After leaving the palace, Leng Ruo Li went to visit Mei Ji.
As soon as she reached the entrance of Mei Ji's residence, she saw a scholar with a pale complexion holding a porcelain bowl. Inside the bowl were a chicken leg and two eggs. He was standing outside Mei Ji's room, repeatedly knocking on the door.
"Miss, I've brought you something to eat. Please open the door," the scholar called out while knocking.
"Young master, I don't need it. Please take it back."
Mei Ji, from inside the room, her enchanting eyes slightly reddening, firmly refused.
"Miss, if you're unwilling to open the door, I'll leave the bowl by your doorstep."
The scholar appeared somewhat timid. Then, he slowly placed the bowl by the door and turned to leave.
Leng Ruo Li quickly hid around a corner, observing the scholar from the shadows.
He wore a crescent white long gown, and his hair as dark as ink was neatly tied into a topknot, secured by an exquisite white jade hairpin. In the sunlight, his face appeared refined. His long, clean hands were placed on either side of his chest, exuding an aura of scholarly refinement.
After the white-robed scholar left, Leng Ruo Li walked to Mei Ji's doorway. She glanced at the bowl containing the eggs and chicken leg by the door, then gently knocked.
"Why haven't you left yet! Didn't I tell you to leave quickly?"
Mei Ji frowned and said somewhat impatiently.
"Mei Ji, it's me!" Leng Ruo Li said calmly.
Upon hearing Leng Ruo Li's voice, Mei Ji was surprised and asked happily, "Is that you, Miss Leng?"
"Yes!"
Leng Ruo Li replied readily.
Mei Ji's furrowed brows immediately relaxed, her tightly pressed red lips softened slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. She hurried out to open the door.
"Miss Leng, you're here! Please come in and have a seat."
Mei Ji extended an arm, gesturing for Leng Ruo Li to enter.
Leng Ruo Li nodded at her with a smile, then pointed to the bowl with the chicken leg and eggs at the doorway.
"Miss, please come in. You don't need to mind it," Mei Ji said somewhat awkwardly.
Following that, Leng Ruo Li stepped inside.
This house was purchased by Leng Ruo Li for Mei Ji to live in. It comprised a living room, a master bedroom, two side rooms, a small kitchen, and a small enclosed courtyard.
When Leng Ruo Li first bought the house, it was quite messy inside and out. Now, as she re-entered, she found it spotlessly clean, indicating that Mei Ji was a diligent person.
"Miss, please sit down."
Mei Ji brought a chair from inside for her. Leng Ruo Li accepted without ceremony and sat down.
After sitting, Leng Ruo Li carefully observed Mei Ji's lovely oval face. She noticed that although there were still two faint scars on her face, her complexion had returned to normal. Her skin had a fair, rosy hue, and her delicate red lips were incredibly alluring. This Mei Ji was truly a captivating beauty.
"Mei Ji, why didn't you let that scholar in just now?" Leng Ruo Li asked, probing.
Mei Ji gave a wry smile.
"Miss, a woman as tainted as I am is no longer worthy of a scholar like him."
"Mei Ji, let the past go with the wind. You must move on from your tragic experiences to truly live," Leng Ruo Li advised patiently.
"Thank you, Miss. I understand!"
After speaking, Mei Ji's face gradually contorted with pain. Her lower body began to ache and itch again. She immediately turned sideways, trying to hide from Leng Ruo Li, and uncontrollably scratched at her private area. Ever since those men had violated her, she had contracted this condition, causing her immense suffering.
Now, the ailment in her lower body was worsening daily. It burned and itched fiercely, and she had scratched her private parts raw. She had tried various medications for cleaning, but they offered no relief, only making it worse.
Leng Ruo Li, being a top-tier physician, immediately diagnosed her condition.
"Mei Ji, is your private area infected? Come inside, and I'll examine you."
Upon hearing this, Mei Ji's face flushed with embarrassment. Her condition was truly difficult to speak about.
"Miss Leng, aren't you afraid of me?"
"I am a doctor who cures and saves people. What is there to be afraid of? Come inside, and I'll give you a thorough examination and prescribe medicine," Leng Ruo Li said calmly.
After about half an hour, Leng Ruo Li shook her head, her delicate brows furrowed, as she emerged from the room.
"Don't use those folk remedies anymore. Your lower body is so badly scratched that I can already smell the scent of decaying flesh."
"Alas—"
Leng Ruo Li sighed deeply after her words.
"Keep these two bottles of medicinal solution I used to clean your lower body. Wash it three times a day, then apply this ointment, and take two of these pills in the morning and evening. Stick to my instructions, and within half a month, this problem will be cured. Once you're healed, make sure you don't indulge in any more dalliances with the opposite sex," Leng Ruo Li admonished earnestly.
Mei Ji's eyes welled up with tears. She immediately knelt before Leng Ruo Li, weeping, "Miss Leng, you are truly my reborn parent. If you hadn't rescued me from that hellhole, I would have been a corpse by now."
Leng Ruo Li reached out to help her up, wiped away her tears, and took out a silver note of two hundred taels from her sleeve, handing it to her.
"Take this money."
"Miss, I cannot accept your money anymore."
Mei Ji strongly refused, but Leng Ruo Li insisted on giving it to her.
She then added, "If you wish to return to the Western Regions, once your ailment is cured, come to Jin Xiu Pavilion, and I will arrange for someone to escort you back."
"No, no, Miss. I can no longer return to the Western Regions. I am an orphan. I came to Tian Wu Kingdom but failed to seduce Prince Qing to complete my mission. If I return to the Western Regions, they will only kill me. I can only survive in Tian Wu Kingdom from now on."
"Alright then. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me at the Jin Xiu Pavilion Clothing Store. If I'm not here, you can find Shi Zheng He. I will brief him in advance."
"Thank you, thank you, Miss Leng!"
Hearing this, Mei Ji was filled with gratitude.
Just then, the door outside was violently pounded upon with a "peng peng peng..." sound, accompanied by a torrent of curses.
"You dead whore, come out! If you don't come out, I'll smash your door down today," an old woman stood outside the door, shouting loudly.
After shouting, she picked up the hoe in her hand and began smashing forcefully at the wooden door.
Leng Ruo Li started to walk towards the door to open it but was pulled back by Mei Ji.
"Miss Leng, please hide quickly. This old woman is very barbaric. I'm afraid she might harm you."
Mei Ji said with a troubled expression.
"Don't worry, I know martial arts. She won't be able to harm me."
With that, she quickly walked to the door and opened it.
Upon seeing the stranger, the old woman was slightly stunned. This woman exuded an icy aura that instantly sent chills down her spine.
"Who are you? Why are you in this whore's house?"
The old woman, dressed in rough cloth and linen, her face fierce, shouted at Leng Ruo Li.
"Who I am is none of your business! But you should watch your tone, and why are you smashing my door?"
Leng Ruo Li gazed at the old woman, her eyes sharp, her tone cutting.
"I'm looking for that stinking whore, Mei Ji."
The old woman, though somewhat intimidated by her, still forced a defiant demeanor and spoke loudly.
"What business do you have with her?"
Leng Ruo Li asked in a chilling tone.
"She tricked my son out of his chicken and eggs again! Those were things I bought for my son's health. You shameless woman, you even tricked them away!" The old woman cried out.