Chapter 1944: It Hurts, Brother-in-law!
“Ji Dengtu?” Zu An repeated, his eyes widening. Even though he'd had his suspicions, he was still shocked to hear it confirmed.
After all, the people in the capital had always thought of the late libationer’s second disciple, the doctor, as a benevolent individual - a handsome, holy, immortal-like being. He really found it hard to associate such a description with that perverted guy from Brightmoon City, that wretched old fart who hid in a dark room while reading pornographic novels.
“It seems the libationer does know about him,” Shen Xuzi said with a chuckle.
“I do know him, and we even know each other quite well,” Zu An said.
Ji Dengtu’s appearance only remained in his mind for three seconds, however. The remaining time was completely occupied by his lovely and gentle daughter, Ji Xiaoxi. He reflexively touched his lips. It was as if that soft feeling from back then still remained. In the past, when he was escorted away by the Embroidered Envoy, Ji Xiaoxi had pretended to be his lover in front of everyone in order to help him. She had kissed him, then secretly fed him a Fake Death Pill. That really was a kindhearted young lady… He couldn't help but smile warmly whenever he thought of Ji Xiaoxi.
“By the way, why didn’t she want to tell me about this when I asked Jiang Luofu before? We were all in Brightmoon City back then,” Zu An suddenly asked curiously. He just felt as if Jiang Luofu was hiding something.
“Huh?” Shen Xuzi exclaimed. He now felt a bit regretful. “If I had known seventh sister was going to act like that, I would have waited for her to tell you.”
“Just what don’t I know about?” Zu An continued.
Sang Qien's eyes widened too. She had some impression of Ji Dengtu too. It really was hard for her to imagine him having anything to do with that cool and aloof Jiang Luofu.
Shen Xuzi sighed, saying, “It really was a heartbreaking story. In the past, second brother’s skills in medicine were truly incredible, and he had even boasted proudly that even if the king of hell himself wanted someone to die at sixty, he could make them live to a hundred. He believed that there was no illness in this world he couldn't cure.
"Even so, in the end, he couldn't save his own wife, who was seventh sister’s own older sister.”
Zu An was stunned. He recalled that he'd heard about theat relationship back in Brightmoon City. He'd also been curious as to why even though Ji Dengtu loved to collect underwear, he had never given the stunning Jiang Luofu a second look. So it was because of that…
Shen Xuzi then said, “Because of that, even though seventh sister knew it wasn’t second brother’s fault, she just couldn't help but hold a bit of a grudge. She believed that it was because he was too arrogant and was punished by the heavens. Second brother also let himself waste away ever since then, not taking any patients or treating illnesses. We brothers and sisters tried to advise him to change his mind for a long time, but it didn’t work at all.
“Later, one day, he suddenly disappeared. We were in a panic trying to look for him, but teacher stopped us. He said that second brother needed a place to cool down for a while, and that time would slowly heal everything.
“However, just like that, more than a decade passed. Everyone had already forgotten that there was a doctor among teacher’s disciples, and we only learned that he was in Brightmoon City from junior sister not too long ago.”
Zu An couldn't help but sigh. He asked, “Right, do you know what kind of illness his wife had in the past? How could it be that not even someone with his skills in medicine could heal her?”
If she had been able to give birth to a daughter as adorable as Xiaoxi, she definitely also had to have been a warm and good person, right?
Shen Xuzi shook his head and said, “I don't know the exact details. Second brother has always kept the answer a secret. You should ask seventh sister about it when you get a chance.”
Nearby, Sang Qien said, “Big brother Zu, I don’t think you should ask about it. Judging from her attitude toward Ji Dengtu, her relationship with her big sister must have been extremely close. If you ask her with your current status, it would put her in an awkward situation. I think it would be best to wait until she tells you about it herself one day.”
Shen Xuzi chuckled and said, “As expected, it's still women who are more careful with these things. It's as Little Qien says; I was a bit too rash.”
Zu An recalled Jiang Luofu’s usual icy exterior. He decided to not sprinkle salt on her old wounds for now.
The three of them all felt a mix of emotions. Eventually, they changed the topic and talked about the remaining ingredients. Shen Xuzi had a worried and troubled expression as he said, “I have seen the auspicious beast Bai Ze before in some ancient texts, but I've never heard of anyone encountering it in reality. It might only exist in some ancient secret dungeons.
“As for the Sphinx, that’s even more foreign to me. If the libationer ever finds one, please let me know so that I can widen my petty experiences.”
When he heard the reply, Zu An thought, As expected. The hardest thing to get was the main ingredient. After they spoke for a while longer, he no longer disturbed the two’s studies. He bade them goodbye and left.
…
Zu An returned to the small courtyard at the top of the mountain. The young women there were play-fighting happily, making him sigh. Regardless of how much proper etiquette and noble upbringing they had experienced, and how many harsh situations they’d been forced to endure, they were still teenage girls in the end. They still carried some of their innocence. He had to admit that playing with pretty young ladies, no matter how one looked at it, was a delightful thing.
“Youzhao, you and little sister Qinghe should study the cultivation method diligently outside. Huanzhao, follow me inside,” Zu An said, doing his best to put on a stern expression. These young ladies were really a bit too much. They hadn’t even started reading such a precious skill manual yet!
Murong Qinghe felt a bit guilty. She quickly pretended to read the manual in her hands. Chu Youzhao was a bit unhappy and asked, “Brother-in-law, why does she get to follow you inside, but we have to cultivate outside?”
“Heh, you still don’t get it? That’s because brother-in-law likes me more!” Chu Huanzhao replied, hooking her arm around Zu An's and giving her sister a taunting look.
Chu Youzhao gritted her teeth in anger.
This lass is so shameless!
Even so, she was pretending to be a man right now, so how could she run over and strive for Zu An’s favor? She could only sulk.
“Stop causing trouble. The two of us have proper matters to discuss inside,” Zu An said, his expression darkening as he dragged Chu Huanzhao into the room.
When she saw Chu Youzhao sulk, Murong Qinghe found it quite amusing. She said, “Big brother Chu, there's no need for you to feel too bad. This might not be a bad thing.”
“It’s a good thing?” Chu Youzhao replied. She thought, Even little sister Qinghe is taunting me now.
“Of course it’s a good thing! Big brother Zu is so formidable, and he's the court’s regent. Who knows how many of the capital’s well-bred young ladies wish to marry him? Their clan’s seniors want that even more than they do. Your older sister married him in the past, but they're divorced now. If your second sister can become his lover, that will be a great blessing for the Chu clan,” Murong Qinghe explained.
Chu Youzhao was speechless. She naturally knew about such a thing.
Even so, why can’t I be the one to do it? Why does it have to be second sister?
Of course, these were only things she could think about. She knew she presented as the Chu clan’s young master and that there was no way she could return to living as a woman. However, that only made her even angrier. She replied, “Little sister Qinghe said that so many noble daughters want to marry him. Does that include you too?”
Murong Qinghe didn’t get upset and instead looked at her with a big smile, saying, “If I hadn’t met big brother Chu first, I wouldn’t have minded becoming one of them.”
When she saw that deep smile, Chu Youzhao couldn't bring herself to get angry. Instead, she replied in annoyance, “Who could say for sure? Your wish might just come true in the future.”
Murong Qinghe was stunned, asking, “What did you say, big brother Chu?”
“Nothing,” Chu Youzhao said, although she was too embarrassed to explain herself.
As long as little sister Qinghe also likes big brother Zu, that will make everything much easier…
Chu Huanzhao suddenly shouted from inside the room, “Brother-in-law, please be gentler, it hurts!”
Chu Youzhao and Murong Qinghe immediately widened their eyes. What were the two of them doing?
Big brother Zu looks refined and gentle, but I didn’t expect him to be so rough…
Murong Qinghe’s face was completely red as she thought of that.
“Why did brother-in-law only do that to her? It clearly should have been me!” Chu Youzhao thought, but she accidentally said it out loud. In the end, out of annoyance, she grabbed Murong Qinghe and tried to leave, saying, “Let’s go; I don’t want to listen to these disgusting sounds.”