TGCFNM -Chapter 149 Cold Symptoms

Chu Ling hadn’t expected things to be solved so easily. Feeling pleased, she pushed Wan Sanjin forward. “You two catch up with your friend; I’ll go take a look at the place first.” Saying that, she turned and walked away.

Wan Sanjin was about to follow but paused and looked at Fu Qingyu with a promise, “If I dig a pit, I’ll fill it properly. I won’t leave a bumpy mess for you.”

Fu Qingyu smiled and asked, “What exactly are you digging for?”

“It should be some weapons left by the master of the lord,” Wan Sanjin said, waving his hand as he left.

Fu Qingyu looked at Qingtong. “Send them some shovels and ask if they need help.”

Qingtong sighed. “Who would’ve thought Chu Lord would leave without telling anyone, just to come to Línzhōu to dig up my master’s land?”

Fu Qingyu smiled lightly as he watched them leave. “It’s probably not really about Línzhōu; they’re just stopping here temporarily. Let them go.”

After Qingtong left, he went to fetch the shovels.

Meanwhile, Chu Ling followed Bai Su deeper inside, stopping outside a house that clearly had someone living there.

“Right under the apricot tree,” Bai Su said with some excitement. “The apricot tree is still growing so well.”

Chu Ling murmured, “I hope I don’t kill the tree digging it up.”

“You won’t. I buried it shallowly,” Bai Su reassured her with a smile. “It was buried casually back then, just in case someone tried to steal it…”

Chu Ling looked up at the apricot tree and tentatively said, “This was probably a gathering place before… and it’s not small. Maybe before it became a bookstore, there were winding corridors, small pavilions by the water, terraces, and towers—everything.”

Bai Su couldn’t help but pinch Chu Ling’s cheek. “You little clever one, stop speculating. It really can’t be said.”

Su He also glanced around. “Maybe… it was quite big.”

Just then, Wan Sanjin arrived.

Qingtong soon followed with people carrying shovels. When he reached Chu Ling, he asked in surprise, “Lord, are you really going to dig up our master’s residence?”

Wan Sanjin looked at Chu Ling with a meaningful gaze and poked her arm. “Lord, what are you planning to do?”

Chu Ling rolled her eyes, took a shovel from Qingtong, and started digging. Zhang Dong and the others also grabbed shovels to help.

Qingtong set down his shovel and took his leave.

Xiao Hua asked from the side, “Lord, don’t you want me to dig too?”

“Xiao Hua, you really can’t go this time. You’d end up toppling the apricot tree in front of Qīngyù’s door,” Wan Sanjin said, wiping his sweat.

At that moment, Su He exclaimed softly, tapping the shovel against the ground. “Here!”

Chu Ling’s expression brightened. “Found it.” She then directed the others to dig around the spot, and the top of the chest gradually appeared.

Wan Sanjin was startled. “It’s really here? I thought Lord was just digging near Qīngyù’s doorway on purpose.”

Chu Ling looked at him disdainfully. “You’re always watching your Qīngyù. If he ever gets married, you’ll cry your eyes out.”

Wan Sanjin held his shovel and said seriously, “I don’t think anyone in the world is worthy of Qīngyù.”

Chu Ling rolled her eyes. Wan Sanjin really was hopeless.

“Xiao Hua, try to pull the chest out,” Zhang Dong called out.

Excited, Xiao Hua ran forward, grabbed the two iron handles on the chest, and with one strong pull, lifted it straight out of the soil.

Chu Ling happily brushed the dirt off the top. “We won’t open it here. Let’s go back to the inn and deal with it there.” Saying this, she motioned for everyone to get ready to leave.

Wan Sanjin hurriedly stopped him. “Sir, you can’t just dig up Qingyu’s door and leave a hole like that! It’s too dangerous.”

“Isn’t your Qingyu proficient in both civil and martial arts?” Chu Ling asked with a teasing smile.

“That doesn’t matter; the hole still needs to be filled. Besides, this spade was a gift from someone.” Wan Sanjin said as he stopped a few people, making sure the hole was filled before they left.

After returning the spade, just as Chu Ling and the others were about to leave with the boxes, Qingtong stopped them.

“Sir, Young Master Wan, my master suddenly feels unwell. Could I trouble you to preside over things for a moment?” Qingtong said anxiously.

“What’s wrong with Qingyu? Is it that old problem acting up again?” Wan Sanjin asked with concern.

Qingtong nodded, looking heartbroken. “He’s taken his medicine, but it’s still not improving.”

Wan Sanjin immediately grabbed Chu Ling’s arm. “Our master knows acupuncture. Quickly, take me to Qingyu. As for presiding over things… let Su He handle it. He has the best handwriting among us.”

Qingtong gasped but didn’t get a chance to say more before Wan Sanjin pulled him away.

Su He had no choice but to let Zhang Dong and Xiao Hua deliver the boxes to the Teahouse first. Once this matter was handled, they would meet up with them.

As they walked, Chu Ling looked at Qingtong and asked, “What kind of illness does your master have?”

“Qingyu suffers from cold syndrome,” Wan Sanjin said anxiously. “He was physically weak as a child. He practiced martial arts to strengthen his body, but this cold syndrome never fully went away over the years.”

“We’ve tried all kinds of herbs, but nothing works. Usually, taking medicine doesn’t make it too obvious, but today it’s very severe,” Qingtong said, almost in tears.

Chu Ling suddenly understood. No wonder when they were trying to seize the sacred water, Wan Sanjin’s first thought was to save a bottle for Fu Qingyu—it was because his health was fragile.

“We’re here.” Qingtong pushed the door open. “My master suddenly felt unwell, but since Sir was digging outside, he couldn’t return home and has to lie here for now.”

Chu Ling stepped in, feeling a bit apologetic.

Fu Qingyu was lying on a soft couch, his face pale and colorless. Despite being covered with multiple layers of blankets, he still furrowed his brow and shivered uncontrollably.

Chu Ling approached and lightly touched his forehead, inhaling sharply. “Is the cold that intense?” She thought to himself—ice wouldn’t feel this severe.

Wan Sanjin leaned over anxiously. “Sir, what should we do? Can you apply acupuncture?”

Bai Su immediately said, “Yes, you can.”

Chu Ling nodded. She now carried silver needles on her person, both for healing and as weapons.

“Pull off the blankets, remove his upper garments, and apply needles to his back,” Bai Su instructed.

Chu Ling stood up and told Wan Sanjin, “Remove all the blankets, strip off his upper clothing, flip him over, and apply needles to his back.”

Wan Sanjin responded immediately. He and Qingtong hurriedly removed the blankets, stripped him of his clothes, and turned him over.

As Chu Ling heated the silver needles, she frowned in surprise. “Why are there injuries on his back?” They weren’t fresh wounds either—several old bruises had turned dark purple.

Qingtong explained from the side, “They said they used a stick to strike him in order to dispel the cold.”

Chu Ling frowned and cursed, “Quack doctors.”

Bai Su, holding Chu Ling’s hand, nervously inserted the first needle and slowly pushed it in.

The Ghost Scholar reminded from the side, “Bai Su, be quicker.”

Bai Su seemed to suddenly realize something. Holding Chu Ling’s hand, she heated the needle and applied it steadily and precisely. Soon, Fu Qingyu groaned and coughed up a mouthful of blood.