Ruan Tinghuai prepared different dishes for each meal, using almost every ingredient, and all of them suited Lin Qingwan's taste.
The two chatted and laughed together. Doctor Zhu didn't say anything because of the food, but he would worry about Tong Di for a while after the meal.
Two more days passed, and Lin Qingwan was afraid she would forget about Tong Di. Doctor Zhu specifically pulled Ruan Tinghuai aside to talk about the herbs, and had Mu Xue watch the fire on the stove. Then he pushed Tong Di in to deliver the medicine to Lin Qingwan.
This was the first time Tong Di had come in since Lin Qingwan woke up.
He hesitated for a moment before Lin Qingwan's voice came from inside, "Guard Tong, how is your injury?"
She paused, her tone tinged with guilt, "I was worried the whole time, but I just couldn't get out of bed..."
Tong Di tightened her grip on the tray, and suddenly felt much calmer.
He smiled, then realized that she couldn't see him through the gauze curtain.
"It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious."
Lin Qingwan choked up. At that time, Tong Di was holding her with one hand and carrying a sword with the other. He fought his way through so many guards. How could she say that he was unharmed?
"I thought I was going to die in the flowerbed, I never thought I would come out alive."
Tong Di was afraid that she would feel burdened, so he deliberately said, "It's really nothing. I spent five years with the Crown Prince at the border. There were small battles every three days and big battles every five days. I'm used to these things."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to presume to say I wanted to bring you out."
"Furthermore, when Prince Jing's men encroached on farmland and caused a death, they fled towards the flower nursery. It was Mr. Ruan who ran out and found us, saying that the prince had killed someone, that's why I rushed in."
Tong Di's words made her feel much better, "Even if we were complete strangers, I would still save them."
"So Miss Qingwan doesn't need to feel anything."
Lin Qingwan could only vaguely see his broad and upright figure through the gauze curtain. He had risked his life to save her, which was already a great debt of gratitude that she could hardly repay. She did not expect him to be so thoughtful, which made her feel that she should not dwell on the matter any longer.
Tong Di placed the medicine on the table outside. "I can't go in right away. Miss Muxue will come back later to serve you your medicine."
"good."
Lin Qingwan responded, and the atmosphere became somewhat stiff and cold.
Remembering what Physician Zhu had said about Tong Di's wound reopening while buying groceries, she said, "I had Mu Xue hire someone to deliver the groceries, so Guard Tong can rest assured and recover."
Tong Di didn't expect her to bring this up, and her eyes darkened slightly. "That's fine then."
"It just so happens that I need to say goodbye to Miss Qingwan."
"The Crown Prince has shown me mercy and allowed me to recuperate for several days. I am now much better and will return to the palace soon. There are guards outside the door. Miss Qingwan can give them any instructions if she needs anything."
Lin Qingwan knew this was the Crown Prince's courtyard, so she couldn't stay any longer. Physician Zhu said it would take at least two more days for the wounds to completely scab over before she could get out of bed.
She said, "Please ask Guard Tong to convey my gratitude to the Crown Prince."
"I have already asked someone to find me a courtyard, and I will move out in a couple of days."
Tong Di frowned, but realizing he couldn't make the decision for the Crown Prince, he simply said, "The Crown Prince hasn't left the palace for several days. It must be because of the tension caused by Prince Jing. I will pass on the message."
Thank you.
Tong Di came out of the house, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt light and refreshed.
Ruan Tinghuai and Muxue brought over two more plates of hot snacks. "Guard Tong, would you like to try some?"
Although Ruan Tinghuai was a businessman, he didn't have the airs of one. Even though he was often bullied by Physician Zhu, he never gave them the cold shoulder and had a good temper.
Tong Di politely replied, "No, I'm going back to the East Palace."
Ruan Tinghuai's eyes flickered. "It's not too late to go back after you've eaten your fill. You are Qingwan's savior, and also my benefactor."
Tong Di smiled and said, "I have a slight acquaintance with Miss Qingwan, and to be honest, it was the gentleman who ran out of the flower garden to ask for help; otherwise, no one could have broken into Prince Jing's flower garden."
Ruan Tinghuai clasped his hands in a respectful bow, smiled but said nothing.
Tong Di returned to the East Palace and waited for about two hours before seeing Zhao Cong.
He had just come out of the Hall of Diligent Governance, and his complexion was not good.
The emperor has always favored Prince Jing. This matter has resulted in a death, and the crown prince has cleverly used it to make it known to everyone. However, it is not easy to truly implicate Prince Jing.
Zhao Cong didn't see him when he entered; it was Cang Ying who said, "Guard Tong is back?"
Zhao Cong turned around, "Is your injury healed?"
Tong Di followed in, kneeling on one knee. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am now fine."
Zhao Cong's brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed again. "Your injury is nothing to worry about. I'm asking about Lin Qingwan."
Tong Di explained the situation in detail, including how Ruan Tinghuai made pastries and meals for Lin Qingwan six times a day. Zhao Cong was about to say something, but when he heard that they were all things Lin Qingwan liked, he paused for a moment.
"Miss Qingwan also said that she would move out once she was able to get out of bed."
Zhao Cong's long eyelashes fluttered. "Where to move to?"
Tong Di shook his head. "This subordinate does not know. But Miss Qingwan has lost too much blood, and Physician Zhu said it would take at least six months to a year to recover. Could Your Highness allow her to stay for a few more days?"
He never asked the Crown Prince for anything.
Zhao Cong pursed his lips, his eyes dark and unfathomable, and after a long while he spoke, “Feng’er is still waiting for her to get better, from the New Year all the way to the twenty-seventh.”
"New Year's Eve is just two days away."
Tong Di didn't understand his meaning for a moment, but Cang Ying's eyes lit up. "His Highness says every year that he doesn't get enough to eat at the palace banquets and always asks you to take him to see the lanterns on the street."
"Why don't we hang some lanterns in that courtyard this year and have the cook go there early to prepare? His Highness will surely be happy."
Zhao Cong said expressionlessly, "Go and do it."
Coming out of the house, Tong Di grabbed Cang Ying's arm, "Does the Crown Prince mean for Miss Qingwan to stay?"
Cang Ying nodded, "The one who secretly seized farmland on behalf of Prince Jing was Gao Wei, the eldest son of Minister Gao. Jiang Mingting did his bidding and caused a death. The matter has implicated the Ministry of Works. These past two days, not only the Gao family has been on edge, but the Prime Minister's residence has also been affected. But the interesting thing is that Prince Jing almost killed the Prime Minister's daughter."
"This alone is enough to show that the relationship between Prince Jing and the Prime Minister is no longer what it was three years ago, and because of this, the Prime Minister's residence will not be implicated this time."
"In other words, Miss Qingwan saved dozens of lives in the Jiang family. Even if she doesn't want to have anything to do with the Prime Minister's residence anymore, how long can the Prime Minister let her stay outside?"
"Right now, she's staying at the Crown Prince's residence, so at least she can focus on recovering from her injuries."
Hearing this, Tong Di felt a chill run down her spine.
“The Crown Prince can protect her through the New Year, but she is, after all, a young lady of the Jiang family, and she still has to return to the Prime Minister’s residence.” Cang Ying sighed. “Now that you have saved her, the Prime Minister no longer needs to think about having his cake and eating it too, leaving himself room to maneuver.”
Tong Di realized what was happening, her fists clenching so tightly they cracked. "I don't understand these things, but Miss Qingwan's innocent life was wasted, how could the Prime Minister..."
Cang Ying patted him on the shoulder, "Guard Tong, in all these years we've served the Crown Prince, the word 'innocence' is the least valuable thing."
Tong Di felt a mix of emotions, and she didn't know how to bring it up when she saw Lin Qingwan again.
Cang Ying suddenly turned her head and pondered for a while, "Guard Tong, the day Young Master Jiang stopped you, you said that if there were any gossips, you would marry Miss Qingwan, is that true?"
Tong Di felt a pang of panic, and his eyes flickered. Before he could explain, Cang Ying added, "If you really marry Miss Qingwan, perhaps she can escape this vortex."
Cang Ying was right; the next day was the 28th of the twelfth lunar month.
Gao Peng prepared most of the carriage's worth of tonics and persuaded Jiang Zhenlin to agree to come with him to visit Lin Qingwan.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
