Chapter 109: Chapter 110: They are all Slow Poisons

Qi Yue almost fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

In her dream, she galloped on horseback, a short knife in hand, killing a person with a single thrust, blood splattering all over her face. When she looked again, the person turned out to be…

“Zhao Xiyan!”

She exclaimed in shock, the warmth on her face horribly real. Staring at the canopy overhead for a long time, she finally felt that the dream was utterly absurd.

No matter what, she would never kill him.

If unrequited love led to immediate murder, that was not her.

Without any hint of sleepiness, she got up to see that only two shichen had passed. Guessing that Chu Yuntian would also be waking up about now, she got up and headed toward Songyin Court.

She had barely crossed the corridor when she heard bursts of footsteps, as if many people were rushing toward the main entrance.

Qi Yue frowned secretly.

Chu Yuntian was generous and lenient, and Lady Chu was approachable, so it was inevitable that the Prefectural Office was a bit lax. She stopped a servant who was hurrying past and asked, “What has happened outside?”

“Miss Qi Yue, many civilians have come asking for news about the Great General.”

Hearing that the citizens were anxious about Chu Yuntian’s injuries and had come to inquire, Qi Yue was also relieved.

“You go tell Tan Cheng to say to the civilians that the Great General is out of danger, and they will be able to see him in a few days.”

Tan Cheng was Chu Yuntian’s personal guard, and he was the one who had rescued him this time.

After giving her instructions, Qi Yue went to Songyin Court. The moment she entered the court, she indeed heard the elated voice of Lady Chu.

“Husband, you’re awake!”

Qi Yue hurriedly stepped inside and, without letting Chu Yuntian speak, checked on him again. Finding his condition to be stable, she was completely reassured.

In the following days, she diligently tended to Chu Yuntian. Apart from sleeping, she spent most of her time lingering in Songyin Court, unaware that the entire Longnan County Government had been turned upside down.

The trouble stemmed from the words she had Tan Cheng convey.

Those civilians who were concerned about Chu Yuntian rejoiced at his rescue, eagerly wanting to know the identity of the distinguished person who had saved their Prefectural Governor.

After all, when Chu Yuntian was carried back that day with a knife sticking out of his chest, the whole city had seen it, and everyone said the Prefectural Governor couldn’t make it.

Certainly, there were spies from other countries and some ill-intentioned people also paying attention.

Suddenly, teahouses and inns everywhere were abuzz with the topic.

“I hope the Prefectural Governor gets better; he’s such a fine official!”

“With injuries that severe, I’m afraid it’s unlikely!”

“The guards at the Prefectural Office said the Great General is now out of danger.”

“What kind of doctor is that? Not spouting nonsense, I hope! Didn’t all the city’s doctors already go there?”

“It is said to be a Divine Doctor. The Prefectural Magistrate’s son could stand up again, all thanks to this Divine Doctor’s efforts.”

“Help find out where the Divine Doctor lives, please; my mother is very sick.”

“Dream on, the Divine Doctor is in the Prefectural Office. Go ahead and ask for him if you can!”

“…”

A few days later, quite a number of civilians had gathered voluntarily in front of the Prefectural Office.

They remembered what Tan Cheng had said—after a few days, the Prefectural Governor would meet with them in person!

Inside the Prefectural Office, Chu Yuntian, who had been recuperating for several days, was almost fully recovered. Except for the need to avoid exerting force on his wounds, everything else was very good.

If it weren’t for Qi Yue’s objections, he would be eager to start handling official duties right away.

Today, just after Qi Yue had redressed Chu Yuntian’s wound, she saw Tan Cheng hurry in.

“Great General, the number of gathered civilians has grown considerably; they are clamoring to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Yuntian couldn’t sit still any longer and immediately wanted to go outside.

“I must go out and tell the citizens that people from Donggao are not to be feared. As long as we stand united, we can protect our homeland!”

Seeing Chu Yuntian look full of vigor, Qi Yue stopped trying to hold him back, gave him his medicine, and then allowed him to go out.

Chu Yuntian had just taken a few steps when he turned back with a chuckle, “Yueyue, come with your adoptive father.”

Qi Yue, too, was worried about potential mishaps, so she followed him.

Together they made their way to the front of the Prefectural Office, where they saw that a large number of civilians had already arrived.

Upon seeing Chu Yuntian really appear, the previously bustling crowd instantly quieted down.

Chu Yuntian stepped forward and explained his rescue to everyone and also introduced Qi Yue to them.

“Fellow villagers, this is the Divine Doctor who saved me, and also the sole daughter of the Great General who died in battle at Longnan Ridge six years ago. Her name is Qi Yue!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd immediately erupted.

“What? She’s actually the Great General’s only daughter?”

“And she’s a Divine Doctor too!”

“The Great General served the country and the people. Who would have thought his daughter would be equally outstanding!”

“Thank you, Divine Doctor Qi, for saving our Prefectural Governor!”

“Miss Qi truly deserves to be called an immortal descended to heal!”

They discussed among themselves, with some beginning to place the foods they had brought on the steps of the mansion’s entrance.

One by one…

Some brought a small basket of eggs, some a bowl of red dates, and others brought chickens with their legs tied…

In an instant, Qi Yue understood why Chu Yuntian was so eager to open the Governor’s Office for business.

They didn’t say anything earth-shattering or deeply touching, but they expressed their thoughts through their actions.

They were a group of people who knew gratitude!

Chu Yuntian beside her was also filled with emotion.

“Yueyue, when your father led his troops to Longnan Ridge that year, the people welcomed him just like this. You’ll understand if you stay here longer, the people here are actually quite simple; they just want to live.”

Yes, to live, such a humble aspiration.

And what about her? Having come to this place, possessing a mysterious space, was it just to live as well?

Or was it to pine for a man who had already given his heart to someone else?

In that moment, her heart was filled with countless emotions.

In her free time these past few days, Chu Yuntian had mentioned opening a clinic multiple times, and she was still somewhat undecided.

She and Zhao Xiyan had ended things completely, and she believed it wouldn’t be long before he distinguished himself with high rank and great wealth, returning to the pinnacle of success.

As for her, every time she thought about him living not far from here, her heart felt swollen and pained.

It had only been a few days, and several times she couldn’t help wanting to return to the wooden hut to see him, thinking that even one more glance before he left would be worth it.

Could she stay in this place with such feelings? She wasn’t sure.

But at that moment, she made up her mind!

To stay!

To stay in this place where Qi Yunzhang had fought!

“Adoptive father, rest assured, I will stay here and ensure the clinic opens successfully.”

“Well done, your father would certainly be proud of you!”

Soon, the matter of opening the clinic was settled.

Chu Yuntian personally authorized the official medical practice permit from the Government Office. All that was left was to find a suitable location, and the clinic could open for business.

That day, as Qi Yue was discussing with Chu Yuntian where to choose for the clinic’s location, a servant came to report that the Prefecture Magistrate’s Office’s young master had arrived.

Qi Yue did not say anything and got up to leave, but Chu Yuntian called her back.

“Aren’t you going to meet him?”

“What’s the point of seeing him?”

Chu Yuntian smiled and shook his head, asking the servant who had brought the news.

“Did he say why he has come?”

“Master Hu has brought gifts, saying that he heard the Prefectural Governor has fully recovered and has come to visit!”

“If it’s a visit to a patient, then let him in!”

Qi Yue immediately got up and walked away. Seeing Hu Keqing would be like Zhao Xiyan being in love with another woman yet giving her a chance—it was just slow-acting poison.

Since she was a physician, there was no reason for her to administer poison to others.