Chapter 120: I Don't Mind

After everyone had dispersed, Pan Yueqing looked back at the courtyard of the Bai family. In the end, she didn't seal the well immediately. With Pan Yueqing's instruction, Luo Shui deliberately slowed down and stayed behind for a moment to deal with Bai Shi, the crying daughter-in-law of the Bai family.

Luo Shui placed a brocade bag filled with high-quality ginseng slices on the bedside. Frowning, she looked at Bai Shi, who was sobbing with her face covered. "Sister-in-law Bai, you're really being unreasonable." Seeing that Bai Shi had no intention of responding to her, she sat down beside the bed. "No matter how good that well is, is it more important than our current safety? If you keep crying like this, you might hurt the baby in your belly. How will you explain it to the ancestors of the Bai family and your husband who is away from home?"

At the mention of the child, Bai Shi indeed stopped crying. With swollen eyes, she said pitifully, "Young Master Pan can't just throw my father-in-law in jail. He's already so old. If something happens to him, I'll be extremely unfilial..."

"Why can't he be imprisoned? So many neighbors saw it. What was he trying to do with that knife in his hand? Trying to kill an official of the court is a capital crime punishable by beheading!" Luo Shui grew up with her aunt, Nanny Zhao, and she knew exactly how to handle such people. She exclaimed and threatened, "You should not only be grateful to our young master but also to Captain Wang! If Captain Wang hadn't stopped him in time and if our young master hadn't imprisoned him, and if something had happened because of that well water, your father-in-law would be extremely guilty and deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

"Moreover, if we let it go today, others will follow suit in the future. By then, not only will your father-in-law lose his head, but our young master will also be doomed. She paused, looked back at the empty courtyard, and took Bai Shi's hand with a sigh. "To be honest with you, Prime Minister Pan enforces the law strictly. If our young master makes a mistake, he will surely..." After saying that, she lowered her head and pretended to wipe away tears.

Bai Shi's daughter-in-law was indeed stunned by what she said. "Is it really that... that serious?"

Pan Yueqing called out from outside the door. Luo Shui replied loudly and then smiled at Bai Shi's daughter-in-law. "Didn't you say that there's an immortal adoptive father of your husband in the well and you're afraid of offending it? Our young master said that he'll give you an hour to invite it out in the way of the folk customs."

Pan Yueqing crossed her arms in front of her chest, leaned against the gate of the courtyard, slightly opened her eyes and glanced at Qi Si'an, who was standing close to her, and then slowly closed her eyes again.

Qi Si'an also crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Su Ruoqing said that you're resolute and decisive. I was thinking that if you were timid and hesitant, it wouldn't be like you at all." After saying that, he laughed to himself. "Qingqing, look, your cousin, who grew up with you, doesn't understand you as well as I do."

"…I told you not to call me that." Pan Yueqing frowned. When there was no one around, she didn't even bother to pretend, and of course, she didn't bother to really care if Qi Si'an would change his way of calling her. "It's normal that he doesn't understand me."

It was only two months ago, when she woke up on the carriage going to Pinglong Nunnery, that she realized her life had been reset. Before that, her life had been like a tragic script, proceeding step by step. She was bullied by the people in the backyard of the Pan Mansion, overshadowed by Pan Miaoqian everywhere, forgotten by everyone. She was cautious, timid, pitiful, and fragile... Every time she thought of her former self, who was at the mercy of others, she couldn't help but feel angry.

Qi Si'an said with a smile, "Why don't you stop thinking about him?"

"…"

After waiting for a long time and not getting a reply from Pan Yueqing, Qi Si'an looked up and saw that Pan Yueqing's face was unusually flushed. Against the backdrop of the setting sun, which was as red as blood and gradually sinking, Qi Si'an was shocked.

"Qingqing?" Qi Si'an said softly. It seemed that the last bit of pride of her strong yet frail body was eroded by the affectionate call. Pan Yueqing's body tilted towards the gate. Qi Si'an quickly reached out and grabbed Pan Yueqing's hand, pulling her into his arms. "Qingqing!"

"Pan Yueqing!" Qi Si'an called out several times. He saw that Pan Yueqing gasped heavily several times. Qi Si'an squatted down and placed his hand on Pan Yueqing's forehead. The burning heat was transmitted from his fingertips. He frowned and instinctively wanted to carry her on his back and send her back to the courier station immediately.

"Don't move!" Luo Shui stepped out of the courtyard. The first thing she saw was Qi Si'an's action of carrying Pan Yueqing on his back. She was so frightened that she let out a sharp cry. Qi Si'an didn't seem to hear her at all. He even weighed Pan Yueqing's body and turned around to look at Luo Shui, who came forward bravely. "What?"

Luo Shui forced a smile. "Your Highness, your body is precious. Let this servant do this kind of rough work!" After saying that, she reached out to take Pan Yueqing.

Qi Si'an took half a step back. "No need. I can still carry her."

Luo Shui didn't give up. "But... Please forgive me for speaking bluntly, but there should be a proper distance between men and women..."

Before Luo Shui could finish speaking, Qi Si'an ignored her and walked straight towards the horse. "Saving people is the most important thing. I don't care."

"…My young lady cares!!!" Luo Shui's smile froze on her lips. She felt like she was about to cry. If Prime Minister Pan knew about this, he would probably kill her.

"Qingqing, hold on," Qi Si'an gently soothed Pan Yueqing, who was lying on his shoulder, regardless of whether she could hear him or not. Then, like carrying goods, he placed Pan Yueqing horizontally on the saddle. He stepped on the stirrup, whipped the horse, and galloped away in a cloud of dust.

"Hey... My master!" Shi Guang looked at Qi Si'an's anxious back with a look of despair. "At least you should place her in front of you! What kind of posture is this, like carrying rice?!!"

Meanwhile, Pan Haiyun and Yang Lin were sitting in the courtyard. It was obvious that they were familiar with each other, otherwise, Pan Haiyun wouldn't have taken out the excellent Longjing tea that he had cherished for so long and hadn't been willing to drink. The pleasant conversation between the two came to an abrupt end with the sound of a rapid horse's hooves. Pan Haiyun frowned and looked up to see Qi Si'an carrying Pan Yueqing like carrying rice, crossing the threshold and entering the courtyard directly.

"Prime Minister Pan!" Qi Si'an pulled on the reins of the Qinghai dragon breed horse under him. The powerful horse's hooves almost kicked Yang Lin in the face. Qi Si'an didn't dismount the horse and his anxious voice was already heard. "Miss Yue is ill!"

"…" Pan Haiyun and Yang Lin looked at each other in surprise. Yang Lin quickly stepped forward and was about to help Pan Yueqing down. But Qi Si'an slapped his hand away, his eyes sharp. "Don't touch her with your hands that are used to poisoning people."

Yang Lin smiled and wasn't annoyed. "Young man, have you forgotten who treated your injuries on Wan Guichou?" After saying that, without waiting for Qi Si'an to act, he stepped forward and helped Pan Haiyun carry Pan Yueqing into the room. Yang Lin placed his hands on Pan Yueqing's pulse and frowned. After thinking for a long time, he finally said slowly under Pan Haiyun's extremely worried gaze, "It's okay. She has heatstroke."

"Heatstroke?" Pan Haiyun asked doubtfully. "The sun wasn't very strong today..."

"Exhaustion and running around can also easily lead to heatstroke," Yang Lin gently put down Pan Yueqing's hand. "She hasn't been idle during this time!" After saying that, he glared at Pan Haiyun. "You, as a father, are always good at slacking off!"