Getting sick is completely beyond control.
Strong and healthy people may be exempt from minor illnesses, but some diseases will render your strength and health useless.
When He Lian Xiang Yun woke up, he saw his nephew He Lian Feiyu hugging him and crying.
His mind was still groggy, but he understood to some extent that he was very ill.
He was too weak to even speak properly.
Seeing him wake up made He Lian Feiyu cry with tears and snot.
When he was about to kowtow to Ye Suijin again, he realized Ye Suijin and Yang Sima had already left.
So he tidied himself and went away.
What a kind person!
With such precious five hundred year old ginseng, the medicinal soup would surely be effective.
Three days later, He Lian Xiang Yun was already able to sit up and speak clearly.
He called He Lian Feiyu to his bedside and asked what happened while he was unconscious, starting from when he lost consciousness.
This included Ye Suijin and the precious five hundred year old ginseng root she used to save his life.
"This was a life-saving favor," he said. "Even if others have five hundred year old ginseng, they wouldn't take it out."
Because those who could possess such valuable medicine would not lack money.
Money is easy to obtain, but rare medicine is hard to find. Which is lighter, which is heavier, it's obvious at a glance.
He Lian Xiang Yun said, "So why did she do this for us? What makes us deserve this?"
He Lian Feiyu was surprised that after recovering, his uncle would immediately doubt the great kindness of Prefect Ye.
He quickly said, "Prefect Ye kept praising my martial arts skill. She must want to recruit me."
Thinking this way cheered him up tremendously.
Of course He Lian Xiang Yun could not directly crush his nephew's confidence.
That would be too devastating to the boy's growth.
He Lian Xiang Yun could only nod his head, and asked again, "Did we pay any money?"
"No," He Lian Feiyu said. "That day they left silently. Then I thought since you woke up, it'd be best for you to handle this. You're stronger than me. I also don't know how much we should pay. Is paying double the price of three hundred year old ginseng okay?"
He Lian Xiang Yun said, "Bring me the money box."
He Lian Feiyu did as told and carried over the money box.
He Lian Xiang Yun opened it, looked inside, and gathered all the gold pieces together: "Give them everything."
He Lian Feiyu was shocked: "So much?"
He Lian Xiang Yun said, "For things like this, it's not double the years, after a certain age it becomes priceless."
"Since it was something she kept hidden away to save her life, how could this be enough," he said. "But we also can't not give it just because it's not enough. Of course we give as much as we have."
He Lian Feiyu said, "You're right."
His uncle's life was also priceless. They should indeed give back.
He Lian Xiang Yun said, "Tell me more about her, starting from the medicine shop entrance."
He Lian Feiyu's spirit was invigorated. He sat up straight and gave his uncle the details: "So there I was babbling away while those military officials cowered, but I was also anxious. Uncle, you were still at the inn waiting to be saved. How could I let them catch me? What if they imprisoned me, what would we do? Just then, Prefect Ye suddenly shouted 'Stop!'"
He Lian Xiang Yun listened very carefully, asking questions from time to time, probing for details.
Like Prefect Ye's expression, tone, choice of words. He didn't want He Lian Feiyu's embellished version, he just wanted to know Prefect Ye's original words.
When He Lian Feiyu finished, he closed his eyes: "Bring me a razor to trim my face."
Their family had assimilated for generations, mixed Han and Hu bloodlines, even more Han than Hu now. He Lian Feiyu looked no different from a Han person. He Lian Xiang Yun's features were much sharper.
But both their beards grew quickly. He Lian Xiang Yun currently had a scruffy beard.
Using the time the servant shaved his face, He Lian Xiang Yun rested with eyes closed.
His body was still very weak, completely without strength, limbs all soft.
Just moving a little caused him to sweat profusely.
After grooming his face and washing up clean, he looked tidy without betraying his weakness outwardly.
He told He Lian Feiyu, "Come with me to the Prefectural Administration."
He Lian Feiyu was elated to see the great kindness Prefect Ye again and readily agreed, "Yes, we should go thank her in person."
But after going downstairs, He Lian Xiang Yun knew he definitely couldn't ride a horse with his weak legs.
In the end, they hailed a carriage from the street. He Lian Xiang Yun sat in the carriage, He Lian Feiyu and the servant rode horses, and together they headed to the Prefectural Administration.
Duan Jin felt really different after being freed.
Very strange.
Invisible, but he truly felt something restricting him had come undone. Yet previously, he wasn't even aware of its existence.
The Qin Steward accompanied him personally. Although it was just across the street to the Biyang County Administration.
When they went, Yuan Ling was not at the front of the county administration. He said he was packing to go to Deng Prefecture. The final seal was stamped by the county magistrate, who smiled and congratulated him.
The Qin Steward also smiled.
"You're a free citizen now," he said. "Young Sir Duan, nothing is impossible for you now."
Perhaps it was the steward's words that resonated deeply, giving him the feeling of "being different from now on".
When he saw Ye Suijin again, she asked, "How do you feel?"
Duan Jin thought for a moment and said, "Weird."
Ye Suijin smiled.
"From now on, you're my Chief Cavalry General," she said.
Duan Jin also smiled, invigorated as he acknowledged: "If I can't do it, Mistress can beat me."
Ye Suijin said, "Still calling me Mistress?"
Duan Jin took a breath: "My Lord."
Ye Suijin nodded slightly with a smile.
Those melancholy feelings were long gone. This life would be different.
No one could ridicule Duan Jin as an eternal slave anymore.
That day when the servant announced the He uncle and nephew were visiting, he was in the study. He asked, "Who are these people?"
Ye Suijin said, "A good prospect, no less than you."
Duan Jin immediately became very alarmed.
Ye Suijin said, "Have them come to the side hall for tea."
Of course she valued He Lian Feiyu more in her heart. But for now, the He uncle and nephew were just commoners, indeed not qualified for the main hall yet. To recruit them too overtly could raise suspicion.
It was best to do it naturally.
If that didn't work, she could obligate them with kindness. In any case, He Lian Feiyu could not fall into other factions.
When she arrived at the side hall, He Lian Feiyu jumped up from his chair at the sight of her and happily exclaimed, "Prefect Ye! My uncle is so much better now!"
"Feiyu, don't be rude," He Lian Xiang Yun chided.
He Lian Feiyu quickly bowed: "Greetings, my lord. Please pardon this little one's impropriety."
Ye Suijin laughed, "It's understandable to be excited when nearly losing then regaining a loved one. Don't worry about it."
As she spoke, her gaze fell upon the man before her.
Compared to the sickly, unkempt patient with closed eyes that day, this man called He Lian Xiang Yun looked much better now. His clothing was simple yet neat and clean, giving a comfortable impression.
The man also looked back at her. Ye Suijin met a pair of bright eyes, with depth accumulated from age and experience.
He Lian Xiang Yun had heard He Lian Feiyu say "Prefect Ye is so handsome". Yet he hadn't imagined Ye Suijin to be such a dazzling beauty.
But as he met the young woman's gaze, her eyes seemed like a deep pond that left him unable to gauge its depths.
Of course, if just anyone could easily gauge her depths, how could she overcome the great weakness of being "a daughter" to become Prefect and Commissioner of two prefectures, controlling thousands of elite troops?
People who reached this position definitely didn't have simple minds.
Only a child like He Lian Feiyu would naively believe "Prefect Ye thought I was worth that five hundred year old ginseng".
There was definitely something off about this matter. He could sense some kind of discordance, though He Lian Xiang Yun couldn't pinpoint the reason.
Because Ye Suijin was in high position while they just met by chance, what could she want from two commoners like them?
Moreover, putting aside these suspicions, her life-saving grace was undoubtedly genuine.
"This He Lian Xiang Yun humbly comes to thank Prefect Ye's life-saving kindness," he bowed deeply.
He Lian Feiyu quickly followed with a deep bow.
If not for Ye Suijin, he would've become an orphan. This gratitude truly came from his heart.
He almost cried.
Hearing He Lian Xiang Yun call his name, he stepped forward and presented the box in his hands to Ye Suijin.
Duan Jin accepted it and opened the lid. Golden light flashed.
Ye Suijin raised her brows and looked to He Lian Xiang Yun.
He Lian Xiang Yun said, "Sir, your gift to me is priceless. Your great kindness is beyond words. I can only keep it engraved in my heart. This is all my nephew and I have. It's far from enough, but just a little something to show our sincerity. I hope you won't look down on it."
Ye Suijin closed the box and pushed it back. "No matter how valuable, it's not as precious as the lives of your loved ones."
He Lian Feiyu puffed out his chest.
Ye Suijin smiled at him. He really likes to show off. How come he was like a dead fish around Zhao Jingwen, not striving for advancement at all, just waiting around to die?
Could he really be so loyal to his former master? But he didn't seem that way back then.
She praised He Lian Feiyu's performance at the time, saying, "You have both skill and filial piety, even at such a young age. You will surely become a talented person in the future."
"I cherish young master He Lian. That's why I want to give you this treasure ginseng I had tucked away. Take back the vulgar gold and silver. Let's not speak of it anymore."
He Lian Feiyu's chest puffed out even more.
Duan Jin glanced at him.
He's just a child after all. Younger than Shi Lang, older than Ming Jie.
But still a child.
It's over, He Lian Xiang Yun thought.
No one knows his own child's level better than He Lian Xiang Yun. It's true, he's very good, much better than other people's children.
But really, he can't be compared to the five hundred year old life-saving ginseng tucked away in storage.
Because for everyone, their own life is more precious than others' lives.
He looked up at Ye Suijin again.
There was a familiar aura about this woman. Sharp, steady, crafty.
The last point was a bit surprising to see in such a young woman.
He could actually feel that something was off about the whole thing, but he couldn't find a motive for Ye Suijin to plot against them.
Ye Suijin had no motive.
If there was no motive, then looking just at her actions, it really was as He Lian Feiyu praised - generous, a good judge of character, courteous to worthy people.
He Lian Xiang Yun was confused.
Could it really be so simple?
But He Lian Xiang Yun was never a sentimental or pretentious person.
If Ye Suijin didn't want to take gold and silver then she wouldn't take it.
He said, "Madam is exceptionally magnanimous, beyond most people. For this great kindness, we must repay it. My nephew and I have no treasures, just a bit of humble ability. In the future if madam has any orders, my nephew and I will serve unto death without hesitation."
Ye Suijin raised her eyelids.
This uncle is not as easy to satisfy as little He Lian Feiyu.
She had already demonstrated such generosity, it could be considered exchanging thousands in gold to buy their lives. Yet he didn't even shed a tear of gratitude, vowing uncle and nephew would serve her for generations to repay the life-saving grace!
