Chapter 573: Chapter 565: Is This Child Silly?
Qin Liuxi was willing to make a house call, which eased Lin Qingying’s mind. She thought of visiting her childhood friends from her maiden home, figuring there was no harm in trying whether the treatment would work or not.
After the matter was resolved, Qin Liuxi thought of the merit girl she was nurturing in her jade bottle. She took out paper and brush, drew a portrait, and handed it to Mrs. Lin and the others: “Do you recognize which family’s young lady this is?”
Mrs. Lin took a look and shook her head, indicating no impression.
Lin Qingying, however, took the painting and thought for a while and said, “Hey, this seems to be the daughter of the Tong family from the Imperial Academy.”
Mrs. Lin was surprised: “The Tong family’s daughter?”
“I saw her once three years ago, but we never interacted much. It was at a lotus festival, and she was there but got lost and was found by a maid,” Lin Qingying explained. “However, I’ve heard that the girl from Tong Jijiu’s family is not very clear in the head.”
Mrs. Lin had also heard of it and said to Qin Liuxi: “Indeed, the Tong family has a daughter who is a bit… It seems she had a high fever when she was young and it damaged her brain. Junior Temple Master, what do you need her for?”
Qin Liuxi smiled and said, “I accidentally encountered such a lost girl who didn’t know which family she belonged to, so I am inquiring with you.”
So that was it.
Mrs. Lin said: “But I haven’t heard of any children gone missing from the Tong family.”
Qin Liuxi just smiled without replying.
Mrs. Lin didn’t ask further, as it was common for families to not publicize the loss of their daughter in order to protect their reputation. Thus, it wasn’t unusual that she hadn’t heard of it.
Qin Liuxi said, “I would appreciate if Madam could arrange a carriage for me to visit Tong Jijiu’s house.”
Mrs. Lin hadn’t replied yet when Lin Qingying spoke up: “If the Junior Temple Master doesn’t mind, why not take my carriage? My husband’s home is not far from Tong Jijiu’s.”
Qin Liuxi smiled and said, “You can lead the way, but with this attire of mine, it wouldn’t be proper for me to ride together with you. I should take a separate carriage.”
Lin Qingying was taken aback, then looking at Qin Liuxi’s attire, no doubt it was a Daoist’s, but who, unaware of the situation, could tell at a glance that she was actually a female crown?
If people saw her sharing a carriage with a young male Daoist, they might spread unsavory gossip. Rumors can be damaging, and Qin Liuxi was trying to avoid causing misunderstanding.
Both Lin Qingying and Mrs. Lin felt comforted by this consideration and said, “Then we will arrange another carriage to take you there.”
Qin Liuxi did not refuse.
Leaving the Prime Minister Mansion, Qin Liuxi instructed the carriage to go directly to the Tong family. Lin Qingying felt curious; wasn’t it said that there was a lost girl to be picked up?
Lin Qingying had this question in her mind all the way to Tong Jijiu’s house. While waiting for the servant to announce their arrival, she couldn’t help but ask Qin Liuxi.
Qin Liuxi patted the jade bottle at her waist: “She’s in here.”
Lin Qingying looked at her belongings, her dignified and graceful face creased with confusion—was this girl foolish?
However, her internalized teachings as a noble lady and years of managing a household still helped her maintain composure; she forced a smile and said nothing.
Suddenly, she remembered Qin Liuxi’s identity and her medical skills that belonged to the Mystical Medical Skill, and she wasn’t likely to only possess medical skills—after all, she was a female practitioner of the Mystic Sect.
So when she said “in the bottle,” could it be?
Lin Qingying subconsciously looked at the polished and complexly rune-decorated gourd-shaped jade bottle, her expression changing slightly.
Could it be that the girl from the Tong Family is no longer alive?
The Tong Family was also a bit baffled upon receiving Lin Qingying’s card. Although Lin Qingying was born out of wedlock, she was Lin Xiang’s eldest daughter and was brought up by his legitimate wife, with good manners, etiquette, and education. Her status was not extraordinarily noble, but within the Lin Family where the population was not extremely large, she was highly valued and considered a noble lady.
Especially since her father was Lin Xiang, with such a powerful benefactor, she had married the legitimate eldest son of the Minister of Personnel at an early age and had given birth to two sons and a daughter. After Lin Xiang became the Prime Minister, her mother-in-law handed over the management of the household to her and retreated to play with her grandchildren.
Lin Qingying, of such standing, did not have much connection with the Tong Family, yet she came to deliver her card in person, which was truly a curiosity.
Granny Tong from the Tong Family personally came to welcome the guests at the second gate, with a smile on her face, yet her heart was full of curiosity about the purpose of the visit.
Lin Qingying was in a bit of a dilemma, not knowing how to explain herself, as Granny Tong, all smiles, did not display any sorrowful expression not at all resembling someone who had lost a daughter. Should Lin Qingying say your daughter is lost, and I specifically brought someone to return her?
Uttering these words could surely entail being swept out with a broom.
Lin Qingying subconsciously looked towards Qin Liuxi.
Qin Liuxi, however, was observing Tong Jijiu’s house, noting the auspicious energy pervading every corner. It was truly a household that nurtured scholars, with the Wenchang Star gracing the abode, suggesting a rich scholarly ambiance, and the family members all seemed kind and harmonious, indeed a suitable place for good people to be reborn.
Granny Tong was also curiously examining Qin Liuxi, this person who was indeterminable as male or female, appeared to be dressed like a Daoist.
“Who might this be?”
Lin Qingying stiffly replied, “This is the Daoist doctor who has been treating my paternal grandmother. He is the Junior Temple Master of Li City Qingping Temple, with the Daoist name of Buqiu.”
Indeed a Daoist.
Granny Tong’s smile stiffened slightly; her father-in-law, a scholar of the Imperial Academy, was a firm believer in Confucius’s teaching of not indulging in strange forces and gods. The women in the family could revere Buddha, but belief in any sort of ghost or God, or inviting Daoists or nuns into the home, was strictly forbidden.
If her father-in-law found out that a Daoist had come into the house, given his conservative nature, he would likely fly into a rage.
Lin Qingying herself felt more and more that her visit had been rash; Tong Jijiu seemed to particularly detest those obsessed with spirits and gods.
“Well…”
“I am here for your family’s young lady,” Qin Liuxi said with a light smile.
Granny Tong felt a sudden pang in her heart.
She signaled to a maid with her eyes; the maid stepped back and took another route to the main house to report, while Granny Tong continued walking forward at an unhurried pace, casually asking, “I wonder which young lady from our household the Junior Temple Master is here for, and for what matter?”
“I do not know, but Granny Zhong mentioned it was your house’s young lady,” Qin Liuxi paused, “Thirteen or fourteen years old, with a round face and round eyes.”
Granny Tong’s heart thudded erratically.
“It must be your younger sister,” Lin Qingying said with a forced smile. “She said she met your lost sister and brought her back.”
Granny Tong’s expression turned slightly unsightly as she said, “My sister has not gone out.”
Lin Qingying was not foolish; she could tell from the look on her face and the tone of her voice that Granny Tong was displeased, and she regretted her rashness.
Qin Liuxi released the merit girl who knew her way into the main house, indicating that they had found the right place, and said, “Her physical body did not go out, but a part of her soul is lost and encountered by me.”
Granny Tong’s heart constricted as she exclaimed sharply, “That’s impossible, my sister is perfectly fine.”