When turning back into the room again, the room was already filled with smoke. He Wenzhu had lit the dicines he had just prepared and fumigated the surroundings of the room. Although the sll of these dicines was not too strong, it still made everyone cough continuously.
Shang Ruyi said, "All of you, go out."
The few people hesitated for a mont, then Shang Ruyi first said to Dai Junliang, "The Great General’s words just now, I hope you, Assistant General, will relay them and carry them through. These days, Fufeng relies on you."
Dai Junliang cupped his hands and said, "Please be assured, Madam."
After speaking, he turned and walked out.
Shang Ruyi then turned to look at Mu Xian, Cheng Qiao, and Shantong’er, sighed, and said, "You staying here won’t be of any help. It’s better to go back and settle your people properly. The news of the General’s illness will spread quickly, so you must comfort your subordinates well, and under no circumstances should there be any trouble."
The few people nodded.
Shang Ruyi added, "If Song Yu and his n cause you trouble, rember, do not retaliate."
"..."
"No matter what happens, wait until the General recovers to discuss it."
"..."
"If you really can’t handle it, co and find ."
Mu Xian imdiately said, "Rest assured, Young Madam, we, we will not disturb you."
Shang Ruyi looked at the three of them and said, "Disturbing and the General is a small matter; the big picture right now is the major concern."
The three exchanged a glance, understanding the aning behind her words, and nodded in agreent. Mu Xian and Cheng Qiao glanced one last ti at the weakened figure behind the screen amidst the swirling smoke, eyes showing both grief and reluctance, yet they still turned and left.
Only Shantong’er stayed, saying, "Sister Ruyi, I’ll stay with you."
Shang Ruyi reached out to stroke his head and softly said, "Shantong’er, your second brother’s illness is not ordinary. If you really experience it, young as you are, you might not endure it."
"But there’s no one else here with you."
Shantong’er shouted, "I think that person is bad; I’m worried about you and second brother here!"
Seeing his earnest deanor, Shang Ruyi, though inwardly anguished, couldn’t help but smile slightly—this child was so brave on the battlefield, yet when he spoke, he still carried an inescapable innocence and naivety.
However, though his words were straightforward, they held so truth.
Shang Ruyi thought for a mont and said, "How about this, I’ll have soone clean up the east room for the next few days so you can stay there, but don’t co to this side. I’ll call you if there’s anything. Also, you need to go back first and clearly instruct your subordinates, especially that Nie Chong, to keep the people under control."
"I understand!"
Receiving permission, Shantong’er turned and hurriedly grabbed his copper hamr and left quickly.
Once he left, Shang Ruyi instructed Wo Xue to tidy up the east room. She didn’t say much, acknowledged, and then left.
With everyone gone, Shang Ruyi finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Then, she slowly walked into the inner chamber.
At this mont, the smoke from the fumigation had gradually dissipated a bit, but the heavy dicine odor in the room was still sowhat suffocating. He Wenzhu threw the burned dicine dregs and shredded paper to the side, then wiped his sleeve and said to Shang Ruyi, "Madam, I’ve fumigated here for a while, and it’s best not to let others in for now. Madam...you should also avoid it."
Shang Ruyi calmly said, "I will stay here, there’s no need to avoid it."
He Wenzhu was startled for a mont, instinctively saying, "But Madam you—"
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him. Her eyes, originally clear and gentle, suddenly flashed with a resolute and almost unbelievable gleam. She said solemnly, "You can be assured."
"..."
"I think King Yan might be sowhat afraid of ."
"...!?"
He Wenzhu was astonished, his eyes widening in disbelief.
This General’s wife—he had just witnessed how the seemingly gentle and kind woman maneuvered with the military officials outside and knew she wasn’t ordinarily ek. But these words seed a bit too arrogant.
King Yan, how could he fear a mortal?
And even the most fearless person, speaking these words at this mont, seed rather inexplicable.
But being the General’s wife, He Wenzhu dared not argue. He could only nod deferentially. Shang Ruyi looked at him and added, "Doctor, when I requested you here, I already ntioned that you cannot leave here until the patient gets better."
He Wenzhu bowed his head and said, "I... understand."
Shang Ruyi nodded and said, "As long as you cure my husband, Madam will surely reward you handsoly."
Although she spoke of rewards, He Wenzhu, despite his age and lack of dullness, imdiately heard the unsaid implications. She only ntioned rewarding for curing, but didn’t say what would happen if the cure failed—it was precisely what she truly intended to communicate with her silence.
In front of this gentle and calm General’s wife, He Wenzhu could not help feeling a chill from the depths of his heart.
He realized that there was only one path for his survival, and that was to save this General’s life.
He took a deep breath and said softly, "I understand, please rest assured, Madam, I will definitely, definitely do my utmost. However, to treat these ailnts, so dicinal materials are needed, of which I have no stock at ho—perhaps—"
Shang Ruyi said, "Is it magnolia bark, talcum, and atractylodes?"
"That’s right!"
"I’ve just sent soone to look for them. We’ll use them once the materials arrive."
"Yes, yes."
He Wenzhu looked at Shang Ruyi sowhat unexpectedly, hesitated for a mont, then boldly asked: "General’s wife, it seems you also understand dical knowledge?"
Shang Ruyi said: "I wouldn’t say understand, but I know a bit."
"..."
"But my husband’s illness still relies on you, doctor."
He Wenzhu nodded hurriedly and said: "I understand. There are still a few useful dicines left in this dicine box. I will go down and boil water now; once the cloth is soaked to cover the mouth and nose, it will be better to care for the Great General."
Shang Ruyi said: "You go ahead."
He Wenzhu imdiately picked up his dicine box and walked out.
Once he left, only Shang Ruyi remained in the room alongside the bed, where Yu Wenye had been silent for a long ti.
But as soon as this breath was out, she felt her whole being—
In fact, she felt that she hadn’t pretended or forced anything just now, because even if they left, she still stood upright. What she needed to persist in and protect had not changed.
It’s just—
She slowly walked to the bedside, leaned over, and sat by his side.
Yu Wenye on the bed had already closed his eyes. Whether he fell into a coma again or was simply too tired and fell asleep, he looked peaceful and somber. But Shang Ruyi understood that at this mont, he was probably burning with anxiety inside; perhaps, being in a coma was a better state for him now.
Whether in a coma or asleep, he could only be like this at the mont.
Thus—
Shang Ruyi reached out, gently holding his hand, then leaned over to his ear and said in a deep voice: "Before the expedition, Father said—he entrusted Xue Xian to you, and you, he entrusted to ."
"..."
"You’ve defended Fufeng, now it’s my turn to defend you."
"..."
"No one should think of harming you in front of !"
At this mont, she felt a movent in her palm. It was Yu Wenye’s fingers lightly trembling, gently rubbing her palm.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.
She said: "Don’t worry."
Ti passed quickly and in the blink of an eye, it was evening.
The battlefield outside the city had been cleaned, and after Xue Xian’s army retreated to the West River, there was no further activity. Hence, Fufeng City’s gates were tightly closed, and the city’s defenses were reinforced considerably. News of Yu Wenye’s severe illness spread quickly and indeed caused so unrest, but because the various leaders made tily arrangents, no major disturbances occurred for the ti being.
However, within the city, the people’s hearts were unsettled, and many undercurrents still lurked.
After dinner, Shang Ruyi imdiately went to the front hall of the official office to find Yin Changyue. He was sitting there with Dai Junliang and others discussing matters, their expressions faintly somber.
At this mont, Shang Ruyi slowly walked in: "Mr. Yin, General Dai."
As soon as they saw her, both imdiately stood up and saluted.
Shang Ruyi also returned a shallow bow, then walked to one side and sat down, saying: "I know you both are busy with official matters and I shouldn’t disturb you, but I requested Mr. Yin to purchase so dicinal herbs this morning, and I haven’t seen them till now, so I ca to ask. Those herbs—"
Hearing this, Yin Changyue’s face grew even more somber.
Beside him, Dai Junliang also frowned.
Shang Ruyi imdiately sensed sothing: "What’s going on?"
Yin Changyue said: "Madam, I have already sent people throughout the city to search every pharmacy, even the small ones were not missed, but—all the Magnolia Officinalis, Talc, and Atractylodes Rhizo are sold out in the entire city."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi was startled and suddenly stood up: "Sold out?"
"Yes,"
Yin Changyue frowned, seemingly also sensing sothing amiss from this situation, but he imdiately said: "However, we also sent people outside the city to so dicine gatherers and small villages to see, should—"
Before he finished speaking, several guards hurried in from outside. Upon seeing them, Yin Changyue imdiately asked, "How is it, did you find the dicinal herbs?"
The group exchanged glances, revealing a hint of apprehension.
One of them cautiously said: "Sir, Madam, please forgive us. We went outside the city to find a dozen or so dicine gatherers, and people in small villages said that a few days ago, soone bought those herbs at high prices, and they were all sold out."
Another person said: "Now, near Fufeng, no villages big or small have even a scrap of dicine left."
This statent was like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, leaving everyone shocked and discolored.
Shang Ruyi felt her mind go blank.
Sold out.
Just like before in Daxing City, these herbs are all sold out?
No, not sold out!
If earlier she only felt this matter was eerie but unrelated to them, now she imdiately determined, the matter was aid directly at them. Those herbs were not sold out—but were deliberately and cleanly swept away!
And the sweep of these herbs serves only one purpose!
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