[The Next Day]
Suyin had slept in another tent after Qin Fuhua requested that she stay in the one right next to his. Qin Fuhua couldn't trust anyone else near her; his protective instincts took priority over his desire.
Suyin had just finished tying the last packet of grounded medication for pain relief for the soldiers. She carefully folded it in a large leaf and used the stem to make a knot at the top, sealing it with a deft touch.
She had been up all morning, assisting the medical workers in grinding herbs to properly care for the injured soldiers. Suyin felt compelled to help, despite their protests, because she felt responsible for the soldiers who had been injured under her care before reaching the stronghold.
"Miss Suyin," Jiayi called out her name from outside the tent, her voice carrying a mix of urgency and affection. She held her belongings close to her in a large silk bag.
"Jiayi!" Suyin quickly finished the last small packet of crushed herbs, handing it to the medical worker before rushing to Jiayi's side.
"Where's Junli?" Suyin asked, scanning the area.
Jiayi's gaze followed the dirt pathway where Junli stood, his silken gown flowing around him like a protective shroud. "My Lord and I wish to bid you farewell as we take our leave," Jiayi said, her voice tinged with melancholy and resolve.
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Junli's soldiers stood in orderly lines outside the stronghold, their figures rigid and resolute against the morning light. Despite the grimness of their recent battle, the casualty rate had been mercifully low.
Junli and Jiayi stood by a horse, its breath visible in the cool air, waiting for Suyin to bid her farewell. The smell of blood had faded, replaced by the earthy scent of dirt that covered old stains around the area. The gates, once a formidable barrier, lay open for their departures.
"Where is the Prince of Qin?" Junli questioned, his voice steady but curious.
Junli and Jiayi still believed that Suyin was married to Tienzheng, not knowing that her true connection was with Qin Fuhua. Suyin had told them she was associated with the Prince, working under him to become a "Royal Doctor."
She hadn't shared the full story, a deliberate omission she felt was necessary.
"He's probably busy," Suyin murmured, her eyes scanning the camp in search of Qin Fuhua. Junli smiled softly, his expression hidden under the shadow of his sun-dappled clothes.
"Miss Suyin, I wish you nothing but the best in your journey. Despite the Prince of Qin not being here,
Junli bore an uncanny resemblance to Minsheng, a man Suyin had once had feelings for during her modern days.
Yet, despite the similarity, Junli's kindness and sincerity set him apart. He and Jiayi had been helped by Suyin and Qin Fuhua (under the guise of Tienzheng) in the past, forging a bond that transcended the battlefield.
"Thank you. When I return to Liaoping for the next festival, I will let you know," Suyin said, her smile warm and genuine. Jiayi, holding a bag of belongings, nodded.
"Miss Suyin, I'm glad to see you doing well throughout this whole time," she said, glancing up at Junli. "My Lord, we should get going before the sun rises up high in the sky." Junli nodded.
"It is my regret that I have to leave so soon. Please write to me if you ever come back to Liaoping," he said softly. Suyin nodded, smiling at them both.
"Thank you. Let me know if you need any medical assistance. I'm happy to be there to help," Suyin responded.
Junli bowed his head and climbed into the carriage while Jiayi sat outside on the wooden carriage, ready to depart.
The driver urged the horse to move, and soldiers followed on foot, bowing to Suyin in gratitude for her medical help at the stronghold. Suyin stood there, watching Junli and Jiayi until they disappeared into the distance.
She took a deep breath, relieved that they were well.
"Miss Suyin, we seem to be taking our leave first," Teacher Zhou Lin said, his eyes crinkling with a warm smile. They emerged from inside the gates in a carriage.
Yuan Fu, Shao Feng, and the rest of the medical students waved to Suyin through the small open window from the carriage. Teacher Zhou Lin had his own carriage, while the other scholars traveled in a separate one.
Shao Feng, once a poor child, was now embarking on a journey to learn under Teacher Zhou Lin.
Following the carriage was another group of soldiers, led by a figure on a large horse. "I, too, depart," Zhaohui said, his voice steady but weary.
His soldiers were mostly injured, though their wounds were minor enough to allow for a few days' recovery.
"I cannot thank you enough for your help, everyone. Thank you," Suyin said, bowing deeply and holding the position for several seconds in respect and gratitude.
"Oh, dear. Don't do that!" Teacher Zhou Lin exclaimed. "You have been such a great help to all of us. Without you, we wouldn't even know how things would be going for the Prince of Qin." He laughed heartily.
"Plus, he seems happier with you around. I'm glad to see the Prince of Qin's softer side."
As Suyin heard Teacher Zhou Lin's words, her ears turned pink with embarrassment. Teacher Zhou Lin laughed again, and the rest of the medical team bid her farewell as they headed off.
Zhaohui's horse trotted slowly next to Suyin as he dismounted gracefully.
"Miss Suyin, I apologize for what happened the other day," he said earnestly. His eyes reflected regret and sincerity.
Was it when Qin Fuhua grew upset with her during their argument? Suyin had been wondering where Zhaohui had gone since then, but it seemed like he was avoiding her.
"I didn't mean for you and the Prince of Qin to fight. But I'm... glad you two made up," Zhaohui said, his voice tinged with both relief and uncertainty.
It was obvious that Suyin and Qin Fuhua had feelings for each other. It had been clear when she sought help from Zhaohui.
Zhaohui knew that she was never desperate for help, except when it came to Qin Fuhua.
Suyin could only smile as Zhaohui stood before her, staring at her for a while before taking a deep breath and casually placing his hands on his hips.
"Oohh kay! I should be leaving too. I need to take care of my father and finish up some things back at home."
He avoided eye contact with Suyin, struggling to contain his deep feelings for her.
"I'm thankful that you came. Even back then, I didn't know who you were, but you still came to help me. Even now," Suyin said, feeling a pang of guilt for feeling like a burden to him.
"The first time I met and saw you, I knew you were capable of doing something like this," Zhaohui replied. "You're probably the first woman ever to lead a large army here to help the Prince." He laughed, scratching the back of his head.
"You have a good heart and soul, and that's why so many people are on your side."
Zhaohui hesitated to get back on his horse, wanting to tell Suyin something more. "I... was hesitant to tell you this but..."
He paused, and Suyin looked up at him with confusion.
"I wished you had tended to my wounds the last time I saw you. The cloth that you ripped for me to cover my wound when we got here, I'll keep it as my good luck charm, Miss Suyin."
As he spoke those words, Suyin's heart fluttered for a moment. Did Zhaohui's words reveal something more than just a simple farewell?
The sun cast a golden glow on Zhaohui's face, highlighting the sincerity in his eyes. Suyin felt a mix of emotions—gratitude and a tinge of sadness.
"Zhaohui," she began, her voice soft and tender. "Thank you for everything. Your presence and support have meant more to me than words can express."
"If the Prince of Qin ever mistreats you or if you are not happy where you are, you can come to the village of Jiaoshu. We will happily welcome you, where there's plenty of herbs, peace, and happiness," Zhaohui said earnestly.
Suyin lit up with a big grin, nodding her head.
"Thank you, Zhaohui—er, our Shi Zhang. But I am happy where I am now with the Prince of Qin." She placed her hands behind her back, bowing her head slightly.
"No matter how long it takes, in this lifetime, the offer still stands, okay?"
Zhaohui leaned down, placing his hands gently on her head as he looked into her eyes sincerely. His genuine, soft-spoken words filled Suyin with gratitude.
Zhaohui was a handsome, kind man, and any woman would be lucky to have him. He was skillful and humorous, always knowing how to crack a joke or two to lighten the mood.
"Thank you, Zhaohui. I hope you get home safely. If you ever need help with anything, please feel free to write to me," Suyin said.
Zhaohui sighed, nodding his head.
"I will be heading out now. Good luck, Miss Suyin. And please send my regards to the Prince of Qin. If he ever makes you cry and I see it, there's no chance I won't stop myself from taking you away." He paused, seeing Suyin's sullen expression at the thought of being taken away from Qin Fuhua, then laughed.
"I'm just kidding. I'll take my leave now before my feet get planted here on the ground."
Zhaohui mounted his horse again. As he urged his horse to move forward, his army followed behind on foot.
Suyin watched as everyone left, one by one disappearing in their directions until they were out of sight.
She sighed with a mix of sadness and relief. Although she had met them all at different times, they had come to help her without hesitation. She could never have imagined herself leading an "army" like Zhaohui had mentioned.
Was it so obvious that she really loved Qin Fuhua? Her hands flew to her face, feeling the heat of her blush as she struggled to comprehend the whirlwind of emotions within her.
Since everyone was leaving, it meant the only person Suyin would often interact with was Qin Fuhua himself. Weizhe wouldn't interact with Suyin much, always giving excuses that he was busy with chores or missions ordered by Qin Fuhua.
In reality, Weizhe did this on purpose to allow Qin Fuhua more time with her.
"So... you were offered to go somewhere and you declined... because of me?"
A sudden chill ran down Suyin's back as she realized Qin Fuhua had been behind her the whole time.
He had been watching her from the watchtower, ensuring the stronghold's defense was in order before approaching her.
She was curious why Qin Fuhua had appeared so mysteriously instead of approaching her casually.
"Why did you appear out of nowhere like a ghost?!" she scolded, scowling at him as she patted her chest and closed her eyes to calm herself.
Qin Fuhua reached out and slowly pulled her hand down next to his, interlocking his fingers with hers. "I had to make sure the stronghold was in good shape before we leave."
Suyin tilted her head in confusion. She had thought they would stay at the stronghold for a while longer, but was he planning to leave so soon?
Qin Fuhua guided her back to the stronghold campground, still holding her hand as they walked down the dirt pathway.
Suyin noticed there weren't any soldiers around and giggled.
"You sure are brave today, holding my hand like this in public," Suyin remarked.
Qin Fuhua smiled softly, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "There are no prying eyes here. The soldiers are all in a meeting. They're getting instructions on who will be promoted to the next general and determining who will be leading around here," Qin Fuhua explained, his voice calm as he turned to look at her.
Suyin continued to look around the campsite, surprised at how quiet the area had become without the soldiers. She paused, glancing around as they walked, and then turned to him.
"So, if I were to ever make you cry, would you run away from me?" Qin Fuhua asked, his words filled with concern and seriousness.
"If you were to hurt me to the point where I felt betrayed... maybe," Suyin responded.
There had never been a time when Qin Fuhua had hurt her to the point that she wouldn't trust him anymore. He was always there for her when she needed him the most.
"If there comes a day that you cry because of my actions, I would never forgive myself," Qin Fuhua said with complete sincerity.
They continued walking until they reached Qin Fuhua's dome tent. Suyin stopped, letting go of his hand as she looked at him with admiration in her eyes. "I'll go back to my own tent, okay?" Suyin said.
Although she said that, her feet betrayed her, unable to move. Qin Fuhua gazed down at her with a calm look, his once sharp eyes now soft and gentle, like a river slowly streaming in her heart. Suyin hoped Qin Fuhua would bid her farewell or give her some kind of gesture, but she probably asked too much. She slowly turned around, preparing to leave.
Just as she was about to walk away, Qin Fuhua gently pulled her back, drawing her into a warm embrace. They held each other for what felt like forever.
As Qin Fuhua let go, he leaned down and softly kissed her forehead. "My woman. We will be leaving tomorrow back to the palace, so I can report my work to the King. And I hope to find the answer to when we can proceed with our wedding," Qin Fuhua whispered softly in Suyin's ear.
Suyin felt her heart swell with joy, nodding in acknowledgment. "I will wait for you until then," she replied softly, looking up at him with an endearing expression before hurrying off back to her own tent.
As Suyin walked away, her heart was a fluttering bird, filled with anticipation and hope.
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Not far from the stronghold, hidden among the dense foliage, stood a man and a woman, their figures cloaked in the shadows of the morning. ZhengAn and Zhelan had been watching Suyin from afar, their eyes keenly observing every movement when she bid farewell to those leaving the stronghold.
"It's time,"
ZhengAn said, her voice a low whisper as she watched the stronghold gates close up.
Zhelan nodded, his gaze still fixed on the distant figure of Suyin. "She seems unaware of what's to come," he murmured, a mix of concern and determination in his tone. ZhengAn's eyes narrowed.
"We've waited long enough. Everything is falling into place." Zhelan turned to her, his expression resolute.
"What about the Prince of Qin? He's not someone to be taken lightly."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of ZhengAn's lips. "We have our ways. Besides, our target is not the Prince but Suyin. She's the key to everything."
As the two figures moved silently through the underbrush, the stronghold behind them remained oblivious to the impending storm. The crisp cold morning air grew colder, carrying a sense of foreboding.
Inside her tent, Suyin remained blissfully unaware of the eyes that had been watching her, the whispers that carried her name, and the plans that had been set in motion. In the distance, the stronghold stood like a sentinel against the morning, unaware of the silent threat that crept closer.