Chapter 261 His eyes were full of tenderness
Among the patients, several elderly people were initially very angry, but seeing Ye Wanning's sincerity and remembering how kind she usually was to everyone, their tone gradually softened.
"Dr. Ye, we know you mean no harm. You've always been very kind to us, and we trust you."
"That bitch is so wicked! If I ever run into her, I'll teach her a lesson she won't forget!"
"Yes, Dr. Ye, don't blame yourself. We all believe in you. You will definitely be able to handle it."
Ye Wanning distributed the medicine packets to everyone, explaining the usage and precautions in detail. She only breathed a sigh of relief after all the patients left satisfied.
She was so busy all day that she didn't have time to rest, and before she knew it, it was evening. The apprentices at the Heritage Center had all gone to rest, but the light was still on in Ye Wanning's study.
She sat at her desk, organizing Li Juan's statement, the substandard medicinal herbs, and the herbal medicine purchase records of the heritage center during this period, preparing to send them to the county government tomorrow so that the authorities could punish those who had stolen and replaced the medicinal herbs.
The candle flame crackled, and Ye Wanning felt an intense ache in her shoulders. The events of the past few days, coupled with staying up all night searching for evidence against Zhou Hu, had left her shoulders and back sore for two days. Her dark circles under her eyes were becoming more pronounced, and her chin had become more pointed.
She rubbed her shoulders, picked up the teacup on the table, and found that the tea had long since gone cold.
I had just stood up from my chair to pour some hot water when I heard a soft knock on the door.
"Please come in."
The door was gently pushed open, and Pei Zhi entered. He was wearing a moon-white robe and carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming tea and a small dish of snacks on it.
Ye Wanning was stunned, then looked up and asked, "Lord Pei, what brings you here?"
Pei Zhi walked to the table, put down the tray, and pushed the teacup in front of her: "Drink some calming tea, it will make you feel better. There are also some snacks, you must not have eaten, have something to eat first."
Ye Wanning smelled the faint medicinal fragrance of the calming tea, the same kind that Pei Zhi had given her when she stayed up all night organizing evidence last time.
"Thank you." She picked up the teacup, took a sip, and the warm tea slid down her throat, dispelling some of the chill and weariness.
Pei Zhi didn't say anything more. He sat down in the chair opposite her, his gaze falling on the files on the table, his brows furrowing slightly: "Has the matter of Li Juan been investigated?"
"Yes, we've found out. It was Sun Chengzong who instructed her to do it." Ye Wanning said wearily, "He just wanted to ruin the reputation of the Heritage Hall and make me despised by everyone."
“Sun Chengzong is narrow-minded and jealous of others’ talents. You must be more careful in the future.” Pei Zhi’s tone was full of worry. “If we fail to completely bring him down this time, he will definitely find other ways to deal with you.”
“I know.” Ye Wanning nodded gently. “I have compiled all the evidence and will send it to the county government tomorrow. I hope that Li Juan will be severely punished and that Sun Chengzong will know that I am not someone to be trifled with.”
Pei Zhi felt a pang of heartache looking at her exhausted yet stubborn appearance. It was already difficult for a helpless woman to establish herself in the capital, let alone face so many open and hidden attacks, yet she never backed down.
"Don't overwork yourself, your health is the most important thing," Pei Zhi said. "Look at you, your face is all pale and dark."
Ye Wanning subconsciously rubbed her eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed. She lowered her head and continued tidying up, not daring to look at Pei Zhi again—his gaze was too gentle, like warm water, making her want to drown in it.
The study was quiet, with only the crackling of the candle and the scratching of the pen on the paper.
Pei Zhi didn't say anything, just sat quietly opposite her, occasionally glancing up at her with tenderness in his eyes.
Ye Wanning could clearly feel his gaze, and her heart beat faster than usual, her hand trembling slightly as she wrote.
After finally organizing all the evidence and binding it into a book, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally done."
She put down her pen, stretched, and heard a slight thud on her shoulder. Just as she was about to stand up and stretch, everything went black, her vision blurred, and she involuntarily slumped onto the table.
"What's wrong?" Pei Zhi immediately stood up, walked quickly to her side, and asked anxiously, "Where do you feel unwell?"
Ye Wanning shook her head, her throat dry and her body weak: "I'm fine, just a little tired and dizzy."
Pei Zhi reached out and touched her forehead, his tone slightly reproachful: "You have a fever. I told you not to stay up late, but you wouldn't listen."
Ye Wanning wanted to say she was fine again, but found she didn't even have the strength to speak.
Pei Zhi didn't ask any more questions. He took a cloak from the cabinet next to him—it was one he had brought earlier, knowing that she was prone to catching a cold if she stayed up late, so he prepared it specially.
He gently draped it over her shoulders, his movements as tender as if he were afraid of disturbing a fragile treasure. His fingers inadvertently brushed against the top of her head, the soft strands of hair brushing against his fingertips, causing a slight tickle.
Pei Zhi paused, his gaze softening further.
He watched her quietly as she slept soundly on the table, her long eyelashes like two small fans, her lips slightly upturned, carrying a hint of weariness.
Pei Zhi sat down on the chair next to her and silently watched over her, not sleeping all night.
The next morning, when Ye Wanning opened her eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.
She rubbed her eyes and found that she was still wearing the cloak, with a faint scent of ink lingering in the air.
She sat up abruptly, only to find the chair opposite her empty, and her unfinished calming tea on the table, now cold.
When did Pei Zhi leave? A trace of regret swept through Ye Wanning's heart, yet it also felt warm.
He not only covered her with a cloak, but also stayed by her side all night.
She picked up the cloak and gently sniffed it. The scent of ink was mixed with a faint fragrance of osmanthus—his unique aroma.
My fingertips caressed the delicate, soft fabric, as if I could still feel the warmth of his body.
A slight tremor ran through her heart, like a pebble tossed into a lake, creating ripples that spread outwards. She carefully folded the cloak and put it away.
After calming herself down, Ye Wanning took the evidence to the county government office.
After reviewing all the evidence, the magistrate was furious and immediately sent men to the Heritage Center to arrest Li Juan, while also ordering an investigation into Sun Chengzong.
Before long, Li Juan was brought to the county government office. Faced with irrefutable evidence, she could no longer deny it and confessed that she had been instructed by Sun Chengzong to adulterate the medicinal herbs with substandard ones.
The magistrate immediately sentenced Li Juan to fifty strokes of the cane, banished her from the capital, and banned her from working in the medical field for life.
As for Sun Chengzong, since the evidence is not yet sufficient, the county magistrate first reported the matter to the prefect and requested further investigation.
When the news reached the Imperial Hospital, Sun Chengzong was so angry that he smashed the table on the spot. He had intended to use Li Juan to bring down Ye Wanning, but in the end, he reaped the consequences himself.
Although there was no conclusive evidence to convict him, no one in the Imperial Hospital dared to associate with him anymore, and everyone avoided him like the plague.
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