She must be angry. She didn't serve any of today's meals. Yesterday, when I asked her, she didn't say anything.
Tsk, women are so troublesome.
"That's all for today's acupuncture. I've also boiled the herbal medicine. I'll have someone bring it in now." His tone was as perfunctory as ever, completely lacking the vigor from earlier in the day.
Xiao Wang Ye looked at her expressionless face, her gaze not even meeting his when she spoke.
"Have you had dinner?" he asked stiffly, trying to make conversation.
"Mmm." She didn't add another word.
Xiao Wang Ye was left speechless, having forgotten what he wanted to say next. Ye Qingcheng left without a word. Afterward, the young apprentice of Physician Wen brought in the herbal medicine.
"Your Highness, Physician Ye instructed me to deliver this."
"Did she… say anything else?"
"No, Your Highness. What do you want to know?" Little Ling Dang asked him with wide, innocent eyes.
That's right, what answer do I want to know? She's just a substitute, what reason does she have to be angry?
"However, Physician Ye ate very little tonight. Even Master is worried she might be ill. Master asked her what was wrong, but she wouldn't say. She only told Master that she was fated to be his successor but not destined to inherit his legacy." Clearly, Little Ling Dang was a very pure child.
"Then why do you call Physician Wen Master?"
"Because Master said I'm very slow. Without his protection, I'd be hunted down," she said proudly about her own dullness.
It seemed Physician Wen had done quite a few significant things.
"Anyway, I'm not cut out for medicine. I'll just be his godson and stay by his side." Her tone became even more foolish now.
Seeing that he wanted to continue talking, Xiao Wang Ye interrupted him, "My legs feel very painful today. Go and call Physician Ye back in."
Little Ling Dang eagerly ran out to fetch her, shouting, "Physician Ye, Physician Ye!"
Xiao Wang Ye: ...Anyone hearing this would think I'm on the verge of death.
Ye Qingcheng was also worried about him. Forgetting her work, she rushed over to the royal tent. To her surprise, she saw Xiao Wang Ye leisurely drinking tea and soaking his feet.
"You!" She was infuriated again, having thought something major had happened. She turned to leave.
"Wait a moment, I have something to ask you."
"I think you have nothing wrong, you're just bored!"
"About that transaction you mentioned, I can agree to it." Ye Qingcheng was interrupted as she was about to continue her verbal sparring.
Xiao Wang Ye looked at her with an expression of disbelief, his eyes full of question marks. Why?
Xiao Wang Ye calmly took another sip of tea and continued, "Originally, I didn't need to become his sworn son."
Ye Qingcheng became even more confused. What? Could it be that Xiao Wang Ye was an illegitimate child?
"He was already my sworn father when I was born. My consort was still alive then, and it was Old Man Wen who proposed it." This meant the decision was made without my consent.
Joy burst forth like a celestial gift. Xiao Wang Ye watched as her smile returned, like a blooming red rose, radiant and captivating.
"That's great! Then can I call Old Mischief Master? But, will you mind him knowing about our relationship?"
"No, Old Man Wen won't speak carelessly," Xiao Wang Ye said earnestly, looking at her face.
Ye Qingcheng froze. "Qingcheng, I won't lie to you. You can trust me." The person before her overlapped with the man who died protecting her in the apocalypse. One imbued with sincerity, the other with deep affection.
Xiao Wang Ye looked at her like this and felt inexplicably angry. Who are you looking at through me?
Run, run faster, run, don't let them find you.
It really hurts. I can't stop. I can't let what happened in my past life happen again.
"Ah!" The wound was still bleeding, and she tripped by the river. "I remember that following this river leads to Han territory." This meant she could see Zhou Hu again.
Zhou Hu, I must see you again. I will repay you and personally apologize.
"What rotten luck. To be beaten half to death and still manage to crawl out. Damn it, if it wasn't for one missing person, why would the general send us out to find him?" The speaker was a barbarian soldier who was out looking for Le Hu. To avoid alarming the enemy, they couldn't act too conspicuously, or they would be detected by the scouts sent by the opposing side.
"Damn it, you little bastard, making us lose sleep in the middle of the night."
Le Hu's heart was pounding. Why had they found him so quickly? It seemed their plan was about to be executed. He couldn't move. The surroundings were all grass; even crouching down would be noticed.
With no other way to escape, Le Hu jumped without hesitation. The river water was extremely cold at night, chilling him to the bone. He slowly closed his eyes, drifting with the current towards the person he hoped for.
"What's wrong with you? Why are you holding your chest like a woman?" General Deng asked in confusion. His tall and strong brother suddenly clutched his chest as if shot by an arrow.
"Should we ask the Princess Consort to come over?" Still worried about his brother, the general couldn't fall ill before the war began.
"It's nothing. I don't know myself, it just happened suddenly."
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."
The next morning, a crowd of soldiers who had just finished their morning drills gathered by the riverbank next to the military camp.
"Heavens, isn't that a child? Quickly, quickly save him!" There was a bustling crowd. Even during wartime, kind people never suspected children.
"Physician Wen, Physician Ye, please go and take a look. This morning, a soldier found a little boy by the river."
A little boy? Could it be that the barbarians' plan had begun so soon? This was more than a month ahead of schedule!
"Where is he? I'll go and see," Physician Wen asked urgently.
"The person has been brought here." Several soldiers were seen rushing over, one of them carrying a child.
"Physician Wen, can this child survive? We can barely feel his breath," the soldiers asked anxiously.
"The situation is not optimistic. He has wounds all over his body, two broken ribs, and his lungs are filled with water. But don't worry, with both Physician Ye and me here, he will definitely make it."
The soldiers left after hearing the old gentleman's assurance.
So, this child's life was a grim struggle before he met Zhou Hu. Even if I knew he would harm me later, I couldn't bear to see him die!
"Master, please leave him to me. We were close to breaking through the second level yesterday. You should go and continue your research."
Physician Wen naturally trusted Ye Qingcheng.
Why would you harm Zhou Hu? Isn't he your savior? What conspiracy lies behind this? Will you tell us after you wake up?
"Saved a child? Even if it's a child, you know that during special times, everyone will be interrogated," Zhou Hu said as he hurried over upon hearing the news.
"We know, General. Even if an interrogation is necessary, we must first save the person."
Seeing Zhou Hu arrive, Ye Qingcheng wisely made way for him. The best way to make the boy speak was for Zhou Hu to do it himself.