"Ying Zhong, how is it?"
"Sister Chaoyao, Aunt Fang is fine. She's just too tired, and she's getting on in years."
Just moments before, Song Qingchao had told Aunt Fang to take care of herself. When Aunt Fang went out again, she had fainted.
She had been so frightened that she quickly sent for Ying Zhong.
Hearing Ying Zhong say this, she felt a pang of guilt.
If only she had noticed Aunt Fang's unusual behavior earlier, then Aunt Fang wouldn't have fainted.
"Master, you are fine."
Even in this state, Aunt Fang still tried to sit up and act strong.
"Aunt Fang, you should rest well. You don't need to worry about other matters."
"How can that be?"
Aunt Fang looked contrite. "If my illness delays Master's important affairs, then I truly deserve to die."
She still wanted to persuade Song Qingchao. "Spring plowing is a major event and cannot be delayed."
Song Qingchao naturally knew that spring plowing was a major event, but how could she bear to let a sick madam continue to manage such matters?
Aunt Fang saw Song Qingchao's difficulty and continued, "Master, Zhe'er has been following me these days. While he's at it, why not let Zhe'er practice?"
She smiled. "Don't underestimate Zhe'er just because he's young; he's quite capable."
"Zhe'er?"
Song Qingchao was a little surprised. She had been too busy recently and had indeed neglected Zhe'er.
She had originally thought Zhe'er was still studying calligraphy with Ji Yanzhuo and the others. It turned out he had been secretly learning skills from Aunt Fang.
Aunt Fang thought Song Qingchao was happy and kept praising Zhe'er's competence.
"I will not be too overbearing. I will let Zhe'er do everything, and I will just be the overseer. What do you think?"
Song Qingchao's expression remained serious, and she did not give a reply.
"Regardless, Aunt Fang, you must rest well today and absolutely cannot overexert yourself. If you want to do this, you'll have to wait until you're feeling better."
"But the spring plowing..."
"One or two days won't delay any major matters." Song Qingchao paused. "Coincidentally, tomorrow I will have them learn how to compost and fertilize."
Aunt Fang smiled. "Since Master has her own arrangements, then I will listen to Master completely."
Song Qingchao expressed her concern for another moment or two before withdrawing from Aunt Fang's room.
As she came out, Ying Zhong followed her.
Song Qingchao glanced at him, who was still wearing women's clothing.
"Why haven't you changed back yet?"
Ying Zhong felt awkward, and his face blushed.
"I can't change back. It would be bad if I were discovered."
Song Qingchao considered it and agreed. Soldiers came and went from her residence every day. If he were discovered, all of them would be in trouble.
"I haven't checked on you much lately. How have you been doing?"
As soon as this was mentioned, Ying Zhong puffed out his little chest. He regained his bright and cheerful demeanor. "Sister Chaoyao, let me tell you, these sisters like me a lot. They make various beautiful things for me every day..."
He talked a lot, and Song Qingchao could only feel speechless.
"It's good that everyone likes you. I was worried you wouldn't be able to adapt."
"I've adapted perfectly."
Ying Zhong became happy when he talked about this. "It feels so good to be a master! I've taken so many disciples at once, and they're all beautiful sisters. Master must be envious of me."
"You."
Song Qingchao looked at him meaningfully and then gently tapped his forehead with her fingertip.
"Teach them well. This is a matter of life and death."
Ying Zhong covered his forehead and quickly caught up with Song Qingchao. "Why do both Sister Chaoyao and Master like to hit me on the head?"
There was a hint of complaint and childish pride in his voice.
"I will definitely teach them well. They all call me Little Master Zhong."
He walked in front of Song Qingchao, turned around, faced her, and walked backward.
"Sister Chaoyao, why haven't I seen Master lately?"
He tilted his head, looking very cute.
"Last time, we agreed that he would bring me sesame seed cakes. How long has it been, and there's still no sign of him."
The smile on Song Qingchao's face froze.
"I don't know..."
She replied softly.
Ying Zhong sensed the change in her emotions and rubbed his hair with one hand. "Sister Chaoyao, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine."
Song Qingchao tried her best to turn up the corners of her mouth, but she felt that her current appearance was probably worse than crying.
After they parted last time, they had never met again.
He hadn't come.
She hadn't gone out either.
It wasn't that she suspected anything, but everything seemed too coincidental.
Why did she run into him in a hurry when she left the Feng family?
If she hadn't stopped him at the time, where would he have gone?
And why did Li Yanzhu send him to her side?
There were countless imperial physicians in the palace, and even more outside the palace.
Wan Yan Xiyi said that people from the Bai family had always been by her side.
The only person by her side named Bai was Bai Youan.
Although surnames could be changed, Bai Youan was indeed someone worth her suspicion.
Where did the medicinal herbs from Feng County come from?
Why could he directly control the commanding officers at the border city when he reached Mobei?
Bai Youan gave her the feeling of being a bottomless pit.
He seemed able to predict the future.
If that were the case, it would be truly terrifying.
What was his purpose in lurking by her side...
"Then, Sister Chaoyao, did my master make you angry?"
Ying Zhong asked tentatively.
Song Qingchao shook her head and said no.
Adult matters should not involve children.
"Really? I don't believe you." Ying Zhong pouted. "I knew Master's bad temper needed to be changed."
Bad temper?
Song Qingchao had never heard anyone describe Bai Youan that way before.
She couldn't help but be stunned. "Isn't your master's temper also quite good?"
"Quite good?" Ying Zhong became agitated, almost tripping over a stone. "How is it good? He hits me on the head with his fan if he doesn't understand, and he calls me an idiot!"
"Anything else?"
A smile gradually spread across Song Qingchao's face.
"Also, he often bullies me, asking me to do this and that, suppressing me with his title as master. If I don't do it well, he gets unhappy."
Ying Zhong clung to Song Qingchao. "Do you know what Master looks like when he's unhappy?"
The corners of his mouth turned up as if recalling Bai Youan's unhappy expression. "He's like a closed shell, impossible to pry open!"
Song Qingchao burst out laughing.
Ying Zhong, this child, always used excellent descriptive words.
All the way, Ying Zhong kept talking, his little mouth babbling non-stop.
Thanks to Ying Zhong's stories, Song Qingchao forgot some of her sad memories.
After all, it was best to let things take their course.
He escorted her all the way back to the cave dwelling before waving goodbye, saying he had to leave.
The sisters at the pharmacy were waiting for him.
However, as he was leaving, he almost bumped into Zhou Ri.
These two hadn't had any interaction before, but when they bumped into each other, the air seemed to fill with a sense of awkwardness.
Ying Zhong let out a "hmph" and left.
Zhou Ri, on the other hand, came in awkwardly, scratching his head.
"Miss, you sent for me?"
Song Qingchao nodded, then sat down properly on the couch.
"What happened between you and Ying Zhong?"