Volume 1: Absolutely No Same Parallel Universe Chapter 13: Pretending to be Ill to Pass the Test (Part 1)

  Back to the house, only I and Jin Niang were left. Jin Niang stood obediently on one side, with a rare humble and gentle look that I seldom saw, softly saying: "Miss, thank you."

  I shook my head and said, "Don't say those things anymore, I'm not used to it."

  She poured a cup of tea and took a few big gulps, slightly relieving her thirst. Just then, Jin Niang frowned and said: "Miss, this tea is cold, let me go change it to hot."

  "Never mind." I spoke up to stop her: "Who knows when they'll come, you won't let me face them like this?" Since I agreed to help them with the play, I will definitely do a good job. I've always been a person who keeps promises.

  Jin Niang stopped in her tracks, turned around to look at me, and her eyes were filled with gratitude. She was also a straightforward person, not beating around the bush, and directly said: "Miss, please change into your nightclothes and get into bed."

  I was stunned: "Lying in bed like this doesn't look like a patient at all, could it be that you want to knock me out and let the person who comes see my appearance and then leave?" I thought of my own face which was still burning from being sunburned, no one would think that someone with a red and radiant complexion is sick.

  "No." Jin Niang laughed wildly and picked up my clothes, saying: "Miss only needs to lie on the bed, everything else I can handle."

  Since it's like this, I won't worry about it anymore. I obediently changed into comfortable clothes, let down my hair and sat on the bed.

  Jin Niang handed me a towel and gently wiped my face. I closed my eyes, letting her fuss over me, feeling something cool being applied to my face, very comfortable.

  After a while, Jin Niang's hand left my face, I let out a breath, and saw her bring over the mirror on the table. I was taken aback - was this still me from just now?

  All I see in the mirror is a person with a sickly complexion, pale face, dark eye bags, bloodless lips, and my own slightly sharp eyes hidden away. The person in the mirror is exactly like Lin Daiyu, who has been bedridden for a long time, pale and weak.

  "Jin Niang, can you disguise yourself?" I asked her in surprise.

  Jin Niang modestly said: "It's just a small trick, it can't change people's original appearance."

  I nodded and sighed: "It's already very fierce, but it's a bit inappropriate."

  Jin Niang looked at me with doubt: "What's wrong?"

  I shook my head and said, "I was fine before I got married, it's only been a few days, how could I have fallen ill like this? Even if I did get sick, it would only be something minor like a cold or flu that wouldn't allow me to go out. If I were to fall ill like this, and word gets back to Lady Gu, wouldn't she think that her perfectly fine daughter was sent over and then fell gravely ill, causing more trouble?"

  Jin Niang's face turned red with embarrassment as she said, "It was me who messed up." She then quickly fiddled around my face again.

  Looking in the mirror again, I nodded slightly and leaned against the headboard: "What kind of person is this Miss Shangguan? What should I say to her?"

  Jin Niang sat down at the head of my bed and said softly, "Miss Shangguan's name is Shangguan Yan, and she and Chu Yunming, who came with her this time, are both adopted children of Grand Preceptor Gu."

  "Oh?" I stared in surprise: "So they and Ling Yi grew up together since childhood."

  "Yes." Jin Niang nodded and sighed: "They have been living in the separate courtyard of Tai Shifu's mansion since they were young, I've seen them grow up, their feelings are very good, Ling... Baizhu is the oldest inside, Chu Yunming is second, there is also an old three Zhou Chong, and Up Officer Yan is the youngest."

  I was surprised and looked at her: "What about Gu Qingying?"

  Jin Niang sighed and said, "Miss Qingying is seven years younger than the castle owner. Since the year Madam passed away, she was also sent to another courtyard with four other children. They all treated Qingying as their youngest sister, taking care of her with great care. Among them, the one who doted on Qingying the most was the castle owner. He satisfied her every request and helped her do whatever she wanted..."

  As I recall the soft memories of Jin Niang, I start to fantasize about that fleeting past. A delicate and weak little girl was pampered, spoiled and doted on by a group of brothers and sisters who protected her with care. She chased butterflies in the midst of blooming spring flowers; played in the cool creek waters on summer days; squandered her childhood under the golden autumn sun; and counted the snowflakes falling outside the window on warm winter days. Even without parents by her side, she was happy.

  "When the castle owner was eighteen years old, he left Fengming country. Before his departure, he made a request to the old master: if he could make a name for himself in Qi country, the old master would marry Qingying Miss to him."

  "Then he established the Hibiscus Fortress?" I stared at Jin Niang in shock, what could have allowed an eighteen-year-old youth to establish such a massive fortress in just a few short years? Ah Fu Rong? This, this was too unbelievable.

  Jin Niang nodded and continued: "The fortress master returns to Feng Ming country every year, although only for a short period of time..."

  I interrupted her and continued to ask my question: "Why didn't Ling Yi stay in Fengming Country, staying with the one he loved? Why did he come to Qi Country?" I felt suspicious in my heart. In a strange country, planting opium poppies and building a city that was rich enough to rival a nation, why? Did he have another purpose?

  My heart skipped a beat as I was startled by my own thoughts.

  Jin Niang shook her head and said: "I don't know about this, I only occasionally heard Qing Ying mention it, the agreement between the castle owner and the old master."

  "What's going on?" I knew I was being too curious, but couldn't help wondering.

  Just then, a commotion was heard outside the house. Jin Niang paused for a moment and immediately became serious. She hastily pulled down the mosquito net on one side of my bed and whispered to me: "They've arrived, Miss. You don't need to say too much, just get through it."

  I lay back on the bed, pulled up the silk quilt to my chest, and hid my face behind the mosquito net, carefully observing the situation outside.

  Only Ruo Wei's voice came faintly: "Reporting to the castle master, the lady has taken her medicine and just fell asleep."

  I was secretly delighted in my heart, this little girl is quite clever, as soon as she heard that I wanted to pretend to be ill, she cooperated with me.

  I held back my laughter and only heard Ling Yi's gentle voice say: "It doesn't matter, you go down first."

  A woman's laughter came: "Xiao Ying, hiding and pretending to be ill without seeing me, watch me not spank your butt."

  With a string of silvery laughter, a purple figure floated in, the bed curtain was lifted, and a pleased face appeared before my eyes. She wore a purple shirt, with a delicate short sword on her slender waist, her black hair was high up, and her whole body was full of vitality. What a refreshing and elegant beauty, just the type I like.

  "Yan sister teased me again." I deliberately imitated Gu Qingying's manner, blushing and saying, but still couldn't help my eyes lighting up.

  Jin Niang hastily pulled up the mosquito net by my bed, then supported me to lean against the headboard, and then moved a embroidered stool in front of the bed.

  "I said it was Big Brother who hid Little Ying away and wouldn't let us meet, look at her now with sparkling eyes, where does she look sick?" Upper Official Yan turned her head to scold with a smile, then sat down on the embroidered stool at my bedside in a big way.

  My heart skipped a beat, I looked up to see Ling Yi and another handsome man with a noble aura walking in together. I didn't dare to be presumptuous anymore, so I could only blush and call out: "Chu Gege is also here."

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  Vote for me

  Alas, in weak and mournful sighs