Chapter 128: An Invitation to Cohabit

Hmm? Was Xiao Jingxuan hearing things? When had she ever said she had nowhere to stay? Su Jingluo looked puzzled; with the Luojing Pavilion being so vast, how could it possibly be that there was no room for her?

"It’s fine, I’ll just stay in the side hall. There’s plenty of space," Su Jingluo immediately declined. Staying in the side hall would make it much more convenient to look after Ten Thousand and Nine.

"Stay there if you like, though the side hall wasn't designed for living in; it wasn't even considered when we laid it out. Isn't that right, Shen Zhong?" Xiao Jingxuan turned back to look at Shen Zhong, who was peering in from outside the room.

"The side hall is certainly not as luxurious as the main chamber and is furnished much more simply, but there is absolutely no problem with living there," Shen Zhong replied immediately. How could he possibly claim it was uninhabitable? This was a matter of dignity for a head steward. Managing the estate and arranging the rooms were his specialties; the Prince simply couldn't slander him like that.

"..." Xiao Jingxuan shot Shen Zhong a fierce glare. This fellow was clearly ill-suited to be a head steward; he lacked any sense of the situation.

Seeing the Prince glare at him, Shen Zhong felt quite aggrieved. He had kept the Luojing Pavilion in such good order—what more could the Prince be dissatisfied with? But noticing the look of disappointment on the Prince's face, Shen Zhong suddenly understood. He wished he could kneel and slap himself silly, but doing so in this current setting would surely lead the Prince to finish him off rather than forgive him.

"Big brother, don't worry. You saved my mother, so we will definitely heal you." At that moment, Yunbai squeezed in from outside, walked to the bedside, and gently patted Ten Thousand and Nine on the shoulder, his eyes filled with sincere gratitude. Su Jingluo might not have been able to fool Xiao Jingxuan, but her performance had successfully convinced Yunbai.

Ten Thousand and Nine’s face flushed deep red on the bed. Firstly, it was because of Yunbai’s status; the young heir was calling him "big brother" and comforting him, which left him feeling flattered and overwhelmed. Secondly, he hadn't actually saved the Princess; she was merely covering up his embarrassment.

Yunbai, acting with great seriousness, lifted the quilt to examine Ten Thousand and Nine's leg and sprinkled some small insects onto it. They instantly burrowed into the calf, leaving only tiny, pinprick-sized dots with faint traces of blood.

Ten Thousand and Nine’s expression shifted abruptly; his leg began to feel numb and tingling, as if small creatures were gnawing at it.

"Don't be afraid, big brother. Although these little bugs are poisonous, they are a miraculous medicine for treating bone injuries and bruising. When they burrow into the skin, the toxins they secrete are usually unpleasant, but in your case, they will clear away the bruising and dredge your meridians. In a few hours, I will take them out, and not only will you not be poisoned, but you will recover much faster." Seeing Ten Thousand and Nine trying to endure the pain, Yunbai explained in his sweet, childish voice, reciting his theories with ease.

Su Jingluo watched Yunbai with gratification. This was the Xiao Yunbai she wanted to see; she felt as if she had a worthy successor. Xiao Jingxuan’s eyes were also filled with admiration—truly, he was the Prince’s son, so brilliant and capable. Yet, he couldn't help but feel that a boy of such extraordinary intellect should be following him into battle and commanding troops; becoming a doctor felt like a waste of talent.

Su Jingluo left Ruihuan and Yunbai to look after Ten Thousand and Nine. Realizing that Yunbai knew how to heal as well as he knew how to cause trouble, Su Jingluo felt an urge to cheer, "Truly, a wonderful son for a mother."

Su Jingluo felt there were many things waiting for her to do. The monetary rewards from the Emperor had been safely stored away, and the gifts from the noble families were already in her pocket. But there were still the hundred hectares of fertile land in the suburbs, and her grand ambition of opening a nationwide chain of hospitals. She needed to hit the streets in the next few days to scout for suitable locations. Once the hospital was established, she would need to find doctors and nursing staff. Oh dear, they couldn't just start working without training—perhaps she needed to set up a training academy as well? Right, and she still needed to check on Lin Wanwan’s condition.