Chapter 97: You Originally Had No Intention

I am returning to Nanjing. Please have my parents go to your master to propose marriage. Young Master Gongye stated his position straightforwardly and decisively. Not to mention that An Yi had saved him three times, and with skin-to-skin intimacy, the simple fact that An Yi did not stare at him blankly was enough to make him willing to marry her.

Young Master Gongye, do not misunderstand. I am not asking you to marry my junior sister. Li Ruoxian raised her finely groomed willow brows. If you casually settle my junior sister’s lifelong matter in this way, my junior sister would be far too pitiful and wronged. I hope you do not mention this to anyone and do not hinder my junior sister from finding a good man who she loves and who loves her.

Young Master Gongye’s smile froze on his face, his voice tightening. This is her intention?

My junior sister is young and does not understand these things. Li Ruoxian narrowed her eyes and smiled craftily.

This matter is not something Madam Cheng can decide on her own. Young Master Gongye said in a deep voice.

Li Ruoxian wiped the smile from her face and spoke sternly. As I said earlier, my junior sister is young. She is pure, adorable, gentle, and kind. She understands nothing. As her senior sister, I cannot watch helplessly while she is deceived by appearances, like the Fifth Young Lady of the Tian family in Luoyang or Young Lady Xiao of the Xuan Blade Sect.

Li Ruoxian listed each of the young ladies who had been infatuated with Young Master Gongye. With every name she spoke, his face darkened a shade.

For the lord, one ponders in longing, for the lord, one suffers bitterly; mind in a daze, sleep and food wasted; lazy to comb the mirror flowers, not washing; alone lying in the quilt and pillow, double tears falling. Li Ruoxian, suddenly inspired, composed an unrhymed poem. She then took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the nonexistent tear at the corner of her eye. These lovesick women’s situations are truly pitiful!

Young Master Gongye’s handsome face turned iron-blue. They have nothing to do with me.

Young Master Gongye, you think they have nothing to do with you, but they do not think so. I cannot imagine what would become of my weak junior sister, who has no strength to restrain a chicken, falling into the hands of a group of irrational, mad women. For the safety of my junior sister, you had better stay far away from her. Li Ruoxian pouted in disgust. The more she spoke, the less she liked this disaster Young Master Gongye, wishing to kick him away now to prevent him from harming her pure and innocent little junior sister.

I…

Madam, the Nineteenth Young Lady has come. Qiao Zhu spoke.

Li Ruoxian picked up her teacup. Young Master Gongye, please do not let my junior sister know what we said. She is still young; do not let her worry about this matter. Please hide behind the screen for now.

Young Master Gongye looked at Li Ruoxian. A flash of light gleamed in his deep pupils. With a senior sister like you protecting her, no one would dare to bully her.

Xier? Li Ruoxian frowned.

Young Master Gongye hooked the corner of his mouth. Xier is her milk name.

Li Ruoxian stared at Young Master Gongye with ill intent. Could her pure junior sister already have fallen into the hands of demons?

This servant has seen the Nineteenth Young Lady. Qiao Zhu descended the steps, ostensibly paying respects, in reality to prevent her from entering the hall directly.

I want to see my second senior sister. An Yi held two porcelain bottles in her hands.

Young Master Gongye quickly slipped behind the screen.

Nineteenth Young Lady, please wait a moment. Qiao Zhu turned and entered the hall. Madam, the Nineteenth Young Lady wishes to see you.

Please invite the Nineteenth Young Lady in. Li Ruoxian said.

Qiao Zhu went out to escort An Yi into the hall.

Junior sister, you found the medicine so quickly! Li Ruoxian felt a pang of regret. Her master had taught her junior sister’s medical and poison skills too well. They had only chatted a few sentences with Young Master Gongye, not even reaching the substance, yet her junior sister had already produced the pills.

Second senior sister, there are not many pills, only two bottles. I do not know if they will be enough. An Yi placed the porcelain bottles on the table. From the corner of her eye she noticed the cup of steaming tea on the table and understood why Qiao Zhu had used such a loud voice when asking for her to pay respects. An Yi cared little about whom Li Ruoxian saw or what she said; she had no interest in it. She had no intention of mixing in the jianghu. Once she handled matters here, she would continue north.

Enough, enough. If not enough, have people go and match them. Li Ruoxian was not concerned with the antidote but asked, Nineteenth junior sister, what is your milk name?

An Yi was startled by Li Ruoxian’s abrupt question. Second senior sister, why are you asking about that?

I am your senior sister. Is it not permissible for me to inquire about your milk name? Li Ruoxian asked aggrievedly.

An Yi looked at the aggrieved Li Ruoxian and, seeing Ji Fanyi who also liked to act aggrieved, smiled helplessly. My milk name is Xier.

Li Ruoxian’s heart sank. It really was Xier. Young Master Gongye had not lied. Her poor junior sister had already fallen into the trap. No. Before her junior sister got too deeply entangled, she would rescue her adorable junior sister. Smiling, she asked, Junior sister, how did you meet Young Master Gongye? I do not think this is the first time you have seen him.

I have seen him twice before. An Yi did not want to laboriously explain how she had met Young Master Gongye. That would be too troublesome, and she hated speaking at length.

Li Ruoxian waited eagerly for An Yi to tell a twisty, strange story. Who knew An Yi would simply dispatch her with seven words. Blinking, Li Ruoxian asked directly, Junior sister, can you not explain in detail?

Second senior sister, it is getting late. Should you not have someone deliver the medicine? An Yi did not wish to satisfy Li Ruoxian’s gossip. Mentioning her meeting with Young Master Gongye would bring back memories of Jingtang Village, which she did not want to recall.

You and Young Master Gongye are friends? Li Ruoxian persisted in rescuing her junior sister from the fire pit and asked unwillingly.

An Yi thought for a moment and replied cautiously, People I know.

Li Ruoxian smiled. She smiled with satisfaction and relief.

Behind the screen, Young Master Gongye frowned deeply. Cold light gathered in his eyes. People I know? They were merely people he knew? But they had clearly been life-and-death companions in adversity!

Li Ruoxian’s internal energy was far stronger than An Yi’s. Hearing the heavy breathing behind the screen, she smiled secretly and picked up the porcelain bottle from the table. Junior sister, Rui’er is feeling a bit unwell. Could you help me go see him?

Very well. An Yi nodded.

Qiao Zhu, take the Nineteenth Young Lady to find the young master. Li Ruoxian sent An Yi away again, then turned to the screen. Young Master Gongye, did you hear that?

Young Master Gongye made no sound.

Young Master Gongye, among those who took the Brain Divine Pill, there is a man named Wei Xiaolin. Do you know him? Li Ruoxian asked knowingly.

Young Master Gongye stepped out from behind the screen. His face was dark as storm clouds, cold light sharp in the depths of his eyes, lips tightly pursed. Holding the porcelain bottle from the table, he left without a word.

Li Ruoxian was not in the least afraid of the evil aura radiating from him. She happily went to the kitchen to cook dinner. Her junior sister had escaped danger and returned; she would personally cook a fine meal to celebrate her.

An Yi entered Cheng Rui’s room. He was reading a book. Seeing An Yi enter, he raised his head and smiled. Nineteenth Aunt.

I will check your pulse for you. An Yi said.

Cheng Rui obediently set the book aside and extended his hand.

Where do you feel uncomfortable? An Yi asked while checking his pulse.

Cheng Rui was momentarily dazed, then immediately reacted. This lie had probably been fabricated by his good mother. He pressed his forehead and acted weak. My head was a bit dizzy just now.

An Yi withdrew her hand. If your head is dizzy, do not read books. Go to bed and rest.

I have already rested. I only got up to read when my head was not dizzy. Cheng Rui picked up the book. Nineteenth Aunt, I have a question I wish to ask you.

What question? An Yi asked in surprise.

Cheng Rui pointed to a sentence in the book. It says one pulse has ten variations. How can one pulse have ten variations?

Rui’er wants to learn medicine?

Not to learn, but because of long illness one becomes a doctor. Cheng Rui smiled.

An Yi glanced at him and said, The meaning of the five evils meeting the rigid and soft. If… each of the five viscera has rigid and soft evils, then one pulse immediately becomes ten. You may look at the Spiritual Pivot. It is written there: the five evils, the evils of the five viscera and five bowels. Rigid and soft… the evils of the viscera and bowels are five each; five times five is ten.

Cheng Rui grasped the meaning of one pulse ten variations and asked An Yi another question. An Yi’s medical skills, honed under the guidance of three famous doctors, had no difficulty answering these simple queries.

The two continued discussing medicine until Qiao Zhen came to invite them out for dinner. At the meal, An Yi did not see Young Master Gongye and assumed he had left without a word. She frowned slightly but asked nothing further.

Li Ruoxian, seeing that An Yi did not ask about Gongye, became even more certain that An Yi held no interest in him.

After the meal, Qiao Zhu brought fruits and hot tea.

An Yi finished a piece of watermelon, wiped her mouth, and said, Second senior sister, I will leave Zhengzhou tomorrow.

Why are you in such a hurry to go where? Li Ruoxian asked, puzzled.

I have an appointment with someone in the capital. The time is almost up; I cannot delay any longer. An Yi lied casually.

Like that. Li Ruoxian’s eyes flashed. Then leave tomorrow. After you meet that person, remember to come to Fuzhou to see us.

I will. An Yi smiled lightly.

They chatted a little longer. Hot water arrived. An Yi and Cheng Rui left first. Li Ruoxian instructed Qiao Zhu a few words, then retired to her room to bathe.

After bathing and changing clothes, An Yi sat cross-legged to regulate her qi for a full cycle, blew out the candle, and went to bed to sleep.

The next day, An Yi rose early, ate breakfast with Li Ruoxian and her son, accepted the bundle handed by Qiao Zhu, and left the inn under Li Ruoxian’s escort.

At the entrance of the inn stood a carriage, with three people waiting beside it: two sturdy women and one ordinary-looking girl.

Subordinates have seen the madam. The three spoke in unison.

This is the Nineteenth Young Lady.

Shanggu has seen the Nineteenth Young Lady.

Lu Po has seen the Nineteenth Young Lady.

Fang Rong has seen the Nineteenth Young Lady.

The three bowed to An Yi.

You three need not be polite. An Yi lightly cupped her hands, looking at Li Ruoxian with some puzzlement.

You three must protect the Nineteenth Young Lady well along the way and deliver her safely to the capital. Li Ruoxian spoke gravely.

An Yi frowned slightly. Second senior sister, I do not need…

Junior sister, traveling alone is too dangerous. What if you encounter some jianghu scum like the Ten Thousand Flowers Palace who abduct people everywhere? What then? Listen to second senior sister. Let them escort you. Do not worry; their martial arts are not weak, and they will not hold you back. Li Ruoxian said.

An Yi knew Li Ruoxian meant well and did not refuse. She boarded the carriage and departed grandly.

The carriage had barely vanished around the corner when Li Ruoxian spotted Young Master Gongye approaching. She raised her brows in a smile.