A Shocking Dream

Chapter 215

Qin Rongchen's heart suddenly tightened when he saw this. He quickly raised his hand to indicate that he was harmless, and said softly, "Don't be afraid. It's me. I was rude."

Kanan quickly calmed herself down, patted her chest, took a long breath, then looked up at Qin Rongchen, her eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, and she said softly, "It's Brother Fairy, how come you are here?" After she finished speaking, she turned around lightly like a nimble bird and continued to stir the medicine soup in her hand. Her movements were smooth and flowing, as if the panic just now had never happened.

"Miss Lin's letter mentioned this matter. Ruoyu can't leave the capital, so I have to secretly investigate Xie Yuan." Qin Rongchen's brows were furrowed, and his words were full of solemnity. He subconsciously wanted to help Qianqian with some of the burden at this point. His eyes glanced at the busy medicine furnace, but he found that his enthusiasm was empty. Faced with the table full of herbs and the curling medicinal smoke, he didn't know where to start. His hands hung awkwardly in the air, unable to move forward or retreat.

Kankan raised her eyes and saw how embarrassed he was. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I'm used to controlling the temperature of this medicine. It's good that you're willing to do it. But the matter of Xie Yuan is extremely dangerous. I heard that he has great influence in Yingzhou and his power is complicated. You must be careful if you rashly investigate." After that, she raised her white hand and tucked the sweaty hair behind her ears. She stood up and took the herbs that were drying on the side and sorted them skillfully.

Qin Rongchen then noticed that when he told her that his nephew Qin Ruoyu was unable to come to Yingzhou due to various matters, Kankan did not show any sign of disappointment or concern.

She just paused slightly in her movements, as if a light feather fluttered by, disturbing her mind for a fleeting moment, and then she focused on the medicine furnace in front of her again, her expression as calm as water, as if the three words Qin Ruoyu were just the name of an ordinary passerby, not stirring up any ripples in her heart.

The medicinal broth bubbled in the pot, its steam thickening and blurring Kankan's features, yet it couldn't conceal the indifference that permeated her. Qin Rongchen wondered, "Could I have guessed wrong?" Seeing Ruoyu so obsessed, he'd assumed she shared the same feelings. But now, seeing her so calm, he was unsure.

He coughed lightly and pretended to test her casually: "Miss Kanan, Ruoyu often thinks of you in the capital. He is really busy this time, so he asked me to apologize to you. I hope you won't blame me." As he spoke, he stared at her every move, not missing any details.

Kanan raised her eyes, her clear eyes met Qin Rongchen's gaze, with a faint smile on the corner of her lips: "Mr. Qin, you are too polite. Mr. Qin is very busy and should focus on important matters. How could I blame you?" Her tone was steady, without any joy or worry. The wooden spoon in her hand was still stirring the medicine soup in an orderly manner. The fragrance of the medicine filled the air, as if to conceal her secret thoughts.

Qin Rongchen was increasingly confused. Could it be that this was his nephew's job? He was just being overly enthusiastic? But Ruoyu's letter was filled with deep affection, and it was definitely not fake.

While she was lost in thought, Kanan had carefully poured the boiled medicine into a porcelain bowl and placed it on a stone table to dry. A breeze blew by, and a few strands of hair fell on her cheeks. She raised her hand and gently stroked them. Her profile was soft and picturesque in the afterglow of the setting sun, yet revealed a sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance.

Qin Rongchen sighed inwardly. The word "love" is the most difficult to understand. It will take some time to figure out what kind of complicated thoughts are hidden behind this appearance.

He silently helped to clean up the medicine residue, and decided to put the mystery aside for the time being. Right now, there was something entrusted to him by Miss Lin that needed to be solved urgently. He only glanced at Kankan occasionally, and the wisp of doubt still lingered like a wisp of smoke.

"Are you here helping Kankan? That's perfect. I have something I want Kankan to do. Please help her boil the medicine and pay attention to the temperature." Lin Wunian strode out of the room and saw Qin Rongchen about to reach out to help Kankan pass the herbs. His eyes swept between the two of them, and then he spoke, his voice full of unquestionable sharpness.

Qin Rongchen was slightly startled, then nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, Miss Lin. I'll do my best." He looked up at Qianqian, who also looked surprised. This order must have been quite sudden. Qianqian hesitated, a hint of worry in her eyes. Qin Rongchen gently waved his hand at her, indicating that it was okay.

Lin Wunian seemed anxious. He took a few steps forward, grabbed Kankan's arm and led her to the gate of the courtyard. Kankan looked back at the medicine furnace, frowned slightly, and finally gritted her teeth and quickly followed Lin Wunian.

Qin Rongchen watched the two figures disappear around the corner of the courtyard gate before returning to focus on the medicine at hand. He approached the medicine cauldron and, imitating Kankan's previous actions, gently stirred the medicine broth. The aroma of the medicine permeated his nostrils, bringing a quiet and peaceful feeling.

But without the busy figure of Kankan beside him, the backyard seemed a lot emptier, and the afterglow of the setting sun cast a shadow on his slightly lonely silhouette.

The previously tranquil medicinal soup seemed to be deliberately causing trouble. Suddenly, with a "puff", a large bubble emerged, and the medicine almost overflowed. Qin Rongchen was in a panic and hurriedly reduced the fire. He was secretly annoyed. He had thought it looked simple, but he had never expected that controlling the heat was a real art.

He stared at the medicinal soup, not daring to slack off for a moment, but his mind was wandering. He remembered the calmness with which Kankan's bare hands controlled the temperature of the fire, and pondered the "accident" that Lin Wunian had mentioned. He felt that the muddy waters of Yingzhou were becoming increasingly murky and unpredictable, as if an undercurrent was surging. If he wasn't careful, he would be drawn into an endless whirlpool. At this moment, this pot of medicine became the key line in his hands that maintained many unknowns.

"This is Xie Yuan's evidence. Come and take a look." Lin Wunian, unknowingly, had quietly taken a seat at the stone table, an old book in hand. His cold voice shattered the stillness of the courtyard. Qin Rongchen, as if suddenly awakened from a long, old dream, slowly raised his eyes, his gaze meeting Lin Wunian's directly.

In an instant, the image of Lin Bingshuang, who was deeply in love with him and depended on him for life and death in the smoke of war in the past, overlapped with the image of the woman in front of him with a cold expression and a firm gaze, which made his heart tremble and he felt a little dazed.

The Lin Wunian in front of him still had some of the gentle features in his memory, but the aloof aura emanating from his body was like a solid ice, keeping people away.

Qin Rongchen approached with dragging steps, full of confusion and entanglement. When he sat down, his body was a little stiff, his eyes still focused on her face, trying to find the familiar warmth of the past from that subtle expression.

Lin Wunian seemed unaware of his complicated emotions. She flipped the book lightly with her bare hands, the papers rustling as she laid out the evidence one by one: "Xie Yuan has been secretly colluding with the rebels in the court in Yingzhou over the years, hoarding food and fodder, and taking human lives. Every one of these crimes is unforgivable. Lu Yao went through a lot of trouble to get the evidence. Take a look and see if there is anything I've missed." After that, she raised her eyes and looked at Qin Rongchen. Her eyes were clear and frank, yet so unfamiliar that it made people's heart palpitate.

Qin Rongchen suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and pretended to concentrate on reading. The handwriting in front of him was like swimming fish, taking half a day to enter his mind.