Xia Yunting did not answer, only coughed weakly twice.
The sudden change startled Rong Zhi.
She quickly took Xia Yunting's pulse and found it steady and strong, showing no signs of illness.
"Are you faking again..."
"Hiss... my chest hurts!"
Xia Yunting clutched his chest, his handsome brow furrowed, and leaned towards Rong Zhi, pressing most of his weight onto her.
Rong Zhi staggered under the load.
"I'll help you back to the room first." He's so heavy!
With Xia Yunting's arm draped over her shoulder and her other hand supporting his waist, she almost dragged him into the room.
The difference in their body sizes was too great; even a few steps felt strenuous for Rong Zhi.
After finally helping him onto the bed, Rong Zhi, still uneasy, checked his entire body again. There were still no problems.
Rong Zhi looked suspiciously at the handsome face, which, though pale, showed no sign of sickness. Xia Yunting immediately began to whimper.
"Xiao Mo, I'm in so much pain..."
He grabbed Rong Zhi's hand and rubbed it against his chest.
Her left hand was enveloped in a warm, calloused palm. Rong Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and the suspicion that had begun to rise was suppressed.
"I'll get you some water."
Quickly pulling her hand away, Rong Zhi hurried out of the room, her steps carrying a hint of panic.
The moment she stepped out, the expression on the person behind her immediately returned to normal, a playful smile gracing his lips.
Such a shrewd person, yet so easily fooled in these matters. How amusing.
She said she was getting water, but Rong Zhi didn't return for half an hour. Xia Yunting was about to go to the kitchen to check when footsteps suddenly sounded outside.
Xia Yunting quickly closed his eyes, feigning weakness again.
The door opened, and a pungent bitter smell suddenly filled the room, growing stronger.
Xia Yunting had a bad feeling.
Rong Zhi was carrying a tray with a teacup, a teapot, and a large bowl of dark medicinal soup.
She placed the tray aside and glanced at the person on the bed.
He almost tricked her. Caring too much made one careless.
Dare to play tricks on me, and I'll make sure you regret it.
She touched Xia Yunting's forehead, pretending to check for a fever.
"Hmm... no signs of fever. Perhaps it's the heat making you agitated. Husband, quickly drink this bowl of medicine. It will be worse if it gets severe later."
Xia Yunting was forced to "wake up." Looking at the dark medicinal soup next to him, which was still bubbling, he immediately closed his eyes again.
Playing dead.
"Oh dear, why have you fainted?"
Rong Zhi feigned surprise, then sighed.
"What are we going to do? You absolutely must drink this medicine. Since you won't wake up, I'll have to find a chopstick to pry your mouth open and force it down."
"Cough cough..." Xia Yunting had to "wake up" again, finally understanding the meaning of "the consequences of one's own actions."
"Xiao Mo, what's this bitter smell? I don't want to drink it."
"Good medicine tastes bitter but is beneficial for illness. Come, be a good boy."
Xia Yunting spotted an empty space next to Rong Zhi and, timing it perfectly, prepared to escape. Suddenly, his body stiffened. He couldn't move.
Rong Zhi retracted her finger.
"To prevent you from running around, I've sealed your acupoints. Come, drink your medicine obediently!"
"I... mmmph..."
The strong bitter taste assaulted his senses, quickly filling his mouth. Xia Yunting instinctively wanted to spit it out, but Rong Zhi controlled him, forcing him to swallow.
His handsome face turned as black as charcoal.
He had been careless. He was so focused on teasing her that he forgot she also possessed martial arts. He had fallen into her trap.
A short pain is better than prolonged suffering. Xia Yunting held his breath and downed the rest of the medicinal soup until the large bowl was empty.
Only then did Rong Zhi withdraw her hand with satisfaction.
"That's more like it."
The moment his acupoints were unsealed, Xia Yunting clutched his chest and ran out with such speed that he left afterimages.
Rong Zhi looked at the doorway and sighed wistfully.
"The medicine worked so quickly that he's already bouncing around. I truly am a divine doctor!"
After this lesson, Xia Yunting didn't bother Rong Zhi again for the rest of the night. He barely spoke. The medicinal soup had been too bitter; speaking only intensified the bitterness. He disliked himself and went to sleep early with a dark expression.
Rong Zhi, meanwhile, dealt with the medicinal herbs, washing off the mud, trimming them, and placing them in the courtyard to dry.
After drying the herbs, Rong Zhi walked around the courtyard and discovered that Xia Yunting had indeed set up many traps, and they were cleverly hidden.
Truly worthy of the name Xia Yunting.
However, Rong Zhi soon found a problem. In just one day, even with his abilities, Xia Yunting alone couldn't have completed such a large construction project.
Looking closer, many of the traps seemed to be pre-existing. Could it be... Xia Yunting had been here before?
Once this thought arose, combined with Little Black's automatic recognition of the path to this place, Rong Zhi became even more certain.
This man had so many secrets.
She grew increasingly curious.
Once the herbs were dried, they could be sold.
The dried herbs were much lighter than before. Rong Zhi slung her basket over her back and waved to Xia Yunting.
"Husband, does your chest still hurt today?"
Xia Yunting's temples throbbed, as if the memory of that incredibly bitter soup had returned.
He deliberately forced a pitiful smile.
"Xiao Mo, the medicine was too bitter. I want something sweet."
Rong Zhi chuckled inwardly, almost losing her composure.
"Of course, of course. I'll buy it for you."
With a sense of sweet revenge, Rong Zhi's steps became lighter as she soon disappeared from Xia Yunting's sight.
Xia Yunting shook his head. She really held a grudge.
Seeing Rong Zhi had left, Xia Yunting quickly dropped his smile. He glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, then suddenly leaped into the mountains with his light footwork, vanishing into the lush green foliage.
The afternoon sun was still somewhat scorching, but An Ping, a shop assistant at Ji Shi Tang, was not drowsy as usual. He was busy serving a bunch of temperamental elders.
"I say, Young Miss, if you want to rest, at least do it inside. The sun is so strong outside. If you get sunburnt, the county magistrate will have us flogged."
"Nonsense. This sun is wonderful, completely cloudless. Where is it strong? You, you just don't know how to enjoy yourself."
An Ping's lips twitched. *You* enjoy yourself, but by placing a bench across the doorway, who would come to buy medicine? It's been this way all day until afternoon, and we haven't had a single customer.
The Young Miss, oblivious to this, gazed towards the street entrance like a statue waiting for her husband, murmuring, "An Ping, do you remember when Dr. Chu started disliking women?"
An Ping thought for a moment. "It seems it's always been like this. The divine doctor said it's an illness from birth, incurable."
"Only you would believe that."
Zhang Yajing rolled her eyes.
"Alas, my dear Young Miss, stop dreaming. With Dr. Chu's disposition, he'll probably never marry again in his life. It's such a shame about that handsome face."
If he were a woman, he'd want to marry Dr. Chu himself.
In the past, Zhang Yajing would have argued with An Ping upon hearing this. But today, she didn't care, because a divine doctor named Lin had descended from the heavens to rescue her from her plight!
"Why hasn't Dr. Chu arrived yet?"
Zhang Yajing muttered. Suddenly, her vision began to reverse, and with a feeling of lightness, An Ping dragged her and the bench towards the center of the room.
"Young Miss, Dr. Chu will be here shortly. Please go to the back courtyard and hide. Dr. Chu only supplies us with medicine once in a while; don't scare him away again."
"I won't hide!" Zhang Yajing snapped back to reality, bracing herself on the ground with her legs.
"I'm not a tiger; I won't eat him. What's there to be afraid of? I'll just wait here!"
She stood up and walked to the doorway, suddenly spotting a familiar figure.
"Divine Doctor!"
She had barely called out when An Ping stopped her.
"Young Miss, you should still go to the back courtyard."
An Ping squeezed past her and was about to greet someone when he didn't find Chu Qingze.
Walking towards them was a not-so-tall girl with a very delicate appearance, a light sheen of sweat on her face.
She looked a bit familiar.
Just as he was about to recall who she was, Zhang Yajing had already rushed forward.
"Divine Doctor, why are you here?"
"Miss Zhang, you are here too."
Rong Zhi seemed a little surprised, then smiled.
"I'm here to sell medicinal herbs."
"You two know each other!"
An Ping had intended to greet Rong Zhi, but his face immediately fell upon hearing the words "sell medicinal herbs."
"Young lady, we do not accept medicinal herbs here. We have fixed suppliers and do not accept loose herbs brought by villagers."
Despite his words, as a guest, An Ping did not turn her away.
Rong Zhi placed her basket on the ground and said, "Chu Qingze sent me."
"Divine Doctor Chu?"
An Ping was a bit bewildered. He remembered who this young lady was. Didn't she go to see Dr. Chu for treatment at that time? Why would Dr. Chu send her to deliver medicine?
"This is Miss Lin, a Divine Doctor Lin, and her medical skills are very high."
Zhang Yajing, seeing An Ping still stunned, was a little displeased. How could he treat a divine doctor with such high medical skills this way?
An Ping eyed Rong Zhi suspiciously, clearly disbelieving. He muttered quietly,
"Anyone can be called a divine doctor these days."
"What did you say?"
Before Rong Zhi could speak, Zhang Yajing's eyes widened.
"Nothing, nothing..." An Ping quickly waved his hands.
"Well... I can't decide on accepting herbs. I need to go find our shopkeeper first. Young lady, please wait a moment!"
With that, he scurried towards the back courtyard, afraid of being beaten severely by Zhang Yajing if he delayed.
Rong Zhi looked at the situation and realized that Chu Qingze hadn't coordinated with them beforehand. This was a rather uncouth arrangement.
"Miss Zhang, why are you here?"
Zhang Yajing broke into a smile.
"I'm waiting for Dr. Chu here. He often comes here to deliver medicine."
"Oh..."
She understood why Chu Qingze had asked her to deliver the medicine on his behalf.
An Ping soon returned, followed by Zhao Qiancai, who looked groggy.
"Who's delivering medicine?"
"Shopkeeper, it's me."
Rong Zhi greeted him.
Zhao Qiancai was startled, not by Rong Zhi, but by seeing Zhang Yajing beside her.
"Young Miss, why didn't you inform us beforehand that you were coming here?"
He then elbowed An Ping and whispered admonishingly.
"Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
An Ping was also wronged. He would have, but the Young Miss had kept him talking about Dr. Chu all morning, and he couldn't get away.
"Shopkeeper, it's alright. I just came to sit for a while."
Zhang Yajing pushed Rong Zhi forward.
"This Miss Lin is my friend and a distinguished guest of the Zhang Manor. Since Miss Lin is here to deliver medicine, you must entertain her well!"
"Naturally."
Zhao Qiancai was respectful towards Zhang Yajing, but his smile was less sincere when his gaze fell on Rong Zhi.
Looking at the basket of medicinal herbs on the ground, Zhao Qiancai asked indifferently.
"Miss Lin, is it? What medicinal herbs are in here?"
"Two pounds of San Ye Qing Zhi, two pounds of Yin Ye Cao, three pounds of Chang Qing Hua..."
Rong Zhi listed the names and weights one by one. Zhao Qiancai was somewhat impressed.
This young lady actually knew so many medicinal herbs. It seemed she indeed had some skill.
"In that case, An Ping, put away the herbs!"
"Right." An Ping agreed and was about to act when Rong Zhi stopped him.
"Wait, Shopkeeper. How much silver are you planning to pay for these?"
"What silver?"