Xiangxiang only half-understood Feng Tingyun's words. He let out an "oh" and obediently sat in front of Feng Tingyun to listen to the story. Before long, he slumped into Feng's embrace, lulled to sleep by the familiar scent of medicine on Feng's body.
That night, the small courtyard was peaceful and cozy. Everyone in each room slept soundly, free from all worries.
Qi Lei, fully recovered from his serious illness, had a deep and restful sleep. When he woke up and opened his eyes, he felt as if a thousand - jin burden had been lifted from his body. He was so light that he hardly felt like himself. When he breathed, there was no longer that previous sense of blockage. Every breath of air he inhaled was fresh.
"Father, you're awake! How do you feel now?"
The surprised voice of Song Yixuan rang in his ears. Qi Lei turned his head and saw Song Yixuan looking at him with a delighted expression.
With Song Yixuan's support, Qi Lei sat up and in surprise, he raised his hand and pressed on his chest.
"This is..."
In the past, every morning when he woke up, he would cough violently for a long time, with a dull and painful chest, as if someone was hammering his chest. But now, that suffocating feeling had completely disappeared, and he had no urge to cough at all.
Song Yixuan smiled and said, "Father, yesterday sister, master, and brother - in - law rushed back with the medicine. Master has cured you! You're healthy now, free from any illness!"
Qi Lei was stunned for a moment, his face lighting up with surprise. "Huan'er's back?! She's back from Yanyun?!"
Song Yixuan replied, "Yes, sister is back safe and sound!"
Qi Lei then struggled to get out of bed and walked outside. His illness was cured, and although he still needed some time to recuperate, Song Yixuan didn't stop him but accompanied him out.
Just as Qi Lei stepped out of the door, the door of Song Yihuan's room opened. A graceful figure emerged from inside. It was Song Yihuan, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.
"Huan'er!"
Song Yihuan looked up and saw Qi Lei being supported by Song Yixuan. She smiled and stepped forward. "Father, why did you get up? Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
Father and daughter clasped hands, and Qi Lei shed tears on the spot. "You're back. It's good that you're back. You've had a hard journey."
Song Yihuan's throat tightened, and she said with a sob, "Daughter isn't tired. It's all worth it for Father."
A figure walked up behind Song Yihuan. His tall stature cast a shadow over the father - daughter pair. Qi Lei looked up and saw Ji Lingchuan standing in front of him.
The words Ji Lingchuan had said to him before still echoed in his ears. He knew that Ji must have contributed a great deal to Song Yihuan's safe return from Yanyun with the medicine. He bent his knees and was about to kneel.
"Thank you, Young Master, for protecting Huan'er."
Ji Lingchuan supported his elbows and helped him stand up. "Uncle Qi, please rise quickly. We're all family. There's no need to thank me."
The words "all family" touched Qi Lei's heart. He looked at Song Yihuan and saw no sign of discomfort on her face. Remembering that he had just seen the two come out of the same room, he understood everything.
"By the way, where's Divine Doctor Feng?" Qi Lei said. "I don't see him. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have recovered. I haven't thanked him yet."
Song Yixuan replied, "Master took Xiangxiang out early this morning. He said he missed the meat buns sold in Shanmei Fang."
Everyone paused for a moment and burst into laughter in unison.
As the saying goes, talk of the devil and he appears. The door creaked softly. Feng Tingyun pushed the door open and walked in, leading Xiangxiang. Behind them was Guard Kong, whom Ji Lingchuan had sent to teach Song Yixuan martial arts.
Guard Kong was now holding a lot of things in his hands, including steaming meat buns and freshly baked pancakes.
Xiangxiang was happily munching on a bun, with meat juice dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing that Qi Lei was already up, his eyes lit up. He immediately let go of Feng Tingyun's hand and ran towards Qi Lei. "Grandpa! You're awake!"
Qi Lei bent down and hugged Xiangxiang tightly. Xiangxiang rubbed against him in his arms and held up the half - eaten bun in his hand. "Grandpa coughed up blood yesterday. Master Daddy, no, Jiujiu said that eating the bun would cure the illness. Grandpa, quickly eat this bun. You won't feel bad after eating it!"
This simple act was full of Xiangxiang's affection. Qi Lei's eyes welled up with tears. He took a bite of the bun in Xiangxiang's hand and said, "Xiangxiang's bun is really effective. Grandpa doesn't hurt anymore."
Xiangxiang then laughed happily.
After a simple breakfast, everyone returned to the room and sat around the stove.
"Speaking of which, what kind of medicine is it that could cure me? It's so effective! Huan'er, I wonder if it was difficult for you to get the medicine?"
Qi Lei was very curious about Song Yihuan and Feng Tingyun's one - month trip to Yanyun to get the medicine. He was also very interested in the medicine that had cured him.
Song Yihuan also wanted to tell him about this, as it was related to their future plans. So she told him Feng Tingyun's real identity.
Learning that Feng Tingyun was actually the lord of Yanyun and that the medicine grew in the imperial mausoleum of Yanyun, Qi Lei was extremely shocked. He became more aware of the preciousness of the medicine and immediately got up to kneel, but was stopped by Song Yihuan.
Feng Tingyun said, "The existence of the Fenglin Flower is to cure the sick and save the dying. Instead of letting it rot in the imperial mausoleum, it's better to let it fulfill its due value. Uncle Qi has taken good care of me for the past four years. You didn't mind my mysterious background and my blindness. You treated me like family. This is what you deserve."
"Now that I've regained my identity as the lord of Yanyun, I can't stay in Yu State for long. I'll leave Sucheng in a few days and return to Yanyun. Huan'er is now the 'Princess Changhuan' of Yanyun. Yanyun and Yu State have formed an alliance and signed a friendly treaty. There won't be any more wars between the two countries for a hundred years. To show our sincerity, Yanyun is sending 'Princess Changhuan' to Yu State for a peaceful marriage. She will marry the Young Master of the Prince of Ningqin, the great general who protects the country."
Feng Tingyun said slowly, "This is my reward for Uncle Qi, Huan'er, and Xuan'er for taking care of me for the past four years."
Before Qi Lei could fully digest Feng Tingyun's words, Ji Lingchuan took out a scroll from his body and said to Qi Lei, "Uncle Qi has made great contributions in this battle. If it weren't for you finding people to train the soldiers' swimming skills, we wouldn't have retaken Liaocheng so smoothly. This is an imperial edict from the emperor. Uncle Qi is conferred the title of Lord Yong'an, granted a mansion, a thousand taels of gold, two hundred mu of fertile land, as well as jewels, jade, and horses."
Qi Lei was stunned. He suddenly remembered that when Ji Lingchuan came to him, he had said not to worry about the future and asked him to help find people who were good at swimming. It turned out that all of this was paving the way for him.
Qi Lei knew he didn't fully deserve these rewards, but for Song Yixuan, Song Yihuan, and Xiangxiang, he hesitated for a moment, then knelt down and took the imperial edict from Ji Lingchuan with both hands.
"Your subject, Qi Lei, thanks the emperor for his great kindness."
Seeing him accept the imperial edict, Ji Lingchuan felt relieved. "The war is over. The emperor will lead the army back to the capital in fifteen days. Uncle Qi, Xuan'er, would you like to return to the capital with me and Huan'er?"