Huaiyu was taken aback, raising her head to see a young lady adorned in luxurious attire smiling gently at her. “You’ve worked hard, Fourth Sister. I’ll take this to His Highness.”
What? Huaiyu stood up, puzzled, and looked at her. “This seems to be the medicine I brewed.”
“Yes.” The young lady in front of her smiled softly. “That’s why I appreciate your efforts.”
With that, she turned and walked away, carrying the medicine with her.
Huaiyu was slightly stunned, thinking to herself that for years, the whole court had cursed her as shameless, thinking she was the most shameless person in the world. But now, someone was even more shameless than her?
Watching the girl’s figure as she walked away, Huaiyu clapped her hands and followed suit.
The girl walked gracefully into the East Courtyard, carrying the tray lightly. Arriving outside the guest room where Jiang Xuanjin was, she smoothed her hair and signaled for a maid to knock on the door.
“What is it?” Cheng Xu opened the door, looking at her with curiosity.
The person outside bowed respectfully. “I am Xuanji, here to deliver the medicine.”
Was this the well-mannered Xuanji that Lady Bai had mentioned? Huaiyu, listening from behind, suddenly understood.
Previously, Lady Bai had been incessantly talking about getting Second Miss Bai to make an appearance in front of Duke Zi Yang, which seemed unlikely. However, this Second Miss was quite clever, knowing to seize the opportunity by taking her medicine to curry favor.
Cheng Xu frowned at Bai Xuanji, bowing slightly and saying, “Please wait a moment,” before stepping into the room to report.
Bai Xuanji stood quietly, neither hurried nor flustered. When she turned her head and saw Huaiyu standing at the courtyard gate, she smiled, “Fourth Sister, you’re here?”
Huaiyu approached her, admiring her calm demeanor despite having just snatched her medicine. Seeing her face without a hint of embarrassment or guilt, Huaiyu couldn’t help but admire her as a true daughter of the Bai family.
“Sister, are you planning…” Huaiyu glanced at the bowl of medicine on the tray, then smiled, “…to make an appearance?”
Bai Xuanji nodded. “Mother’s orders. I have no choice but to comply. I hope Fourth Sister won’t mind.”
“If you put it that way, then blaming you would only make me seem petty, wouldn’t it?” Huaiyu imitated her mannerisms, smoothing her hair and winking. “I wish you success, Sister.”
With that, she walked towards the guest room.
Bai Xuanji watched her, momentarily puzzled before calling out, “What are you doing?”
Ignoring her, Huaiyu stepped into the room.
Jiang Xuanjin was already lying down, his eyes tightly shut, his face still pale. Cheng Xu stood by the bedside, looking somewhat at a loss.
“Fourth Miss,” Cheng Xu addressed her as she entered, “the master’s condition seems to be worsening. It might be best to return to the medicine hall.”
Glancing at the figure on the bed, Huaiyu replied, “Making him endure half an hour in a carriage now might worsen his condition further. If you’re genuinely concerned about him, I do have an idea.”
“What is it?”
“I overheard inadvertently that the neighboring Lu Mansion received a box of miraculous pills from Nanyan, reputed to cure all ailments and regulate the six viscera.” Huaiyu turned to look at him. “Though the medicine is precious, Duke Zi Yang is even more precious. The master of the Lu Mansion is reasonable. If you were to ask, he would surely give you one.”
With that miracle medicine, Jiang Xuanjin’s illness would surely soon be cured.
Cheng Xu’s eyes lit up but immediately dimmed again.
“The Lu Mansion next door?” he sighed bitterly. “If anyone else were to ask, the head of the Lu family might indeed give it. But our master… it’s unlikely.”
Landscape Pavilion’s manager, Lu Jingxing, was a close friend of the late Eldest Princessyang. Since their master personally escorted the princess to her final rest, how could Lu Jingxing forgive him, let alone offer the miraculous medicine?
“What’s so difficult about it?” Huaiyu walked over to the desk on the other side, licked the tip of a quill pen, and casually drew on a piece of paper. “You just need to go and take this with you. Say it’s a favor from Miss Bai to him.”
Taking the letter with confusion, Cheng Xu’s face wrinkled into a frown.
Thinking she was about to receive some kind words, Cheng Xu found himself holding a piece of paper filled with random scribbles, a chaotic mess of ink that made no sense. Would he not be kicked out if he showed this to Lu Jingxing? But the Lu Mansion was adjacent to the Bai Mansion, just a few minutes walk away. Cheng Xu felt that it was worth a try, at least.
So, he bowed respectfully. “Please take care of the master, Fourth Miss.”
“Of course,” Huaiyu nodded, smiling.
As Cheng Xu left, Bai Xuanji was still standing outside, her face full of confusion. Seeing him emerge alone, she looked behind him in puzzlement.
“The medicine can be put aside for now; His Highness won’t be able to drink it temporarily.” Cheng Xu bowed to her. “Miss, please go back for now.”
Bai Xuanji blinked, pointing towards the room. “But what about Zhuji?…”
“Fourth Miss has two guards inside taking care of His Highness. If Miss doesn’t have any other matters, there’s no need to disturb them.” Cheng Xu finished and bowed again before walking away, clutching the letter.
Bai Xuanji watched his retreating figure in bewilderment, her face filled with incredulity.
“Miss,” her maid, Xiyun, took the tray from her, frowning. “What should we do? We can’t even see His Highness now.”
Bai Xuanji didn’t know what to do either. She had expected to at least catch a glimpse, but now, not only could she not see him, but he wouldn’t even take the medicine. All her efforts had come to naught.
Thinking of the silly smile on Bai Zhuji’s face earlier, Bai Xuanji finally furrowed her brows.
Meanwhile, Cheng Xu, holding the letter, nervously went to the Lu Mansion and presented his card.
Lu Jingxing was the foremost merchant in the capital, and his mansion, nestled among the official residences, was even more grandiose than many of them. However, unlike its usual bustling self, today the Lu Mansion’s gates were unusually quiet. A white silk cloth was draped over the golden-red Lu Mansion plaque, with floral arrangements on either side.
Cheng Xu looked very surprised, turning to ask the gatekeeper, “Has someone passed away in the mansion?”
The gatekeeper took the card and sighed, “No.”
If no one had passed away, why did it feel like a funeral atmosphere? Cheng Xu was puzzled, and as he lowered his head to ponder, his heart suddenly clenched.
Could it be… they were mourning Eldest Princessyang?
Oh no, oh no. Lu Jingxing’s obsession with Eldest Princess Danyang was indeed deep. If that was the case, he would be even less likely to give up the miraculous medicine.
Cheng Xu pursed his lips, thinking for a moment, and then decided to hand over the letter given by Miss Bai to the gatekeeper as well. “Please, also pass this to your master.”
The gatekeeper accepted it and sent it inside. Cheng Xu felt almost desperate. He would wait for half an hour. If Lu Jingxing didn’t respond within that time, he would have to find a way to make the carriage ride smoother.
However, before half an hour had passed since the letter was sent in, someone came out of the mansion.
With disordered steps and uneven breaths, Lu Jingxing strode forward, his white jade crown slightly askew on his ink-black hair, his gem-adorned belt loose, his face haggard and pale. Yet his phoenix eyes still gleamed with a light, faintly reminiscent of the remnants of a dandy gentleman.
Cheng Xu stared at him in astonishment as Lu Jingxing approached him in large strides, his gaze burning as he asked, “Where is Miss Bai?”