Chapter 6, The Damn Hide and Seek

Jun Ke stood up in a daze and walked to the gate of the courtyard. Cui Mo had already vanished from sight. The inner courtyard remained dark and devoid of light, but the outer courtyard was illuminated by flickering lights, with faint sounds of voices and hoofbeats approaching. Although the inner courtyard was still shrouded in darkness, there were continuous faint sounds, the noise of window shutters being quietly pulled open, and countless pairs of anxious eyes peering out. What major event had occurred? The inner courtyard, though still dark, was filled with the sounds of movement, the soft creaking of window shutters being opened, and numerous tense eyes watching intently. What major event had occurred?

She suddenly stopped speaking halfway through her sentence

Existence, non-existence, who does she exist as now

The doctor cut the left hand and then the right hand, his complexion growing increasingly worse. After a while, he took out a golden needle from the medicine box to help Lady Zhou dispel the stasis and invigorate the blood. Not long after, Lady Zhou slowly regained consciousness, murmuring: "... my head hurts so much ..."

Indeed, there is a straight path to the courtyard gate. Once you exit the courtyard, you encounter the road and the garden. No one would hide outside the courtyard. What is Cui Mo trying to do?

Awakened in the middle of the night by a bloated stomach, she tossed and turned in bed. Cui Mo Hong Yan, sleeping on the bed's edge, heard the commotion and got up. Seeing Jun Ke's indigestion, Cui Mo smiled and said, "If you can't sleep, why not get up and digest a bit? The wind has picked up, and it's cool outside. Shall we go play hide and seek?"

At that moment, the originally closed courtyard gate suddenly opened slowly

Since the day she treated Madam Zhou, the attitude of the Zhou family towards Jun Ke has become more fervent. Madam Zhou has gradually recovered and has sent people several times to express her gratitude. General Zhou has sent gifts that have filled an entire room. Jun Ke is packing the lightweight and valuable items, frowning as she does so—she had thought that by saving the Zhou family, they would be open and honest with her. However, judging by the Zhou family's attitude, although they are grateful, they still insist on having her play the role of Miss Zhou. The soul-replenishing medicine continues to be sent daily; what is the pressing matter that compels them to be so insistent?

"Place it flat and do not move it," Jun Ke said, "Unconscious, with a pale complexion, cold limbs, and shortness of breath. There is no phlegm obstructing her breathing; her injury is to the head."

Upon hearing these words, everyone immediately understood, and the expressions of those looking at Jun Ke changed. The doctor, both ashamed and remorseful, struggled for a while before standing up and bowing to Jun Ke, saying, "Madam's vitality is depleted, and her spirit is scattered; it is indeed a case of internal wind. The young lady possesses great talent, and I have been foolish."

With this change, everyone's hearts were lifted high, unable to resist the urge to look at Jun Ke, who raised an eyebrow and smiled without speaking

Cui Mo magically took out a piece of red cloth from her bosom, draped it over herself, and said with a smile, "Miss, go hide with the red inkstone; I will come to catch you."

Everyone turned around in astonishment, and the doctor's expression immediately darkened as he frowned and said: "Where did this wild girl come from! Disturbing us here!"

The strong wind rises, and the moonlight is cold and bright

However, just as she lifted her leg, a sudden cramp-like pain struck her abdomen. She couldn't help but bend down, and at that moment, she heard footsteps approaching. Someone suddenly grabbed her and exclaimed with laughter, "Miss! I've caught you!"

Jun Ke, however, did not pay much attention, returning the prescription while secretly feeling relieved. She had the ability to see blood vessels and bones, and vaguely sensed that Madam Zhou was suffering from an acute stroke, fortunately of a milder degree. In truth, she could only 'diagnose' but was not skilled in 'treating' conditions. As strokes were a common ailment in previous generations, she had taken an interest in studying them for a while, and today she barely managed to hold the situation together.

The abdominal pain intensified, and Jun Ke pressed on her lower abdomen, looking at everything revealed through the red scarf, silently cursing in her heart: "Damn hide-and-seek!"

The old woman’s expression changed repeatedly, no longer paying attention to Jun Ke. While continuously apologizing to the doctor, she explained that the young lady was too young to understand, she hurriedly instructed the maid, "Help the lady up..."

Junke's heart began to race

To attract attention! The doctor, who had been accustomed to being praised, continued to scold, but his tone had softened somewhat. Ultimately, doubts had arisen in his heart, and he no longer mentioned the need to move Lady Zhou. He sat down to carefully take her pulse, and after a while, his expression changed.

She turned to leave, but the doctor extended his arm to stop her, saying: "How can you speak so recklessly in this place? What do you mean by death and living dead? Are you questioning my medical skills? Madam, if the phlegm is not cleared, do you want her to suffocate to death?"

This laughter is like emerald ink, yet it does not resemble the sound of emerald ink, carrying an uncontrollable tension, almost a tearing hoarseness

Suddenly, she heard the faint sounds of commotion from outside, like the surging tides of the sea, rolling in an orderly yet tumultuous manner from the streets, drowning out the clashing sounds of weapons and submerging the isolated Zhou residence.

This implies that Jun Ke has the intention to harm others. Jun Ke, furious yet smiling, did not simply walk away. With a sigh, she said: "I do not understand what you are saying. I only tell you that the lady must not be moved at all, especially not her head. Otherwise, the consequences could be fatal or she may become a living corpse. If you do not listen, it is up to you. Prepare to accompany her in death."

The doctor was taken aback and said angrily, "What do you suggest we do?"

In an instant, Jun Ke felt every hair on his body stand on end, sensing that he was at a critical moment of life and death. His mind raced: should he leave immediately, or take advantage of the chaos to run out of the inner courtyard and find his belongings before departing?

Everyone was taken aback, and Jun Ke continued: "Madam has slight bleeding in the brain, so it is absolutely imperative not to move her head; otherwise, it could cost her life"

Unable to think of anything, I could only helplessly refrain from thinking. Before long, some time had passed, and as the weather was about to turn hot, that night was particularly sultry. The layer of clouds hung low, shrouded in gloom without rain, and dragonflies flew low in the yard, occasionally bumping into people's faces.

"The patient with phlegm obstruction has a pale blue complexion," Jun Ke said with a cold smile. "Have you observed the lady's complexion through the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine?"

Good! Liu Xinglin's eyes brightened, and with a clap of his hands, he looked up just in time to meet Jun Ke's smiling gaze. He couldn't help but be momentarily stunned, quickly lowering his eyes, yet he secretly stole glances at her from the corner of his eye

This remark was quite ordinary, yet the old woman’s expression changed slightly, forcing a smile. Jun Ke paid no mind to it and left Fengqing Pavilion in a cheerful mood. Behind her, Liu Xinglin looked up in a daze, while Cui Mo and several other old women exchanged glances.

In just an instant, she made a decision, immediately

However, an accurate diagnosis plays a significant role in guiding future treatment directions. In ancient times, due to the lack of modern instruments and equipment, reliance solely on pulse diagnosis led to a high misdiagnosis rate. Junke pondered in his heart that if he were to be short of money in the future, could he perhaps use this small skill to make a living?

Her eyes were covered with a red cloth, and the world around her darkened. A flash of golden light appeared in Jun Ke's eyes, and the outlines of the surroundings suddenly became visible again. Through the red cloth, she clearly saw Cui Mo nervously waving his hand towards the door, and soon after, several shadowy figures of men holding knives silently emerged from behind the courtyard gate, closing in on her.

"Miss," a maid approached with a forced smile, bowing to Jun Ke. "It is quite chaotic here; it would be best for you to avoid this area. If you were to fall ill, we would not be able to bear the consequences..."

A senior maid stepped forward, bowed to Jun Ke, and said gently: "Miss, we all know that you have been feeling resentful lately. However, life is of utmost importance, and this is not the time to act on emotions. The lady is the most important person in the general's heart; if anything were to happen to her, the entire household would inevitably suffer. I kindly ask you to consider the diligent service we have provided to you and not to make things difficult for us, the servants."

The speaker is Junke

She hid a large water tank in the back of the yard, then looked up at the sky. The wind had picked up, and the clouds had dispersed, revealing half of a dim moon. The moonlight was a dark yellow, faintly revealing a bluish vein, presenting a somber and ominous tone

Jun Ke is reminiscing about the air conditioning and fans from her previous life, finding this room unbearably stuffy. Although she feels that playing hide and seek in the middle of the night seems a bit strange, her bloated stomach is uncomfortable, and she wants something to distract her attention. She nods and says, "Alright"

The room fell silent for a moment, and the doctor let out an angry grunt. Even the old woman’s expression turned sour as she glared at Jun Ke, saying, "What is the meaning of this, young lady? Are you deliberately disturbing the lady's treatment?"

Wait!

The man smiled awkwardly, turned to prepare the prescription, and respectfully presented it with both hands, saying: "I am Liu Xinglin, seeking guidance from the young lady. Does this prescription have any issues in your opinion?"

Jun Ke had not yet recovered from the pain when Cui Mo swiftly pulled down the blindfold and neatly tied it over Jun Ke's eyes, saying with a smile: "Miss, it's your turn!"

At this moment, Jun Ke finally took a proper look at the man and realized that he was surprisingly young. If he were to shave his beard, he would likely still resemble a dashing young lad. Perhaps it was due to his youth and smooth sailing that he initially displayed a hasty demeanor, which did not necessarily indicate a lack of medical skill. She had not held a favorable impression of him, but seeing him speak candidly without pretense and openly acknowledge his mistakes, he could be considered a man of integrity. With a smile, she said, "It was also a coincidence for me. I have seen similar symptoms in others before. When you administered a needle, the lady immediately regained consciousness. Your skills in the medical field are indeed well-deserved."

Liu Xinglin? Jun Ke couldn't help but smile, praising, "This name is well chosen!" He casually added, "Add a dose of Aconite; Aconite revives the yang and rescues from reversal. What do you think?"

... ...

Several maids and servants, with faces full of shame, repeatedly apologized to her, saying that saving the lady's life was equivalent to saving the lives of everyone in the household. They asked the young lady not to hold their previous ignorance against them. Jun Ke had always been magnanimous; those who had bullied her would receive their due retribution, but once the punishment was dealt, that would be the end of it. In her view, such verbal conflicts were not worth dwelling on. She waved her hand and smiled, saying, "I am grateful for everyone's care; it is only right to repay the lady."

The old woman met Jun Ke's gaze, and in an instant, a peculiar feeling surged within her. She felt that the young girl before her seemed not to be looking at her at all, but rather through her, gazing at Madam Zhou behind her. That manner of "looking" did not resemble that of observing a living person... it was more akin to looking at something... lifeless.

In the midst of inexplicable and chaotic thoughts, the sound of the doorbell rang, and the blindfolded Cui Mo emerged. Jun Ke quickly held her breath, but Cui Mo did not search for the books in the yard at all; instead, she stretched out her hands and walked straight towards the courtyard gate.

Junke's fingers pressed against the water tank, the cold surface of the tank and the slimy green moss evoked thoughts of some sinister creatures lurking in the shadows, sending a chill from the depths of the heart.

Jun Ke's breath quickened; at this moment, she finally felt that everything tonight was imbued with an eerie quality. The inexplicable bloating in her stomach, the way Cui Mo was hiding and playing hide-and-seek, her hurried movements towards the courtyard... everything felt off.

This feeling sent a shiver down her spine, causing her to unconsciously take a step back. However, the doctor was already angry and coldly said: "Are you all still planning to save the person? Will you allow this girl to hinder us here? With me present, there will certainly be no mishaps, but if you do not follow my method of treatment, I fear..." He finished with a cold laugh.

Dragging a long shadow across the ground, Junke concealed her own shadow behind the shadow of the jar to avoid being discovered. As she performed this action, a strange feeling surged within her; watching her shadow disappear felt as if she herself no longer existed.

Jun Ke rarely played games, but she became interested and urged Hong Yan, "You better not hide with me." She bent down and exited the door

Cui Mo had not yet reached the entrance, and there was no one in the courtyard. Suddenly, the courtyard door, which opened outward, swung open, and the cold moonlight poured in. From Jun Ke's perspective, it was impossible to see whether there were any shadows in the moonlight.

"Madam, can you bear the consequences of a mishap?" Jun Ke's gaze passed over the old woman and looked towards Madam Zhou behind her

Cui Mo headed straight for the courtyard gate, tearing off the blindfolded red scarf as he exited.

Jun Ke chuckled softly and whispered to the little chick beside her, "Are you silly? Who would hide outside the courtyard..."

Junke has started her menstrual period today, feeling abdominal pain and irritability, and went to bed early. Despite her strong constitution, she still indulged in some chilled sour plum soup, even though her period is visiting, and climbed into bed with a round belly.

The servants in the room were at a loss, glancing between Jun Ke and the doctor, unsure whose advice to follow