Chapter 268: The Maiden's Strange Illness

"Drive!"

The carriage left the Bai Mansion's lane and headed toward West City.

Inside the carriage, the atmosphere seemed somewhat off.

Luo Zijun said nothing, his mind occasionally drifting to the task given to him by the Moon Palace immortal, and he couldn't help but glance unconsciously at certain parts of his sister-in-law opposite him.

Bai Qingtong, as a martial artist, had sharp perception and naturally caught his gaze.

Though she felt embarrassed to say it out loud, she merely wondered in her heart.

Her previous brother-in-law wasn't like this—how could he suddenly… start taking an interest in her body?

Or perhaps there was another reason?

After a moment passed.

She finally couldn't hold back, her cheeks flushed as she said: "Brother-in-law, what exactly are you looking at?"

Luo Zijun said: "Nothing, I wasn't looking at anything."

Bai Qingtong gave him an annoyed, shy glare and said: "Still saying you weren't looking? You've been secretly staring at her… staring at her… there… and there…"

As she spoke, her two feet hidden beneath her skirt involuntarily shrank back toward the space under the seat, and her chest also drew in slightly.

Luo Zijun's face showed a hint of embarrassment.

After hesitating for a long while, he felt he should be honest with his sister-in-law.

If he didn't confess, then he could only steal them.

With his current soul's ability, wanting to steal those things would actually be quite simple.

But he couldn't do that.

As a brother-in-law, to steal his sister-in-law's intimate socks and belly band—let alone others finding out and despising him, even he himself would look down on himself.

The key point is, he simply couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.

If it were Bai Daxiaojie's, or his senior sister's, or even Chujian's, or even Lin Meimei from the Jia Mansion's, he would dare to take them, but his sister-in-law's…

Huh? Why did I suddenly think of Lin Meimei? Pah!

"Third Miss, there's something I want to tell you, but I hope that after you hear it… you won't scold me…"

Luo Zijun decided to confess.

Bai Qingtong seemed to have misunderstood something; her already flushed face, upon hearing those words, suddenly turned even redder, her eyes shimmering as she looked at him and said: "Go on."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "I…"

Ah, it's still hard to speak up.

Bai Qingtong didn't urge him on; she merely sat there with her flushed face slightly trembling, her white teeth gently biting her lip, her heart pounding.

"Third Miss, I… that… I…"

Luo Zijun stammered, suddenly took a deep breath, lifted his head, looked at her, met her clear, glistening eyes, and gathered his courage to say: "I want a pair of your silk socks."

Bai Qingtong: "……"

Luo Zijun said awkwardly: "Don't misunderstand, I…"

"Brother-in-law, do you want them now?"

Bai Qingtong blushed, gently lifted her skirt hem, revealing a pair of delicate, slender feet, her eyes watery as she looked at him, then suddenly let out a soft laugh: "I've long heard that brother-in-law has this peculiar habit, but I never imagined you'd actually have the nerve to ask for your own sister-in-law's…"

Luo Zijun: "……"

"Third Miss, actually, besides the silk socks, I also want… want one of your belly bands…"

Since I've already spoken up, I might as well go all the way.

Bai Qingtong opened her mouth, looked utterly astonished, then lowered her gaze to her chest, her face and ears burning red.

Inside the carriage, the air suddenly fell silent.

"Third Miss, actually, I want these two things not because…"

"Brother-in-law, no need to explain."

Luo Zijun hadn't finished speaking when Bai Qingtong interrupted him, as if saying: "Brother-in-law, no need to make excuses."

Luo Zijun actually couldn't explain it clearly.

Could it be that others need it? Others gave him a task, telling him to come ask for them?

Who would believe that?

Moreover, he has a prior record.

"Brother-in-law, we're family—your wanting your sister-in-law's things… actually… it's really not something to be ashamed of…"

Seeing both of them so embarrassed and ill at ease, Bai Qingtong had no choice but to blush and help explain for him.

Then, she no longer hesitated, bit her pink lip, lowered her head, and gently slipped off her embroidered shoes, revealing a pair of beautiful little feet wrapped in white silk socks.

"Brother-in-law, turn your head away."

She suddenly lifted her head, shyly said.

"Oh…"

Luo Zijun immediately turned his head.

Bai Qingtong again glanced at him with a flushed face, then quickly took off her two silk socks, then pulled another pair from her storage bag and put them on her feet.

"Brother-in-law, it's done."

She put on her embroidered shoes, adjusted her skirt, then handed the silk socks she had just taken off to him.

Luo Zijun felt an intense sense of shame, as if he had committed some unforgivable atrocity deserving of death by a thousand cuts, or worthy of immediate ascension to heaven.

"Tha… thank… thank you."

Luo Zijun dared not look at her, reached out and took them, holding them in his hand.

Soft, fragrant, still carrying the lingering warmth of a girl's body.

His heart pounded uncontrollably with a "thump-thump," and then he said: "Actually... Third Miss could give me another pair... there's no need to do it right here, right now, taking them off..."

Bai Qingtong gazed at him with a deep, lingering look for a few moments, then said: "But when she just took them off, brother-in-law didn't utter a sound, waited until she finished taking them off, then brother-in-law said... humph, brother-in-law clearly wanted this..."

"I, I didn't..."

"Brother-in-law."

Bai Qingtong snorted again and said: "I've heard people say, men like you all like women who have just worn..."

Luo Zijun said: "I, I am not!"

"Brother-in-law is!"

Bai Qingtong snorted.

Luo Zijun embarrassedly gathered up his socks and stopped explaining.

Or rather, stopped making excuses.

The carriage fell silent again for a while, and Bai Qingtong, her face flushed, spoke once more: "Brother-in-law, as for the dudou... I can't do it now, I'll do it when I return home tonight..."

Luo Zijun hurriedly said: "Third Miss, this matter must not be told to the Eldest Miss and others, I... I truly have my difficulties..."

Bai Qingtong nodded and said: "Mm, I know brother-in-law has difficulties, brother-in-law studies and gets headaches, needs folk remedies to treat illness..."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Pfft..."

Bai Qingtong suddenly burst out laughing.

Luo Zijun gave a "cough-cough," lifted the curtain, looked outside, and said: "Why haven't we arrived yet?"

Bai Qingtong also glanced outside, then timely shifted the topic: "Soon."

The carriage traveled along the streets of West City for a while, then turned into a narrow lane and stopped at the innermost mansion on the right side of the lane.

This mansion covered a considerable area, but the entrance was overgrown with weeds, the vermilion lacquer on the door was peeling, making it look somewhat aged, and it seemed no one was specifically maintaining it.

On the lintel above the door, the two characters "Yang Mansion" were written.

Bai Qingtong alighted from the carriage, stepped forward to knock on the door, and said in a low voice: "The Yang family originally were also an official clan, but were later dismissed from office, their fortunes declined, and they ended up in this current state. Wenfang originally had a good relationship with me, but later perhaps fearing to implicate me, she gradually drifted away; every time I came to visit her, she would shut the door and refuse to see me. This time I also learned from another friend that she has fallen ill, and quite seriously, so I came over."

As the two were speaking, with a "creak," the main door opened.

A woman dressed in coarse cloth clothing appeared in the doorway, her gaze wary as she glanced at the two of them, and said: "Who are you two?"

Bai Qingtong said: "Aunt Lan, you don't recognize me? I am Qingtong, I heard Wenfang is ill, so I came to see her."

Luo Zijun took down some gifts from the carriage.

Upon hearing this, the woman's face first showed a hint of doubt, but quickly she exclaimed delightedly: "Qingtong, it's you! After so many years without seeing you, I didn't expect you to have grown this tall, and your appearance is much lovelier than when you were a child."

It turned out this was none other than Yang Wenfang's mother, Yuan Shi.

Bai Qingtong then introduced: "Aunt Lan, this is my brother-in-law Luo Zijun, he is also a physician, I specifically brought him today to examine Wenfang."

"Oh?"

Yuan Shi's gaze fell upon the youth behind her, yet inwardly she began to mutter to herself.

This youth wore a scholar's robe, his bearing refined, his appearance handsome, looking like a scholar, and yet so young—how could he be a physician?

She also silently thought to herself: Perhaps Qingtong fears I won't let her in, so she deliberately said this person is a physician.

"Qingtong, Luo Young Master, please come in quickly! Please come in quickly!"

Yuan Shi hurriedly welcomed the two inside.

Luo Zijun carried the gifts and followed behind Bai Qingtong into the mansion.

In the front courtyard of the mansion, weeds grew wild, miscellaneous items were piled everywhere, and even the artificial hill was covered in spiderwebs, clearly long neglected.

The vast mansion was utterly silent, not even a maid or servant in sight.

Bai Qingtong dared not ask further about these matters, but simply inquired about Yang Wenfang's condition: "Aunt Lan, what exactly is Wenfang suffering from?"

Yuan Shi led the two through the corridor toward the rear courtyard, and upon hearing the question, sighed deeply and said: "Who knows? Several physicians have come, some said she caught a wind-cold, some said she ate something bad, some said it was some rare illness, they prescribed many medicines, but after taking them, there was no improvement..."

As she spoke, her eye sockets reddened, she wiped away tears and said: "That girl lies in bed all day, unable to eat anything, and moreover..."

"And what else?"

Bai Qingtong saw her hesitating to speak, and proactively asked.

Yuan Shi seemed afraid of something, dared not say more, and said: "Qingtong, when you see Wenfang later, you ask her yourself. When we ask her, she says nothing, only cries."

Not long after, Yuan Shi led the two to the rear courtyard.

A maid came out holding two halves of a broken bowl, saw her, and whispered: "Madam, the miss still won't eat, she's smashed the bowls to pieces..."

Yuan Shi sighed and said: "If she won't eat, then forget it, you go clean it up."

The maid agreed, glanced at Bai Qingtong and Luo Zijun, then went down the corridor to throw away the shards.

Yuan Shi led the two into the room.

Inside the room, the windows were shut, the curtains drawn, an oil lamp burned on the table, the entire room dimly lit, the air filled with a damp, moldy smell.

A woman with disheveled hair lay on the bed, weeping while covered by the quilt.

Yuan Shi walked over and spoke softly: "Wenfang, stop crying, quickly get up and see who has come? Qingtong, it's Qingtong come to see you."

Bai Qingtong stepped forward and said: "Wenfang, I've come to see you."

Yang Wenfang stopped crying, slowly pulled the quilt down from her face, her gaze fell upon Bai Qingtong standing before the bed, tears hanging at the corners of her eyes, her expression dazed, yet she said nothing.

Bai Qingtong sat down on the edge of the bed and said: "Wenfang, don't you recognize me anymore?"

Yang Wenfang still said nothing, her gaze suddenly flicked past her, looking toward the youth standing not far behind her, wearing a scholar's robe, elegant and graceful.

Bai Qingtong introduced: "Wenfang, this is my brother-in-law Luo Zijun, he is also a physician, let him take your pulse, alright?"

Yang Wenfang gazed dazedly at that handsome youth, originally her pale cheeks now flushed with two touches of red, her eyelashes fluttered a few times, somewhat shyly she nodded slightly.

She stretched out her hand from under the quilt, revealing a section of fair, white arm.

Bai Qingtong rose and made space.

Luo Zijun walked to the bedside, sat down on the edge of the bed, said a word of apology, then stretched out two fingers and placed them on the fair wrist of the girl, beginning to feel her beating pulse.

At the moment his fingers touched, Yang Wenfang's body trembled slightly, her white teeth lightly biting her lip, the flush on her face deepened, and her eyes suddenly became watery, gazing straight at him.

The room fell silent.

After a moment, Luo Zijun lifted his fingers, somewhat puzzled, saying: "From the pulse, it seems there is no abnormality..."

Then he looked again at the girl's flushed face and watery eyes, saying: "From Yang Miss's complexion, it also seems there is no abnormality..."

Yuan Shi spoke with a sobbing tone: "Young Master Luo, but she hasn't eaten for many days, her body is very weak, she can't even get out of bed, and she's also afraid to see the outside light..."

"Is that so?"

Luo Zijun looked at the girl before him and said: "Yang Miss, you haven't eaten for many days, won't your stomach be hungry?"

Yang Wenfang glanced at him shyly, shaking her head slightly: "No... not hungry..."

Luo Zijun thought strangely to himself.

He pondered for a moment, then said: "Yang Miss, may I put my hand under the blanket to feel your stomach? Or, you lift the blanket yourself and press your fingers on your stomach a few times, so I can take a look?"

Yang Wenfang's face was full of blush, she said nothing.

Yuan Shi's face showed a hint of embarrassment, for she simply did not believe that this so young boy before her was a doctor.

"Young Master Luo, we have already invited several doctors before, all quite famous in the Inner City, they just look at the complexion, take a pulse, and then state the illness..."

The meaning was clear: to examine an unmarried woman, how could one reach in to touch the stomach? Moreover, he is a young man.

"Well, then..."

Luo Zijun did not insist, preparing to ask about symptoms.

At this moment, the girl on the bed suddenly blushed and said shyly: "Mother, it's fine, Young Master Luo is a doctor, there's nothing to avoid..."

Bai Qingtong beside her also said: "Aunt Lan, my brother-in-law is not only a doctor, but also a scholar, and moreover a well-known talent in Lin'an City. He came today to help Miss Yang see her illness, he will certainly have no other thoughts, I guarantee it with the reputation of the Bai Family."

Yuan Shi seeing this, had no more to say, feeling somewhat embarrassed, she said: "Qingtong, look at what you're saying, I was just speaking casually, where is there any doubt about Young Master Luo? The person you brought is also your brother-in-law, I naturally believe him."

Saying this, she also laughed: "Young Master Luo, please take your time, I'll go make tea for you."

She seemed afraid to stay longer in this embarrassment, so she hurried out of the room.

"Yang Miss, excuse me."

Luo Zijun, having obtained consent, hesitated no more, and slipped his hand under the blanket.

"Ah..."

Yang Wenfang suddenly let out a low cry, her body trembled, her face full of blush, she said: "Luo... Young Master Luo, that... that is my leg..."

"Sorry, sorry."

Luo Zijun quickly apologized, then moved upward, and immediately felt her stomach.

Hmm?

He suddenly froze, looking toward the girl on the bed.

Yang Wenfang blushed, speaking shyly: "I... I sleep, I don't like to wear clothes... ah..."

Luo Zijun didn't think much, as he felt, he also gently pressed.

Yang Wenfang immediately blushed and covered her face with the blanket, from time to time letting out shy, low cries.

In Luo Zijun's pupils, two green lights gradually brightened.

(End of Chapter)