Chapter 561 Extra - Missing Him

Chen Ci quickly took stock of the various supply warehouses and found that the total amount of medicinal materials could only last for about seven days. If new medicinal materials were not supplied in time, the plague would rebound and the situation would naturally deteriorate rapidly.

Currently, apart from the emergency medicines reserved for towns around the capital, most of the medicines have been transported to the capital. Therefore, the most urgent task is to quickly transport medicines from more distant places to the capital, while at the same time, to harvest this medicine from the nearby mountains and forests.

Fortunately, it happened to be the season when the medicinal herb was ripe, and Caiyun Mountain near the capital happened to be the place where this medicinal herb was cultivated.

It can be considered a combination of favorable timing, location, and human factors.

Chen Ci immediately arranged for the medical clinic and soldiers to go into the mountains to collect medicinal herbs.

That afternoon, after he finished his work, someone from Chuyun Palace delivered fresh flower cakes.

Knowing that Shu Tong liked to eat it, he sealed the lid and rode his horse to Shengrentang.

In the past few days, he has been busy procuring medicinal herbs from various places and arranging subsequent epidemic control measures. He hasn't seen Shu Tong for several days.

Although they had only met briefly before and barely exchanged a few words, he always felt more at ease whenever he saw her.

He handed the horse to the servant outside Shengrentang, then strode in with the snack basket, heading along the corridor toward the logistics department where Shu Tong was.

Surprisingly, he didn't see Shu Tong or the chattering Chen Shi in the logistics department.

Just as he was stunned, someone came out and bowed to him. Chen Ci told her to stand up: "Where is Shu Tong?"

"Sister Shutong has gone into the mountains to collect herbs."

"Going into the mountains to gather herbs?" Chen Ci's heart skipped a beat: "Why would we need her to go?"

"Originally, there was no need for Sister Shutong to go, but since Ashi wanted to go with Young Master Ye's group, Sister Shutong was worried and went along as well."

Chen Ci understood.

Ye Zhiyuan was sent there, and Chen Shi wanted to go with him, so Shu Tong went too because she was worried about him.

This means there are three members of the imperial family...

Chen Ci raised his hand and rubbed his temples: "I understand."

After leaving the logistics department, Chen Ci went directly to see Doctor Lin and learned that Shu Tong and her group would not be able to return for three days.

“Each herb-gathering team is responsible for a different area. Young Master Ye and his team went to the mountainside. According to their itinerary, they should be returning early tomorrow morning.”

Chen Ci nodded, asked a few more questions about the medicinal materials and the patient's condition, and then left Shengrentang.

Just as Dr. Lin said, Ye Zhiyuan's team had indeed collected enough medicinal herbs and was preparing to set off to return early the next morning.

As night falls, a cool breeze blows across the mountain, accompanied by the chirping of birds and cicadas, creating a particularly pleasant atmosphere.

Shu Tong and Chen Shi came out of the tent and strolled to the open space to look at the stars.

The crescent moon hangs in the western sky today, and the stars are dazzling. Even the Milky Way is clearly visible. The scenery is truly magnificent.

Shu Tong only regretted not having a camera to capture this exceptionally beautiful scene before her.

As soon as this thought came to her, she suddenly realized that what she had been thinking about was showing Chen Ci the magnificent scenery.

He'll probably be very happy too.

Shu Tong's face flushed slightly without her noticing, and then she raised her hand and patted her forehead.

What are you thinking about?

Why do I think about him every day now...?

I think of him when I eat, I think of him when I gather herbs, and I even dream about him.

Is this some kind of obsession?

Shu Tong forced himself to shake off the thought, but when he looked up at the sky, the countless stars seemed to transform into his handsome, angular face.

Shu Tong shook her head and stood up: "I'm sleepy, let's go back to sleep?"

"You go to sleep first, I'll look at the stars for a while." Chen Shi looked up at the sky: "It's been so long since I've had such a leisurely time."

Shu Tong saw Ye Zhiyuan walking towards her and nodded, "Okay, I'll go to sleep now."

"Okay, go ahead."

Chen Shi didn't look at her, waved her hand, and continued looking at the sky.

These stars are absolutely beautiful.

Shu Tong greeted Ye Zhiyuan and whispered to him, "We're in the middle of nowhere, so protect Chen Shi. I'm going back to sleep now."

Ye Zhiyuan nodded: "Okay."

Watching Ye Zhiyuan walk towards Chen Shi, Shu Tong smiled and walked towards the tent, thinking that she would agree to Chen Ci's request once the plague was over.

She confessed her feelings to him, asked for a divorce agreement, and wanted to leave this chaotic capital city.

Even if it means fleeing far away alone, all I ask for is freedom.

She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would fall in love with him against her will.

It will be difficult to leave when that time comes.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Chen Shi assumed it was Shu Tong and didn't move. "Why are you back again? Can't bear to leave these stars?"

Ye Zhiyuan stood a step behind her and also looked up at the sky.

Indeed: the stars and moon are bright, the Milky Way shines in the sky, there is no sound of human voices, only the sound of voices among the trees...

Receiving no response, Chen Shi suddenly turned around and saw a man in white standing tall and elegant with his hands behind his back and a burning gaze.

A sudden thought struck Chen Shi, and she blinked: "It's you."

Ye Zhiyuan looked down at her and said, "Yes. This place is in the middle of nowhere, it's not safe for you to be out there alone."

Chen Shi suppressed a laugh and patted the grass beside her: "Sit down, who stands to look at the stars?"

Ye Zhiyuan paused for a moment, then actually sat down next to her.

Both of them looked up at the sky, but Chen Shi's heart was far from calm.

After the day he persuaded her to drink the medicine and the two had a quarrel, she really ignored him for several days. Although this man was stubborn, he still sent pastries to the logistics department a few times.

Regardless of his true intentions, Chen Shicai interpreted it all as a gesture of goodwill, but still maintained her haughty demeanor and ignored him.

But when she heard that he was going to lead a team into the mountains to collect medicinal herbs, she followed him immediately.

Fortunately, the man didn't stop her this time, and he also subtly took care of her during the days he was gathering herbs, which eased Chen Shi's mood.

Oh well, what can I do? He's so clueless about romance.

We can gradually train them after the wedding.

She refused to believe that someone as pretty and cute as her couldn't win over this taciturn man.

Ye Zhiyuan gazed at the stars for a while, then suddenly spoke, "Your Highness..."

"I've already said that whether in public or in private, you can just call me Ashi. If you don't want to call me that, then call me Chen Shi or Shuyun. Just don't call me Your Highness..."

Hearing the displeasure in her tone, Ye Zhiyuan was taken aback for a moment, but surprisingly, he wasn't angry. He simply went along with her, saying, "Ashi..."

Chen Shi was instantly delighted: "Hmm? What do you want to say?"

When Ye Zhiyuan saw her smiling face under the moonlight, his heart suddenly stirred, as if something had scratched it.

Her eyes were truly beautiful, so dark and bright, they were as beautiful as the stars in the sky.

And those red lips, which seemed to be smiling, looked so soft.

Ye Zhiyuan felt he must be crazy to be observing a woman's eyes and mouth like that, and even... had some inexplicable reactions.

This feeling of being distracted and restless is something that's hard to talk about.

He hurriedly looked away: "What I mean is, after we return to Shengrentang, you can go back to the palace."