Gusu Liang’s eyes brightened, she looked at the man happily. Things would be a lot easier if Gu Qiang could get her memory back.

Although Ye had done nothing on the night Gu Qiang lost her memory, Gusu Liang still believed that she had been part of it.

Ye had been tolerating with Gu Qiang for so long. Why did she suddenly do it? Had Gu Qiang known anything she shouldn’t? Then Ye must want more than simply washing off Gu Qiang’s memories.

“I would be deeply appreciated if you can help me get my memory back. But before that, can you go back to Xiaoyao Mountain with me?” Gu Qiang asked that man.

That reminded Gusu Liang of her own master’s dire situation. She looked at the man but found him shaking his head. “That’s not possible. It was him who got my family into this, and now you want me to save him?” he refused in a confirmed voice.

He had already given the herbs to them for Shen Qianshan’s treatment. And now to save him himself? That’s like a betrayal to all his late families and he wouldn’t forgive himself had he done that.

His families wanted nothing but to survive, and they got it from the Su Family.

He wouldn’t give up his conscience simply for survival, which was not his way of doing things.

Before noon, Gu Qiang and Gusu Liang returned to Xiaoyao Mountain. They sent the man to Tong An Medicine Shop, where he wouldn’t be able to rig with many medical professionals around.

There was a peculiar atmosphere shrouding the Xiaoyao Mountain. Everyone was lowering down their voices, being afraid that they would wake up the man sleeping in bed.

When they got into Shen Qianshan’s palace, they saw Gu Huaian and Princess Changning sitting in the pavilion saying something, who got up at the moment they caught sight of them.

Gu Huaian carefully checked the herbs Gusu Liang handed over to him. “I need to get things prepared, please excuse me,” he said, then he stormed out of the pavilion.

Princess Changning patted her outfit and asked her maid to help her with the hair. When everything was finished, she turned to Gu Qiang, grinning. “Luoping, will you two get the wedding done after Qianshan wakes up?”

Gu Qiang froze up, but before she could say anything, Ziyan walked in angrily and cut into their conversation. “Sister Changning, I saw you have such a long talk with Gu Huaian just now, were you two interested in each other?” she asked the Princess and clapped her on her shoulder, smirking.

But the Princess only gave her a cold stare, like she was an idiot. The maids serving aside were also peeping at Ziyan, fighting with the temptation to laugh.

Princess Changning had been old enough for marriage years ago, but no man could get close to her, nor attract her attention because she considered the scholars too weak, the swordsmen too vulgar, and those who were adept at both not good-looking.

Her maids knew the true reasons behind it. There wasn’t much space in a woman’s heart; if someone wanted to get in, someone must move out first.

That man who raised peacocks had been lingering on Changning’s heart for years. She thought she would never forget him, thinking her feelings for him would only grow deeper and stronger as time went by.

But she didn’t notice that her feelings had already been withered away by time. Although it would still make her sad whenever the memory of him popped up, she wouldn’t be heartbroken.

The heart that had been empty for so long now needed a new visitor.

“You forgot who you are! There is now a plague raging across the capital. How could you still have the mood to make fun of me?” said Changning impatiently, rolling her eyes.

Ziyan just leaned against the chair casually and looked into the distance where the sunshine, her pretty small face dazzling under the sun.

Behind the trees where the sun couldn’t reach, Gu Qiang gathered her clothes around herself and looked at the two people carefully. On the one hand, her heart was burning with worries for Shen Qianshan, on the other hand, she was fighting with the urge to check his situation.

It felt like she was waiting for the doctor to pronounce the judgment of her own sickness. It was Shen Qianshan who was sick in bed, but she had to bear the consequences of the dreadful waiting.

“You must be joking, Sister Changning. The courtiers will help the imperial family take care of the plague, or why do we need to pay them?” said Ziyan. She didn’t know how sarcastic it was to hear such words coming out of her mouth, after all, she had always been a naive girl who had a big heart.

Changning said nothing back. It was not in their duty to be concerned about the lives of the people. Compassion was not a bad thing, but usually, their ability fell short of their wishes.

“Get back to the palace early. Don’t wander outside with that man,” said Changning, then she left the palace with her maids.

But Gu Qiang grasped something else from her words. Ziyan had used to be keen on winning Shen Qianshan’s heart. Was she now falling in love with another man?

Once all the maids were gone, Gu Qiang came forward and joked, “What does that mean? That man? Are you dating anyone else?”

Actually, she was not interested in it, just thinking she needs something to divert her attention in the dreadful waiting.

Ziyan was a childish girl. Seeing Gu Qiang was so curious about her new acquaintance, she quickly got to her side and said in a very mysterious voice, “Let me tell you, Luoping. Yesterday on the street, I met this man who looked really handsome. He was very clean, like the southerners, a bit bookish, but never weak. I find him quite different from others.”

“If you like that man, start a relationship with him. It’s fine,” nodded Gu Qiang, smiling.

Women living in the imperial palace were either married to the Emperor or sacrificed their whole life for the imperial family. But Ziyan’s mother, the Empress Dowager, was still alive, so she was free to get her own way and marry anybody she liked.

Actually, Ziyan had been quite hesitated on this. But now she gained a bit more confidence from Gu Qiang’s words. “If you say so, I think I can have a meeting with him today. They say his name is called Ye Mu,” said Ziyan happily. She gave Gu Qiang a casual pat on the shoulder and then stormed away.

Gu Qiang looked at her back, feeling a bit strange somewhere. The name of Ye Mu sounded familiar, but it could also be a misconception.

At the moment when she tried to cling to the feelings in her heart, Jin Ye rushed out of the palace and roared, “Master’s awake! He is fine!”

That was terrific news! For a moment, Gu Qiang felt she have lost her breath and was knocked out. Fortunately, Gusu Liang rushed to her side and then supported her inside the palace.

The room was warm and dry. Shen Qianshan was drinking tea in a chair, looking good. When he raised his eyes, Gu Qiang thought there was an ocean of stars in them.

Shen Qianshan smiled when he saw Gu Qiang walking into his chamber. He put his cup back onto the table, and waved his hand, “Come over here,” he said to her gently.

His voice was so soft that made Gu Qiang feel there was a feather itching her heart.

All the people have gone out, leaving the room to Gu Qiang and Shen Qianshan alone.

There was a light scent in this room. Not like perfume, it soothed people’s nerves, yet could hardly be noticed.

Seeing Gu Qiang sit on his bed, Shen Qianshan smiled. He lowered his head, his eyes fixed on the complicated pattern on his bedding.

“How are you doing? Is everything okay?” he finally uttered.

Gu Qiang didn’t reply, her heart filled with mixed feelings. When she finally couldn’t contain them, she rose and burst out, “So you are okay now! Then tell me what had happened! How could you not be able to avoid that woman’s attack! You are such a skilled swordsman!”

If Shen Qianshan had never liked Su Shuangning, what did he allow himself to be hit? Gu Qiang just couldn’t figure it out.

Amused by her outrage, Shen Qianshan burst into laughter, but the pain accompanied made him instantly put his hand upon his chest. His lungs seemed to be weak.

Seeing this, Gu Qiang quickly went to his support and tried to feed him some water.

Instead of taking the cup, Shen Qianshan dragged her into his arms with strength so strong for a patient that she couldn’t shake him off, his smile got wider.

“I’ve had some strange dreams recently, lustrous and dazzling. And there is one I want you to know,” said Shen Qianshan, his voice sexy and gentle, like rivers in the spring, which made Gu Qiang’s long restless heart finally in peace.

His tone was the same as ever, but with a touch of something more, the deep love for her.

“I’m not here to hear about your dreams! I only want you to wake up,” sneered Gu Qiang. Then she stood up and wanted to leave but was caught by Shen Qianshan in his arms again.

“In that dream, I proposed to you again and again, but you never accepted it. My heart had broken so many times, very hurtful. How could you be so ruthless to me, Qiang?” Shen Qianshan continued. There seemed to be tears brimming in his eyes, like what happened in the dreams were all real.

Gu Qiang found his words a bit amused, but she successfully contained the impulse to laugh.

But then, they were interrupted by Gusu Liang, whose voice came from outside, “Master, my lady, the imperial family has sent someone here, saying they want Mr. Gu to pay them a visit.”

Just coming around to his senses, Shen Qianshan didn’t know that the capital was now suffering a deadly infectious disease again. It could easily ruin the entire city beyond redemption.

Gu Qiang pushed the door and walked out, her face calm. She found Gu Huaian standing quietly in the distance, like a statue. At the sight of her, he forced out a smile and said in a soft voice, “Qiang, I doubt whether I could come back alive this time. If you can’t find a better man than the Ninth Duke, just accept him. He is not a bad guy.”

“What do you mean by this?” shouted Gu Qiang, very angry at his words.