The gentle breeze cooled the summer night. Sheng Ge, holding a lantern, walked through the bluestone alley. When she stood before the small courtyard gate, the awe she once felt was gone.
Who would have thought the legendary, elusive Ghost Doctor was someone she knew?
Well, not that intimately.
She raised her hand to knock, but found the door ajar. A clear voice from within called out, "Just come in."
It was indeed the same voice as Ji Jin's.
Pushing the door open, four lanterns illuminated the tea table in the courtyard and the man sitting by it. Ji Jin looked a little embarrassed. "I tried to see you at Deyilou several times, but you always refused. I had no choice but to resort to this, Miss Sheng Ge. I hope you can forgive me."
Sheng Ge shook her head. "It is I who have made Imperial Physician Ji trouble."
"Ah, well, please sit down first, Miss."
He had already prepared tea.
Longjing from Jiangnan.
Sheng Ge didn't stand on ceremony. After taking a sip, she initiated the conversation. "Imperial Physician Ji, you've come about Prince Ning, haven't you?"
"Yes, after all, he is to be married soon, to Princess Hui Ge no less. Is it not time to lift the poison from your body?"
"I thought Imperial Physician Ji would say, for the sake of peace between our nations, that his poison should be lifted first."
"It's merely impotence. I'm sure Prince Ning will find a way to gloss over it."
Sheng Ge pondered. "Lift his poison first. As for mine, let's wait a little longer."
Ji Jin frowned. "You haven't given up on revenge?"
Sheng Ge looked at him in surprise. "Never."
"Perhaps you could find another way. Why jeopardize your entire life for him?"
"Imperial Physician Ji exaggerates. It's merely a husk of a body; how could it ruin a lifetime?"
"If Prince Ning dies, the court will surely investigate thoroughly. Do you think you can escape?"
"As long as he dies, that is enough."
Ji Jin fell silent. He had underestimated her resolve for revenge. Seeing the determined look on the young woman's face, a sudden impulse struck him. "Let me think about it. Perhaps I can take his life without him realizing it."
Sheng Ge was even more surprised. "Imperial Physician Ji, this is my family's grievance. You have already helped me a great deal. It is only my own failing that I have not earned his trust after so long, preventing me from taking action."
"Situ Jue is greedy for life and fears death. What can a young girl like you do? But I am different..."
"Imperial Physician Ji." Sheng Ge interrupted him. "You are on good terms with Prince Rui. Even if your medical skills are exceptional, he would not seek you out for treatment. Otherwise, with your mastery of witchcraft, he would have sought you out long ago for his hidden ailment. Moreover, you truly don't need to involve yourself in my family's feud."
Ji Jin's heart constricted. That was right. Why was he doing this?
He had truly lost his mind.
An awkward silence fell for a moment, and then he forced a reason. "After all, you are someone Ah Yan trusts. Since he is not in the capital, I ought to protect you."
Sheng Ge responded with polite distance. "Sheng Ge thanks Imperial Physician Ji for his protection. If Imperial Physician Ji truly wishes to help me, please lift the poison from Situ Jue."
After all, under the current circumstances, only when Situ Jue's health recovered would she have the opportunity to administer the Hehuan Gu to him.
Ji Jin's expression darkened considerably. "I understand."
"The hour is late, Sheng Ge will take her leave."
"Let me escort you. You're a young lady..."
"No need. My carriage is waiting at the alley entrance." Sheng Ge bowed to him and turned towards the gate. The breeze stirred her long hair, and the light strands brushed against his hand, a ticklish and electric sensation.
He suddenly looked up. "Sheng Ge, if we were together, would you agree to let me help you with your revenge?"
Sheng Ge paused her steps, but quickly continued forward, her pace even faster than before. Her answer, in the quiet night, was exceptionally clear: "Imperial Physician Ji must have had too much to drink tonight."
Her unhesitating refusal only deepened Ji Jin's dejection. "I drank tea tonight."
But Sheng Ge did not respond to his words.
Her slender, graceful figure stepped out of the courtyard and quickly disappeared into the late-night alley.
Mo Sang was not a particularly diligent girl. In her own words, having been forced by her mother-in-law to learn this and that in her early years, she had used up all her enthusiasm.
Now, all she wanted was to lie flat.
Unfortunately, she still had to feed her little darlings regularly.