Chapter 442 sold out?!
When they turned back into the room, it was already filled with smoke. He Wenzhu lit the medicines he had just prepared and fumigated the room. The smell of the medicines was not too strong, but it still made everyone cough.
Shang Ruyi said, "You all, please leave."
After a moment's hesitation, Shang Ruyi spoke first to Dai Junliang: "I hope you will convey the General's words to the end and carry them out thoroughly. Fufeng will be relying on you these days."
Dai Junliang cupped his hands and said, "Please rest assured, Madam."
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
Shang Ruyi turned back to look at Mu Xian, Cheng Qiao, and Shan Tong'er, sighed, and said, "You can't be of much help if you stay here. You should go back first and settle your people. News of the general's illness should spread soon, so you must reassure your men and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Several people nodded.
Shang Ruyi added, "If Song Yu and his men cause you trouble, remember, do not take action."
"..."
"No matter what it is, let's wait until the general recovers before discussing it."
"..."
"If you really can't handle it, come find me."
Mu Xian immediately said, "Don't worry, young mistress, we... we won't bother you."
Shang Ruyi looked at the three of them and said, "Disturbing me and the general is a minor matter; the bigger picture is what matters."
The three of them exchanged glances and understood what she meant. They nodded in agreement. Mu Xian and Cheng Qiao took one last look at the person behind the screen, who looked increasingly weak amidst the swirling smoke. Although their eyes revealed deep sorrow and resentment, they still turned and left.
Only Shan Tong'er stayed put and said, "Sister Ruyi, I'll stay with you."
Shang Ruyi reached out and touched his head, saying softly, "Shantong'er, your second brother has no ordinary illness. If you really get it—you're still young, you won't be able to endure it."
"But you can't do without someone here."
Shan Tong'er shouted, "I think that person is a bad guy, and I'm worried about you and Second Brother here!"
Seeing his serious expression, Shang Ruyi, though already burning with anger, still smiled – this child had been so brave on the battlefield, yet when he spoke, he still carried an unshakeable childishness and innocence.
However, while his words were blunt, they did contain some truth.
Shang Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Then how about this? I'll have someone clean up the east room. You can stay there for the next few days, but don't come over here. I'll call you if anything happens. Also, you need to go back first and explain things to your subordinates, especially Nie Chong. Let him manage his people."
"I see!"
Having received permission, the kind boy turned around, picked up his copper hammer, and hurriedly went downstairs.
As soon as he left, Shang Ruyi instructed Wo Xue to tidy up the east room. She didn't say much, just responded and went out.
After everyone left, Shang Ruyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, they slowly walked into the inner room.
At this moment, the smoke from the burning incense had gradually dissipated, but the strong smell of medicine in the room was still somewhat suffocating. He Wenzhu threw the burnt medicine residue and scraps of cotton paper aside, then wiped his sleeves and said to Shang Ruyi, "Madam, I have fumigated this place for a while, so please don't let anyone else in for the time being. Madam... it would be best if you also avoided this place."
Shang Ruyi calmly said, "I will always be here, there's no need to avoid me."
He Wenzhu was startled, and he subconsciously said, "But Madam, you—"
Shang Ruyi turned to look at him, and a powerful light suddenly flashed in her originally clear and gentle eyes. She said in a deep voice, "You can rest assured."
"..."
"I think the King of Hell is somewhat afraid of me."
"...!?"
He Wenzhu stared in astonishment, her eyes widening.
This general's wife—in fact, he had just seen how she, who seemed gentle and kind, dealt with those generals outside, and he knew she was no ordinary woman, but this statement was a bit too arrogant.
Why would the King of Hell be afraid of mortals?
Moreover, even the most fearless person would find it somewhat inexplicable to say such a thing at this moment.
But since she was the general's wife, He Wenzhu didn't dare to say anything more and could only nod obsequiously in agreement. Shang Ruyi, however, looked at him and said, "Doctor, when I asked you to come, I already told you that you cannot leave until the patients here have recovered."
He Wenzhu lowered his head and said, "This old man... understands."
Shang Ruyi nodded and said, "As long as you cure my husband, I will definitely reward you handsomely."
Although her words were meant as a reward, He Wenzhu, despite her age, was not stupid. She immediately understood that she only mentioned rewarding the patient after recovery, but not what would happen if the patient failed to recover. And what she didn't say was actually what she really wanted to say.
Facing this gentle and calm general's wife, He Wenzhu couldn't help but feel a chill from the bottom of her heart.
He understood that his only way to survive was to let the general live.
He took a deep breath and said softly, "I understand, please rest assured, Madam, I will do my utmost. However, to treat these ailments, we need some medicinal herbs, and I'm afraid I have none in stock at the moment—"
Shang Ruyi asked, "Is it Magnolia officinalis, talc, and Atractylodes lancea?"
"Exactly!"
"I've already sent people out to look for them; we're just waiting for the herbs to arrive."
"Yes, yes."
He Wenzhu looked at Shang Ruyi with some surprise. After a while, he mustered up his courage and asked, "General's wife, it seems you also know about medicine?"
Shang Ruyi said, "I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I know a little."
"..."
"But my husband's illness still depends on you, doctor."
He Wenzhu hurriedly nodded and said, "I understand. I still have a few useful herbs left in my medicine box. I will go down and boil them now, and after soaking them, I will use a silk handkerchief to cover my mouth and nose so that I can take care of the general."
Shang Ruyi said, "Go ahead."
He Wenzhu immediately picked up his medicine box and went outside.
After he left, only Shang Ruyi and Yuwen Ye, who had been lying on the bed for a long time without making a sound, remained in the room.
But once she let out that breath, her whole being...
Actually, she felt that she hadn't been pretending or putting on any act, because even after they left, she still stood straight, and what she wanted to uphold and protect remained unchanged.
only--
She slowly walked to the bedside, bent down, and sat down beside him.
Yuwen Ye, lying on the bed, had his eyes closed. It was unclear whether he had fallen into a coma again or had simply fallen asleep from exhaustion. He appeared calm and gloomy, but Shang Ruyi knew that he was probably burning with anxiety. In fact, being unconscious might be a better situation for him at this moment.
Whether he was unconscious or in a deep sleep, this was all that could be done for him.
So--
Shang Ruyi reached out and gently took his hand, then leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Before we went to war, Father said that he was entrusting Xue Xian to you, and you, he was entrusting to me."
"..."
“You have protected Fufeng, now it is my turn to protect you.”
"..."
"No one can hurt you in front of me!"
Just then, she felt a movement in her palm; it was Yuwen Ye's fingers, trembling slightly as they caressed her palm.
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath.
She said, "Don't worry."
Time flies, and before we knew it, it was evening.
The battlefield outside the city had been cleaned up, and Xue Xian's troops had retreated to Hexi and remained quiet for the time being. As a result, the gates of Fufeng were closed, and the city's defenses were reinforced considerably. News of Yuwen Ye's serious illness spread quickly and did cause a disturbance, but because the generals of each unit made timely arrangements, no major trouble ensued for the time being.
However, the people in the city were uneasy, and many undercurrents were still surging beneath the surface.
After dinner, Shang Ruyi immediately went to the front hall of the government office to find Yin Changyue. He was sitting there discussing matters with Dai Junliang and others, and both of them seemed to have a somewhat gloomy expression.
At this moment, Shang Ruyi slowly walked in: "Lord Yin, acting adjutant."
Upon seeing her, the two immediately stood up and bowed.
Shang Ruyi returned the greeting with a slight bow, then sat down to the side and said, "I know you two are busy with important matters and shouldn't have bothered you, but this morning I asked Lord Yin to buy some medicinal herbs, and I haven't received them yet, so I came to inquire. Those herbs—"
Upon hearing this, Yin Changyue's expression darkened further.
Dai Junliang, who was standing to the side, also frowned.
Shang Ruyi immediately sensed something was wrong: "What's wrong?"
Yin Changyue said, "Madam, I have sent people to search all the pharmacies in the city, not even the small ones, but—all the Magnolia officinalis, talc, and Atractylodes lancea in the city are sold out."
"What?!"
Shang Ruyi was startled and suddenly stood up: "Sold out?"
"yes,"
Yin Changyue frowned, seemingly sensing something amiss, but he quickly added, "However, we also sent people out of the city to check on some herb gatherers and small villages outside the city. We should—"
Before he could finish speaking, several guards rushed in from outside, bowed and kowtowed to them. As soon as they saw them, Yin Changyue immediately asked, "Well, have you found the medicinal herbs?"
The group exchanged glances, all showing a hint of fear.
One of them said cautiously, "Sir, Madam, please forgive us. We searched for more than a dozen herb gatherers outside the city, as well as people in those small villages and towns, but they said that someone bought those herbs at a high price a few days ago and sold them all."
Another person said, "Now, in the villages and towns near Fufeng, there isn't a single trace of medicinal residue left."
These words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving everyone stunned and shocked.
Shang Ruyi felt her mind go completely blank.
Sold out.
Just like before in Daxing City, all of these herbs are sold out.
No, it's not sold out!
If before she only felt that the matter was strange but had nothing to do with them, at this moment she almost immediately concluded that this matter was aimed at them, and that the medicine was not sold out—but was deliberately looted!
There was only one purpose in scavenging these medicines!
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