After finishing all this, he said: “Alright, the medicine can be changed after three days. First Young Master, please remember, you absolutely must not move your left leg. If there are any deviations this time, even the Tendon-Mending Muscle-Regenerating Powder will be useless.”

“I understand.” Whether it was truly the miraculous effect of the Tendon-Mending Muscle-Regenerating Powder or a psychological effect, Li Jiancheng felt that after applying it, the pain wasn’t as severe. Although being unable to move for a month would be difficult to endure, as long as his leg ailment could be cured, everything would be worth it.

Physician Xu prescribed a blood-activating and stasis-removing medicine formula, handed it to the servants, gave instructions on what needed attention, and withdrew. Jirong looked at Li Jiancheng’s left leg tightly wrapped in gauze and said: “This slave will pray for First Young Master before Buddha daily, hoping First Young Master’s old ailment will recover soon and be peaceful and safe from now on!”

Li Jiancheng looked at her and said: “Rest assured, if I recover, I will never forget your contribution.”

Jirong smiled and said: “What matters most is First Young Master’s well-being. This slave doesn’t matter.” As she spoke, she curtsied: “If First Young Master has no other instructions, this slave will return to prepare medicine. Although we have the formula for Tendon-Mending Muscle-Regenerating Powder, making it is quite laborious.”

Li Jiancheng was about to agree when he inadvertently noticed the handkerchief on her hand: “What happened to this?”

“No… nothing, this slave accidentally injured herself.” As she spoke, Jirong hid her hand behind her back. Her behavior made Li Jiancheng suspicious: “Come here.”

After Jirong approached as instructed, Li Jiancheng grabbed her injured hand and unwrapped the handkerchief, frowning: “How exactly did you get injured?”

Jirong helplessly recounted what had happened earlier, then said: “Second Madam suspects this slave is related to A’mu’s death, so she summoned this slave for questioning.”

Li Jiancheng said coldly: “It’s just a dog, not a person. If it died, it died. What’s there to ask about?” He continued: “Did she injure you?”

Jirong shook her head: “Not exactly. Second Madam later asked about this slave frequently going to the medicine room to get medicine.” Seeing Li Jiancheng’s brows furrow slightly, she quickly waved her hands: “First Young Master, rest assured, this slave didn’t tell Second Madam about your affairs, not a single word.”

Li Jiancheng nodded: “What happened next?”

Jirong’s expression darkened: “When Second Madam saw this slave refusing to speak, she angrily smashed her teacup. This slave accidentally cut her hand while cleaning up the porcelain shards.”

“If she wants to smash things, let her smash them. Why did you clean up?” Li Jiancheng was silent for a moment, then said: “If she asks again next time, just answer truthfully.”

Jirong hesitated: “Would that cause trouble for First Young Master?”

Seeing her wholehearted concern for him, Li Jiancheng’s expression softened: “I’ve broken my leg now and can’t walk. She’ll find out about this matter sooner or later. There’s no point in hiding it anymore.”

“This slave understands.” Seeing Jirong’s consistently timid appearance, Li Jiancheng said: “You don’t need to fear her. With me here, she can’t do anything to you.”

“Thank you, First Young Master!” A silent, subtle smile appeared at the corner of Jirong’s mouth. She had always understood who she should hold onto most tightly.

The matter of Jirong developing Tendon-Mending Muscle-Regenerating Powder to treat Li Jiancheng’s leg ailment quickly spread throughout the Governor’s residence. The estate never lacked people who followed the wind, and seeing Jirong favored by Li Jiancheng, they immediately competed to curry favor with her. Even Chunxiu benefited from this association, as people in the firewood room fought to do her work, hoping to use her as a connection to reach Jirong.

As for the room where Jirong and the others lived, it became extremely lively, with people frequently visiting, some even bringing gifts.

Regarding all this, Jirong didn’t become arrogant with favor. She remained the same as usual, speaking gently and politely to everyone, treating them courteously, and for a time gained quite a good reputation.

This evening, Yunyi received the food box that Jiang Caiping had brought from the kitchen. After taking out the dishes inside, she asked puzzledly: “Why is there so little food today?”

It was still the usual four dishes and one soup, but the portions were vastly different from usual, only about half, with the most outrageous being the mapo tofu, which was so shallow that a few more scoops would reach the bottom.

Jiang Caiping angrily distributed the bowls and chopsticks: “This is already considered a lot. If it weren’t for Li Niang’s help, the steward would only give us three dishes.”

“Why is this so?” Seeing Yunyi’s question, Jiang Caiping recounted what had happened in the kitchen. She had gone a bit late today, and others had already taken their portions, leaving not much in the kitchen. However, it was still enough. Then Chunxiu happened to come in, and seeing them serving food, said Jirong was hungry and wanted another portion. Now Jirong was the estate’s favored person, so naturally the steward didn’t dare neglect her when hearing she was hungry, and forcibly allocated a portion from their food. But Chunxiu still wasn’t satisfied, saying Jirong liked mapo tofu and wanted to take it all. Li Niang couldn’t stand it and spoke up for them, so the steward finally left them some, though pitifully little.

“That Feng Chunxiu definitely did it on purpose. Even if they ate an hour ago, they couldn’t be hungry now. She’s clearly deliberately making things difficult, using her master’s power to intimidate others. And that steward, when sister was close to Second Young Master, he curried favor with sister. Now seeing Jirong helping First Young Master treat his leg ailment, he immediately switched to currying favor with Jirong. He has no principles at all.”

Yunyi washed her hands and said calmly: “Chunxiu has always been like that. There’s nothing to be angry about. As for the steward, how he chooses to conduct himself is his business and has nothing to do with us. Let’s eat.”

Jiang Caiping reluctantly ate a few bites, feeling increasingly unwilling, and bit her chopsticks: “This Jirong is really lucky, actually managing to develop the Tendon-Mending Muscle-Regenerating Powder formula. I originally thought she couldn’t possibly make it. And that whatever motherwort facial treatment, she managed to please both First Young Master and Second Madam.”

Yunyi picked up a vegetable heart and placed it in her bowl: “Being able to please everyone is also her skill. We can’t envy it.”

“I don’t envy her at all, I…” She didn’t know what to say for a moment, then lowered her head and bit the vegetable heart resentfully: “If she can’t cure First Young Master’s leg ailment, I’d like to see how she handles it.”

Yunyi smiled: “Alright, from the moment you entered, you’ve been muttering about this matter endlessly. If you don’t eat now, the food will get cold.”

“I’m angry! Sister, have you forgotten how she wronged us in front of Second Madam the other day? If Third Madam hadn’t happened to pass by, we would have been killed by her.” Seeing Yunyi remain silent, she muttered again: “I really don’t understand how sister can be so big-hearted. People have bullied us to our faces, yet you act like nothing happened.”

“Are you teaching me a lesson now?” Yunyi looked at her with amusement: “I believe that evildoers will receive their due punishment. Jirong wronged us like that, and she will definitely get her comeuppance.”

“I just fear the retribution will come too late.” Jiang Caiping replied sourly, but didn’t continue, focusing on her meal with a sullen expression.