After seven full days of relentless work, Tianji Hall finally returned to its usual rhythm, and the conditions of the critically injured patients had all stabilized.

“Three patients are being discharged today. By the look of the remaining five, they should be able to leave in another two days.”

Xiao Yingtao was delivering the day’s report, while the others sat around eating pastries and drinking tea.

Jian Yi was there too, seated across from Feng Jiu and beside Yanu.

His gaze drifted occasionally to Feng Jiu’s right hand — the right hand that Feng Qingyin wanted. If he handed Feng Jiu’s right hand over to Feng Qingyin, the entire tangle of debt and grievance between him and Feng Qingyin would be settled once and for all.

After that, wherever he wished to go, no one would stop him.

His gaze traveled downward, coming to rest on Feng Jiu’s wrist. If he severed it from the wrist — a clean, swift cut — the wound would be as minimal as possible.

And if someone acted quickly to save the patient, it should not cost Feng Jiu his life, but…

He withdrew his gaze and looked at the cup of tea before him.

How many lives had Feng Jiu’s two hands saved?

He could not forget — in those days when the Temple Street bridge had collapsed, it was with these two hands that Feng Jiu had pulled back countless lives from the edge of death.

If those hands were destroyed, the world would lose a physician of great benevolence.

No — when had he become so soft-hearted?

What did other people’s lives have to do with him? It was not as though he had never killed before. In the past, he had taken lives without the slightest flinch. And now he was worrying over someone else’s fate?

What was more, this was only one hand — it was not Feng Jiu’s life. What was there to hesitate over?

Jian Yi’s gaze swept briefly across Feng Jiu’s hand one more time, then he picked up his cup and sipped his tea.

Feng Jiu’er’s fingers were moving nimbly across an abacus at that moment — the crisp, rapid clatter of beads was almost like accompaniment to everyone’s afternoon tea, pleasant to hear.

“How does it look? Quite a loss?” Qiao Mu picked up a piece of pastry and bit into it unhurriedly.

There had been losses in money, of course — but it seemed there was nothing to worry about. They had saved so many people this past stretch of time. It was worth it.

“If we factor in the medicines sent by the various powers, there was actually no loss at all — we even came out ahead.”

Though Tianji Hall had not only treated people free of charge this time but had also given away medicines, and had even paid double rates to bring in physicians from the surrounding area, so many gifts had poured in from all sides that they had not lost even a single coin.

“How could Young Master possibly come out behind? With so many gifts, Young Master came out well ahead this time.”

Xiao Yingtao smiled cheerfully, settling down on the other side of Qiao Mu and continuously picking up pastries to eat.

The matter of the five large chests had not yet been mentioned by Jiu’er to the others. In the end it was she and Xing Zizhou who had dealt with them, so only she and Xing Zizhou knew just how much Young Master had gained.

Though, of course, the Ninth Prince had been intending to send money to Jiu’er all along — this time, he had simply found a convenient moment.

Feng Jiu’er paid no attention to her. She glanced at Qiao Mu, who recalled himself at once and reached into his sleeve to produce bag after bag of silver.

“These are everyone’s monthly wages. Here — Xiao Yingtao, yours is a larger share.”

“Thank you.” Xiao Yingtao smiled and accepted it, tucking it away happily.

“Xue Gu, this is yours and Yan’s.” Tuoba Keyan had lately been helping everyone sort and dry medicinal herbs when there was nothing else to do — a contribution of sorts.

Though Tuoba Keyan’s share was noticeably smaller than Xue Gu’s, naturally — what Xue Gu had done far exceeded what Tuoba Keyan had managed.

“Yanu, this is yours.” Qiao Mu held the money out in front of Yanu.

Yanu glanced at Feng Jiu’er and shook his head.

He had never expected payment. Being at Jiu’er’s side was all he wanted.

Jiu’er said, “Anyone who works here receives compensation. Take it.”

Yanu hesitated, then at last nodded, took the money pouch, and tucked it into his sleeve.

“When can the bandages on Yanu’s face come off?” Xiao Yingtao was staring at his eyes — every time she looked at Yanu’s eyes, she found it impossible to look away.

“Jiu’er, the more I look at Yanu, the more I think he must be strikingly handsome. Can his face make a full recovery?”

“Unknown.” Whether a full recovery was possible would depend on how well Yanu healed.

But Yanu just smiled gently and shook his head, indicating he did not mind.

“How can you not mind? If you were to make a complete recovery, you might well be more handsome than any man here.”

Eyes like those simply could not belong to a man of ordinary looks. Xiao Yingtao even felt that Yanu carried an innate air of noble refinement — like a melancholy prince.

“Is that so? What about compared to Mu Gongzi?” Qiao Mu teased.

Xiao Yingtao shot her a look. She had only just managed to stop dwelling on Mu Mu — why bring him up?

Compared to Mu Mu… ah, well, how could there even be a comparison? She had a preconceived notion in her heart that Mu Mu was the most beautiful man in all the world. Even now, with any possibility between herself and Mu Mu long since gone, Mu Mu in her heart would always be a shaft of moonlight.

Moonlight was something to admire from a distance — hanging high up there, endlessly captivating, always.

Yet precisely because the distance was too great, she had long since stopped entertaining any hope.

Even Xing Zizhou knew that Mu Mu had always held a place in her heart — but it was truly buried now, sealed away.

Xiao Yingtao gave a huff. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Afraid a certain someone will hear and get upset?”

Jian Yi suddenly rose to his feet and turned to leave.

This place was truly not where he belonged. He had also been faintly catching a trace of something secretive in the air.

Since it was a secret, he should not continue listening. He ought to return to his own place and pass his time quietly.

“You haven’t finished eating — where are you going?” Feng Jiu’er called after him. “Come back — always off on your own, you’ll make yourself ill from brooding.”

Jian Yi paused, startled. He turned to see Feng Jiu’er looking directly at him, and only then was he certain Feng Jiu’er was genuinely speaking to him.

But he was never meant to be among them in the first place — he was an outsider, after all.

These past few days of being together had also made him notice: Manager Xiao, who went by Xiao Yingtao, was a woman. Manager Qiao, Qiao Mu, was also a woman.

In truth, if he continued looking into it, many things would likely come to light on their own. He simply did not understand why Feng Jiu did not guard against him.

Though — Xiao Yingtao and Qiao Mu were both young women, which meant… what of Feng Jiu?

His chest… seemed rather flat. How could this be a young woman?

Realizing where his gaze had settled, Jian Yi gave a small cough and immediately looked away, a faint warmth rising to his face.

How could he be staring at someone’s chest? Though — they were all men here, so it should… should not matter.

Qiao Mu paused for only a moment before walking over and holding out a small pouch to him: “Jian Yi, this is yours. Young Master said you haven’t been here long, so your monthly wages are somewhat less than everyone else’s.”

Feng Jiu’er said, “Work hard, and next month it will certainly be more.”