Shen Wan was about to reach out to assist, but Wang Qi didn't even glance at her before turning and hurriedly walking toward the mother-daughter pair.
"What a strange person!" She shook her head.
Regardless of how odd he was, she had now repaid Wang Qi for his earlier help by intervening in the recent incident.
Shen Wan stretched lazily before walking over to Xie Mubai.
"How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" She handed him the bamboo container, her voice tinged with concern.
Although they had been drinking Bishu Tang these past two days, the great villain's constitution was truly too weak—he could easily fall ill if they weren't careful.
Xie Mubai took the container and drank a sip, offering a faint smile. "I'm fine. It's you who should be more cautious."
Though there was no breeze, the oilcloth umbrella overhead at least provided some shade from the sun.
Moreover, he didn't have to walk and didn't need to expend any physical energy.
But this ugly girl didn't have such privileges. Even without pushing the cart, simply following on foot was already arduous enough.
Around this time, more people in the crowd began experiencing dizziness and vomiting.
This wretched weather was stifling like a giant steamer, and to make matters worse, these exiled convicts were all delicate and frail. That they had endured this far was no small feat.
Seeing the prisoners' pale faces one after another, Hu Dahai grew increasingly anxious.
After a moment's thought, he hurried over to find Shen Wan. "Sister, the situation isn't good. More people are suffering from heatstroke. I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you again."
Shen Wan only had one pair of hands; treating everyone individually would be troublesome.
Besides, if she treated too many patients, the secret of her Space might be exposed.
"How about this: first, take everyone to a cooler spot to rest," she suggested after some consideration. "I bought some mung beans at the market—they're in the cart. Have the Yamen runners boil them for everyone to drink."
"Later, I'll go up the mountain to gather some herbs for those who are unwell."
Hu Dahai's eyes reddened with gratitude. "Then I'll trouble you."
"But gathering herbs alone is too exhausting. Let me find a few others to accompany you."
This task wasn't originally Shen Wan's responsibility. Those people were neither relatives nor friends, and now she had to gather herbs on the mountain. Hu Dahai felt somewhat guilty.
"No need," Shen Wan said with a smile. "Having more people on the mountain would actually be troublesome. For one, we'd have to prevent them from escaping, and secondly, they don't recognize medicinal herbs. I'd have to divide my attention to watch them."
"Other things might be manageable, but if they mistakenly gather the wrong herbs, it could be dangerous."
Hu Dahai had considered this as well, but he was mainly concerned about her overexertion.
"I'll accompany you," Wang Qi said, having approached unnoticed.
Hu Dahai looked him up and down, asking impassively, "Do you understand medicine?"
"No," Wang Qi replied indifferently. "But I can help carry the herbs."
"Don't worry, I won't run away. My sister-in-law and niece are both still here."
Even so, Hu Dahai remained skeptical.
A sister-in-law and a niece—such hostages didn't seem substantial enough.
Xie Mubai, who had been observing, said lightly, "Then I'll trouble Young Master Wang to take good care of my wife."
Since he had spoken, Hu Dahai couldn't very well refuse.
He had a vague sense that his standing within the group was gradually diminishing.
Wang Qi glanced at Xie Mubai, a trace of mockery flickering across his handsome face. "There's no need for Shizi Ye to say anything—I would have done so regardless."
"I, Wang Qi, may not be what you'd call a gentleman, but I understand the principle of repaying kindness."
Xie Mubai gave a cold laugh. "Now that the Guo Gong Fu has been confiscated, it's rather inappropriate for you to still address me as Shizi Ye."
"If such words reach the wrong ears, I'm afraid I'll face more trouble."
Though both were smiling, their conversation carried an undercurrent of sharp tension, as if some deep-seated enmity existed between them.
Wang Qi couldn't be bothered with further discussion. He shot Xie Mubai a piercing glare before turning to ascend the mountain.
"I'm going too!" Seeing this, Shen Wan instructed Xie Mubai, "When the mung bean soup is ready later, don't drink any since you're still taking medicine!"
"If you need more water, ask Brother Hu."
Her incessant chatter softened the gloom in Xie Mubai's eyes somewhat.
When the Duchess was alive, she'd also nagged like this all day long, and he used to find it annoying.
But if he could do it all over again, he'd pay any price!
"Don't worry, I'll take care of myself." Xie Mubai smiled faintly, his voice slightly hoarse.
Hu Dahai also laughed. "Don't worry, little sister. I'm here too. You'd better hurry."
If she didn't go soon, Wang Qi would reach the mountain peak.
Shen Wan smiled awkwardly before quickly speeding up to catch up.
Watching their receding figures, Hu Dahai still felt somewhat uneasy. "Do you think that Wang Qi might try something tricky?"
Among all the exiled convicts, besides Xie Mubai, the scholar Wang Qilang had the greatest reputation.
If he escaped, the authorities would surely hold them accountable.
"He won't." Xie Mubai said indifferently. "Wang Qi is inherently aloof and values his reputation most. He'd rather die than become a fugitive."
Hearing this, Hu Dahai's anxious heart finally settled somewhat.
Since Xie Mubai said he wouldn't, Wang Qi probably wouldn't escape.
Wang Qi naturally had no intention of escaping.
At that moment, he stood beside Shen Wan, earnestly learning how to identify Huoxiang.
"Just pick according to this." Shen Wan bent down, plucked one, and handed it over. "Huoxiang prefers warm, humid environments. Look in such spots, and you won't go wrong."
Wang Qi took the herb and examined it carefully. "How much is suitable for a four-year-old child to take at once?"
Hearing this, Shen Wan understood why he had followed her up the mountain.
"I just gave Da Niu her medicine; she doesn't need any for now." She smiled. "Even if she did, I'd still prepare it myself."
"Decocting medicine requires precise timing and heat control—it's not just tossing it into a pot."
Wang Qi nodded.
He bent down, picked one, and handed it over, asking, "Is this it?"
"That's the one." Shen Wan nodded with a smile. "We'll probably need a lot of herbs this time. Let's split up."
"Be careful on your way. If anything happens, call for me."
The last sentence made Wang Qi somewhat uncomfortable.
What did she mean, call for her?
He, a full-grown man, needed a woman's protection?
Though displeased, Wang Qi said nothing.
He nodded and turned to leave.
Seeing Wang Qi go far enough, Shen Wan slipped into her Space.
The Space was truly wonderful—so refreshingly cool.
While others outside were sweating profusely from the heat, Shen Wan leisurely soaked in a bathtub, holding a drink she'd previously stored in the refrigerator. The feeling was simply too delightful!
It was a pity the big villain was too suspicious; otherwise, she'd have brought him a bottle.
After her bath, Shen Wan lay on the bed to rest for a while.
Estimating that the time was about right, she went to the warehouse and grabbed a large handful of Huoxiang.
After a moment's thought, she casually picked up a watermelon as well.
Just as she was about to grab something else, suddenly, Wang Qi's scream came from not far away.