The family of three headed towards Hongning City, and after finding an inn each time, they would wander around the vicinity.
Li Yueshu and Shen Tingyi were having a lot of fun, but Shen Wei, uncharacteristically, had become very quiet.
Especially when sleeping at night, he would always curl up alone in the corner, with his back to his mother and daughter.
Li Yueshu had asked a few times, but he always answered listlessly, his gaze not meeting hers.
Li Yueshu thought he might be exhausted from the long journey and accustomed to a different bed, so she told the driver to slow down and increase their rest time.
Shen Tingyi, of course, knew her father wasn't that frail. While Li Yueshu was talking to the innkeeper, she secretly tugged at Shen Wei. "Dad, did something happen? You've been very strange lately."
Shen Wei was taken aback. "How am I strange?"
Shen Tingyi frowned, looking him up and down. "Big Brother said Dad went to war at ten years old. It's impossible for him to be unable to handle this little bit of bumpy travel. Besides... I feel like Dad has been acting awkward about something these past few days."
Shen Wei: "..."
He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Fortunately, Li Yueshu walked over at this moment, stopping the father and daughter's conversation.
But Shen Wei kept thinking about Shen Tingyi's words.
Had he been acting awkward these past few days?
Because of that dream that only he knew about?
That's right, he had always disliked women, which was why he felt awkward and uncomfortable around Li Yueshu because of that dream.
But he had to maintain his pretense as an idiot and absolutely couldn't reveal any flaws because of this!
Thinking this, Shen Wei began to adjust his mindset and soon returned to his usual state.
Li Yueshu thought he had adapted and was inwardly amazed by his adaptability, not thinking much of it.
Thus, the group soon arrived at Hongning City.
...
Hongning City was vast. Due to the copper mines within the city, it was more prosperous than the surrounding towns.
As soon as Li Yueshu entered the city, she could clearly feel that it was more bustling than the places she had seen along the way.
Li Yueshu was here to see a patient, so she couldn't go sightseeing first. She instructed the driver to go directly to the City Lord's mansion.
Seeing a simple, unfamiliar carriage stop at the entrance, and a family in ordinary clothes alighting from it, the guards quickly stepped forward to ask, "Who are you?"
Li Yueshu didn't say much and directly presented her token.
Upon seeing the token, the guard looked surprised. "You are Madam Shen?"
Li Yueshu nodded. "Indeed."
The guard's attitude immediately became respectful. "Madam Shen, please come in quickly. The City Lord instructed that if Madam Shen were to come, you must be well received."
Li Yueshu nodded her thanks and entered the City Lord's mansion with Shen Wei and Shen Tingyi. The driver followed another guard to see to the carriage.
The City Lord's mansion was grandly decorated but not luxurious. Besides the scenery and layout, the most eye-catching feature was a large open space resembling a training ground, with many weapons placed nearby.
From this alone, Li Yueshu could roughly discern the personality of the owner of this mansion.
She always felt that the words "Hongning City" had appeared in the original book. Although her memory was usually very good, she couldn't recall it.
Either this Hongning City had very little plot in the original book, or it was only briefly mentioned.
Soon, the guard led the three to the reception hall. "The City Lord is out on business. I will go and report to the young master now. Please wait, Madam Shen."
Li Yueshu nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."
After the guard retreated, someone immediately brought tea, and the three waited in the reception hall.
Shen Wei and Shen Tingyi were very well-behaved. Li Yueshu had initially worried they would be afraid of the unfamiliar and solemn environment, but it turned out she was overthinking it.
In a short while, there was a commotion at the entrance.
Li Yueshu looked up and saw a man in a pale blue long robe, followed by two servants, walking in.
The man had bright eyes and clear teeth, and his fair skin had a hint of sickly paleness, but his demeanor was as gentle as jade, making people unconsciously relax in his presence.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
As soon as he entered, the man covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed gently. He carried a scent of medicinal herbs, clearly indicating he was often taking medicine.
He looked at Li Yueshu with a face full of apology. "Forgive my rudeness. Madam, did you travel all the way from Tongmu County?"
Li Yueshu stood up and bowed respectfully. "This humble one, Li Yueshu, was invited from Tongmu County to see a patient. This is my husband and daughter."
Before coming, she had specifically gone to the prefectural office to inquire from the former county magistrate. The head of a city was equivalent to a prefect.
This was, after all, a novel world, where official positions were a jumble of all dynasties' divisions. Without specific knowledge, it was impossible to understand.
The man looked at Shen Tingyi with surprise.
He truly hadn't expected that this Madam Shen, who looked only fifteen or sixteen years old, would have such a grown child.
However, it was other people's private matters, and he naturally wouldn't ask too much.
"Madam, just call me by my name, there's no need for such formality." The man smiled gently. "I am Wei Zimiao. I thank you for your hard work in traveling to see me."
Li Yueshu suddenly looked up at the man in front of her, her face full of surprise.
Wei Zimiao?
Hongning City...
Could it be the person she thought it was?!
Her expression was too obvious to be ignored, and Wei Zimiao couldn't help but ask, "Does Madam know me?"
Li Yueshu collected herself and shook her head. "I was just a little surprised by Young Master Wei's illness. May I... may I examine you?"
Wei Zimiao didn't know she was making an excuse and was somewhat surprised that she could observe his condition just by looking.
"Then I'll trouble Madam Shen." He walked to the side and sat down, skillfully extending his wrist, clearly having gone through this countless times.
Shen Wei stood by, his restrained aura making him almost unnoticeable.
Having known Li Yueshu for so long, he naturally knew that she wouldn't have shown surprise just now from seeing Wei Zimiao's condition.
When facing a patient, she wouldn't show any reaction before reaching a definitive conclusion.
Did she know this Wei Zimiao?
No one noticed Shen Wei's dark expression.
Li Yueshu carefully felt his pulse and asked a few questions. Her face showed no particular emotion.
"Young Master Wei, may I have my daughter examine you?"
Wei Zimiao looked at Shen Tingyi, who was beside him, and nodded curiously.
At Hengde Pharmacy, when Li Yueshu saw patients, she often had Shen Tingyi also take their pulse and inquire about their condition.
So, even though she was only five years old, she could perform simple pulse-taking.
Shen Tingyi immediately took out her small cloth bag from the medicine chest and placed her hand on Wei Zimiao's wrist, her little face full of seriousness.
After a long while, she let go and turned to Li Yueshu. "Mother, his pulse is weak and floating, his body is severely depleted, and he tends to reject tonics. But I can't tell what illness he has."
She could only diagnose simple colds and fevers now. As for Wei Zimiao's condition, she was completely at a loss.
Li Yueshu gently stroked her head. "Young Master Wei coughs a lot, and his breathing is accompanied by a high-pitched echo..."
She explained Wei Zimiao's symptoms and pulse to Shen Tingyi one by one, her voice calm, so that Shen Tingyi could understand and remember. Even Wei Zimiao couldn't help but listen intently.
Shen Tingyi looked up in confusion. "Mother, then what exactly is Young Master Wei's illness?"