Jirong was stunned, then shook her head, “No, I have no relationship with First Young Master, and the medicine isn’t ready yet. Why would First Young Master be willing to help?”

“How do you know without trying? Maybe First Young Master would be willing—after all, he still needs your medicine to treat his foot injury.” The more Chunxiu spoke, the more feasible it seemed. She knelt down and pleaded, “Sister, if even you won’t help me, then truly no one will. Please, I beg you, just make this one trip to Qingchun Garden.”

Jirong shook her head, “Although I haven’t interacted much with First Young Master, I know something of his temperament. Trying to get his help would be extremely difficult. If it goes wrong, it might instead…” Before Jirong could finish, Chunxiu had already fallen to her knees, weeping, “We’ve known each other since childhood and grew up together. Our two families have always been on good terms. I remember one year when Uncle Ji didn’t have enough money, the meat for making buns was obtained on credit from our place. The debt lasted over a month, and father never pressed for payment even once. This time… I admit I was wrong, but please, sister, for the sake of our two families’ friendship, help me one more time.”

Jirong hesitated without speaking. She could certainly ignore Chunxiu, but doing so would mean offending Feng Cheng. This man was a local tyrant in Shuangqiao Village, and his brother-in-law worked in the county office. Once he turned hostile, before she had sufficient ability to protect her family, their life at home would likely become very difficult—just like Wu Laosan, whose hard-earned hunting gains were constantly short-changed by Feng Cheng.

After weighing the matter for a long time, she finally relented, “Fine, I’ll make this trip to Qingchun Garden, but if First Young Master truly refuses to help, there’s nothing I can do.”

Her words filled Chunxiu with joy as she quickly wiped the tears from her face, “I understand, I understand. Regardless of whether First Young Master agrees to help in the end, I won’t blame sister.”

Jirong nodded, “Then you stay here. I’ll go see First Young Master right away.” With that, she quickly walked out. After a short wait, word came from inside allowing her to enter.

She had just stepped into the main hall and hadn’t yet had time to bow when Li Jiancheng’s urgent voice already rang in her ears, “How is it? Have you prepared the medicine?”

Li Jiancheng had originally been questioning Feng Li about the search of Honghua Commandery. The assassin who still hadn’t been caught had become the biggest thorn in his heart. Despite searching for over half a month, they hadn’t found a single clue, making him wish he could personally lead men to search house by house. Unfortunately, although the wound on his leg had healed, the new flesh hadn’t yet grown firm. Any movement caused pulling pain. According to Physician Xu’s estimate, he needed at least another half month of recovery before he could move freely. If he had used Jirong’s ancestral Muscle-Healing and Flesh-Growing Powder, he would have recovered by now. Unfortunately, to have Jirong research and prepare more of the powder, he hadn’t kept that bottle of medicine and could only wait slowly for the wound to heal, which truly frustrated him. He longed day and night for the medicine to be ready, so when he heard the servant’s report, he immediately summoned Jirong in.

“In response to First Young Master, this servant has been devotedly studying medical texts these days and has also obtained from father half of the prescription and notes left by grandfather. Regarding the Muscle-Healing and Flesh-Growing Powder, there has been some progress. If you give this servant a little more time, it should be ready.”

Li Jiancheng’s face darkened as he said coldly, “Since it’s not ready yet, what are you doing here?”

Jirong nervously wrung her fingers and lowered her head, “This servant has come here to… boldly ask First Young Master for a favor.”

“A favor?” Li Jiancheng raised his thick eyebrows and stared at Jirong, “Do you know that among all the servants in the residence, you’re the first to dare ask me for help?”

“This servant knows such behavior is very presumptuous, but aside from First Young Master, this servant truly can’t think of anyone else to turn to, so I’ve boldly come here. Please forgive me, First Young Master.”

Li Jiancheng casually opened a book at his side and said indifferently, “Let’s hear it.”

Jirong quickly said, “This servant has a good sister from the same village who serves as a dancer in the music hall with me. This matter of preparing the Muscle-Healing and Flesh-Growing Powder has progressed smoothly largely thanks to her assistance. But because she has a straightforward nature and doesn’t know how to be tactful, she offended some petty people. These people don’t say anything to her face but speak ill of her behind her back to Nanny Yang. Nanny Yang, not knowing the truth, thought she was truly so excessive and reported to Second Madam, wanting to expel her from the Governor’s residence.”

“You want her to stay in the residence?” Faced with Li Jiancheng’s question, Jirong nodded, “Yes, although she occasionally loses her temper, her nature isn’t bad. This servant cannot bear to see her expelled from the Governor’s residence like this, so…” She glanced quickly at Li Jiancheng and curtsied, “Please have mercy, First Young Master.”

Li Jiancheng turned a page of his book without looking up, “Household affairs aren’t my concern. If you truly feel she’s been wronged, you can go find Second Mother.”

Although he didn’t get along with Wan Shi, since father had entrusted household affairs to her, as a junior, it wasn’t appropriate for him to interfere too much, especially not for a dancer he didn’t even know.

Jirong lowered her head, “This servant has considered that, but… Second Madam has already formed a preconception and probably won’t listen to this servant’s words.”

Winter sunlight streamed in from the window, falling on the bronze incense burner placed on the small table by the window. Wisps of green smoke rose from the small holes, interweaving with the pale golden sunlight. “Then there’s nothing I can do. You may withdraw.”

Jirong said urgently, “As long as First Young Master is willing to say one word, Second Madam will surely listen. Please help this servant this once, and Chunxiu and I will certainly repay First Young Master’s kindness in the future.”

Li Jiancheng looked up, his eyes full of gloom, “Didn’t you hear what I said?”

Although his voice wasn’t loud, it sounded like a harsh rebuke to Jirong’s ears, frightening her until her body trembled slightly. Yet she still persisted in saying what was on her lips, “There are still half a month left before the medicine preparation deadline First Young Master set. Without Chunxiu’s assistance, this servant fears she cannot produce the medicine on time.”

Li Jiancheng stared at her, “You mean, if that woman is expelled from the residence, you can’t deliver the medicine I want?”

Jirong dared not look into his eyes and lowered her head, “Since this servant has promised, she will certainly do her utmost to create the Muscle-Healing and Flesh-Growing Powder, but this time period might need to be longer.”

“Come here!” Faced with Li Jiancheng’s words, Jirong moved forward a few steps. The former raised his slender fingers and caressed her brows, eyes, lips, and nose, making Jirong’s whole body tingle. At the same time, a sinister voice reached her ears, “Are you threatening me?”

Jirong dug her nails hard into her palms and said tremblingly, “How would this servant dare threaten First Young Master? It’s just that this matter… truly requires Chunxiu’s assistance. Please…”

“You know I urgently need this medicine to treat my foot injury, so you use this as leverage to force me to interfere in this matter. Jirong…” The hand that had slid to Jirong’s neck exerted slight pressure, pulling her before him as he said coldly, “You really have quite the audacity!”