Dawn broke, the eastern sky already bright, clouds billowing like steam beneath a rosy glow.
Gongxi Lai hadn't followed Gongxi Chou's instructions to catch up on sleep. Instead, she'd packed her things through the night. Most of what she owned had been provided by Gongxi Chou; her clothes, fabrics, and jewelry had mostly been rewards from her superiors. Knowing how important this journey was, she'd focused on the gold and silver.
The patient had wanted to get up and help.
But in the latter half of the night, her fever had risen and refused to break.
She'd drifted in and out of sleep until she finally awoke around noon the next day. At the slightest movement, she found herself drenched in sticky sweat. Still, she felt much better than the day before, and her head was no longer foggy. The room was empty, so she struggled to sit up.
Just then, Gongxi Lai came in with a bowl of thin rice porridge.
"My benefactor, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
"I've sweated it out. I feel much better."
Thanks to Gongxi Lai's careful nursing over the past two days—and the top-grade wound medicine she'd borrowed from Gongxi Chou—the injury had healed very well. The weather was cool, and the wound had been cleaned and treated, so it hadn't festered or become inflamed. At this rate, she'd be fully recovered in half a month.
The patient coughed and said, "You don't have to call me your benefactor anymore. My family name is Yang, and my given name is Ying. Just call me Ying Niang."
"Courtesy goes both ways. Then you should call me A Lai."
Gongxi Lai couldn't bring herself to leave Yang Ying while her injuries were still healing. After consulting with her sworn elder brother, she decided to