There is a god in the sky

Chapter 328 Invitation

Seeing Xiao Ji frequently rubbing his forehead, Shen Lan knew it must be a side effect of being drunk.

She wrote down a prescription and gave it to him, "Have the servants boil water according to this prescription, drink a bowl after each meal, it will protect the liver and relieve hangovers, and make you feel better."

"Great." Xiao Ji was overjoyed.

Shen Lan continued, "Alcohol abuse is harmful to your health. If you continue like this for a long time, even the best medicine won't save you. You should stop now."

Xiao Ji obediently replied, "Yes, yes, I will keep Dr. Shen's words in mind and will definitely not make the same mistake again."

He stretched out his hand, indicating to Shen Lan that she should take his pulse.

"Cough, my throat has been feeling a bit sore these past couple of days. Could you please take a look, Dr. Shen?"

Shen Lan took his pulse and then had him open his mouth to check his tonsils. There was nothing wrong with him, except that his tonsils were inflamed and he had some upper respiratory tract infection.

In modern times, a few anti-inflammatory pills would be enough.

She prescribed a formula to clear heat and detoxify, and instructed him: "Eat a light diet, and don't drink alcohol for the next few days after taking the medicine, otherwise it will only get worse."

"Alright... As for my diet, I think it would be better if Doctor Shen came over to eat with me every meal and supervise me, so that the servants, who don't know medicine, wouldn't make any unsuitable food."

Shen Lan lifted her eyelids to look at him, amazed that he could make such a sinister reason sound so righteous.

"I'm sorry, I was at the bookstore during the day and didn't come back at noon. Didn't you have lunch at the yamen, sir?"

"How about breakfast and dinner then?"

"It is unreasonable."

"You're a doctor, and also my subordinate. It's not unreasonable for us to have a meal together, is it?"

Shen Lan couldn't stand his direct gaze.

Xiao Ji has changed. His attitude towards me wasn't like this before. Could it be that he's become thick-skinned after breaking off the engagement?

Or... did he have other thoughts about me?

Shen Lan didn't want to start a relationship that had no future, so she said directly, "Sir, you should ask Madam's opinion first. I don't want Madam to misunderstand."

Xiao Ji was pleasantly surprised and asked, "Is it enough that Mother agrees?"

"This..." Shen Lan really wasn't sure what Madam Xiao was thinking.

If the other party doesn't object, does that mean I'm really going to go with him...?

She changed her tune, saying, "Since you're worried about your diet, how about this: I'll prepare your meals for the next three days to ensure everything is perfect."

Xiao Ji didn't actually want to eat her cooking; he just wanted more opportunities to spend time with her.

He discovered that they wouldn't see each other for several days at a time unless there was a case.

However, his longing for her transcended the occasion, which is why he shamelessly asked her to have dinner with him.

"Won't it be too tiring?"

"No, Lord Xiao doesn't eat much for three meals a day, but what I make may not suit your taste."

“I’m not a picky eater,” Xiao Ji quickly emphasized.

Shen Lan agreed, asked him about his schedule for the day, and then left.

She went to the main kitchen, told the cook what she wanted to cook, and asked the kitchen staff to prepare the ingredients.

Xiao Ji was worried that she would get tired, but that was unnecessary. She was just cooking a dish.

"Miss Shen, just tell us what you want to eat. Why are you doing it yourself?" The cook saw that she was quick and efficient, and it was obvious that she knew how to cook.

In the Xiao family mansion, Miss Shen was not a servant; they all treated her as half a mistress.

Seeing the bird's nest porridge being prepared for Madam Xiao, Shen Lan made an extra dish of high-protein deep-fried dried fish for Madam Xiao, coated with a layer of sweet and spicy sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. It was a nice little snack.

She prepared three dishes and a soup for Xiao Ji, intending to have the servants deliver them to the government office, but found that the servants who were close to Xiao Ji were all busy with something.

Thinking it was convenient, she carried the food box to the government office herself.

Upon arriving at the yamen, they were informed that Xiao Ji had been invited for tea by Headmaster Tong.

"Coroner Shen has come to bring you lunch, sir? You are truly fortunate to have such a meal. However, it's unfortunate that you've just left. I suppose you won't be back for lunch."

The officials had long considered Shen Lan to be one of Lord Xiao's concubines, but since the two had not made it public, they couldn't say it outright.

Did the adults say where they were going?

Shen Lan suspected that Tong Yiwen had ill intentions, and Xiao Ji went to the meeting alone, hoping it might be a trap.

"It seems to be Jingxin Lake, there's a large garden over there."

Shen Lan knew where it was; there was a theater right next to it, a place frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles.

As she walked out carrying the food box, the officers jokingly asked, "Is Counselor Shen looking for the magistrate? Perhaps the magistrate has already eaten?"

Shen Lan replied expressionlessly, "This is medicine for adults. You can skip meals, but you can't skip medicine."

"Oh, is the master sick?"

"No wonder the lord arrived later than usual today."

"Yes, she didn't look too good when she went out just now."

"Wait a moment, Counselor Shen. We'll go get the sedan chair. You can ride in it; Jingxin Lake is quite far."

Shen Lan wanted to refuse, but everyone insisted, saying they were afraid she, a young woman, would get lost on the street.

Shen Lan was both amused and exasperated, regretting that she hadn't lied.

"Thank you."

Jingxin Lake is very large, and Shen Lan was not sure where Xiao Ji was when she arrived there, but fortunately the officials from the Criminal Investigation Department were there.

They revealed their identities, and the gardener, assuming they were there to investigate a case, quickly took them away.

"Gentlemen, this is it. All the gardens around Jingxin Lake have been booked by the masters inside today. Are you sure you want to go in?"

Shen Lan had already seen Sui Feng and Sui Ying guarding outside the garden, and said to the servant, "Go ahead and get busy, we'll be leaving soon."

She stepped forward and handed the food box to Suifeng, saying, "This is for the adults, so they remember to eat it."

I just said I'd cook for Xiao Ji for three days, I can't just break my promise on the first meal.

Sui Feng led her aside and whispered, "Miss Shen, if you have nothing else to do, please wait a moment. That man has brought a contingent of elite soldiers from the Crown Prince's residence. If a conflict breaks out, I'm afraid Sui Ying and I alone won't be able to handle it."

Shen Lan wasn't worried about that; it was unlikely that he would attack Xiao Ji in public.

But she was afraid that the other party was prepared and would sense their hostility towards him, which would definitely cause trouble afterward.

“Okay,” Shen Lan readily agreed.

Sui Feng quickly returned the food box to her, saying, "Then you can take this food box in yourself. The master probably hasn't eaten yet."

"That's not good, I only made enough food for one person."

"That person has an otherworldly air about him, so he probably won't be stingy with a little food."

Sui Feng grinned mischievously.

Shen Lan actually understood what he meant, found it amusing, and indeed carried the food box inside.

After entering the gate, she was stopped by elite soldiers.

"Halt! You are not allowed in this garden."

"I've come to deliver food and medicine to Lord Xiao."

"What a joke, there's no shortage of food here."

Shen Lan, with a stern face, scolded, "My master has caught a cold and also suffers from stomach pain. He can't miss a single dose of this medicine. If he gets sick, can you bear the consequences?"

Xiao Ji was, after all, a high-ranking official in a government office, young and with a promising future, so these guards dared not disrespect him.

"Please wait here while I go in and inform them."

Shen Lan wondered to herself: What exactly is Tong Yiwen up to by inviting Xiao Ji out today?