“You have a plan?” Ma Shi quickly asked.
Zhuang Yunqing’s gaze darkened, and he replied, “Yes.”
Things had escalated to this point. He couldn’t escape the infamy of being ungrateful.
The only way to erase it was to ruin Jiang Ning. All of today’s events were her own fault. The reputation of being ungrateful would vanish once she was dealt with.
Ma Shi calmed down and said angrily, “I didn’t expect that girl to change so much. I lost my composure, and that’s how everything turned out. And she’s hurt so badly—when I looked at her, her face turned pale for a moment, and it looked like she had died, but I didn’t expect her to survive.”
Chen Shi, feeling the same, added, “Indeed, I was about to rush over, but she suddenly dodged. It was so strange—it almost scared me out of my wits.”
“Mother, Aunt, don’t worry. I have a plan,” Zhuang Yunqing said, not wanting to explain further.
“If your father comes back, won’t he be angry?” Ma Shi asked. She had only conspired with her son to break off the engagement while her husband was away hunting.
“As for Father, I’ll handle it. Don’t worry, Mother,” Zhuang Yunqing reassured her. “I need to hurry back to the county. Remember, don’t let anyone know I’ve returned to the village.” He turned to Chen Shi and cupped his hands. “Aunt, my mother’s health isn’t well. Please take care of her. I would be deeply grateful.”
Chen Shi nodded, “We’re family—no need for such formalities. Hurry along!”
Ah, what a good son—how is he Ma Shi’s? It’s enough to make someone jealous.
Zhuang Yunqing had secretly returned to the village using a mule cart. Now that the matter was settled, he hurriedly instructed the driver to take him back to the academy.
There was more to be done.
Jiang Ning rode in Liu Chunsheng’s cart. In less than half an hour, they arrived at the medical hall. Jiang Ning stepped down and looked at the signboard reading “Baohe Hall.”
The door was wide open, and the clinic wasn’t crowded at the moment. Liu Chunsheng led Jiang Ning into the main hall.
A middle-aged man in a green robe greeted them with a smile.
“Ah, Liu Shopkeeper, you’ve come personally? Are you here to buy medicine or seek treatment?” he asked, glancing at Jiang Ning. “Who is this?”
Both of them were shopkeepers in the county, so they seemed to know each other.
Liu Chunsheng cupped his hands and said, “Thank you, Master Chen, for coming out. This is my granddaughter, Jiang Ning. I’ve brought her here to apologize to Scholar Lu. How is he?”
“He broke his right leg, but I’ve already set the bone. The external injuries are treatable, but his internal injuries are severe. He still hasn’t woken up. Does this have to do with her?” Master Chen looked at Jiang Ning in surprise.
“Ah, Ning girl acted impulsively, but it wasn’t intentional.”
“Why do you say that?” Master Chen asked, still unsure of the situation.
Jiang Ning noticed several people were looking over at them, clearly eager to hear the gossip.
It seemed Liu Chunsheng had rushed her here just to let everyone recognize her as the culprit!
She was ready to speak, but just as Liu Chunsheng had gathered his thoughts to begin, Jiang Ning suddenly interrupted, stepping forward and loudly said to Master Chen, “Uncle Chen, I hurt my forehead. Grandpa brought me here to get treated.”
Master Chen finally noticed the blood on her forehead and said, “Ah, it’s still bleeding. What happened? How could you be so careless?” He pulled her over to an examination table, where he carefully cleaned and bandaged the wound, stopping the bleeding and checking her pulse.
After a flurry of activity, Master Chen was entirely focused on the patient and had no time to care about the rumors.
Liu Chunsheng stood to the side, watching coldly, feeling regretful. He hadn’t completed the task his grandson had given him, but it wasn’t the time to bring it up.
“All done. Don’t let the wound get wet over the next few days, and change the dressing on time. I’ll prescribe some medicine. You should recover quickly,” Master Chen said, as he finished treating her.
“Yes, Uncle Chen, you’re amazing! My forehead doesn’t hurt as much anymore,” Jiang Ning complimented sincerely.
Master Chen nodded and turned to the counter to prepare the medicine.
The apprentice quickly packed the medicine and handed it to Liu Chunsheng, “Shopkeeper Liu, the total is two taels of silver.”
Liu Chunsheng shot Jiang Ning a glare but paid the silver. Jiang Ning took the medicine with a smile. “Thank you, Grandpa!”
She looked at the medicine package, satisfied. Not only did she save two taels of silver, but she also got excellent treatment—this trip wasn’t a loss.
“Be more careful next time,” Liu Chunsheng said indifferently, before turning back to Master Chen. “Can we go see Scholar Lu now?”
“Of course. I’ll have the apprentice show you the way,” Master Chen replied.
The apprentice led them to the back courtyard where Lu Huaian was lying in bed. He reminded them to keep quiet before leaving.
The room smelled strongly of medicine, and Jiang Ning opened the window. The warm glow of the setting sun spilled in as her eyes fell on Lu Huaian’s face.
His handsome features were almost perfect—his sharp sword-like eyebrows, dark hair cascading around his face. He looked pale and lifeless, almost as if he were dead.
Chapter 6: So Jealous
As Jiang Ning drew closer, the mark on her chest began to heat up, and a slight pain followed, as if her heart was aching.
What was this about?
She shouldn’t be feeling sorry for a man she didn’t even know.
There’s a saying: “Pitying men brings a lifetime of misfortune.”
No matter how handsome, it didn’t matter!
The sensation grew hotter, like a burning pain in her chest.
This was abnormal and illogical. Jiang Ning broke into a cold sweat from the pain.
Liu Chunsheng watched anxiously, wondering if Scholar Lu would really not wake up. His grandson had said that if anything happened to Lu Huaian, he wouldn’t need to go back to the academy.
What did Jiang Ning’s trouble have to do with his family? The academy’s anger was misdirected.
Liu Chunsheng carefully checked Lu Huaian’s pulse, feeling his weak breath.
Jiang Ning, trying to ignore the discomfort in her chest, observed Lu Huaian carefully.
Suddenly, she noticed his fingers twitch slightly.
Startled, she was about to call the doctor when Lu Huaian’s eyes snapped open.
His deep, dark eyes were filled with frost, and murderous intent radiated from them.
Jiang Ning was taken aback. Did he mistake her for an enemy?
But when she saw him wake up, she couldn’t help but shout excitedly,
“Lu Huaian, you’re awake!”
His eyes flickered, slowly focusing on Jiang Ning and Liu Chunsheng.
“Who… are you?” His voice was weak and hoarse.
Lu Huaian looked confused, his hand instinctively going to his chest, brows furrowed as though trying to recall something.
“The academy… injured?” he murmured to himself.
“Yes, Scholar Lu, we’re so relieved you’ve woken up,” Liu Chunsheng said excitedly, his voice trembling with emotion. “Today, it was thanks to you that the academy avoided a major disaster!”
“This is my granddaughter, Jiang Ning. If she hadn’t recklessly stopped the carriage, you wouldn’t have been injured. I brought her here to apologize to you…”
Liu Chunsheng pushed Jiang Ning forward and discreetly stepped back to find the doctor, hoping it wasn’t just a fleeting moment of consciousness.
Lu Huaian frowned.
His chest felt warm, and he remembered being pierced by the Moon Sword.
So, he didn’t die?