Today, Yang Haiyan and Qin Fang had a great time.

Because Yang Haiyan was dressed as a boy, she felt less constrained and didn’t care whether others recognized her as a girl in disguise; even if they did, it didn’t matter.

However, while some were happy, others were worried.

Although they enjoyed themselves, Qin Shoucheng was absent-minded throughout the day.

Finally, when it was time for lunch after school, Qin Shoucheng asked the teacher for leave and decided to take the afternoon off.

Although Kun Daying and Qin Shoucheng were not in the same class, they usually walked to and from school together.

Therefore, Qin Shoucheng naturally needed to inform Kun Daying about his leave.

Kun Daying, who had always admired Qin Shoucheng’s diligence in study, was quite worried upon hearing he was taking a day off. “Shoucheng, what’s wrong? Why are you taking leave today?”

The county academy had a different curriculum from the four books they studied in town.

Previously, in the town, they only attended half-day classes, but in the county, they had full-day classes with various subjects, not just the ones from the private school.

Qin Shoucheng couldn’t think of a good excuse, so he told the most common lie: “I’m not feeling well, so I asked the teacher for leave. Daying, I’ll head home first; I won’t be able to walk home with you today.”

Kun Daying replied, “No problem, no problem. You need to take care of yourself. I’ll come visit you after school.”

His father was the captain of the guards at the general’s mansion, and his mother managed the large kitchen in the manor, so Kun Daying had a bit of standing in the academy.

In this small Yunxiang County, the Deputy General, a Fifth-rank official, was the highest authority.

Not only did people respect Kun Daying, but even the sons of the county magistrate had to give him face.

Qin Shoucheng said, “Alright, see you after school.”

After saying goodbye to Kun Daying, Qin Shoucheng waited a while at the academy gate for the maid in their courtyard to bring lunch.

He said, “I’m having lunch at home today. Auntie, please take the lunch back.”

The maid was quick and agile, around the same age as Qin’s mother.

Although Qin Shoucheng had lived with Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan for more than a year, he still had the innocent heart of a child when it came to asking servants for things.

He was very polite; after all, he came from a poor family and wasn’t accustomed to the entitled attitude of wealthy families.

Even Qin’s grandmother and mother, who were noblewomen, found it hard to adjust to treating servants as common.

The maid asked, “Why is the Third Young Master having lunch at home today? Is something the matter?”

Her question wasn’t inappropriate; she was just concerned for her master.

Qin Shoucheng was the third son in the general’s family.

Qin Fang was the first, so everyone called him the general.

Qin Shouye was the second, so everyone called him the second young master.

Therefore, Qin Shoucheng was known as the Third Young Master.

Now, with Niu Dan added to the family, he was the Fourth Young Master.

Qin Shoucheng said, “I’m not feeling well. I’ve been studying too much and have a bit of a headache. There’s no need to worry about my health, and don’t disturb my brother and sister-in-law; I don’t want them to worry.”

The maid replied, “Understood.”

However, upon reaching the general’s mansion, she went to ask Doctor Li to come.

Even if she didn’t inform the general and his wife, she had to call the doctor.

If something happened to the Third Young Master, she couldn’t bear the consequences and responsibilities.

Carrying the lunch box into the courtyard, Qin Shoucheng didn’t eat immediately.

Instead, he went to find Qin Shouye.

Recently, Qin Shouye had been studying accounts with Yang Haiyan and checking the books while also learning arithmetic and other subjects with the tutor in the mansion, so he was quite busy.

At this moment, Qin Shouye and Niu Dan were eating lunch when they saw Shoucheng coming back with a lunch box.

“Why are you back?” The maid had already brought him lunch; wasn’t he supposed to eat at the academy?

Qin Shoucheng replied, “I’m not feeling well today, so I asked the teacher for leave and came back early.”

While saying this, he sat down, took out the food from the lunch box, and shared it with Qin Shouye.

Hearing that Qin Shoucheng wasn’t feeling well, Niu Dan asked with concern, “Third Brother, have you seen Doctor Li?”

Since he started studying with Siya and Qiuya and had a bodyguard teaching him martial arts, he often felt unwell.

Qin Shouye put down his chopsticks. “I’ll go find Doctor Li.”

Qin Shoucheng quickly said, “No, no, I just need to rest a bit; I’ll be fine.” If Doctor Li came, wouldn’t that expose his lie about being sick?

So, Qin Shoucheng was reluctant to see Doctor Li.

However, Qin Shouye thought differently.

He had always been attentive, and since his elder brother went to serve in the army, he had become the elder brother at home, taking care of his younger siblings.

Thus, he was accustomed to worrying about these matters.

Hearing that Qin Shoucheng wasn’t feeling well and considering he was a student, Qin Shouye took it very seriously. “That won’t do; you can’t take your health lightly. Wait here.” Saying this, he got up.

Qin Shoucheng was startled by his serious expression, realizing that using illness as an excuse was wrong.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard the maid’s voice from outside: “Second Young Master, I’ve invited Miss Li over; Doctor Li isn’t in the mansion.”

Doctor Li often went to the mountains to gather herbs, especially to that beast mountain, which hadn’t been visited by anyone for twenty years.

There were plenty of medicinal herbs there.

Moreover, the soldiers were stationed at the foot of the beast mountain to help Doctor Li pave the way and carry his basket, so he had been going there quite frequently.

Although Miss Li’s medical skills weren’t exceptional, she could handle general minor ailments, so Doctor Li felt assured to leave her behind while he gathered herbs.

Miss Li didn’t like leaving her courtyard, but today the maid came to summon her, saying that Qin Shoucheng was feeling unwell.

Miss Li was worried about delaying his recovery, so she had no choice but to leave the courtyard.

Although no one in the General’s residence spoke ill of her, the people in the household treated her kindly because of her father, Miss Li’s internal sense of inferiority was something she couldn’t shake off.

Thus, outside of her courtyard, she always felt that others looked at her strangely.

Nevertheless, she was trying her best to overcome it.

Upon arriving at the courtyard of the several young masters, Miss Li felt even more anxious and restless.

Her face had turned slightly pale.

To those unaware, like Qin Shouye, he felt that it was not Qin Shoucheng who was unwell, but rather Miss Li herself.

Qin Shouye said, “Please come in,” and he went to the door to welcome her.

Not just Qin Shouye; even the others in the Qin family, including Qin Shoucheng and Qin Siya who had come to Yunxiang County with Yang Haiyan and Qin Fang, were unaware of Miss Li’s ordeal in the bandit den.

At that time, Qin Fang had led the soldiers to eliminate the bandit hideout, and only those soldiers knew about it.

They had been ordered by Qin Fang not to mention it, and those who hadn’t seen Miss Li in the bandit den naturally did not know that she was one of the girls who had been rescued.

Therefore, Qin Shoucheng and the others were oblivious to this matter.

Miss Li entered with the maid, greeting them in a slightly trembling voice: “I greet you, gentlemen.”

Facing Yang Haiyan, perhaps because they were both women, Miss Li was not as frightened and nervous.

But in front of the men, she felt a bit afraid, thinking their gazes were strange.

Only in her own courtyard, surrounded by the scent of herbs, could she feel somewhat at ease.

Or perhaps when there was someone she could trust around, her heart would also be calmed.

This was the first time Qin Shouye had seen Miss Li.

He knew there was a Miss Li in the residence; she was the daughter of Dr. Li.

Previously, when Dr. Li had checked their pulses for safety, Qin Shouye had met Dr. Li and knew that his elder brother and sister-in-law respected him greatly, as Dr. Li had provided a lot of help to his elder brother.

However, he had never met Miss Li before.

Seeing her for the first time now, he was somewhat stunned.

This Miss Li was really beautiful.

Dr. Li was a physician in Huanshui County with his own pharmacy.

Miss Li grew up in the county town, so naturally, the Li family was not lacking in resources.

On the contrary, they were doing quite well. If Miss Li was valued by the bandits, it was one thing for them to threaten Dr. Li, but if Miss Li were ugly, would the bandits use her to threaten Dr. Li?

Even if they could, it would probably be her life rather than such a way.

After all, the bandits weren’t lacking in young girls.

Thus, having only seen rustic village girls his entire life, Qin Shouye was taken aback when he first laid eyes on Miss Li.

Miss Li noticed that he kept staring at her, and cold sweat began to trickle down her forehead, her lips turning even paler.

Qin Shoucheng and Niu Dan were still young boys and naturally didn’t understand such matters.

However, the maid was experienced and knew very well how men looked at beautiful girls, so she quickly said, “Second Master, should Miss Li meet Third Master?”

Since Miss Li was a young lady, she didn’t retreat, otherwise it would be awkward for her.

Qin Shouye came back to his senses and quickly explained, “I… I just saw Miss Li’s face was very pale. Is she ill? Is she alright?”

The maid also noticed Miss Li’s overly pale complexion, thinking back to when she had looked fine earlier.

Could it be that she had suffered from heatstroke on the way?

Dr. Li’s courtyard was relatively secluded, both because he had chosen it himself and because it had a large area for growing medicinal herbs, which he liked very much.

Thus, it took some time to walk from Dr. Li’s courtyard to the young masters’ courtyard due to the size of the General’s residence.

So the maid became more convinced that it was the journey that had exhausted Miss Li.

She also asked, “Miss, I saw you looking fine when you came out; could it be that the journey tired you out? Have you suffered from heatstroke?”

The weather was indeed very hot, and since the General’s residence had plenty of ice, it was cool inside, but outside, in comparison, it was unbearable.

Miss Li, feeling anxious from Qin Shouye’s questioning, quickly echoed the maid’s words, “Indeed, I’m tired from the journey. Perhaps I have taken in some heat; it’s nothing serious. I’ll just take a few medicine pills when I return.”

As soon as Qin Shoucheng heard this, he quickly said, “Miss Li, you should go back and take the medicine first; I’m fine.”

Hearing this, Qin Shouye shot a glare at Qin Shoucheng and said sternly, “Sit properly.”

Then he turned back to Miss Li, speaking gently, “I hope you can take a look at my younger brother.”

Miss Li nodded: “Alright.”

Qin Shoucheng had no choice but to obediently sit up straight.