"Okay."
With such a major incident, the higher-ups immediately sealed off the news. Word came that Xiao Jianli had to return to the palace immediately.
Before leaving, he instructed Rong Zhi, "Zhi'er, Xia Yunting, do not trust either of them completely."
Rong Zhi nodded, "I know."
After watching Xiao Jianli leave, Rong Zhi went to find Chu Qingze first, deciding to visit Dongmei and the others.
Arriving at Gushen Tang, Rong Zhi saw a long queue outside, with people of all ages peeking inside. Occasional whispers could be heard, mostly discussing how skilled the new doctor was.
It seemed Chu Qingze had already made a name for himself here not long after his arrival.
Just as Rong Zhi was about to enter, she was stopped by a middle-aged man.
"What are you doing? Trying to cut in line? Go to the back."
Rong Zhi smiled, "I'm a friend of the doctor, I'm here to see him about something."
The man scoffed, "I've encountered six people cutting in line today, all claiming to be friends with the doctor. Why don't you say you're his wife?"
Just then, a figure flew out from the courtyard, yelping and rolling on the ground before leaving with curses.
A muscular man poked his head out and yelled, "Still want to cut in line? Get to the back!"
Rong Zhi looked at the man, his complexion ruddy and his physique strong, nothing like someone who was ill.
Were these people really here for treatment?
Rong Zhi had no choice but to step aside and went to the backyard. Looking at the three-zhang high wall, she leaped over it. The moment she landed, she saw the scene clearly.
It turned out there were two tables in the courtyard. Chu Qingze was on the left, taking pulses, while Zhang Yajing was on the right, diligently dispensing medicine according to prescriptions.
The muscular man from earlier was arguing with Chu Qingze, "I told you, I'm just feeling unwell, just prescribe me some medicine."
"You're not sick, you don't need any medicine," Chu Qingze said impatiently, waving his hand.
The man's eyes widened, and he glanced at Zhang Yajing, intentionally or not.
Rong Zhi then understood. No wonder even those who didn't seem sick were coming to get medicine; they were not here for the treatment but for Zhang Yajing.
She walked up and picked up a pen and paper, "I'll prescribe the medicine for you!"
"You... who are you?"
Chu Qingze was surprised to see Rong Zhi in disguise. Seeing Rong Zhi had already written a prescription in a flowing hand, the handwriting was very familiar, and he understood. He said to the man, "She's also a doctor, and her medical skills are even better than mine."
The man was skeptical, but he wasn't here for the medicine anyway. Once the prescription was ready, he eagerly took it to Zhang Yajing, plastering on a fawning smile, "Miss, please fill ten portions of this prescription for me."
Zhang Yajing's hand paused as she was dispensing medicine. She glanced back at Chu Qingze.
At this moment, Rong Zhi came over, "Give it to him."
Zhang Yajing, unable to recognize Rong Zhi for a moment, nodded blankly and packed a mountain of herbs for the man. The man was still reluctant to leave, and he shamelessly asked Zhang Yajing, "Miss, what is your name, and how old are you this year?"
Zhang Yajing didn't know how to answer. Rong Zhi said, "Brother, please take your medicine and leave quickly. There are still many patients waiting."
The man was interrupted and was about to curse when he saw Rong Zhi place her hand on the table and apply force. The thick solid wood table instantly cracked open.
The man's expression changed, and he finally left dejectedly.
Zhang Yajing breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank you, miss." She still hadn't recognized Rong Zhi.
Rong Zhi didn't explain and asked, "Where are the three young ladies?"
Zhang Yajing looked at Chu Qingze for confirmation. Chu Qingze said, "In the side rooms in the back."
Rong Zhi nodded and headed for the side rooms.
Compared to the front yard, the side rooms were much quieter. When Rong Zhi entered, she saw several young ladies lying on the beds. Although their complexions had improved, they were still unconscious.
She checked their pulses one by one and found that their bodies were not weak and there seemed to be no serious issues, so she felt relieved.
Now that Xia Jin had been taken back by Xia Yunting, she didn't know what would happen to her. Although these three young ladies were temporarily safe, if their birth dates were exploited by someone with ulterior motives, they might fall into such a disaster again.
Therefore, Rong Zhi hated power struggles the most, whether in court or in the martial world. Wherever there was conflict, innocent people would inevitably be involved.
She looked around and found that although the room was not large, it was clean and tidy, clearly well-maintained.
It seemed these young ladies were well taken care of here, and Rong Zhi was reassured.
She didn't stay long. When she returned to the front yard, the vast crowd had disappeared. Chu Qingze had closed the courtyard gate, leaving only him and Zhang Yajing.
When Rong Zhi approached, Zhang Yajing smiled, "So it's Divine Doctor Lin. I didn't recognize you just now."
"If I had been recognized, my disguise would have been in vain," Rong Zhi chuckled and asked, "Why are you here? Why aren't you at Bai Cao Ge?"
Zhang Yajing looked a bit embarrassed, "I was dispensing medicine for people at Bai Cao Ge, but it always attracted some... unwanted attention. Later, Master told me not to dispense medicine at Bai Cao Ge, but he left Cui Xi here. Now I'm helping Divine Doctor Chu here."
Rong Zhi recalled the muscular man from earlier and roughly understood what she meant by "unwanted attention."
Practicing medicine and treating the sick in the outside world was like this, with mixed crowds. Not everyone was a patient, and not all patients would be grateful after being cured.
Rong Zhi nodded in understanding, "If you find it troublesome, you could disguise yourself as a man."
Zhang Yajing agreed. She had already tried her best to dress and act like a man. She wore no makeup, and her clothes were either grey or black. Not long ago, she was a vibrant young girl in a red dress. Unknowingly, she had become completely different.
"Did you come specifically to see those three young ladies?" Chu Qingze remembered the important matter.
"Yes. Did the person who brought them reveal their identity?"
"No, that person wore a bamboo hat and couldn't see their face. They didn't say who they were, just left them here, gave us money, and asked us to take care of them. Is that person your friend?"
"Sort of. A lot has happened recently." Rong Zhi hesitated whether to tell Chu Qingze, but considering Zhang Yajing was present, she decided against it.
It was better for fewer people to know about the bodies.
"Did that person say anything else?"
"Oh, yes. They said that once these young ladies recovered, they should leave directly. They also asked me to tell them never to reveal their birthdays to anyone again." Chu Qingze recalled this instruction, a strange look flashing in his eyes.
If their birthdates were kept secret, they wouldn't be exploited like this anymore. Xiao Jianli had thought of everything.
"Then I'll leave this matter in your hands."
Seeing that everything was in order, Rong Zhi felt relieved. Before leaving, Rong Zhi suddenly remembered something and asked Chu Qingze, "Has that county princess caused you trouble again?"
Last time, Xiao Yao had abducted Chu Qingze into the royal manor, and she was the one who rescued him. Now that Chu Qingze was so famous, wasn't he attracting unwanted attention?
"Don't worry, I've already made arrangements at the royal manor. There won't be any trouble in the future."
Rong Zhi was a little surprised to hear this, she hadn't expected Chu Qingze to have handled the royal manor so quickly.
"It's good that everything is fine. The Imperial City is not like Changping County. It's always better to be careful."
The two watched Rong Zhi leave. Standing together, they looked like a young couple. Rong Zhi couldn't help but sigh, thinking that if it weren't for their past grievances, they would have been quite a match.
As she was thinking this, her peripheral vision was caught by a shadow in the side room. It seemed to be a person, and they looked somewhat familiar. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was just a piece of clothing.
Rong Zhi couldn't help but lament that she must be so preoccupied that her eyes were playing tricks on her.
As night fell, Rong Zhi quietly slipped into the General's Mansion.
Xiao Jianli had been summoned back to the palace, and the bodies in the mass grave had been cremated. The only clue they could follow now was Xia Jin.
She moved unhindered. After staying in the General's Mansion for so long, Rong Zhi had already figured out the loopholes in the guards' patrols and could enter without alerting anyone.
Just as Rong Zhi was about to find Xia Jin's courtyard, she passed the study and suddenly heard voices inside.
"The General is wise. Regarding Miss Lin's safety, Xiao Jianli is indeed doing his utmost. He has quickly found the culprit behind the disturbances. My subordinates have already sent people to monitor them, and I believe we will be able to lure out a big fish soon."
Xia Yunting responded with a voice full of vigor. Yet, Rong Zhi clearly remembered that not long ago, he had been severely injured and bedridden, with the strong smell of blood lingering in the room.
"It's just... this move is very risky. Miss Lin is in danger. I don't know if she is safe now."
"Chen Xing, you are too soft-hearted."
"General?" Chen Xing's voice sounded confused. "General, you are very different towards Miss Lin. Your subordinate thought that General..."
"I do anything with only one motive: profit. What can she, this person, this identity, bring me, that is the most important thing."
"Your subordinate is confused."
Listening to this unfamiliar voice, Rong Zhi's expression gradually turned grim.
What benefit could she bring Xia Yunting? Medical skills? Martial arts? What benefit could her identity bring Xia Yunting? What identity was he referring to? The former Valley Master of Yaowang Valley, or an ordinary doctor? It was clearly the former.
Did Xiao Jianli tell Xia Yunting her identity?
Then, was all Xia Yunting's previous gentleness because of these "uses" of hers?
It wasn't surprising. With his status, it would be strange if he treated someone wholeheartedly without any benefit. However, Rong Zhi still felt an emptiness in her heart.
After finally developing feelings for a man, she was heartbroken in the blink of an eye.
However, Rong Zhi was not one to be overly sentimental. Her approach to Xia Yunting was also for her own benefit. She needed his help to return to Yaowang Valley. They were originally in a cooperative relationship. What was there to regret? At this moment, it was simply returning to normal.
Thinking this, Rong Zhi let go of her feelings. She lingered no longer and flew towards Xia Jin's courtyard.
Little did Rong Zhi know that after she left, the conversation between the two in the room stopped abruptly, and they both looked in the direction she had left.
"General, Miss Lin has left."
Xia Yunting nodded, his expression unchanged, but his phoenix eyes carried a hint of fatigue.
"General, why go through all this trouble? Wouldn't it be better to just tell Miss Lin directly?"
Xia Yunting shook his head. "The matter is too complicated. If it were revealed, it would undoubtedly cause an uproar."
Chen Xing knew he shouldn't ask, but this time, he couldn't help but add, "General, what exactly happened back then?"
Xia Yunting fell silent. He remembered many legends from that year, many strange occurrences. Outside the mass grave, there were children's cries day and night. In the middle of the night, the people of the Imperial City often saw inexplicable figures. During that period, people were in a state of panic, no one knew what was happening. Not long after, the Imperial Preceptor retired, and all the strange events and rumors ceased. Only he knew that the two words that were most frequently rumored that year were "resurrection."