Feng Shihao questioned Thirteen. All the famous doctors in the area had been consulted. He planned to send someone to Yingzhou to fetch Qinghe, but Linglong mentioned that Qinghe was not skilled in internal injuries.
He considered sending someone to inquire first, and then dispatching people to the Southern Border to search.
"Master, can your subordinate get married?"
Thirteen asked hesitantly.
He was no longer a hidden guard; he was a conspicuous, open guard! Moreover, he was going to marry Su Mian, and they were all family. It should be permissible, right?
Feng Shihao, who was deep in thought, was interrupted by his foolish question. He looked at Thirteen strangely.
"You're so stupid, would anyone fancy you?"
Everyone called him stupid. Was he really that stupid? Thirteen felt a little indignant.
"Why wouldn't they? Su Mian said she likes your subordinate."
"Su Mian?"
Feng Shihao found it hard to believe!
"Mhm! She said she wouldn't marry anyone but your subordinate." Thirteen became smug again. "She also said my martial arts are good, and I'm good-looking."
Feng Shihao glanced at his uneven eyebrows and was certain. "If you can marry her, then go ahead!"
He couldn't be bothered with this simpleton.
"Master..." Thirteen called out again, following behind.
"What is it now!"
"Don't you have to give some money?" Thirteen asked cautiously.
Feng Shihao was amused and angry. "Why should I pay for your wedding? You're not my son!"
"But, but you haven't paid my wages for two years."
Thirteen felt even more wronged. He had been running around for the past two years, and he didn't know how many fat gentlemen's purses he had "borrowed." He had become a master thief. Because he felt guilty, he didn't dare to ask his master for money!
Now that the Empress had been found, and he was going to get married, he couldn't steal anymore.
"I haven't paid wages? Who told you that."
He had no time to manage such trivial matters. Wasn't Fifth in charge of all this?
"Twelve told me!"
"Then go find Twelve, you idiot!"
Indeed, choosing him to protect Linglong and her daughter back then was a mistake. What was the use of high martial arts if he lacked common sense!
His master wasn't giving him money and called him an idiot.
What was the use of finding Twelve? Twelve didn't have money either.
Wait? That's not right. Did his master mean his wages hadn't been stopped?
...
If Qu Linglong had any other wish, it was to see Ling Yao again. She was her best friend.
In fact, at the time, Feng Shihao had sent her away for Ling Yao's sake, causing her premature labor, and then clashed with the Emperor. She had felt wronged, but she couldn't muster any resentment.
She couldn't resent a woman who had suffered hardship yet maintained a kind heart.
She was so good, who could bear to hurt her!
She missed her.
Xinyu was adjacent to Donglin, so there was no need for a long journey. Feng Shihao agreed.
Moreover, Donglin had property, so they could stay there when they arrived.
Since Nan Xing could remember, she had followed Qu Linglong in the thatched hut, preparing medicine and studying. After they moved to the city, she became more lively. Going to Donglin, she was curious the entire way, asking questions incessantly.
When Qu Linglong was still a doctor in Shenshui Lane, she had walked this path to Bozi Village countless times. Now, after circling back, she felt a sense of familiarity.
She couldn't help but start telling Feng Shihao about the various events between Xiao Shan and Ling Yao.
Feng Shihao had heard some of it from Yutou, but not all. Hearing it again, he still felt a surge of fear and became even more grateful to Xiao Shan.
"Do you resent me for bringing you back to the capital?"
Qu Linglong found his foolish question amusing. "I got what I longed for, how could I resent you?"
However, if she hadn't returned to the capital, she would at least have lived a good life.
Feng Shihao looked at her smiling face, feeling a pang of sadness. He pretended to lift the carriage curtain to look outside, but was startled by Thirteen, who was accompanying them.
"What happened to your face?"
"Reporting to Master, I was attacked by a pack of dogs."
They hit him in the face. Those dogs were truly clever. Feng Shihao couldn't be bothered to look at him.
More guests arrived at Xiao Shan's house. The villagers were already accustomed to it.
The adults went inside to catch up, while the children ran outside to play.
There was a swing in the yard, several chickens were kept there, as well as small rabbits, and a little tiger that understood people.
Nan Xing was reserved but eager to see these lively little animals and the two younger siblings, who were incredibly good-looking. She liked them all.
Yuliu and Yushan brought sunflower seeds to Su Mian.
"Let them play, don't watch them so closely. Eat!"
The three girls began to crack sunflower seeds. Thirteen stood by the little tiger, staring at it for a long time before finally giving in.
"Su Mian, come here, I have something to tell you."
"What is it now? You're so annoying!"
Su Mian pouted. She asked Yuliu to excuse her and followed Thirteen out.
"Hurry up and tell me, what is it? I still need to watch the young lady."
Thirteen took out twenty taels of silver and stuffed them into Su Mian's hand. "I'm only getting this much back. It's a bit little, take it for now. I'll ask the Master for an advance when we get married, and that will be enough."
Those people insisted that because of his stupidity, he had lost the Empress, forcing them to search for her all over the place for two years. They felt the money should compensate them and ganged up to beat him. They were truly heartless.
He even considered them his brothers every day.
What did he mean?
Su Mian looked at the broken silver in her hand, a little bewildered.
"Who is getting married?"
"We are getting married!"
"Thirteen!" Su Mian's face turned red. "If you dare to speak nonsense again, I'll tell the young master and have him chase you away! Take your stinking silver!"
The silver returned to his hand. Now it was Thirteen's turn to be bewildered.
"Didn't you say you liked me?"
"I also said I liked Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine! Idiot!"
He was called an idiot again.
When he was a child, he practiced martial arts in the rain for too long and had a fever for several days. Had his brain really been damaged then?
When Su Mian returned to the yard, she saw Yuliu and Yushan smiling at her with pursed lips, making her even more embarrassed.
With two lively and cheerful twins, Nan Xing quickly integrated. The three little ones were gathered around the chicken coop, arguing about something.
Then, they saw Xiao Beiyue open the small gate of the coop.
"Hey?" Su Mian got up. "Don't get pecked by the chickens."
Yuliu leisurely spat out a sunflower seed shell. "Don't worry about it. You should be worried about the chickens."
As expected, as soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Beiyue emerged holding the chicken by its legs. And judging by the chicken's appearance, it looked half-dead.
He threw the chicken on the ground. "Treat it!"
Nan Xing was dumbfounded. "I only know how to treat people, not chickens."
"You're too pedantic. Chickens and people are the same; they are all living things. Everything is interconnected... that thing. If you can save a person, you can save a chicken. Hurry up, or it'll kick the bucket."
Nan Xing was so anxious she was about to cry. "It can't speak, and it doesn't have hands. How am I supposed to know where it's uncomfortable?"
"It has hands." Xiao Beishang lifted the chicken's foot. "Its feet are its hands. Quickly take its pulse."
Nan Xing had no choice but to extend her small hand and hold the chicken's claw. After a long while, she pouted and said, "There's nothing wrong."
Xiao Beiyue proudly tilted his head. "So, you admit that your medical skills are not as good as poison skills?"