The streets and alleys bustled with constant traffic and an endless flow of people, the noise overwhelming.
Considering it would take nearly half a day to reach the next county, passing through Liuyexian meant they needed to buy some dry provisions to avoid any unforeseen troubles on the road.
The carriage stopped by the edge of the market. Zhou Liang went to buy vegetables while Zhao Pingzhi fed the horses some fodder.
The three inside the carriage had nothing pressing to do, so they took out a chessboard and began playing.
Though the carriage looked plain from the outside, its interior was quietly luxurious.
About five square meters in size, it had hardwood seats with a small table in the middle—suitable for playing Go or savoring tea.
Beneath the seats was a hidden drawer containing many clothes and some snacks.
“Sir, you should put this bundle in the cabinet,” Xiao Jing said, reaching out to take Xu Ping’an’s travel bag.
Xu Ping’an carried three items with him: one was a travel bag for clothes, essentially a small wooden frame with two shoulder straps for carrying.
The second was his medicine box, roughly a foot long and three inches in width and height, resembling a drawer with shoulder straps.
The third was a sash bag worn at his waist. In this era, sash bags came in various types—some slung across the shoulder, others hanging on the belt—much like modern crossbody bags and waist pouches.
“Alright, thank you for the trouble.”
Xu Ping’an handed the travel bag beside him to Xiao Jing but kept the medicine box with him and still wore the sash bag on his side.
“Sir, this medicine box?” Xiao Jing opened the hidden drawer under the seat to place the travel bag inside and turned to retrieve the medicine box.
“No need for the medicine box to be put away. I’m more accustomed to carrying this one on me.”
Xu Ping’an politely declined. Seeing this, Xiao Jing didn’t press further.
Li Yuer, curious, glanced toward the medicine box.
“Sir, I wonder if there’s something extraordinary inside that medicine box?”
“There’s nothing extraordinary. No need to make such a fuss—just some medicines I carry around.”
Xu Ping’an ignored Li Yuer’s probing. He was used to it by now; Li Yuer’s curiosity was intense but unlike Pei Qingxuan’s innocent intrigue toward the unfamiliar, Li Yuer always liked to uncover others’ secrets.
Perhaps it was because she had long been in a position of power, making her accustomed to treating others this way.
“If you say so, then the box must contain something very ordinary?”
When Li Yuer said “ordinary,” she deliberately bit the word, causing a twitch at the corner of Xu Ping’an’s eye. He lifted his head, wanting to complain, but when he met the girl’s mischievous and adorable gaze, clearly done on purpose to tease him, he held back.
“You’re too naughty…”
Xu Ping’an shook his head with a wry smile.
The triumphant girl’s lips curled with a cute pride before suddenly delivering a playful jab.
Xu Ping’an’s eye twitched sharply.
What kind of game is this!
“No more playing, no more! We’ve been at it all morning and I haven’t won once. Can’t you cut me some slack?”
“You didn’t play seriously with Yu’er, how can you say she didn’t give you a chance~”
As expected of the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart, even now she gave him a graceful way out.
But who was he?
Would he take that way out?
He rolled his eyes with no patience.
“You with your Nine Yin Severed Meridians and Seven Apertures, born wiser than others—games like chess, you probably haven’t lost more than a few times since you first learned, right?”
Upon hearing this, Li Yuer’s heart leapt with joy.
Getting such praise from Xu Ping’an was an acknowledgment she cherished.
“Sir is right. Since childhood, except for a few losses to Father King, I haven’t lost. Even my teacher swore never to play against me again.”
“Then why are you still bullying me?”
“Ah~ Sir, can’t you understand this little girl’s feelings? Yu’er just wants to show off a bit in front of you~ Don’t be mad, I won’t dare next time~”
Li Yuer’s coquettish tone was both truthful and comforting, leaving Xu Ping’an feeling a touch helpless.
It wasn’t that he lacked loyalty; it was that his opponent was just too cunning!
Such words would be irresistible to most men.
Was Xu Ping’an an ordinary man?
He could honestly represent himself from the bottom of his heart!
He… was.
Though he had mastered medical skills to the peak and knew enough array formations to set them up effortlessly, at the core, he had a clear self-awareness.
Despite his extended lifespan, he was only twenty-six years old.
“There’s really no way to deal with you. Now that your scheme has succeeded and your plan is in motion, I guess I’m being led along. Are you satisfied now?”
Hearing Xu Ping’an’s slightly resentful words, a gleam flickered in Li Yuer’s eyes, and her face turned a little pale.
“Sir~ Yu’er knows what you’re thinking, but Yu’er….” Li Yuer’s face was like a blooming peach blossom, her words caught halfway.
The mix of delicate charm and shy hesitation made it hard to refuse.
“All right, all right, enough. No more talking, okay?”
Xu Ping’an shook his head helplessly. Li Yuer really was the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart—she truly knew how to manipulate people.
Her words stirred no resentment at all; even when caught in her trap, one was willing and comfortable.
To be honest, such a woman, if not a member of the Royal Family, and instead a showgirl entering the Imperial Harem, would have left no room for other women.
Most men wouldn’t escape her grasp.
“I knew you wouldn’t be mad, Sir… how about one more game~”
“No more. Absolutely no more,” Xu Ping’an waved his hand.
“Give me your hand, I want to see.”
“Alright.”
Li Yuer trusted him without suspicion, extending her hand. Xu Ping’an grasped her wrist, gently pressing three fingers on her pulse.
“Not bad. After thinking all morning, your vital energy hasn’t dried up, your body has recovered well. You need to stabilize with medication. Tomorrow, find an inn to rest, and I’ll do acupuncture again.”
Previously, Li Yuer’s condition made it almost impossible for her to think continuously for long.
Her blood activity was too low and Yang energy insufficient. Excessive thought would dry up her heart’s blood.
Now, after playing chess all morning—even though Xu Ping’an hadn’t played seriously, he had used some mental effort—she had at least put in some thought to try winning.
That she hadn’t yet felt fatigued was proof of the treatment’s effectiveness.
“Sir’s Sage’s Rejuvenating Hands naturally work wonders. Yu’er trusts you completely on this.”
Li Yuer’s earnest gaze made Xu Ping’an’s shoulders feel a bit heavier.
A healer’s heart.