As soon as Xu Hengyi finished speaking, before Xie Jiang could reply, Yi Yanting said, "We can talk later. Don't block the road."
Yi Yanting ruthlessly interrupted their nascent pleasantries.
Xu Hengyi and his two companions dared not object and obediently followed the carriage on their horses.
Inside the carriage, Xie Jiang leaned against a cushion and teased Yi Yanting, "Your image isn't very friendly. They're all afraid of you."
Yi Yanting poured two cups of tea and handed one to Xie Jiang, "Aren't you not afraid at all?"
The tea was what they had picked themselves that day and later processed. He hadn't intended to save any for Xie Jiang, having kept it all for himself.
Xie Jiang said shamelessly, "That's because I've seen your inner substance."
Yi Yanting silently drank his tea. What inner substance could one see in someone whose hands trembled when holding a brush?
Ruan Ziji's expression was grim. Staring at the carriage ahead, he asked Xu Hengyi beside him, "What's going on with Young Master Yi?"
Xu Hengyi replied, puzzled, "Haven't you heard? Young Master Yi's old injury has relapsed. He vomited blood outside the palace gates a few days ago, and many people saw it. My elder brother isn't in the capital recently, and ordinary doctors can't treat Young Master Yi's condition, so he had to come to Xie Jiang. Xie Jiang is a poison doctor."
Ruan Ziji's face darkened. "I know he vomited blood, but it's just vomiting blood, not like he's dying immediately!"
Although Ruan Ziji felt indignant, he didn't dare to show it openly. He lowered his voice and grumbled, "Why does he have to cling to Young Master Xie? Doesn't he know Young Master Xie fell off a cliff? He's monopolizing Young Master Xie, but Young Master Xie himself needs to recuperate. How can he have the energy to treat his illness!"
Xu Hengyi's enthusiasm, though ruthlessly extinguished by Yi Yanting, didn't carry so much resentment.
"Perhaps when Young Master Yi went out to find Xie Jiang, he hadn't received news of Xie Jiang's accident yet. When Young Master Yi found out about Xie Jiang's mishap halfway, he might as well have helped search for Xie Jiang's whereabouts."
It wasn't just them who had dealings with Xie Jiang; Young Master Yi also had dealings with Xie Jiang.
Recalling the treatment Xie Jiang had received at Young Master Yi's residence before, Xu Hengyi couldn't help but drool with envy.
"Don't worry, Young Master Yi won't make things difficult for Xie Jiang. Didn't you see earlier? Xie Jiang looks quite well, which means Xie Jiang has been recuperating quite well these past few days."
"If he's not making things difficult, why did he follow us all the way to Ninghe?" He wouldn't even let them say a few extra words to Young Master Xie!
Xu Hengyi looked utterly bewildered. "Ruan Ziji, you seem to have a lot of opinions about Young Master Yi. If you have the guts, say it to his face."
Ruan Ziji had already ridden his horse forward to ask Wen Feng, indirectly inquiring when Yi Yanting would return to the capital. Wen Feng politely told him to ask his master.
Ruan Ziji, with a dark expression, spurred his horse and rode away.
Wen Feng looked somewhat sympathetically at the retreating figure of Young Marquis Ruan. Young Marquis Ruan was now so diligently trying to get close to Miss Xie. When he eventually discovers that Miss Xie is actually a woman…
He almost looked forward to it.
Xu Hengyi quietly asked Xia Zeshi, "What's wrong with Ruan Ziji? Did Yi Yanting just scold him? Who told him to be so clumsy."
He had rushed into the carriage before it even stopped, not afraid of colliding with Xie Jiang.
Thinking of Xie Jiang's habit of kicking people when displeased, Xu Hengyi felt that Ruan Ziji should be grateful to Yi Yanting, otherwise, he would have been kicked flying by Xie Jiang.
However, considering Ruan Ziji's somewhat "cheap" demeanor, perhaps he even enjoyed being kicked by Xie Jiang?
Xu Hengyi's face was filled with disdain. He should stay far away from Ruan Ziji!
Xia Zeshi thought to himself, you're not much better. You're just not as fast as Ruan Ziji. However, it's possible Ruan Ziji was scolded by Yi Yanting. It's more likely he got a cold shoulder from Yi Yanting.
Upon returning to the residence on the back street of the county office, as soon as Xie Jiang got out of the carriage, Ruan Ziji immediately scurried over.
Xu Hengyi felt his status threatened. He was the first to get to know Xie Jiang, so who was Ruan Ziji to dare snatch his position!
Xia Zeshi almost followed suit.
Xie Jiang seemed to possess a kind of magic that drew people to follow her irresistibly.
However, he was more perceptive and realized that Yi Yanting didn't like them getting close to Xie Jiang. He stood a little further away.
Indeed, the next moment, Yi Yanting's long arm blocked them, pulling the person behind him by the shoulder, and his deep, unyielding gaze swept over the three of them.
"Young Master Xie has had a long journey and is very tired. He needs to rest."
Ruan Ziji wanted to bite someone. "You just said not to block the road and that we could talk later. Now that we're back, you're chasing us away?"
Is Young Master Xie tired? Is he tired?
Young Master Xie himself hadn't said anything!
Yi Yanting's eyes and brows were sharp and cold. "Are you visiting a patient and expecting the patient to accommodate you?"
Xu Hengyi, swept by Yi Yanting's gaze, obediently retreated a few steps.
Ruan Ziji gritted his teeth in hatred, but facing Yi Yanting's extremely imposing gaze, he could only swallow his resentment.
Xie Jiang poked his head out from behind Yi Yanting, spread his hands, and shrugged at Xu Hengyi and Ruan Ziji, indicating his helplessness and that he could only obediently submit to Young Master Yi's authority.
Xu Hengyi didn't believe she was an oppressed little pitiful creature. If anyone was submitting, it was Yi Yanting submitting to the great Xie.
He didn't know why he had such confidence in Xie Jiang.
Ruan Ziji almost believed her, until…
Yi Yanting turned his head and stared at the restless person.
What, does she find him bothersome?
Does he hinder her from calling dogs and summoning foxes?
Then should he leave right now?
Xie Jiang instantly put on a pure, saintly, innocent face. What's wrong? She didn't do anything. She was just seeing Xu Hengyi and the others off.
Ruan Ziji swallowed a mouthful of old blood. Is Yi Yanting that important? She listens to everything Yi Yanting says!
Xia Zeshi spoke first, "Then we'll take our leave. After Young Master Xie has rested, we'll come again."
Xu Hengyi said, "Then we'll come again tomorrow."
Seeing that Xie Jiang was fine, he was relieved. After all, he had already waited in Ninghe for so many days, he didn't mind waiting another day or two.
Under Yi Yanting's friendly gaze, Xie Jiang waved goodbye to Xu Hengyi and the others with a smile.
Ruan Ziji suppressed his anger and bid farewell to Xie Jiang.
When Xu Hengyi and Xia Zeshi came out of Xie's residence, they only saw Ruan Ziji's figure riding away.
With the extraneous people gone, Yi Yanting looked at her, "Why, you're still not happy?"
Xie Jiang immediately said, "How could I not be happy? I'm not unhappy at all."
"We've been traveling for four or five days. Since we've arrived, you should rest well and don't need to entertain irrelevant people." Yi Yanting took her hand and slowly walked towards the backyard.
Xie Jiang solemnly hummed in agreement, followed him up the steps, and nodded vigorously with a serious expression.
"Everything you say is right. It's me who is tired and weary and needs to rest. It's absolutely not because you're leaving tomorrow and can't bear to part with me, wanting to seize the last bit of time to stay with me, and don't want to be disturbed by irrelevant people."
Yi Yanting lowered his gaze to look at her, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "You know it well."