An ugly girl starts off, then becomes a beauty

Sang Ling was also aware of his aunt's scrutiny. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Sang Feng'e ask, "Good A-Ling, my aunt is straightforward and will ask you something. Don't overthink it."

After saying this, Sang Ling paused for a moment, and then continued to smile, "Aunt, please tell me."

Sang Feng'e did not hesitate much, "How many meals do you eat every day? How much does one meal cost? What do you usually eat?"

The words lingered in Sang Ling's mind for a long time. She raised her eyes from her dazed expression and once again stared at the beautiful woman in front of her.

This was not an offense. On the contrary, asking this question showed that the other party really cared. After all, they were not biological mother and daughter. Even if Sang Feng'e loved her niece, there was no need for her to ask this question. Firstly, it would hurt the child's self-esteem. Secondly, if persuasion failed, it might even cause disharmony.

I couldn't help but sigh in my heart: If Yuan Sangling had interacted more with this aunt before he became autistic, he might not have ended up committing suicide by burning charcoal.

She answered softly, "I have four meals a day. Sometimes when I'm hungry, I'll have another meal in the afternoon. I'll also cook a small meal late at night. On weekdays, I usually have rice, noodles, pork, and fat beef and mutton. The small kitchen will often make fried skin residue and some candied fruit sweet syrup for me."

"Kitchen?" Sang Feng'e was obviously shocked by the amount of food he ate.

"Yes." Sang Ling pretended to be confused and explained, "There is a small kitchen in Qiu Garden. Madam Ma opened it just for me."

Just one simple sentence makes people suspicious.

She is not a pregnant woman, why should she have a separate kitchen? If you must find a reason, it is for Sang Ling's health, but you have to reduce the amount of food. Six meals a day, all of them are greasy meat.

Could it be that Mrs. Ma did this on purpose?

She then asked, "When did the small kitchen in Qiu Garden start?"

“It’s been on for as long as I can remember.”

"Does the small kitchen always make these kinds of food?"

"Yes." Sang Ling's expression was calm, and the light in his eyes was still bright, as if he didn't notice anything wrong.

Sang Feng'e's face immediately darkened, and she remained silent for a long while. Sang Ling then silently withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyebrows, and looked neither happy nor sad.

The room fell silent for a moment, and Gao Heng came back just in time. Wei Ai and several maids from Gao's house came forward to serve - they took the cloak and sword from the young master's hands.

"Aman, come and warm yourself by the fire." Now that her son had returned, Sang Feng'e naturally put aside what had just happened.

Sang Ling stood up and twirled her skirt, bowing to Gao Heng, "Cousin."

"Sister Ling." Gao Heng nodded and motioned for her to sit down.

This voice was slightly more intimate than yesterday's. Sang Ling subconsciously raised his eyebrows, quietly changed his position, gave the seat opposite to Gao Heng, and knelt down next to his aunt.

The mother and son chatted about their daily life in the morning. Sang Ling did not interrupt rashly, but just listened quietly. Later, he saw Gao Heng take out a box from his sleeve and pushed it in front of him. He came back to his senses and asked, "Cousin, what is this?"

Gao Heng had a gentle smile on his face, but it was Sang Feng'e who answered. "Your cousin looked after you for a while last night, thinking about making medicine for you. Here, the medicine is ready today."

"It's a medicinal powder." Gao Heng continued, "After cleansing your skin every day, apply a layer on your cheeks."

Sang Ling paused for a moment before accepting the box and thanking his cousin. He had thought of finding a doctor to prescribe medicine after leaving the Taiwei Mansion, but he had never expected that his cousin was actually proficient in medicine. He was really lucky.

Sang Feng'e couldn't help but glance at her son with satisfaction, and then explained to Sang Ling, "Your brother has been studying medicine in the Guan family in the northwest for many years. If the doctor in the palace can't cure the problem on your face, let your brother treat it."

The Guan family's medical skills were very good, and even Sang Ling, who used to live in a deep mansion, had heard of them. Anyone who had some illness, especially the nobles, would be proud to have the Guan family's children. However, in recent years, Guan Taigong returned to his hometown in the northwest, and rarely approached the patients, and there was no news of recruiting apprentices. Gao Heng had been in the northwest for a few years, and he was able to become a disciple of the Guan family, which showed that he himself had talent.

"Can I feel your pulse?" Gao Heng rarely spoke directly to Sang Ling.

She cleared her throat and quickly stretched out her hand.

There was a moment of silence at the table. Sang Feng'e didn't expect her niece to be so direct. She smiled and said with emotion, "She is like me."

Gao Heng did not hesitate any longer, and then put two fingers together and touched Sang Ling's wrist.

Sang Ling himself did not react to these subconscious actions. He was silent for a moment, but then he thought of the incense in Qiu Garden again.

Since her aunt already knew her diet and knew about the small kitchen, why not explain all the suspicions about the incense at once?

"My sister is really upset."

Gao Heng frowned and stared at Sang Ling who was looking at him.

Observation, auscultation, questioning and palpation are the basic methods used by doctors to diagnose acute diseases.

Sang Ling suddenly froze. To be honest, she thought she had seen the world, but when they looked at each other suddenly, her heart inexplicably began to beat faster.

This man was indeed born well. The Sang family was well-born, and the Gao family had some Hu blood. The advantages of both sides were passed on to him. Even though he was tall and strong, he did not look rough. Even in the gray and white robe he wore, he looked like a natural aristocratic young man.

She swallowed subconsciously.

Gao Heng didn't think anything wrong. After taking her pulse, it became even more confused. He frowned, looked at her tongue, and asked about her daily life.

Sang Ling then repeated what he had just said to Sang Feng'e, "There are six meals a day, mostly rice, flour, fat, meat, and skin residue, as well as sweet cakes and candied fruits, and sometimes--"

She lowered her head, her tone a little obscure, "Sometimes I can't eat enough, but the servants in the house say it's not good to waste, so they let me finish it all."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gao Heng's expression changed instantly. "Sister..." He looked at her inquiringly, "Have you induced vomiting yet?"