"But that medicine may mix up your memories from different periods and scenarios, making you unable to distinguish between reality and recollection. You may even have hallucinations and mistake imagined things for real ones," Dr. Wu tried his best to persuade. "Using medicine to stimulate and awaken memories will cause you great pain during this process..."
If one couldn't bear it, it was not impossible to die from the pain.
Pei Zhaolin stared straight at him.
It was still the same sentence: "I want to try."
Dr. Wu was extremely frustrated.
He knew he couldn't persuade Pei Zhaolin: "I need some time to prepare it."
"Seven days."
Dr. Wu's eyes widened: "This won't do!"
Pei Zhaolin made a final decision: "Only seven days."
"... " Dr. Wu was deeply troubled.
He regretted that he shouldn't have followed Pei Zhaolin to Wenling in the first place!
Naturally, there wouldn't have been all these annoying things afterwards.
---
Early the next morning.
"You've just arrived in Qinghe. Are you in such a hurry to leave?"
Yan Liangwen showed a look of regret on his face: "I haven't even had a chance to taste the famous Qinghe wine!"
Cui Jintang gave him an impatient look and retorted, "Did I say I wanted to drink the Qinghe wine?"
If it weren't for Yan Liangwen dragging her along.
Knowing he was in the wrong, Yan Liangwen fell silent.
Originally, he had planned to find a wine shop to cooperate with his Jinyu Workshop.
A beauty paired with fine wine was truly a great blessing in life!
Seeing from afar the figure of the elder of the Cui Clan hurrying over, Cui Jintang calmly picked up her veil hat and put it on her head.
Under Yan Liangwen's puzzled gaze, she coughed and said, "It's windy here."
Yan Liangwen, who was constantly fanning his folding fan, said, "Huh?"
"I was dealing with some clan affairs today and came late. Please don't blame me, esteemed guests."
The elder of the Cui Clan really came in a hurry. There was still a faint smell of incense on his body.
He should have just come from the ancestral hall and offered incense.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cui Jintang saw Cui Sheng standing behind the elder of the Cui Clan, nodding to her.
--- The matter of A Zhao had been properly handled.
Cui Jintang felt relieved.
"In seven days, it will be the famous Qixi Festival in Qinghe. You two can stay and watch the ceremony before leaving," the elder of the Cui Clan recommended enthusiastically. "Apart from some traditional festivals, there will also be a Magpie Feast on the day of the Qixi Festival."
Hearing there would be fun, Yan Liangwen was immediately tempted.
He quickly said, "This sounds quite novel. Since we've come here, why not wait for another seven days?"
Cui Jintang let out a soft tsk.
Why did Yan Liangwen become more child - like as he got older?
Wasn't it just a gathering for eligible men and women to meet each other? What was so interesting about watching the ceremony?
He wanted to get involved in everything!
Since the elder of the Cui Clan said last time, "He looks quite familiar," Zhu Er had been a bit haunted.
He lowered his head so much that it was almost touching his stomach: "Our young lady has been ill. We really can't delay any longer. We need to return to the capital as soon as possible for her to recuperate and receive treatment."
The elder of the Cui Clan was just making a suggestion and didn't try to persuade them to stay.
"When will you two set off?"
Yan Liangwen listlessly pointed at Cui Jintang with his folding fan and said, "When will we set off?"
Zhu Er quickly said, "We'll set off tomorrow."
The elder of the Cui Clan stroked his beard and suddenly realized, "Are you two going to travel with Lord Pei?"
Mentioning Pei Zhaolin, Cui Jintang just remembered that she hadn't seen him at breakfast this morning.
"He goes his way, and we go ours. It has nothing to do with each other! Nothing to do with each other!"
Yan Liangwen wished he could be as far away from Pei Zhaolin as possible: "It's better if he doesn't know. We can save the false politeness when we leave tomorrow."
The elder of the Cui Clan looked embarrassed and forced out a couple of laughs.
Cui Jintang walked out of the hall and unconsciously glanced at the West Garden where Pei Zhaolin lived.
In order to console the scholars in the academy these two days, the academy had specially given them a few days off and allowed them to return after the Qixi Festival.
The West Garden had suddenly become quiet and extremely silent.
Even the Xuanjia Army that had surrounded the entire academy like an iron bucket a couple of days ago had disappeared.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
As soon as Yan Liangwen poked his head over, he was pushed back by Cui Jintang with a slap.
She scolded, "Don't ask about things that don't concern you."
"Huh?!"
---
Zhu Er told her that A Xun in the capital hadn't received any news from her for a long time and had been extremely worried these days.
If it weren't for Ying Lan stopping her, she would have packed her small bag and come to Qinghe by now.
Cui Jintang found it funny. After returning to her room, she sat down in front of the writing desk.
She dipped her brush in ink, thought for a while, and then started writing on the rice paper.
She had a lot to say to A Xun, and for a moment, she got really into writing.
When she wrote about A Zhao's whereabouts, she stopped her pen.
Zhu Er, who had been serving her all the time, suddenly brought a cup of warm tea.
"Take a break and then continue writing, young lady."
Since Cui Jintang hadn't written a single word for a long time, she simply put down her pen.
She had been feeling irritable since she came back from the hall.
She got up and walked to the window, hoping to look at the scenery outside to change her mood.
After the Cui Clan Academy was built, the elders had transplanted osmanthus trees, which symbolized success in the imperial examinations, all over the academy.
Every year at this time, the ground was covered with golden osmanthus flowers.
They looked just like gold.
Whenever she saw them, Cui Jintang would feel better.
But today, there was not only the osmanthus flowers on the ground.
There was also Pei Zhaolin. He was standing beside the vermilion lacquered column.
His hair was tied up tightly. The black satin ribbon was loosely tied into a knot at the back of his head. A few strands of his hair hung on his forehead. From afar, he always seemed to have a bit more of a youthful air.
His browbones were very high, slanting down from his forehead. The corners of his eyes were slightly upturned. His eyelashes were thick and cast a faint shadow under his eyes.
He lowered his eyes and quietly stared at the flower petal in his palm. His fingertips gently rubbed against the veins of the petal.
When the wind blew, his gaze also moved.
He met Cui Jintang's eyes. She was standing by the window looking at the scenery.
Suddenly, he smiled, like the melting of ice and snow, making the scenery in front of him brighten up.
Unconsciously, Cui Jintang took a few more glances at Pei Zhaolin's face.
Zhu Er, who was tidying up the writing desk, suddenly felt something was wrong. He rushed over in a hurry but still couldn't prevent them from seeing each other.
Cui Jintang glanced at him and saw the look of guilt on his face. She immediately understood.
She didn't blame him. After all, Zhu Er just wanted to vent her anger.
"How long has he been here?"
Zhu Er said awkwardly, "It's only been an hour, young lady."
For them martial artists, an hour was just a piece of cake.
Cui Jintang nodded: "Let him in."
After saying that, she sat back in front of the writing desk.
Before picking up the brush, she thought for a while and took out a new piece of rice paper.
She picked up a wolf - haired brush and slowly drew on the rice paper.
Soon, there were footsteps outside.
Pei Zhaolin stood outside the screen and looked at her through it.
Today, she was wearing a moon - white silk dress. As she bent down to draw, the silk dress hugged her slender waist, which could be easily grasped with one hand.
Her long black hair was simply pinned up with a hairpin. A strand of hair hung down by her ear and swayed slightly as she held the brush.
Suddenly, she turned her face to dip in the pigment, and her side face was exposed.
Pei Zhaolin's gaze unconsciously fell on her lips.
Her red lips, which were naturally rosy without makeup, were slightly parted, reminding him of last night's kiss.