That was the only time.
In the next few days, He Lian Feiyu avoided seeing people whenever he could.
His beard grew extremely fast, so after just a few days it had grown quite thick. Only then did he show his face to others again.
Ye Suijin waved her hand to make the guards disperse the crowd. She returned the sword to He Lian Feiyu and said to him and the shopkeeper, "Both of you, come with me."
He Lian Feiyu sheathed his sword and followed along, exchanging glances with the others before catching up.
The pharmacy shopkeeper also scurried after them.
Ye Suijin borrowed the teahouse they had just been in and asked, "What happened?"
He Lian Feiyu said, "My uncle and I were passing through on our way south from Tang Prefecture. Unexpectedly, my uncle fell ill, and now he's unconscious. The prescription the doctor wrote called for five-hundred-year-old ginseng. My lord, I had prepared the silver, I wasn't forcing them to sell it to me. But when we went looking all over town, these pharmacies took advantage of us being outsiders and deliberately refused to sell it to us. Not only that, they tried to deceive us."
The pharmacy shopkeeper immediately cried injustice.
"It wasn't that we refused to sell it to the young master, much less dared to deceive him."
"It's just that now, only the Prefect's residence has five-hundred-year-old ginseng."
"We didn't have a choice!"
Ye Suijin blinked.
She looked at Qiu Sheng.
Qiu Sheng scratched his head and held out his hands, indicating he didn't understand either.
Ye Suijin asked the shopkeeper, "What do you mean? Why do you say that? How do you know?"
The shopkeeper bowed and said, "Ginseng over five hundred years old is too precious. Ordinary pharmacies don't have any. Only the Lin and Xie families have it. Because it's so valuable, they don't normally keep it in their shops. Each family guards it in their own storehouses."
"After the eleven great households of Biyang were executed and their assets confiscated, these most valuable things, ahem, I imagine..."
"I had good intentions in telling the young master, seeing how anxious he was for his elder. I didn't expect him to misunderstand and think I was deceiving him."
Ye Suijin suddenly understood.
When she killed off Biyang's powerful households, all of their assets were confiscated.
These were the spoils of war, and the best and most valuable things were naturally sent to her first.
Although the shopkeeper was only guessing, Ye Suijin felt that he was probably eighty to ninety percent right. The best ginseng was likely lying in the storehouse of her prefect's residence right now.
She turned and ordered, "Go back and ask at home. If we have it, bring it here quickly."
She also asked He Lian Feiyu, "Which inn is your uncle staying at?"
He Lian Feiyu told her, and Ye Suijin's guards hurried off on their orders.
He Lian Feiyu looked at her strangely.
Ye Suijin asked, "What's wrong?"
He Lian Feiyu said, "Didn't you say it was at the Prefect's residence?"
But you're the Military Governor!
Everyone laughed.
The shopkeeper quickly explained to He Lian Feiyu, "Young Master, you don't know this, but this lady here is both our Prefect and Military Governor of Deng and Tang Prefectures."
He Lian Feiyu was shocked.
He was already surprised that a woman was the Military Governor, and didn't expect that she was also the Prefect. Earlier he had been preoccupied with worry for his uncle, but now all those emotions came out.
Ye Suijin smiled and asked, "You've come all the way to Biyang, but didn't know anything about this?"
He Lian Feiyu said, "We only just arrived in Tang Prefecture when my uncle suddenly fell ill. It was very serious, the village's barefoot doctor couldn't do anything, so he told us to find a big city. We hurried here to find a doctor and medicine, and had no time for anything else."
"I see," said Ye Suijin with a nod. She stood up, "Let's go see how your uncle is doing."
Although surprised, given the situation, He Lian Feiyu hoped Ye Suijin would care more about his uncle.
The others were puzzled, but didn't dare ask why the Military Governor would want to go see this boy's uncle.
On the way there, Ye Suijin asked for details. He Lian Feiyu said this uncle was his paternal uncle. His uncle had raised him since he was little.
This was why Ye Suijin found it even more strange.
Because in her previous life, she had never heard of or seen this man called He Lian Xiang Yun.
Never.
Yet He Lian Feiyu said this was his uncle on his father's side, who had raised him since childhood.
It wasn't hard to infer that He Lian Feiyu's martial arts and military knowledge were taught by this man.
Although He Lian Feiyu was reckless in the Great Mu Dynasty, he was still a fierce and heroic young general in Chu State.
Ye Suijin had always liked him very much.
Therefore, a man who could teach an outstanding general like He Lian Feiyu must have gone somewhere in their past life.
They arrived at the guest room. Another servant was there caring for the patient. Though surprised, he moved aside as instructed.
Ye Suijin went to the bedside and clearly saw the unconscious man lying there.
This man had deeply chiseled brows and looked quite young.
There was a scar on his face which many would consider disfiguring. But Ye Suijin had seen all kinds of scars on military men. She felt this one's position, size and angle were just right, lending a touch of ferocity to his already masculine features.
"How is your uncle addressed?" she asked He Lian Feiyu, scrutinizing the man with his aquiline nose and closed eyes.
"Xiang Yun," He Lian Feiyu replied. "My uncle is called He Lian Xiang Yun."
Ye Suijin nodded.
She confirmed that in her previous life, she had never heard of or seen this man called He Lian Xiang Yun.
Yet He Lian Feiyu said on the road this was his paternal uncle who had raised him since childhood.
It wasn't hard to deduce that He Lian Feiyu's martial arts and military knowledge were taught by this man.
Although reckless in the Great Mu Dynasty, He Lian Feiyu was still a fierce and heroic young general in Chu State.
Ye Suijin had always liked him very much.
Therefore, a man who could teach an outstanding general like He Lian Feiyu must have gone somewhere in their past life.
Maybe this He Lian Xiang Yun had died here in Tang Prefecture in their previous life.
Because precious and rare medicinal ingredients like five-hundred-year ginseng weren't necessarily obtainable for money.
Paying money for it was the least effective method.
Even if He Lian Feiyu had money, the powerful households of Biyang might not sell it to him here.
Then his uncle dies of illness here, and the youth continues south with a few servants, becoming one of Chu State's fierce and heroic generals?
Ye Suijin felt very tempted.
She immediately ordered Qiu Sheng, "Go invite Staff Yang here."
Mr. Yang served as her army's Staff Officer.
She told He Lian Feiyu, "Our Staff Yang is quite skilled in traditional medicine, better than the regular doctors at pharmacies. I'll have him examine your uncle again."
They had just met by chance, yet she, a person of status, was helping him so readily.
Much better than those fools in the capital.
He Lian Feiyu was deeply moved.
He lifted his robe to kneel before Ye Suijin. But Ye Suijin reached out to support him, smiling, "Young Master need not be so ceremonious."
He Lian Feiyu was shocked—Ye Suijin had stopped him with one hand.
The men of the He Lian family all naturally possessed great strength. He didn't expect this woman to be no ordinary person either.
Since they had to wait, they might as well chat.
He Lian Feiyu was younger than Shi Lang, without his sophistication, and his curiosity showed plainly on his face.
Ye Suijin never imagined the bearded He Lian had such an adorable period.
Youth is the best time after all.
They turn out less wonderfully after growing up.
Except for Duan Jin.
She deliberately said, "I saw how fierce Young Master was, drawing his sword against the guards. Why so shy and hesitant now? Young Master, speak your mind directly."
He Lian Feiyu flushed slightly and said, "I'm just curious. My lord is clearly a lady, yet is also the Military Governor and Prefect?"
"It's very simple," Ye Suijin smiled, "because in these two prefectures, I'm the strongest."
He Lian Feiyu froze for a moment, then slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "So simple! How could I not think of that? I'm really stupid!"
Ye Suijin took the chance to ask about their background: "Were you originally from the capital, or just passing through on your way here?"
He Lian Xiang Yun had instructed him not to mention Fang Prefecture again. He Lian Feiyu only said, "My uncle and I traveled around the north for a while, didn't find it interesting, so we wanted to go south to take a look. Who knew my uncle would suddenly fall ill."
Based on the future and current circumstances, it was clear they were looking for someone to follow.
Ye Suijin said, "The capital must have many first-rate characters."
He Lian Feiyu tutted, "It's just so-so."
Ye Suijin asked again, "Did you catch a glimpse of His Majesty?"
"Didn't see him," He Lian Feiyu said. "The emperor is building the Imperial City. Lots of carts carrying bricks and lumber, messing up the stone-paved roads. The streets are covered in dust."
It was only August now. They estimated being in the capital around early August or even late July.
The capital must be scorching hot. Dry and hot, plus all the construction dust, tsk, this trip to the capital really wasn't great.
Ye Suijin chuckled softly, "It's a bit early to build the Imperial City now."
In Ye Suijin's opinion, massive construction like this should wait until the realm was peaceful. There was still a long way to go.
The emperor was a bit impatient.
Or maybe it was because he was old. Old people always feel time is scarce, afraid they can't finish things. It was understandable.
He Lian Feiyu slapped his thigh, "That's what my uncle said too!"
Ye Suijin's brows rose slightly.
She was even more interested in this unconscious uncle.
The imperial guard came back quickly.
Indeed, there was 500-year-old ginseng in the manor. The guard took it out with Ye Suijin's token and brought it to the inn, delivering it into Ye Suijin's hands.
Ye Suijin held the brocade box and caressed it, sighing deeply, "This was meant to save my life."
She solemnly handed the box to He Lian Feiyu, "But I admire the young hero. Your martial arts skill is formidable. Since your uncle needs it, take it quickly!"
She moved He Lian Feiyu again.
Mr. Yang arrived too.
Ye Suijin said, "A patient here. Doctor, please take his pulse first before we talk."
Mr. Yang didn't ask further and went inside.
Shortly after, he came out and took the prescription from He Lian Feiyu to look at, nodding in approval, "No issues, brewing medicine according to this will work. Let me apply acupuncture to see if he'll wake up."
He Lian Feiyu already trusted Ye Suijin, so he naturally trusted the person she specially invited too.
Although this man knew medicine, he was actually an official in the big city. To rush over eagerly to diagnose his uncle's illness moved and convinced him even more.
He lifted his robe about to kneel again, but Ye Suijin stopped him once more.
Mr. Yang then went in to administer acupuncture on the patient. Ye Suijin sat outside while He Lian Feiyu fidgeted anxiously.
Ye Suijin said, "Don't mind me, go in and see."
He Lian Feiyu apologized and hurried in.
After a while, excited voices rang out from inside, "He's awake, he's awake! He opened his eyes!"
Then He Lian Feiyu's urgent voice calling "Uncle" repeatedly, choked with sobs.
The future ferocious general of Chu was still an anxious youth, frightened that he might lose a loved one.
Mr. Yang came out, "He should be out of mortal danger. Let's see how the medicine works."
He smiled, "The young master seems badly frightened and cried."
Ye Suijin stood up, "Alright, let's go back."
Leaving the inn, Ye Suijin ordered Qiu Sheng, "Have people keep watch here, don't let them escape."
Qiu Sheng acknowledged the order.
Mr. Yang raised his brows.
Ye Suijin said, "The boy has exceptional martial arts, going around with his uncle looking for support. Now that he's here with me, how can I let him leave?"
Heaven delivered him right to her doorstep.
To not take what heaven gave, she'd surely be cursed.
With He Lian Feiyu falling into her hands, it'd be a total waste of her rebirth if she didn't intercept him halfway.
