Deep in the night, the rain poured down like a waterfall, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
"Among the Sangju Drinks are tangerines, apricot kernels, and forsythia. Reed rhizome, licorice, and mint surround..."
The dim yellow light and the warm fire contrasted sharply with the howling wind and the torrential rain outside. A clear childish voice recited the "Song of Decoction Prescriptions".
Yi Qing leaned against the backrest of the arhat bed, holding a medical book in her hand and listening absent - mindedly.
There were too many characters she didn't recognize, so reading this book was quite difficult.
Hearing Baozi's voice gradually filled with drowsiness, she said, "That's all for today."
Baozi, who was four and a half years old, was at an age when he loved to play. Hearing this, his obsidian - like eyes sparkled with joy. He ran over and snuggled up to her, asking her to tell a story.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The door was knocked heavily, creating a somewhat eerie feeling in the rainy night.
Yi Qing thought it was Zisu, the maid who had gone out to sell medicine, coming back. She put down the book, stepped on her wooden clogs, picked up the lantern and an umbrella, and went out to open the door.
To her surprise, there stood an unfamiliar old woman outside. There was a maid holding an umbrella behind her, and there was a dimly - seen carriage behind them.
"Second Miss," the old woman, who was badly frozen with a purple - blue face, forced a smile and said, "This old servant is Granny Zhao from the Marquis of Huai'en's Mansion. I'm here on the madam's order to pick up the Second Miss and take her to the capital. Second Miss, please pack up and come with this old servant!"
Yi Qing's heart skipped a beat. Why did the Marquis of Huai'en's Mansion send someone to pick her up in the middle of the night?
She was the daughter of a concubine who was not recognized by her step - mother. She had been sent to a village on the outskirts of the capital and had lived here for twenty years. Well, to be precise, it was eight years.
The real Yi Qing had died by hitting a tree eight years ago. The current Yi Qing was a hardcore leftover woman from the 21st century who had traveled through time. In her previous life, she was a doctor and was unfortunately killed when a patient jumped off a building. When she opened her eyes, she had traveled to this world.
Her biological father was a gigolo who had barely managed to become a marquis thanks to his wife's family. Such a playboy still wasn't honest. He had an affair outside and had her.
Her step - mother led people to the place where her father had hidden his mistress. Her mother was frightened and fell ill. The original Yi Qing was exiled here.
Yi Qing squinted at Granny Zhao and said, "Why are you taking me to the capital? To attend a funeral?"
Granny Zhao obviously didn't expect her to talk like this. Angrily, she said, "Second Miss, aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning for talking like this? You really have no manners after growing up in the countryside!"
"If those who give birth but don't raise aren't afraid of being struck by lightning, why should I be?" Yi Qing sneered. "I have nothing to do with your Marquis of Huai'en's Mansion. Please leave. I won't see you out."
"You..." Granny Zhao was so angry that she trembled all over. She obviously didn't expect Yi Qing to be so stubborn. "I'm afraid it's not up to you! Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. You have to go back with me today. I'll even tie you up if I have to so as to report back!"
Yi Qing heard the sound of horse hooves coming from behind the curtain of rain. She immediately knew what was going on, and a sharp look flashed across her eyes. "Then you may as well give it a try."
If she guessed correctly, Zisu was coming back.
These people were no match for Zisu.
Just then, a slightly nervous childish voice came from inside the house. "Mother, why aren't you coming in yet?"
"Mother will come in soon. Be a good boy."
Hearing this conversation, Granny Zhao was struck dumb. "You, you're married?"
Yi Qing smiled slightly. "My son is four and a half years old. What do you think?"
She deliberately misled Granny Zhao. Who said a woman couldn't have a child without getting married?
The son was hers alone. Humph!
"Aunt Zhao," the maid holding the umbrella behind Granny Zhao said anxiously at this time. "The young lady is married. How can she go back to marry in place of the eldest young lady? What shall we do?"
"Shut up!" Granny Zhao said angrily.
Oh, so they were trying to grab her to go back and marry in someone else's place. Couldn't they come up with something more creative?
"I'm afraid I can't help you." Yi Qing forced a smile. "Please leave. Don't say any more. The wind is too strong. Don't bite your tongue."
"Take her back first and then we'll talk!" Granny Zhao paused for a moment and stamped her foot.
The sound of horse hooves came closer and closer, and finally the horse arrived.
Zisu jumped off the horse and walked over with a splashing sound through the muddy water.
She was much taller than ordinary women. She was holding an empty medicine basket in her hand, and there was a heavy and clumsy - looking sword on her back.
"Who are you going to take away?" Zisu put down the medicine basket and stood in front of Yi Qing, looking cold.
"You, you're her husband?" Granny Zhao obviously misjudged Zisu's gender.
Yi Qing burst out laughing. Not minding that Zisu was wet, she tilted her head and leaned on her shoulder, saying in a sugary voice, "Husband, if you had come back a little later, I would have been taken away and forced to marry!"
"I'd like to see who dares!" Zisu's voice was as cold as ice, adding a bit more solemnity to this cold rainy night.
There were only the maid behind Granny Zhao and the coachman who came with her. She quickly weighed the situation and thought that the three of them were no match for Zisu. She mentally cursed her miscalculation and subconsciously took two steps back, stepping on the maid's foot. She immediately slapped the maid. "You useless thing."
Yi Qing sneered. "You bully the weak and fear the strong."
Granny Zhao's face turned red instantly. However, looking at Zisu, she didn't dare to say a word. Her mind was spinning quickly. She had never expected that the Second Miss was already married.
In this situation, it was better to go back and report first. It wasn't her fault. Who could have expected that the Second Miss was so audacious?
"Second Miss, you got married without telling your parents. This matter isn't over!"
"Those who give birth but don't raise, I won't let this go either. Let's meet in front of the emperor!"
Hearing that she was going to report to the emperor, Granny Zhao's face turned as pale as a sheet. She didn't dare to say any more harsh words and left dejectedly.
Yi Qing let out a sigh of relief. Seeing the carriage speeding away in the curtain of rain, she then said to Zisu with a smile, "Husband, you came back just in time."
Zisu curled her lips. "If you report your father to the emperor, you'll be whipped a hundred times."
Yi Qing: "… Humph! Didn't I just scare that insolent servant? Hurry into the house. I'm freezing!"
She couldn't lose face in words. If she didn't retort, she would lose sleep tonight.
After they entered the house, Baozi rushed over. His eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Zisu. "Aunt Zisu, it's good that you're back. The bad guys won't be able to take my mother away!"
"Your mother is like a cat with nine lives. She'll be fine without me." Zisu was very gentle with Baozi. She stroked his head and took out a Chinese rings puzzle from her bosom and gave it to him. "I bought this for you. Play with it tomorrow. Go to sleep now."
Baozi obediently thanked her, took the Chinese rings puzzle, and climbed onto the kang to sleep.
Yi Qing served the chicken soup left in the pot for Zisu. Zisu changed her clothes behind the screen and said, "I sold the medicine for a total of two taels of silver and three hundred copper coins. I spent the three hundred copper coins. The things I bought are all in the medicine basket. I've also put away the silver."
"Okay." Yi Qing trusted her very much. "Why did you come back so late? Did you take shelter from the rain? You might as well have stayed at the inn for a day and come back tomorrow morning."
"I came back late because Xiao Jinghan is dead. I spent some time getting information."
The bowl in Yi Qing's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter" and shattered into pieces.