Wagging Tail
The white, silky skin was punctured by shining silver needles as the room filled with the scent of medicine.
Li Jingyun kept a low profile while quietly observing, his eyes growing dimmer as his thin knuckles touched the bamboo pendant that hung around his waist.
"Young Master." Badou returned from the outside, standing outside the partition and whispered, "It's already sorted out, there's no news from the main courtyard, but the Punishment Office... May need to give an explanation."
When Wen Guzhi heard the words, his hands paused and turned his head in surprise, "Punishment Office?"
"Yeah." Li Jingyun retorted indifferently, "You continue with your acupuncture."
"No, Third Master, even if you make a little trouble this time, this brother won't ask." Wen Guzhi scowled, "But if you fished out this person from the Punishment Office, you would have to notify us in advance."
The Punishment Office is what kind of a place? They share the same department as the Cabinet and are directly under Tian Zhong Guan's authority. They are known for taking on the role of the hero for Beijing's officials, punishing subordinates, and maintaining proper family dynamics, although everyone knows what they actually do.
This Young Master enters the Punishment Office to save people, immediately the palace would be able to receive this news.
Not to mention the big and the small, in normal times, there is no reason to hand things over to the palace like this.
"Talking after saving people is not too late." Li Jingyun signaled while lightly tucking his handcuffs, "I can solve it."
Wen Guzhi gave him a perplexed look before suddenly pointing upward with his little finger and choking his throat to learn the eunuch in the palace, "Those who are involved in big things, the most afraid is femme fatale~ This little one look at your posture is quite reminiscent of the faint-hearted ruler of the previous dynasty. Otherwise we will not save her, and one shot send this small disaster back to the west, and it will also save you from being undecided in the future and misunderstanding the overall situation."
Li Jingyun constrict his pupils and flash a ruthless white eye, "Go away."
Aggrievedly retracted his orchid finger [1], Wen Guzhi sighed, "Third Master has always acted efficiently and won't implicate the brothers at all. There is no need for me to worry."
"Young Master, however, we several brothers drank wine before Guan Gong [2]. Every time you handle things by yourself is absurd. It is not proper."
Wen Guzhi chuckled as he picked up the final silver needle and said, "Next time there is such stuff happening, please take us with you."
The silver light was shining, making the figure in front of him look exceedingly chilly. After a brief period of stillness, he nodded while casting over his rather cold eyes.
"Okay."
Wen Guzhi quickly dropped the silver needle after widening his eyes in relief.
The individual in bed scowled and let out a quiet snort.
"What?" Li Jingyun leaned over to look at her and frowned, "You are an imperial doctor, and you are still conduct acupuncture half-heartedly. Did you poke in the wrong place?"
Wen Guzhi's earlier joy was erased, and he became so furious that his nose nearly bent; "Third Young Master, do you comprehend that I am an imperial doctor? Which medical genius could possibly insert the needle incorrectly?"
"So what is she humming for?"
"Would you not hum in pain if you had so many holes in your body? She was fortunate to hum twice because it saved her. Why are you so anxious?"
Li Jingyun responded mockingly, "I didn't panic," with a somewhat relaxed look.
"Yes, so the outside is still dark, and this little one is blind to everything." Wen Guzhi rubbed his cheeks and muttered with a grin, "An extremely rare occurrence, look till my teeth hurts."
Li Jingyun did not have time to bother with Wen Guzhi when the person's lips appeared to move on the bed, so he leaned on the bed's strings and paid close attention.
The person's warm breath entered his ears, slurred for a moment, and then spat out an illegible word.
"Magnolia?" He repeated incoherently before standing up and stare at Wen Guzhi in shock, "She looks like this, and can she still dream of flowers?"
Wen Guzhi extends his hands and says, "I can't cure this."
Li Jingyun wiped his face and thought this person had really been spared in vain. After consuming the steamed buns, Wangfu even knew how to wag his tail. She didn't thank him in her dreams for helping her escape from the day of birth; instead, she had an odd dream.
He leaned forward again reluctantly because he wanted to hear more, but Yin Huayue was silent and her bloodshot, parched lips were squeezed firmly together.
"Tsk."
In an attempt to pry open her mouth, he reached out his hand, but as soon as he used pressure, two strings of tears "swiped" down the sides of her eyes.
Li Jingyun hastily removed his hand, halted, glanced at Wen Guzhi, and defended himself subconsciously, "I didn't use much effort."
Wen Guzhi watched the fun, how big of a deal is this, does it need to be explained?
However, Li Jingyun had a very grave expression on his face. His eyes were surging with ink, and his jaw was creased with tight lines as he fixed his gaze on the person's wet eyelids as if he were observing the scene of a murder.
Wen Guzhi burst into laughter, cackled so hard he was panting against the partition, "What kind of baby is this lying down?"
With half of his face darkened, Li Jingyun growled viciously, "The heck is baby."
Just a dog that has been recently raised.
"Young Master."
Badou returned from outside once more. By chance, he heard the word "treasure" [3] and was surprised, "How do you know there is a treasure? The Han Mansion sent someone to send this. The General's message, allow you to consider the gift to repay."
Wen Guzhi paused, and the two exchanged glances.
Bring it here, Li Jingyun commanded as he pursed his lips, pulled back the curtain, and stretched out to Badou.
When the sandalwood box is opened, you can see a Nanyang Jade Cicada that is worn as a waist pendant and is fastened with a blue silk sash.
"What does this indicate?" Wen Guzhi did not understand, "Without a reason why provide a waist ornament, also not lovebirds or an amorous couple"
Li Jingyun shut the box while sporting a stern expression and added, "When I rescued her, I gave out the Qizhu Huanjie pendant. I suppose Han Shuang had possession of it."
After raising his eyebrows and giving it some thought, Wen Guzhi responded, "Then she is kind; she didn't ask questions but handed you back."
Han Shuang had always swallowed her anger, and also knew that the questioning him would be fruitless.
But correspondingly, Yin Huayue would not have good fruit to eat.
Li Jingyun swiveled around to face the person on the bed.
She still had no blood on her palm-sized face, her thin wrist exposed, and he could circle it with two fingers. With the tears at the corners of her eyes still there and her brows furrowed, she seemed to be in a terrifying dream.
***
"Magnolia."
The sigh that overflowed from the teeth was replaced by a dream, which was full of joy.
Huayue stood beneath the magnolia branches, dragging her mountain and river long skirt. When she raised her head, she could see the trees and leaves reflecting the springtime light. She stretched out to touch the flowers, but they were a little higher than she expected.
She tried repeatedly to reach it but couldn't, and she wanted to sob with her mouth open. However, as soon as the tears started to flow, a compassionate guy stood behind her and gently coaxed her, saying, "Stretch out again, stretch out a little higher, yes, that's right, little girl is really fantastic."
Huayue smiled as the white and tender flower fell onto her palm. As she turned to look back, a gentle woman was sitting at the stone table, holding a handkerchief that was partially embroidered, and clapping her hands at Huayue, saying, "Come here, look at this flower, isn't it pretty?"
The jade-colored flowers that are embroided on the light blue veil have a pleasant scent. She extended a hand in awe in an attempt to touch it.
But this time, where she could reach, with a touch of her fingertips, the flowers were gone, the handkerchief was gone, the stone table, the men and women disappeared, the surroundings darkened, and as soon as you breathed in, you could smell hay and dust.
A door next to her squeaked open, and light spilled inside, reflecting many fluttering particles and irritating her eyes.
Someone carrying a lamp entered and peered down at her.
"Do you believe this Young Master cannot do anything about you?"
Huayue's back tensed at the chilly voice, and she unconsciously shook her head and took a step back.
The space beneath her body was empty, and she felt as though she were floating.
"What the heck." Someone scolded angrily, caught , and her body was instantly brought back to a soft and warm place.
Huayue was startled and slowly opened her eyes as the fingers began to become cognizant and the ears suddenly became aware of the sounds around her.
Even though it appeared to be just beginning to dawn outside, the candles on the table were still lit. Li Jingyun stretched out his hand to take the medicine. She could see his strained profile from her vantage point.
She blinked before saying, "Young Master."
When she spoke, it sounded like twine being pushed through wood. When Li Jingyun first heard it, his mouth was pursed, his eyes were rolling down, and he said, "Still know to wake up."
He gave her a tablespoon of medicine and sternly instructed, "Drink it by yourself if you have awakened, so that Young Master need not compel you to drink."
"..." Although the dream may be untrue, this person is nonetheless violent both inside and outside of the dream.
Huayue pursed her lips and stretched out to take up the spoon, but she was so exhausted that she was unable to do it and instead knocked the bowl into a clanging noise with her fingertips.
"Forget it." He retracted his hand in disgust. "Since Badou is not present, this Young Master will serve you grudgingly this time, so I will return the favor last time."
Huayue obeyingly nodded before opening her mouth.
At first look, this individual has never served someone. He had no idea how to tilt a spoon, and has no idea how to put a napkin around the corner of her lips. In an effort to prevent the medicine from spilling, Huayue stretched out her tongue to take a sip.
Similar to when Wangfu drank water, the tongue's little, soft tip immediately rolled in the mixture.
Li Jingyun intended to mock a few phrases, but after taking a closer look, he hesitated. "Drink quickly."
She nodded and prepared to gulp when someone suddenly touched the bowl's wall once again and said, "Forget it, drink it carefully."
Huayue, "..."
It was her who received the beating. She hasn't yet encountered any complications. Why does this Young Master seem odd?
Huayue wanted to question something after taking the medication, but there was still a burst of darkness in front of her, so she could only close her eyes and gasp for air.
"Wen Guzhi said you need to restore your blood and qi. Need to recuperate for 10 days. " The voice of Li Jingyun was heard above. "Let's talk about it first, I'm not a kind person. If you think I'm nosy, then I'll send you back to the Punishment Office right away..."
Before he finished speaking, his sleeves moved.
Li Jingyun stopped, turned around, and noticed that the fabric on his arms was wrinkly and that the long, delicate fingers between them were softly twisting the blue hue.
It looks like the tip of the fierce Wangfu's tail when he finally softens.
Huayue didn't have much energy, so she used her all on this. She took hold of his sleeve and gave it a slight shake. When he didn't answer, she gave it another.
But he continued to remain silent.
Huayue fought to open her eyes as she felt a little uneasy, wanting to declare that she would never return to the office.
But when she raised her head, she noticed that the man next to the bed had his face turned to the side.
Dawn breaks as the candles burn out.
She thought she saw this person smiling in the light and shadow.
Notes:
[2] Guan Gong is Guan Yu, a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China who had taken an oath of fraternity in a ceremony in the Peach Garden, and became sworn brothers from then on. They are referring to the oath.
[3] 宝贝 bǎo bèi: has several meaning in Chinese, baby and treasure
T/L Words:
Sorry for the no release last week. Will be doing my best to slowly return back to normal release frequency.