A Shocking Dream

Chapter 214

I've heard that Dr. Lin is an excellent doctor, and my mother has been ill lately. I sent someone to keep an eye on her, hoping to find an opportunity to have Dr. Lin visit her. I have no other intentions." His words were so sincere, his eyes so genuine, that anyone who didn't know the truth would believe him.

Xie Yuan snorted coldly, his eyebrows raised in mockery. "Brother Zhou, your excuse is rather far-fetched. Not only do I not believe it, but even if someone else heard it, they would probably have to wonder if it was true or not." He leaned forward, his aura pressing. "We are all in Yingzhou together. We'll see each other every day. There are some things you shouldn't hide. If you really anger me, it will be bad for everyone."

Zhou Junze put down his teacup, his smile fading as his expression grew more serious. "My Lord, I respect you as a distinguished official, but please don't push me too far. If Doctor Lin were truly just an ordinary physician, why would you go to such lengths to punish her? You're pressing her so relentlessly. Could it be that she's hiding something that could be of personal concern to you? If you were honest, I might be able to offer some assistance. Why make such a fuss?"

These words seemed to hit Xie Yuan's sore spot. His expression changed slightly, and then he returned to his sternness: "Zhou Junze, stop trying to guess what I'm thinking here. Lin Wunian is a matter of great importance to me. You just need to keep your distance from her. Don't try to pry into the secrets. That's not something you can get involved in." Xie Yuan straightened his back, his sitting posture full of unquestionable majesty, his eyes like cold stars, piercing Zhou Junze straight.

Zhou Junze, however, did not seem to be intimidated by this aura. He tilted his head slightly with a playful smile on the corner of his mouth: "My Lord, the way you said this makes it seem like I, Zhou, am a troublemaker. But you also know that I can't stand suspense in my life. Miss Lin must be extraordinary for My Lord to value her so much. You said it was a big deal, but how big is this matter? If you don't tell me the truth, I feel like there are kitten claws scratching my heart. I can't guarantee that curiosity will get the better of me one day, and my men may not be careful and get close to Miss Lin again. That is not what I want." As he spoke, he fiddled with the jade pendant on his waist nonchalantly. He seemed to be at ease, but in fact he was pressing forward step by step.

Xie Yuan's brows knitted into a knot, veins bulging across his forehead. It was clear his patience had reached its limit. He abruptly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound. He strode over to Zhou Junze, glaring down at him. "Zhou Junze, don't refuse a toast! I'm trying to persuade you out of friendship, no past or present animosity. If you continue to pester me like this, don't blame me for my ruthless tactics. Lin Wunian's case concerns the lives of millions of civilians and the overall stability of the court. Don't try to use your petty schemes on such a matter, or everyone in your Zhou family will suffer!"

Zhou Junze's face paled slightly, his Adam's apple rolling as he swallowed back the retort that nearly broke out. He knew Xie Yuan was truly furious, and it would be unwise to confront him at this moment. After a moment's silence, he slowly stepped back, bowed, and suppressed his unruly nature. "My Lord, please calm down. It was I who was reckless. Since this concerns the nation, I will obey your orders and will never again provoke Miss Lin without cause. I will also keep my servants under control. I only hope that my Lord will resolve this matter quickly and not put Yingzhou in danger. I will wait for your good news in the mansion."

Xie Yuan snorted coldly, his eyes still blazing with anger. "I hope you'll keep your word." With that, he swept away, his sleeves rustling in the wind, bringing a sense of oppression and gloom to the room. Only after Xie Yuan's figure completely disappeared did Zhou Junze straighten up, his gaze broodingly toward the hallway, muttering to himself, "Lin Wunian, ah, Lin Wunian, what earth-shattering secret are you hiding that could make Xie Yuan feel so formidable... I'm afraid this matter won't end." A faint glint flickered in his eyes, as if a plan was quietly forming.

The backyard of Yuelai Inn was like a paradise in the mortal world, so quiet that only the aroma of medicinal herbs lingered in the afterglow. The waiter quietly picked up the scattered debris and quietly retreated, closing the door that led to the hustle and bustle, leaving this world alone for Qin Rongchen.

The setting sun, like molten gold, poured down warmly, casting a fuzzy golden edge on everything in the courtyard. Qin Rongchen leaned against a pillar, his gaze fixed on Kankan. She wore a coarse linen dress, a few strands of hair dangling, gently swaying in the steam rising from the medicine furnace, busy and busy amidst the fireworks.

In the dark, plague-ridden haze of Linzhou, death loomed like a shadow, and the streets ravaged by the disease resembled a hell. Qin Rongchen noticed a frail yet tenacious figure. Like a ray of light swimming against the current of despair, she closely followed Lin Wunian, bustling through the sickly-filled houses.

Despite her young age, she looked even thinner in her loose coarse cloth clothes, but when she was carrying the medicinal herbs, her perseverance with gritting her teeth and her stubbornness even when she was exhausted shocked Qin Rongchen.

While distributing medicinal soup, she soothed the patients' impatience with gentle words, her eyes filled with a calmness and compassion beyond her years. Qin Rongchen thought to himself that this tough and hard-working girl must be the sister Qianqian that Yuanyuan often mentioned, and the person his nephew Qin Ruoyu cherished so deeply.

Qin Ruoyu had insisted on coming to Yingzhou, using the excuse of a secret investigation as an excuse, but his heart was truly set on this girl. A young man's heart fluttered like a wildfire in the wilderness; once ignited, even a strong wind could hardly extinguish it. It was so intense and pure that he would travel thousands of miles for just one person.

Qin Rongchen looked at Kankan, who was concentrating on brewing the medicine, and his thoughts drifted back to the past. In his memory, he saw the battlefield filled with yellow sand, and he and Lin Bingshuang galloped side by side, their horses' hooves trampling through the billowing dust.

The enemy surrounded the city, raining arrows and rocks. Lin Bingshuang swung her scimitar, deflecting the deadly arrows. She turned and smiled at him, her armor splattered with blood, but her beauty couldn't be concealed. Camping on a cold night, the two men sat around a campfire, sharing their rations. Their fingers accidentally touched, and that instantaneous thrill was like a spark that instantly ignited a prairie fire, warming the long night of the march.

But things are unpredictable, and an accident caused the two to miss each other instead of meeting each other. There was sadness in Qin Rongchen's eyes, and when he looked at Kankan again, he hoped that his nephew could seize the marriage in front of him.

At this moment, the fire in the medicine furnace suddenly became strong, and the medicine soup was about to overflow. Kankan hurriedly leaned over to adjust the fire, and Qin Rongchen also came to his senses to help. For a moment, the regrets of the past and the expectations of the present were intertwined in the steaming medicinal fragrance, as if to weave a perfect love net for the young generation.

Qin Rongchen couldn't hold back any longer and walked towards Qianqian, the bricks beneath his feet making a slight creak. "Do you need my help?" he whispered, his voice trembling slightly in the warm air, afraid to disturb the girl.

Kanan seemed startled by the sudden noise. Turning to see Qin Rongchen, her face trembled with fear, and the wooden spoon she was stirring the medicinal soup with nearly slipped. Instantly, panic flashed across her eyes, and like a frightened deer, she instinctively took a small step back, her skirt swaying slightly.