"I apologize, Xiao Mo." Xia Yunting's gaze fell on Rong Zhi. From her chest to her neck, though there were no scars, the skin was red, a result of the whip marks from days ago.
"The General's manor was heavily guarded a few days ago. I didn't know the extent of the enemy's strength, so I had to play along and let you suffer. Let me take a look." As he spoke, he reached for Rong Zhi's clothes, intending to remove them for examination. Rong Zhi tightly clutched his belt.
"General, please have some self-respect. It's late at night, this is rather inappropriate."
"Xiao Mo." Xia Yunting's gaze turned serious. "Although the spies have left, Xing Jiahui is still at the General's manor. It took me great effort to see you. Don't be angry. Look, I even brought medicine." He said, taking out a small medicine bottle from his embrace.
His earnest and somewhat wronged expression actually made Rong Zhi feel a pang of guilt, as if she were being unreasonable.
"Alright, alright."
Rong Zhi accepted the medicine bottle and unfastened her clothes, allowing him to examine her wounds.
Fortunately, Chen Xing hadn't used her full strength when whipping her, and Rong Zhi had used her internal energy to protect herself. The injuries weren't severe and had mostly healed after two days. Only her waist and abdomen bore some faint marks. She only needed to lift her clothes.
Xia Yunting's gaze was focused as he meticulously applied the medicine to her, just as Rong Zhi had treated him before. However, upon closer inspection, a fine layer of sweat had appeared on his forehead.
On the bed, Zhang Can, who had been lying with his eyes tightly shut, slowly opened them.
He felt as if he had just returned from the underworld these past few days, in a daze, unsure if he was alive or dead. He felt a thread pulling him, preventing him from falling completely into hell. Now, finally regaining some sensation and sensing the world of the living, he turned his head and saw his long-unseen General in a rather compromising situation with a man.
Zhang Can's gaze was vacant for a long time, unable to distinguish between this world and the next. If the scene before him was real, seeing the General with another man would be even more terrifying than going to hell. In that case, he might as well faint again.
And so, Zhang Can closed his eyes and fainted once more.
Rong Zhi, who had been calm until then, suddenly felt a chill down her spine and pushed Xia Yunting away.
"Enough."
Xia Yunting, caught off guard, stumbled backward, his hand still in the motion of applying medicine.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's late, you should go back quickly."
Rong Zhi's lips twitched. Her peripheral vision caught sight of the motionless figure on the bed, and she felt a sense of awkwardness.
She hadn't expected him to wake up at this moment.
Xia Yunting was utterly confused.
"You should go back quickly. With so many eyes watching in the General's manor, it wouldn't be good if the spies saw you."
"Alright." Xia Yunting left, disappointed, leaving Rong Zhi with a truly aggrieved-looking back.
Rong Zhi patted her frantically beating chest and glanced back at the person on the bed. His eyes were closed, but his eyelids twitched incessantly.
Rong Zhi took a deep breath. "What did you see?"
There was no response. Zhang Can, who was feigning unconsciousness, felt that if he were to wake up now, he would never truly wake up again.
Rong Zhi frowned, thinking she might have guessed wrong. Even if the person could wake up now, they probably couldn't perceive anything. She must have been overly anxious just now.
By the well, a large bucket of cold water was poured over Xia Yunting, drenching him thoroughly. His wet clothes revealed his perfect physique. He closed his eyes, calming himself for a long time.
He hadn't expected that after just a few days apart, he would be so unable to control himself upon seeing Xiao Mo again.
Perhaps it was the stress of handling matters these past few days, and constantly playing along with Xing Jiahui, that kept him on edge. The moment he saw Xiao Mo, everything relaxed.
It was a strange feeling. Although he was a man of great suspicion, he rarely doubted Xiao Mo. It was as if... they had known each other for a very long time. Was it merely because of Xiao Mo's face?
That face... which bore a seventy percent resemblance to the former Valley Master of the Hundred Herbs Valley.
The next day, Chen Xing brought the medicinal ingredients.
As expected of the General's manor, so many precious medicinal herbs had been gathered so quickly. Chen Xing watched as Rong Zhi poured all the herbs into a clay pot, feeling as if a large sum of money was being discarded.
"General, many of these herbs were purchased from the Imperial Academy. Although we paid, those imperial physicians seemed very reluctant. It seems we've offended the Imperial Academy this time."
Chen Xing's concern wasn't that they couldn't afford to offend the Imperial Academy, but that the General was currently facing impeachment, and the Emperor was suspicious. If any further complications arose at this time, it might affect the General's plans.
"Pay them no mind." Xia Yunting's gaze was fixed on Rong Zhi's medicine pot. It contained Zhang Can's life, and nothing was more important than this right now.
The two men's gazes made Rong Zhi a bit uncomfortable. "General, no matter how hard you glare at it, it won't be ready any time soon. Perhaps the General should go for a walk elsewhere."
Xia Yunting didn't move, pretending not to hear. Only Chen Xing, sensing the situation, discreetly retreated.
"Oh, what's this smell? It's so unpleasant?" A charming voice suddenly called out.
A woman in a light pink long dress appeared at the doorway, holding her nose as if disgusted, yet unable to suppress her curiosity.
"Ah, the General is here too. What kind of herbs warrant the General's personal attention? Is the General ill?" As she spoke, she moved closer, exuding an air of allure.
Rong Zhi played with her dark hair, watching the scene with amusement. She suddenly felt that Xing Jiahui wasn't having an easy time, caring about Duan Xucheng in her heart while still having to play a role for Xia Yunting.
"It's nothing. Why are you here?"
Xia Yunting's attitude was cold. With the spies gone, he naturally didn't need to entertain Xing Jiahui anymore.
Xing Jiahui, with her sharp senses, noticed this immediately.
"General, what's wrong? Did I do something to offend you?" A tear glistened in her eye, making her appear pitiable.
Xia Yunting, impatient, snorted and left.
Xing Jiahui watched Xia Yunting's retreating back in disbelief, stamping her foot in anger.
"Hmm, little doctor, who are you? When did you come in? I've never seen you before." Xing Jiahui quickly noticed Rong Zhi.
Rong Zhi explained, "I was passing by. The General said a patient needed treatment, so I came."
This statement, while seemingly an answer, revealed nothing.
"What patient?" Xing Jiahui, unaware of Zhang Can's situation, became curious.
"The General has ordered that this information is not to be disclosed."
"Am I an outsider? Do you know who I am? I am the General's lawfully wedded wife." Xing Jiahui, seeing that the other party was unyielding, decided to use her status to pressure them.
Rong Zhi respectfully replied, "Madam, this commoner greets you." However, she still did not answer Xing Jiahui's question.
Xing Jiahui felt as if she had punched cotton, feeling extremely frustrated.
Suddenly, her eyes darted, and she slowly leaned closer. "Little doctor, how are your medical skills?"
Rong Zhi replied, "So-so. I can treat common colds and alleviate back and leg pain."
Xing Jiahui didn't believe it. If his medical skills were truly average, why would the General allow him to treat a secret individual? She was determined to find out.
"Little doctor, I have a delicate matter. I wonder if you can help me resolve it."
Rong Zhi responded with an "Oh." "As long as Madam commands, this commoner will do his best."
Xing Jiahui twisted her handkerchief, appearing somewhat embarrassed. She then went to the door, closed it, and whispered something into Rong Zhi's ear. Rong Zhi's eyes widened, and she almost burst into laughter.
"How is it?"
"Oh dear, this... I'm afraid I'm powerless! I can only treat external injuries. As for matters between the General and Madam in their chambers, I truly... cannot interfere, cannot interfere."
"If you don't help me, then tell me who you are treating, or I'll tell the General that you molested me." Xing Jiahui was being unreasonable.
In truth, this request was born from her genuine desire. She had been in the General's manor for some time, but the General had never been particularly close to her. Even when they shared a bed at night, she would always fall asleep in a daze. As for marital relations, there had been none.
If this continued, she would soon fall out of favor. How could she complete the task her father had assigned her?
"If you help me, I'll give you fifty taels of silver as a token of my gratitude."
Heh, money. Rong Zhi thought that since there was money to be made, she might as well agree for now.
"Alright, but it's inconvenient now. Come back here three nights from now at midnight, and I'll discreetly give it to you."
"It's a deal." Xing Jiahui smiled. The medicine she wanted wasn't available in the General's manor; he would have to go out to find it. Then, she could sneakily see who Xia Yunting had secretly brought back.
Little did Xing Jiahui know, the moment Rong Zhi turned around, she told Xia Yunting everything.
She patted Xia Yunting's chest and said teasingly, "Congratulations, congratulations. It seems General Xia is quite charming. Your wife is trying every means to get closer to you."
Xia Yunting's face darkened upon hearing this. He detested being schemed against.
"Are you really going to help her?"
Rong Zhi weighed the heavy silver in her hand, contemplating. "That depends on whether what you give me is more than what she offers."
The next moment, her hand suddenly grew heavy. A golden gleam almost blinded Rong Zhi.
"Thank you, General, for your reward." Rong Zhi happily pocketed the gold.
"I also have something I need you to help me with."
"What is it?"
Xia Yunting beckoned with his finger, and Rong Zhi leaned her ear closer.
Just as Rong Zhi and Xia Yunting were conspiring, on a certain street in the Imperial City, a carriage stopped.
A young woman alighted from the carriage, gave the driver a silver ingot, and the driver drove away.
Xiao Yao stared at the familiar street, her hidden anger almost impossible to contain.
Xing Jiahui had asked her to investigate Xia Yunting's whereabouts. A few days ago, she had received news that Xia Yunting had returned to the General's manor and had even been grandly received into it. She had been made a fool of.
She had traveled on the road, enduring hardship, and now she was determined to get an explanation from Xing Jiahui.
She glanced in the direction of the General's manor and was about to head over when her foot suddenly slipped. With a yelp, she fell to the ground. Her ankle swelled at a visible rate.
"Bad luck!" Xiao Yao glared in frustration. She had no choice but to find a doctor's clinic to rest.
Turning around, she found a clinic right behind her, bearing the sign "Gusheng Tang." The calligraphy was vigorous and elegant, matching the persona of the owner. Xiao Yao felt that the Madam must be a good person.
She wanted to go in and take a look, but unfortunately, she couldn't walk at the moment. She could only shout inside, "Is anyone there? Help!"
Footsteps echoed from within, and then a figure of ethereal grace in white appeared before Xiao Yao.
"Doctor, I've sprained my ankle. Please... is that you?"
Chu Qingze's mouth twitched twice. What a narrow encounter.