There was no rule that dictates that when two people sit together, they must speak.
So it's fine to simply sit there quietly - even if only Consort Li is drinking.
Even if Consort Li needed to indicate to Jing Wen for more tea, she didn’t need to speak. A simple gesture of tapping the table twice will suffice.
Of course, Jing Wen still had an inherent caution towards Consort Li, so he was more comfortable without speaking to her. Even though he enjoyed the moment, it could be said that it was in spite of Consort Li’s presence, though that might be somewhat hypocritical.
It is only a shame that Shen Yanlin’s clinic was located on Zhuxian street, among the busiest roads in Lin’an, so the streets outside the clinic were full of people. But perhaps this segregated space of serenity is no worse than the scenery at Longhu mountain or the river landscape of Jianjiang River (漸江水).
Maybe it’s due to the strange abilities of Consort Li, but the liveliness of the crowd outside appeared to be drowned out, as though they were separated by a dense forest that absorbed the nosiness. The sight of flowing robes, lively stalls and pedals of snow appeared more beautiful than usual.
A gust of wind brought a few snowflakes into the room, landing within the tea water.
There was no more tea water in the pot; thus, the contents within that cup were the last bit on the tea left.
Consort Li did not drink the contents of the cup and instead stared at it for a long moment. Abruptly, she took hold of the teacup with her left hand and stood up from the table. She wandered to where Lei Li was resting and began to look at her.
This inspection lasted for a very long time. Consort Li looked very carefully, very calmly, very attentively. It was as though the face of Lei Li contained countless mountains and rivers, flowers and trees, clouds, and countless more sights.
At some point, Consort Li reached out with her free hand, using her forefinger to lift Lei Li’s chin.
The act of raising a person’s chin had a far greater implication than merely staring. If it were between men and women, it would be an act of flirtation, or more typically, it is a person teasing a small animal. But Consort Li and Lei Li were both women and appeared more akin to sisters if they were standing side by side. There is no need to mention that they are both humans, not a person and beast.
Lei Li’s face scrunched up and unconsciously attempted to turn to avoid Consort Li’s careful scrutinisation, yet her head could not move due to incomprehensible Qi that Consort Li transmitted.
Consort Li raised Lei Li’s chin and continued inspecting. There was no semblance of tenderness in her eyes, nor sentimentality. Her eyes appeared more profound than the deepest of wells.
The closest manner one could compare Consort Li’s examination was the appreciation of a masterful painting.
In the end, it gave the impression that Consort Li did not look at Lei Li as one would with a human. Still, she might have thought Lei Li’s appearance was very cute and pleasing, causing the corners of Consort Li’s lips to raise.
Yet the next moment, Consort Li’s smile vanished, her complexion becoming as frigid as ice.
A sublime Qi intent emerged from the tip of her forefinger.
The Qi intent was incomparably oppressive and authoritative, silencing the world in its entirety.
Lei Li’s unconscious struggle ceased beneath the intent slowly approaching her. Perhaps it was because the sea of might was simply too powerful, or she subconsciously understood something must have occurred.
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The strand of Qi intent guided down through the long needles sticking out of Lei Li and entered into the girl’s body.
Akin to a worm, the strand of Qi intent traversed through the meridian channels within Lei Li’s body, entering her heart.
Even though it was a tiny portion, the strand of Qi intent was enough to cause the heart of an ordinary mortal to rupture. Even with Lei Li’s organ having undergone Heart Purification, the moment the strand of intent entered, the still heart immediately expanded and contracted as though it were a raging tempest, constantly rising and waning without end.
Lei Li’s use of Qi to prolong her life was far different from the xian and shen state experts’ methods. It was capable of suspending the body’s activities, thus allowing a far greater window of time to cure her problems. Yet it also meant as long as Qi was present in Lei Li’s body, her blood flow would be difficult to recommence.
Thus, Consort Li had waited, waited until the Qi within Lei Li’s body was exhausted, before beginning her resuscitation. But putting aside Lei Li’s resumed heartbeat, the other issue remains.
The Qi barrier that separates the valves within Lei Li’s heart was now absent, as there was no longer any Qi within Lei Li’s body. Even if blood flowed once more, Lei Li would still perish regardless.
This sort of illness is something even the most skilled Imperial physician cannot cure.
Consort Li extended her and dipped it into the teacup.
With a flick of her fingers, a drop of tea water fell on Lei Li’s chest.
The tea seemed to have not made contact with the dress Lei Li was wearing at all. Sinking through the fabric, it vanished into the girl’s body.
---
When Jing Wen entered the room Lei Li was recovering; he realised Consort Li had already departed. Lei Li’s bloodstream was flowing with a stable pattern, and the three needles had been placed back within the jar of solution. The crowd outside was still lively, loudly advertising their goods or gossiping about the latest secrets in Lin’an.
Shen Yanlin’s clinic still had that foul smell that it always had - it was as though that beautiful moment of serenity was no different from a dream.
Only the faint scent of warm tea emitting from the tableside was present.
Jing Wen shook his head and collected the cup of tea to bring back to its set.
After washing the tea set, he returned to Shen Yanlin before placing Lei Li on his back. Without a change in his expression, he began to bring the girl back to her family residence.
After walking half the distance to the Lei family’s residency, Lei Li opened her eyes with a great deal of effort. Looking around her surroundings with her remaining strength, she confirmed whether she had entered the afterlife or was still in the world of the living.
Finally, she looked up and saw Jing Wen, who had yet to notice she had gained her consciousness.
Tilting her head to the side, Lei Li let out a weak laugh, saying, “The spirits in Diyu should look pretty ugly. Since I saw such a pretty face, I guess I’m not dead yet.”
Jing Wen was somewhat startled that Lei Li had woken up, but swiftly regained his composure, saying, “Lady Li has already tended to your illness. There shouldn’t be any dangers at the moment.”
Lei Li sucked in a breath of cold air before firing off, “You mean Ji Xiaofang? What is your relationship with her?”
Jing Wen was now truly confused. He thought Consort Li personally treating Lei Li confirmed Zhou Aimin’s suspicion that the two possessed a master and disciple relationship. Yet Lei Li clearly showed a surprise at the mention of Consort Li and her inquisition of the relationship between Jing Wen and Ji Xiaofang, suggesting that was certainly not the case.
Jing Wen gave a slight nod towards Lei Li’s previous question before he said, “Indeed, I invited Consort Li to treat you… but I am more interested in who you are.”
Lei Li, trembling, raised her right hand towards her mouth. After she let out a series of coughs, her brows were raised in an arrogant manner as she said weakly, yet pridefully, “Wouldn’t you want to know.”
After saying that, Lei Li closed her eyes, loosened her shoulders and immediately fell into a coma again.
In the face of this aggravation, Jing Wen’s expression could not help but turn into one of disbelief. He had clearly saved her, yet she acted in such a manner… it truly makes one speechless.
Shaking his head, Jing Wen swiftly calmed down his irritation. Continuing down Long’an avenue, it was not long before he noticed the door guard of the Lei family worryingly waiting for his young mistress.
After sending Lei Li to the door guard and seeing her escorted into the house, Jing Wen unruffled his robes before writing a notice stating his intent to reject the edict from the beginning. Passing it to the door guard, Jing Wen finally left the manor, leaving behind the entire matter.
Once he returned to his manor, he did not immediately head to the pavilion to cultivate or head to the dining hall. He wiped his hands with another handkerchief he had brought and walked towards the Jing manor’s backside building.
The backside building was one of the places Jing Wen was most familiar with in Jing Manor because it was where Jing An had resided for a very long time. When he was younger, he had frequently been brazen and sneaked into the place at night. Thus, Jing Wen retraced the path he had not walked in a month and a half with remarkable ease.
Passing the withered fruit trees, Jing Wen’s steps on the paved road were silent because of the thin layer of snow. When he finally exited the fruit tree forest that separated the backside building from the rest of the manor, Jing Wen came to the building’s front.
By the side of the building, near the fruit tree forest’s edge, was a simple porcelain table. Above the table, there was an ordinary oil lamp.
The one sitting next to the table naturally cannot be Jing An, but Hong Jingfei.
The oil lamp shined on her face, reflecting her pleasing and spotless appearance. In Lin’an, there were plenty of nobles with such well maintained facial features, but to find an individual who had lived in the slums with such an appearance could be considered an anomaly.
But since Jing Wen was blind, it would be impossible for him to notice this unless he straightforwardly touched Hong Jingfei’s face.
Jing Wen walked towards Hong Jingfei and gave a slight bow before sitting down on the side of the porcelain table opposite of her.
Once he felt the gaze of the mute and deaf girl on him, he gestured in sign language. Jing Wen was naturally foreign to sign language, and thus his movement was very stiff and unnatural; however, the meaning was clear.
I apologies.