In the middle of the night, Qi Yue walked out of the room during her shift rotation.
“I’ll go get some water for Young Madam to soak her feet and relieve fatigue.” A’Ru said in a low voice.
“You’re also exhausted, don’t worry about it, go rest quickly. You’ll need to replace them later.” Qi Yue shook her head and said.
“I’m not tired, it’s just washing and wiping. Young Madam, you and Doctor Liu are mentally exhausted—that’s the most tiring.” A’Ru said, then went to call the servants.
Qi Yue stood in the courtyard, feeling tired and weary all over, but had no sleepiness.
She simply sat down on the steps.
“Get up, how can you sit here?” Chang Yuncheng’s voice came from the side.
Qi Yue was startled and quickly looked in the direction of the voice.
“Why are you here?” she asked in surprise, then laughed at herself as soon as the words left her mouth. “Look at me forgetting again—this is your home.”
Chang Yuncheng walked out from under the corridor.
“Why aren’t you resting? It’s so late.” Qi Yue stood up, moved her hands and feet, stretched her muscles and bones, and asked.
“Was busy with some matters.” Chang Yuncheng said.
He didn’t say what matters, and Qi Yue naturally wouldn’t ask. The two fell into silence.
“Why don’t you ask how the patient is doing?” Qi Yue smiled.
“Do your best and leave the rest to fate—what’s there to ask?” Chang Yuncheng said.
Qi Yue smiled. This child had never asked about how the injured person was being treated from beginning to end, probably not wanting to add pressure to her.
“Thank you.” she said. “You don’t need to worry, and you don’t need to blame yourself. I won’t hold this matter against you.”
Chang Yuncheng snorted with laughter.
“Really…” he turned his head away and said, “Self-righteous.”
Qi Yue laughed heartily.
“Though you’re very annoying, you’re still an honest scoundrel.” she said with a grin. “But don’t think too much about my thanks—it’s just dealing with matters as they come, one thing at a time.”
Chang Yuncheng looked down at her.
“You’re the one overthinking.” he frowned and said. “Better sleep early and clear your head.”
As they were talking, A’Ru brought servants with hot water.
Qi Yue leaned against the corridor pillar, looked up at the cold night sky, and exhaled.
“You go wash first, I’ll come over in a moment.” Qi Yue said.
A’Ru hesitated, glanced at Chang Yuncheng who was still standing with no intention of leaving, then nodded and responded yes, leading the servants into the room.
What a beautiful starry sky.
In the past, working night shifts or having surgeries go until midnight was common, but there had never been a chance to look at the stars. Or rather, she had never thought to look at the starry sky.
What was the point of looking at stars? Her relatives, friends, and colleagues were all by her side, not under different starry skies.
“When those two girls came to see you, what did they say?” Chang Yuncheng suddenly asked.
Qi Yue, lost in thought, was startled by the question.
“What?” She withdrew her gaze and looked at Chang Yuncheng.
“When you were staying at the estate, both Mother and Concubine Zhou sent girls to see you. What did they say?” Chang Yuncheng looked at her and asked.
Oh, that’s what he meant. Qi Yue raised her hand to rub her nose, dispelling the slight stiffness from the cold.
“One advised separation, one advised reconciliation.” she laughed, then looked at Chang Yuncheng with raised eyebrows. “Guess which one advised what?”
Chang Yuncheng snorted, expressing his disdain for her question.
“You’re investigating my attack, aren’t you? How’s it going?” Qi Yue asked with some curiosity.
“As long as I want to do something, nothing can’t be done.” Chang Yuncheng said with some arrogance, raising his head.
Qi Yue shook her head and chuckled.
“Easy to say. Some things in this world don’t have results just because you work hard.” she said, somehow feeling her nose tingle as she spoke these words. Like treating patients and saving lives…
“What exactly are you being sentimental about?” Chang Yuncheng frowned at her. “It’s just treating an illness. Why do you look like you’re going to die? Really disgusting.”
This time, this woman didn’t fly into a rage and argue back as before.
Qi Yue still leaned against the pillar, holding her arms in an ungraceful posture unbecoming of a woman, her gaze still on the night sky.
“Treating illness—two simple words, but they relate to life. Others entrust their lives to you…” she smiled bitterly, “But you can’t do it. This feeling, you wouldn’t understand.”
Chang Yuncheng said nothing.
The surroundings fell into nighttime tranquility again, with only the occasional moans of the injured person from the room behind them and the soft footsteps of Hu San and others.
“Three years ago, I was responsible for a forward reconnaissance mission.” Chang Yuncheng suddenly spoke.
This was the first time the boy had initiated conversation with her, and it seemed to be about the past.
Qi Yue glanced at him without speaking.