zChapter 1275 - [YeXi] Stupefied (2/2)

Now Qin Min couldn’t help laughing out loud. She hugged, “Stinking girl, what a terrible idea! Do you think this is a jade pendant?”

Gu Beiyue grinned and asked curiously, “I can even wear it with thread?”

“Of course! Madam is deft of fingers and has a bloom on her medical box,” Shaoyao looked closely and grew delighted. “Heheh, perfect, the one Madam has is the same color as Master’s too!”

Qin Min was very embarrassed and didn’t know what to say. She wanted to plant Shaoyao in the ground and change her into her namesake flower! The girl was being too overt with her hints!

Gu Beiyue only intoned, “Since this plant has no roots, there’s no need to let it drift about with me. Give it a place to rest its feet and raise it in the house.”

Once indoors, Gu Beiyue looked around before placing the water on the paperweight of his study table. The dark tones of the desk made the blossom stand out in its bright hues, quiet and solitary.

“It’s truly beautiful.” “It’s truly beautiful.”

Both Gu Beiyue and Qin Min blurted out at the same time before exchanging looks with a smile. At this second, Gu Beiyue suddenly started coughing. He clung to the edge of the table and turned aside as his coughs grew more intense. Shocked, Qin Min could tell with her experience that this was no ordinary cough. If it wasn’t a new illness, it must have been an old ailment. She had also heard rumors years ago that Tianning’s imperial physician was a chronic invalid who couldn’t heal himself. She had assumed it was all rumors, but today seemed to show a shred of truth!

“Academy Head, are you all right?” Shaoyao fretted.

Qin Min didn’t ask any questions but had the girl pour out some warm water. She carefully paid attention to Gu Beiyue’s coughs until he calmed down and then took his wrist to check his pulse. Gu Beiyue was surprised and tried to refuse, but Qin Min was focused and stern. He always assumed she was a pushover, but this cold severity allowed no rebuke or interruptions. Once, he would get distracted looking at another woman so serious and stern. It didn’t happen this time, but he felt an overwhelming urge to interrupt her just to see her reaction. Still, it was just a thought before he quietly sat down.

Besides his grandfather, parents, and old friend Imperial Physician Huang in the Tianning palace, nobody had ever taken his pulse. He knew his body’s condition best. With his family long dead, no one else in the world could understood the intricacies of his pulse.

After a long time had passed, Qin Min didn’t release him. Her stern expression grew puzzled before she knit her brows. “Academy Head,” she asked, “This is an old ailment you’ve had since young. The disease is mainly in the lungs and affects the liver. You…”

Although Qin Min didn’t finish, Gu Beiyue was already astonished. She could see this clearly?

Qin Min had a lot to say, but in the end she only asked, “You aren’t treating yourself?”

His medical skills were peerless so he should know his situation best! Saying anything more was pointless. She just wanted answers: could they treat it or not? Her eyebrows were creased into a line, making him want to smooth out her forehead.

“It’s treatable. I’ve been busy recently and forgot to take my medicine,” he replied.

Qin Min immediately exhaled and seemed much more relieved. “Thank goodness, thank goodness. You gave me a fright!”

Only then did she sense something amiss and looked up to see Gu Beiyue staring back at her in shock. Embarrassed, she grew mute as her ears turned red. Quickly she sought for a topic to change the subject. “Academy Head, with things as they are now, what of the child you’ve fostered?”

The foster child was almost one years old now and was with his nurse. Qin Min had never seen him. Gu Beiyue fell silent before sighing softly. If he had known her legs could be cured, he never would’ve wed her and delayed her entire life. With her medical skills, talent, and looks, she would never have to fret about a marriage partner.

“Eldest Miss Qin, in the end I…wronged you.”

Qin Min was astonished, but Shaoyao blurted out, “Master, you don’t want Madam anymore?”

Gu Beiyue hadn’t paid the servant girl any attention, but now he looked at Qin Min seriously. “Eldest Miss Qin, if you want to leave one day, just divorce me. Jiangnan is a good place. If you want to change your name and continue living here, just give me a word.”

Qin Min didn’t react or reply.

Gu Beiyue rose to his feet. “His Majesty and the others won’t come today. If they do tomorrow, you don’t have to say anything. I’ll deal with it. And there’s no need to leave the gates open for me tonight, I’ll return tomorrow.” So speaking, he left.

When he was already far away, Shaoyao regained her senses and chased after him. “Master! Master!”

But he was already gone by the time she reached the door. She quickly backtracked. “Madam, where is Master going? Just then, his words were…” Shaoyao was at a loss. She thought Master would stay here for a long time, but who expected this conclusion? “Madam, Master he…what does he mean?” She didn’t understand his words.

A long, long time later, Qin Min regained her senses and murmured, “Shaoyao, I think I’m starting to like him. What do I do?”

Shaoyao was ready to cry. “Madam, you already liked Master ages ago!”

“I…I did?” Qin Min looked up as she bit her lip. Gradually, her eyes…turned red with tears.