A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Life in Blue Sky City was peaceful and fulfilling.
The vast medicine fields in the Eastern District had yielded one harvest and been planted again. Business at the Blue Medicine Hall headquarters had grown further since last month, the supply line to the Northern Border Medical Camp ran smoothly, and the City Defense Army's recruit training was on track.
Lan Si'er and Lan Li'er could already run all over the courtyard, chasing chickens and dogs. Lan San had also learned to walk while holding on to the wall, wobbling back and forth across the courtyard every day.
On the morning of their departure, Lan Tian stood at the Castle entrance, waiting for the three women to finish packing.
Louise emerged from the room carrying a small bag. She had changed into a dark red dress and pinned her hair neatly at the back of her head.
Xiao Li kissed Lan Li'er over and over before handing her to Shui Hanyi to look after for the time being. Lan Li'er reached out with her little hands and clutched Xiao Li's hair, refusing to let go. It took quite a while to soothe her before Xiao Li could get away.
Ah Yin had changed into a simple moon-white dress, her hair loosely gathered with a silver hairpin. She looked a little gentler and more graceful than usual.
Shui Hanyi leaned against the doorframe, watching the three of them with a hand resting lightly on her slightly rounded belly.
She had wanted to go along too, but Lan Tian had told her the night before, "You're pregnant. The Auction House will be crowded and noisy, and the air won't be good either. It's no place for you or the baby. Stay in the city