CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 177: TIME AGES PEOPLE

"Why did the Young Miss suddenly throw up? Had she eaten something bad?" Nanny Hua stood to one side, asking with a frown.

Xie Yingying forcefully pushed away the dining table in front of her. "Take it away! Take it all away! The very sight of it irritates me."

"Please calm down, Young Miss. This old servant will immediately have someone fetch the Doctor to examine you."

The Doctor was quickly summoned again. After checking her pulse, he was perplexed. She had vomited for no apparent reason. If he hadn’t confirmed the absence of a slippery pulse, he would have suspected she was unchaste despite being unmarried.

"Did the Young Miss feel unwell earlier, and only vomited when she saw the food on the table?" the Doctor repeatedly asked Nanny Hua.

"Doctor, please be careful with your words! My young lady is the daughter of a Noble Family in the Capital City. She would never do anything to ruin her reputation!"

Nanny Hua sternly warned the Doctor not to speak recklessly.

The Doctor quickly explained, "No, not like that. Nanny, please don’t be angry. I just think that if the young lady feels nauseated after looking at those rich, meaty dishes, then it would be better to give her some light Vegetarian Food."

"Eat Vegetarian Food?"

Nanny Hua pondered for a moment, then immediately instructed a Maid to bring in some Vegetarian Food.

Unexpectedly, Xie Yingying didn’t feel the urge to vomit and even ate half a bowl of rice.

"The young lady’s digestive system must have some issues, which is why she cannot stomach rich, meaty food. From now on, she should stick to Vegetarian Food!" the Doctor concluded.

"Digestive issues? Did the Doctor say my young lady’s intestines are damaged?"

The Doctor shook his head helplessly. "I cannot make a definitive diagnosis! Internal illnesses are different from external injuries. It’s not as if I can cut open the young lady’s abdomen to see her intestines. I am merely speculating. As for this illness, I am truly at a loss. In the future, Nanny, please seek someone more skilled!"

Once the old Doctor finished speaking, he turned and left, giving Nanny Hua no chance to say another word.

Xie Pan’Er, who was standing outside the door, quickly sidestepped to avoid him. Only after she saw the Doctor leave did she return to her room.

Damaged intestines? Some images flashed through her mind.

No way. How could there be such a coincidence in the world? That was just an ordinary young girl.

Xie Pan’Er shook her head, dismissing her own conjecture. She was too scared to go out for the rest of the day.

Xiaosuisui and her party were unaware of these events. The Ji Family and the Emperor’s Imperial Carriage journeyed back to the Capital City.

By the time they reached the Capital City, it was already autumn.

At the South City Gate, all the civil and military officials of the court knelt in rows. The young Emperor gazed at the assembled officials, his expression inscrutable. After uttering a "You may rise" devoid of emotion, the Imperial Carriage proceeded directly to the Imperial Palace.

The Ji Family’s procession separated from the main group and headed straight back to the Ji Mansion.

The Ji Mansion was situated in the heart of the largest and most prosperous street in East City. Two large Stone Lions guarded the Mansion, and next to the left Stone Lion stood a thick, tall stone pillar. Atop this pillar, a kirin statue gazed downwards, while two coiling dragons were carved around the pillar itself.

This was the Protective National Pillar that Old Lady Ji had told Zhou Yanchen about.

"Who would have thought, after all this time and all these twists and turns, our old Ji Family would finally return," Old Lady Ji said, deeply moved.

CREAK. The Main Gate of the Ji Mansion opened from within. An elderly man, his temples streaked with white, led a group of young manservants and other servants out. He was the first to kneel at Old Lady Ji’s feet.

"This servant, Liu Neng, pays his respects to the Old Madam, and to all the young masters, their madams, and the young misses!"

"Ah, Liu Neng! You’ve grown older too."

"Yes, Old Madam, this old servant has indeed aged. You, along with the young masters and young misses, have been gone for so many years. How could this old servant not grow old?"

"Time truly does age people!" Old Lady Ji sighed again. Then, pointing to the people behind him, she asked, "I don’t recognize them. Are these people you’ve hired since then?"

Liu Neng quickly replied, "Yes, Old Madam. After you left the Capital City with the young masters, there were very few people left in the Mansion. Later, when the Seventh Young Master and Eighth Young Master returned to the Capital City to become the Emperor’s study companions, this servant purchased several families of servants from outside to attend to the two young masters. Old Madam, all these years, this servant has missed you dearly! And all the young masters and young misses too!"

As Liu Neng spoke, tears began to stream down his face. He craned his neck to look behind Old Lady Ji, but after searching for a long time, he couldn’t find the person he was looking for.

"Old Madam, where is the Fifth Young Miss? I wonder, which of these ladies is the Fifth Young Miss?"