The curly-haired dog growled in its throat and told Xiao Jingcheng all it had heard last night in the Liuxiang Tower.
Thanks to the dog's good memory and sensitive hearing, it and Sangsheng almost restored the whole conversation, which also let Xiao Jingcheng know that it was the Prince of Mu who was in charge of this southward mission.
However, from the conversation between Bu Hua and the Princes of Mu, Xuan, and Ning, he didn't find any clues for the time being. The only thing that shocked him was the damaged boot Bu Hua had found!
It turned out that the reason Bu Hua had stationed here with his men and conducted a thorough search in the town was that he had picked up Xiao Jingcheng's boot by the river!
Although Xiao Jingcheng had learned from the conversations of those people that his body was hidden in Dongli Town when his soul was separated, he didn't have direct evidence. And this boot could completely prove that he was indeed in Dongli Town at this moment.
Since he was in Dongli Town and Bu Hua had searched several times without finding him, it was obvious that the other party had taken precautions and made his search fruitless.
It was unknown whether Bu Hua was deceived and couldn't find him or if he was colluding with the person behind the scenes and deliberately hiding his whereabouts.
The Princes of Mu, Xuan, and Ning had come, and the task of finding someone had been handed over to the Prince of Mu. He wondered what his uncle would do. Could he find any clues based on that boot?
The curly-haired dog growled something else, and Xiao Jingcheng's expression turned solemn, a pang of pain flashing through his heart.
He knew he had been schemed against this time. The person who had schemed against him might be someone very close to him, and the purpose was the position of the crown prince.
Among the Princes of Mu, Xuan, and Ning, if he had to choose one to trust, Xiao Jingcheng naturally leaned towards the Prince of Mu.
After all, the other party was in poor health and might die at any time. If he wanted to fight, it should be with his father.
But he never expected that his uncle would say such a thing.
Did his uncle also think that it would be better for someone else to be the crown prince?
Xiao Jingcheng knew that his temper was indeed not good, but he believed that he had never done anything immoral, and there had never been any major mistakes in his handling of political affairs.
Over the years, in order to get his father's approval, to make his mother smile, and to hold onto the position he was sitting on, he had been as diligent as a spinning top, not daring to sleep for more than two hours.
Even so, did his uncle still think that he was not fit for that position?
The news Sangsheng brought was only about the Liuxiang Tower. There was no movement from the Chen员外's mansion yet. Xiao Jingcheng asked Sangsheng to find a way to get the damaged boot from Bu Hua, and then let it go.
He hung his head and returned to the banyan tree. In front of him, Ye Wanmian was getting along well with the laundresses, and the riverside was filled with the women's hearty laughter.
Yes, even this woman who had suddenly appeared hated him to the core. As soon as she heard the news of his accident, she gloated and cursed him to die soon.
Maybe no one in this world had ever truly liked him.
Ye Wanmian wrung out the clothes in her hand, shook the water off her hands, picked up the washbasin, and said to the others with a smile, "Thank you, aunts, for helping me. I've finished my work, so I'll go home first."
"What are you thanking for? We should thank you, Mrs. Jiang, for telling us the prescription for treating cough and asthma. With this prescription, we'll save a lot of trouble in the future."
Ye Wanmian said with a smile, "Although this prescription is convenient, it can only be used for cough and asthma caused by heat. If it's caused by typhoid, you still have to go to the medical clinic to see a doctor."
"However, when I learn from my master and become a qualified doctor in the future, I'll be able to come to your homes to see and diagnose you!"
"Mrs. Jiang is so smart. You will surely inherit Dr. Wang's mantle! We're all waiting for you!"
Ye Wanmian turned around and saw the yellow dog lying under the tree looking listless. She was a little stunned but didn't pay too much attention. She called its name and walked towards her residence.
"Da Huang, let's go home."
The yellow dog looked at her, exhaled from its nose, and then slowly stood up and followed her.
Ye Wanmian was still thinking about what had just happened.
This time she went out. Besides letting the neighbors around know that she had a wound on her face and asking them to be her witnesses, she also wanted to spread the news that she was learning medicine.
It was not as convenient for women to seek medical treatment as it was for men. Especially, women might have some indescribable symptoms. Even if they went to the medical clinic, they might not be able to find a female doctor to diagnose them. As a result, the illness would be delayed and become a chronic or incurable disease.
Once she became famous in Dongli Town, she could take this opportunity to get close to the Jiang family and meet her mother openly.
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. When she came to her senses, she found that the yellow dog was not by her side. She looked back and saw that her Da Huang was walking listlessly behind, with its tail drooping.
What was wrong with it?
She was used to seeing it looking energetic and valiant. Suddenly seeing it so dejected, she felt quite unaccustomed.
"Da Huang, what's wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?" Ye Wanmian was a little anxious. She quickly walked to its side, bent down, and asked.
However, the yellow dog just glanced at her lightly and exhaled two more breaths from its nostrils.
It sounded like it was sighing "Alas".
Even when they got home, it was still in this dejected state. It walked under the eaves, lay down, and closed its eyes.
"Da Huang, does it still hurt where I hit you yesterday?" Ye Wanmian frowned, looked at its buttocks, and reached out to touch it.
The yellow dog closed its eyes and didn't even react. Only its tail swayed slightly.
"Are you hungry? Should I cook the pheasant you hunted yesterday?"
The yellow dog still didn't move.
Ye Wanmian was extremely worried and thought that it might have suffered heatstroke from staying in the sun for too long. She bit her lower lip, got up, walked into the yard, rummaged through the medicinal materials in the drying dustpan, crushed a few of them, added some water, and brought it to its lips, intending to feed it.
"Da Huang, drink this. After drinking it, you won't feel uncomfortable anymore."
Ye Wanmian stroked the yellow dog's head and said softly.
Xiao Jingcheng opened his eyes, looked at the black water in front of him, then at the anxious girl, and turned his face away. His heart felt even more uncomfortable.
Don't look at her caring for him so attentively now. If she knew that he was the person she hated the most, she would probably add arsenic to it and poison him directly.
Was there really someone in this world who sincerely wanted to find his whereabouts and let him return to the court to continue being the crown prince?
They...
All wished he was dead.
They wished his body would suddenly appear in the inn so that they could immediately fly back to the capital and openly fight for that position!