Although they didn’t exchange a single word, there was a tacit understanding that needed no words, flowing through their gaze. In Su Qinglan’s eyes, which were originally gentle, a touch of tenderness like spring water now floated up.
Seeing this scene, Shang Ruyi’s heart involuntarily sank.
She instinctively halted her steps, then slowly turned around to look at Pei Xingyuan standing behind her.
Evidently, Pei Xingyuan also froze, staring wide-eyed at that unfamiliar figure. After a pause, he blinked and softly asked, "Who is that person?"
"...Jiang Xian."
"Jiang Xian? I don’t know him. Where is he from?"
"Son of Jiang Yu."
"Jiang Yu, and who might that be?"
"That’s—"
Shang Ruyi was about to explain, but before she could say anything, she heard Pei Xingyuan chuckling and murmuring, "Hey, what’s it got to do with ? I’m asking about this!"
After saying this, he asked nothing more, just quietly watching ahead. The concern on his face gradually faded, leaving only the usual teasing smile, as if he were an outsider watching the bustling world without getting involved.
After a while, he suddenly asked, "By the way, where’s Feng Chen?"
"Huh?"
Shang Ruyi was startled, not knowing why he suddenly shifted the topic to Yu Wenye. They had been talking about Su Qinglan all along. Before she could react, she heard Pei Xingyuan complaining, "In the past, when I was being criticized, he didn’t co to help, but now that it’s a day for praise, why isn’t he here?"
Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but chuckle again at his words, then said, "He went to the palace."
"The palace, did sothing happen?"
"I heard that a letter ca from Princess Qiancheng of the Eastern Turks. It seems there are so new developnts with the Western Turks. The Grand Chancellor summoned him to the palace to discuss it."
"I see."
Only then did Pei Xingyuan nod, but then his brows slowly furrowed again, "Turks..."
Upon ntioning the Turks, the little relaxed mood they had was involuntarily tightened. Pei Xingyuan thought for a while and said solemnly, "I heard that Ashina Shali suffered a great loss at Feng Chen’s hands when they were in Yann before. If the Western Turks really have intentions, they might be coming this way."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s brows also knitted together.
How could she not know? When Yann was besieged, Ashina Shali nearly captured the heads of the Da Ye Dynasty, from the Emperor to the ministers, all at once. Fortunately, Yu Wenye arrived in ti and shot one of Ashina Shali’s eyes, repelling a million troops, saving Chu Yang, herself, and everyone else!
But this blood debt, of course, was marked on his head.
Ashina Shali was vengeful and sinister and would not easily let him go.
Shang Ruyi glanced around again and said solemnly, "Unfortunately, the plague in the city has not been fully resolved, and before us—hopefully, the Turks are not planning to wage war against us imdiately."
Upon hearing this, Pei Xingyuan’s expression also turned rare and grave.
But after a brief silence, he smiled and said, "Don’t be afraid. No matter how big the issue, we still have a few of us here. Even if you don’t trust , isn’t there still your brother and Feng Chen?"
Shang Ruyi laughed, "I trust Mr. Pei too."
"You’ve got an eye for talent!"
Pei Xingyuan imdiately praised, "I knew, although you are a woman, your insights and abilities are compered with n. Otherwise, how would you have chosen Feng Chen as your husband?"
He was joking, but his words happened to strike a soft spot in Shang Ruyi’s heart.
She couldn’t help but be taken aback.
But just as she was sowhat lost, she felt sothing heavy handed over to her. Shang Ruyi imdiately snapped back to her senses and involuntarily reached out to take it. Looking down, she found it was Pei Xingyuan handing her a package of dicine.
She imdiately said, "This is—"
Looking up, she saw Pei Xingyuan turning to leave, still smiling, "I’m going to find out what’s happening with the Turks, so I’m off."
"Ah?"
Shang Ruyi was again taken aback, instinctively saying, "Aren’t you going to see Mr. Su?"
"..."
Hearing this, Pei Xingyuan’s steps halted, and he turned back, glancing ahead.
On the other side, Su Qinglan seed completely unaware of what was going on here, only bowing her head to continue treating an elderly person with gentle and focused eyes. Only during a pause did she look back, but it was toward Jiang Xian, who was simring dicine in the stable.
Pei Xingyuan’s face showed a faint smile, and he imdiately said, "She is fine here; I’ll tend to my own affairs."
After that, he turned and left.
For a mont, Shang Ruyi still couldn’t quite co back to her senses, just holding the package while watching him stride out of Changle Square. It was only after he had walked far that he waved slightly, his back to her.
The gesture was both dashing and seed to carry a hint of subtle desolation.
Before she could savor it, it was gone.
As she watched his silhouette disappear ahead, there was still an indescribable feeling in Shang Ruyi’s heart, as if the wind had blown away the surrounding warmth, leaving a thin layer of coldness in her chest. After a long silence, she slowly turned around.
As soon as she walked closer, Su Qinglan looked up and saw her.
She imdiately stood up and ca forward, "Young Madam."
Shang Ruyi also nodded, "Mr. Su."
Just as they reached a spot to speak, a fragrance of dicine wafted over with the wind. Turning her head, she saw Jiang Xian coming over with a bowl of freshly brewed dicine. Upon seeing Shang Ruyi, he had a peculiar expression on his handso face, but he still approached and nodded in acknowledgnt to Shang Ruyi.
Though not completely respectful, he was still courteous.
Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "These past two days must have been hard on both of you. I didn’t expect Mr. Jiang to still be here helping."
Jiang Xian replied calmly, "Where duty calls."
"..."
Shang Ruyi did not speak imdiately, just glanced at him again.
This young man was indeed handso, and even rarer was his calm and reserved deanor. There was a kind of stability in his speech and actions not found in others, and he spoke with clarity and wisdom. Regardless of his family background, he was an outstanding talent.
Shang Ruyi sighed silently in her heart but said nothing, only smiled.
It was Su Qinglan who, although silent, imdiately slled the strong dicinal aroma from the bundle in Shang Ruyi’s hand and asked, "Young Madam, this is——"
Shang Ruyi was about to speak when a sound of heavy, hurried footsteps ca from behind. Turning back, she saw one of the dical Directors from the Imperial dical Bureau rushing in with a joyful expression, "Mr. Su, quickly, take the patients outside to receive their dicine! The dicine outside is now free!"
Su Qinglan was shocked, "What?"
The dical Director ca over, saw Shang Ruyi, and imdiately stopped, smiling, "So the Young Madam is here too."
Shang Ruyi nodded, "Yes."
Su Qinglan looked at them in surprise and asked, "What’s going on?"
Shang Ruyi glanced at the bundle in her hand, gave a faint smile, and said, "I also ca to tell you about this. Previously, Mr. Pei sold those dicines as part of a deliberate arrangent to investigate an incident, but it wasn’t truly driven by greed, disregarding the lives of the people; now that the matter has been clarified, he has returned all the money from the dicines sold earlier. From today on, all decoctions dispensed are free of charge."
"Really?!"
Su Qinglan was both shocked and thrilled, "Does the Young Madam an that people here can go out and get the dicine?"
"Yes."
Shang Ruyi calmly nodded, then handed the bundle to her, softly saying, "If any patients here are elderly and have trouble walking, making it inconvenient for them to queue outside, Mr. Su can prepare the dicine here for them as before. These dicines will be delivered just like before."
"..."
Su Qinglan looked at the bundle and was montarily stunned.
After a long silence, she finally seed to understand sothing, reaching out to take it and murmuring, "So, so it was..."
Jiang Xian, standing nearby, looked at her and said softly, "What’s the matter?"
Though it was just one sentence, the concern in his words and the intimacy that couldn’t be hidden at the corners of his eyes and eyebrows made Shang Ruyi completely understand. Su Qinglan lifted her head to look at him, remained silent for a mont, then lightly smiled and shook her head, "Nothing."
After speaking, she looked at Shang Ruyi, "Then, Mr. Pei——"
Shang Ruyi said, "He has gone to handle his affairs."
"..."
"He has many tasks, and perhaps, won’t have the opportunity to return."
"...Oh."
Su Qinglan nodded, her face still a calm smile, thought for a mont, and then said, "Then, please, Young Madam, convey our gratitude from the patients here to Mr. Pei."
Shang Ruyi said, "Alright."
Upon saying this, Su Qinglan smiled again, but this ti, her smile was deeper and more joyful than before. Turning to the surrounding patients, she loudly said, "Everyone, the decoctions outside are now free. Those of you who can still walk, go out and get the decoctions, but rember not to take more than you need, and be careful not to trip. The elderly and those who can’t walk needn’t worry. I will prepare the dicine for you here, as before, and we will make sure to cure you!"
The patients, having heard their conversation, had eyes lit up and cheered with joy and surprise. So even got up, continuously kowtowing to the heavens, thanking the heavens for their favor.
Shang Ruyi glanced at them, smiled, and prepared to turn and leave.
At this mont, however, Jiang Xian suddenly said, "Yu Wen, Young Madam."
"Hmm?"
Shang Ruyi, unsure why he suddenly called out to her, stopped her steps and looked back at him, "Mr. Jiang, is there sothing else?"
Jiang Xian glanced at her, thought for a mont, and softly said, "I heard that the other day, Yanzuo Square released hundreds of cured patients, and now the decoctions at Changle Square are free of charge. Does this an the epidemic is nearly eradicated?"
Shang Ruyi carefully smiled, "If nothing unexpected happens, this is what everyone hopes for."
Jiang Xian said, "Then, you——"
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was puzzled, looking at him, "We? What about us?"
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