CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 185: AS HARD AS A ROCK

Old Mrs. Song hesitated for a moment before waving her hand, "Forget it, we’ll give it to him next time. His life is always better than the common people’s."

The housekeeper chuckled.

Old Mrs. Song said, "Why? Was I wrong?"

"No, you were right," replied the housekeeper.

Old Mrs. Song continued, "These days, Xian keeps going to the Official Medicine Bureau. Liangchen won’t keep the things he sends by himself; he’ll definitely share them with everyone. Maybe Xian will get to eat some."

Only the master would go to such lengths to eat his own snacks, the housekeeper thought, unable to suppress a smile.

Old Mrs. Song was not wrong. The Official Medicine Bureau in Zhenzhou was bustling at this moment.

Xu Tingzhen, after adjusting the formula, began to make finished medicine at the Official Medicine Bureau.

The epidemic in Yingzhou spread rapidly and it was quite a distance from Zhenzhou. After transporting the medicinal herbs to Yingzhou, they still had to be boiled. Even the largest pot could only supply a limited number of patients. Moreover, those villages that could only be reached via small paths had no manpower. Finished medicine was easier to transport and consume, providing urgent relief.

Xie Liangchen said, "The efficacy of finished medicine isn’t as good as freshly boiled, and you can’t adjust the prescription individually, but the doctors in Yingzhou are insufficient. If we diagnose one by one, the patients might not be able to wait..."

Before Xie Liangchen could finish, Song Xian said, "I understand."

Song Xian really wanted to hear Xie Liangchen speak a little more, but she had been speaking too much these days. Her lips were slightly pale, her lower lip had several cracks, and her lips were peeling...

"General..."

Xie Liangchen spoke again, and only then did Song Xian shift his gaze from Xie Liangchen’s lips.

Xie Liangchen said, "General, this is the first time we are using finished medicine on such a large scale. If any person’s condition does not improve after taking it, they need to stop and wait for a diagnosis by a doctor."

Song Xian nodded, meeting Xie Liangchen’s bright eyes, "Between two evils, choose the lesser one. I understand this principle. You just go ahead confidently; I’ll handle everything afterwards."

Xie Liangchen had long known that Song Xian would agree, but she still needed to make things clear. She had calculated how to respond if Song Xian questioned her, but he didn’t let her say the words she had prepared.

Xie Liangchen said, "Mr. Jia has written a memorial and sent it to the capital. The contents might be unfavorable to you, General." If things go well, naturally there’s no need to mention it, but if not, all the blame will fall on you.

Xie Liangchen had confidence in the finished medicine, but any error during the transportation and distribution was unpredictable. That was the territory of the Henghai Jiedu Envoy, not under Song Xian’s jurisdiction, and the people of the Henghai Jiedu Envoy might take this opportunity to frame Song Xian.

Jia Si wrote a memorial to impeach Song Xian as a precaution. If anything went wrong, they could absolve themselves by relying on it.

As Xie Liangchen looked on with worry, Song Xian’s eyebrows raised, revealing a smile, "Don’t worry about me. Every bit of that finished medicine is your hard work; not one will be wasted, and all will reach the patients’ hands."

Song Xian thought back to the time when the epidemic hit. She had lost a lot of weight, didn’t have time to speak to Old Mrs. Chen or Chen Zigeng, hardly slept more than two hours a day, and her fingers were worn out. At this moment, she only felt heartache and... a deeper stir in her heart.

Endless busy days and nights had filled Xie Liangchen’s mind with cases and finished medicine. It was a bit hard to shift her thoughts, so she repeatedly recalled Song Xian’s words, finally sensing the difference in them.

Xie Liangchen didn’t have time to delve into the feeling; her worries dissipated completely.

For the first time, Xie Liangchen admitted from the bottom of her heart that Song Xian was someone who, at times, could provide her with a sense of steadiness. Like that lantern and those promises of his, she didn’t have to worry at all, believing that he would make it happen.

"Alright," Xie Liangchen said, "Then part of the finished medicines can be completed before noon tomorrow."

Song Xian said, "It will take less than two quarters of an hour to leave Zhenzhou."

Xie Liangchen responded.

After finishing this matter, for a moment, Xie Liangchen wondered what to say next, and the two sat face-to-face in silence.

Until Chang An handed over a bowl of water.

Song Xian said, "Have some water. You’ve been busy all day. Without food or drink, you won’t hold up."

It’s not that exaggerated. She hadn’t missed a meal, and ate more than before.

Xie Liangchen finished the water, and Chang An naturally stepped back a few paces.

"There’s one thing we need to address beforehand."

Song Xian spoke again, and Xie Liangchen looked up. Song Xian’s eyes were gentle, eyebrows relaxed, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

Xie Liangchen felt a little dazed, feeling that the person standing in front of her was not her creditor.

Xie Liangchen said, "Please, General."

Song Xian said, "Before the epidemic is over, I will leave the Official Medicine Bureau to you. If there are insufficient manpower or materials, I will find a way. But the one overseeing these matters, I trust only you, no one else. You must be aware of what’s important and not exhaust yourself, or all efforts will be wasted.

Do you understand?"

Xie Liangchen instinctively wanted to avert her gaze, but then felt she’d be... guilty?

There’s nothing wrong with what Song Xian said, so why should she make a fuss.

Xie Liangchen said, "General, rest assured."

Song Xian noticed her subtle avoidance of gaze, a warmth spreading from his heart. He did not expect such a seemingly unnoticed gesture could make him so happy.

He hadn’t even seen any hint of affection from her toward him.

Partly chiding himself for being unsettled, partly secretly happy, he even thought of the days ahead...

Song Xian struggled to refrain from stepping closer to her. There were still many things he wanted to say, but he had to hide them for now, taking things step by step.

"Old Mrs. Chen and Zigeng have come by the Familiar Medicine Institute a few times. Seeing you busy, they didn’t approach," Song Xian said. "The matter with Gouzi’s family might have affected Old Mrs. Chen a bit. I’ve arranged a room. You can talk with Old Mrs. Chen and Zigeng there."

Did Song Xian sense something different about her grandmother? Could it be that her grandmother was ready to reveal those secrets she had kept inside?

Song Xian continued, "I will have Chang Yue and Chang An stand guard at a distance. No one else will hear what you discuss."

Xie Liangchen looked at Song Xian.

Song Xian said, "After investigating Yuezhou and now having arrested Li Cong, I will continue to trace the whereabouts of your parents, gathering clues bit by bit. In the near future, I will know everything. But whether you choose to tell me now, and how much you decide to share, is entirely up to you. I will neither eavesdrop nor push you.

In future, the same will be true with Chang Yue in Chen Family Village. I hope there will be more trust and less suspicion between us."

Xie Liangchen bit her lip slightly, "Then, thank you, Master."

Changing from the address "General" to "Master," perhaps she had been moved in her heart as well.

Song Xian knew when to stop, "I’ll have someone take Old Mrs. Chen and Zigeng to the backyard."

Song Xian turned to leave, and a moment later, Xie Liangchen also headed toward the backyard.

Listening to the footsteps behind her, without a hint of hesitation, Song Xian kept his emotions in check, though he couldn’t help but silently complain about her "hard heart like a stone," wondering when he might melt it with warmth.

Xie Liangchen didn’t have to wait long before she saw Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng quickly ran over and threw himself into Xie Liangchen’s arms.