Chapter 277: Chapter 259, Strange_1
“Strange monk, is Granny Gu awake yet?”
Daku had rescued the person from the river and brought them to the herbal shop, and now that everyone else had left, only Granny Gu and the strange monk were still here.
It wasn’t that the two of them didn’t want to leave, it was just that Granny Gu was frail, and the ordeal of falling into the river had nearly cost her half her life; she still couldn’t get out of bed.
When Daohua arrived, Gu Jian was decanting medicine.
Because they were brought over by Daku, the herbal shop had cleared a room for the two of them.
At this moment, Granny Gu was lying in bed, while the strange monk squatted at the doorway boiling medicine.
Gu Jian glanced at Daohua and didn’t speak, but she shifted toward the doorway.
Daohua peered into the room and saw Granny Gu struggling to sit up in bed.
Seeing this, Daohua hurriedly went inside, helping the old woman to sit up.
Gu Jian took a quick look at her and didn’t stop her.
After catching her breath for a while, Granny Gu smiled at Daohua, “Aren’t you the little girl from Yan Family village?”
Daohua looked surprised, “Granny Gu, you remember me?”
Granny Gu smiled and nodded her head.
This young girl had made a deep impression on her, daring to venture out alone at the age of five to seek medicine for her grandmother, and she was also very brave; she hadn’t been scared the first time she saw her.
Her face, burnt over most of it, scared even some adults who saw it.
After seeking medicine, her grandmother brought her to the convent a few more times and even specifically made food to offer; this simple act of kindness was truly unforgettable.
Daohua also smiled; she had been able to get the medicine back then, firstly because of the convent’s abbot, and secondly because of Granny Gu’s help.
Although half of her face was burned, she wasn’t scary at all because the old woman’s eyes were very gentle and serene.
At this time, Gu Jian came in with the medicine.
Daohua immediately joked, “Granny Gu, your memory is much better than that of the strange monk; he didn’t remember me at all.”
Granny Gu looked at her brother and laughed, “He is busy making a living, has a lot of different things on his mind, and naturally he won’t remember as well as I do with nothing to occupy me.”
Daohua asked with curiosity, “Granny Gu, you were doing well in the convent. Why did you come to Xingyun Prefecture?”
Granny Gu’s expression turned sorrowful, “Abbot Huide has passed away.”
At this news, Daohua was shocked, “How could that be? I remember when we left that year, he looked quite healthy.”
Granny Gu said, “Illness strikes like a falling mountain, who can make sense of life and death?”
Daohua fell silent for a moment before continuing, “Abbot Huide passed away, and the new abbot chased you out?”
Granny Gu glanced at Gu Jian, “The new abbot didn’t chase us out, but he befriended the County Magistrate, and the Magistrate has an old mother who is bedridden year-round, so he wanted Xiaojian to treat her. Xiaojian was unwilling, so we felt it was inappropriate to stay in the convent any longer.”
Daohua nodded in understanding; the strange monk was quirky and seemed to have a particular dislike for officials.
Just then, Gu Jian finished preparing the medicine and was ready to administer it to Granny Gu.
“Let me do it!”
Daohua naturally took the medicine bowl from him; the strange monk was not young anymore, and he had been squatting for so long while boiling the medicine. She glanced at him and saw his legs were trembling slightly.
Gu Jian looked at Daohua but didn’t refuse.
Granny Gu smiled and said to Gu Jian, “Sit and rest awhile!”
Gu Jian nodded and sat down on a nearby stool.
As Daohua fed Granny Gu the medicine, she laughed and said, “He really does listen to you!”
After Granny Gu drank the medicine, she said something melancholic, “I just wish he wouldn’t be so obedient.”
Her words were spoken softly, and Daohua didn’t hear them clearly, “What?”
Old Granny shook her head and didn’t say more but asked, “Young girl, I heard that the young man who was with you before, what Prince was he?”
Daohua laughed and said, “He is not a Prince, he is the Prince’s son.”
Gu Jian immediately looked over, “Which Prince?”
Daohua hesitated before looking at him, “What do you want to know that for?”
Noticing the wariness in Daohua’s eyes, Old Granny smiled, “He, well, just doesn’t like to owe favors. That noble person helped us, and since we can’t repay him, we should at least know who he is, right?”
After hearing this, Daohua slightly let down her guard, thinking that Xiao Yeyang’s identity was not a secret around here, and said, “He is the legitimate son of Prince Ping.”
“Prince Ping?!”
Daohua felt a tight grip on her hand and looked down to see Old Granny grasping her hand, while Gu Jian, who had previously been seated, had also stood up.
“Old Granny, what’s wrong with you?”
The doubt in Daohua’s eyes deepened.
Old Granny let go of her hand, lowered her head in silence for a moment, then looked up again with a somewhat obscure expression, “Nothing’s wrong.”
But Daohua stood up and looked at both of them, “You wouldn’t happen to have a grudge against Prince Ping, would you?”
Gu Jian said irritably, “What are you thinking about, girl? How could we two aged folks have anything to do with the high and mighty Prince Ping?”
Daohua, “That can’t be certain!”
Masters can be found among the common folk, and both Old Granny and the strange Monk obviously were not ordinary. It wasn’t impossible for them to hold a grudge against a Prince.
Seeing the growing wariness in Daohua’s eyes, Gu Jian was speechless.
He considered himself quite wary already, but compared to this girl, he seemed a mere apprentice facing a master.
He and his sister had barely shown a little excitement, and this girl thought they were planning to harm the son of Prince Ping.
Old Granny, “Young girl, don’t worry, we won’t harm anyone.”
Looking into the sincerity in Old Granny’s eyes, Daohua’s face showed hesitation, “Then, do you know Prince Ping?”
“Why do you have so many questions? We ask one, and you have to ask it back, don’t you?” Gu Jian walked over, snatched the medicine bowl from Daohua’s hands.
“Okay, you don’t need to feed the medicine anymore, you can leave!”
Looking at the strange Monk shooing her out, Daohua was also rendered speechless, “I was just asking casually, do you need to react so strongly?”
Gu Jian, holding the medicine in one hand and shooing Daohua with the other, “That’s just how I am. If you don’t like it, hurry up and leave.”
Daohua was almost chased to the door when Xiao Yeyang’s voice came through.
“What are you doing?”
Daohua and Gu Jian’s bodies both stiffened at once.
Just then, with a ‘thud’, Old Granny fell off the bed.
“Sis!”
Gu Jian hurriedly ran over.
Daohua quickly followed to help.
Xiao Yeyang saw the two struggling to assist and walked over quickly, easily lifting Old Granny back onto the bed, then asked worriedly, “Granny, did you hurt yourself when you fell?”
On hearing this, Old Granny’s eyes instantly moistened, and she choked up, “No, I’m fine!”
Xiao Yeyang nodded, wanting to step back, but found his hand was being tightly held. Although he did not have a fear of germs, he also did not like being pulled on by strangers and immediately tried to pull his hand away, but after one pull, he couldn’t get it free.
Seeing this, Xiao Yeyang felt helpless; he could use force, but he feared injuring the elderly woman, so he could only look back at Daohua, seeking her help.
After receiving the signal, Daohua promptly stepped forward, “Old Granny, you lie down first, let the strange Monk check if you’ve hurt yourself?” she whispered comfortingly while gently prying Old Granny’s hand open.