in2ebook Chapter 154 Li Ruoyue in the safe house
Chapter 154 Li Ruoyue in the safe house
After a deep conversation with the village chief, Li Ruoyue made a request, "Please prepare a table and two stools for me." The chief quickly agreed and set up the table and chairs. Then, Li Ruoyue carefully placed the wheat pillow she had brought with her on the table and called out, "Everyone, line up. Come one by one. I'll take your pulse!" Upon hearing this, the men, women, and children who had been sitting or standing, chatting or daydreaming in the safe house suddenly took action, forming a long line and approaching the table one by one, quietly and orderly, waiting for Li Ruoyue to take their pulses and diagnose them.
Once everyone had lined up, Li Ruoyue began meticulously taking each patient's pulse. With a focused expression, her fingers gently rested on the patient's wrist, carefully feeling the rhythm and strength of the pulse. After each pulse, she quickly wrote down her diagnosis and passed the slip of paper to Luzhu beside her. Luzhu took the slip and, based on the symptoms written on it, selected the appropriate herbs from the mountain of medicinal herbs piled nearby. She then accurately weighed them, packaged them into individual medicine packets, and handed them to the patient.
All of these medicinal herbs were painstakingly brought by Li Ruoyue and the accompanying officers and soldiers. They were well aware of the remoteness and underdevelopment of this area, with its inadequate medical facilities. If someone fell ill, the lack of medication could exacerbate their condition or even endanger their life. Therefore, they prepared in advance by bringing a wide variety of common medicines, pills for common ailments, and prescriptions tailored to their specific conditions. This way, they could be prepared for any emergency.
Time slipped by in the busyness, and before they knew it, half the day had already passed. The sun gradually set, and a brilliant sunset glow spread across the horizon. Luzhu, who had been silently assisting Li Ruoyue in preparing the medicine, looked up at the sky and gently reminded her, "Miss, the sun is about to set. Should we stay here tonight to rest, or hurry back to the mansion?" Li Ruoyue looked up at the voice and glanced at the people still waiting in line for a pulse diagnosis. After a moment's thought, she replied, "There are still a few people left to see. Let me see them all before we leave." With that, she returned to her intense work of diagnosis and treatment.
Li Ruoyue hurried anxiously, quickly treating the remaining patients. She looked up at the sky, only to see the crimson sun sinking slowly toward the west, almost to the horizon. After finishing her duties, Li Ruoyue carefully gave the patients and the village chief some instructions, then prepared to leave.
However, before she could take a few steps, the village chief rushed forward and hurriedly blocked her way, saying sincerely: "Girl, please don't be in such a hurry to leave! It's still a long way from here to the county town. Besides, it's so cold, and the temperature will drop even lower at night. Look, it's getting late, it's really unsafe! How about this, you and a few officials stay in our village tonight? You see, although our safe house is simple, it is still warm and can keep out the wind and cold.
Besides, you've been so busy treating us villagers today that you haven't even had time to eat a hot meal. Why don't you stay for one night and have dinner with us? That would be a way for us to show our hospitality and express our gratitude! You've taken the trouble and risked your life to come to this remote place late at night just to treat us. If something goes wrong along the way, we wouldn't be able to face the consequences!
Upon hearing this, Li Ruoyue waved her hand hurriedly and said to the old man with a smile: "Uncle, you are too polite! Curing diseases and saving lives is our duty as doctors. Besides, since the government has given us this task, we should do our best to complete it. How can we accept your reward? Please don't take this matter to heart." She paused, and continued: "Although it is getting late now, don't worry, we have horses. As long as each of us rides one and gallops, we can still reach our destination on time even after the sun sets." As she spoke, she gently patted the back of the horse beside her.
Li Ruoyue looked up at the sky and continued, "As for the issue of eating, you don't have to worry about it, sir. We have already prepared enough dry food, which is enough for the journey. Moreover, we are also responsible for other important matters and can't just focus on your safe house. Besides, this place is not too far from the county government office. When we get there, we can have a good rest and won't trouble you. Okay, sir, time is running out, we will say goodbye. You and everyone should rest peacefully, so that we can leave with peace of mind." After that, Li Ruoyue jumped on the horse, whipped the horse and rode away with his companions, leaving behind everyone with a look of gratitude and reluctance.
Li Ruoyue and her companions rode on their steeds, the clatter of hooves echoing like a raging storm as they galloped towards the county government office. Time slipped quietly by, the sun gradually setting in the west, slowly approaching the horizon. As it neared the horizon, it resembled a giant fireball, emitting its final afterglow. That afterglow spread across the earth like flames, coating everything in it in a fiery crimson. Even the hurried pedestrians were illuminated by its dazzling light.
Yet, good times are always fleeting. Beneath this fiery glow, the sun gradually lost its warmth, like a weary traveler gradually pausing. As the sun sank completely below the horizon, the fiery glow vanished without a trace, leaving only darkness. The earth seemed to be swallowed by darkness, devoid of its former brilliance and warmth.
But amidst this darkness, the thick layers of snow on the ground created a unique landscape. Like mirrors, they reflected the faint moonlight, brightening the night sky. Li Ruoyue and the others galloped along this path, where the white snow and darkness intertwined, daring not to pause for a moment, determined to reach the county seat as quickly as possible.
After a long and cold trek, over an hour later, Li Ruoyue and her group finally arrived at the county gate. By then, the sun had long since vanished behind the clouds, losing its warm glow. The sky, already scattering snowflakes, had further plummeted in temperature, seemingly freezing everything in the world.
By the time they dismounted at the county government gate, they were shivering with the bitter cold. Everyone's teeth chattered with the chill, and they shivered relentlessly. Li Ruoyue, in particular, had her delicate face shrouded in frost. Even her long eyelashes were frozen, unable to flutter freely. The frost relentlessly coated her hair and clothing, forming a thin layer of ice. From a distance, she looked as if she were enveloped in a blanket of snow. Only the white mist that escaped her mouth gave any sign of life.
The leading soldier, enduring the cold, pulled a token from his pocket and handed it to the yamen runner on duty. After the runner confirmed it was correct, he led the group into a small room within the yamen. In the center of the room stood a massive brazier, a blazing fire burning within. The vibrant flames danced, emitting an intoxicating warmth.
Li Ruoyue, supported by her maid, Luzhu, stumbled to the brazier. As she felt the blazing heat rushing towards her, a surge of warmth instantly spread throughout her body, as if she had regained vitality and energy. She stretched out her slightly trembling hands, approaching the flames, trying to absorb more heat to dispel the chill within her. Gradually, her complexion began to return to a rosy glow, and the frost on her body slowly melted, turning into drops that dripped down the corners of her clothes and onto the ground.
Li Ruoyue felt her body gradually warm up. She quickly waved to the soldiers beside her and shouted to them anxiously, "Hurry, hurry! Everyone, take out all the food you have and put it on the fire to warm it up." The yamen runner beside her also cast his eyes on Li Ruoyu. He saw that he and the others had finally come to their senses after a short rest. Then, he quickly ran to the side, picked up a kettle, carefully placed it on the brazier, and waited quietly for the water to boil.
At the same time, Li Ruoyue and the other soldiers pulled out steamed bread, frozen solid as ice, from their pockets. They expertly found a few branches and strung the bread together, placing them securely above the fire. As time passed, the flames licked the crusts of the bread, slowly turning the originally white crust brown and even emitting a faint burnt smell.
Seeing this, Li Ruoyue unhesitatingly peeled off the charred outer layer and began chewing. She then moved the remaining portion closer to the fire to roast. In this manner, the small steamed bun was constantly turning and roasting in her hands, while she savored this hard-earned warm food bite by bite. Before long, she had devoured the entire bun, leaving only the inner, undercooked portion.
Li Zhu, who had been standing by and observing silently, saw his young lady finish her steamed bread and quickly untied the bamboo tube he was carrying. He quickly walked over to the kettle, gently lifted the lid, carefully tilted the kettle, and poured the scalding hot water into the bamboo tube. Once it was full, he hurried back to Li Ruoyue and handed the bamboo tube to her, saying with concern, "Young lady, please drink some water to moisten your throat. Otherwise, you'll easily choke if you keep eating like this."