It’s fine—I’ll have the opportunity to meet her in the future. I can wait. Besides, I do have many things waiting for me to do.

I can forget about relying on Qi Ye, that young lad. He’s not reliable at all. I’m really disappointed that he only just told us what Young Master told him.

“Father, why are you looking at me like that?”

Qi Ye started to become angry when he noticed his father’s disdainful gaze.

Can he not despise me so much? I don’t have to think to know what he’s thinking. He’s blaming me for not telling him about Young Master earlier!

But how’s that my fault? Young Master wanted us to tell Uncle Shen, not my father!

“Can’t you see the disdain in my eyes?” Qi Gu raised his hand and slapped his son’s head firmly.

Qi Ye stayed quiet.

I’m smart, but my father is about to make me stupid! How can he hit his own son like that? I’m starting to think I’m not his biological son!

“Father, can you show mercy?”

He said helplessly and retreated from his father’s danger zone. The people around them laughed when they heard his words.

After the laughter died down, Shen Yan said to everyone, “Er Ning, Ai Qi, and I will go to the military camp this time.”

Er Ning was the chief of the second stockaded village, and Ai Qi was the chief of the third stockaded village. This lineup should be enough. Young Master should be able to sense that they value her, right?

Moreover, it was not a large group. If Young Master did not like to be disturbed by too many people, a group of three should be acceptable, right?

“There’s no time to lose. I’ll send a message to Second Brother,” Ai Qi said.

This matter was settled. Qi Gu kept an eye on the village while the others left to look for herbs nearby.

…

Meanwhile, Qian Jiyun also sent many people to pick herbs.

He remembered that Deputy General Sun had met the people from the 18 Stockaded Villages because they were also gathering herbs. Hence, he specially instructed his subordinates not to confront or argue with other people gathering herbs if they encountered them.

On the other side, An Jiuyue arrived outside a villa.

She first went to the bamboo forest and caught many bamboo rats to develop an antidote for the two poisons. Then, she went to the villa.

Her father had left the villa for her. Of course, with a large one like this, there had to be someone taking care of it. Even if she wanted to enter, she had to inform the people inside first.

Soon, the butler rushed over. Although An Jiuyue was a stranger to him, he knew she was the young master immediately because of the seal left behind by his master.

“Young Master, please come in.”

The butler’s surname was Huang. Everyone in the villa called him Elder Huang. Even An Tu called him Uncle Huang whenever he came here.

He brought An Jiuyue to the Autumn Water Courtyard.

“Sigh.”

Elder Huang sighed softly after hearing of his master’s passing.

“Young Master, Master had too many old injuries. If he didn’t focus on recuperating in the mountains, I’m afraid he wouldn’t even be…” Alive in the last few years!

He did not say that out loud, but it was indisputable.

“This is fate. Master was stubborn and refused to listen to anyone’s advice. Back then, I tried to persuade him to give up. Fame and fortune are all in vain, but Master refused to listen to me.”

Elder Huang looked at An Jiuyue with tears in his eyes.