"General Chang, it's been a while."
Song Qingchao rose to welcome Chang Pinghe, who had just entered.
When she first arrived, Chang Pinghe was busy, so she waited in the room first.
Chang Pinghe, while taking off his helmet, gestured for Song Qingchao to sit down.
Song Qingchao nodded and obediently sat back down.
Her eyes were fixed on the burning stove. "Half a month has passed, I wonder if General Chang has been well?"
Chang Pinghe sat comfortably in his chair. "Thanks to the young lady, I've been very well."
"That's good then." Song Qingchao accepted the hot tea he handed her, thanked him, and then slowly spoke, "I was very offended that day, but it was truly out of concern that General might be suspected by his family because of us. The General's righteousness in not blaming us makes me truly ashamed."
Chang Pinghe waved his hand. "Miss Song need not say that. It was I who put Miss Song in danger."
Song Qingchao hesitated, "I wonder if your esteemed wife is well?"
Mentioning this, a troubled expression appeared on Chang Pinghe's resolute face. "She is... well, for now."
Song Qingchao raised her hand, signaling Zhou Zhengxi to place the items on the table. "A small token of my appreciation. This is a specially made treasure offering that may help alleviate her condition, but since Madam's situation is special, we cannot administer medication carelessly."
She put down her teacup. "If you don't mind, General Chang could send your esteemed wife to Guangji Temple. It would be much safer if we took care of her."
Chang Pinghe's hand, placed on the table, tightened slightly. "Miss Song, I heard that Miss Lin has been living at Guangji Temple all along?"
"Yes, why?"
Song Qingchao replied very calmly, not understanding why Chang Pinghe would ask about Lin Tingwan.
"No... nothing." His answer was ambiguous, but Song Qingchao did not probe further.
If others were unwilling to speak about something, asking would be futile.
"May I ask why Miss Song is here today?"
Song Qingchao smiled with her eyebrows curved. "It's like this, we have already developed an effective medicine. After testing its safety, we will put it into large-scale production."
"Really!?" Chang Pinghe suddenly became excited.
But then he realized his lapse and sank back into his seat with a bashful air, muttering, "That's truly wonderful."
He slapped the table. "This way, everyone will have a way to survive."
As he spoke, he covered his mouth and coughed. "My apologies, I coughed cough cough cough..."
"It's nothing."
Song Qingchao appeared very composed.
It was untrue to say she wasn't afraid, but now that there was medicine, excessive panic was useless.
Maintaining safe protection was the only thing they could do.
If they were to become jumpy at every rustle of leaves, they would surely fall.
"I came to see General Chang today, firstly for Madam's matter, and secondly to request a favor from the General."
Chang Pinghe managed to stop his coughing. "Please speak."
"Feng County's medicinal herbs are insufficient, so we have arranged for other procurement. Someone will be bringing in herbs today, and I would trouble the General to grant passage."
"You... you are not going out, are you?" Chang Pinghe tapped his fingers on the table, thinking first.
"We are not going out," Song Qingchao said. "You only need to grant passage for the carts to enter. We will not come into contact with outsiders."
"Alright."
Song Qingchao thanked him with satisfaction.
By the time she got the medicinal herbs into the county, it was already dark.
There were a total of ten carts of medicinal herbs.
Song Qingchao couldn't help but click her tongue and even started to suspect Bai You'an.
In fact, her suspicion of him had never wavered.
A doctor from a pharmacy.
Not only was his medical skill superb, but his martial arts were also unfathomable.
The financial strength he had now displayed even made her gasp. Not to mention the value of these ten carts of medicinal herbs, but in terms of procurement and transportation, if he didn't have enough manpower, she wouldn't believe it.
Her Xiyun Pavilion had only managed to gather four carts in a short period. This Bai You'an was immensely powerful...
But none of that mattered.
He might have ulterior motives,
But she harbored no good intentions either.
While Zhou Zhengxi was counting the medicinal herbs, Song Qingchao again asked Chang Pinghe if he wanted to send his wife to Guangji Temple for them to care for.
But Chang Pinghe still hesitated.
Song Qingchao had no choice but to give up.
She only left a parting remark, "If there's any need, Guangji Temple will always welcome you," and left.
On the way, Zhou Zhengxi asked the same question Song Qingchao had pondered.
That is, where did Bai You'an get so many medicinal herbs from?
Song Qingchao merely smiled.
None of that was important.
In the carriage, she lifted the window curtain and looked out at the night. Such a quiet night, such desolate streets, yet they should soon be bustling with activity.
However, she began to worry about the next phase of their plan.
After defeating the virus,
Fear would be the next battle.
She lowered the curtain, lowered her head, and rubbed the two glass pieces in her hands.
It had taken so long, and now she had simply taken out these two smooth pieces from the glass lampshade.
Her gaze fell again on the gold-rimmed spectacle frame on the table.
Now that she had time, she needed to hurry.
From the city gate to Guangji Temple in the northern part of the city, the time taken was not long.
Soon, the carriage stopped.
Strangely, Zhou Zhengxi did not call out to her.
Song Qingchao, after storing her belongings in her spatial dimension, was about to pull up her skirt to get out of the carriage.
As soon as she stood up, the carriage curtain was lifted by a white fan.
Then, a face full of youthful vigor appeared.
In the dark night, the warm firelight made him even more dazzling.
"You've worked hard."
Song Qingchao was startled, then smiled gently. She took a step forward, taking his offered arm.
And then slowly alighted.
She tilted her head to look at him, her gaze lost in admiration.
Bai You'an's face could undoubtedly be called devilishly handsome. Although his brows were always tinged with a hint of melancholy, his expressive eyes were truly radiant and captivating.
"Why aren't you wearing your mask or veil recently?"
"Hmm..." Bai You'an pondered for a moment, then replied with a smile, "Recently, I haven't wanted to see too clearly."
Song Qingchao raised an eyebrow. "Because of the suffering in this world?"
Bai You'an looked up and squinted his eyes. "Perhaps."
After saying that, he smiled at Song Qingchao, as refreshing as the spring breeze in March.
Song Qingchao was captivated by him too.
She had never seen anyone so beautiful.
"I've prepared the stir-fried chicken you wanted, along with two bowls of wine."
His voice was gentle, subtly seductive.
Song Qingchao walked slowly behind him, watching his robe sway gently as he moved.
Even the swirling hem of his robe looked so handsome.
Song Qingchao thought she was probably doomed.
When one starts to pay attention to a man, one is usually falling for him.
She shook herself, trying hard to stop looking at him.
But his voice continued to fill her ears.
"These two bowls of wine were specially sourced. The Zhuyeqing is a little less aged."
"But the fragrance is clear and bright, you should like it."
"You must be tired today."
"Is General Chang alright?"
...
Song Qingchao kept responding with soft "Mm's," not really knowing what he was saying.
It was all about being tired? Or hungry?
So she didn't notice that the person in front had suddenly stopped.
It wasn't until she felt his finger against her forehead that she realized he had stopped and turned around.
Song Qingchao looked up, meeting his inquisitive gaze.
So close, so close that she could see the fine downy hairs on his skin.
Before, she had thought his nose had a slight hump; now, looking closely, she realized she had misjudged.
There was a dip between his brow and the bridge of his nose, but from the bridge to the tip of his nose was straight. The small, narrow nostrils and the slightly upturned nose tip made him appear even more handsome.
Song Qingchao stared at his slightly furrowed nose in confusion and asked softly, "What?"
"What?" he echoed softly, but his tone was full of doting. "Did you hear what I just said?"
"I... heard... it."
Song Qingchao retreated slightly. Bai You'an's presence was too overwhelming, making her feel a little uneasy.
"I was saying..." Bai You'an sighed with a smile but still held Song Qingchao, preventing her from leaving. "Miss Song, I am very... worried about you."