Qingzhu's breathing quickened, a flush rising to his face, his voice becoming somewhat high-pitched. "You mean that needle technique that uses meridians as imprints and circulates blood as a cycle, the Minor Heavenly Cycle Acupoint Technique?"
"Are there any other Minor Heavenly Cycle Acupoint Techniques?" Nan Shiying asked, looking at him with a half-smile.
"I want to learn, disciple, I want to learn!" Qingzhu nodded vigorously, unable to contain his excitement.
Qingyi and the others beside him cast envious glances at Qingzhu. Nan Shiying saw them and said, "What are you all looking at? Did I say I wouldn't teach you?"
Upon hearing this, Qingyi grinned widely, his features contorting to become even less attractive.
Qing Tang was also very excited, beaming with joy.
Among the twelve people from Medicine King Valley, only Qing Yuan wore a long face.
Still, still learning!
She thought she would escape the fear of being dominated by medical books once she descended the mountain. Never did she imagine that after escaping the tiger's den, she would fall into the wolf's lair. She wore a mournful expression, her only companion in misfortune being the dog squatting beside her, cracking melon seeds.
The two exchanged glances and suddenly felt a sense of camaraderie.
The Humming Needle Technique and the Minor Heavenly Cycle Acupoint Technique were at the pinnacle of acupuncture techniques, easy to learn but difficult to master.
Nan Shiying told them that theoretical knowledge had to be put into practice.
"Have you already started adhering to the rules of Medicine King Valley after graduating? You don't even know the Hanging Needle Technique, the Humming Needle Technique, or the Minor Heavenly Cycle Acupoint Technique, yet you claim to uphold the principles of Medicine King Valley?"
Nan Shiying naturally knew the rules of Medicine King Valley, but so what? These young children who hadn't learned to walk properly were thinking about protecting their knees and controlling their breathing when running, instead of seeing more patients and building a strong foundation? Wasn't that absurd!
"When people outside seek help from Medicine King Valley, are they seeking it from you?"
"Besides investigating my identity, did your master not give you any other tasks when you came down the mountain? Such as free clinics?"
"A free clinic is still a clinic, and a scheduled clinic is still a clinic. What's the difference?"
Qingzhu opened his mouth but dared not retort. He hadn't figured out how the topic had shifted from teaching them the Minor Heavenly Cycle Acupoint Technique to lecturing.
Qingyi pondered for a moment and felt that Junior Uncle's words made sense.
Qing Tang lowered his head, his mind consumed with: Junior Uncle actually knows the rules of Medicine King Valley!
Qing Yuan touched her stomach and sighed helplessly: Damn it, she was hungry again!
Looking at Nan Shiying's righteous demeanor, the dog gnashed its teeth: Aren't you just trying to make them free labor? Humph, hypocritical!
After bewildering everyone from Medicine King Valley, Nan Shiying returned to the royal mansion with satisfaction.
Lü Wan said that while she was away, Princess Huian had visited.
Yu Qinglan?
What was she doing here?
Nan Shiying had almost forgotten that a group of envoys from Da Li were staying at the mansion.
"Let's go to Linlang Courtyard."
After Bao Lan's death, Nan Shiying hadn't visited Linlang Courtyard for a long time. Speaking of which, these envoys from Da Li were quite unlucky. Rather than being protected by the people of the royal mansion, they were under house arrest. Except for Yu Qinglan, none of them could leave Linlang Courtyard. "Huian pays her respects to the Princess Consort."
Huian hadn't expected the other party to come in person when she hadn't seen Nan Shiying before.
"Princess, you don't need to be so formal." Nan Shiying waved her hand at Huian, being quite considerate by not sitting down immediately. Only after Huian invited her to sit did she take a seat.
She was giving her plenty of face.
After sitting down, Nan Shiying asked, "Lü Wan said that the princess was looking for me?"
Before Huian could give instructions, a maid brought tea. After Bao Lan's death, she was served by the royal mansion's maids. The maids knew who the master was.
Huian picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Nan Shiying. The hot steam rose, as if creating a veil of mist between the two. "It's nothing major, I just wanted to ask the noble consort, do you have any news of Yu Chengxuan?"
Nan Shiying understood and said, "Yu Chengxuan has passed Jiayu Pass."
Having passed Jiayu Pass, he was already close to the capital. Based on his departure time, he should have reached Linyuan long ago. She didn't know what had delayed him on the road, and it wasn't until the end of the year-end sacrificial ceremony, nearing the New Year, that he finally arrived.
"Already passed Jiayu Pass!"
Huian repeated softly, her expression not entirely pleasant, but not overly worried either.
"Noble Consort, since this is the case, is it inconvenient for us to continue staying at the mansion?" Huian suddenly said after a moment of silence.
Nan Shiying glanced at her.
She didn't seem to have this idea before. When Ji Hong issued the imperial decree for them to live in the royal mansion, she vaguely recalled that Huian had even breathed a sigh of relief because of it.
Had she figured something out now? Or had someone said something to her?
Nan Shiying's gaze lingered on Huian for only a second. Then, she put down her teacup and nodded in agreement, "What the princess said is true. However, the imperial decree that allowed you to live in the royal mansion was issued by the Emperor. If you wish to leave, you will likely need the Emperor's approval."
After two seconds of silence, a smile appeared on Huian's lips. "What the noble consort says is true. Huian was rash."
After leaving Linlang Courtyard, Nan Shiying finally understood Huian's intention. Was she trying to verify the true relationship between Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo through this?
If she had not refused just now, but agreed, would Huian then believe that the relationship between Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo was not as hostile as they appeared?
But why did she suspect this?
Was it the two battles between Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo, which were more show than substance, or something else?
Nan Shiying couldn't help but think further, but she had no intention of letting them leave. It was better to remain still for now. Any method used to make Huian and the others leave the royal mansion at this time might deepen Huian's suspicion. It was better to respond to change with no change.
Upon returning to her room, Nan Shiying finally settled down. She leaned on the couch like boneless mud, completely devoid of the demeanor of a Princess Consort.
Ji Jinmo arrived at Xinyuan Pavilion and entered the courtyard, but did not see Xiao Man.
He pushed the door open and saw the boneless Nan Shiying. Lü Wan gave Nan Shiying several meaningful glances, trying to get the Princess Consort to maintain some semblance of dignity in front of the Prince, but Nan Shiying asked, "Lü Wan, are your eyes twitching?"
Lü Wan's face immediately turned green with anger.
She was certain that the Princess Consort was doing it on purpose!
Ji Jinmo, however, chuckled. His clear laughter, with its deep tone, was as alluring as a charm. Nan Shiying turned her head to look at him and also began to laugh. Lü Wan looked at the Princess Consort, then at the Prince, and suddenly felt that her presence there at this moment was a terrible mistake.
"Your Highness, Noble Consort, this servant will go prepare some pastries."
Lü Wan found an excuse and ran out of the room. Bai Zhi grabbed Lü Wan's arm and asked, "Sister Lü Wan, why did you come out?"
Lü Wan pinched her increasingly plump cheek. "You're quite nosy!"
With that, she said, "I'm going to the small kitchen, you..."
"Let's go, let's go together!" Bai Zhi cast aside her previous question and, holding Lü Wan's hand, happily walked towards the small kitchen.
Lü Wan knew her character well but still felt somewhat speechless.