Chapter 221 Welcoming the Army

She might as well make use of the opportunity since Qin Xu had retired and was spending most of his free time at home.

“Thank you, Uncle Qin. Prince Yu and I will be waiting eagerly for your visit.”

Lin Mengya’s words were pleasing to Qin Xu’s heart.

Not only was she polite, possessed a sense of propriety, she was also outstanding in her medical skills. The Lins were indeed so blessed.

“It’s getting late, and we have delayed a day in the army camp. It’s time for us to leave, Uncle Qin.”

An entire day had passed since they left home riding on horses.

All the commotion had died down and her elder brother had stabilized the entire situation by now.

It would be inappropriate for her to remain at the camp for any longer.

“Alright. They would enter the city in a few days anyway. Young General Lin, I would have to trouble you to look after Qin Mo.”

Lin Nansheng nodded. Not only was Qin Mo his savior, but he was also his good buddy.

It was only natural that he took care of Qin Mo.

“Ya’er, take care of yourself. Father will be arriving in a few days. By then, our family will be reunited again,” Lin Nansheng enjoined his sister as he continued to be concerned about her.

Because of the imbecile state Lin Mengya was in during the past, coupled with the fact that Shangguan Qing was always eyeing her at home, Lin Nansheng and his father could not stop worrying about her.

Now that Lin Mengya seemed to have been intellectually enlightened, he became even more concerned.

It was natural that people would be jealous of outstanding talents.

His little sister was way too eye-catching and there were too many vicious people within the capital city who were eyeing on her with evil intention. These people were not to be trifled with.

“Yes, I know. When Daddy comes back, I’ll come out from the city to welcome him personally.”

The time for the union was too short.

Still wearing a smile on her face, Lin Mengya boarded the horse carriage which her elder prepared for her.

After bidding farewell to Lin Nansheng, the group of them headed out from the army camp for home.

There were too many people who went in and out of the army camp these few days. Lin Mengya and her gang kept a low key as they went on their journey so much so they did not attract much attention to themselves.

“Master, you should take a good bath first when you get home. It must have been hard on you these one day and one night.”

Baiji massaged Lin Mengya on her thigh. Other people might not perceive clearly the thing which their master had done, but these maidservants were well aware of her intentions.

As Lin Mengya shut her eyes to rest, she fell asleep unknowingly.

The four maidservants exchanged looks and laughed gently.

Their master was definitely utterly exhausted.

She was overcome by exhaustion which came from all parts of her body.

It seemed as if her thin eyelids weighed a thousand catties. No matter how hard she tried, she was unable to keep them opened.

She was overcome with fatigue and wished she could just sleep forever.

“Lass! Lass! Stop sleeping, wake up!”

Lin Mengya could hear Qinghu’s voice vaguely from not too far away.

Lin Mengya was gradually awake and was feeling more alert.

At this moment, she realized that she was no longer in the swaying horse carriage. She was in the main building in the Liuxin Courtyard, which roof was decorated with carvings of dragons and phoenix.

“How long have I... slept?”

Turning around, Lin Mengya saw Qinghu’s familiar smile.

“Sleepy head, an entire night had passed. You must be exhausted. Last night you did not even wake when I carried you into the house.”

In fact, everyone was overcome by fatigue the night before.

Not to mention Lin Mengya, the other four maidservants quickly fell into a deep sleep after they washed up.

It was rare that the Liuxin Courtyard was so quiet for one night.

Everyone had gone into the dark and sweet slumber land.

“Oh, I see,” said Lin Mengya.

Lin Mengya rubbed her temple and sat up slowly.

Strangely, she sensed that her body was showing signs of recuperation.

She felt her pulse and it seemed that her initially weak pulse seemed to have gained some strength.

She also felt much more energetic.

Could it be because she chewed on the water caltrop grass?

She had a vivid memory of the time when her tongue enlarged from chewing on the water caltrop grass.

It was even more bitter than the taste of Chinese goldthread. She would never want to try it again.

Perhaps the herb had put the poison in her body under control temporarily.

“I want to eat something, I’m famished!”

While she had helped her elder brother treat the poison in Qin Mo, it appeared that the poison in her body had also come under control.

This was double happiness which lifted Lin Mengya’s mood significantly.

Lin Mengya easily filled up herself with the delicious food from the table prepared for her since earlier on.

“Qingli sent a message to say that your elder brother had gained control over the entire situation. I suppose he is in the process of eliminating the suspects.”

Qinghu, who accompanied her while she ate the foods on the table, began updating her the current status of her elder brother’s investigation.

“Do warn Qingli to be cautious not to go too close. I guess it’s about to eradicate the secretly planted agent surrounding him.”

Lin Mengya knew very well that the army of the Lin Family was a double-edged sword to the Crown Prince and his company.

One the one hand, the army of the Lin Family could protect the nation, on the other, it could also rope in support from the other forces, thereby threatening to structure of power distribution.

Lin Mengya anticipated that she would be whipped into the whirlpool of power struggle, just because she was the most beloved daughter of the Lin Family.

“Oh yes, I found something strange when I was trying to neutralize the poison in Qin Mo’s body,” said Lin Mengya to Qinghu.

Lin Mengya’s mind turned to another matter and quietly, she continued to tell Qinghu, saying, “Imperial Physician Qiu seemed to be very familiar with some of the components of the concoction I prescribed. Those herbs are good for neutralizing poison. I was wondering why, being an imperial physician, instead of being specialized in the knowledge of herbs used in gynecology or other tonics, he seems exceptionally knowledgeable in detoxification. Don’t you think it’s a bit too strange?”

This was what was puzzling Lin Mengya most.

“Do you mean—”

Given Qinghu’s sharp mind, he understood the most critical point Lin Mengya was trying to get at almost immediately.

“I’m just making a guess. Perhaps I’m overthinking this. After all, imperial physicians should be knowledgeable in all areas of medicine. I don’t think I’d be able to deal with the poison in Qin Mo’s body if not for the fact that I’ve been learning from Teacher for a while and I have some knowledge of some detoxication methods.”

Lin Mengya could not be bothered to think too much into it.

Given that the Winter Solstice Celebration was impending, there were many other matters concerning her father and elder brother which she should worry over.

Moreover, she was still clueless as to how she should break the news of Elder Sister Yue Ting to her elder brother.

With so many things to worry over, she could not be bothered to think about the young imperial physician.

In the twinkling of an eye, a few more days passed. By this time, Lin Muzhi had led his army all the way to the borders of the city and encamped there.

Today was the day the army would enter the city. During this time, a portion of the soldiers would be allowed to go home to visit their family.

The streets had turned into a sea of people. The people had crowded onto the streets to catch a glimpse of the war heroes.

Early in the morning, Lin Mengya was already taken a seat at the upstairs of Restaurant Ruyi. From there, she could see the noisy crowd outside.

“Old Master’s coming home! Isn’t it great, Master?”

Baizhi was elated. She remembered that when they were young, she and Lin Mengya were the happiest whenever the Old Master and Young Master Lin came home.

Although she was no longer in want now that she was with Lin Mengya’s side, the exciting feeling of anticipation for the return of her old master had not changed at all.

“Are you sure you could not wait for Daddy’s return? Or is it because you love the Furong cake served in Restaurant Ruyi? Mo Ran, watch out for Baizhi. She had finished three plates of the cake. At this rate, she might finish all the food in Restaurant Ruyi that it will have to close down.”

Moran and Qingli laughed to Lin Mengya’s jokes.

After spending some time with Lin Mengya, they gradually got to know her better.

She was easy to get along.

There would always be the sounds of laughter in her presence.

Gradually, they were able to understand why their master had transformed so much because of her.

“I’m not as capable as Baishao, who was summoned by Concubine De early in the morning. I will just stay here and eat my Furong cake,” responded Baizhi.

She stuck out her tongue and then popped another piece of cake into her mouth.

However, a perplex look appeared in both Baiji and Lin Mengya’s eyes when they heard Baizhi’s words.

Baishao seemed to go to the Art Courtyard more often since she returned from the army camp.

“Master, Baishao—”

Lin Mengya stopped Baiji from saying anything more.

Pausing for a second, Lin Mengya said, “I trust her.”

She believed that Baishao would never betray her.

Even if Baishao did eventually betray her, Lin Mengya could only blame herself for being blind.

They continued to chat for a while longer before they heard the voice of the waiter from downstairs, calling out to them, saying, “Prince Yu is here.”

“Please excuse me,” the waiter said and left.

Lin Mengya had agreed earlier to meet up with Long Tianyu in Restaurant Ruyi.

However, she thought it was not a good idea for Long Tianyu to find out her relationships with Moran and Qingli.

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She nodded towards the two of them and they left.

In the next minute, Long Tianyu appeared before her eyes.

The weather was rather cold, so Long Tianyu had a grey fur cloak on to keep warm.

He had a green silk scarve draped on top of his cloak and there was fox fur around his collar.

On his head was a delicate jade crown carved with an image of the head of a beast. However, he was expressionless on his handsome face.

Amidst the crowd, he was like the shining moon in a dark night, such that no one would be able to ignore.

As he walked up the stairs, he was like a striking deity. All the people’s attention was attracted to him the moment he appeared at Restaurant Ruyi.

However, there was indifference in his eyes, as if no one could catch his eye. He seemed to look at the entire world with total disinterest.

“This way please, Your Highness,” the waiter at the entrance went up to Long Tianyu to greet him zealously and led him to the room where Lin Mengya was waiting.

The moment he opened the door which was painted with the scenery of mountains and lakes, he spotted the beautiful lady sitting by the window.

Lin Mengya looked to have lost weight perhaps because she had been too busy.

Her once rounded face was now more slim.

Her features were near perfect and her every facial expression was entrancing.

Although the windows were open, the room felt warm and cozy.

It was rare that Lin Mengya dressed herself up so formally. She was cladded in a lilac coat embroidered with the pattern of the lily flower.

Her clothes made her skin look snow white.

On her neatly done-up hair, there was a set of flower and butterfly golden hairpin.

Compared to the young lady she was half a year ago, she had transformed into an elegant and poised lady.

“Please come in and warm yourself up, Your Highness. There is still some time before the army will enter the city.”

Lin Mengya smiled tenderly, but remained seated. Her tone of voice sounded polite but a little distant.

It had been five days since Lin Mengya and Long Tianyu last saw each other.

Neither of them had taken a further step in their conversation. No one knew whether it was because of the rapport between them or that they were in a pique.

It was the Queen’s order for Prince Yu and the Crown Prince to go out of the city to welcome the return of the army.

If not for this, they might not get to see each other for a long time.