Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched, "Do you have to be so direct? Gu Zhun is really being silly, isn’t he?"
Si Yihuan chuckled a couple of tis, "He seed fine before; maybe he was just too nervous at the ti, or perhaps he’s afraid of his wife."
"And then what happened?" Bai Ruozhu thought it couldn’t be that simple.
Si Yihuan lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "I don’t know what happened to Ding Guangji, but he went over with a stern face and carried Bo Caiyue right up. He’s not married, and Bo Caiyue was quite embarrassed, struggling to get down, saying she’d rather wait there and have them help make a stretcher to carry her instead."
Bai Ruozhu nodded, thinking that Bo Caiyue’s way wasn’t bad either.
"But Ding Guangji said she was losing so much blood, did she want to throw her life away? Then he probably got angry and suddenly smacked Bo Caiyue, telling her not to move, and the result..." Si Yihuan paused, covering his mouth and starting to laugh.
Bai Ruozhu’s mouth twitched again, "Did he hit her on the butt?"
Si Yihuan showed a surprised expression, "How did you know?"
"He was carrying her, and it’s very likely he hit her on the butt by mistake if he swung his hand backwards," Bai Ruozhu couldn’t help but laugh, though he also felt he shouldn’t, as poor Bo Caiyue must have been mortified.
"Then none of us dared to speak, and the atmosphere was really awkward. I think everyone just pretended they didn’t see anything," Si Yihuan continued.
Bai Ruozhu made a sound of agreent, unsure how to comnt on this matter. If word of this got out, it would be bad for Bo Caiyue. However, if Ding Guangji had to take responsibility, forcing a relationship wouldn’t be ideal unless both were willing.
It’s a pity Bo Caiyue is a concubine’s daughter; in these tis, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate is very clear. If Bo Caiyue were to beco a concubine, the Bo family wouldn’t agree.
Proper families, even if their daughters marry beneath their station, are unwilling to have them beco soone’s concubine.
Because of this incident and the Bai Family’s limited space, Gu Xue’an and the others decided not to stay long. After having dinner that night, they left for an inn in Anyuan Town.
Before leaving, Gu Xue’an went to see Bo Caiyue on behalf of everyone and cautiously said, "Take care of yourself and don’t overthink things. Those who ca are all Ruozhu’s friends and trustworthy, none of them are the gossiping type."
This was hinting to Bo Caiyue not to worry, assuring her they wouldn’t talk about it.
Bo Caiyue blushed and said, "Thank you, Miss Gu. I’m alright, but please tell others not to ntion my injury to my parents. Things are bad right now, and I don’t want them worrying."
"Alright, I’ll inform them properly," Gu Xue’an agreed imdiately.
After the group left, Ding Guangji lingered behind, suddenly turning to Bai Ruozhu, who ca to see them off, and said, "I’m not an irresponsible person!"
With that, he mounted his horse and rode off quickly.
Bai Ruozhu was stunned for a mont before realizing Ding Guangji was implying he’d take responsibility for Bo Caiyue. But he should be saying this to the one involved, not her. If others overheard, who knows what misunderstandings might arise.
Early the next morning, Bai Ruozhu went to check on Bo Caiyue, calling Tian Fang to change her dressing, as it wasn’t good for Bai Ruozhu, who was pregnant, to handle the dicines directly.
Tian Fang wisely excused herself after changing the dication to put away the dicine box.
Bai Ruozhu took a good look at Bo Caiyue, noticing faint dark circles under her eyes, and asked, "Didn’t sleep well?"
Bo Caiyue nodded, "You know about it, right? I really didn’t think too much of it, just found it a bit embarrassing."
A young girl’s thin-skinned shyness is normal; even in modern tis, getting slapped on the butt by a guy is embarrassing, let alone in conservative ancient tis.
Bai Ruozhu smiled at her and said, "Yesterday, when Ding Guangji left, he said he’s not an irresponsible person."
Bo Caiyue’s expression changed, and she looked away, avoiding eye contact, "He ant well, no need to take responsibility for this. Though I’m just a concubine’s daughter, I don’t want pity."
"Maybe he was already willing? Otherwise, why would he be the one to carry you?" Bai Ruozhu smiled, sat down beside the bed, and took Bo Caiyue’s hand, "Silly girl, don’t let pride make you miss a good match. If it’s just about responsibility, I wouldn’t suggest you accept. But if he’s sincere and you have feelings for him, don’t let him go."
"I..." Bo Caiyue’s face turned crimson, stubbornly saying, "I don’t even know him well."
"You’ll get to know each other later. No need to rush; let’s see how things go," Bai Ruozhu stood up smiling, advising her to rest well before leaving the room.
In the following days, Tian Fang stayed behind to learn dical skills with Bai Ruozhu. Given the tumultuous tis, she focused on suturing techniques, dressing wounds, treating external injuries, and bone setting. Guoguo also joined in, allowing Tian Fang to witness the prowess of Bai Ruozhu’s official disciple.
"Ah, I can’t even asure up to a child a few years old; it’s so damaging to my self-esteem!" Tian Fang exclaid, stimulated by Guoguo.
Guoguo remained calm and composed, "I’ve been learning from Master for a longer ti, so I have a bit of an advantage. Tian Fang Sister, you’re smart and have a knack for learning. If you study with Master the sa way, I’d definitely be no match for you."
Tian Fang couldn’t resist pinching Guoguo’s cheek, "Guoguo, you’re too modest, but I like you!"
Bai Ruozhu listened with a smile, internally praising Guoguo for being neither arrogant nor impatient, knowing how to give others face, willing to work hard, and having great potential in dicine.
When the stitches on Bo Caiyue’s wound were removed, Tian Fang bid farewell and returned to Beiyu City, saying she couldn’t leave Wei Tianzhen and the others to do all the hard work and needed to contribute too.
The day after Tian Fang left, soone from the village ca knocking.
It was the old man from the Li family at the west end of the village, who was of the sa generation as Bai Fu, even Bai Yihong had to call him uncle.
He pointed at his calf and said, "Yihong, I want your daughter to treat my injury. Didn’t they say she was a Chief Doctor in the palace? Help out so my leg doesn’t end up with lasting damage."
Bai Yihong saw the blood on his pants and hurriedly helped him, asking, "Uncle Li, how did you get hurt? Is it serious?"
"Don’t ntion it. I was in the field weeding when a snake suddenly jumped out, giving a fright, and I accidentally cut my own leg with the sickle," the old man said with a bitter smile, "I’m getting old and useless. Back in the day, I could catch a snake with one hand and even brew snake bile wine."
"Let help you into the house to sit for a bit, and I’ll call my daughter to have a look at it right away." Bai Yihong, being a kind-hearted person, was imdiately concerned when he heard this.
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