Emperor Ji truly did have a bit of pride, but he suddenly found that, in the face of hope for his legs to heal, that bit of pride wasn’t worth mentioning at all.

He didn’t wish to mistreat anyone; it was just that, after so many years accustomed to being respected by those around him, having to act like an ordinary person out in public now was indeed somewhat embarrassing.

Especially since Feng Jiu had just slapped Lengyue in public—even though Lengyue had been at fault first, this was clearly testing his limits.

So after entering the consultation room, Emperor Ji’s expression still wasn’t great, and his breathing was somewhat unsteady.

“Honored sir, you’ve come for treatment—Feng Jiu will hold no opinion against you whatsoever. Here with me, you are simply a patient.”

Feng Jiu sat down before him, opened her needle case, and laid the silver needles out on the table. “But, if you’ve come carrying emotions for me to treat you, then I’m sorry, but I’d still like to ask you to wait until your emotions settle before we begin.”

Emperor Ji closed his eyes briefly, then said flatly, “I have no issues at all. Please go ahead, doctor.”

If they waited any longer, it would certainly mean letting others be seen first—Feng Jiu had no intention of simply waiting around for him here.

Wasn’t this, to him, just another form of provocation?

Feng Jiu, however, had someone pour a cup of plain tea and personally brought it before Emperor Ji. “This tea is nothing special, but brewed with fresh spring water, it turns out quite well. Won’t you try it, sir?”

Emperor Ji didn’t know what she was up to, but the tea did smell quite good.

He accepted it with both hands, gave it a gentle swirl, and took a sip.

“How is it?” Feng Jiu asked.

Emperor Ji wasn’t someone skilled in appreciating tea; he simply felt the tea was bitter going in, but after swallowing, a sweetness lingered on his lips and tongue.

Taking two more sips, he said, “Not bad.”

Was this her way of making amends after embarrassing him in the main hall earlier? But it seemed Feng Jiu had no intention of apologizing at all.

Emperor Ji was somewhat puzzled. After finishing the tea, he saw Feng Jiu pick up the silver needles.

Emperor Ji still couldn’t figure out the meaning behind this cup of tea. “You…”

He paused, then continued, “Do you have something to say to me?”

“I haven’t examined you yet, so not for now.” Feng Jiu’s silver needles came down onto the acupoints on his leg, her needle placement always swift and precise like this, never causing the patient any pain.

Emperor Ji thought it over again and finally understood.

This cup of tea had simply been meant to calm his nerves, just as Feng Jiu had said—not to treat him while carrying emotions—and held no intention of apology whatsoever.

If anything, this made Emperor Ji feel he himself had been somewhat petty.

Feng Jiu was treating him as if it were simply routine, and had truly lived up to her own words—in her eyes, everyone was merely a patient, with no distinction of status.

Whereas he himself often harbored a jumble of petty thoughts, which made him seem rather small-minded by comparison.

Emperor Ji sighed softly.

Feng Jiu’s fingers landed on his ankle, pressing upward with measured force. “Why does the gentleman sigh?”

Emperor Ji said nothing; the reason for his sigh seemed somewhat difficult to voice.

Feng Jiu didn’t press the matter further. Her massage technique was strange and unpredictable; Emperor Ji’s leg gradually grew warm, and he began to feel a faint itching, prickling sensation.

“Doctor, my leg…”

“The nerves need time to recover. During the recovery process, due to the meridians regenerating themselves, the leg will feel hot and itchy—this is a good sign.”

Hearing this, Emperor Ji’s heart immediately lifted with joy. “So that means my leg is gradually recovering, bit by bit?”

“You could say that.” Feng Jiu finished massaging one leg and began the other. “In a moment, I’ll administer needles and infuse medicine, injecting the formula into your leg. Once you return home, you’ll need someone to massage it daily. After a while, there may well be remarkable results.”

By now, how could Emperor Ji possibly still doubt Feng Jiu’s medical skill? Whatever she wanted to put into his body, it was now entirely acceptable to him.

His leg was now hot and itchy; though truly uncomfortable, it was incomparably better than feeling nothing at all.

This time, there really was hope.

After massaging both his legs, Feng Jiu took out a syringe and began administering the injection.

This medicine had previously been tested on the masked Madam; now, with the formula adjusted, the prescription suited for women had been changed to one suited for men—indeed, a new potent remedy once again.

Watching the medicine go in, Emperor Ji’s leg visibly swelled red. Feng Jiu let out a breath of relief.

“The meridians regrowing is, without question, an unpleasant process—but I can guarantee the results will be absolutely good as well.”

She stood up and began gathering her things. “Honored sir, for the coming days, you’ll need to endure it. Once you push through the hardest three days, the days after will get easier.”

Emperor Ji’s leg was different from the masked Madam’s; his injury had lasted longer, and his recovery would be slower.

So the pain he would have to endure was far milder than the masked Madam’s—just an uncomfortable itch, nothing more.

Still, for someone like Emperor Ji, enduring it shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Thank you.” As he was leaving, Emperor Ji finally couldn’t help saying, “I… am grateful to you.”

“I’ve earned your money for it—no need for thanks.” No sooner had Feng Jiu finished saying this than a sudden wail rang out from outside.

Feng Jiu’s brows furrowed, and she stepped outside ahead of Emperor Ji.

Outside, Lengyue had shoved a man beside her to the ground with a palm strike, and in the end, was even about to follow up with a kick.

With a crack, Qiaomu, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, kicked out. Lengyue staggered from the blow and fell with a thud, landing flat on the ground.

Here, aside from being able to bully Xiao Yingtao, she truly couldn’t intimidate anyone else.

Especially since Qiaomu’s skills were the best among them apart from Aunt Xue and Feng Jiu. Kicked by Qiaomu, Lengyue felt her leg throb with pain, her bone nearly snapped from the blow.

If Qiaomu hadn’t held back, that leg of hers would surely have been crippled right there on the spot!

“What’s going on?” Just seeing Lengyue made Feng Jiu feel irritated; she truly found this person thoroughly distasteful.

“You… you actually dared to injure me!” Lengyue struggled to get up and hurried back to Emperor Ji’s side. “Adoptive Father, they’ve gone too far!”

Emperor Ji said nothing; Feng Jiu’s medical skill just now had won him over once again, so subconsciously, he now sided with Feng Jiu’s people.

Lengyue knew right away that this old man had no intention of helping her at all, but she was truly furious.

“This man wanted to take advantage of me!” She pointed at the man she had just shoved to the ground with her palm strike, her face flushed with anger. “He’s been staring at me this whole time, staring for ages! You attacked me without even sorting out right from wrong—this is too much!”

Feng Jiu took a deep breath, turned back, and looked at Emperor Ji. “Please compensate this gentleman for his medical expenses. That strike just now was not light!”

“What?” Lengyue nearly leapt up. “You wretch, didn’t you hear what I just said? This bastard stared at me for ages, wanting to take advantage of me!”