After Yang Zhong told Yang Cenan about his lost memories, the tall man, standing at one meter eighty-five, lay on the bed and silently shed tears for two hours.
When Song Shixue went in to check on him, she could hardly bear to see him like that.
Losing his wife and child, and being reduced to this state himself—ordinary people would find it impossible to accept.
After confirming that Yang Cenan was out of danger, Song Qiming sent Hai Wenzhang back.
"The county office cannot be left unattended. There will definitely be movements from Panzhou. Take your people and head back first."
Hai Wenzhang was more than eager to leave early. He departed the morning after their conversation.
At the city gates, Shi Simian smiled and shook his head as he watched them leave.
"He is too short-sighted. No wonder the imperial court preferred to send a new county magistrate rather than promote him. He is truly unfit for great responsibilities."
Irresponsible and unwilling to bear the blame—superiors would never like such a subordinate, nor would they ever entrust him with important tasks.
At the riverbank intersection outside Suining City, Gu Baozhu raised her eyebrows in confusion as she watched the massive procession of yamen runners leaving.
"Looking at their clothes, they seem to be yamen runners from Qingxia County."
Gu Jinghong nodded.
"They are indeed from Qingxia County. What are they doing here? And with so many people."
This place was only thirty miles away from Suining City; the appearance of people from Qingxia County was already very strange.
Gu Baozhu raised her hand to shield her eyes from the sun and gazed at the golden rice fields in the distance.
"With so many fields, the grain yield must be substantial. They shouldn't need subsidies this year."
Gu Jinghong's eyes curved in amusement, and she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
In past years, whenever winter approached, the prefect of Suining would go to Songzhou City to play the victim and beg for financial aid. Gu Zhongxun had complained about this at home more than once, and the aunt and niece had heard it several times.
"We haven't encountered a single petty thief along the way. That would be impossible even in Songzhou City."
"Setting up guard posts along the road for day and night patrols—Song Qiming not only thought of it, but he actually did it."
"We've also met quite a few merchants on the road. To bring about such a huge change in just half a year, Song Qiming is truly not a simple man."
...
At the entrance of the prefectural office, Gu Jinghong, who was visiting Song Jinzhao, exclaimed loudly.
"What! The third son of the Panzhou Pacification Commissioner is in Suining City?"
Liu Hucheng frantically pressed his palms down, gesturing for Gu Jinghong to lower her voice.
"When he was brought over the afternoon before yesterday, he had only one breath left. The Princess and the Second Miss Song barely managed to save his life."
He sighed, "His life is saved, but his brain suffered a severe injury. He is still in Second Miss Song's medical clinic."
The aunt and niece exchanged a glance and immediately pulled Liu Hucheng along to lead the way to the clinic.
It wasn't until they saw a row of sword-bearing yamen runners standing at the entrance of the clinic that the two completely believed it.
"Headman Liu, who are these two?" The yamen runner looked vigilant.
Gu Baozhu excitedly waved her arm at the person inside the house, "Shixue."
"Miss Gu!" Song Shixue handed the tray in her hands to Heye and walked out the door to greet them.
"Why are you here?"
Gu Baozhu broke into a wide smile and explained, "It was getting boring staying in Songzhou City, so we thought we'd come over for a few days of fun."
Gu Jinghong took a step forward to confirm, "Is Yang Cenan inside?"
Song Shixue gave a slight nod. "He's lying in the ward in the back."
"You came at a bad time. I'm afraid my sister and I won't have time to show you around these few days."
Gu Baozhu waved her hand casually. "It doesn't matter. Stumbling upon Yang Cenan's assassination attempt makes this trip worthwhile for us."
"Can we go in and take a look?"
Song Shixue pressed her lips tightly together and shook her head.
"Since waking up, the patient has been consistently depressed and silent. It's better not to see him."
"I heard his brain was injured?"
Gu Jinghong stretched her neck to look inside, and her eyes happened to meet those of Song Jinzhao, who was walking out, followed by Song Qiming.
"Greetings, Princess Linghui. Lord Song, long time no see."
Song Qiming turned his head to glance at the closed door, walked over, and lowered his voice.
"This is not the place to talk. Let's go back to the prefectural office first."
Song Jinzhao instructed Song Shixue, "Do not enter the ward unless necessary. Just let the people from Panzhou stay inside."
When changing the dressing just now, the atmosphere was so heavy that it was hard to breathe. Such a massive blow definitely requires time to process, and it is inappropriate for outsiders to be present.
Song Shixue nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, Sister. I'll have Heye go in to deliver the meals, and I absolutely won't say a single extra word."
Since waking up, Yang Cenan's eyes had remained swollen, and she didn't want to stay in there watching a grown man cry either.
