The group of women left the main hall together and walked through the front courtyard, with Yue Xingchen catching up to them.

“Miss Long, do you really think that quack’s method will work?”

Yue Xingchen didn’t want to doubt Feng Jiu’er’s words, but he truly did not trust Yang Hong.

If Yang Hong’s medical skill were genuinely effective, his grandfather’s condition wouldn’t have remained stuck in place all this time.

“Whether it’s effective or not, only she herself knows.” Feng Jiu’er curved her lips slightly and said softly.

“But…”

“Xingchen.” Tang Xiaohua cut off Yue Xingchen’s words. “Don’t be rude. I believe Jiu’er has done all she can.”

“Jiu’er?” Yue Xingchen looked at Feng Jiu’er, blinking. “You’re called Jiu’er? It’s a lovely name.”

He seemed to recall something, gave a light cough, and continued, “But I think that woman surnamed Yang can’t be trusted.”

“Mother.” Yue Xingchen turned his head to look at Tang Xiaohua. “Now we only have ten days left — are we really going to gamble on it again?”

“If we lose this gamble, Grandfather will never be able to stand again for the rest of his life. How can that be allowed?”

“That would be so painful for him.”

“Your father refuses to let Jiu’er get involved — what choice do we have?” Tang Xiaohua glanced at Yue Xingchen and waved a hand.

“Go on back. I’m going to personally see Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao home.”

“Mother.” Yue Xingchen’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Go back.” Tang Xiaohua waved her hand once more.

Yue Xingchen had no choice but to let out a faint sigh.

After a moment, he stopped, turned, and headed back the way he’d come.

Tang Xiaohua paid the retreating figure no mind, and Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao kept silent as well, simply continuing forward.

“Madam, are we heading out?” the maid accompanying Tang Xiaohua asked softly.

“Yes, go prepare the carriage. I want to personally see them home.” Tang Xiaohua nodded.

“Yes, Madam.” The maid bowed and withdrew.

Yu Jingfeng and Jian Yi had been standing guard at either side of Feng Jiu’er and Xiao Yingtao from the moment they left the main hall.

On the road leading toward the main gate, there were now only five people — three women in the middle, with the two men keeping watch on either side.

“Jiu’er, this method of treating illness with blood — does it really exist?” Tang Xiaohua looked at Feng Jiu’er, raising an eyebrow.

Feng Jiu’er furrowed her brow slightly and answered softly, “Some people’s blood is special — it can help against certain poisons.”

She thought of how her Ninth Imperial Uncle had once used her blood to draw out poison, and her expression brightened slightly at the memory.

“But I don’t think Yang Hong has that kind of ability. As for what her blood actually is, I really can’t say.”

“So this was a test for her?” Tang Xiaohua raised an eyebrow.

“You could say that.” Feng Jiu’er met Tang Xiaohua’s gaze, a playful gleam flashing in her eyes.

“Jiu’er.” Xiao Yingtao looked at Feng Jiu’er, pressing her lips together. “What you said about drawing blood from over the heart not being fatal — is that really true?”

“It isn’t.” Feng Jiu’er shook her head with a smile.

“It isn’t?” Xiao Yingtao frowned and blinked. “But you just said…”

“I said it on purpose.” Feng Jiu’er raised an eyebrow.

“Blood circulates through the whole body. I’ve never heard that blood from near the heart is any different from blood anywhere else.”

“If she really is a miracle physician, she’d know that perfectly well. And if she isn’t, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to actually draw blood from over her own heart.”

[ad text omitted]

“So it really was all just a test.” Xiao Yingtao composed herself and looked away. “Here I thought it was real.”

“I don’t like Yang Hong either. That woman is far too fake — before she’s even said a word, she’s already playing the victim. No wonder Sister Hua doesn’t like her.”

“Still, Jiu’er, what if she really took your words seriously and drew blood from over her heart and lost her life because of it? That would be…”

“Don’t worry about it.” Tang Xiaohua gently patted Xiao Yingtao’s shoulder.

“What Yang Hong wants is the position of Madam Yue. No matter how foolish she is, she won’t gamble with her own life.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at Tang Xiaohua again, her smile growing even brighter. “Sister Hua, you really are clever.”

“Jiu’er, are you calling me dumb?” Xiao Yingtao pouted and lowered her head.

“Compared to Sister Hua, yes, you’re slower. Don’t deny it.” Feng Jiu’er turned and tousled Xiao Yingtao’s hair.

Xiao Yingtao’s pink lips pouted out even further. “No one likes admitting they’re dumb, all right?”

Tang Xiaohua watched the two of them and laughed softly.

Once they had left the Yue household’s gate, she stopped, stretched, let out a faint sigh, and looked up at the sun hanging in the sky.

“How wonderful it is to be young! Just like the sunlight right now — so full of vigor.”

“Sister Hua, isn’t the sunlight right now just like you?” Feng Jiu’er glanced sideways at Tang Xiaohua, raising a hand to shield her eyes as she looked up.

She smiled faintly and added, “So dazzling it makes people green with envy.”

“Ha ha ha…” Tang Xiaohua laughed even more happily.

It seemed she hadn’t smiled this brightly in a very long time. Half a year of pent-up grievance was released in large part through that one laugh.

“Green with envy? Aren’t you exaggerating a bit, little one?” Tang Xiaohua said with a smile. “Still — I like you, Sister Hua!”

At the gate, Yue Jianfei stood watching the woman laughing happily not far away, momentarily entranced.

Beside him, Yang Hong glanced between Tang Xiaohua and Yue Jianfei, then withdrew the hand tucked in her sleeve, clenching it into a fist.

The carriage arrived, and Feng Jiu’er, Xiao Yingtao, and Tang Xiaohua boarded together.

Yu Jingfeng drove the carriage, while Jian Yi followed behind in the carriage they had arrived in.

“By the way, Jiu’er, that ten-day deadline — was that also meant to scare Yang Hong?” Tang Xiaohua asked softly.

Happy as she was, she still cared deeply about the old master’s illness.

“Mm-hm.” Feng Jiu’er nodded. “Given his condition, treatment absolutely has to proceed step by step. Ten days simply isn’t possible.”

“Still, he’s wasted far too much time already. The sooner treatment starts, the better.”

“Mm.” Tang Xiaohua looked away and let out a faint sigh.

“Sister Hua, don’t be upset. Jiu’er said she can cure him, so she will.” Xiao Yingtao patted the back of Tang Xiaohua’s hand.

“Once the ten days pass and my lord realizes Miss Yang is a fraud, we’ll start treating the old master.”

“It’s a shame we have to wait those ten days, though — treatment will be even more troublesome by then.”

“I never intended to wait ten days.” Feng Jiu’er looked at the two beside her, raising an eyebrow.

“Jiu’er, do you have a good plan?” Xiao Yingtao leaned in to ask.

Not only Xiao Yingtao — even Tang Xiaohua was now watching Feng Jiu’er closely.

Feng Jiu’er glanced at them both, then leaned back against the seat, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her mouth…

Back at the Yue estate, once the carriage carrying the others had left, Yue Jianfei led Yang Hong back inside.

“My lord.” Yang Hong looked at Yue Jianfei, her expression full of weakness, even her steps unsteady.

“Do you believe that Miss Long? But my father-in-law’s illness really was caused by medicine — I wasn’t lying.”