A piece of Japanese incense

The kiln factory delivered the jar that was customized that day today. It is 1 meter long and 60 centimeters high. I don’t know if the size is accurate, but there is a faint luster flowing on the glaze, as smooth as jade. It must be very practical.

"Hebao, what are you busy with in the yard? Wow! What is this for?" Grandfather walked into my yard and knocked on the edge of the jar.

I told him roughly about Ah Ban's condition.

"I've been looking for you for so long, and you're here!" Grandmother quietly appeared outside the yard, leaning on the railing and looking out.

"Let me tell you, Hebao is a big deal now. When she entered the palace, she even sneaked into Wenyuan Pavilion to read books! She even read 'Notes from the Thatched Cottage'!" Grandfather was quite proud.

"Oh?! Do you understand?"

"Hey, aren't you asking your grandfather for advice?"

I told them about the folk pharmacology and strange stories in "Notes from the Thatched Cottage" that I thought were interesting.

Time passed quietly, and a morning passed quickly in the midst of chatting and laughing.

"Hebao, your father sent someone to inquire about your illness and when you will return to the palace." Grandmother suddenly changed the subject.

I was speaking with great enthusiasm when my mood suddenly dropped like a roller coaster.

(Alas! What is to come will eventually come.)

I told them my idea, and my grandmother agreed readily. She also discussed with me how to let me pretend to be sick and hide it from the palace doctors.

On the contrary, my grandfather was a little hesitant. He just said that this move was too risky and needed to be carefully considered. He asked him to think about it and then left.

"Miss, if the master doesn't agree, then everything we have done before will be in vain, right?" Yuyi brought a bowl of sweet water for me to taste.

I took a sip; it was sweet and refreshing, and I instantly felt refreshed and alive. I couldn't help but drink it all in one gulp.

"What is this? It's so delicious!"

"This is called...what's it called...Anyway, Yutuan bought it from outside."

"Where's Yutuan?"

"I made an appointment with Guard Zhou, but he hasn't come back yet."

"Oh! Why does it feel like we have to start preparing her dowry now? She's going to get married soon." I couldn't help but sigh.

"Yutuan has passed her birthday and is sixteen years old. Zhou Song is also a ninth-rank imperial guard. He has a decent appearance. Although he lacks knowledge, he has some martial arts skills. He is more than capable of protecting Yutuan."

"Well~ I don't care about these. Seeing Yutuan happy every day, I am happy too. If Zhou Song comes to propose marriage and Yutuan is willing to marry him, then I will let my grandmother prepare a generous dowry for Yutuan and send her off to marry in a grand manner!" I smiled.

Yuyi patted my shoulder seriously and asked me to pay attention to the left.

Yutuan squatted alone by the fence, silent and with his body curled up.

Yuyi and I hurried out of the courtyard, stepped forward and squatted down to face her.

"Xiao Tuantuan, why are you here?"

"Girl!" Yutuan hugged me and burst into tears.

I hugged her and stroked her hair gently.

After Yutuan had cried enough, we took her back to the house and sat on the couch together.

"Yutuan, did Zhou Song bully you?" I asked.

"No! Miss, it's all my fault. I caused Guard Zhou to be beaten with twenty boards!" Yu Tuan spoke in a crying voice and tears fell again.

"Oh my! Poor little girl, what's going on? Why is she being beaten with a stick?" I used a handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her face.

"On the day of the street patrol, I separated from you and went to find Guard Zhou. The two of us were queuing up to buy cakes at Yishi Garden. An old lady was cut in line by someone. Guard Zhou couldn't bear it and stood up for the old lady. Who knew that the person turned out to be Bai Peng's lapdog?"

Yu Tuan took a sip of tea and continued, "They bought it for Bai Fan. When Bai Fan saw that they hadn't returned for a long time, he came downstairs. Someone next to him recognized me and tried to tease me. When Guard Zhou saw this, he had a conflict with them and was sent to the government by Bai Fan, where he was beaten with twenty boards!"

"What! Why are you telling us about what happened that day only now?" Yu Yi asked in surprise.

"I was able to walk after the caning that day, but today... today we had an appointment. He was waiting for me outside our house, and we were going to buy the jade cake from Yishi Garden. I waited for him for a long time and he didn't come, so I went to his house to look for him, but I was told... that..."

"What are you talking about? You're making me anxious!" I urged anxiously.

"He said he had been unconscious for a day and is now bedridden. The doctor diagnosed that both of his legs might be damaged. His younger sister kicked me out, saying that his elder brother was the pillar of the family and that because of me, he might even lose his official position. She told me not to associate with him anymore."

After Yu Tuan finished speaking, she cried even louder, tears streaming down her face like rain, and she was heartbroken.

"Come on! Take me to his house! I'll go and see for myself and find out what's going on!" I said as I looked for clothes and prepared to go out.

"Girl! You are still under house arrest by the young lady and are not allowed to go out!" Yu Yi tried her best to stop her.

"I just don't believe that someone who was full of energy two days ago could not get out of bed after just twenty strokes of the cane?!"

"After the beating that day, we were still chatting and laughing together, and then we went to San Sheng Tang for treatment. Master Liu examined him and said that he was young and strong, and he would recover in less than a month."

"Does he have any hidden illness?" Yu Yi asked without thinking.

"This...how could I know." Yu Tuan blushed instantly and lowered her head without saying a word.

I picked at the dead skin on my lips, wondering how I could escape from the house without attracting attention.

Yu Nian's voice came from outside the door: "Ah He! Are you in the room?"

I was overjoyed and opened the door and ran out.

"Brother Nian! How did you know that I needed your help? "

"Ah...what do you want to do?" Yu Nian looked at me as if I was going to get into trouble again.

Yu Yi then walked out and told Yu Nian about Zhou Song.

"Brother Nian, you also know some medical skills. I'm a girl, so it's not convenient. You go and take a look at Zhou Song to see what's going on!"

"It's just...Brother Jinqi came to visit me today, and I originally...wanted to invite you to go meet him together..." Yu Nian seemed a little hesitant to make a decision.

"That's great! This way, I can use my cousin's name to leave the house openly!" Without waiting for Yu Nian to respond, I went into the house to change clothes.

My cousin was leisurely sipping tea in the lobby. When he saw us approaching, he stood up and said with a smile, "My niece is so arrogant. She made me wait for you!"

"How's your cousin? Aren't you busy today?"

"Brother Jinqi, sorry for the long wait."

But my uncle ignored me and turned to Yu Nian, saying with concern, "We were supposed to have a drinking party today, but I heard that you were frightened a few days ago, and I was worried that your old injury had not healed and that your body could not bear it, so I came to visit you."

"I am ashamed to say that I heard that you will be going to the palace tomorrow to give lectures to the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince?"