Chapter 508: Chapter 500 Junior Temple Master She Likes Beauty
February, the spring breeze cuts like scissors. Once some snow and ice have melted, the wind scrapes painfully across people’s faces.
In the early morning, two horse carriages lined up after the townspeople entering Li City, followed by six guards riding tall horses, attracting many curious glances. Was this some important figure entering the city?
At the city gate, a guard checked their identities through documents and quickly let them pass, making another guard come over and ask, “What’s the big deal?”
“From the East, don’t ask; we can’t afford to offend them,” replied the first guard as he flipped his hand, flashing a small piece of silver coin that came along with the documents. He grinned, “Let’s go drink later.”
“Sure.”
Meanwhile, inside the leading carriage, an elderly man nagged, “Young Master, if you meet the Junior Temple Master, you must be patient and smile more. Don’t offend her.”
This elderly man was the old servant who had previously accompanied Dongyang Marquis; now he was accompanying the paraplegic young master to seek treatment from Qin Liuxi.
Yue Ding leaned against the carriage wall, stretched his legs out, covered by a wool blanket, and replied after hearing the old servant’s words, “Uncle Guan, you’ve been repeating this since we left. I can recite it backward now.”
The servant continued, “I’m just worried about your temper scaring the young lady. Remember, no matter how capable the Junior Temple Master is, she is still a lady, not one of your rough men. Be patient. Also, do you remember what Marquis said? If she can’t cure you, but you can make her fall for you, that’s still an achievement.”
Yue Ding closed his eyes, “…”
He didn’t even know if he was here to cure his legs or just to be a tool for appearances—if treatment fails, try to seduce her. What kind of plan is that?
Besides, she’s a capable young lady; why would she fancy a cripple whose brain isn’t working right?
Just think of those noble ladies who couldn’t wait to glue their eyes on him, now who doesn’t avoid him, fearing to be chosen by him?
Yue Ding placed his hand on his insensible legs and self-mockingly smiled.
He had been disabled for nearly two years, seen countless famous doctors, and none could help him stand again. Could this so-called Heavenly Master, Qin Liuxi, really possess the medical skills required?
Yue Ding didn’t want to believe it, but recalling how his grandfather was now briskly walking without any hint of frailty, he couldn’t help but harbor a flicker of hope.
Who would choose to remain disabled if they could stand again?
He was only twenty-three years old.
Previously, when Dongyang Marquis was in Li City, thinking that his grandson would need to come here, he had already secured a tranquil dual-courtyard house and hired a couple of fifty-something servants to care for it. Now that Yue Ding had arrived, there was no need to find another residence—they could immediately have hot meals.
“Young Master, after breakfast, you rest while I personally visit the Junior Temple Master to see if she’s available,” the servant was anxious, noticing Yue Ding’s unhealthy complexion and stubbled face, which looked quite unkempt. He instructed a nearby servant, “Leshui, fetch some water later to help the Young Master clean up his face; we can’t have him looking so rough.”
Yue Ding’s eyelids twitched.
Leshui also seemed taken aback. Was Uncle Guan disapproving of the Young Master’s scrappiness?
His appearance was quite manly!
The old servant explained, “That Junior Temple Master likes good looks, someone clean, fresh, and pleasant to the eyes. Young Master, your current look is quite haggard; it’s not good-looking.”
Yue Ding exclaimed silently, “!”
He was here to heal his legs, not to sell his looks!
Seeing Yue Ding change his face, the old servant also felt a bit uneasy and bashfully said, “This old servant will take his leave first.”
He didn’t intend it either, but Qin Liuxi’s personality wasn’t the kind to be tender-hearted and kind, ready to cure your diseases just because you’re sick; that was impossible. You also couldn’t expect to blackmail or coerce her with talks of monks and Bodhisattva-like compassion, she wouldn’t be swayed at all.
Her character was just acting based on whims, using things like saving a life being better than building a seven-story pagoda to coerce her would be less effective than relying on appearance.
Yue Ding felt somewhat weary.
Uncle Guan has changed, fussy as a mother.
The old servant, along with two guards, brought a cartful of local products and rushed to Feichang Dao. As soon as he entered, he saw Chen Pi and Wan Ce talking.
“Little Chen Pi, Little Wan Ce, Happy New Year, this old man is here again.” The old servant walked in smiling, “Do you still remember me?”
Chen Pi stood up and bowed: “Old Uncle, Happy New Year, you’ve come so quickly.”
Wan Ce also bowed, looked behind him, and asked with a smile, “The General didn’t come?”
“We had agreed that this time I would bring our young master here. We just arrived today; he is currently resting at home. After tidying up, he will come to meet the Junior Temple Master. As for the old master, he needs to hold down the fort.” The old servant explained while pulling out two red envelopes from his pocket and handing them to the two: “The New Year has passed, but it’s still the New Year, one red envelope each for good fortune.”
Isn’t that the way? The servants from big households really know how to please; even after the New Year, although not closely related, they still give out red envelopes.
Chen Pi and his sister had followed Qin Liuxi for many years, and although not genuine nobility, Qin Liuxi had never mistreated them. They had tasted good things ordinary people hadn’t and were well-experienced, not lacking in silver, even feeling like silver was not of much use to them, because they didn’t need to procure anything; Qin Liuxi would provide.
Now, the old servant gave out red envelopes, making him happy because it showed thoughtfulness.
“Thank you, Old Uncle.”
Seeing Chen Pi accept, Wan Ce also took one, feeling the red envelope was like a silver note rather than silver coins, thinking how generous this was.
Nowadays, the silver notes of Da Feng had a minimum denomination of ten taels.
“Brother Pi, I’ll go call the Junior Temple Master,” Wan Ce said with a smile.
The old servant immediately said, “The Junior Temple Master is also here? There’s no need for her to come to see me; I’ll go over myself.”
Just as he was about to move, Qin Liuxi was wheeled out of the inner hall by Teng Zhao, smiling and saying, “I calculated with a pinch, knew an old friend had come, indeed not wrong, hello there. Is the General well?”
Seeing Qin Liuxi in a wheelchair left the old servant astonished, asking, “What happened to you?”
Turned over a year and got crippled?
“Temporarily incapacitated, struck by the Five Disadvantages and Three Deficiencies affliction, but it’s nothing serious,” Qin Liuxi explained.
The old servant breathed a sigh of relief, “You really scared me. Thanks to you, our trip back was smooth, and the General is also healthy, not a bit of discomfort. Once the New Year passed, he urged me and the young master to hit the road. We just entered the city this morning and thought to get a bit of rest before coming to seek treatment. Here, for a lucky New Year, let’s give out some red envelopes for good fortune.”
Qin Liuxi said, “You really needn’t have; we had previously agreed that I would do my best to treat him upon arrival, and I wouldn’t renege on my word.”
“I understand that, but since all of you are youngsters, this red envelope is also given on behalf of the General, as lucky money,” the old servant said with a smile.
Qin Liuxi could only accept it. After some pleasantries, the old servant made an appointment to accompany Yue Ding later in the afternoon, then left behind a load of local products and left.