Chapter 379: Once a Big Brother, Always a Big Brother

Lan Ling’s gaze shifted from his slender fingers to Ji Changlin’s handsome face, her expression uncharacteristically strained.

She turned her head away and said calmly, "My Lord, the Fifth Missy is greeting you."

Ji Changlin poked his head out and looked forward, only to be met by a radiant, smiling face.

The corners of his mouth curved up in a smile as well. He kept his hand on the curtain, holding it open. In the distance, the lovely figure began waving nonstop the moment she saw him appear.

Lan Ling watched this scene unfold. The reins in her hands slackened, and she gradually fell back behind the carriage.

When the carriage drew near, Ji Qingwu walked down the steps and took a few paces forward to greet him, calling out as she looked up, "Big Brother!"

Ji Changlin hopped down from the carriage in a few quick strides and circled her, feigning surprise. "And which family’s young lady is this? Why are you calling me Big Brother?"

A glint appeared in Ji Qingwu’s eyes. She knew he was teasing her about her previous disguise.

"Don’t get your hopes up, Big Brother. There are only a few people who call you that. Why don’t you take a closer look?"

Ji Changlin noticed the difference from before at a single glance and said with a smile, "So this celestial beauty is my fifth sister after all. You’ve done your eyebrows exceptionally well this time."

Ji Qingwu raised her eyebrows proudly and smiled. "You must be tired from traveling all these days, Big Brother. Hurry inside and rest your feet."

Her gaze fell upon the red-clad female guard behind him, who was standing by the carriage and helping a servant unload the luggage.

Ji Changlin followed her gaze and said, "How did you know I brought you a gift?"

Ji Qingwu’s eyes immediately snapped back to him as she asked, "What did you bring me, Big Brother?"

’The last time Ji Changlin went on a mission, he also brought back some novel little trinkets for her. She wondered what it was this time.’

Ji Changlin cleared his throat, affecting a nonchalant tone.

"Oh, it was nothing. Just that ancient couplet at the Medical God Temple in Nanchu that no one could solve. I had a flash of inspiration and completed it easily. The prize just so happened to be that set of Plum Blossom Divine Needles you’ve been longing for."

Ji Qingwu’s eyes instantly lit up.

’She knew that obtaining the temple’s most prized treasure was no easy feat; Ji Changlin must have gone to a great deal of trouble.’

She took a step back, cupped her fists in a salute, and declared in the style of the martial world, "Once a big brother, always a big brother!"

Ji Changlin couldn’t help but laugh. "What kind of nonsense is that? I *am* your big brother."

Standing off to the side, Ji Qingyuan watched the happy scene between the brother and sister, unable to get a word in. Not wanting to make a fool of herself, she was just about to turn and go back inside.

"Fourth Sister."

Ji Changlin called out to her. "I brought a gift for you as well," he said gently. "We’ll go to Grandmother’s place together later."

As he started walking inside, he asked, "Were you two the only ones at the entrance?"

Ji Qingwu, who was behind him, said, "Eldest Sister is nearing the end of her pregnancy, so it wasn’t suitable for her to come out and walk around."

Ji Changlin nodded. "As it should be."

Ji Qingwu continued, "Grandmother fell suddenly ill, so Father and Mother went to look after her."

Ji Changlin quickened his pace, his brow furrowed. "Let’s put our things down and go to Grandmother’s courtyard as well."

「Inside Shou’an Hall.」

Old Madam Ji was lying on a bed in the inner chamber as Nanny Feng escorted a doctor out.

Ji Bo Lian hurriedly asked, "Doctor Qi, how is my mother?"

For many years, whenever Old Madam Ji fell ill, Doctor Qi was the one they called to treat her.

He walked into the outer room and said to Ji Bo Lian, "The Old Madam has been weighed down by many worries lately. Her qi and blood are both deficient. She needs to rest and recuperate well, and she must not be subjected to any more emotional distress."

Doctor Qi’s brows were tightly knit. "Otherwise... given the Old Madam’s advanced age, I cannot guarantee that something untoward won’t happen."

A jolt went through Mrs. Qiao as well. Her mother-in-law had indeed fallen gravely ill out of shock and grief over the news of Ji Changyan’s death in the second branch of the family.

When she had first heard that the mistress of Shou’an Hall was ill again, she had suspected it was feigned. But now, after hearing what Doctor Qi said, she wasn’t so sure.

"We understand. We will take good care of Mother," Mrs. Qiao said, then instructed, "Chunhua, see Doctor Qi out."

Ji Bo Lian asked, "Is Mother awake?"

Nanny Feng said in a low voice, "Doctor Qi performed acupuncture just now, and the Old Madam has woken up. But she is still very weak. To this old servant, she looks utterly heartbroken. Eldest Master, you should go see her quickly."

Ji Bo Lian glanced at Mrs. Qiao, and the two of them entered the inner room together.

Ji Changlin was the first to step into the main hall, where the air was thick with the strong scent of bitter medicine.

Ji Qingwu followed him in. Ji Qingyuan had not yet arrived. She took a few small sniffs of the medicinal scent and frowned.

Nanny Feng came out and said, "The Eldest Young Master has returned," pointedly ignoring Ji Qingwu behind him.

Ji Changlin asked, "How is Grandmother’s illness?"

Nanny Feng said, "A doctor has already seen her. There’s no major danger for now, but she needs quiet rest and must not be agitated again."

"Agitated?" Ji Changlin asked, puzzled. "What could have possibly agitated Grandmother at home? Were the servants not attending to her diligently?"

Nanny Feng glanced at Ji Qingwu and shook her head. "No, it was because the Eldest Master had a dispute with the Old Madam over matters concerning the Fifth Missy. That is what caused the Old Madam to fall ill."

Ji Changlin’s face darkened. "Don’t bring up irrelevant nonsense. Qingwu wasn’t even present, so this has nothing to do with her."

’If word of this got out, people would surely say that Ji Qingwu had angered the Old Madam into sickness.’

Nanny Feng said awkwardly, "Yes, yes. This old servant misspoke."

’She had intended to win an ally for the Old Madam, but she hadn’t expected the Eldest Young Master to also be so partial to this Fifth Missy, who had only recently returned home.’

Ji Changlin said, "Qingwu, let’s go in and see Grandmother together."

Ji Qingwu had no objections and obediently followed behind him.

In the inner room, Ji Bo Lian sat by the bed holding a medicine bowl, in the middle of feeding the Old Madam. Mrs. Qiao held a handkerchief, carefully supporting her mother-in-law.

Regardless of the circumstances, the sight of Old Madam Ji lying in bed in such a sickly, weak state still moved Ji Bo Lian.

He said, "Mother, if anything were to happen to you, your son would have to live with regret for the rest of his life."

Old Madam Ji slowly swallowed the medicine and shook her head. "You are my own flesh and blood. I would never blame you, no matter what."

He looked at his old mother’s increasingly stooped back and the ever-deepening wrinkles on her face.

Ji Bo Lian said with deep emotion, "If something is troubling you, Mother, just tell your son. Don’t keep it all bottled up inside until it becomes a serious illness. If that happens, not even a divine physician could cure you."

Old Madam Ji said, "You’re grown up now; you don’t listen to me anymore. Your mother raised you three siblings and never asked for anything in return. But for you to use your official’s ways against me... it truly breaks your mother’s heart."

Ji Bo Lian’s mustache twitched. He sighed and shook his head. ’Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family matters. A home, after all, is not a court of reason.’

’At this point, Mrs. Qiao understood. It didn’t matter whether the Old Madam’s illness was real or fake; Ji Bo Lian would have to bow his head. After all, this was the woman who had given birth to him.’

’Furthermore, the previous incident hadn’t led to any grave mistake, so Mr. Ji would not pursue it any further. The matter would be dropped.’

Ji Changlin walked quickly to the bedside and said, "Grandmother, your grandson has returned."

Ji Qingwu stood quietly near the doorway...