Chapter 486: Extra 4: The Wind Stirs, Scattering Red Silk; Graceful Steps Rise, Crushing Cold Bones

Chapter 486: Chapter 485: Extra 4: The Wind Stirs, Scattering Red Silk; Graceful Steps Rise, Crushing Cold Bones

“I heard Mr. Duan from the Imperial City Department has good news! He’s getting married!”

“Duan Envoy is marrying a girl from which family? How come I haven’t heard anything? Who could stand that stone-cold face of his?”

“Look at you, so out of the loop! Half a year ago, the fourteenth daughter of the Wei Family joined the Imperial City Department as one of the Black-clothed Guards. After spending so much time together, she and Mr. Duan fell for each other. They’ve been seen shopping together a lot these past few days.”

A few people standing on the street corner were chatting animatedly when a woman passing by accidentally dropped the medicinal herbs she was carrying, scattering them all over the ground.

“Isn’t that Miss Mo from the medical hall?” a woman recognized her and stepped forward. “Why are you carrying so much? Let me help you.”

Mo Lingling said with her head lowered, “Mrs. Huang, thank you, but I can manage on my own.”

The woman said, “I’m the one who should be thanking you, Miss Mo. My little Dunzi has grown up so strong and healthy. When I’m pregnant with my second, I’ll come to the medical hall to give birth again.”

Mo Lingling looked up and forced a smile. “Of course. I’ll be waiting for you. I can even give you some small gifts.”

The woman exchanged a few more pleasantries with her before leaving.

Once no one was in front of her, the smile on Mo Lingling’s face vanished. She drifted back to the medical hall like a wandering spirit.

Mi Zhenchuan called out to her a few times from behind, but she didn’t hear him.

“Little Mo!”

Mi Zhenchuan had to hurry a few steps to get in front of her.

Mo Lingling asked, “What is it?”

Mi Zhenchuan took the herbs from her hands, asking quizzically, “Here, let me take those. What are you thinking about? Where are you going with such a big bag of things?”

Mo Lingling replied, “Oh, I was lost in thought. I’m not feeling well, so I’d like to go up and rest for a bit.”

After saying this, she turned to go upstairs, but Mi Zhenchuan called out to her again.

“Little Mo, wait. I have something to tell you.”

Mo Lingling was utterly exhausted. She hesitated for a moment but still followed him to a table by the medical hall’s entrance and sat down.

“Manager Mi, what did you want to talk about?”

Mi Zhenchuan poured her a cup of hot water and said, “Little Mo, your hometown is in Xianyang, right?”

Mo Lingling nodded.

Mi Zhenchuan placed a stack of silver notes and a land deed in front of her.

“The Empress is nearing her due date and doesn’t have time to come to the medical hall. This morning, a senior palace maid brought a message, instructing me to be sure to speak with you properly.”

Mo Lingling stared at him. “What does this mean? What does the Empress want to say?”

Mi Zhenchuan said, “Her Majesty says that if you still want to return to Xianyang, you can leave at any time. She won’t try to persuade you to stay any longer, nor does she want to hold you back. You should have your own life.”

Mo Lingling’s shoulders slumped.

‘The Empress actually said that…’

Previously, she had wanted to return to Xianyang because seeing Duan Mingfeng made her feel completely uncomfortable.

Miss Ji had said a few words to persuade her, and since the medical hall was short-staffed, she had stayed.

After Emperor Wu Su personally led his troops on a campaign, Duan Mingfeng stopped appearing around the medical hall. Mo Lingling felt a sense of relief, but also an encroaching emptiness.

She had been at the medical hall for over a year. Every household considered it an honor to be able to give birth there. The people of Lin’an had gradually changed their opinion of her, and even some noble ladies treated her with great respect.

Mo Lingling hadn’t thought about leaving anymore.

Mi Zhenchuan asked, “Little Mo, what are you thinking?”

Mo Lingling came back to her senses. Since the Empress had given her permission to return to her hometown, it only further confirmed that the rumors about Duan Mingfeng and the Wei Family’s fourteenth daughter were not baseless.

Her hand trembled, spilling the hot tea on the back of her hand.

Mi Zhenchuan frantically grabbed a cloth, saying with concern, “How could you be so careless? This is freshly boiled water. You’ve burned yourself, haven’t you?”

Mo Lingling said, her eyes welling up, “Manager Mi, I’m fine.”

Just then, two people walked in through the entrance.

“Do you have anything to stop bleeding?”

That somber voice… Mo Lingling recognized it instantly this time. She hurriedly lowered her head, looked at the small, red patch on her left hand from the burn, and pulled down her sleeve to cover it.

Mi Zhenchuan stood up in surprise to greet them. “Mr. Duan! Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner. Where are you injured? Shall I have the consulting physician inside take a look?”

Then, a female voice came from behind her.

“It’s not Mr. Duan, it’s me. My arm was cut by a sword. The bleeding won’t stop. What medicine works best to stop it?”

‘So it was the fourteenth daughter of the Wei Family who was injured, and Duan Mingfeng brought her here to buy medicine.’

Mi Zhenchuan said, “For sword wounds, golden sore medicine works best. Please come with me, and I’ll apply it for you.”

Wei Tongyou said nonchalantly, “No need to see a physician. Just bring me the medicine.”

Mi Zhenchuan hurried to fetch the medicinal powder. Wei Tongyou untied her wrist guard, boldly rolled up her sleeve, and poured the powder right onto the wound without a moment’s hesitation.