Lin Mengya’s words tugged at Baiji’s heart.
After she continued weeping for a while, Baiji finally calmed down.
“Don’t worry, perhaps Baishao had already made plans for herself. I suppose she would explain the reason to us in the future.”
Lin Mengya comforted Baiji with earnest words as she caressed Baiji on her head.
After Lin Mengya finally managed to comfort Baiji and sent her on her way, Lin Mengya began to look through the medicinal herbs and check if there were properly stored.
“Since you came all the way here, just show yourself instead of hiding on the beams. Aren’t you tired hanging there?” said Lin Mengya calmly with calm on her face.
“How you’ve used bribery! No wonder you’re fit to be the daughter of the Lins, to have employed such brilliant tactic.”
There was a tinge of mockery in the voice. Immediately, a figure floated down before Lin Mengya’s eyes.
“Unless you think I’ve wronged you, Miss Lin?”
It was Yunzhu, whose face was veiled as usual, however, she was no longer cladded in her all-black robe.
A light purple long dress flattered Yunzhu’s alluring figure.
Her bone-deep charm was further enhanced by her maturity.
However, there was a bizarre pattern of flames embroidered on the hem of her skirt and sleeves.
“You’re right, I’m indeed trying to win people’s hearts. I wonder if you would buy it too?”
Lin Mengya was rather used to the way Yunzhu spoke, so she was not bothered by her sarcasm.
“My heart is dead since long ago.”
Yunzhu’s relationship with Baili Rui was after all a thorn in Yunzhu’s heart.
Lin Mengya shook her head and continued to study the medicinal herbs in her hands.
“Master, what do you think of the manner of my dressing?”
Yunzhu stood before Lin Mengya and twirled around.
“Indeed, both the style and the quality look good.”
Yunzhu burst out laughing, turned around and said, “I told you, Qinghu, the owner of this shop is not aware of your intention! Looks like I’m keeping these 100 taels of silver.”
Before she finished her sentence, Qinghu appeared from behind Yunzhu.
Today, Qinghu was dressed in a sky blue long rope.
His long rope, being more tight-fitting than usual, was less graceful-looking, nevertheless, it made Qinghu looked more seasoned.
His handsome face, together with a white jade crown which he rarely wore, enhanced his heroic spirit.
“Am not I exceptionally handsome today, lass?”
The self-important Qinghu struck a few poses, pretending that he was the most handsome man on earth.
“Alright, I’ll give you all the credit you want.”
Lin Mengya gave him a thumbs up lest he continued to bother her for the rest of the day.
She had betrayed her judgement in order to save her ears from being bombarded by Qinghu’s nagging.
“100 taels of silver is nothing, just take it, as long as the lass thinks I’m handsome.”
Qinghu, behaving like a local tyrant, took out 100 taels of silver worth of banknote and passed it to Yunzhu, whose smile could be seen pass her veil.
“Do you really have too much money that you have nowhere to spend?”
Although Lin Mengya was considered a rich lady by now, she was totally against the way Qinghu squandered his money.
“Oh yes, lass, this is the master’s token of decree. Have a look and tell me what you think!”
Qinghu took out a circular token which was engraved with a strange-looking pattern of the flame.
The pattern was exactly the same as that on the hem of Yunzhu’s skirt and sleeves.
The jade was of the highest quality, however, Lin Mengya thought the pattern was bizarre.
“This is foxfire. You’re as sly as a fox, so the pattern of foxfire is most apt.”
He smiled a sly smile. He was not going to tell Lin Mengya that the real reason was so that she would think of him when she saw the pattern of the foxfire.
In this way, this lass would remember him for life.
“Foxfire?” Lin Mengya glanced at the engraved image and indeed a mysterious feeling came to her, yet she thought it would be easy for other people to duplicate the token. She grabbed some paper and brush from the table and scribbled down three characters.
“Here, engrave these three characters onto the token too. Everyone gets one token in the future, but each token would be different from the other. Let’s also register each token, lest someone uses it to confuse others. What do you think?”
Qinghu and Yunzhu both thought it a good idea. Sanjue Hall was supposed to be an organization more mysterious than Peach Blossom Dock.
Otherwise had anyone met with a paparazzi selling secret information on the streets everyday?
Qinghu took the piece of paper from Lin Mengya and a look of surprise appeared on his face. What on earth was this sign?
“Now you can’t tell what it is, right? What I have written down is the abbreviation of my name ‘LMY’. I bet you wouldn’t understand even if I explain it to you now. I’ll find a time to explain it slowly to you.”
Qinghu and Yunzhu nodded in puzzlement as a question mark rose in their mind.
What did ‘abbreviation’ mean?
“Qinghu, can you excuse us for a while, I’d like to have a word with Yunzhu in private.”
Qinghu looked at Lin Mengya with a grieved expression but finally nodded reluctantly,
Ever since she started Sanjue Hall, Lin Mengya had been spending less and less time with Qinghu.
Nevertheless, he would be standing by the gates as if he were some deity guarding the gates.
“Take your veil off. My teacher had taught me how to treat you. Today, I shall use the needle on you for the first time. It might be a little painful, so be prepared.”
Ever since Baili Rui realized that the person whom Lin Mengya wanted to treat was the person he loved, he had gone thoroughly through all the medical books he could get hold of.
He was looking for more effective method of treatment with the minimal side effects.
In fact, Lin Mengya could see in the last few days that her teacher still loved Yunzhu deeply.
She had also tried probing further into her teacher’s marriage and realized that he indeed was still single.
What happened was history and things had changed over time. Moreover, Baili Rui doted on his only protege.
Therefore, there was no reason for Teacher to lie to her.
The only possible explanation was that some accidents must have happened at that time.
It would be a wonderful thing if they could resolve this issue that weighed heavily on their minds.
“Alright,” replied Yunzhu as she fumbled a little before she managed to remove the veil over her face.
Lin Mengya’s eyes rested on the wrinkle-covered face for a moment, then she calmed her nerves and took out the silver needles which her teacher personally handed over to her.
“Icy Needles. Looks like he treats you as his true disciple given that he had even handed these precious needles to you.”
These needles brought back many memories.
Her stirred-up emotions once again agitated the already unstable poison in her body.
Thin purple lines began appearing around her temples.
“Concentrate, calm your breathing!” instructed Lin Mengya with a low voice.
The movement of Lin Mengya’s right hand seemed to turn into a shadow as she accurately inserted a silver needle into the Baihui acupuncture point on top of Yunzhu’s head.
Chinese medicine differed from the western medicine in that it was impossible to explain the veins and arteries in terms of anatomy.
The only knowledge she attained was a direct verbal transmission from her teacher.
Having gone through her teacher’s cruel and tormenting training, Lin Mengya was fast and accurate in inserting the needle.
At this point, she would be able to accurately locate the acupuncture points with her eyes shut.
Yunzhu stole a glance at Lin Mengya and then closed her eyes obediently.
Lin Mengya breathed a sigh of relief, and then took out a second silver needle. However this time, she dipped the needle into a little bottle before applying it.
This bottle contained a solution which activated the poison in Yunzhu’s body, so that all the poison in Yunzhu’s brained would be activated.
This was a dangerous yet crucial time. Within five minutes from applying this needle, she had to create a route by which all the poison would flow to one place.
After Baili Rui and Lin Mengya’s careful research, they finally found a perfect method to do that.
Since the poison had completely seeped into her blood stream, the only way to eliminate the poison from her body would be to have a blood transfusion.
Fortunately, the martial skill which Yunzhu was practicing allowed her to take control of the poison in her brain.
As long as she sealed the thickest part of the poisoned blood at one place, the detoxication process would be successful once the silver needle was inserted at this place.
“It’s going to hurt, so you’ve to endure for a while.”
Yunzhu nodded. At this point, she had nothing to fear since she had nothing to lose.
Lin Mengya took in a deep breath and took out another silver needle from the pouch calmly.
Lin Mengya had been inside the little room for an entire period of four hours by now.
Old Master Bai and his wife had prepared a sumptuous lunch for her. Although the food may not be as exquisite as that in the prince’s mansion, it was truly the taste of home.
Apart from Lin Mengya, the rest of the people had stuffed themselves to the brim.
Lin Zhongyu, who came as a freeloader, finished two big bowls of rice.
“Daddy, Mommy, we can’t serve the master cold food.”
Baiji reminded her parents time and again about keeping the food warm for Lin Mengya, However, each time she glanced at the little room which was still shut, anxiety could be seen in her eyes.
“Yes, I know. I’ve kept your master’s food in the pot, so it would be kept hot for the princess whenever she comes out of the room.”
Mrs. Bai said with a smile. She had kept the best portion for Lin Mengya when she was preparing the food earlier on.
At first, Lin Mengya refused to allow the elders to address her as master, however, the two oldies kept insisting on it.
She had no choice but to let them address her in this bizarre way.
“What is Elder Sister doing? Qinghu did not breathe a word about it either. Sigh, Elder Sister Baiji, do you know what Elder sister is doing in there since you’re the closest person to her?”
Lin Zhongyu kept rubbing his stomach as he inquired.
Baiji shook her head. She had thought that her master was grieved over something, but apparent that was not true.
All the people in the big courtyard stared at the door that was tightly shut.
However, no one was allowed to enter since Qinghu was guarding the door.
“Ah…”
Suddenly, a cry of agony echoed from within the room. Qinghu’s first thought was to enter the room, but another voice sounded, saying, “Let no one come in! Baiji, go prepare some warm water and a towel.”
Lin Mengya’s voice sounded weak, but at the same time, it was calm and composed.
Apparently things were under control.
Baiji got ready the warm water and the towel and passed them on to Qinghu. However, Lin Mengya merely reached out her hand for the items instead of letting any of them into the room.
All eyes were on the door once again. They wish they could see through it.
Once again, there was silence.
All the people in the courtyard were feeling very anxious.
“Let me do it while you take a rest,” said Yunzhu.
There was a tinge of guilt in her voice, but she also sounded a dispirited.
Yunzhu, who had just completed the treatment with Lin Mengya, was leaning against the window with her head bandaged up in white gauze like a mummy.
“Please, just stay where you are. I don’t want you to ruin my entire store of medicinal herbs.”
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