Meeting the Female Protagonist

The Gao family had never stopped Gao Di Yu from contacting the Dian family, and occasionally the Dian couple would actively visit their daughter.

Xi Cui had to go meet them, temporarily putting aside the matters at hand, changing her clothes, and heading to the side parlor.

This was an honest and responsible couple. Today happened to be the spring plowing, and Old Man Dian was working in the fields, so only Dian Liu-shi came alone.

She was neatly dressed, her hair tied up tidily, looking very spirited.

Seeing Xi Cui, Dian Liu-shi stood up in delight, hastily grasping Xi Cui's hand and sizing her up.

"As expected, you have been raised very well," Dian Liu-shi said with a smile. "Even I almost didn't recognize you."

Xi Cui: "Mother."

Dian Liu-shi pulled her hand to sit down, constantly asking after her well-being, her eyes shining with a genuine concern she dared not fake.

The mother and daughter chatted for a long time about their current situations. After discussing for half the day, only then did Dian Liu-shi state the reason for her visit: her younger brother Dian Yongliang's birthday was coming up, and Dian Liu-shi hoped she could return home to have a meal together.

Xi Cui was just worrying about having no opportunity to leave the estate. Hearing Dian Liu-shi finish speaking, she naturally agreed.

The two spoke for a while, then Xi Cui bid farewell to Dian Liu-shi. Upon returning, she went to explain the reason to First Madam Cao, who managed the affairs of the estate, saying she wanted to return home to stay for two days. First Madam Cao had no suspicions, only giving a few instructions before agreeing.

The Dian family was not wealthy, and Dian Yongliang was still young. How could his birthday be celebrated extravagantly? Calling Xi Cui back this time was just taking the opportunity for the family to sit down and talk.

Previously, the couple could not have children, which was why they adopted Gao Di Yu. Not long after adopting Gao Di Yu, they gave birth to Dian Yongliang, who was now fourteen years old.

But the Dian couple was busy making a living and neglected his discipline, so Dian Yongliang mingled with a crowd of ruffians and hoodlums in the village, idling about and acting somewhat like a rogue.

As soon as he saw Xi Cui, Dian Yongliang smirked and asked her to borrow money.

Only then did Xi Cui realize where Gao Di Yu's money had been spent.

Seeing this, Dian Liu-shi angrily scolded him directly, "It was not easy for your eldest sister to return home once. What nonsense are you talking about, you useless thing!"

Dian Yongliang shut his mouth in displeasure.

However, this family treated her very well. Although Dian Yongliang was a bit of a brat, he still highly valued his eldest sister Gao Di Yu, and his words were quite caring.

No outsiders were invited to the feast, and Xi Cui did not have the opportunity to see Xiao Rongshan, who had frequently made his presence felt these past few days.

Her purpose was originally not to celebrate Dian Yongliang's birthday. After spending a night at the Dian house, early the next morning, she left a note saying the Gao family was urgently looking for her. Meanwhile, she secretly left the Dian house, went to a shop to buy two sets of men's clothing, and found an inn to apply makeup and change clothes.

Gao Di Yu was tall and in her growth phase; her secondary sexual characteristics were not yet obvious, and her voice was also somewhat hoarse.

Xi Cui put on the straight robe she had bought. Indeed, she looked like Gao Qian, only slightly thinner, her frame not as broad as Gao Qian's.

Looking closely, one could discern some femininity, but without paying attention, she could easily pass for a man.

After completing all this, only then did Xi Cui hire a carriage and head straight for Kongshan Temple.

Yesterday it had rained a bit, with wind and rain scattering branches and leaves all over the ground.

Not many pious men and women came to burn incense and worship Buddha as before; there were only a few scattered people on the mountain path.

Xi Cui slowly walked up, calculating in her heart how she should deal with the monks in the temple. Just as she was racking her brains, a soft female voice suddenly reached her ears.

"Gao Qian?"

There was a hint of hesitation and surprise in the voice.

Xi Cui was startled, looking toward the source of the sound, only to see a young girl sitting by the mountain path, looking at her with a surprised expression.

She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with extremely fair skin, her black hair casually tied into a bun with a simple hairpin. Her face was free of makeup, her eyebrows like distant mountains, and her eyes bright like lamps in a snowy night.

Before this, Xi Cui had never seen such a beautiful young girl.

Xi Cui was dazed, and the girl in front of her seemed even more dazed.

She looked at Xi Cui, somewhat hesitant and puzzled, and after a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke, "Why are you here?"

Was this someone Gao Qian knew?

Xi Cui originally intended to explain, but thinking that explaining might be even more troublesome, she swallowed the words at her lips, lowered her voice, and asked back, "What about you? Why are you here?"

"I... want to go up to Kongshan Temple."

While speaking, the girl's hand was still gently rubbing her ankle.

"What happened to your leg?"

The girl shook her head. "It is nothing major, just a sprained ankle. I sat by the roadside to rest for a moment, but I didn't expect to run into you."

She spoke as she pulled a chest beside her, patting its lid, and smiled embarrassedly, "I will apply some injury medicine in a moment, and it will be fine."

It was a medicine chest.

In an instant, a name flashed through Xi Cui's mind.

Wu Huaifei.

The female protagonist of "Taiping Female Doctor".

A beautiful girl carrying a medicine chest who also knew Gao Qian—who else could it be but Wu Huaifei?

She... had met the female protagonist of this book?

Xi Cui was even more bewildered.

Although she knew she would meet Wu Huaifei eventually, she did not expect it to be so early.

Speaking of which, Wu Huaifei and Gao Qian's acquaintance stemmed from a classic tale of a beauty saving a hero.

Gao Qian was originally the Commander of the Imperial Guard, needing to patrol the imperial city at night.

Once, Gao Qian was injured and fainted by the roadside, just happening to meet Wu Huaifei, who was returning late from practicing medicine. It was she who provided timely first aid, and thus the two gradually became acquainted, later falling in love.

Seeing the youth looking at her without blinking, Wu Huaifei's cheeks flushed red.

But after all, she was the female protagonist, with a resilient character, independent and self-reliant since childhood, not a delicate flower in a greenhouse. In an instant, her expression returned to normal.

"Young Master Gao," thinking of the predicament she faced, she lowered her eyes, "Forgive my discourtesy... I have an presumptuous request."

"What is it?"

"Could you... help block for me a bit?"

Ancient women valued their reputation; even the female protagonist was no exception.

Xi Cui understood and nodded, turning her back to help block the flow of people passing by.

From behind came Wu Huaifei's low voice, "Thank you."

The mountain wind blew through the pines, shaking the dew off the pine needles.

Xi Cui watched the precarious dewdrop while thinking.

She originally thought there was still some time before the plot started, but she did not expect the plot to have unfolded quietly.

If considering the development in the original work, Wu Huaifei should be going up the mountain to treat Wei Dansheng's master, Zen Master Shan.

"Taiping Female Doctor" was very long, three million words, spanning a long time. Xi Cui did not remember many details clearly, but she remembered that Gao Qian did not exist in this part of the plot.

She did not know if her participation in the plot was good or bad.

However, according to the plot, Wei Dansheng should fall in love with Wu Huaifei around this time.

After Wu Huaifei arrived in the capital, because of her outstanding medical skills, she gained some fame and was often invited to the homes of high officials to treat them. At other times, she offered free consultations to the poor.

Wei Dansheng also frequently descended the mountain to distribute charity. The two met by chance, became friends, and did charity together, which was why Wei Dansheng developed gratitude and admiration for her.