“Who is she?” Tang Xiaohua asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Her name is Qiao Mu.” Xiao Yingtao curled her lips slightly and glanced back at Feng Jiu’er.

“Jiu’er, don’t you think Qiao Mu and Madam Yue are a little alike? Especially in temperament.”

“Her temper isn’t exactly good, but she has a chivalrous spirit, a kind heart, and an optimistic disposition.”

“I’d love to see Madam Yue swinging a blade at an enemy — I bet it would look just like Qiao Mu.”

“Little girl, isn’t that description a bit too fitting for me?” Tang Xiaohua looked at Xiao Yingtao, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“That’s right.” Feng Jiu’er nodded in agreement. “Plenty of strengths, plenty of flaws too — like never knowing how to be modest, for instance.”

“Exactly, exactly.” Xiao Yingtao covered her lips, laughing happily. “The two of them are practically sisters, like they were cast from the same mold.”

“No respect for your elders at all.” Tang Xiaohua shot Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao a sidelong glance, though her expression remained pleased.

“What’s there to be afraid of? Madam Yue is definitely not a petty person — she certainly wouldn’t lower herself to our level.” Xiao Yingtao said with a smile.

Tang Xiaohua furrowed her brow slightly, her expression growing brighter, making her look younger as well. “Such smooth talkers!”

“Madam, Xiao Yingtao is right. You and Qiao Mu really ought to meet sometime — who knows, you might turn out to be sisters separated long ago.” Feng Jiu’er said with a faint smile.

“What sisters could I possibly have? Besides, at your age, it would make more sense for me to be your mother than your sister — and you still try to flatter me!”

Tang Xiaohua glanced at Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao again, picked up the teapot, and added a little more tea to both of their cups.

“Talking this long has dried out my mouth.” She tossed out the remark, lifted her own cup, and drank in large gulps.

“Even the way you drink your tea has the same spirit — Madam, you and Qiao Mu must be related somehow.” Xiao Yingtao picked up her cup and said softly.

Tang Xiaohua set down her cup and looked at the two before her. “Drinking tea has ‘spirit’ now too? Are you two healers, or are you persuaders for hire?”

“These two girls — their mouths must be coated in honey. What a waste that they didn’t become negotiators.”

Just then, a servant came hurrying over.

Tang Xiaohua looked up, and the servant stopped a short distance away from them.

“Madam.” The servant cupped his hands in greeting.

“What is it?” Tang Xiaohua asked in a low voice.

“The Young Master asks that you and Miss Long come to the main hall.” The servant nodded in response.

“Very well.” Tang Xiaohua waved a hand, her gaze returning to Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao. “That boy is full of ideas, if nothing else.”

“Since Miss Long is willing to help, let’s go take a look first. If it can be cured, cure it — and if it can’t, don’t force yourself just to save my face.”

Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly and stood up. “Madam, from now on just call me Jiu’er. She’s Xiao Yingtao. No need for ‘Miss’ or anything formal.”

“And actually, what you should say is — if I can’t cure him, it’s better not to puff myself up just to keep face.”

Tang Xiaohua met Feng Jiu’er’s eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Fair enough. From now on, you two can call me Sister Hua as well. Being called ‘Madam’ makes me feel old.”

“Got it, Sister Hua. Please, lead the way.” Feng Jiu’er gestured with her hand.

The three of them arrived once more at the main hall of the Yue household. This time, no one stopped them, and they made their way smoothly into the old master’s chamber.

Yue Xingchen, seated at the bedside, turned and glanced back. “Grandfather, this is the physician I found for you.”

At that moment, the Yue family’s old master was propped up against the headboard.

Yue Xingchen stood and stepped aside so the old master could clearly see who had entered.

“Another young woman?” The old master did not seem particularly pleased to see Feng Jiu’er.

“Grandfather, Miss Long is different from Yang Hong. Don’t be hasty — let her examine you first and we’ll see.” Yue Xingchen said patiently.

[ad text omitted]

It seemed his relationship with the old master was quite good.

“If you say it’s fine, then it’s fine. One more or one less doesn’t matter anyway.” The old man replied flatly.

“Grandfather, don’t lose heart yet. Miss Long is different from every other physician we’ve had — I believe she can really help.”

“Young Master, let me examine him first before we say anything more.” Feng Jiu’er came to the bedside and looked at Yue Xingchen.

“Good. Miss Long, please.” Yue Xingchen gestured for her to proceed.

Feng Jiu’er stepped forward and began examining the old master.

For a long while, only the voices of Feng Jiu’er and the old master could be heard in the chamber.

Most of the time it was Feng Jiu’er asking questions and the old master answering, with the occasional sigh from him mixed in.

Finally, Feng Jiu’er tucked the blanket back around the old master and turned to look at everyone.

“Miss Long, how is it?” Yue Xingchen asked, a hint of urgency in his voice.

“It can be treated.” Feng Jiu’er pressed her lips together.

“This is simply a common case of stroke in the elderly. However, since the old master has been bedridden for quite some time, treatment will take relatively longer.”

“My lord.” Outside, a servant’s voice carried in.

When Feng Jiu’er looked up toward the doorway, she saw a tall figure appear at the entrance to the chamber.

Beside him walked a young, beautiful woman.

The woman was indeed young, with fine skin, but judging by her features, she certainly could not compare to Tang Xiaohua in her youth.

Feng Jiu’er studied the woman’s expression and felt almost certain — this must be the legendary white lotus surnamed Yang.

“What did you say?” The tall, handsome-faced man looked at Feng Jiu’er and asked in a deep voice.

“Father.” Yue Xingchen turned and walked toward Yue Jianfei. “This is the physician I brought back.”

“I’m the one who drove out Yang Yan, too. It has nothing to do with Mother.”

Yue Jianfei ignored Yue Xingchen, his sharp gaze still fixed on Feng Jiu’er.

Feng Jiu’er met his gaze without the slightest hint of servility or arrogance.

If he truly were a heartless man, she wouldn’t mind helping Sister Hua teach this man a lesson.

“I said the old master’s illness can be treated. I also said his condition comes from a stroke common to the elderly, not from any medication.”

Yue Xingchen turned back to look at Feng Jiu’er, his thick brows knitting slightly. “Miss Long, what do you mean, ’caused by medication’?”

“Are you saying my grandfather collapsed because he was given the wrong medicine?”

Yue Jianfei would not allow anyone to bring up the matter of Tang Xiaohua’s “tonic” having harmed the old master.

Yang Hong, having entered under the guise of wholeheartedly treating the old master, certainly wouldn’t say anything reckless that might upset Yue Jianfei.

This matter was known only to Yang Hong, Yue Jianfei, Tang Xiaohua, and the household steward — even Yue Xingchen had no idea.

“Young Master, what I mean is that the old master’s condition has built up over a long period — it isn’t a matter of the wrong medicine being given.”

Feng Jiu’er withdrew her gaze from him and looked again at Yue Xingchen, emphasizing her point once more.

“It’s just like your maternal grandfather’s case — a common ailment among the elderly, especially those fond of drinking. It’s even more likely to occur in such people.”

Feng Jiu’er’s gaze shifted, deliberately settling on the person standing beside Yue Jianfei.

“I can say with certainty that this illness was not caused by any medicine.”