After Xu Bin finished speaking, he had another fit of violent coughing.
Xu Yue'er turned around.
The person walking in from outside the door was none other than Zhao Shuning.
As for how she got in, no one in the Grand Tutor's Mansion noticed.
Xu Yue'er was only surprised for a moment.
Well, as long as it was a place the senior wanted to go, no one should be able to stop her.
Zhao Shuning bowed and said, "Grand Tutor."
"Who are you? Someone!"
"Father, she's my friend, the senior who saved me in Jiangning as I told you."
Xu Bin's expression softened a little.
Zhao Shuning lowered her head and said to Xu Yue'er who was kneeling, "I told you those things hoping you wouldn't take a dead - end road, not for you to take it as the only path for the rest of your life. Do you understand?"
"Senior, my daughter?"
Xu Bin trembled slightly as he stood up.
Zhao Shuning quickly said, "Grand Tutor, please sit down quickly. Your health, not to mention, if you keep dragging it on like this, I'm afraid you'll really end up with the worst outcome."
Seeing that Xu Bin wanted to retort immediately, Zhao Shuning continued, "If you keep hiding it from Yue'er like this, when she finds out in the future, she may never hold her head up high for the rest of her life and will always feel guilty towards you. Maybe, Grand Tutor, is this the result you want?"
Xu Bin took a step back.
His body was a bit unsteady.
He steadied himself by holding on to the table behind him.
Yue'er was right. This woman might be much older than everyone present despite looking young. The title of "senior" was well - deserved.
In just one brief encounter, she could see his problems so clearly.
"Miss, you?"
"Senior, what's wrong with my father?"
"Your father is getting old. Over the years, he has been working day and night, compiling historical and classic books, and teaching and solving doubts. His health is not what it used to be. Miss Xu, haven't you noticed that your father's hands hidden in his sleeves are always shaking?"
Hearing this, Xu Yue'er quickly stood up.
Xu Bin quickly said, "I'm fine, fine."
"Grand Tutor, it's not a long - term solution to keep hiding it from Miss Xu. Although you're doing it for her good, this kind of 'goodness' is too much of a burden. You haven't seriously considered whether Miss Xu can bear this 'goodness' in her later years. Besides, in my opinion, Qi Huan is really not a person worthy of entrusting her life to."
Zhao Shuning sat down on her own.
Xu Bin was even more puzzled by the woman's words and actions.
She seemed to know everything.
But she didn't seem to be from the State of Cangwu.
"Miss, I really have no other choice. You don't know, now, alas—"
Xu Yue'er's face was full of worry.
Zhao Shuning added, "Grand Tutor, don't worry. There must be someone in this world who is worthy of Miss Xu."
"Yes, there must be, but I'm afraid I won't live to see that day. Alas—"
"I assure you that you will definitely see Miss Xu choose a good husband."
Xu Yue'er quickly looked at Zhao Shuning.
There was also a glimmer of hope in Xu Bin's old eyes.
"Miss?"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
Xu Bin then shook his head disappointedly and said, "It's useless. The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital have all come to see me. My body is already incurable. Even if I take pills, it won't help much. It can only relieve the symptoms but not cure the root cause. My root is already damaged, but cough, cough, cough—"
Zhao Shuning said, "I know, so this time I've brought someone for the Grand Tutor."
"Who?"
"He's waiting at the Grand Tutor's gate, just waiting for the Grand Tutor's nod, then he can come in and meet you."
Speaking of which, they used to serve in the same court. They were also old acquaintances.
"It's useless. Unless Miao Qing from back then was still alive, there's no chance of a turnaround for my body."
At this point, Xu Bin suddenly stopped.
He looked at Zhao Shuning excitedly.
Could it be?
Zhao Shuning nodded.
She added, "Back then, when Old Man Miao was expelled from the Imperial Hospital, I heard that only you spoke up and made suggestions for him. Presumably, Old Man Miao still feels grateful towards you."
"How could it be? He once said that he would never set foot in the City of Flowers, this place full of intrigue, again?"
Seeing Zhao Shuning's determined expression, Xu Bin's face became even more excited.
Without waiting for Zhao Shuning's answer, he directly asked the servants beside him to support him and walked towards the gate of the Grand Tutor's Mansion.
If it was really Miao Qing who had returned to the City of Flowers, it was only natural for him to go out and greet him in person.
Although Miao Qing was illiterate, theoretically, he shouldn't have had any connection with Xu Bin, the well - read and erudite Grand Tutor. But their relationship was just so strange.
Back when Xu Bin was not yet the Grand Tutor, he was seriously ill once. People said he had "corpse transmission".
"Corpse transmission" was a serious disease, also known as "pulmonary tuberculosis". This disease was highly contagious. Visiting a patient or attending a funeral could lead to infection.
So at that time, even though Xu Bin was already somewhat famous, no doctor dared to come and see him.
Only the illiterate Miao Qing.
He visited Xu Bin's residence every day to diagnose and treat him.
Miao Qing also comforted Xu Bin, saying that those doctors hadn't even examined him properly but were talking nonsense. It was mostly just rumors.
He also said that Xu Bin only had a cold. Although it was also contagious, it was much easier to treat than "corpse transmission".
It was during that period that Xu Bin and Miao Qing gradually became good friends who could talk about anything.
Xu Bin found that although Miao Qing was illiterate, his medical skills far exceeded those of most of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital. Every time this was mentioned, Miao Qing would just scratch his head and say that was why he was specially selected into the Imperial Hospital.
Miao Qing was straightforward and couldn't get used to the intrigue in the officialdom. This was what Xu Bin had always been worried about.
Sure enough, not long after he recovered from his illness, the news that Miao Qing had been expelled from the Imperial Hospital spread.
Xu Bin had also run all over the Imperial Hospital for Miao Qing.
But at that time, his official position was humble, and few people would listen to him.
Even those who would listen to him were not willing to offend the high - ranking officials for an insignificant official in the Imperial Hospital.
So, Xu Bin knelt in the rain for who knew how long to plead for Miao Qing.
Finally, he fainted and was sent back to his mansion.
He was seriously ill again.
When he woke up again, he learned that Miao Qing had already left the capital.
After that, Xu Bin began to make his way further and further in the City of Flowers with his own abilities.
His official position became higher and higher.
Apart from teaching, he also often selected talents for the City of Flowers and recommended them to the officials in the palace. Xu Bin always thought that one day, the once high - spirited Miao Qing would suddenly appear in front of him.
By that time, he could proudly tell him that he could guarantee his entry into the Imperial Hospital, even at the cost of his lifetime reputation as the Grand Tutor.
Failing to help Miao Qing back then had always been Xu Bin's heartache.