On the rafters above, two figures stood, one on each side. In the hall below, there were at least a dozen people, yet not one of them noticed their presence.

“Elder.” The woman standing to one side walked into the hall and knelt down.

“Elder, I am Physician Yang’s maid. Last night, after Madam Yue drove us out of the house, we were very quickly set upon by pursuers meaning to kill us.”

“Thankfully Madam Lan’s people happened to pass by and saved me and my young mistress, or else…”

“Elder, you must set things right for my young mistress, Elder…”

“Xiao Tao.” Yang Hong, leaning on a cane, rose to her feet and cut the woman off. “Don’t be so rude!”

“What happened to me is a small matter. What matters most right now is the old master’s condition.”

Yang Hong carefully set her cane aside, looked at the man in the head seat, and clasped her hands in a bow.

“Elder, the old master truly did fall ill because Madam Yue poisoned him.”

“Before this, I had already told Master Yue, and I found the poison in Madam Yue’s quarters myself.”

“Master Yue is a filial son — he followed me everywhere in search of physicians and medicine, all for the sake of the old master. I was so focused on treating the old master that I forgot about this matter.”

“I truly never imagined that Master Yue had been shielding Madam Yue this whole time. Even when she tried to poison the old master, he quietly suppressed the matter.”

“No wonder the old master’s condition never improved.” The woman who had spoken earlier let out a heavy breath.

“This has nothing to do with my young mistress,” Xiao Tao said, lifting her head and shaking it.

“At the time, my mistress also thought it strange, but she said she trusted Master Yue — trusted that he wouldn’t give Madam Yue another chance to harm the old master.”

“Who would have thought that in truth, Master Yue never once punished Madam Yue for it.”

“And it’s not only Madam Yue — even the eldest young master has done no small number of things harmful to the old master.”

Xiao Tao looked at the Elder, then at Yue Jianfei’s two younger brothers, and continued. “The eldest young master often brought wine for the old master to drink.”

“My young mistress warned him, but he only pretended to comply while secretly continuing to make the same mistakes.”

“With the abuse around the Yue estate growing worse and worse, my young mistress didn’t dare openly speak of the eldest young master’s wrongdoing, for fear of angering Master Yue.”

“Who would have thought the eldest young master would only grow worse, refusing to listen to anything — I don’t even know what… intentions he harbors.”

Xiao Tao glanced back at her young mistress, covered in injuries, and secretly wiped away tears.

“Yesterday…” Xiao Tao had barely begun speaking when she choked up. “My mistress found evidence again of Madam Yue harming the old master.”

“She had made up her mind to expose Madam Yue, but before my mistress could say a word, she fell right into Madam Yue’s trap.”

“Not only did Madam Yue clear herself of all guilt, she even joined forces with the people from the Dragon Shadow Pharmacy to frame my mistress.”

“Master Yue loves Madam Yue deeply — of course he wouldn’t believe my mistress’s words. My poor mistress, after giving so much to the Yue family, was still driven out in the middle of the night.”

“And on top of that, she was… chased down and nearly killed, wounded all over her body.”

“Thankfully Madam Lan came to our rescue, or else we wouldn’t have made it out with our lives.”

The words had barely left her mouth before Xiao Tao kowtowed three times, each strike against the floor sounding clearly.

“Elder, please set things right for my young mistress, and for the old master of the Yue family!”

Feng Jiu’er watched the scene playing out below and couldn’t help but shake her head.

She turned her gaze toward a door guarded by four burly men.

Feng Jiu’er frowned, withdrew her gaze, and looked at Jian Yi.

Jian Yi looked as though he were perpetually ready, his eyes never once leaving her.

Feng Jiu’er nodded once and, like a shadow snake, slipped toward the guarded side chamber.

Jian Yi’s movements were even lighter, even faster.

In the blink of an eye, the rafters were empty — the two of them had left without stirring so much as a breath of wind.

Feng Jiu’er and Jian Yi entered through a window outside and came into a side chamber.

Inside, an old man lay in bed — Feng Jiu’er recognized him at once as the Yue family’s old master.

A man dressed as a steward was propping up the man on the bed, letting him lean against himself.

In his hands, he held a bowl of medicine.

“Old master, drink your medicine,” the steward said politely.

The old master, weak and listless, leaned against him and turned his head to look at him.

“What is this medicine? What exactly is the Second Master trying to do, bringing me here?”

“Old master, the Second Master heard that Master Yue had left and was worried you wouldn’t be well cared for alone at the estate, so he sent people to bring you here,” the steward said softly.

“Please rest assured! This matter has already been reported to Master Yue, and Master Yue agreed to it.”

“Big Brother agreed to this?” The old master frowned slightly. “Then why didn’t I hear him mention it last night?”

“That, I wouldn’t know,” the steward shook his head. “I heard Master Yue was going out to handle some important business — I’m not sure what deal he’s taken on.”

“But as for bringing you here, the Second Master really did get Master Yue’s approval first.”

“Besides, the Second Master, the Third Master, and Master Yue are all equally your devoted sons — surely you don’t think he’d wish you harm?”

The old master had been bedridden and paralyzed for so long that he’d long since lost the will to concern himself with such matters.

He let out a faint sigh and said nothing.

Seeing this, the steward brought the bowl in his hands up to the old master’s mouth again. “Old master, drink the medicine first, then rest well.”

“The Second Master found you a renowned physician. Since the one Master Yue found turned out to be unreliable, you’d best not go back for now.”

“This renowned physician — the Second Master specially sought him out from another region. He guarantees he can cure you, old master.”

The old master didn’t open his mouth to drink the medicine, only sighed again. “How many times have I heard this exact thing already?”

“Oh, right — Big Brother just found me a new physician not long ago, a young girl. I quite like her.”

“Why don’t you do this — have the Second Master go invite the young girl over. She promised she’d come treat me at the Yue estate today.”

“She’s quite good — I much prefer her treatment. Go and invite her over, don’t make her wait too long at the estate.”

Hearing the old master’s words, the steward suddenly frowned.

That reaction of his made Feng Jiu’er uneasy watching from where she was.

The unreadable look in the steward’s eyes passed quickly, and he became respectful and gentle again.

“Old master, the physician Master Yue found for you has held you back for half a year already. Don’t you want to be able to stand on your feet again soon?”

“Didn’t the old master always love riding and hunting? This past half year must have been so hard on you.”

“Come, drink the medicine first. Don’t let the Second Master’s good intentions go to waste.”

As the steward watched the old master open his mouth, an unkind smile crept up at the corners of his own.

But unexpectedly, the old master, after smelling the medicine in the bowl, closed his mouth instead.

“Medicine this foul-smelling — I don’t want to drink it,” the old master said, turning his head away again to look at the steward. “I’m tired. I want to rest. Let me lie back down.”

“Oh, and go to the Yue estate and let Madam know — have her bring Miss Long over.”

“This little girl — I’m willing to trust her, just this once. Quick, go!”