted with hot water, this bag is an external medicine, it should be crushed applied to the wound."

She told him next to each other, and talked about everything for a long time, but she couldn't bear to tell him that the old doctor looked at his leg injury and shook his head after being invited here, saying that it was a medicine stone, and there was little hope of cure. now...

The old doctor changed to tell her that he had a foundation in martial arts. Judging from his skeleton and physique, he should have a good talent. Unfortunately, he broke his leg and wanted to pick up the previous martial arts foundation... and it was basically impossible. The only thing you can count on is creation. It was unexpected that his leg could be dragged on for half a year without being completely worn out, and maybe it could be cured in the end.

It's just that the hope is slim, so slim that it can't happen.

Rong Ting hoarse his voice and asked, "How many silver taels are these medicines in exchange for this quilt on me?"

Jiang Rao was stunned for a moment.

She doesn't want his money. If he owes her something, it will be a good thing for her. Jiang Rao tilted her head, trying perfunctorily to confuse the matter, and only said, "These are not expensive."

"On the third day of next month, someone will send me the monthly money, and then I will exchange all the money for the medicine for you."

As if he hadn't heard her words, Rong Ting just wanted to get the answer he wanted, and asked again, "How many silver taels are these medicines in total?"

The tone of questioning is domineering and stubborn, making it clear that he will not give up until he hears the answer.

Because of his momentum, Jiang Rao almost immediately returned to the dream when he was the master and she was the slave, and the words in her heart almost shook, "Ten... is a tael of silver."

...

Leaving this hut in the west of the city, on the way back to the mansion, Ming Shao counted with his fingers, "The girl bought medicine in the afternoon, asked the doctor to help him repair the doors and windows, and spent six taels of silver to get the brocade quilt from the warehouse, The best Hunan materials, ten taels are not enough, how come they add up to one tael? Miss, did you make a mistake?"

Although Jiang Rao is young, she is the only daughter in the family after all. She has never failed to do accounting since she was a child, and she will not fail to understand this account.

She shook her head, sighed, and said to Ming Shao, "He looks pitiful now, and I don't want the money for him to take medicine and see a doctor."

She turned around and glanced at the low and desolate house, her eyes suddenly turned cold, "After returning, let Jiang Ping find some guards here to watch."

The master was dying of illness, but the entourage named Wang Zhou disappeared.

There is a problem, there must be a problem.

...

The heavy snow that lasted for two days finally stopped in the evening of the next day, which was full of twilight.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the light and shadow of the sky are mixed with a touch of broken gold, and the whole world is embraced into a peaceful tranquility, giving people a warm illusion.

After Jiang Rao left, Rong Ting noticed that something had changed in the room.

Changed to the crumbling door last night, and when woke up, it was good.

The strong wind and falling snow were blocked from the outside.

Firewood was added to the charcoal stove that had been abandoned for a long time in the house.

The dim light of the fire reflected in his pupils, and Rong Ting took a deep breath, wondering if it was the effect of the medicine, but his heart was slightly ironed.

...

On the third day of the second lunar month, Wang Zhou went to the post house to receive the monthly money sent by someone from the main house. He made a few perfunctory words with the person who sent the money, and lied that Rong Ting's leg injury was recovering well and he returned soon. West of the city.

Although Rong Ting is the ninth prince, he has not yet attained the crown, and he has no official position. Those poor people's families can afford food and clothing for two or three years.

It's just that when the money passed through Wang Zhou's hands and then into Rong Ting's hands, there was not much left.

——Wang Zhou finally handed over 800 copper coins to Rong Ting.

He threw a sack on the table instead, and after seeing Rong Ting taking the money, he gave him an inexplicable look, suspecting that he had noticed something, so viciously, he took the lead and said, "I bought you medicine, and then take away my wages. , there is not much money left.”

"What about the medicine?"

Wang Zhou impatiently opened a sack to reveal the medicinal materials inside.

He looked like a tiger with a strong back and a strong body. He threw the bag heavily in front of Wang Zhou, "The medicine is here."

Rong Ting glanced at the medicine.

It's medicine, it's better to say it's firewood, the bag is dry

There are many branches and sawdust, but the herbs are scattered.

Rong Ting raised his eyes coldly and glanced at Wang Yiyi.

Wang Zhou didn't take this master to heart. The concubine, who was abandoned by the family, loved to live or not to die.

But he is often afraid of his eyes because of his long and narrow eyes, like a little wolf, always hiding a ruthless fighting spirit.

Just like when he squinted at people just now, his eyes were dark and terrifyingly dark, as if he had seen through everything.

He was worried that the hands and feet he had made were discovered by Rong Ting, and he was a little panicked, and said, "You are disabled, what are you asking about? Could it be that you can stand up and cook the medicine yourself?"

The words soothed him.

He is just a weak and disabled person, thousands of miles away from home, without support, even if he finds out that he is stealing his monthly money, this is his territory, and his mistress asked him to have a servant to take care of him. After all, what can this cripple do to him?

He immediately relaxed, and glanced at Rong Ting's legs mockingly, "If you have a disease in your leg, don't have a disease in your brain. It will cost a lot of money to treat your legs. Eight hundred yuan, I will give it to me carefully. You saved it!"

After saying that, he slammed the door and left.

As soon as he went out, Wang Zhou took out the unwarmed monthly money from his arms, threw the full money bag in the air, and walked excitedly towards the casino.

But he didn't know that his every move was watched by Jiang Rao, who stayed here before.

When Ming Shao relayed their words to Jiang Rao, Jiang Rao was in the study, flipping through the letter sent by his grandfather.

The old man loved this granddaughter so much that he wrote four pages of letter paper. Even the cricket he raised escaped from the agate box, he wanted to tell his granddaughter in the letter.

Jiang Rao looked at the letter and thought of the devastation of Ning'an's mansion in her dream. Her grandfather's family business, which she had kept all her life, would eventually be destroyed, and she felt uncomfortable.

Ming Shao came in, "Girl, those people who stayed in the west of the city came back and said that the servant named Wang Zhou, happily carrying a bag of money, was heading to the casino."

As soon as Jiang Rao put the letter down, she frowned, "His master can't even buy medicine, where did he get so much money?"