A Shocking Dream

Zhou Cheng's forehead veins popped up when he heard this. He took a step forward and said in a voice filled with earnestness and anxiety: "Miss Lin, you know the master's character very well. Although he..."

Lin Wunian raised his head slightly, his eyes cold and clear: "Mr. Zhou, I am just a doctor, I only know how to cure diseases and save lives. The affairs of the court are complicated, with the conspiracies and power struggles behind them. I don't want to get involved in it."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Zhou Cheng's eyes, but he remained steadfast and said, "Miss Lin, without the support of the Master, how could you have been so successful in treating the epidemic? Now that the Master is in trouble, can you really bear to stand by and watch?"

Lin Wunian sighed softly, his eyes wavering for a moment, but it vanished in an instant. "I appreciate your help, sir, but I also have my own principles. If I were to rashly intervene in the court disputes, not only would I be unable to help you, sir, but I would also put myself in danger."

Zhou Cheng looked at Lin Wunian's resolute expression, his heart filled with helplessness and bitterness. He slowly stepped back a few steps, his voice low and weak: "Forget it, Miss Lin, I was rude. I just hope you won't spread what happened today."

Lin Wunian nodded slightly: "Don't worry, Mr. Zhou, I will keep my mouth shut." After that, she turned around and was about to leave, her clothes fluttering gently in the wind, while Zhou Cheng stood there blankly, looking at her receding back, his heart full of helplessness and despair, as if he was in a dark abyss, unable to find a trace of light and hope.

In the somewhat dilapidated streets of Linzhou, people gathered together, whispering about the court's decision on Zeng Mu. Lin Wunian stood at the edge of the crowd, listening to their conversation, his expression calm yet thoughtful.

An old man, leaning on a cane, said tremblingly, "Zeng Mu has done something wrong to the people of Linzhou. There is nothing wrong with the court punishing him now. If he hadn't concealed the truth, there wouldn't have been such a serious disease accident in Linzhou in the past few months. Some mistakes must be taken responsibility." The people around nodded. Although there was reluctance in their eyes, they were more afraid of the disaster and recognized justice.

Lin Wunian frowned slightly. She knew Zeng Mu might have hidden reasons, but she couldn't deny that he was indeed to blame for the outbreak and spread of the disease. She spoke softly, "Master Zeng Mu did a lot of good things for Linzhou during his reign, but this time, he really made a big mistake."

A young man nearby couldn't help but chime in, "Miss Lin, you're kindhearted, but this epidemic has killed so many of our relatives and friends. As a high-ranking official, he should have announced it earlier so everyone could be prepared."

A child tugged at his mother's clothes and asked, "Mom, what will happen to Lord Zeng?" The mother patted the child's head gently and said, "That depends on the court's decision. I just hope that in the future, we can have a good official in Linzhou so that things like this won't happen again."

Lin Wunian looked up at the approaching night. The inky darkness slowly spread from the horizon, as if to swallow the entire world into endless darkness. She sighed softly, temporarily putting aside the hustle and bustle of worldly affairs, and turned to walk towards the restaurant. At this moment, her stomach rumbled inopportunely, and the feeling of hunger surged into her heart like a tide, diluting the previous entanglement and worry about many things.

On the street, the lights were just beginning to come on, a crisscross of light and shadow. Pedestrians hurried home, but Lin Wu Yue, amidst the hustle and bustle, walked alone to the restaurant. Her steps were slightly weary, the days of busyness and misfortunes leaving her physically and mentally exhausted. The aroma of food wafted from the restaurant, the rich flavors drawing her in like an invisible magic, quickening her pace.

Pushing open the door, the restaurant was steaming hot and bustling with people. The waiter greeted her warmly, "Miss Lin, how many are there?" Lin Wunian said softly, "One," and then followed the waiter upstairs to a vacant table in the room. After she sat down, she remembered the diners around her downstairs, either laughing or feasting, and a hint of envy rose in her heart. She hadn't enjoyed a meal properly since she came here.

She rubbed her temples, trying to relax. When the food arrived, Lin Wunian's thoughts wandered as she looked at the steaming dishes. She thought, in this small world of the restaurant, people seemed to only care about the deliciousness of the food on the plate, but she had just escaped from the complicated vortex of officialdom and epidemic. Never mind, let's fill her stomach for now, maybe after eating, her mind will be clearer. She picked up a piece of food with chopsticks and put it in her mouth. The taste of the food spread on her taste buds, temporarily suppressing her worries. Lin Wunian sat at the greasy wooden table in the restaurant, staring blankly at the dish in her hand. The dishes on the plate did not look good. The vegetables had been fried until they turned yellow and lay there withered, and the pieces of meat looked dry and dull. She picked up a piece with chopsticks and put it in her mouth, chewing gently, but she only felt that the texture was rough and the seasoning was bland. It was really unpalatable and tasteless.

Her thoughts drifted away, recalling a fried chicken she'd once tasted. It was in a small fried chicken shop in a corner of a bustling market, the freshly fried chicken emanating an alluring aroma. The skin, like sun-kissed golden armor, shimmered with a captivating sheen, every inch fried to perfection, so crispy it seemed as if it would crumble at the slightest touch. She took a gentle bite, and the delightful "crunch" sounded like a joyful musical note playing in her ears, ushering in a feast for the senses. The chicken was tender and juicy, the boiling gravy bursting in her mouth, a unique blend of spices, a salty aroma with a hint of sweetness. The rich aroma instantly filled her mouth, slid down her throat, and warmed every corner of her body. It was as if every taste bud was cheering, savoring this exquisite taste.

She slowly came back to her senses, looked at the tasteless food in front of her, sighed helplessly, and her eyes still drifted towards the door from time to time, as if expecting a miracle to happen and a delicious fried chicken would suddenly be served on the table.

Lin Wunian was looking forward to a delicious fried chicken to comfort her exhausted body and mind, but when the waiter brought her a roast chicken, her eyes dimmed instantly and she rolled her eyes involuntarily. Although the roast chicken had a decent color and a light sheen on the skin, as if trying hard to show off its allure, in Lin Wunian's eyes, it was just a facade.

She sighed helplessly and slowly picked up her chopsticks, feeling discontent with the food. "What the hell is this? I just want to eat something delicious, why is it so difficult?" she complained to herself.