Who can cure the heart disease?
The clinic was so quiet for a moment that the only sound was the occasional crackling of the candlelight.
Qiongying stood with her back to the door, her knuckles turning slightly white as she gripped the medicine scale. Did he recognize her? Or was it just a coincidence? Was the phrase "heart disease" a reference to something, or was it just a commonplace consultation?
In a split second, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. She forced herself to suppress her turbulent emotions and slowly turned around, her face now adorned with the shy and doubtful expression typical of a young doctor.
"Sir," she deliberately lowered her voice, making it sound more neutral and hoarse, "our shop specializes in trauma and general internal medicine. When it comes to 'heart problems', we need to know the root cause before we can prescribe the right medicine. I wonder what is troubling you? Is it excessive worry, anxiety, or...something else?"
As she spoke, she discreetly examined Zhang Qing. He was thinner than the last time they had met in the forest, with a lingering trace of weariness between his brows, but his eyes were still sharp, and he was looking at her quietly, as if examining something interesting.
Zhang Qing did not answer immediately. His eyes swept across the simple but tidy clinic, passing the medicine cabinet in the corner and the herbs hanging out to dry, and finally fell back on Qiongying's face. His eyes seemed to be able to penetrate her rough men's clothes and pretended calmness.
"What's the problem..." He pondered, took a few steps forward, and sat down at the consultation table, tapping his fingers unconsciously. "Perhaps... I lost something extremely important, and I can't find it. I'm feeling depressed and can't get rid of it."
His voice was not loud, but every word was clear and struck Qiongying's heart.
Lost something important? Was he referring to her, the princess who ran away from her marriage?
Qiongying sneered inwardly, but her face displayed just the right amount of embarrassment. "So that's how it is. The symptom of 'depression' is truly not something that can be easily resolved with any remedy. The Inner Canon of Medicine states, 'When one is tranquil and empty, the true qi flows, the spirit is kept within, and illness will never arise.' Sir, you need to reassure yourself. Perhaps... the lost item never belonged to you in the first place. Forcing it is useless and will only add to your troubles."
Her words contained a hint of temptation, a hint of exhortation, and even a subtle hint of sarcasm.
Zhang Qing paused his tapping on the table and looked up at her. A flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, then deepened into a deeper inquiry. "Doctor An is young, but his insights are remarkable. But..." He changed the subject, "What if that opportunity wasn't forced, but rather a result of a series of circumstances, leaving you with regrets?"
"It's just a strange combination of circumstances..." Qiongying lowered her eyelids and adjusted the pulse pillow on the table, concealing the turmoil in her heart. "Nine out of ten things in this world are not as we wish. If we are truly not destined to be together, regrets are futile. Why not look to the future? Perhaps there is another world ahead, a different world."
Her words were both a response to Zhang Qing and a confirmation of her own convictions. She would never go back to being the Princess Qiongying who was manipulated by others.
Zhang Qing fell silent. The candlelight cast a crisscross of light and dark shadows on his face, making it difficult to discern his exact expression. The clinic once again fell into a subtle silence, with only the mingling of their breathing.
After a long while, he finally let out a breath, his tone seeming to soften a little. "What Doctor An said is not without reason." He stood up, took out a small piece of silver from his pocket and placed it on the table. "Sorry to bother you."
He actually planned to leave.
Qiongying was a little surprised. He had taken the trouble to find this place just to say these ambiguous words?
"Sir," she couldn't help but say, "your 'heartache'..."
Zhang Qing walked to the door and paused, but he didn't turn back. His voice blended into the darkening night: "Perhaps... as the doctor said, we need to 'look to the future'."
Before he finished speaking, he had already lifted the curtain and walked out, his figure quickly disappearing at the end of the dim street.
Qiongying stood there, looking at the small ingot of silver on the table, her brow furrowed. Zhang Qing's attitude was too strange. He had obviously recognized her, but he neither pointed it out nor arrested her. Instead, it seemed like... a test? Or perhaps a warning that she hadn't yet understood?
What exactly does he want to do?
That night, Qiongying slept uneasily. Zhang Qing's appearance, like a pebble dropped into calm waters, shattered the brief peace she had so hard to build. She realized that Shijie Town might no longer be safe.
Sure enough, over the next two days, she vaguely sensed a few unfamiliar faces around the clinic. Although they didn't approach to disturb her, the vague sense of being watched made her uneasy. Were they people sent by Zhang Qing to monitor her? Or had Tian Hu's spies finally reached her?
No more passive waiting!
On the third night, under a dark, windy sky, Qiongying donned a dark nightgown, covered her face with a black cloth, and slipped out of the clinic's backyard like a ghost, heading east toward the Shunfeng Warehouse. She wanted to confirm whether the bearded man "Iron Arm" who had visited that day was actually from Liangshan, and whether Zhang Qing had any real connection to the area.
The warehouse was quite large, with high walls and deep courtyards, but the defenses didn't seem very tight. With her agility and keen perception, Qiongying easily avoided a few yawning night watchmen and sneaked into the inner courtyard.
She crouched on the roof of a wing, listening intently. She could faintly hear the sound of conversation below.
"...Brother Zhang Qing has been feeling uneasy these past few days. Is it because of that unfinished marriage?" A rough voice asked. It was the bearded man whom he had met that day.
Qiongying's heart trembled and she held her breath.
After a long moment, a familiar voice rang out, a hint of fatigue and resignation lingering in the background. "Brother Tie Niu, you're worrying too much. The marriage didn't go through because of fate, and it can't be forced. I just... I just feel a little sorry for Brother Song Gongming's arrangement, and for letting down King Tian Hu... for his 'good intentions.'"
It’s Zhang Qing!
The bearded man was indeed Li Kui, the "Black Whirlwind" of Liangshanpo! However, judging by his words, he seemed a little calmer than described in the original novel.
Li Kui snorted, "I don't think Tian Hu is a good guy! It's better if his adopted daughter runs away, so as to avoid trouble in the future! Why should Brother Zhang Qing worry about it? When we defeat Wang Qing and achieve great merit, I will find you a better wife!"
Zhang Qing gave a wry smile and didn't continue the conversation. Instead, he said, "Brother Tie Niu, we can't stay here for long. Brother Song Gongming's army will be leaving soon, and we need to complete our arrangements here as soon as possible. You should take the brothers ahead tomorrow and reunite with Brother Ruan Xiaoer's navy."
"What about you?"
"I..." Zhang Qing paused, "I still have some trivial matters to take care of. I'll be there soon."
"Another trivial matter!" Li Kui muttered, "You've been running out these past few days, acting so mysterious... Never mind, I'll just listen to you!"
Qiongying, perched on the roof, was horrified. Zhang Qing was indeed connected to Liangshan's base here! Could the "trivial matters" he mentioned be referring to her? Was he staying here to monitor her, or... perhaps he had other plans?
She was listening intently when suddenly, Zhang Qing's voice from below suddenly deepened: "Friend on the rooftop, you've been listening for so long, why don't you come down and talk?"
Qiongying's hair stood on end! She'd been discovered!
Before she could think about it, she pointed her toes and quickly flew backwards like a swallow!
Almost at the same moment she set off, the doors and windows of the wing room below opened, and a figure shot out like an arrow from a bow. Who else could it be but Zhang Qing? His eyes were like lightning, instantly locking onto the direction Qiongying was fleeing. With a flick of his wrist, several cold stars pierced the air and attacked!
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The strong wind was so fierce that it went straight to Qiongying's back and demanded her acupoint!
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