A piece of Japanese incense

Following the sound of the heavy bolt falling, the wooden door engraved with ancient carvings was slowly pushed open with a dull creaking sound.

"Girl! Someone is coming!" Yuyi stopped what she was doing and walked up to me.

"Quick! Take out the silver needle!" Yutuan ran to the inner room with me and anxiously unbuttoned my clothes.

"He'er! He'er!"

"This sound..."

I stopped what I was doing and listened attentively.

"He'er! It's grandpa! He'er!"

It’s grandpa!

I straightened the buttons I had just unbuttoned, opened the door, and ran out.

My grandfather's face was covered with a white scarf. His back was hunched and his steps were no longer as agile as they were two years ago. But he still stood with his back straight and walked towards me with firm steps.

"Grandpa!" I hurried forward and hugged him tightly. In a world full of uncertainty, I found the long-lost peace of mind.

"Don't be afraid, Hebaoer! Grandfather is here, and he will definitely cure Hebaoer's illness!"

My grandfather put down two large wooden boxes, held my wrists with both hands, and led me to sit on the Zen chair.

His hands were covered with age spots, his brows were tightly locked together, and his eyes revealed an unspeakable heaviness.

"Why didn't you wait until the rain stopped before coming? Your trouser legs are soaked."

My grandfather didn't answer me, he just checked the blisters on my face.

Yuyi took a handkerchief and wiped her grandfather's shoes.

"He'er, your pulse is rapid and strong, thin and relaxed. Although you have internal heat, it is..."

Yutuan, Yuyi and I burst out laughing.

Grandfather looked at us in confusion, took off the scarf from his face, and said in a serious tone, "You damn girls! What kind of tricks are you playing!"

I held my grandfather's hand, gently shook his arm, and said to him in a coquettish voice: "Grandpa, don't be angry~ Listen to me and tell you in detail!"

So, Yutuan, Yuyi, and I told our grandfather about my pretending to be sick and what happened to Xiaohan.

"So, you plan to take this opportunity to not return to the palace, and let that Tiantian meet her sister?"

I puffed my cheeks, pouted my lips, and said softly, "Yes, I was still thinking about how to deal with the imperial physician who treated me, but now that my grandfather is here, I am not afraid of anything anymore."

Grandfather pointed at Yutuan and Yuyi and angrily slammed the table: "You guys! Are you fooling around too? He'er, you know that if you reveal your flaws, you will be guilty of deceiving the emperor!"

"Oh, isn't it you who is here?" I looked at him pitifully.

"When your grandmother learned about your illness this morning, she almost fainted. She held on to a piece of ginseng in her mouth and urged me to go to the palace to see His Majesty. You know your mother is always in a hurry when something happens. If it weren't for your aunt Hong, she would have fainted countless times from crying! When you do things in the future, you must think about your family first. You have been weak since you were a child, and you still joke with your own body! You... are too outrageous!"

Seeing my grandfather's hands shaking, my heart was shocked and I realized that I really made him worried and made him angry.

I said in a muffled voice, "I'm sorry, He'er won't dare to do it again." I squatted down and looked at him eagerly.

"How many people know about this? Does your father know about it?"

I shook my head vigorously and apologized softly, "It was just the four of us! As for Xiaohan, I just gave her a piece of 'No Return' and asked her to apply Cinderella on herself and Fang Juexia so that we could sneak out of the palace. I didn't say anything else."

"Ah - no wonder Miss Fang hasn't woken up yet. You know that Bugui is probably made of Datura pollen. If you don't control the dosage, it will make people stupid! If Miss Fang falls asleep for a long time and can't wake up, what will you do?!"

"If you don't want to wake up, then don't wake up. It's better to be stupid. If you are stupid, you won't do evil things." Yu Tuan said indignantly.

"Don't talk nonsense! Our family has been practicing medicine for generations, and we have always upheld the benevolent heart of a doctor, curing illnesses and saving lives. How could you have such a horrifying idea! I don't think it's appropriate for you to stay with the young lady anymore. Since He'er burned your indenture since you were a child, you are also a free citizen. After this matter is over, you can leave on your own!"

Yu Tuan instantly knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face: "Master, Yu Tuan will never dare to do this again, please don't chase Yu Tuan away!"

Yuyi also knelt on the ground, begging for mercy.

I immediately stood up and asked in fear: "Grandfather! Why are you so angry! Yu Tuan just doesn't like Fang Juexia, don't you know that Fang Juexia..."

"Shut up! Why don't you repent? Do you know how much trouble you have caused?"

I looked at my grandfather in astonishment and began to doubt my own beliefs.

I sat back in my chair, calmed down, and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Grandfather, He'er made decisions on his own without consulting the family. I'm sorry for making you worry. He'er will never act on his own again."

Grandfather lowered his head and glanced at Yutuan, then waved his hand: "Get up! If I hear you speak unorthodox words again, I will never tolerate it!"

Yuyi helped Yutuan stand up, while Yutuan was still sobbing in grievance.

"You are not allowed to ask about that sweet girl anymore. I will report to His Majesty and tell him that you are infected with leprosy and it has been brought under control. You can go home after you stay here for half a decade."

"Grandpa..."

"No need to say more! If you don't want to go to the palace, just stay at home!"

I lowered my head, pursed my lips, and picked the dead skin on my mouth with my hands.

"Okay, okay, don't be unhappy! Your grandmother brought you your favorite Bazhenmei, Touhuaci, Lactose Zhenxue..." Grandfather's voice softened.

I forced a smile, paused, and said, "Oh, these plums are all damp and stick together."

"It's my fault! Grandfather was in a hurry to get here, so the plums may have been stained by rain and dew. Next time, give He'er plums with sweet frost!"

"I want to eat bayberry! I also want to drink osmanthus yogurt! And I want to eat Wei Ding Xuan's golden shortbread!"

"Okay, okay, okay! Whatever He'er wants to eat, grandpa will buy it for him!"

……

After my grandfather left, the three of us sat in chairs in a daze.

The rain poured down from the sky, hitting the roof with a crisp sound, like someone tapping a wooden fish, making people feel as if they were in a mysterious water world.

Yu Yi murmured, "Are we really...going to ignore Xiao Han?"

Yu Tuan sighed and said, "Master has spoken, how dare we disobey? This is the first time I've seen Master lose his temper like this!"

"I don't know why my grandfather reacted so violently this time."

"The master is also concerned about the girl, and is afraid that she will get into trouble."

The sound of raindrops falling on the bluestone slabs makes a tiny sound, which interweaves with the occasional thunder in the distance to form a beautiful natural symphony.