shield

Xiao Yingzhu lowered his eyes, as if concentrating on something. When he heard Qing ask the last question, he lightly raised his eyelids and looked directly at Qing.

"You probably don't understand what I mean."

"Protecting her is the most important thing for you right now."

“…”

Qing was silent for a moment. He didn't know whether he saw something or suddenly realized something in Xiao Yingzhu's indifferent and cold eyes. After a while, he said "yes" reluctantly.

However, since there were still some doubts in her heart, Qing still asked:

"Master, can you tell me why you do this?"

Xiao Yingzhu was silent for a moment, then raised his hand to rub his eyebrows.

He has always been strict with his secret guards, so many of them are afraid of him, respect him, and dare not approach him.

Of course, he could understand why those people would treat him like that.

No one wanted to get close to a Rakshasa who had trampled on a mountain of corpses to get the title of Duke. Even if they worked under him, he would never punish anyone without reason. Those secret guards would still stay away from him. He had always been aware of this.

but...

Qing and Yu in front of them, like Yan and Yan from Qin Lan's army, had come in with special circumstances. Therefore, they did not know about his past, let alone why the other secret guards were so afraid of Xiao Yingzhu.

Even Xinfeng, who liked to play pranks every day, would subconsciously startle when he saw Xiao Yingzhu, and put on a serious expression on his usually nonchalant face, as if he was afraid of being punished to face Xiao Yingzhu.

Facing Shang Qing's slightly questioning gaze, Xiao Yingzhu calmed down and said calmly, "There are many things involved. You just need to have Jiang Nian. Then, I will have a sure win in this game."

"And you are the guard who guards this 'trump card'. You cannot let her get hurt, and you cannot let her be taken away by the enemy. Do you understand?"

“…”

Qing seemed to understand, but he didn't quite understand. He had no emotions, nor did he know what emotions were. From that day on, it was as if his emotions had been taken away from him, leaving only an empty shell, not knowing what crying, hatred, or disgust were.

The man in front of him pulled him out of the burned village and told him that the enemy he faced was just like him, with the same stance and starting point. He could give him a place of refuge, and all he had to pay was...

It is to protect your own chips.

Qing lowered his eyes. After so many years, he could slowly sense the subtle emotional changes of the man in front of him.

Just now, when Xinfeng and Songchui were reporting, the man was in a calm mood.

But now that Jiang Nian was mentioned, because of the name Jiang Nian, or the person Jiang Nian, the master's mood underwent subtle changes.

The changes are so complex and subtle that Qing can't describe them.

Maybe there is a little bit of cherishment and a little bit of reluctance, but more of it is an overwhelming desire for control.

As the 'trump card' of this chess game, if Jiang Nian is lost, then the master will be sad, right? This should be the word to describe it.

...Therefore, the master's feelings for her may be like his feelings for the rain, which are difficult to let go and seem to be possessive.

Qing blinked, feeling that he was not suited to analyzing these things. After thinking for a long time, he couldn't come up with an accurate word or music to describe them, so he gave up thinking. Zhu nodded, indicating that he understood:

"I understand, Master. I will go back and tell Yu."

“…”

The man before her breathed a sigh of relief, a subtle movement. In Qing's eyes, he seemed completely relaxed. However, usually, from other people's perspective, they would only notice a slight change in Xiao Yingzhu's expression.

"Good boy."

The man opposite placed his hand on Qing's head, treating him just like he did when he picked him up.

Xiao Yingzhu's relaxed brows relaxed, but the emotion in his eyes was heavy. He lowered his eyelids to look at the emotions in Qing's pupils, as if he knew what Qing was thinking, but he didn't mind him thinking that way. He didn't mean to interfere with his thoughts, but just smiled and said:

"Then go give her an answer now."

In his field of vision, a notebook appeared. It looked a little worn, but it was not difficult to see that it had been carefully protected.

Qing reached out to take it, holding it in her palm, just like she was treating the girl named "Jiang Nian".

"yes."

Having been given a task with new meaning, Qing no longer worried about whether there would be any new tasks coming. After receiving the order from Xiao Yingzhu, he immediately rushed out.

—

When Jiang Nian raised his head from the desk, the sky outside the window had already darkened completely, and a lamp had been lit by Guizhi or Fuling next to the desk.

Has anyone been here just now?

She had no idea at all.

It turned out that I was too engrossed in reading the information.

In order to cover up the discovery of the anthelmintic formula, she deliberately found some health products that were not available in this era and stuffed them into the warehouse where the anthelmintic formula was made. Now these health products are gradually beginning to bring her benefits.

Putting down the loose pages in his hand, Jiang Nian raised his hand to rub his neck, and put the pen aside.

At present, the income from anthelmintics and health products has entered a stable period, neither low nor high.

It seems that in order to further enhance the reputation of the pharmacy, we need to develop better anti-parasitic formulas.

She lowered her eyes to the homemade calendar on the table, on which the day of the competition had been circled with cinnamon twigs.

The time is not far away, it’s next Monday.

Before that, she had to attract Sun Dun and lead him to the mountain.

Keeping this trouble will make it a bit difficult to start the mission later.

She tapped the table thoughtfully, her eyes lost in thought, and then glanced at the map beside her.

The map has been marked by Qing and Yu with the locations that Sun Dun has visited and his current location.

The man brought reinforcements from his hometown and was walking all the way here - thanks to Qing and Yu, who used Xiao Yingzhu's name to set up some obstacles at the places Sun Dun had to pass, such as checking his identity and the reason for entering the city.

After various delays, Sun Dun finally settled in a village some distance away from Pingzhou before the day she returned.

According to the time, Sun Dun should arrive two days before the competition begins.

Jiang Nian smiled and turned his eyes away. He took out the half-written plan and wrote a few more words on it with a pen.

Since time was short and the schedule was tight, and Sun Dun was anxious to get the big promise that Manager Xu had promised him, he would definitely risk his life and come to her to get the anthelmintic prescription within these two days.

“…”

Recalling that Xiao Yingzhu had asked her to make some extra preparations, Jiang Nian's gaze lingered on the several insect repellent prescriptions in front of her for a few seconds, then she selected one and began to write.

She now has a general idea.

As long as the time comes, we can act according to the circumstances and put on a big show in front of passers-by.

—

Xu's Pharmacy

Shopkeeper Xu stood outside the pharmacy, pacing back and forth. Every now and then, he would reach out and stop a passing servant to ask, "Have you seen Sun Dun come back?"

Sun Dun said he'd be back in a few days, but now it's almost time for the competition and he's still not back! Is he going to break his promise?

It's so audacious!

If his good fortune was ruined, then he would make Sun Dun pay for it.

Shopkeeper Xu paced back and forth several times, then walked back to the pharmacy hall and sat down behind the counter.

His rat-like eyes darted around, and when he saw the servant he had previously asked to go and inquire about the pharmacy, he immediately reached out to stop the servant and beckoned him over. Then, as the servant bent down to inquire, he whispered in his ear, "Go and inquire about the Inspector."

Not understanding what Shopkeeper Xu meant, the servant stared at the account book on the counter. After a pause, he asked in a low voice, "Shopkeeper, do you have any instructions for me to ask the master?"

“…”

Shopkeeper Xu naturally didn't want anyone to know what he was thinking, but he had to reveal part of it so that the servant could understand what he meant.

So after formulating some words in his mind, he smiled and said, "Tell him that our Xu's Pharmacy is ready to participate on the day of the competition. Go and invite him to come and watch the competition. This time, we will definitely defeat Liangdu Pharmacy!"

The servant was a little unconfident about the arsenic-mixed seeds he had prepared, because he had been defeated by the new insect repellent launched by Liangdu Pharmacy. If he did not change the recipe, he would probably be defeated again.

But Shopkeeper Xu always said that he had the help of an expert and that the prescription came from a dream. No one could defeat his anti-parasitic prescription, so the servant did not say anything verbally, but just lowered his head and accepted the order.

After all, in his opinion, the shopkeeper Xu seemed a bit stupid and rich. Every time he did this kind of spying mission, the money he was paid was always enough, more than his monthly salary. Why wouldn't he be happy to do such an easy job?

—

When Qing arrived at Jiang's house, Jiang Nian was writing and drawing something on a piece of paper with his eyes squinted. He seemed to be in a good mood.

Still remembering what Xiao Yingzhu had told him, Qing adjusted his usual behavior, recalled how Xinfeng usually treated people, forced a smile on his face, and walked towards Jiang Nian.

"Miss, as you instructed, I brought back the book you wanted from my master."

Jiang Nian was lost in thought as to how to conceal the secret of the deworming formula when he suddenly heard a voice from the side. He was frightened and trembled a little. When he looked up, he saw it was Qing.

But Qing's smile is so strange.

"..." Jiang Nian took the notebook hesitantly, looked at the man with the strange smile, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Excuse me, did you encounter any pleasant things on the road?"

Otherwise, why would he suddenly laugh like this? I remember that Qing and Yu both had very cold personalities, a coldness like the cold misty spring water in the mountains, clear and cool, without any trace of emotion except for the chill. To them, everything was the same, and nothing could surprise them.

Qing smiled according to the way he remembered others smiling - although he didn't want to do this, the master said to treat Miss Jiang well, so it would be okay to treat her like this, right?

While maintaining this unfamiliar smile, he replied calmly, "Because the master said you are more important than the chess game."

“…”

Caught off guard by these words, the smile on Jiang Nian's face froze for a moment. Even though she lowered her eyes and took the notebook from Qing's hand, the joy that had just surged in her heart gradually faded away. After a moment, she suppressed the pain in her heart and shook her head slightly.

"...I see. But Qing, just stay as you are. There's no need to deliberately change your appearance for me."

"Just follow your usual habits here."

Noticing the change in Jiang Nian's mood, Qing blinked, a hint of doubt arising in her heart.

But this faint doubt soon dissipated, and he nodded and replied, "The master also said that once the sect transports the medicinal materials from the foot of the mountain, we will send someone to deliver them to the mansion."

Is it door-to-door delivery?

Jiang Nianben had wanted to send a few more people to Xiao Yingzhu's mansion to bring back the medicinal herbs, but now it seems that there is no need.

She was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work."

So the current situation is to resolve Sun Dun's matter first, and then in next week's competition, after performing a drama, hide the anti-insect formula, so that Meng Jian's people will mistakenly believe that the anti-insect formula she used in the competition is the real anti-insect formula.

Jiang Nian had other things on his mind, so he had nothing to tell Qing at the moment, even though he raised his hand for the umpteenth time today and asked him to go out first.

The flickering flames flickered in her brown pupils. In the silent room, darkness instantly swallowed up most of the open space.

The moonlight that filled the room when Qing came in just now suddenly disappeared after Qing left.