片库网 免费

Considering the three children had already exceeded her expectations and were also startled, Ge Lihua told them to rest and continue training the next day.

After the training session, the village children gradually returned home.

The Chu household gradually quieted down.

Ge Lihua went upstairs, glanced at Chu Xujin’s room door, and noticed that it was dark inside, indicating Chu Xujin, who was handling a case in the county city, had not yet returned.

After a moment of thought, she decided to go to the county city to check on him.

Just then, Chu Qingzhi came out from Chu Qingning’s room to call Chu Qingyan to observe the preparation of the medicinal cream. Seeing Ge Lihua descending the stairs, she asked, “Lihua, where are you going?”

Ge Lihua didn’t hide her intention. “I’m going to the county city to fetch Xujin.”

Chu Qingzhi frowned slightly. “Has third brother not returned yet?”

“Not yet.” Ge Lihua, a bit anxious about Chu Xujin’s safety, said, “Qingzhi, I’ll go have a look.”

Se??ch ?ew?o?e? /o?g o? ?oo?l?

Chu Qingzhi responded, “Then be careful.”

“Okay.” Ge Lihua swiftly used her lightness skill to fly towards the county.

In Chu Qingning’s room.

Chu Qingyan held the medicinal cream formula and the paper explaining its preparation method. After looking it over, she said, “Fifth sister, the process of making this cream seems very complicated.”

Chu Qingning replied, “With twenty herbs involved, it couldn’t be simple. Generally, any process with more than ten herbs is complex.”

Chu Qingyan looked like she had learned something. She thought to herself, ‘It’s said that people who study medicine are smart. Otherwise, they wouldn’t understand the complicated formulas at all.’

Chu Qingzhi brought over a small scale, a mortar, and some jars. “Qingyan, you grind those dry herbs into powder with the mortar, and I will handle the fresh herbs.”

“Okay.” Chu Qingyan obediently got to work.

Chu Qingning assisted Chu Qingzhi, curious about the medicinal cream. “Fifth sister, how long will it take to make the cream?”

“About an hour.”

“That quickly?”

“Yeah.”

In the partitioned area, the fragrance of fresh herbs began to spread, invigorating the three as they worked.

Meanwhile, Chu Qingyue had finished making a blanket for Da Bai. “Fifth sister, the blanket for Da Bai is ready.”

Chu Qingzhi’s voice came from the partition. “Second sister, just leave the blanket on the chair. I will take it to Da Bai later.”

“Okay.”

An hour later, the medicinal cream, a light greenish-white mixture with a refreshing scent, was ready. “Qingyan, please put the cream into jars. I will go deliver the blanket to Da Bai.”

“Okay.”

Chu Qingzhi, carrying the blanket, headed to Tang Jinghong’s house.

Tang Jinghong was still in his study handling official matters. The warm orange light cast half his face in brightness and the other in shadow.

Hearing a noise, he immediately looked up. His sharp eyes softened upon seeing Chu Qingzhi. “Qingzhi.”

Chu Qingzhi’s pleasant voice reached him. “I’ve come to deliver a blanket for Da Bai.”

Tang Jinghong stepped out of the room. “Qingyue finished the blanket so quickly?”

“My second sister is very skilled.”

“Indeed.”

When Da Bai saw Chu Qingzhi, it woke up in a second and rubbed against Chu Qingzhi intimately. Seeing Chu Qingzhi hugging the blanket, it hurriedly retreated to the side and did not cause trouble.

Chu Qingzhi spread the blanket in Da Bai’s nest. Made of durable, dirt-resistant fabric in a shade of grey, it would last a long time for Da Bai.

After smoothing out the blanket, Chu Qingzhi stood up, “There you go, Da Bai. Sleep well.”

Da Bai ambled over, sniffed the blanket, seemingly satisfied, and lay down. Yawning, it quickly fell asleep again.

Chu Qingzhi stroked Da Bai’s head, “Sleep well, see you tomorrow.”

Standing up, she hugged Tang Jinghong, “Goodnight, get some rest early.” She then began to step back, ready to head home.

Tang Jinghong’s arm moved, pulling Chu Qingzhi back into his embrace. His voice was deep and slightly husky, “Goodnight.”

“See you tomorrow,” Chu Qingzhi kissed Tang Jinghong’s cheek.

“See you tomorrow.” Satisfied, Tang Jinghong released her, escorting her to the yard’s gate. He watched her enter her house before returning to his own.

In their room, Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao lay on their beds, unable to sleep.

Chu Xuyao turned his head towards Chu Xuyuan, his fox-like eyes gleaming in the dark. “Seventh brother, who do you think is scheming behind our backs?”

After a while, Chu Xuyuan slowly shook his head. “Excluding He Shaozhi and

Su Wenji, I really can’t think of anyone else.”

“Could it be them?” Chu Xuyao turned back, staring at the ceiling. “After all, sometimes the least likely person ends up being the culprit.”

Chu Xuyuan hesitated, “Should we try to test them somehow?”

Chu Xuyao pondered. Currently, their enemies were hidden, and they were exposed, which was a disadvantageous situation. “Tomorrow, let’s go to their homes and confront them.”

“Why go to their homes?” asked Chu Xuyuan.

Chu Xuyao replied, “If they’re enemies, we’ll deal with them. If not, we’ll bring them into our camp.”

Chu Xuyuan considered for a moment, “I agree.”

“Then that’s decided,” concluded Chu Xuyao.

Shuiyun County.

Ge Lihua hurried to the county city without delay. The county office was still brightly lit as everyone was busy at work.

Ge Lihua found the secretary, “Has Xujin returned?”

The secretary shook his head, “Not yet.”

“Do you know where he went?”

“He seems to have gone to the outskirts.”

“The outskirts?” Ge Lihua frowned. “Is there a clue in the outskirts?”

The secretary was puzzled too, “They didn’t say. Xujin left with a group of people.”

Ge Lihua asked, “Which part of the outskirts did they go to? I’ll go look for them.”

The secretary thought for a moment, “I think they went to the northern outskirts.”

Ge Lihua immediately went to the stable for a horse and rode towards the north.

The streets were deserted, doors closed, only lanterns swaying gently under the eaves in the night breeze.

Ge Lihua rode northward, her horse’s hooves clattering on the street, accentuating the silence of the night.

After about fifteen minutes, she reached the north city gate, signaled the guards to open it, and continued forward.

Suddenly, Ge Lihua stopped her horse, looking ahead with furrowed brows. The northern outskirts were vast; which direction had Xujin and his group gone?

Then, an idea struck her. She dismounted to examine the ground for horse tracks. The direction with more tracks would indicate where they went.

Soon, she remounted and rode left.

After traveling for a while, Ge Lihua suddenly heard the sound of fighting. Her heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, something had happened.

Drawing her sword, she leaped from her horse and into the fray.

Chu Xujin, who lacked martial skills, was clumsily fending off an attacker.

The attacker raised his saber and slashed at Chu Xujin’s shoulder. Chu Xujin raised his saber with both hands in defense. The attacker’s strength was too great, causing his thumb and index finger to go numb. Chu Xujin gritted his teeth and raised his saber, not daring to relax for a moment.

The attacker raised his saber again and was about to slash down..