After the farewell, Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue were ready to leave.
Just then, Ding Xiang emerged from the medical clinic. She had been at the Sun Family Medical Hall for nearly four years. Back then, she was merely an eleven-year-old girl, but now she had blossomed into a stunning beauty. Her phoenix eyes were especially captivating; when she smiled, they seemed to carry hooks that ensnared people's hearts. Today, she wore a light yellow dress with rolled-up sleeves, a medicine 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 acknowledgment.
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 me."
Zhao Zhitong looked at Ding Xiang and nodded in agreement. Xiangxiang truly had become 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 sometimes 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 me!"
Zhao Zhitong protested her innocence. "Heaven knows, I'm telling the truth! I just heard from Cousin Xiaoyu that lately, more and more men, perfectly healthy, have been stubbornly hanging around the medical clinic just to catch a glimpse of Xiangxiang."
Ding Xiang grew even more embarrassed. "Oh, Tongtong, you're terrible, always teasing me! I'm not talking to you anymore." With that, she shyly ran back into the medical 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 Meng's lectures at the school these days. Consequently, she spent most of her time at the medical clinic in the county town. Since she was currently assisting Elder Song with solving cases, she was also staying at the medical clinic overnight.
After dinner, the two cousins, Zhao Zhitong, and Ding Xiang—the four young women—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 medical clinic and flower shop businesses were booming, and countless people sought to associate with them. As soon as any child in the family came of age, matchmakers would flock to their home 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 named Wang Baichuan from a small village for Sun Xiaoxue. He came from a respectable background, was well-mannered, ambitious, and studious. The two had met, and although Wang Baichuan was a poor scholar, the Sun Clan members 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 immediate counterattack, nodded vigorously in agreement 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 me! 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 me, 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?"
"Someone I fancy?" Zhao Zhitong looked at Ding Xiang in puzzlement. "What kind of fancying counts as 'fancying someone'?"
Ding Xiang thought for a moment, 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 time.
"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.
"Something like that... that should be what liking someone is."
"Ugh, so mushy!" Zhao Zhitong shivered theatrically and teased, "Xiangxiang, don't tell me you already have someone you like?"
Ding Xiang blushed. "Hey, stop teasing me! I'm asking you, do you?"
"Let me think," Zhao Zhitong said, propping her chin on her hand as she genuinely began to ponder. There weren't many young men 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 home, that boy would pester her to teach him medicine. 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 came 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' someone means."
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 moment then asked, "Well, how about I get them some peace talismans?"
Zhao Zhitong nodded. "Of course, that'd be fine."
"Mm-hmm, thank you, Tongtong."
The night deepened, and the young women gradually drifted off to sleep.
「The next day.」
Early the next morning, Zhao Zhitong hurried to the government office to investigate any irregularities in the recent consignments handled by the security escort agency with Song Renying.