Prime Minister

Chapter 206, Section 205: [One Wrong Step]

Yingyuan Garden, Qingyu Hall.

After Xue Huai left, the banquet naturally could not continue.

Considering the chaos in the city, Tan Mingguang decided that it would be safer for the guests to stay at Yingyuan for the time being. He then ordered the food and drinks to be removed, while simultaneously having the government officials gather information about what was happening outside and calming everyone down.

Time ticked by, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly somber.

At the table to the west, Shen Qingluan appeared to be lost in thought.

Logically speaking, she shouldn't be so worried. Although Liu Yi brought a group of desperados to Yangzhou to seek revenge, he wasn't as much of a threat to Xue Huai as she had imagined. He was now like a rat in the gutter, unable to see the light of day, unlike before when he had the protection of powerful officials like Xu Guanlan and Chen Yan.

On the other hand, Xue Huai has many cards to play. The secret agents of the Jing'an Division and the grain transport army under Yu Chengguang will not disobey his orders. As long as he does not take risks easily, he will at least not be in danger of losing his life.

Xu Zhiwei understood Shen Qingluan's worries.

Although she had never been involved in romantic relationships, she knew that people who fell in love found it difficult to remain absolutely rational.

Before she could offer any words of comfort, a commotion arose outside, and several people rushed in, shouting, "Your Excellency!"

Tan Mingguang hurriedly went to meet him and asked anxiously, "What happened?"

The messenger reported, "Your Excellency, we were escorting Lord Xue to the East Gate Wharf when we were attacked near the North Gate Bridge! Fortunately, Lord Xue had anticipated this and summoned elite canal troops to assist us. They killed more than thirty remnants of the Liu clan on the spot and captured the fugitive Liu Yi! Seven of our brothers were injured and were sent here for treatment on Lord Xue's orders."

Upon hearing these words, almost everyone showed a joyful expression.

Tan Mingguang also breathed a long sigh of relief, and then asked, "Where is Xue Tongzhi now? Is he injured?"

The visitor hesitated slightly before saying, "Lord Xue and Commander Yu of the transport army led their men to the East Gate Wharf. In the previous melee, Lord Xue did suffer a minor injury, but it is nothing serious. Please rest assured, Your Excellency."

A low gasp rang out from behind the crowd.

Xu Zhiwei held Shen Qingluan's cold hand and looked at her pale face, comforting her, "Don't worry, sister, Lord Xue will definitely be alright."

"Sister Xu..."

Shen Qingluan's nervousness and fear were obvious; her hands trembled slightly involuntarily.

Xu Zhiwei sighed inwardly and continued to gently comfort and advise her.

On the other side, Tan Mingguang's expression was also somewhat unpleasant, but he knew that Xue Huai would not act recklessly. Since he had decided to go to Dongguan Wharf in person, there would be no problem with his injuries. So he said to the person who came, "Quickly carry the injured person to the side hall."

"Yes!"

The person turned and left.

Tan Mingguang then looked at the doctors at Jimintang and said, "I have long heard of the superb medical skills of the doctors at Jimintang. I urge you all to lend a helping hand and work together with the doctors at Yingyuan to treat the injured."

Xu Zhiwei replied, "This is our duty."

Tan Mingguang nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble Doctor Xu and everyone else."

Xu Zhiwei said no more, took her medicine box, and quickly went to the side hall with the others.

In the previous battle at the long embankment, Liu Yi and his family's elite guards fought a desperate battle, almost all with their lives on the line. Xue Huai's guards focused on defense, but still, seven of them were injured. Fortunately, most of them were not seriously injured, and only one person was in a more critical condition.

But this didn't stump Xu Zhiwei.

She personally treated the seriously injured person, and successfully treated the injury in half an hour. The person will recover after more than a month of rest.

After emerging from the side hall, Xu Zhiwei looked slightly tired, and Shen Qingluan immediately came to greet her.

"Sister Xu, are you alright?"

"It doesn't matter."

Xu Zhiwei forced a smile, then asked, "What's the situation outside?"

Shen Qingluan said succinctly, "Most of the thieves have been brought to justice, and the chaos in the city has been quelled."

Xu Zhiwei nodded and said, "That's good. By the way, is Lord Xue alright?"

Shen Qingluan frowned slightly and said, "Brother Xue... I don't know much about him right now. I only know that he has dealt with the bandits who kidnapped the people at Dongguan Wharf and is on his way back. Sister Xu, can I ask you for a favor?"

Xu Zhiwei's heart stirred, and she said gently, "There's no need for such formalities between us."

Shen Qingluan said gratefully, "I know that you are tired after being busy for a long time, but I don't know how serious Xue Shi Xiong's injury is. I would like to ask you to examine him."

Although the government had prepared doctors when preparing for this grand banquet, and there were doctors from Jimintang and another pharmacy in the garden at the moment, Shen Qingluan clearly trusted Xu Zhiwei's medical skills more. After all, when they first met at Jimintang, she saw the hidden dangers in Xue Huai's body at a glance.

Xu Zhiwei replied without hesitation, "Alright, as long as Lord Xue doesn't mind, I can give him a detailed diagnosis later."

Just then, she saw Li Cong and the others waiting outside. They gave her a deep look, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Xu Zhiwei quickly looked away and tightened her grip on the medicine box slightly.

About fifteen minutes later, inside an elegant room in the garden.

Xue Huai returned to the Shadow Garden and sat upright at the table. Xu Zhiwei sat on the other side taking his pulse, while Shen Qingluan, Jiang Sheng, and two maids stood quietly by his side.

The air inside was slightly stagnant. Xue Huai sat upright like a pine tree, his arms resting flat on the brocade cushion on the table, the cuffs of his dark blue official robe rolled up to his elbows.

Jiang Sheng's eyes, sharp as a hawk's, were fixed on Xu Zhiwei's every subtle movement. "I was just punched by a thief in the chaos. I'll be fine after a few days of rest."

Xue Huai looked at Shen Qingluan with a smile.

Although he said this, his eyes revealed a sense of comfort.

Fearing that it would interfere with Xu Zhiwei's diagnosis, Shen Qingluan lowered her voice as much as possible and said, "Brother, you bear a heavy responsibility and cannot be careless."

At this moment, Xu Zhiwei withdrew his hand and calmly observed Xue Huai's complexion. After a moment, he said, "Your pulse is normal and your internal organs are strong. However, you have been working hard for the past few days and have been worrying too much, so your blood and qi are slightly stagnant. The injury is not obvious, at least it has not damaged your muscles and bones."

Xue Huai nodded, then looked at Shen Qingluan and said, "See, I told you there was nothing seriously wrong, didn't I?"

Shen Qingluan said somewhat embarrassedly, "I can only feel at ease after I've found out the truth."

Xu Zhiwei didn't interrupt; she sat quietly as always.

However, she was not as calm as she appeared inside.

Aunt Liu Ying's arrangements were indeed appropriate. Her people did not participate in today's chaos from beginning to end. Relying on Xu Zhiwei's reputation as a divine doctor and Jimintang's consistent benevolence, she finally won the trust of Shen Qingluan and Xue Huai, and successfully took the most important step.

To avoid embarrassing Shen Qingluan, Xue Huai said to Xu Zhiwei, "Thank you for your help, Doctor Xu."

"Don't dare to take it seriously."

Xu Zhiwei hesitated for a moment, then said, "My lord has many official duties and responsibilities, and I imagine you are not free. I have a Heart Nourishing Pill here that I keep on hand. After you take it, your minor injury will be nothing to worry about, and it will also have the effect of calming the mind, stabilizing the will, replenishing qi and blood."

Xue Huai hesitated and said, "Since the divine physician values ​​it so highly, this Nourishing Heart Pill must be extremely valuable. How can I accept it?"

Xu Zhiwei looked into Xue Huai's eyes, her heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

What she had seen and heard in Yangzhou over the past few months had made her admire the integrity and character of the young official opposite her. In particular, Xue Huaiyi’s willingness to go to Dongguan Wharf to help the trapped people, and even his near-death experience in an ambush on the way, had deeply moved her.

Even if he were truly a fraud, as Aunt Liu claimed, it would still be extremely rare for someone to have achieved this.

But then she remembered the deep despair and hatred in Aunt Liu's eyes when she recounted the tragic state of the Ling family.

She tried her best to maintain her composure and said softly, "The Nourishing Heart Pill is indeed precious, but it is ultimately used to cure diseases and save lives. Now, Lord Xue is the savior in the hearts of the people of Yangzhou. It would be an honor for me and Jimintang for the Nourishing Heart Pill to be used by you."

Xue Huai stopped refusing and smiled, saying, "In that case, I will accept it. Thank you."

Xu Zhiwei then opened the medicine box, took out a small bottle, placed it on the table, and said, "This is the Heart Nourishing Pill. Just take it with water, sir."

Xue Huai agreed, and then said to Shen Qingluan, "Please see Doctor Xu off for me."

Shen Qingluan smiled and said, "Okay."

Looking at Xue Huai's calm expression and the small bottle beside him, Xu Zhiwei almost blurted out some words, but she didn't know how to start.

If she were to stop him now, no matter how perfect her reasons might be, given Xue Huai's cunning and shrewdness, he would surely suspect Jimintang.

Perhaps she shouldn't have taken out that heart-nourishing pill in the first place.

In the end, she could only lower her head, bow, and take her leave.

Stepping out of the elegant room, Shen Qingluan let out a long sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Sister Xu, I am very happy now. The remaining salt smugglers have all been brought to justice, and Brother Xue is also unharmed. This is truly the best outcome."

Xu Zhiwei did not respond. Her eyes were lowered, her expression was dazed, and her right hand, which was holding the medicine box, showed white knuckles from the force.

Shen Qingluan continued, "Sister Xu, I have more good news for you. My father just told me that Brother Xue has spoken with the Salt Association, hoping they can organize a charity sale. A portion of the proceeds will be used to purchase medicines for Jimintang and two other charitable pharmacies, and the remainder will be used to improve the living conditions of the local people. Brother Xue said this might reduce the chances of people getting sick. I don't quite understand this. Sister Xu, you are skilled in medicine, is Brother Xue's idea feasible?"

"Sister Qingluan".

Xu Zhiwei suddenly stopped, her expression extremely serious.

Shen Qingluan tilted her head and looked at her, asking in confusion, "Sister Xu, what's wrong?"

"I……"

Xu Zhiwei hesitated, a look of pain appearing on her face, and said in a flustered manner, "I remember now, there are some taboos associated with that Nourishing Heart Pill. I need to go back and tell Lord Xue."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Shen Qingluan gazed at her slender back and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Xu Zhiwei didn't know why she did this. Perhaps it was because Shen Qingluan's words touched the deepest part of her heart, or perhaps it was the few dozen steps she took that made her understand many things.

Her steps were slightly unsteady, lacking her usual composure, and her eyes were no longer cold and clear.

Upon entering the elegant room again, Xu Zhiwei immediately asked, "Lord Xue, that Heart-Nourishing Pill—"

It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her throat.

She stood there, stunned, watching Xue Huai take a sip of water, while the small bottle on the table was already opened.

That heart-nourishing elixir...

Missed.

(End of this chapter)