Chapter 2: The Fifth Miss of the Ji Family, Found!

Ji Qingwu had transmigrated here, but it was only a soul transmigration.

She had borrowed the body of a young lady from an official’s family. Coincidentally, that lady was also surnamed Ji and shared her exact appearance, but this Miss Ji had gone missing in her childhood and was later adopted by an old physician in the mountains.

If the people who had come were from the Ji family...

Ji Qingwu’s heart skipped a beat.

If she had any particular trait, it was that the things she feared most were exactly what tended to happen. A woman’s intuition was uncannily accurate when it came to her.

For instance, that night she had tied the man to the bed—though they had only been together once. Yet, when she walked out of the military tent with her waist and legs aching, she knew for certain that she would conceive a child.

Ji Qingwu stopped what she was doing and looked toward the door.

To keep out the wind, sand, and insects, she had specifically hung a white gauze curtain at the entrance of the clinic.

The visitor reached out to brush aside the curtain. A pair of black official boots stepped into the hall first, followed by a tall, young man with handsome, refined features.

The woman who had been waiting at the door saw him enter and respectfully called out, "My Lord."

Ji Changlin nodded slightly.

"Just as you expected, My Lord, this Doctor Wu is truly capable. Her diagnosis of my congenital deficiency is exactly the same as that of the divine doctor Le Xi in Lin'an City."

At a glance, Ji Qingwu could tell that this official was a young talent; he looked upright, and his demeanor was exceptionally clean and dignified.

Ji Changlin first bowed in greeting: "Doctor Wu, my surname is Ji. I am passing through this place while on official business for Southern Chu. Having heard the locals speak highly of your medical skills, I wished to invite you to treat a relative of mine."

Ji Qingwu felt uneasy inside, but she remained calm on the surface.

She glanced at the woman dressed as a commoner and said with deliberate coldness, "If that is the case, why did you feel the need to test me? Southern Chu and Lin'an City are thousands of miles apart, and the journey is long. I am a person who dislikes being put to trouble."

He looked at Ji Qingwu carefully from head to toe. Although this female doctor was not strikingly beautiful, her temperament was gentle and soft, especially that delicate voice of hers, and the graceful waist that could not be hidden beneath her plain brocade clothes.

However, her fingers were tightly twisted at this moment, a clear sign that she was burdened with heavy thoughts, as if she were hiding many secrets.

Ji Changlin grew suspicious and continued, "Doctor Wu, Southern Chu is, after all, a desolate land. Judging by your accent, you should also be from Lin'an. The new Emperor has now been on the throne for three years, and the people of Lin'an live in peace and contentment. Why not return to your homeland?"

The monarch of the Great Liang Dynasty had been licentious and corrupt; by the time she transmigrated, the country was already in a state of collapse.

Now, the one who held Lin'an City was the new Emperor of Northern Li.

Ji Qingwu hadn't paid much attention to this news, but the streets and alleys were all talking about how heroic and peerless this new Emperor was.

How he led the Eight Capital Armies across the river, launched a surprise attack on the enemy, beheaded their leader in the enemy camp, and used thunderous methods to deal with the treacherous officials and their remnants.

Seeing her lost in thought, Ji Changlin continued to persuade her: "With your medical skills, there would certainly be no problem establishing yourself in Lin'an. If you need any help, the Ji family has many storefronts; I can rent one to you at a low price or send people to help you manage things."

He was offering such a huge favor the moment he opened his mouth.

Just who in the Ji family was infertile?

Ji Qingwu pinched her little finger and said in a soft tone, "Lord Ji, perhaps everyone loves the prosperity of the capital, but I prefer the unique scenery of this border town."

Ji Changlin raised an eyebrow and walked over to sit opposite her.

He had long since quietly examined the entire clinic. He saw an illustrated book placed at the corner of the table—a primer specifically for young children.

This doctor must have a three or four-year-old child at home.

He asked, "Oh? Are you not concerned about your child's future, either?"

Ji Qingwu’s expression stiffened. He had actually realized she had a child.

But her daughter was not in the clinic at the moment.

When she first arrived here, she was busy making a living, so she had found a reliable family.

During the day, she sent her precious daughter, Qiuqiu, to be fostered, worked in the clinic, and picked her up in the evening to live with her.

Ji Changlin picked up the illustrated book on the table, flipped through a few pages, and said leisurely, "A parent’s love for their child is deep and far-reaching. A small picture book is not enough for an education; you really should hire a proper tutor."

Ji Qingwu’s throat went dry. She licked her lips and picked up the teacup on the table, draining it in one gulp.

If there was one downside to being in Southern Chu, it was that her Qiuqiu was already four years old—the age when she needed to be sent to school for enlightenment.

However, the people here had to worry about surviving and having enough to eat first; the education of their children naturally fell to the bottom of the list.

Ji Qingwu had always hoped to find a good teacher for Qiuqiu, at least so she could understand more about how to conduct herself in the world.

Seeing her expression soften, Ji Changlin continued, "I suspect that your child is at the age where she needs guidance in her studies. Why not return to Lin'an City with us? It would also be a chance to reunite with your family."

At the sudden mention of the word "family."

For some reason, the man’s face flashed into Ji Qingwu’s mind.

She shook her head vigorously, and when she looked up, she saw Ji Changlin staring at her thoughtfully.

Ji Qingwu couldn't help but break into a sweat. She picked up a linen cloth from the table to wipe her forehead, revealing her blindingly white wrists.

Ji Changlin watched as the linen cloth became stained with a patch of brown. He leaned in slightly, curled his lips, and said, "Doctor Wu, why are you afraid to show your true face?"

This man must be a fox spirit reincarnated!

Ji Qingwu’s secrets were being dismantled one by one in front of him.

Her eyes flashed with annoyance: "My Lord, this commoner simply likes this makeup and style. Is that against the law?"

"Naturally, it is not against the law."

In a town on the border of two countries, there were many people fleeing famine, and therefore, mostly refugees.

Ji Changlin dropped his gentle tone and said sternly, "However, do you and your child have household registration documents? Is your residence here legal? Those without documents will be expelled from the border and subjected to branding."

Branding meant carving characters into exposed skin—how could she allow that?

He was threatening her!

Ji Qingwu looked soft and weak, but that was only because no one had provoked her yet.

She slammed her hand onto the table.

The square sandalwood table shattered under the force, and wood splinters danced in the air.

Not expecting her to have such great strength—to be able to shatter a wooden table with one hand—Ji Changlin stepped back in surprise.

The woman who had come for treatment earlier nimbly blocked his path. It seemed she was his guard, and she scolded, "Audacious woman! How dare you be disrespectful to the envoy of Northern Li!"

Ji Qingwu let out a cold snort. So he was an envoy of Northern Li; no wonder he was so eloquent and sharp-witted.

She glared at the two people in front of her, not feeling a shred of fear.

Over the years, every time she cured a patient, she would exchange for skills from the system. Most of what she exchanged for were self-defense techniques. In terms of raw strength alone, the two of them combined were no match for her.

Just as the atmosphere was tense and ready to snap.

A little person crawled out from behind the door curtain.

She looked to be about three or four years old, but her steps were extremely steady.

The little girl had a chubby face and a natural smile. She was holding something in her hands, and with her short legs, she ran directly toward Ji Qingwu.

Ji Qingwu desperately tried to signal her daughter with her eyes.

"Mother!"

Only a very loud call was heard.

Afraid that others wouldn't know whose child she was.

Qiuqiu: Can't hide it at all; if you love someone, you must shout it out loud.