Bai Suzhen, I really need to punish you properly.

Zhong Li stood guard in the soup kitchen outside the county government office, responsible for distributing soup to the disaster victims who were queuing up.

This was Zhong Li's suggestion, and Wang Xuan did not refuse, but he specially arranged for a team of yamen runners to guard him from the side.

Among Wang Xuan's wives, Bai Suzhen and Yan Zhi have recently been involved in disaster relief efforts, inviting wealthy women from various households in the city to take the lead in donating money, grain, and cloth to provide shelter for the elderly, weak, women, and children affected by the disaster.

The fundraising went quite smoothly, and most people were sensible.

This also earned the two women an excellent reputation among the people.

As for Mingzhu, Xiaoqing, Fan Shiyi Niang, Nie Xiaoqian, Ao Jin, and others, Wang Xuan did not arrange for them to go and help.

After all, they each have special identities, and showing their faces in public would easily cause trouble. Rather than having them take care of the refugees outside, it would be better for them to serve me well in the mansion, who works hard day and night.

A gentle smile graced Zhong Li's face, a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead. As he watched the disaster victims express their gratitude, a warm feeling welled up inside him.

Wang Xuan slowly approached and came to her side.

Zhong Li's slender arms wielded the spatula, ladling warm porridge into the earthenware bowls held by the people. She had been hardworking since childhood, and although she felt tired, she did not stop.

She is currently staying at Wang Xuan's residence and feels very at ease being able to do her part to help the disaster victims.

Hearing the familiar footsteps, Zhong Li's heart stirred slightly. She turned around and glanced to the side, her eyes filled with surprise: "Brother Wang Xuan."

Wang Xuan smiled slightly: "I just finished my work over there, so I came to see you."

"Oh." Zhong Li looked at Wang Xuan's smiling face, her heart pounding faster and faster. She shyly looked away and turned back to her work.

At this moment, Wang Xuan handed over a clean handkerchief, saying gently, "Wipe your sweat."

Zhong Li reached out and took it, gently wiping her cheeks with a soft, sweet smile.

Zhong Li's eyes, curved into crescent moons, were gentle and captivating, causing Wang Xuan to momentarily lose his composure.

"Zhong Li." Wang Xuan took the shovel from her hand and smiled, "Let me do it, you take a break."

Zhong Li obediently released his grip and stepped aside.

Wang Xuan, holding a spatula, began distributing porridge to the disaster victims.

Among the disaster victims in line, some sharp-eyed individuals began to whisper among themselves.

"Isn't this the county magistrate?"

"So this lady is also the magistrate's wife!"

"The magistrate's wife was just serving us porridge. They were a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."

"What kind of talk is that? Aren't all the magistrate's wives beautiful as angels and kind-hearted as bodhisattvas?"

Ordinary disaster victims had no idea about complicated etiquette; they simply regarded Zhong Li as Wang Xuan's wife and naturally addressed her as "Madam" to save trouble.

Wang Xuan didn't deny it, but just smiled at Zhong Li. It wasn't that he wanted to take advantage of the situation, but that if he explained in public, the people would only speculate more wildly, so he simply let them chatter as they pleased.

After receiving the porridge, the disaster victims gradually dispersed, and the area under the shelter quieted down.

Zhong Li reached out and took the handkerchief from before, saying softly, "Brother Wang Xuan, you should wipe your sweat too."

"Am I sweating?" Wang Xuan raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, and took a half-step closer, as if to let her see more clearly. "I don't think so."

Zhong Li pursed her lips, slightly tiptoed, raised her arm gently, and used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

The two were very close, their eyes meeting.

Zhong Li's heart started racing again, much to his dismay.

Wang Xuan gazed tenderly at her delicate features and slowly recited, "I find the green hills charming, and I suppose the green hills find me just as beautiful."

An ambiguous atmosphere instantly enveloped the two of them. Zhong Li froze, her cheeks flushed crimson, and the handkerchief in her hand was crumpled in her clench.

She could vaguely sense that he was praising her, but she didn't dare to guess at the deeper meaning. Somewhat shyly, she asked, "Brother Wang Xuan, what does this mean?"

"The simple meaning is, I think you are beautiful, and I imagine you feel the same way about me."

Zhong Li nodded and politely asked, "Is there a deeper meaning?"

Wang Xuan said softly, "That varies from person to person. It can be appreciation between friends or affection between lovers."

"Oh." Zhong Li couldn't help but let his mind wander.

Wang Xuan changed the subject, asking softly, "Have you eaten yet?"

"No."

"Then let's eat here."

Wang Xuan brought over two porcelain bowls and filled them with congee. The two sat down side by side. They were both from poor backgrounds and naturally didn't care about such things.

"Do you have anything else to do later?"

Zhong Li replied softly, "I want to go to the pharmacy to buy some mugwort and sandalwood."

"I'll go with you."

The disaster relief efforts are now mostly on track, and Wang Xuan is gradually having more free time.

The two walked together toward Xu Xian's Baohe Hall.

After all, this was a pharmacy funded by the government and had a great reputation among the people, so he took the opportunity to go and inspect it.

Halfway there, Zhong Li suddenly pointed ahead and said softly, "Brother Wang Xuan, isn't that the holy monk from Lingyin Temple?"

Looking around, Wang Xuan indeed saw Daoji sitting in front of his stall, with a long line of people in front of him.

"It really is him." Wang Xuan reached out and grabbed Zhong Li's wrist. "Come on, let's go take a look."

After spending so much time together, Zhong Li gradually got used to Wang Xuan's affectionate way of holding her hand.

Wang Xuan quickened her pace slightly, and Zhong Li, lifting her skirt, hurriedly followed.

Daoji, under the abbot's instructions, came to the city to conduct free medical consultations.

However, this is a "mobile stall," not always in the same place.

Wang Xuan and Zhong Li stopped ten meters away, quietly watching Daoji's diagnosis.

Daoji coldly said to the middle-aged man in front of him, "I, a monk, cannot cure your illness."

"Why...why?"

The middle-aged man was incredulous. Everyone in front of him in line was offering medicine or giving instructions, so why was he being refused help when it was his turn?

"Because you have a disease caused by karmic retribution!" Daoji sneered. "You don't take good care of your parents at home, you often beat and scold your wife and children for gambling, you sell off your property, and you owe gambling debts. This disease of yours is caused by you sitting all day without working and gambling day and night without rest. Do I need to say more?"

The middle-aged man looked utterly astonished.

The people waiting for their turn to see him all looked at him with disdain and sneered.

The middle-aged man, utterly humiliated, could no longer stay and slunk away.

Zhong Li couldn't help but feel curious and asked softly, "Brother Wang Xuan, is what the holy monk said true?"

Wang Xuan found it amusing.

Buddhism places great emphasis on cause and effect, and the principle of karmic retribution.

Given Daoji's character, what he said is most likely true.

"It should be true," Wang Xuan deliberately misspoke, "after all, he's sterile."

"sterilization?"

"A special skill," Wang Xuan chuckled softly, "I misspoke."

Zhong Li's lips curled up slightly, her smile sweet and gentle.

Wang Xuan chuckled and joked, "Want him to do your fortune telling?"

"Can you calculate it for me?"

"How is your marriage prospects?"

Zhong Li instantly became reserved and shy, and gently shook her head: "No need, Brother Wang Xuan."

Wang Xuan, however, was very enthusiastic and gently encouraged him, "Give it a try. If he's wrong, I'll take care of him for you."