At this mont, Qingzhu had finished speaking with old Lady Li and ca to give a report.
"Master, old Lady Li says she wishes to see you," she said.
"Did she ntion what it is about?"
"She just said she wants to see the doctor who saved her son's life."
"Alright, I will go and see her."
Qi Yue erged from the room, having already changed back into a man's attire.
"Prepare everything. As soon as this person leaves, we will depart."
"Yes, Master."
In the front hall, old Lady Li was anxiously looking around.
At the sight of Qi Yue, she imdiately rushed over to greet him.
"Young Master..."
Qi Yue helped old Lady Li to sit down before asking in detail.
"Old Lady Li, how did you find your way here? Has there been any complication with your eldest son's injury?"
"No, my son is already nearly healed. It's all thanks to you, young Master..."
As she spoke, old Lady Li knelt down.
"I've co today with an imposing request."
Hearing this, Qi Yue was sowhat surprised but still quickly helped her up.
"Old Lady Li, please tell , I will definitely help if I can."
"I knew you were a good person," old Lady Li wiped away a tear, "...I had no other choice, I had nowhere else to turn, and that's why I ca to you...Last ti I heard you say you were leaving in a day or two, so I hurried over, hoping you could take my eldest son with you when you leave Jimo..."
Old Lady Li was a bit rambling, so Qi Yue took so ti to fully understand the situation.
It turns out that her son Li Dalaong wasn't just retired from service; he had deserted during a mission.
The injuries he bore were a result of being pursued.
They lived among neighbors who were in the sa situation, with one or two mbers from each household conscripted into the service.
All of their lives were miserable, but they supported each other through it.
Especially after Li Dalaong fled ho, close to death, the neighbors were all very sympathetic.
But ever since Qi Yue had treated Li Dalaong and left so silver for old Lady Li's family, others began to feel envious, thinking that old Lady Li had co into great fortune.
Soone, who knows who, let slip the news of Li Dalaong's desertion, and the Governnt Office imdiately ca knocking.
Thankfully, Qi Yue's dical skills were extraordinary, and after resting for two days, Li Dalaong was able to move again.
When the governnt officers arrived, he escaped over a low wall and hid in soone else's vegetable patch, narrowly avoiding capture.
Now, the governnt officers were still searching for him.
Left with no other options, old Lady Li turned to Qi Yue for help.
Upon hearing all this, Qi Yue also felt helpless.
That day's visit to old Lady Li's ho had indeed been a bit conspicuous.
But she had underestimated the malice in human nature.
She had not anticipated that helping old Lady Li's family would lead to this outco.
After so thought, she felt there was no inconvenience in helping Li Dalaong escape from the city; however, she had planned to leave Jimo by hot air balloon.
If she took Li Dalaong with her, wouldn't that reveal her identity?
As she deliberated, old Lady Li knelt down once again.
"Young Master, I know I shouldn't trouble you further, but I'm out of options, and the Governnt is hot on his trail. You have a caravan, just allowing my eldest son to follow would be enough..."
Qi Yue pursed her lips.
"Old Lady Li, I promise you, I will take your son out of the city, but what then? With his current status, it's not safe for him out there either."
Old Lady Li wiped away her tears, her face filled with sorrow.
"Once outside, his fate is in his own hands, still better than being caught and implicating the whole family... He has a younger brother and sister, both working for others, let them at least stay alive..."
Hearing this, Qi Yue sighed.
"Alright, tell him to co over under cover of darkness."
Old Lady Li imdiately kowtowed in gratitude.
"Thank you, Young Master, for your great kindness, thank you, Young Master, for your great kindness..."
Upon learning that Qi Yue had agreed to assist old Lady Li, Qingzhu beca anxious.
"Master, bringing Li Dalaong with us could invite trouble; he is a soldier, and if he discovers your identity, it's hard to predict what he might do!"
"I couldn't bear to refuse old Lady Li's plea," said Qi Yue, furrowing her brows, "As for trouble, I don't think it will co to that... If it really becos necessary, we'll just have to give him an amnesia pill."
"Yes." Seeing that Qi Yue had made up her mind, Qingzhu could only agree.
A short while later, Li Dalaong indeed arrived, and as soon as he entered, he knelt before Qi Yue.
"Li Tianyi gives thanks for the young master saving his life!"
"Your na is Li Tianyi?" Qi Yue sized him up subtly.
"Yes. Li Tianyi is my na in the military."
"Hmm, you are quite forthright," Qi Yue raised an eyebrow, "I thought you wouldn't bring it up."
"I cannot be anything but honest for the life-saving grace of the young master!"
"Fine, since that is the case, I also need to make it clear to you. I can take you out of the city, but afterwards, it won't be easy for you to leave, do you understand?"
Li Tianyi was taken aback, "What the young master ans is..."
Qi Yue slightly curved his lips, "My journey is secret and must not be divulged; whatever I do next, you'll have to be an accomplice."
"..." Li Tianyi's rough face flashed an imperceptible shock, but he quickly bowed deeply.
"If it weren't for the young master's intervention, Li Tianyi would have died long ago; I am grateful for your kindness from heaven and willing to serve you."
"No, no, no," Qi Yue waved his hand, "I initially saved you out of a doctor's duty, not looking for repaynt. This ti, I saved you out of pity for a distressed mother. Moreover, I don't lack for company. Once my business is finished, you are free to leave."
"Yes, young master."
Ti quickly advanced to the late hours of 9-11 PM, and darkness enveloped Jimo City.
Aside from a few exceptionally wealthy households with lanterns lit atop their gates, all other dwellings were darkened as residents had gone to sleep.
Qingzhu ca in carrying a wrapped bundle, glanced at Li Tianyi, then whispered, "My lord, we can depart now."
"Good." Qi Yue stood up, put on a cloak he had prepared earlier, and said, "Let's go."
Li Tianyi was astonished.
He couldn't fathom where they could be going so late.
But thinking of his own status, he kept his mouth shut and obediently followed them to the back yard.
The place was an inn, thus the backyard was cramped.
Under normal circumstances, there would be a small garden here, but at the mont, the only open space was occupied by a very large basket.
Soone had been waiting inside the basket, and upon seeing Qi Yue, imdiately extended a ladder.
"My lord, please."
Li Tianyi didn't speak, but his heart was pounding uncontrollably.
He had heard of this large basket!
He couldn't help but cast a glance at Qi Yue's retreating figure.
In the darkness, a white cloak fluttered, concealing most of her body.
Noble in stature, brimming with vigor.
Yet, judging by her build, though tall and slender, she was all too thin—not likely Zhao Xiyan.
And with the Nanyue Army assaulting Longnan County Governnt by both water and land, he couldn't possibly be here.
But apart from Zhao Xiyan, who else could receive such respectful treatnt from subordinates, have this miraculous basket as a mode of transport?
Also, why would Zhao Xiyan's people be here, and where were they heading?
Could it be Fengdu?
To mask the violent pounding in his chest, he deliberately made his footsteps heavier.
It wasn't until he too entered the basket that he realized how weak he had beco, his palms drenched with sweat.
The basket quickly took to the air.
Being his first ride, he felt uncomfortable and promptly gripped the safety rope on the edge of the basket.
"How are you feeling? Not recovering well?"
Suddenly, a clear, resonant voice rang out.
Li Tianyi hurriedly looked up to see Qi Yue's scrutinizing gaze.
Under imnse pressure, Li Tianyi couldn't help but speak the truth.
"It's a bit, yes. The lower leg has healed, but it still pains a bit."
"That's normal. My dicine is good, but it's not a spiritual dicine," Qi Yue said, tossing a small bottle to him.
"Take this to avoid slowing down."
"Yes." Li Tianyi quickly caught it and popped a pill into his mouth.
He soon felt warmth coursing through his lower leg, and the pain seed to lessen.
He was inwardly amazed.
This was the most effective dicine he had ever taken, including the pill he had been fed on the brink of death.
If this wasn't considered spiritual dicine, then what was?
It was said that Zhao Xiyan's n always carried life-saving spiritual dicine; it seed the rumors were true.
The young master before him must be soone greatly valued, he thought.
....
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