“That’s right, this servant indeed didn’t have a cold, but does Madam think that researching the muscle-mending and bone-healing powder day and night for more than a month would have no effects at all? These days, this servant sleeps less than two hours each night. Sometimes I’m so exhausted I don’t even have the strength to walk. Yesterday I truly almost fell because of dizziness – there was absolutely nothing deliberate about it.” The more Ji Rong spoke, the sadder she became. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and choked out, “But this servant never imagined that Madam would rather believe Jiang Caiping than believe this servant.”

Wan Shi was not swayed by her pitiful appearance and said lightly, “I only believe what I see with my own eyes.”

Ji Rong took a light breath and said, “If that’s the case, then please let Madam see for herself.” As she spoke, she pulled out a silver hairpin and endured the pain to cut a bloody mark on her palm. Then she took a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and poured some white powder from it onto the wound. The fresh blood coagulated at a visible speed and stopped seeping out.

Ji Rong said, “Madam can see – if this servant had really been testing medicine, with the efficacy of the muscle-mending and bone-healing powder, Amu’s abdominal wound would never have looked like that.”

Wan Shi’s expression softened slightly. She signaled for Ji Rong to come forward, then took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to bandage the wound, saying gently, “I was just asking casually. Did you need to hurt yourself like this?”

Ji Rong said with slightly reddened eyes, “This servant just wanted Madam to know that Amu truly wasn’t killed by this servant.”

“I understand now.” Wan Shi said coldly, “Wu Meixue deserves to die!”

Hearing this, Ji Rong knew she had dispelled Wan Shi’s suspicions of her and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. That was close – fortunately she understood Wan Shi somewhat and knew she was someone with extremely meticulous thoughts, so she had deliberately torn open Amu’s abdominal wound and even made it deeper, preventing anyone from seeing traces of blood clotting. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

She feigned difficulty and said, “But Wu Meixue now has Third Madam’s protection, I’m afraid… she’ll be difficult to deal with.”

Wan Shi said coldly, “After you return, keep a close watch on Wu Meixue and that Jiang Caiping. What they do, who they meet – remember everything in detail.”

“This servant obeys.” As she spoke, Ji Rong slightly raised her head and said quietly, “What about Third Madam…”

Wan Shi interrupted her and said, “You don’t need to worry about Lin Miaoyin’s side. I’ll handle it myself.” After Ji Rong acknowledged this, she said, “Alright, go to Qingchun Garden. The First Young Master must be waiting.”

“This servant takes leave!” After exiting Yuxiu Pavilion, Ji Rong let out a long breath. Looking down, her palm was covered with sticky cold sweat. Fortunately, she had managed to get through without incident.

After calming herself somewhat, she quickly headed to Qingchun Garden. Wang Fu was waiting at the entrance. Seeing her approach, he complained, “Why are you so late? The First Young Master has been waiting for you for quite a while. Quickly follow me inside.”

Ji Rong nodded and followed him in. Li Jiancheng’s leg injury had healed, and he was currently practicing swordplay with Feng Li in the courtyard. Although his steps were slightly limping, Li Jiancheng was very agile and steadily maintained the upper hand over Feng Li.

Wang Fu said respectfully, “First Young Master, Ji Rong has arrived.”

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng quickened his moves, making Feng Li struggle to keep up. Finally, he even feinted and knocked the long sword from Feng Li’s hands. The latter picked up his sword and cupped his hands, saying, “This subordinate has lost.”

Li Jiancheng’s face showed no joy from victory, but rather a stern and cold expression as he said, “If you deliberately lose to me again next time, get out of Qingchun Garden.”

Feng Li fearfully kept his head low and didn’t dare speak. Li Jiancheng threw his sword to Wang Fu and walked to Ji Rong, “How effective is the medicine?”

Ji Rong didn’t speak, only rolled up her sleeve so Li Jiancheng could clearly see the wound on her arm that had faded to almost invisible, “Stopping blood and healing flesh – this servant has achieved it!”

Li Jiancheng stared intently at her wound, his expression excited as he said, “Good! Good!” With that, he pulled Ji Rong into the room. Physician Xu was already waiting inside. When he saw the wound on Ji Rong’s arm, he too was extremely excited, “I never thought that in my lifetime, I would see again the miraculous effects of muscle-mending and bone-healing powder. This is truly…”

Li Jiancheng had no mind to listen to his sentiments and urgently interrupted, “Quickly tell me, how can my foot ailment be cured? Can it be treated just by applying the medicinal powder?”

Physician Xu shook his head, “Although the muscle-mending and bone-healing powder has miraculous effects, that alone wouldn’t be sufficient. First Young Master previously injured his leg, and because the physician treated it improperly, it left this foot ailment. To cure it completely, we must break the previously injured area and re-heal the tendons and re-set the bone!”

Ji Rong also said from the side, “That’s right. When this servant was young and saw grandfather treating those chronic old ailments, he would also first break the bone and then reconnect it.”

Li Jiancheng’s expression changed repeatedly as he stared at Physician Xu, “Is there no other way?”

Physician Xu shook his head, “Apart from this, there is no other method.”

Li Jiancheng lowered his head in silence. It wasn’t that he feared the pain – to cure his foot ailment, he could endure any pain. It was just… he had previously promised his father that once Wang Wei and the others left, he would rush to Hedong for recruitment matters. If he broke his leg now, it might delay his journey.

He pondered for a long while, then said, “How long would this reconnection take?”

Physician Xu thought for a moment and said, “With Miss Ji’s muscle-mending and bone-healing powder, it should take one month to reconnect the broken bone. During this month, you absolutely cannot move. As for complete healing, that should take another month.”

“One month…” Li Jiancheng murmured softly. This morning he had received news that Wang Wei and the others were now four hundred li away and would arrive in about ten more days. After they departed, it would take another seven or eight days, meaning he would depart about five or six days late. If they hurried during the journey, there shouldn’t be any major problems. The travel time could be used for recuperation.

Thinking of this, Li Jiancheng gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, let’s do as you’ve said. Begin treatment immediately.”

Physician Xu acknowledged and said to Ji Rong, “The medicine needs to be changed every three days, requiring about one bottle each time. Can Miss Ji supply enough?”

Ji Rong lowered her eyes and said, “Physician Xu just focus on treating First Young Master. However much medicine you need, I’ll provide that much. There will be no delays.”

“Good!” After saying this word, Physician Xu had someone bring a small iron hammer. After propping up Li Jiancheng’s previously injured left leg, he struck hard at the injured area.

Li Jiancheng suddenly gripped the armrest tightly, cold sweat immediately beading on his forehead. The pain of having one’s bone deliberately smashed was beyond words. If not for his extraordinary willpower, he would have cried out in pain long ago.

Ji Rong wiped his cold sweat and gently comforted him, “First Young Master, please endure. Those who can endure the greatest hardships become the greatest people. Once you get through this ordeal, everything will be better.”

Li Jiancheng was in too much pain to speak and could only nod forcefully. Then Physician Xu struck several more times before completely breaking the leg bone. After that, he took the muscle-mending and bone-healing powder, mixed it with water, and carefully applied it to the broken bone area. Then he used pre-prepared splints to bind it firmly to fix the bone’s growth direction.