My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

As he entered the Prime Minister Mansion, it was clear that someone like Xiong Er, usually a playboy, wouldn’t normally be invited into such an illustrious residence; yet today, it felt like stepping into a den of thieves.
Xiong Er approached Qin Liuxi with hesitation and unease, stuttering as he asked, “Junior Temple Master, have I caused you trouble?”
He wholeheartedly thought that Madam Lin was a good person and didn’t deserve to die like this, and therefore, he voluntarily tried to tie a good fate with Qin Liuxi for her sake. Good intentions, yet now the situation has become such that they all felt like hostages held by the Lin Family. Only then did he realize something was amiss, realizing that he might have forced Qin Liuxi to help by leveraging his closeness, fearing that his good intentions might have backfired.
What if Madam Lin was truly fated to die and perished during the treatment? Whose fault would it be?
He and Xiao Si were one thing, but the most important was Qin Liuxi.
It’s not that he didn’t trust her, but she was only a doctor, not an Immortal. There were people she could not save. She had mentioned before that she couldn’t cure old ailments. So, what if that unfortunate incident actually occurred, wouldn’t he be harming her?
The more Xiong Er thought, the more guilty and ashamed he felt, also very annoyed at his own recklessness.
By his side, Jing Xiaosi sighed but said nothing; people need to grow up eventually. It’s better for him to come to this understanding on his own. Lest his usual character leads him to a major loss one day.
Qin Liuxi saw the panic and unmistakable regret in Xiong Er’s face and smiled, saying, “No one can force me to do anything, including treating and saving people. If I didn’t want to do it, even the most powerful couldn’t make me. And if I chose to do it, it means I’m already prepared to face everything that comes after. You need not feel guilty.”
Xiong Er was stunned.
“However, it’s good that you realize your impulsiveness. From now on, think more when you face issues, look at them from other people’s perspectives before deciding what to do. Impulsiveness in trivial matters is fine, but on major issues, your actions could kill many people,” Qin Liuxi said, “Don’t let your naive heart bring trouble one day, always think thrice before acting.”
“I understand.”
Qin Liuxi added, “Don’t worry, the Prime Minister didn’t dare to gamble, which is why we were called here. He won’t do anything rash. This man is upright and has accumulated merit; he truly is a good official who can make real changes, even if his actions are sometimes extreme and cause criticism, it’s undeniable that he’s an official who seeks benefits for the people.”
Lin Xiang happened to hear this at the doorway, his expression slightly odd, but he coughed and turned to Qin Liuxi, saying, “Junior Temple Master? My mother has been taken care of, and the Imperial Physician has also arrived.”
“Let’s go then,” Qin Liuxi promptly stood up.
Teng Zhao followed her, picking up the medicine box.
Lin Xiang looked at Teng Zhao several times, feeling the child seemed familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before?
Teng Zhao, expressionless, briefly lifted his eyelids to glance at him indifferently, then dodged the Steward who wanted to help carry the medicine box, saying, “No need.”
Silent and unapproachable, a child obviously too neatly dressed and overly rigid.
The more Lin Xiang looked, the more familiar he felt, saying, “Have I seen this little Taoist somewhere before?”
Normally straightforward Qin Liuxi didn’t even lift her eyes: “Mmm, Teng Tianhan’s eldest son, and now my disciple.”
“Oh.” What?
Lin Xiang paused, scrutinizing Teng Zhao closely; indeed, wasn’t this just a younger version of the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice?
Last year, Teng Tianhan handled a case of embezzling official silver flawlessly, leaving a mark in his career achievements. This year at New Year’s, he also took a new wife, and according to Madam, there was pleasant news from the new wife too—it seemed he was quite pleased.
But now, his eldest son became a disciple to the Taoists?
Teng Tianhan’s heart must be very broad.
Lin Xiang exclaimed, “Mr. Teng is indeed willing.”
Teng Tianhan: Speaking of it brings tears.
Qin Liuxi smiled and patted her disciple’s head, proudly saying, “Naturally, it’s because I am capable.”
Lin Xiang looked at her, thinking to himself that she was just a child, yet a child who had taken in disciples, which seemed somewhat inappropriate.
While leading her to his mother’s courtyard, Lin Xiang casually asked, “Does the Junior Temple Master know arithmetic?”
“A little.”
Lin Xiang didn’t know how to continue the conversation and changed the subject, asking, “I wonder if the Junior Temple Master has any opinions or suggestions regarding my mother’s illness?”
“No opinions. The Old Lady’s body was worn down in her youth. These years, she has been recuperating quietly in your esteemed household, and the treatments prescribed by the Imperial Physician are quite appropriate. She must be nearly seventy this year, right?”
Lin Xiang pursed his lips, “She is sixty-eight.”
“Prime Minister, at this age, apart from maintaining mental and physical pleasure and nourishment, the rest must be left to nature. Life and death are predestined,” Qin Liuxi said.
Lin Xiang’s heart tightened, he opened his mouth, wanting to ask how many more years she might have.
But he dared not ask.
Yet, Qin Liuxi seemed to perceive his thoughts, her voice very low, adding, “With meticulous care, living to a rare old age is not a problem; how much longer, that depends on fate.”
Lin Xiang paused in his steps; his breathing lightened, and he turned to look.
Under the cloak of night, those clear eyes met his, fearless and undaunted.
Even the younger members of his household wouldn’t dare meet his gaze, yet Qin Liuxi did so without a trace of fear, her expression calm, as if she was discussing something incredibly mundane.
Lin Xiang looked away, curling his lips into a slight smile, “We’ve arrived.”
Following him, Qin Liuxi entered the Old Lady’s bedroom. Apart from some richly dressed women and men, she saw an Imperial Physician with white beard attending to the Old Lady’s pulse. Seeing Lin Xiang arrive, he promptly withdrew his hand.
Lin Xiang approached and asked, “Hospital Director Ou, how is my mother?”
“The stroke caused by excessive liver yang, fortunately, was managed in time with acupuncture to relieve blood vessel congestion, and also with the administration of Angong Pill, which helped her regain consciousness; otherwise, the Old Lady’s condition would have been critical,” sighed Hospital Director Ou. “This person’s use of acupuncture is extremely adept, even I with my needles might not match her decisiveness.”
This was also relayed to Lin Xiang by Xiu Gu about where Qin Liuxi had applied the acupuncture.
Lin Xiang instinctively looked towards Qin Liuxi, saying, “This is the doctor who treated my mother, a Daoist doctor.”
“A Daoist doctor?” Hospital Director Ou looked at Qin Liuxi, his expression even more surprised, adding, “So young.”
Qin Liuxi performed a Taoist ceremony with a bow of her hands.
Lin Xiang: “Hospital Director Ou, do you think this treatment should be continued for my mother’s condition? Feel free to discuss it with the Junior Temple Master.”
Hospital Director Ou, hearing this, found it exactly to his liking; he also wanted to ask Qin Liuxi about the specific purposes of the acupuncture points she used and her bold approach.
The two of them stepped aside, completely engrossed in discussing the acupuncture technique and treatment planning, as well as future care for the Old Lady.
Watching Qin Liuxi and Hospital Director Ou converse fluently in medical jargon, with not only quick responses but also points that elicited from Hospital Director Ou expressions of thrilled enlightenment, Lin Xiang realized that Qin Liuxi’s medical skills were indeed remarkable; otherwise, Hospital Director Ou would not be so excited.
So, was what Qin Liuxi said earlier about living to a historically rare age not her speaking maliciously, but rather that his mother truly did not have long to live?