"Get up," Fang Tianze waved his hand, motioning the maid to step aside.
"Zeze," the woman rushed over to support her son.
"Mother," Fang Tianze patted the woman’s hand, "this illness of mine is now in the hands of fate, so please, don’t be angry with anyone."
"All right," the woman nodded hastily, her tears starting to fall uncontrollably. She only had this one son, yet the doctor had pronounced he wouldn’t live past fifteen. What was she to do after that?
With an apologetic look, Fang Tianze turned to Yang Ruxin, but paused for a moment when their eyes met, then gave a light smile, "I’m sorry, sister. My servant was just... worried about me..."
This was an extremely frail and weak little boy, with a beautiful face, especially those eyes, pure as... as the skies of Tibet he had once seen...
At that moment, those pure eyes were looking at her apologetically.
Being looked at like that by such a small boy, Yang Ruxin’s earlier anger had completely dissipated, replaced by a heart full of pity.
"Miss, I apologize for the offense just now," Yuan Mengzhu was also beginning to regret her impulsiveness and hurriedly gave Yang Ruxin an apologetic smile. Her status prevented her from bullying the common people; high and mighty but also approachable was the demeanor she should maintain.
Yang Ruxin waved it off, "It’s nothing." Then, turning to Wang Zhenggang, "Uncle Wang, I’ll wait for you in the backyard," and started walking inside.
Yuan Mengzhu panicked. She had apologized, yet why was the girl still upset? Just as she was about to speak, her son took her hand, and she had to swallow her anger.
"Sister," Fang Tianze called out.
Yang Ruxin turned around.
"Sister, I’m in so much pain..." Fang Tianze’s hand was on his chest, "so much that I can’t sleep or eat..." He paused, "The doctor said I won’t live past fifteen..."
Yang Ruxin’s heart instantly trembled slightly.
"If possible... please... help me," Fang Tianze’s eyes brimmed with tears, yet he stubbornly did not let them fall.
Yang Ruxin took a deep breath, thinking that the boy was quite scheming, but she had intended to teach Uncle Wang how to handle the camphor seeds anyway. Now seemed like a good opportunity, so she nodded, "Okay."
Fang Tianze immediately smiled, showing a row of white, neat teeth.
Yang Ruxin glanced at Wang Zhenggang, "Uncle Wang, when I found this in the mountains, I rushed back here." As she said this, she set down her basket and opened it, indeed revealing a camphor seed, its neck still bleeding and its hind legs occasionally twitched.
"You girl, you shouldn’t go up the mountain anymore, it’s too dangerous," Wang Zhenggang was not surprised, after all, this girl had even hunted Black Bears, but he couldn’t help lecturing her.
"I need to see the real thing to match it with the herbs in the ’Collection of Herbs’ and then remember them," Yang Ruxin smiled lightly, "But, I will be careful."
"Doctor Wang, look..." Yuan Mengzhu was a bit anxious and quickly interrupted the conversation, gazing at Wang Zhenggang with hope.
Wang Zhenggang lifted the camphor seed to check and immediately smiled, "This is a wild camphor seed, and it’s not completely dead, absolutely fresh, we can use it for medicine right away..."
"Miss, I’ll buy this camphor seed, name your price..." Yuan Mengzhu took a breath, turning to Yang Ruxin, "as long as it’s not too outrageous..."