Day 09: “Fortune and Misfortune.”

I still could remember what Lao Zi said in his book of Dao De Jing. 'Misfortune often carried a good fortune behind, and a good fortune often carried a misfortune.', it's not like I was in a dire situation or anything. It's just as a junior physician, my work isn't just healing people lately, sometimes I was asked to give opinions about political matters, working on some engineering project, and becoming a cupid for Liao Yan. I was bestowed with such a genius mind and skills by heaven, however, it seems like my skills could tire me.

"Is physician Xun here?",

Not again…

I've been getting many patients lately, but strangely, most of the patients that come here were women…

"Physician Xun, my heart is sick for you what should I do?", said the woman coquettishly.

"I beg your pardon?",

I pretended to be innocent and ignored the fact that this woman had flirted with me like the rest of the female patients I had since morning.

"Perhaps you should exercise more, the heart is a vital organ for the body, here I write you some prescriptions.",

The woman pouted and left the clinic, it seems like my answer caused her to be in a bad mood. Anyway, I don't really care, all I care about is, how the heck is this happening?

"Whoa, you sure are getting popular. Shouldn't you be thanking me?",

Liao Yan came while bringing a basket filled with food, he realized my questioning gaze and said, "Did you forget? Today we had a promise to eat lunch together with Li Xiang and Qi Mo.",

"You're right--",

"Excuse me, is physician Xun here?",

I almost vomited after hearing the same chant since morning. I took a deep breath and said, "Come in.", it turns out to be Zhao Mingxia's servant, she came in and said,

"The eldest princess has invited you to have lunch with her.",

The words 'eldest princess' added to my migraine. I pinched my forehead for a while, trying to stay calm in this situation.

"Liao Yan, it seems like I won't be able to--",

"Yeah, man. I know, hang in there.",

I had told Liao Yan about the political marriage that Zhao Mingxia had proposed before. Liao Yan was shocked till his jaw dropped to the floor. He didn't expect me to meet other royal members, much less getting proposed by one.

"I'll go get dressed.",

I wore my favorite black hanfu with gold brocades and followed the servant to the eldest princess's mansion, strictly speaking, it's the first time I ever visited her mansion. The building was taller than my mansion, with many guards at the gate, and many servants running here and there doing their work.

"Her Highness is waiting for you at the lotus pond.",

"Thank you.",

I went over the lotus pond and spotted the eldest princess at the small pavilion. The lotus pond was pretty calm and clear, I walked over the wooden bridge as Zhao Mingxia saw me.

"Physician Xun, please take a seat.", Zhao Mingxia smiled, if it were any other guy, they would definitely fall in love at first sight. She wore a light green hanfu today, her hair was tied neatly and she poured me a cup of tea.

"This subject thanked the princess for the invitation.", I sat down and just realized there was a lot of my favorite food at the table. Like the honeyed roasted duck, tofu soup, osmanthus cake, green tea, and others. Usually, I would be delighted to have many of my favorite foods served. However, this one just gave me a chill. Why? Because I never told Zhao Mingxia my favorite food, the only ones who knew about this were my family and Liao Yan… nevermind, that guy sure is doing everything he can to make me forget about Zhao Baiguang.

"Is the dish to your liking?",

"Yes, these are all this subject's favorite dish. This subject thanked the princess for providing such delightful dishes.",

"Just call me Ming'er.",

"...", I couldn't say anything for a while, then, I nodded and said, "Ming'er.",

Zhao Mingxia who was smiling suddenly stiffened, she lowered her head and coughed twice,

"Is Ming'er sick?",

"N-no, just… anyway, let's just eat the food.",

"Understood.",

The two of us ate silently which is pretty weird, I was expecting her to discuss the political marriage that she offered a week ago. However, she just ate silently like an adorable bunny which is again… pretty strange…

"How was work at the clinic?", Zhao Mingxia asked.

Perhaps, she also realized that this is not very much like her…

"It was oddly pretty crowded…", I answered honestly.

"Odd? How so?", Zhao Mingxia asked curiously.

"Previously, the clinic only had two kinds of visitors, one is the injured servants and guards, lastly, this subject's friends. There was rarely anyone other than those two types of patients coming to the clinic, but now… this subject has been dealing with a patient that had something wrong in their head since morning.",

Zhao Mingxia blinked twice and then laughed,

"Are you really not aware, Jinyun?",

"Aware of what?",

"They came because they wanted to flirt with you.",

"This subject is still don't understand.",

Zhao Mingxia tried to hold her laughter and said, "Do you remember your performance at the imperial banquet from three days ago?",

Now that Zhao Mingxia mentioned it, I don't really recall what had happened because I drank too much Du wine. It's pretty sweet and strong, I hadn't realized that I've drunk too much of the Du wine.

"This subject remember that Liao Yan and this subject were invited by the emperor to attend the imperial banquet and introduce ourselves to other royal family members. After that, this subject was drinking too much Du wine at the banquet… after that… this subject didn't recall a thing.",

"Well, let me tell you.", Zhao Mingxia took a sip of the tea and continued, "After you got drunk, you declared that you already had a beloved woman in your heart and wanted to represent a romantic song to her while playing a music tool called Piano.",

"I-- what?! Did I mention her name?",

"Almost, but Liao Yan stuffed a bun to shut your mouth.",

I heaved a sigh of relief, if I did mention Zhao Baiguang, I would be given a death sentence.

"But I did hear you mention the surname 'Zhao'...", Zhao Mingxia said with a hint of shyness.

My body stiffened, don't tell me…

"The only Zhao family member you had met was only the Queen and me. So…",

"Um, what kind of song did this subject sing?",

"It has anything to do with love and fate. It was very beautiful and you were… very dashing.",

Yep, Zhao Mingxia had misunderstood literally everything. However, now I know that deep under my conscious state, I was actually THAT desperate.

"Who else knows about the truth?",

"As far as, I'm concerned it's only me.",

Well, shit…

"This subj--",

"I don't really know when did you fell in love with me that badly, but… I might want to try believing in you… I know you can prove your words that you will make me happy as your wife.",

"Hold on, Your Highness--",

"Ming'er.",

"...Please wait a moment, Ming'er. I'm not ready for marriage, let's just go out first and see if we fit together?",

"Go out? You mean like going outside the palace?",

That was my mistake...

"No, I mean… going out means you and I formed a relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend. It's a more intimate relationship than just friends. Besides… I don't want my woman to ask for marriage first. Let me prepare myself and then ask for your hand in marriage(?)",

Zhao Mingxia covered her mouth dramatically and her eyes glittered,

"Do you mean it?",

"Yes, if we fit together as couples.",

"For how long are we going to be… boyfriend and girlfriend?",

"Uhh… how about two years?",

Zhao Mingxia furrowed her eyebrows and pouted, "Be serious…",

But I was SERIOUS…

"Alright, how about five months starting from now on?",

"I agree. From now on… ahem, I shall be your girlfriend and you are my boyfriend.",

"Yes, this subject is honored to be the princess's boyfriend.",

I smiled naturally as I screamed internally, I know that I had a bad feeling when I walked towards this place step by step. But I hadn't expected this at all. However, perhaps with Zhao Mingxia, I could forget about my undying love for Zhao Baiguang. Ah, damn it. Whatever, let's just see how long I can survive at this age...