Su Ziluo!

For the Su family, this name was actually unmentionable—not only unmentionable, but even forbidden to speak.

Ten years ago, the fierce battle between Qujiang and Dalin ultimately ended with Qujiang’s defeat. But it also caused the decades-long friendship between the Wen and Su families to dissipate completely along with the smoke of the battlefield.

Originally from the same prefecture and same sect, now they stood opposed in the imperial court, each forming their own faction. Although the Wen family had grown stronger and many court officials flocked to them, the Su family had gradually declined after General Su died on the battlefield ten years ago. However, his son Su Ziluo had taken up the mantle. His status in Qujiang grew higher and higher. Although an accident had crippled both his legs, his imposing presence was in no way inferior to others. Combined with his resourcefulness and strategic mind, over the years he had conquered many surrounding cities for Qujiang. This meant that while the Wen family grew stronger, they also became wary of him. Added to the grievances between the two families from ten years ago, the relationship between the Wen and Su families deteriorated day by day.

Su Ziluo had even tried multiple times to seize opportunities to destroy the entire Wen family, to resolve the hatred from that year!

Therefore, Wen Yu pointing to Su Ziluo as the instigator of all this was not without reason. Even Wen Che and Shu Tian suspected the same.

But—

Hearing Wen Yu mention those three words “Su Ziluo” at this moment, Wen Che’s brows shot up high, and he said very sternly, “Shut your mouth! You are not permitted to mention that person!”

“Brother…”

“Enough! You’re injured now. Recuperating is most important. As for other matters, don’t mention them again.” Wen Che’s attitude was firm.

Wen Yu opened his mouth and swallowed all his words back down.

Lest he anger Wen Che.

After all, these years, throughout the Wen household, no one was permitted to mention Su Ziluo!

Having spoken that name at this moment, his heart felt uneasy.

After instructing him a few more times, Wen Che left the room.

Seeing his master’s grave expression, Shu Tian inquired, “Young master, is everything alright?”

He shook his head lightly. “It’s fine!”

“Then…”

Wen Che cut off his words. “Enough, say no more. Send a few people to guard outside the Second Young Master’s door. There must be no mishaps whatsoever. You should also go rest.”

“Yes!”

Shu Tian was most respectful.

Wen Che then returned to his room and shut the door tightly.

…

Early the next morning, when Ji Yunshu woke, the silver needles had already been removed from her body. She propped herself up to sit and looked around the room once—she didn’t see Luo Yang.

Presumably, he had already returned to the inn.

The young attendant from the medical clinic brought in a bowl of medicine. Seeing that she was about to get out of bed, he quickly said, “Miss, please don’t move yet. Master said that when you wake, I should inform him first. Only when you’re completely fine can you get out of bed, lest cold qi invade your body again.”

So Ji Yunshu reluctantly drew back her feet that were about to touch the ground.

The young attendant brought the medicine before her. “Hurry and drink the medicine.”

She took the medicine and asked, “What about the person who brought me here yesterday?”

“He left early this morning.”

“Where did he go?”

The young attendant shook his head. “Not sure. He ran off quite fast—in the blink of an eye he was gone.”

Pfft—

The corners of Ji Yunshu’s mouth curved upward slightly, and she raised the bowl to drink a few sips.

The young attendant went to fetch the elderly physician. The old physician walked very slowly. Though the distance from the door to the bedside was only a few steps, he took quite a while to traverse it.

The elderly physician took her pulse and nodded repeatedly, saying, “Mm, as long as you recuperate properly for a period of time, you’ll be fine.”

“Thank you, physician.”

“However…” The elderly physician’s face was full of worry. “I’ve done my best with the cold qi in your body, but I still cannot eradicate it completely. I’m afraid, Miss, you’ll need to seek another renowned physician.”

Ji Yunshu knew the cold qi in her body was severe. The original owner of this body had literally starved to death—chronically unable to eat their fill or stay warm. Heavy cold qi was inevitable. Since she had occupied this body, she had encountered trouble multiple times, each time circling the gates of hell. To still be alive and well now was already great fortune!

“Thank you, physician. I will take care of myself.”

The elderly physician stroked his beard. His deeply furrowed brow creased with puzzlement as he asked, “Miss, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

“Please speak.”

“I see the cold qi in your body has been there for many years. Previously it was all suppressed and never dispersed. I wonder which divine physician’s handiwork this was?”

So that’s what he wanted to know.

Ji Yunshu’s health had never been good. At the slightest exposure to wind or cold, she would fall ill for quite some time. It wasn’t until she met the divine physician Muruo that he continuously helped regulate her body, treating her three or four times. The cold qi in her body was also suppressed with his help. Over the years, it had not recurred again.

But now…

She let out a deep sigh and said, “To tell you the truth, the person who helped suppress the cold qi in my body was indeed a divine physician. It’s just that he is no longer here now.”

Hearing this, the elderly physician sighed. “What a pity!”

Naturally it was a pity. Some things, and some people too—once gone, they were gone!

Just then, Luo Yang’s loud voice came from outside. He charged in through the outer door at extreme speed, simultaneously bringing in a gust of cold wind…

It nearly knocked the frail elderly physician to the ground.

Ji Yunshu looked at him strangely. “What are you doing?”

Luo Yang ran until he was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily with both hands on his waist. He said, “I… I went… to snatch things!”

“Snatch things?” Ji Yunshu’s expression immediately darkened, her tone reproachful as she said, “How is it that wherever you go, you must do this sort of thing?”

Lamenting his failure to live up to expectations!

Luo Yang raised his hand, indicating she shouldn’t misunderstand. After catching his breath, he said, “I went to buy things for you!”

Then he took out several packages wrapped in yellow paper that hung from his belt and said, “This… is bird’s nest, top-grade bird’s nest!”

Hmm?

Ji Yunshu looked on strangely.

Luo Yang swallowed and walked to the table to pour himself a cup of water, which he gulped down frantically. Only then did he point at the bird’s nest by his hand to explain, “This stuff is ridiculously expensive—not only expensive, but especially hard to buy. Last night I went around asking at every shop. They said they only have stock early in the morning, and only those who go early can buy it. So early this morning, before dawn even broke, I ran over there. You don’t know—the shop entrance was packed with people. Fortunately I know how to fight for position and managed to buy it ahead of them.”

After listening, Ji Yunshu asked, “Where did you get the money?”

“Have you forgotten? From Yao Niang!” He said it so naturally, not feeling in the slightest that there was anything improper about secretly taking Yao Niang’s silver.

“Then why did you buy bird’s nest?”

“For you to eat!” He was exactly like a big boy, his eyes utterly sincere.

Ji Yunshu froze for a few seconds. “For me?”

“Of course! Otherwise why do you think I ran to snatch bird’s nest so early in the morning? I don’t like eating this stuff—I heard it’s… saliva spit out by swallows.” Luo Yang’s face showed disgust, then he pointed at the elderly physician and said, “But the physician said bird’s nest is nourishing and good for your illness. That’s why I spent so much money to buy it. Let me tell you, you absolutely must not waste it—you must eat it all!”