After the imperial carriage passed by, Zhang Jingyun did not get in the carriage again, but urged Lian Da to hurry up, and he followed on horseback. Mei Niang felt sleepy and closed her eyes and fell into a coma. When Lian Sao woke her up, the carriage had stopped at the back door of Qin's house.
Lian Da got out of the car and knocked on the door. Mei Niang hurriedly asked Lian Sao to take out the leather bag filled with water, poured some water on her face and patted it. Sure enough, the mask fell off. Lian Sao's eyes widened when she saw it, but Mei Niang didn't care about her. She carefully put away the mask and then got out of the car.
Mother Wang and Cui Xi had been waiting under the car for a long time. They reached out to help her. When they saw the blood on her clothes, they were horrified. Mother Wang didn't care about anything else and started to touch her all over again:
"My grandma, you..."
Mei Niang grabbed her hand, put her left index finger on her lips, and said "hush". Cui Xi was smart and saw Zhang Jingyun beside her, so she pulled Wang's mother:
"Don't worry, mom. Let's go in first!"
He quickly helped Mei Niang and the group walked in. Liu Lianda and Lian Sao were packing up the carriage and horses at the back, while Mei Niang led Zhang Jingyun straight to the east courtyard.
Along the way, he explained to Mother Wang: "I'm fine. The blood on the clothes belongs to someone else. Don't worry, Mom!"
Cui Xi pouted and said, "Grandma, you took Lian Sao away by yourself, why didn't you let me go with you? If I were there, I would never let Grandma get her clothes dirty!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "You don't know how difficult it is to travel on the roads outside the city. You are so delicate, how can you stand the bumps of a carriage? I'll take you with me next time we go to see the flowers and enjoy the scenery!"
Cui Xi was not convinced: "If grandma can bear it, why can't I?"
Mei Niang waved at her, turned around to look at Zhang Jingyun, and saw him following silently behind her, so she said apologetically:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhang. To avoid being seen, I can only come in through the back door..."
Zhang Jingyun smiled and said, "This is also what I meant."
Mei Niang looked at his handsome face, which was more delicate and fair than a woman's, and suddenly remembered something: "Didn't you say..."
Zhang Jingyun smiled and said, "In compliance with the Emperor's order: I will show my true face to everyone and will not wear a mask from now on. No matter who he is, I won't recognize him if I don't want to!"
Mei Niang didn't know who he was referring to. There were people around, so she didn't dare to ask too much. She could only give him an understanding smile.
When Feng saw Mei Niang, she was surprised and delighted. She held her hand tightly and caressed her like Wang Mama did:
"Is my aunt injured? What should I do?"
Mei Niang patted her on the shoulder and said, "It's okay, it's okay. Just change your clothes and you'll be fine! This is the doctor I mentioned. Let them bring some tea first!"
Feng hurriedly bowed to Zhang Jingyun and called Li'er to serve tea. Cuixi had already run to find Cuilian, and brought Tao'er, brought hot water and towels, and helped Zhang Jingyun and Mei Niang wash their hands and faces. Zhang Jingyun didn't have time to drink tea, so he washed his hands and walked to the bed. Cuixi hurried forward and drew aside the curtain. Qin Boqing was still in a coma. Zhang Jingyun leaned over to look at his face carefully, then reached out to open his eyelids and take a look. Cuilian moved a stool over. Zhang Jingyun sat down, pulled Qin Boqing's hand out of the quilt, tilted his head slightly, and concentrated on taking his pulse.
Mei Niang went to the left wing to change her clothes, and came to help Feng sit at the table. Feng was a little nervous, staring at Zhang Jingyun with her hands clenched into fists in her sleeves: Qin Boqing had not woken up since Mei Niang left, and she gritted her teeth and refused to ask for a doctor, trying to convince herself to wait until Mei Niang came back. Mei Niang finally asked the "miracle doctor" to come back, but Feng's heart sank: "The miracle doctor" was so young, did he have any medical skills, and could he cure her husband
Zhang Jingyun felt his pulse and breathed a sigh of relief. Mei Niang hurriedly invited him to sit at the table and brought him a cup of hot tea. Zhang Jingyun smiled and said to Feng and Mei Niang:
"Don't worry, Uncle Qin's illness is easy to cure, but his physique is too weak, so he needs to be slowly recuperated. It will take about a month for him to be healthy again. I don't think he will be late for the spring exam!"
Feng was half-believing and half-doubting, tears welled up in her eyes and she was speechless. Mei Niang had expected this to happen. As long as Lingxuzi or Zhang Jingyun could be invited, Qin Boqing would definitely get better!
She said to Zhang Jingyun, "I cannot thank you enough for your kindness. Mei Niang and my brother will remember your kindness!"
Zhang Jingyun picked up the teacup and drank a sip of tea slowly, saying: "Since we are friends, let's not be too formal. I'll leave some medicine for you. I will find a chance to visit Uncle Qin in the future. You..."
Mei Niang quickly took over the conversation: "I understand, thank you for thinking of me - I won't dare to run out of the city casually anymore, and even if I'm in the city, I have to be careful!"
After drinking the tea, Zhang Jingyun took Feng's pulse. Mei Niang simply asked him to check on her as well.
Madam Qin was worried that Mei Niang had been "sleeping" in her sister-in-law's room for a long time and still not getting up. She was quite uneasy and thought about it. She wondered if her son had passed his illness on to her daughter. She wanted to ask someone to carry her over to see her, but the little maidservant kept making excuses, saying that they couldn't find her for the time being and that the young lady was sleeping well, so Madam didn't need to worry. Madam Wang and Cui Xi couldn't find Mei Niang, so after hearing Feng's instructions, they had to team up to coax her. Suddenly, she saw Mei Niang dressed in men's clothes, and brought Zhang Jingyun in to check her pulse and tell her about her brother's condition. Only then did she know what was going on. She felt mixed emotions. When Zhang Jingyun went to the outer hall to write a prescription, she frowned and scolded Mei Niang in a low voice:
"You are the wife of the marquis, you should know the limits of your words and actions. How dare you be so bold and reckless, running out on your own initiative and showing your face in public? What did your mother teach you since you were a child? Although my family is not as good as before, this education has never been wrong for you. You must take good care of yourself. I would rather you not recognize your natal family than you be well. I will be satisfied if you live a safe and prosperous life!"
It was the first time that Mei Niang saw Madam Qin angry, but she was not afraid at all, perhaps because she was not her biological mother. She approached Madam Qin, coaxed her with a playful smile, and massaged her shoulders. Madam Qin did not expect her gentle and timid daughter to become like this, and her style of behavior was completely different from before. She felt helpless and distressed at the moment, and pulled her to sit beside her, sighing:
"You've been tired for a long time, take a rest, don't do this again!"
Mei Niang responded hurriedly. Zhang Jingyun came in. When Mrs. Qin heard Mei Niang say that he was Xu Junying's friend, she naturally could not neglect him. She said many words of thanks, asked for a thank-you ceremony, and ordered the kitchen to prepare a meal to entertain him. Zhang Jingyun chatted with Mrs. Qin for a while with good temper, drank tea, and asked her to pay more attention to diet and keep warm, and take medicine on time. Seeing that it was getting late, he wanted to say goodbye. Mrs. Qin could not keep him. She could not walk, and her son could not be called, so she had to let Mei Niang send him out.
Mei Niang would not follow Madam Qin's wishes and give Zhang Jingyun the silver. She just asked him honestly if he was hungry and whether he wanted to eat before leaving. Zhang Jingyun said:
"I'm not hungry. I still need to go to Qiancaotang to get some medicine and get back to the farm before dark."
He also reminded Mei Niang: "I brought the pills for your brother and sister-in-law. I have just taught Grandma Qin how to use them. Please remind her that it is best to take the medicine on time. Someone will deliver the medicine tomorrow at 3 p.m. It will be at the back door. Ask the people in the mansion to take it. Madam Qin's internal medicine will not arrive until tomorrow. The prescription I wrote is for her external use. You can have someone take it to Qiancaotang to pick up the medicine. There are more species of herbs there, and they are better organized!"
Mei Niang nodded, wrote down everything, and sent Zhang Jingyun to the front hall. She looked back and saw that Wang Mama and Cui Xi had not caught up. An idea flashed through her mind and she said:
"Otherwise, I'll go to Qiancao Hall with you, get some medicine each, and then go home separately!"
Zhang Jingyun looked at her in surprise. Mei Niang was embarrassed: "I ran outside for a long time today. I was cold and tired. I almost lost my life because of the King of Qi. If he was more seriously injured and died in my car, I would not be able to survive. But I don't regret it. The feeling of freedom is too good. I also want to go for a walk on the street..."
Zhang Jingyun lowered his eyes and said softly, "Let's not go. Give the prescription to the servants and ask them to pick up the medicine and bring it back!"
Mei Niang knew that he was trying to avoid suspicion, so she said, "Then you go first, I'll go later!"
Zhang Jingyun did not move. After a while, he said helplessly, "This is the west of the city. Qiancaotang is in the north of the city. It's a long way to go. Can you do it? If you want to go, you have to wear a mask!"
Mei Niang smiled and said, "That's why I want to go. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to go even if I had ten guts!"
As she was talking, Cuixi and Cuilian came out. Mei Niang looked at them and said, "Cuixi, go to the kitchen to see if the food is ready. Cuilian, go to Grandmother's room to see if Grandpa has woken up. He was just fed pills. If he doesn't wake up to eat tonight, it will be terrible!"
Zhang Jingyun watched her easily send the two maids away, then took out the mask from her sleeve. After looking around, he found a basin of smoking black charcoal fire under the incense table. He walked over and carefully dried the mask. This time he didn't feel comfortable asking Zhang Jingyun for help, so he estimated the approximate size himself and put it on his face like a facial mask.
Zhang Jingyun also took out a mask, warmed it up and put it on his face. Mei Niang saw that it was the same as when they first met, and smiled:
"At least change him to a more handsome one to please the girls!"
Zhang Jingyun had a blank expression on his face, blinked his eyes and said, "Appearance will always get old, if you only like someone because he is handsome, then there is not much meaning!"
Mei Niang was embarrassed. What kind of idea is that! He is obviously handsome, but he wants others to like his ugly appearance. It seems difficult for anyone to be his girlfriend!
Zhang Jingyun had already told Lian Da to leave someone waiting at the back door for his mount, and he would come to get it when the time came. At this time, he and Mei Niang came out of the front door, looked around, and saw no one, so they went down the steps and walked out calmly along the alley.
After many twists and turns, they finally walked out of the street. It was almost dusk and there were no people on the street. Mei Niang was a little disappointed:
"It's too deserted, isn't it? There's nothing on this street!"
Zhang Jingyun said, "This street used to be the busiest in the west of the city. It's almost dusk now and the weather is cold. Who would still want to do business? The market has already ended. People have packed up their things and gone home. You can see that many shops are closed."
"What if I need to buy something in a hurry?"
"You can knock on the door. There's someone living inside."
"Will the Qiancaotang we went to still be open?"
"Yes." Zhang Jingyun said, "Qiancaotang is open from dawn to dusk, so that people can see doctors and buy medicine."
"Hmm? Are there any doctors out there?"
"There are people on duty who can diagnose common illnesses."
Mei Niang looked at him and said, "Didn't you just come to the capital from another place? How do you know Qiancaotang so well?"
Zhang Jingyun was silent for a moment, then said, "I am originally from the capital, but left home when I was young. Qiancaotang was actually founded by me in Jiangnan. There are branches in various places, and they are managed by professionals. I rarely ask about them. This one in the capital is managed by an old servant who is familiar with medicinal herbs. I heard that it is doing well!"
Mei Niang was stunned: the real person never reveals his true face. The elegant person who is like a hermit is actually the behind-the-scenes boss of a national chain of drug stores! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)