Chu Yunli tacitly accepted Physician Ye and Yan Ruoxi’s company, and the group continued toward He Province.
Chu Yunli’s coldness made Yan Ruoxi feel wronged, but she quickly adjusted her state of mind. The road was long, and there would surely be chances to draw closer to Brother Chu.
Her looks were no less than Jiang Ning’s, her medical skill outstanding, and as the daughter of a noble family, she surpassed Jiang Ning in every way.
Brother Chu would surely be able to see her merits.
All along the journey, whenever there was a chance, Yan Ruoxi would stay close by Chu Yunli’s side.
"Brother Chu, are you tired?"
"This is medicine to ward off cold. In drizzling weather, chill seeps into the body and harms health. Brother Chu, quickly drink this bowl of medicine."
"Brother Chu, is there anything you need me to help with?"
Yan Ruoxi was delicate and beautiful, without any lofty airs. Her beauty was matched by kindness, and whenever someone was injured she would go to help treat them, quickly winning the goodwill of the group.
Chu Yunli still maintained a cold and indifferent manner, drawing clear boundaries and treating her with formal courtesy.
In his eyes, she was simply the minister’s daughter, nothing more and nothing else.
Yan Ruoxi felt wronged. Why could Brother Chu not see her merits? She was willing to follow him to He Province, to heal the people, far better than that Jiang Ning—yet why would Brother Chu still not spare her a glance.
She gazed at Chu Yunli from afar, clutching her handkerchief tightly.
Chu Yunli was confirming the route to He Province with the generals. In some places, heavy rain had made the roads muddy and impassable, so they could only take detours.
For the past half month, he had been tense all over, with no moment to catch his breath.
"Lord Chu, in just one more day, we will reach He Province."
"Very good. At the final moment, we must not relax!" Chu Yunli said coldly and sternly.
"Yes." The general responded at once, immediately ordering the soldiers. By tomorrow they would reach He Province, and at the final critical juncture no mistakes could be allowed.
.........
At the same time, in the capital.
Jiang Ning carried out a reclining chair and took a short rest in the courtyard.
The sunlight was just right, a gentle breeze brushed by, perfectly suited for a short rest.
Chun Lan saw this scene, fearing her lady’s face might be sunburned. She walked over, lifted the round fan high, and shaded her with a curtain of shadow.
Jiang Ning slept deeply, unaware that someone had quietly come near her side.
After sleeping for about the time of one incense stick, fine cold sweat beaded on her forehead, her face looked troubled, as if caught in a nightmare, her brows tightly furrowed.
“Chu Yunli…”
“Yunli!”
Suddenly she snapped her eyes open, sat upright, and gasped for breath in great gulps.
Chun Lan was startled. “My lady, what’s wrong? Was it a nightmare?”
Jiang Ning held her forehead, unable to recover from the dream for a long while. She had dreamt a nightmare—Chu Yunli gravely wounded.
It took her quite a while to collect herself. She shook her head. “It’s nothing, only a bad dream…”
Chunlan smiled and comforted her. “Don’t worry, my lady. Dreams always turn out opposite—if you dream of bad things, then surely good things will happen!”
Jiang Ning listened, and forced a faint curve at the corner of her lips.
Yes.
It was only a nightmare.
Surely it was because she was too worried, that’s why she dreamt of something bad.
By the reckoning of days, Chu Yunli should arrive in He Province within these two days. So far, no ill news has come, and they must have reached safely and smoothly.
“My lady, wipe your sweat.” Chun Lan handed her a handkerchief.
Jiang Ning took the handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
.........
Chu Yunli led the elite soldiers and relief supplies safely to He Province.
The situation in He Province was even more severe than imagined.
They had no time to rest and immediately threw themselves into disaster relief.
Physician Ye led several doctors to treat the wounded, but there were too many. The manpower was far from sufficient, and the medicine worked too slowly—the situation was truly harsh.
At that moment, Physician Ye remembered the wound‑healing medicine Chu Yunli had brought.
That specially made wound medicine was unlike the common ones—it worked quickly, stopped bleeding fast. If its formula could be known, it would play a great role in saving lives.
Physician Ye, thick‑skinned, went to ask Chu Yunli.
“Lord Chu, the matter is urgent. Could you let this old man take a look at the special wound medicine? If the formula could be known, it would save many more lives…”
Chu Yunli fell silent for a moment. Jiang Ning’s medicine was indeed more effective than the others.
Physician Ye knew the rules—how could a secret formula ever be passed on, let alone such an important wound medicine.
Physician Ye said, “Lord Chu, the situation is urgent. I do not seek to take advantage. Once we return to the capital, I will give the owner of the formula a proper explanation. I am willing to pay a heavy price for it!”
“If the owner of the formula does not agree, I am willing to swear to Heaven never again to use it for medicine.”
Physician Ye’s words came from the heart. The most urgent thing now was to save lives—if the formula for the wound medicine could be obtained, many more could be healed.
Chu Yunli pondered for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. But with only the wound medicine itself, can you discern the ingredients within?”
“Rest assured, my lord. I have practiced medicine for decades—studying a formula is no problem. Thank you for trusting me.”
Physician Ye grew somewhat excited, deeply curious about which herbs had been used to make the wound medicine so effective.
Chu Yunli agreed on his own authority.
In both sentiment and reason, this matter should first be consulted with Jiang Ning.
Yet he believed that if Jiang Ning were here, she would generously bring forth the formula to save lives.
Once back in the capital, he would surely give Jiang Ning an explanation. If Physician Ye dared to use the formula without permission, he would never let it pass lightly.
“Yuan Feng, go fetch the medicine.”
Yuan Feng obeyed the order and immediately fetched the wound medicine.
Physician Ye solemnly received the wound medicine, bowed in thanks. “My lord, thank you. Once we return to the capital, I will personally meet the owner of the formula and seek forgiveness.”
Chu Yunli gave a faint hum in reply.
Physician Ye took the wound medicine back to study its formula.
The wound medicine made by Jiang Ning was entirely different from what was sold in the market, using many unexpected herbs.
Physician Ye marveled, “So Black‑Head Grass has such a use…”
“The owner of the formula is truly skilled in medicine. I still have much to learn…”
While Physician Ye was studying the wound medicine, Yan Ruoxi pushed the door open and entered.
“Master, what are you doing?”
“I’m pondering the medicine’s formula.”
“What medicine is it?” Yan Ruoxi walked over curiously. Any formula that could make her master forget food and sleep to study must surely be extraordinary.
As she came closer and looked, her body trembled.
That was…
That’s the wound medicine made by Jiang Ning!
She remembered clearly: when Brother Chu was injured, Yuan Feng had brought out the wound medicine, and it was in this very white porcelain bottle.
Physician Ye exclaimed excitedly, “This formula is something I’ve never seen before. These herbs combined can produce an excellent wound medicine!”
Yan Ruoxi could no longer remain calm; her face darkened as she clenched her fists tightly.
Master is studying the medicine made by Jiang Ning!
That woman’s medical skill—could it truly surpass hers?
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