Chapter 18: Fang Buyu walked to Tang Suzi's bedside and pulled over a bed...
Fang Buyu walked to Tang Suzi's bed, pulled over a stool and sat down. The two were speechless for a while.
Tang Suzi noticed the worry between his brows and forced a smile to break the silence.
"I'm fine, don't worry too much."
Fang Buyu's eyes fell on Tang Suzi's pale face, and he couldn't help but reach out to tuck the corner of the quilt for her.
"You just need to rest and recuperate, and I will take care of the rest. Don't worry, I will definitely seek justice for you. I will never let Wang Gui off easily."
Hearing this, Tang Suzi shook her head slightly. She stretched out a hand from under the quilt and gently placed it on Fang Buyu's arm.
"I want to sit up."
Fang Buyu tried to dissuade him.
"Don't move, or you'll hurt the wound."
But Tang Suzi's insistence was obviously unshakable, so he had to carefully adjust the pillow and cushion and help her sit up slowly.
After sitting firmly, Tang Suzi immediately let go of Fang Buyu's hand, looked at him deeply, and spoke slowly,
"I'm deeply grateful that you're willing to stand up for me today. But I also understand that this help may be due to our acquaintance, or perhaps..."
Tang Suzi paused and continued,
"Or perhaps it's because I bear a resemblance to your old friend, Tiao Tiao. This makes me feel both fortunate and helpless. Because, if I didn't have these conditions, if I were just an ordinary citizen, would I still have the honor of receiving your help? No, in that case, I might not even have the chance to meet you. Then, as an ordinary person like me, and even more ordinary people, how can we save ourselves in this chaotic world?"
At this point, Tang Suzi's eyes gradually dimmed, and she looked at the bedding in disappointment.
"I tried to report it to the police, but what was the result? I was only charged with a false charge and fined. This world is so unfair to ordinary people..."
Tang Suzi's words hit Fang Buyu's heart like a heavy hammer, leaving him speechless.
Because what she said was all true, and perhaps it was also the common voice of millions of innocent people on this land.
"So, my Lord,"
Tang Suzi raised his head again, his eyes gleaming with light.
"Rather than making decisions for me, I hope you can be a strong supporter of the people of Weizhou, dispel the haze and injustice that afflicts this land, and ensure that every suffering citizen has a place to appeal their grievances, the courage to expose those evil deeds, and to resist those oppressors without hesitation."
Fang Buyu stared at the face in front of him that was both familiar and unfamiliar, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart.
She was not Tiao Tiao, but at certain moments, she made him seem to see Tiao Tiao's shadow - that stubbornness, that unyielding spirit, and that fire of justice that always burned in his heart.
"you're right,"
Fang Buyu finally spoke.
He took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"I will seek justice not only for you, but for all the innocent people of Weizhou who have suffered. I promise you, I will do my best to restore peace and order to Weizhou as soon as possible."
*
the next day.
In the kitchen, medicine jars were placed steadily on the stove, bubbling with steam.
Xiaoying stood by the stove with her sleeves casually rolled up, stirring the medicine gently with a long-handled wooden spoon from time to time, fearing that the fire was not high enough or too strong, which would affect the efficacy of the medicine.
The flickering fire illuminated her worried face. Her eyes drifted from time to time to the bowl of cold medicine on the table beside her. That was what Miss Tang had left over from drinking last night, but her condition showed no improvement at all.
Outside the window, snowflakes are falling, and the cold wind occasionally blows through the cracks in the door, bringing bursts of biting chill.
Xiaoying's mood was like the weather, overcast and dark:
Miss Tang hasn't gotten any better after taking the new medicine prescribed by the doctor. What should we do if this continues?
Suddenly, the kitchen door was pushed open.
A cold current mixed with snowflakes and cold air from outside suddenly rushed in, colliding violently with the warm atmosphere in the kitchen, forming visible white mist.
Xiaoying was startled by the sudden movement and the wooden spoon in her hand almost slipped. She turned around quickly, her eyes passing through the hazy mist and falling on the figure who had just stepped over the threshold.
"Pavilion Master?"
Xiaoying said in surprise.
She quickly put down the work in her hands and walked forward quickly.
Fang Buyu was wearing a dark robe, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind. There were still some unmelted snowflakes and a few strands of grass on it. It was obvious that he came in a hurry.
His hair was a little messy and his face showed a hint of fatigue.
He stretched out his hand and handed two grass-like plants to Xiaoying.
The leaves of the two plants were like carefully carved jade fans. Not only were they emerald green, but they also showed a layered luster under the light. The off-white roots were still covered with moist soil, and it was obvious that they had just been picked from the wild.
"This is?"
Xiaoying took the plants and looked at the two unfamiliar plants carefully with a puzzled look on her face.
However, at this moment, her attention was suddenly attracted by another scene——
Fang Buyu's hands, which were once clean and nimble, were now covered with tiny and dense scratches and abrasions, and in some places one could even see tiny traces of blood oozing out.
Xiaoying couldn't help but exclaimed,
"Master, your hand!"
Fang Buyu shook his head slightly, as if those scars were insignificant to him.
"No problem."
He answered briefly,
"Take these two plants to the doctor to identify whether they are fresh orchids. I borrowed a medical book yesterday, and it should be correct."
Hearing the words "Xian Zhilan", Xiaoying's eyes suddenly flashed with surprise. She nodded quickly and held the two plants carefully.
"That's great. With Xian Zhilan, Miss Tang will definitely get better soon."
*
After the doctor confirmed that it was Xian Zhilan, Xiaoying followed the prescription and doctor's instructions, brought the carefully boiled medicine soup to the small courtyard where Tang Suzi was recuperating, and gently woke up the sleeping Tang Suzi.
"Miss Tang, it's time to wake up and take your medicine."
Tang Suzi slowly opened his eyes, still dreaming.
She tried to focus and see the person in front of her clearly.
"Xiaoying..."
Seeing this, Xiaoying felt even more pity in her heart. She carefully helped Tang Suzi up and patiently put the warm medicine into her mouth spoon by spoon.
During this process, Xiaoying wanted to mention several times that the Pavilion Master took the risk to pick fresh orchids for her, but every time her eyes met Tang Suzi's haggard face, she couldn't bear to add to her psychological burden, so she swallowed the words back.
It’s better to wait until Miss Tang recovers physically and is in a better mental state before telling her.
*
As the sun sets, its afterglow fills the courtyard.
When Xiaoying walked into Tang Suzi's room carrying the freshly boiled medicine, she saw Tang Suzi sitting beside the bed, looking at her gently.
"Miss Tang, you finally woke up!"
Xiaoying's joy was beyond words.
Tang Suzi smiled slightly,
"Well, yes."
Xiaoying hurried forward and gently placed the medicine bowl on the table beside her.
"Girl, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling better?"
Tang Suzi nodded gently, the weakness in his voice gone.
"It's definitely getting better. The discomfort in my chest has eased a lot, and my body doesn't feel so heavy anymore."
Hearing this, Xiaoying's face bloomed with a bright smile.
"That's great! Xian Zhilan is indeed as good as its reputation, and its medicinal effects are so remarkable."
"Xian Zhilan?"
Tang Suzi frowned and asked in confusion.
Xiaoying quickly explained,
"Yes, the Pavilion Master personally went to Yunluan Holy Mountain this morning and picked two precious fresh orchids for you. You have been unconscious since yesterday, and everyone is worried."
As soon as the chatterbox opened, Xiaoying continued to sigh,
"That fresh orchid grows in a dangerous place. It seems that picking it is extremely difficult. Even a master like the Pavilion Master can't avoid getting hurt. There are several scratches on the palm..."
Having said that, Xiaoying finally noticed that Tang Suzi's expression became a little dazed, as if he was lost in thought.
She called softly,
"girl?"
Tang Suzi came back to his senses, looking worried.
"How is his wound now?"
Xiaoying quickly comforted her,
"Don't worry, although it looks a little scary, it should be just some superficial injuries, nothing serious."
After saying that, Xiaoying picked up the medicine bowl again and handed it to Tang Suzi.
"Girl, drink the medicine while it's still hot. I believe that with the help of this fresh orchid, you will be able to fully recover soon."
Tang Suzi took the medicine bowl and drank the medicine soup mouthful by mouthful, but his eyes were empty and wandering, and his thoughts had already drifted away.
When she learned that Fang Buyu had risked his life to pick fresh orchids for her, an indescribable emotion surged in her heart, complex and subtle.
The image of the snow-capped and dangerous Yunluan Holy Mountain emerged in her mind.
The shadow of the avalanche had not yet dissipated, but he resolutely stepped into that dangerous place, just to pick the fresh orchids on the cliff.
She and he were just casual acquaintances, why would he risk this for her?
Is it just because her face is somewhat similar to Zhou Tiao's?
This thought lingered in her mind, and with it came an indescribable bitterness, which also made her curious about the relationship between Fang Buyu and Zhou Tiao.
"What level of affection has he developed for Zhou Tiao?"
Tang Suzi whispered repeatedly in her heart, and when the outline of the answer gradually became clear, her heart was instantly surrounded by a faint sense of loss.
She began to realize that Fang Buyu's feelings for Zhou Tiao might be far beyond her imagination.
As for herself, she seemed to have gradually transformed from a bystander into a participant in the situation without knowing when it started, sinking deeper and deeper into this emotional vortex...
*
"Miss, Madam Chen from Ningxiangju is waiting outside. She said she came to visit you specially."
"Wei Yu?"
Hearing the maid's report, Tang Suzi's eyes lit up.
"Please ask her to come in."
Following a response, the door was gently pushed open. The moment Chen Weiyu and Tang Suzi's eyes met, they called out each other's names almost at the same time -
"Miss Tang!"
"Wei Yu!"
Chen Weiyu walked quickly to Tang Suzi's bedside.
"Are you feeling better?"
Tang Suzi smiled and nodded in response, while carefully examining Chen Weiyu's face. Seeing that the slap marks on her face were almost invisible, he felt a little relieved.
"Much better, how about you?"
"I'm fine. That minor injury has healed long ago."
Chen Weiyu responded softly, with a look of guilt on his face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were so badly injured... I wanted to come see you yesterday, but the guards at the door said you were still unconscious, so I couldn't bear to disturb you."
Tang Suzi gently held Chen Weiyu's hand,
"Don't blame yourself. This has nothing to do with you. Look, I'm much better now, aren't I?"
The two smiled at each other.
At this time, Chen Weiyu seemed to have remembered something important. He took out an exquisite wooden box from his sleeve and opened it gently.
On the golden silk cloth lay a brown-purple Ganoderma lucidum.
"This is the wild purple Ganoderma lucidum I got last year. You can stew it and drink it. It will be very beneficial to your recovery."
Chen Weiyu explained.
Tang Suzi took the wooden box, his gratitude overflowing with words: "Thank you, Wei Yu."
Chen Weiyu shook his head slightly.
"Miss Tang, I should be the one thanking you. For so long, I've been trapped in a self-made misfortune, constantly complaining about the injustice of heaven and why fate has been so harsh on me. I feel like I'm trapped in a thick cocoon, wandering and crying in endless darkness, but never truly trying to break free. Perhaps, I once mustered the courage to struggle, but after failing once, I gave up, plunging myself into the abyss of despair..."
Her words revealed deep self-reflection.
"However, I gradually realized that blindly tolerating it would only make the bullying more rampant and would continue to hurt those around me. Furthermore, that abyss was so terrifying, it swallowed up all light and hope, almost suffocating me. I couldn't let the rest of my life be shrouded in this endless darkness. I had to make a change."
At this point, Chen Weiyu's eyes became unusually firm. She slowly raised her head and looked straight into Tang Suzi's eyes.
"Therefore, Miss Tang, as you said that night, I have decided to save myself. I can no longer rely on the help of others to pull me out of this abyss. From now on, I will face all of this bravely. I will be my own savior and save myself from the dire straits."
Tang Suzi looked at Chen Weiyu at this moment, and felt infinite relief in his heart.
"Wei Yu, I'm really happy that you have such thoughts. Seeing you regain your life, I am happier than anyone else."
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