The little girl stared blankly at the woman in front of her. She had never seen such a beautiful person before. She was not only stunned but also felt as if she were floating on a cloud.
Yingtao had already come over to protect Shi Ning'an and said, "Miss, this little girl came out of nowhere and insisted on seeing you. When we asked her anything, she refused to say a word."
Shi Ning'an smiled and asked softly, "You want to see me? Do you want money?"
The little girl swallowed hard and nodded. "My... mother is sick."
Shi Ning'an pointed in the direction of the free - medical - consultation booth. "You can take your mother over there. There's a doctor offering free consultations today. It's free of charge."
The little girl's eyes were fixed on Shi Ning'an's face and couldn't move away. Only after being gently pushed by Lu'er did she come to her senses. She knelt down and kowtowed. "Thank you, miss."
Yingtao lowered her voice. "I've checked. She doesn't know martial arts and has no hidden weapons on her. But no matter what we asked, she just wouldn't say. She only said it was a whisper and could only be told to you alone."
Shi Ning'an remained calm and asked again, "How much silver do you want?"
The little girl lowered her head. "Ten taels... It was that elder sister who told me, ten taels."
Lu'er wanted to ask which elder sister, but Shi Ning'an waved her hand indifferently. "Give her ten taels."
After saying that, Shi Ning'an went out with Tang Chutong and Zheng Chi.
Zheng Chi asked, "You gave her the money. Why didn't you ask the little girl what the news was?"
Shi Ning'an gave a faint smile. "Someone deliberately used this little girl to lure me, trying to use some news to fluster me. If I'm not calm, I can only do my best to block out those unfavorable news."
Zheng Chi hesitated. "How about sending Yingtao to ask and then tell you the news?"
Shi Ning'an thought of the look in Shi Qingmei's eyes. It was false to say she wasn't curious. But today, in any case, she couldn't fall into the trap.
Rong Heng was injured and couldn't protect her. Although there were other attendants, she couldn't be careless. She couldn't be sure if Wei Hongmiao and Gongzi Yu were really in the palace. Nor could she be sure that apart from them, no one else could get past her attendants and hurt her.
Without her cousin around, she had to be careful about everything.
Tang Chutong could only stay out for a short time. After saying goodbye to Shi Ning'an and Zheng Chi, she had to leave. Zheng Chi also said he would send Tang Chutong back.
The three of them returned to Zeng Ruoyun's free - medical - consultation booth. The attendants distributed bamboo slips to let the common people queue up for numbers. Then they could go aside to rest and only come for consultation when their numbers were called. It was quite convenient.
Tang Chuyao had nothing to do today and was originally accompanying Rong Heng. Now he was helping out on the side. But for some reason, Rong Heng kept circling around Zeng Ruoyun.
Seeing this, Zheng Chi smiled thoughtfully and nudged Shi Ning'an's arm. "Look at your fourth cousin. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Does he have feelings for your cousin?"
Shi Ning'an frowned. "The two of them? No matter how you look at it, it's impossible for them to be together. Alas, it's a doomed relationship."
Zheng Chi sighed. "Your cousin has a very strong personality. But since they've had that kind of thing happen in public, tsk, tsk. Even if she's not willing to marry, your cousin has to marry her."
When the three of them walked over, they saw Zeng Ruoyun slap the table and stand up. "Rong Heng, aren't you annoying? Can you get out of my sight?"
Rong Heng nodded his head like a pecking chicken. "Okay, okay, okay. Don't be angry. I'll stay farther away."
He took a small step back but still circled around Zeng Ruoyun. From time to time, he would mutter to the crowd waiting for consultation, "Such a minor illness. Just drink more water when you get home. You're coming and going like this, not even giving Miss Zeng a chance to rest."
Zeng Ruoyun gritted her teeth so hard that they rattled and roared angrily, "Rong Heng, are you crazy? People come to see a doctor because they're not feeling well. What are you butting in for?"
Rong Heng quickly explained, "No, Ruoyun. When we were in the army, if there was an urgent battle, this kind of illness was nothing at all. Just drink a cup of hot water, lie down for a night and sweat it out, and you'll be fine."
Zeng Ruoyun said, "You're you, and they're them! You're in good health. Can they compare with you? You can get better with a cup of water. Can they?"
Rong Heng was tongue - tied. After being dazed for a long time, he said, "I... sometimes I didn't even have warm water. I just drank cold water. When there was no clean water, I let the sediment sink with stones and then drank it like that..."
Hearing this, most of Zeng Ruoyun's anger dissipated. She had heard her father talk about how difficult it was in the military camp. But she always thought that the world was different now and it shouldn't be that hard.
She gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "You were injured today. Go back first."
Rong Heng shook his head. "It's okay, it's okay. I'll wait for you. I..."
Zeng Ruoyun looked up and was about to say something else. When she saw Shi Ning'an and the others coming, she was like seeing a savior. "Ning'an, you're just in time. Quickly take Rong Heng away. He's really annoying. I still have so many patients to see. He's too noisy here."
Rong Heng quickly waved his hand. "No, no, no. I won't disturb you. I'll just wait here. In case you want to drink water or get hungry, I can help you, right?"
Zeng Ruoyun felt that her patience had reached its limit.
Shi Ning'an smiled and waved to Rong Heng. "Cousin, I have something to tell you."
Rong Heng walked over reluctantly and asked slowly, "What is it? Hurry up and say it."
Shi Ning'an pulled him aside and whispered, "Cousin, if you keep pestering a young girl like this, it will damage her reputation."
Rong Heng gave her a sidelong glance, blushed and stammered, "You saw what happened before. We've... So I should be responsible for her. I can't just abandon her."
Shi Ning'an gave a mysterious smile. "It's really great that you have this awareness, cousin. But you also have to use the right method. Now that her reputation is damaged, if you keep pestering her, won't you just expose her to rumors and gossips?"
Rong Heng asked blankly, "Then what should I do?"
Shi Ning'an continued, "Aren't you stupid? Naturally, you should go back and let the two aunts make the decision for you. You should formally go to Second Uncle's place to propose marriage. That's the right thing to do."
Rong Heng slapped his head, feeling a bit dizzy. After regaining his composure, he nodded. "You're absolutely right. How come I didn't think of that? I'll go right away."
He wanted to leave but then went back to Zeng Ruoyun's side. He said, thinking he was being caring and considerate, "Ruoyun, don't worry. I'll go back right away and will surely give you an explanation."
He ran away very quickly. Tang Chuyao called out to him several times but couldn't call him back. He could only look at Shi Ning'an helplessly. "Just now, he told me that today he was ordered by the elders in the family to protect you well. He also said that his elder brother had specifically told him to never leave your side."
Shi Ning'an walked over helplessly and sat down beside Zeng Ruoyun. She had lived in the Zeng family for fourteen years. Although her medical skills were not as superb as Zeng Ruoyun's, they were still good. Seeing that there were so many people, she rolled up her long sleeves, took out her medical tools, and started the free consultation with Zeng Ruoyun.
When Tang Chutong was leaving, she double - checked with Shi Ning'an if they should take her back first.
Shi Ning'an shook her head. "I'm with my cousin. You don't have to worry."
Zheng Chi was a bit shy. He stepped forward and bowed to Zeng Ruoyun. "Miss Zeng, I really offended you first today. Thank you for not holding it against me and even offering me medicine voluntarily..."
Zeng Ruoyun looked up and said seriously, "If you're really sincere, you don't have to be so earnest with me. Instead, you might as well take some time to go to the outskirts of the capital and experience the hardships of the common people."
Zheng Chi was a bit confused. After saying goodbye to Zeng Ruoyun and Shi Ning'an, he followed the Tang siblings away.
Shi Ning'an whispered to Zeng Ruoyun, "What do you think of my fourth cousin?"
Zeng Ruoyun gave her a sidelong glance. "Stop it. Although I respect him as a real man, you know my ambition. I just want to travel all over the country and be a good doctor who benefits the country and the people."
Shi Ning'an continued to mutter, "I know. But just now, the two of you... Cough, cough. So many common people saw it and know your identities. If this gets out..."
Just then, a new woman sat down in front of Zeng Ruoyun. Hearing this, she laughed heartily. "The girl wasn't here just now, but we heard clearly. A good doctor like Doctor Zeng, how could we spread gossips about her?"
Shi Ning'an quickly asked, "What did you say to my fourth cousin just now?"
Zeng Ruoyun made a gesture to be quiet, concentrated on taking the woman's pulse, and then carefully told the woman some matters to pay attention to. When she had a little free time, she rubbed her temples. "Most of the people who came today are women. There aren't many men..."
Shi Ning'an had something on her mind and kept asking, "What exactly did you say?"
Zeng Ruoyun thought for a while and replied, "I once saved a drowning person by giving them mouth - to - mouth resuscitation. I also once saved an old man with thick phlegm by using a tube to draw out his phlegm. If we were to be so concerned about reputation, wouldn't all these people have to be responsible for me?"
Shi Ning'an was speechless. After a long while, she said, "That was an emergency measure. How can it be compared?"
Zeng Ruoyun shrugged. "What emergency measure? A doctor should have a parental heart. There's no such thing as an emergency measure. In my opinion, everyone is the same, and I should do my best. Rong Heng is a general. He will be stationed in Wuyun in the future and guard the border for the country all his life. It's absolutely impossible for me and him to be together."
Shi Ning'an was a bit disappointed. Looking up, she saw the little girl just now supporting a weak woman walking over. They got a number plate and then sat on a stone bench beside.
There were no empty seats on the stone benches, so the mother and daughter just sat on the ground.
The little girl looked up and just happened to see Shi Ning'an. She quickly helped her mother sit down properly and then ran over quickly with a slightly anxious look on her face. "Miss Shi, you gave me the silver just now, but then you got on the carriage and disappeared. But I really have something important to tell you..."
Shi Ning'an originally ignored her, but seeing the girl so eager, she finally sighed and waved her over. "Alright, tell me what it is."
She had made up her mind that no matter what the news was, she wouldn't be in a hurry at all. She would definitely go back to the mansion first and discuss it with the eldest aunt before making a judgment.
The little girl whispered softly in her ear, "That elder sister said that your fiancé may not be your fiancé tomorrow."