Prime Minister

Chapter 229, Section 228 [Shen Qingluan]

Shen Qingluan entered the house with light steps, and casually closed the door, shutting out the remaining noise in the courtyard.

"Sister Xu".

Shen Qingluan's voice, with its usual crisp and clear tone, was like the first crack of ice breaking in early spring, instantly shattering the stillness in the room.

As if by magic, she produced a delicate little paper package. Inside was a piece of cloud cake. She placed it on the table and pushed it over, smiling as she said, "The osmanthus flowers in my mother's yard smell wonderful. I had Aunt Wang from the kitchen make this cloud cake. It's full of honeyed osmanthus and walnuts, so it's very sweet! I like to carry a couple with me. If I'm ever unhappy, I eat one, and it cheers me up."

Her movements were natural and casual, without any sense of oppressive closeness or pity that seemed to come without any effort on her part; it was as if it were just a normal and natural sharing between friends.

Xu Zhiwei stared at the sweet-smelling pastry, paused slightly, and then looked at Shen Qingluan's face, which was warmly illuminated by the lamplight.

Her face was open and honest, with the clarity unique to a young girl and an undeniable vitality, as if the thrilling life-or-death struggle in the courtyard just now was nothing more than a fleeting moment.

Xu Zhiwei didn't touch the pastry; her fingertips unconsciously loosened, and she said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Qingluan, I..."

"Oh, Sister Xu!"

Shen Qingluan looked at Xu Zhiwei's pale face and the deep melancholy in her eyes. She blinked her bright eyes and suddenly leaned closer, saying, "I overheard most of what you said to her. In my opinion, your aunt is really a scoundrel. If she truly considered you her daughter, how could she have let you risk your life to assassinate Brother Xue? And after the failure, to avoid being implicated, she even forced you to commit suicide. Now she's even led so many thieves into Shen Garden. It's really... If it were me, I would have cut ties with her long ago!"

Looking at her angry expression, Xu Zhiwei's lips twitched involuntarily, and the almost numb sadness in her heart seemed to crack open a little.

Shen Qingluan changed the subject and said, "I understand how you feel. She raised you and spent a lot of energy nurturing you. Now that you've parted ways with her, it's only natural to feel sad."

"Ah."

Xu Zhiwei responded softly.

For her, the events of those three months were too bizarre and agonizing.

Her life used to be simple and orderly. Her whole life revolved around studying medicine and saving lives. She never needed to think about those messy issues.

The reason she appeared indifferent to Liu Ying just now was not because she didn't care about the past eighteen years of feelings, but because she simply didn't know how to face the woman she once regarded as her mother.

Just as Shen Qingluan said, when Liu Ying forced her to poison Xue Huai with lies, the beautiful past was torn open with an unhealable wound, and that food box, like a death warrant, completely crushed everything she had.

Not to mention that tonight Liu Ying led her men in a blatant attack on Shen Garden, and many innocent people died under her orders. The image of her as kind and simple has been shattered in Xu Zhiwei's heart.

As for her claim that she did this to save Xu Zhiwei... even a child who is old enough to understand wouldn't believe it.

"but--"

Shen Qingluan raised her voice slightly, with a hint of shrewdness: "Sister Xu, life is just like doing business, there are gains and losses. Now, whether you made a profit or a loss on that old debt of yours, it's all settled today. You should put that ledger deep in the cabinet to collect dust. There's still a long road ahead, you have to look forward and live for yourself."

She spoke with a touch of emotion towards the end, but her eyes remained clear and bright, not wallowing in regret, but rather displaying a profound and insightful understanding.

Touched by her words, Xu Zhiwei's eyes welled up with tears again, and she nodded with her lips pressed tightly together.

"Sister Xu, you are the famous physician of Jimintang."

Shen Qingluan counted on her fingers, her voice clear and melodious like pearls falling on a jade plate, and continued to comfort her, "Since Brother Xue said he would keep Jimintang open, he will definitely keep his word. Once the government has sorted out what happened behind Jimintang and all those messy people and things are gone, you can concentrate on treating patients and saving lives, and you won't have to worry about those trivial matters anymore. And you don't have to worry about Jimintang being unable to keep going. If you need a manager, staff, or access to medicinal herbs, just tell me!"

Xu Zhiwei stared intently at the girl's bright and flamboyant expression, and suddenly Xue Huai's calm and reserved face appeared in her mind.

They are a match made in heaven.

The thought arose in Xu Zhiwei's mind and became clearer and clearer. She couldn't help but say from the bottom of her heart, "Qingluan, thank you."

"Thank you? You're welcome."

Shen Qingluan smiled and shook her head, saying with a hint of longing, "Sister Xu, I remember you used to live in Hangzhou? My family has a small manor house by the West Lake. You can see the willows and mist of Bai Causeway and the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon on Xiaoyingzhou Island when you open the window. In the future, when you have time to treat patients, we can plant all kinds of flowers and plants in the yard, such as osmanthus and peonies! When the flowers bloom in spring, they will be as beautiful as clouds."

She didn't judge Xu Zhiwei's rights and wrongs, truths and falsehoods over the past eighteen years. Instead, with her positive and powerful words, she pointed out a path to the future for Xu Zhiwei amidst her thorny past and chilling present.

This almost innate steadfastness and optimism, like the strongest ray of sunshine, gradually melted the thick layer of gloom and ice on Xu Zhiwei's heart.

Perhaps infected by this enthusiasm, or perhaps the long-tense tension in her heart finally reached its limit, Xu Zhiwei's mask of calm, which she had been trying to maintain, cracked inch by inch.

A tremendous surge of grievance, exhaustion, confusion, and the bittersweet feeling of being understood overwhelmed her like a burst dam, instantly breaching the last barrier in her heart. Her eyes could no longer hold back her tears; large, hot drops fell onto the table with a soft thud.

She was no longer the heartless and ungrateful wretch Liu Ying had described, nor the aloof and respected physician at Jimintang, but simply an ordinary woman who had been deceived and exploited, lost and bewildered amidst the ruins of her emotions, and who was now finally feeling a glimmer of warmth and direction.

She covered her face with her hands, her thin shoulders shaking violently.

Seeing her crying uncontrollably, Shen Qingluan felt neither helpless nor embarrassed. Instead, her bright eyes instantly filled with understanding and relief.

She didn't say anything as weak as "Don't cry," nor did she offer any pretentious comfort. Instead, she quickly pulled a clean handkerchief from her sleeve, crumpled it into a small ball, and placed it gently and naturally into Xu Zhiwei's tightly clenched hand. Then she sat quietly.

At this moment, Shen Qingluan couldn't help but recall the scene last autumn when she first met Xu Zhiwei at Jimintang.

Perhaps it was because Xu Zhiwei, who seemed unapproachable, took the initiative to talk to Xue Huai that she felt a strange sense of vigilance and wariness. However, as they got to know each other better, she gradually discovered that Xu Zhiwei was a very simple person. Putting aside those vague titles and identities, she was just a kind-hearted and skilled doctor, nothing more.

Time passes bit by bit.

Xu Zhiwei gradually stopped crying and wiped the tears off her face with a handkerchief.

She wasn't wearing any makeup tonight, and in the soft candlelight, her face appeared even more translucent, like fresh snow, with a sickly pallor that added to her fragile beauty.

Shen Qingluan was slightly taken aback, and coughed lightly, saying, "Sister Xu, are you feeling better now?"

"Much better, thank you."

Xu Zhiwei knew, of course, that Shen Qingluan's concern was genuine. After all, with Liu Ying captured, she had lost her greatest value. Perhaps Xue Huai would still care about her status as a divine doctor, but to Shen Qingluan, it was an insignificant matter.

Everything the other person did at that moment was simply because of the kindness in her nature.

Shen Qingluan didn't seem to think much of it. She looked at Xu Zhiwei and asked, "Sister Xu, what are your plans for the future?"

Xu Zhiwei hesitated and said, "If Lord Xue allows, I would like to continue practicing medicine at Jimintang."

"I knew you wouldn't give up so easily."

Shen Qingluan smiled knowingly and leaned forward slightly, saying, "I mentioned the manor by West Lake earlier. I remember there's a large open space to the west of that manor, backed by Gushan Mountain and facing the lake breeze. It would be perfect for growing medicinal herbs. When you return to Hangzhou, you can move into my manor directly. You can open a pharmacy in the front yard to treat patients, and build a beautiful medicinal herb garden to the west. I've even thought of a name for it: Ji'an Garden. What do you think?"

Xu Zhiwei understood the purpose of her arrangement: she hoped that Xu Zhiwei could truly let go of the past and embrace a new life.

This seemingly pampered but actually innocent and carefree young lady of the Shen family has long been imbued with a simple and vibrant life force. This is not a condescending act of charity, but rather a gentle sincerity and straightforwardness.

Xu Zhiwei slowly loosened her grip on the handkerchief, and said with remorse, "Qingluan, I feel unworthy of your kindness, after all, it was I who took the initiative in the Shadow Garden that day—"

"Stop!"

Shen Qingluan picked up the untouched cloud cake from the table, carefully divided it in half, and handed one half to Xu Zhiwei very naturally. She said unhurriedly, "Sister Xu, Brother Xue has already said that as long as you cooperate with him in this matter, he will not pursue your poisoning. Besides, this is a matter between him and you, and I don't need to overstep my bounds. All I've done is to prevent you from falling into ruin. In the end, you are just a knife that is not in control of your own destiny, not the one who wields the knife."

Xu Zhiwei looked up at Shen Qingluan. Her eyes were still slightly red, but they were clearer than before.

She reached out and took the pastry, took a bite and chewed it slowly. The sweet taste instantly filled her mouth and went straight to her heart.

"Thank you."

She spoke softly, her expression pure and resolute.

Shen Qingluan gave her a sweet smile, then got up and walked to the window, pushing the window frame open a crack.

As dawn broke, the night had already faded away.

"It's dawn."

Shen Qingluan stretched out her arms, her eyes bright as stars.

Just then, Yun'er's slightly nervous voice rang out from outside the door.

"Young Miss, Princess Yun'an's imperial carriage is about to arrive at Shen Garden!"

(End of this chapter)