After the farewell, Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue were ready to leave.
Just then, Ding Xiang erged from the dical clinic. She had been at the Sun Family dical Hall for nearly four years. Back then, she was rely an eleven-year-old girl, but now she had blossod into a stunning beauty. Her phoenix eyes were especially captivating; when she smiled, they seed to carry hooks that ensnared people's hearts. Today, she wore a light yellow dress with rolled-up sleeves, a dicine basket cradled in her arms. Her hair was loosely styled, and she wore no makeup, exuding a pure charm amidst her striking beauty. This contrast, so conflicting yet harmoniously blended, only added to her allure.
She looked at Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue, smiling as she said, "Good day to you, Young Masters."
Qiao Muchen politely nodded in acknowledgnt.
Zhao Yue teased, "Wow, it's only been a few days, and our beautiful Xiangxiang has grown even more stunning!"
Ding Xiang blushed and smiled shyly. "Young Master Zhao, please don't tease ."
Zhao Zhitong looked at Ding Xiang and nodded in agreent. Xiangxiang truly had beco more beautiful. Back then, both she and her brother had been quite good-looking. It was just that there was still no news of her brother. Seeing Ding Xiang's remarkable appearance, Zhao Zhitong had sotis wondered if the Ding family siblings were really just ordinary refugees.
Seeing Zhao Zhitong nod as well, Ding Xiang pouted. "Tongtong, even you're teasing !"
Zhao Zhitong protested her innocence. "Heaven knows, I'm telling the truth! I just heard from Cousin Xiaoyu that lately, more and more n, perfectly healthy, have been stubbornly hanging around the dical clinic just to catch a glimpse of Xiangxiang."
Ding Xiang grew even more embarrassed. "Oh, Tongtong, you're terrible, always teasing ! I'm not talking to you anymore." With that, she shyly ran back into the dical clinic.
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue said goodbye to Zhao Zhitong once more and headed towards the academy.
「Night.」
Zhao Zhitong no longer attended Scholar ng's lectures at the school these days. Consequently, she spent most of her ti at the dical clinic in the county town. Since she was currently assisting Elder Song with solving cases, she was also staying at the dical clinic overnight.
After dinner, the two cousins, Zhao Zhitong, and Ding Xiang—the four young won—lay on the bed, chatting about private matters by the moonlight filtering through the window. Eventually, their conversation drifted to the topic of ideal husbands.
Sun Xiaoxue had just turned fifteen this year and was already of marriageable age. Lately, her Eldest Aunt and Grandmother had been incredibly busy on her behalf. The Sun Family of today was a far cry from what it once was. Their dical clinic and flower shop businesses were booming, and countless people sought to associate with them. As soon as any child in the family ca of age, matchmakers would flock to their ho as if drawn by an irresistible scent. Among these suitors were families of considerable standing.
After careful deliberation, Grandmother and Eldest Aunt chose not to select from the more prestigious households. Instead, they selected an aspiring scholar nad Wang Baichuan from a small village for Sun Xiaoxue. He ca from a respectable background, was well-mannered, ambitious, and studious. The two had t, and although Wang Baichuan was a poor scholar, the Sun Clan mbers were quite satisfied with him. More importantly, Sun Xiaoxue found that she got along very well with him.
Sun Xiaoyu gleefully teased Sun Xiaoxue, "Sister, are you thinking about your future brother-in-law? I heard from our grandmother that Scholar Wang knelt before her and Eldest Aunt, swearing he'd marry no one but you and treat you well for his entire life!"
Sun Xiaoxue's face flushed crimson from Sun Xiaoyu's teasing.
Seeing this, Zhao Zhitong laughed. "Cousin Xiaoyu, you're teasing Cousin Xiaoxue, but you'll be ready for matchmaking yourself next year! I've even seen Aunt starting to prepare your dowry."
Sun Xiaoxue, finding an imdiate counterattack, nodded vigorously in agreent and began to tease Sun Xiaoyu in return.
Sun Xiaoyu's face turned red. She grabbed Zhao Zhitong's arm, feigning annoyance. "Tongtong! How dare you team up with my sister to tease ! I'm going to tickle you!" With that, she began to tickle Zhao Zhitong, and the room filled with the sound of their playful laughter.
Sun Xiaoyu giggled. "You're teasing , Tongtong, but your dowry was started much earlier than mine! I even heard Grandmother say that Third Uncle has been putting aside all your profits from the flower shop for your dowry."
At this, Ding Xiang asked Zhao Zhitong with a grin, "Tongtong, your dowry is all set. Is there anyone you fancy?"
"Soone I fancy?" Zhao Zhitong looked at Ding Xiang in puzzlent. "What kind of fancying counts as 'fancying soone'?"
Ding Xiang thought for a mont, then shyly explained, "It's when you see him, your heart beats faster. When he's not around, you miss him terribly and wish you could see him all the ti.
"You think of him when you're happy, and you think of him when you're sad. Even the breeze you've shared with him feels sweet.
"When he's happy, you're happy too. When he's unhappy, you feel unhappy as well. If he's hurt or upset, you feel even more pain and sorrow than he does.
"Sothing like that... that should be what liking soone is."
"Ugh, so mushy!" Zhao Zhitong shivered theatrically and teased, "Xiangxiang, don't tell you already have soone you like?"
Ding Xiang blushed. "Hey, stop teasing ! I'm asking you, do you?"
"Let think," Zhao Zhitong said, propping her chin on her hand as she genuinely began to ponder. There weren't many young n in her life. Her cousins counted, of course, but they were just cousins—family. Then there were a few she knew from school: Qiao Muchen, Zhao Yue, and Wei Zijian.
Wei Zijian? Hmm, better not. As soon as she got ho, that boy would pester her to teach him dicine. She found him more annoying than anything.
As for Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue, they were her good brothers, her close friends. Naturally, she'd think of them when it ca to fun and happy things. She'd miss them when they weren't around, after all, they had grown up together. But her heart racing when she saw them? Not at all. It was, one might say, completely calm.
Having considered this, Zhao Zhitong shook her head. "No, I don't think so."
"Really?" Ding Xiang leaned closer, a little skeptical. "What about Young Master Qiao and Young Master Zhao? You seem to have such a good relationship with them."
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Yes, we grew up together. We're childhood friends, so of course, we're very close."
Sun Xiaoxue chuckled. "Xiangxiang, don't bother asking her. Our cousin is still young. Besides, she's so engrossed in her books, she probably doesn't even know what 'liking' soone ans."
Hearing Sun Xiaoxue and Sun Xiaoyu say this, Ding Xiang didn't press the matter further.
Ding Xiang nodded. "Since Tongtong grew up with Young Master Qiao and Young Master Zhao, you must know them very well, right?"
Zhao Zhitong laughed heartily. "Of course! I know every birthmark they have!"
Ding Xiang smiled. "Oh, I was just thinking, they're about to go to the capital for the imperial examinations. This exam is very important. When they leave, I'd like to give them a gift, but I don't know what they'd like."
"Oh, that," Zhao Zhitong said, waving her hand dismissively. "You can give them anything. They're not picky. I always just give them whatever."
Ding Xiang thought for a mont then asked, "Well, how about I get them so peace talismans?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Of course, that'd be fine."
"Mm-hmm, thank you, Tongtong."
The night deepened, and the young won gradually drifted off to sleep.
「The next day.」
Early the next morning, Zhao Zhitong hurried to the governnt office to investigate any irregularities in the recent consignnts handled by the security escort agency with Song Renying.
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