Li Yue Shu, holding various machines in her hand, approached Shen Wei and glanced at the person sleeping soundly. Her movements remained unhurried.
By the time the examination was completed, half an hour had passed.
After sending Shen Wei out of the space, Li Yue Shu collapsed on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
As her breathing became long and steady, Shen Wei, who had been motionless, suddenly opened his eyes.
Looking at the familiar room, his mind was still replaying the scenes he had just witnessed.
The incredibly real and clear images he had seen could not have been an illusion.
He looked at Li Yue Shu, separated from him only by a child, his eyes filled with inquiry and suspicion.
...
The next day, Li Yue Shu got out of bed with dark circles under her eyes, yawning.
Seeing this, Shen Ting Yi thoughtfully handed her a wrung-out hot towel.
Li Yue Shu, touched, patted her daughter's head, "Daughters are indeed little warm cotton-padded jackets."
Shen Ting Yi was accustomed to her frequently patting her head and did not dodge.
She looked at the dark circles under Li Yue Shu's eyes and said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, you don't have to work so hard."
Doctor Chen was already adept at managing the affairs of the apothecary, and she, Shen Tan, and the others could attend to customers themselves, so she didn't need to do everything personally.
Li Yue Shu simply washed her face and said with a smile, "Once your father's mind recovers, I won't have to run to town every day."
Shen Ting Yi was stunned and instinctively looked at Shen Wei, who was helping to load things not far away, her eyes filled with surprise, "Father can recover his mind?"
Li Yue Shu nodded affirmatively, "Yes, it should be very soon."
This news delighted Shen Ting Yi. During the busy day at the apothecary, her smile never left her face. She would also frequently go to Shen Wei to ask questions, trying to find out how far his recovery had progressed.
Shen Wei could handle it at first, but as her questions increased, he began to feel overwhelmed.
He simply ran to Li Yue Shu, pitifully tugged at her sleeve, and said with a mix of grievance and fear, "A Shu, A Yi talks too much."
Since Shen Yi Min was not around, no one knew that he had regained his senses, so it wasn't embarrassing.
Li Yue Shu: "..."
Seeing the beautiful eyes welling up with tears, Li Yue Shu's heart softened instantly. She immediately glared warningly at Shen Ting Yi, telling her not to bother her father anymore.
Shen Ting Yi had no choice but to desist.
However, what she didn't realize was that her past self would have wished to break Li Yue Shu's legs, but her current self now found herself uncontrollably obeying her words.
...
In the afternoon, after sending the children off on Old Man Liu's ox cart, Li Yue Shu took Shen Wei to the dungeon again.
This time, she brought food and dishes as before.
Zhang Lao San was sitting at the table, with a memorial tablet, brush, and ink in front of him, seemingly unchanged from when they had left yesterday.
When Li Yue Shu brought out the food, he immediately picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily, just as he had before.
Li Yue Shu did not stop him and sat quietly beside him.
After he had eaten his fill, Zhang Lao San casually wiped his mouth and turned to look at her, "Why aren't you talking today?"
Li Yue Shu, while tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, said, "It seems you have something to say today."
Zhang Lao San stared at her for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "This little wife of yours truly doesn't seem like someone who came from the wilderness."
Li Yue Shu smiled faintly and did not reply.
Zhang Lao San didn't mind and asked, "Can you write?"
Li Yue Shu nodded.
When the author created this world, the script set was Lesser Seal Script, and she had practiced it in modern times.
Seeing this, Zhang Lao San pushed the memorial tablet, brush, and ink in front of him, "Then you write it for me."
Li Yue Shu looked at the things on the table and remained silent for a moment, then asked, "What do you want to write?"
Zhang Lao San pursed his lips, then sighed heavily, "Write... 'Here lies my beloved wife, Madam Zhang.'"
Even though he had killed her with his own hands, she was his wife for this life.
Li Yue Shu was not surprised by this outcome and quickly wrote it according to his wishes.
Shen Wei remained a background figure, but as he looked at the handwriting on the memorial tablet, a dark glint flashed in his eyes.
The sharp strokes did not lack feminine grace, and the thickness of each stroke varied. Even many noble young ladies in Chongzhou, who had practiced since childhood, might not possess this skill.
This woman could never be Li Yue Shu!
Zhang Lao San held the memorial tablet, his fingers gently stroking it.
Although he was illiterate, he had deeply etched the few words on it into his mind.
The last time he saw his wife, his eyes were filled with hatred and unwillingness. But now, his eyes held only longing and affection.
Perhaps at this moment, he regretted a little that he had personally killed the person he loved most.
"Madam Shen, if I agree to your deal, will you help me with my burial?"
This was the first time Zhang Lao San had addressed Li Yue Shu so politely, his tone considerably calmer.
Li Yue Shu nodded without hesitation, "I will. Whether or not we can save Ah Lian's mother, this kindness you've shown is worth him coming to sweep your grave and pay respects every Qingming Festival."
In any world, being a donor was a choice worthy of respect.
Hearing this, Zhang Lao San couldn't help but laugh, "I never thought that in this life, without the blessing of children, someone would still see me off."
He seemed to have let go, "Madam Shen, may I ask you to do one last favor for me?"
Li Yue Shu nodded, "Tell me."
Zhang Lao San lowered his head and looked at the memorial tablet in his hand, "I hope that when you pay respects to me every year, you can also help me check on her, even if it's just to sweep the dust off her tombstone. However... please don't bury us together."
Upon hearing the last sentence, Li Yue Shu paused slightly, vaguely understanding his meaning.
He truly loved his wife, but he only wished to keep that love within this lifetime.
In the next life, he did not want to meet her again.
Li Yue Shu's heart felt indescribable, and she nodded, "Okay, I promise you."
The memorial tablet was left behind, serving as his last source of comfort for the remaining months.
After leaving the dungeon, Li Yue Shu went to fill in the characters on the tombstone ordered yesterday and had it erected in front of Zhang Lao San's wife's grave.
Having accomplished this, she returned home and informed Mother Mo about the news of finding a lung source.
Knowing that there was hope, Mother Mo was also very happy, and her complexion even turned ruddy.
With one major issue finally resolved and Shen Wei's condition clearly improving, Li Yue Shu felt much relieved.
She planned to go to bed early that night and get a good rest, but before dusk, Madam Yang suddenly came to visit.
"Sister-in-law, I have something I'd like to discuss with you privately. Could you come out with me for a moment?"
Madam Yang wore a fawning smile, but her expression was somewhat tense.
Li Yue Shu did not miss her expression, and a hint of calmness flickered in her eyes.
She did not refuse and went out with Madam Yang directly.
Although she said it was for a private chat, Madam Yang led her further and further away.
The coldness in Li Yue Shu's eyes deepened, but she said nothing, wanting to know what trick Madam Yang was up to.
Not far behind them, Shen Wei quietly followed.