Everyone fell silent at once. Seeing the "tigress" coming in with the medicine, they scrambled to slip out quietly.
Wei Dongling was both amused and bemused. Looking at the heavy gold - inlaid jade ring in her palm, her eyes gradually brightened.
Uncle Li, looking at the woman standing at the door with hands on her hips scolding, introduced to Wei Dongling, "This is Nanny Ruan. Her medical skills are well - known far and wide in the borderlands. I trust her."
Wei Dongling quickly said sweetly, "Hello, Nanny Ruan!"
The anger on Nanny Ruan's face vanished instantly. She looked at Wei Dongling on the bed with a smiling face and nodded.
Uncle Li added, "She just examined your wounds. Who struck those two blows on your back? How could you be so seriously injured?"
Wei Dongling said in a low voice, "That day when I accompanied Miss Qi into the palace, a master hidden beside Queen Zhao recognized my light - body skill and attacked me."
Uncle Li frowned and murmured to himself, "Queen Zhao? Zhao Chuanyi's elder sister? Well! It seems I was too lenient last night. I should have just crushed that bastard to death!"
Mentioning the trip to the palace that day, Wei Dongling thought of Qi Jinxuan. She asked anxiously, "Uncle Li, have you seen my miss?"
Uncle Li said in surprise, "I went to the general's mansion last night. Miss Qi said she would lead us to find you. Since we didn't find you in the prince's mansion, we parted ways with her!"
Thinking of the look on her miss's face when she saw her with Prince Yun, Wei Dongling shivered and bit her lips without saying a word.
Uncle Li advised, "Girl, you should take good care of your wounds first. Go back to the general's mansion to see her after you recover."
Wei Dongling could only nod obediently.
Nanny Ruan stepped forward to help her sit up and drink the medicine. The medicine was so bitter that she stuck out her tongue.
After taking a bath, changing clothes, applying medicine, getting acupuncture, and having a massage, Nanny Ruan's skillful hands made Wei Dongling first feel pain and then itch. Finally, she fell asleep comfortably.
In her dream, she and Qi Jinxuan were flying kites together on a sunny spring day, laughing and frolicking all the way. Suddenly, a strong wind blew, making the kite totter. In an instant, the kite got caught on a tree branch on the edge of a cliff. Wei Dongling climbed up the tree, swaying as she tried to reach for the kite and stepped backward. Just as her feet were about to touch the ground, Qi Jinxuan suddenly gave her a hard push from behind.
Wei Dongling lost her balance and fell with the kite in her hand. She heard Qi Jinxuan roar coldly at her, "Wei Dongling! From today on, our friendship is over!"
"No!" In the dream, Wei Dongling stretched out her hand desperately but couldn't catch her miss's hand. Her body quickly fell, and she watched helplessly as Qi Jinxuan's face got farther and farther away, becoming more and more blurred.
When she opened her eyes again, she and Shangguan Yun were back in Nanfeng Ridge. She was gulping down the chicken soup stewed by Aunt Xiu with astragalus and codonopsis. The soup smelled delicious, and she drank it heartily, breaking out in a light sweat. Shangguan Yun carefully helped her wipe the sweat and apply medicine. Then he picked up a wooden comb and gently combed her hair bit by bit. The scene was so beautiful and heart - warming. Wei Dongling looked back, but Prince Yun behind her disappeared into the mist. She was extremely flustered. She pulled aside the bed curtain and saw Shangguan Yun on the bed with a blushing face, mumbling something and reaching out to grab her. Wei Dongling was so scared that she kept backing away.
When she looked back again, she heard someone calling her name in the mist. Who was it?
Wei Dongling searched in the direction of the sound and saw Yu Zixi smiling at her happily in the distance. Wei Dongling was overjoyed. Regardless of anything, she grabbed the corner of her skirt and ran towards Yu Zixi.
Just as she was about to throw herself into his warm embrace, suddenly Yu Zixi's hand was grabbed by someone. His master was standing behind him. His master shouted at Yu Zixi fiercely, "The hatred of killing one's father is irreconcilable! You are not allowed to marry her!" Yu Zixi pushed hard with both hands but couldn't break free from his master's grip. He could only watch helplessly as he was forcibly dragged away.
"Yu Zixi!" Wei Dongling's nose twitched, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly. She tried to chase after him, but her feet hurt so badly that she limped and couldn't keep up. Finally, she could only watch as the master dragged Yu Zixi farther and farther away until he slowly disappeared from her sight.
Wei Dongling's tears fell like broken beads.
When she woke up again, it was already broad daylight.
The pillow was damp. Wei Dongling lay there for a long time. Covered in cold sweat, she got up to eat.
A group of uncles came in to see her. Seeing that her complexion was much better than yesterday, they all had big smiles on their faces and sang high praises for Nanny Ruan's medical skills.
During the chat, they learned that the shop bought by the rich man, Millionaire Lin, was the Tingfenglou Teahouse that had closed down due to poor management more than a month ago. Everyone planned to reopen it and use it as a base to do business in tea, porcelain, jade, etc., between the borderlands.
When Uncle Li was left alone with Wei Dongling, he said to her in a low voice, "I sent a letter to call these brothers back. Actually, I also planned to take them to rescue Lord Su."
Wei Dongling stared at him in astonishment. "Lord Su is imprisoned in the dungeon. Uncle Li, are you planning to lead the brothers to break into the prison?"
Uncle Li lowered his eyes, clasped his hands behind his back, and sighed. "Lord Su is 63 years old this year. He has been suffering from illness in prison and doesn't have many years to live. If he doesn't mind, I'll take him on the run! At worst, I'll take the brothers back to the borderlands with me and take care of him in his old age."
Wei Dongling felt a pang of emotion in her heart and said, "Uncle Li, Yu Zixi took me to meet the Right - Supervisor Censor, Lord Shen, last time. Lord Shen received Lord Su's kindness back then and has been planning to reverse the verdict for Prime Minister Su."
Uncle Li looked incredulous and quickly asked, "Girl, is what you said true?"
Wei Dongling nodded. "Absolutely! Lord Shen should also recognize you and wants to meet you."
Uncle Li was excited. "Good! We need to arrange it as soon as possible. It would be great if the verdict can be reversed. If not, it's not too late to break into the prison!"
Wei Dongling supported her forehead, sighed helplessly, and said, "Uncle Li, breaking into the prison is a capital crime! You should think about the uncles. And Nanny Ruan. We can't really take everyone on the run and live a vagrant life!"
Uncle Li waved his hand. "It doesn't matter. They've been living on the edge of a knife for so many years and are used to it. I'm just afraid Lord Su won't be able to adapt. Girl, when will you arrange a meeting with the supervisor censor?"
Wei Dongling thought for a while and stammered, "You can quietly go to the Yu Mansion and ask Yu Zixi to take you. His master doesn't seem to like me very much."
Uncle Li was stunned for a moment, then raised his eyebrows and said angrily, "Who the hell dares not to like you? That stupid boy is fickle and flirtatious. I haven't even disliked him yet!"
Hearing this, Wei Dongling smiled faintly. "That's another matter. You can go to the Yu Mansion quietly at night."
Uncle Li nodded, looking unhappy. "Fine. I'll go and check it out myself. You take good care of your wounds."
Wei Dongling thought for a while and then asked, "By the way, Uncle Li, do you have any news about my miss?"
Uncle Li frowned. "No. You can go back to see her in a couple of days when you're better. However, I've heard some news about that young Shangguan fellow."