"Xiao Mo, this red one is vibrant without being gaudy. It should suit you well."
As Rong Zhi was tidying the gifts, Xia Yun Ting had already picked out a red dress and was holding it up against Rong Zhi from afar. He looked at her with mock seriousness, his voice full of expectation, "Try it on."
Rong Zhi glanced at the pile of clothes that had reached the size of a small mountain beside her and felt a pang of apprehension.
"How long will it take to try all these on? Let's put them away for now."
What was Xia Yun Ting's sudden obsession?
Xia Yun Ting, however, was persistent.
"Just try this one."
He said this while holding the dress against Rong Zhi. Rong Zhi subtly dodged, "I need to check on Xin Lan's throat. Since you like tidying so much, you can sort them out here by yourself."
With that, she fled as if on wings, giving Xia Yun Ting no chance to stop her.
Xia Yun Ting watched her hurried retreat with amusement. His gaze fell upon the pile of clothes. Amidst the brightly colored dresses, one stood out with its muted hue. On a background of dark green, several bamboo leaves were embroidered with green silk thread. It was simple yet exquisite, and if worn, it would surely exude an air of competence and crispness.
This was his impression of the previous Valley Master of Medicine King Valley. Although he was young when he first saw her, the renowned Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, who had pulled countless people back from the brink of death and whom even the royal family of the Tian Que Kingdom wanted to recruit, had naturally garnered his attention. Moreover, she had left a deep impression on him the first time they met. Therefore, even after so many years, the moment he saw Rong Zhi, he immediately linked the current person with that one.
He had to find a way to recall more.
When Rong Zhi arrived at Gu Xin Lan's house, she didn't see Gu Xin Lan, only Wu Gui Xiang tidying the courtyard. Although she was thin and small, her movements were efficient. Now that her daughter's wedding was settled, she seemed to possess boundless energy.
"Aunt Wu, where is Xin Lan?"
"Oh, it's Doctor Lin. Xin Lan just went out. This girl, she's almost getting married and still runs around everywhere. She's unmanageable. I'm afraid her husband will dislike her later." Though she said this, her eyes were crinkled with smiles, indicating that her worry was merely playful.
"Xin Lan and Brother Liu are both easygoing people. They get along well, why would he dislike her? I'll come back another day to see Xin Lan then."
"Alright."
Leaving Gu Xin Lan's house, Rong Zhi pondered that since she was already out, she might as well check on the villagers to see how their poison was being resolved. After distributing the prescription last time, she wondered if they had been taking the medicine on time.
So, she started from the next house and went from one to another, knocking on doors and inquiring. She found that the symptoms on everyone's faces were gradually disappearing, with only differences in the speed of recovery.
It seemed everyone was taking their medicine diligently, which put Rong Zhi at ease.
As she was leaving one house, Rong Zhi noticed a young man standing by the entrance, holding a book. He appeared to be reading intently, but his peripheral vision was constantly darting towards Rong Zhi.
Rong Zhi simply walked over, "Scholar Lu, are you reading?"
Lu Yuan Xiu cleared his throat and nodded slightly.
"A true scholar indeed. They say they can recite backwards, but you're holding the book upside down and don't even realize it."
Lu Yuan Xiu's face instantly flushed. He quickly turned the book right side up, but he couldn't focus on reading anymore.
"Speak, what do you want with me?"
"Who's looking for you?" Lu Yuan Xiu's gaze flickered, and he glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, his expression relaxed slightly.
"Stop pretending. You were the one eavesdropping outside Xin Lan's window last time, weren't you? If there's anything you want to know, I can tell you."
"...You, you saw?" Lu Yuan Xiu's facial muscles twitched. He had never been so embarrassed.
"I just... I just... alright, I just wanted to know if Xin Lan's illness can still be cured."
If you'd said that earlier, it would have been simpler. Such a fuss.
Rong Zhi didn't hide anything, "Her throat is severely injured. She had many external wounds before, which have all healed now. Once her throat is cured, there will be no problem."
Hearing this, Lu Yuan Xiu's expression relaxed somewhat. He seemed to recall something and asked with renewed worry, "Then her... her madness, can it be cured?"
"Hm?" Rong Zhi was puzzled, "When did Xin Lan have madness?"
"Her state, what is that if not madness?"
"She's not mad, she's just sensitive because she went through a dangerous experience. Of course, it depends on who you're dealing with. If you speak to her kindly and don't provoke her, she can communicate perfectly well."
Rong Zhi hadn't forgotten the harsh words Lu Yuan Xiu had spoken the first time Gu Xin Lan appeared in front of everyone.
Lu Yuan Xiu clearly understood Rong Zhi's sarcasm. His face was filled with shame and regret.
"That wasn't my intention. After Xin Lan disappeared, people in the village always made snide remarks. When I saw Xin Lan in that state, and they were still mocking me behind my back, I felt humiliated, so I... spoke without thinking."
"If anyone mocked you, you shouldn't have taken it out on Xin Lan." Rong Zhi loathed this kind of behavior where one took out their anger on innocent people. She had no mood to talk to him further, "Xin Lan is getting married soon. I hope you won't do anything impulsive on the wedding day, otherwise, I won't be polite to you."
"Look after yourself!" Rong Zhi left him with a warning and went to check on the next patient.
The rounds went smoothly. The villagers whose conditions had improved were all deeply grateful to Rong Zhi, which made her very happy.
After checking the last household, Rong Zhi saw two figures in the distance on the village dirt road, one tall and one short, both carrying things on their backs.
Upon closer inspection, it was Liu Hong and Gu Xin Lan. Liu Hong had a string of wild rabbits on his back, while Gu Xin Lan carried a large bamboo basket filled with wild vegetables and fruits.
They walked without speaking, but their proximity was close, and they would occasionally glance at each other before quickly looking away, revealing a hint of affection.
Rong Zhi crossed her arms and watched them approach with amusement. They didn't seem to notice Rong Zhi at all and walked past her without looking.
"Alas, what a well-matched couple. They don't have eyes for anyone else. I'm standing here, such a big person, and yet no one sees me."
Rong Zhi sighed deliberately.
The two who had walked past froze and turned around simultaneously, their faces flushing instantly. Gu Xin Lan stood frozen, not knowing how to react. Liu Hong scratched his head, "Miss Lin... we, we weren't doing anything. We just went up the mountain to hunt and pick some wild fruits."
"Oh." Rong Zhi looked at him innocently, "Did I say you were doing anything?"
At these words, their faces turned even redder.
"Miss Lin, please stop teasing us. Xin Lan is too embarrassed."
Even though he himself was blushing more intensely, he used Gu Xin Lan as a shield.
Rong Zhi didn't tease them further, knowing that despite his imposing stature, he was quite thin-skinned.
"I won't tease you anymore. I came to find Xin Lan. Xin Lan, how is your throat?"
Gu Xin Lan nodded, "Much better. Your medicine is very effective."
She spoke more fluently now, and her voice was clearer than before.
"That's good." Seeing Gu Xin Lan's condition improving, Rong Zhi felt more at ease.
"Oh, right." Gu Xin Lan seemed to remember something, took down the bamboo basket from her back, and handed it to Liu Hong with a smile. "Take this back for me." Then she ran to Rong Zhi, "You said you'd teach me to write."
The matter of learning to write had been delayed due to the engagement.
"Alright, let's go back to my place, I'll teach you."
Rong Zhi bid farewell to Liu Hong, "See you later. I'm taking your wife away for now."
Liu Hong became even more embarrassed and could only quickly carry the basket to Gu Xin Lan's house.
Taking Gu Xin Lan back to the old house, Rong Zhi found the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in the room. Xia Yun Ting was not in the room, and she didn't know where he had gone. Rong Zhi was happy to have some peace.
She ground the ink, spread the paper on the table, and began to write stroke by stroke, letting Gu Xin Lan imitate her.
Gu Xin Lan followed her movements and wrote a few characters. She was very focused the entire time.
Rong Zhi glanced at her writing and found that the stroke order and structure were not like someone who was writing for the first time.
"Have you practiced before?"
Gu Xin Lan nodded, "Lu Yuan Xiu."
Right, she had been engaged to Lu Yuan Xiu before. After spending a long time together, Lu Yuan Xiu must have taught her some things about reading and writing.
"Since you can write, you don't need me to teach you."
"That day, Big Brother Xia wrote beautifully."
As she spoke, her eyes shone with envy.
Rong Zhi understood. It turned out she didn't want to learn to write, but rather admired Xia Yun Ting's handwriting.
"That's simple. When he comes back later, I'll get you a sample of his writing."
"Thank you."
Gu Xin Lan's face lit up with joy.
Indeed, Xia Yun Ting's brushwork was vigorous and unrestrained, like the man himself, exuding an imposing aura. Rong Zhi also liked Xia Yun Ting's calligraphy very much.
She had expected Xia Yun Ting to return soon, but to her surprise, he was still nowhere to be seen even by the next day. Rong Zhi found it strange.
Even if Xia Yun Ting had to go out for something, he should have left a message beforehand. She asked the surrounding villagers, but no one had seen Xia Yun Ting. She checked Yu Cheng's house, and Xiao Hei was still there.
This was truly puzzling.
A living person, could he just disappear?
By the third day, Rong Zhi felt she couldn't wait any longer. So she decided to go out and look for him. As soon as she stepped out, two men, covered in injuries, walked in.
Chen Xing was supporting Xia Yun Ting, staggering with each step. Seeing Rong Zhi, he looked as if he had seen a savior. Even his dull eyes brightened slightly. He called out "Madam" and his knees buckled as he was about to collapse.
Rong Zhi quickly stepped forward to help him.
One Xia Yun Ting was already heavy enough. Chen Xing's physique could be described as colossal. Rong Zhi managed to support Xia Yun Ting, her hands exerting force to lift him onto her shoulder, and quickly helped him back into the room.
When she came out, Chen Xing had already collapsed on the ground. Rong Zhi struggled with great effort and then called Gu Xin Lan to help before they managed to move Chen Xing into the side room.
"Xin Lan, quickly go call Liu Hong over, and then go to the kitchen to boil a pot of hot water."
Gu Xin Lan responded and rushed out to call for help. Rong Zhi took off Xia Yun Ting's clothes and saw that his back was a bloody mess. Countless tiny, dense wounds were concentrated all over his back, looking terrifying.
Rong Zhi frowned, first brought a basin of water to clean the wounds, and then sprinkled some hemostatic powder on them. The person on the bed furrowed his brow slightly. Rong Zhi asked, "What happened?"
Xia Yun Ting's voice was hoarse, "The mine collapsed, rescuing people."
These few short words conveyed the danger involved, making Rong Zhi feel it deeply.
No wonder he hadn't left a single message; he had been too eager to save people.