None of the townsfolk had expected that a city lord blessed with both beauty and wisdom could also be so tender-hearted.

At that moment, she looked like an immortal descended from the heavens — “beautiful as a celestial being” didn’t even begin to describe her.

Their city lord was young in years yet immensely capable, gentle and lovely besides, without a trace of arrogance.

The way she looked at the child was so pure, so kind, that no one could bear to look away.

“Sister, I’m fine.” The little boy met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze, startled for a moment before answering.

“As long as you’re fine, that’s what matters.” Feng Jiu’er reached out her pale, delicate hand and gently rubbed the boy’s head.

The man, still holding the boy’s hand, knelt down, and in an instant everyone around them dropped to their knees as well.

“City Lord, how could we possibly let you come see us — we’ve come these past few days specifically to thank you in person.”

“Many thanks, City Lord!”

“Thank you!”

The two elderly people knelt, bowing their heads all the way to the ground.

“Uncle, Auntie, what are you doing?” Feng Jiu’er came before the old woman and helped her up.

“Please, all of you get up, there’s no need to kneel. Whatever it is, just tell me standing.”

The old woman still tried to kneel again, so Feng Jiu’er simply took hold of her arm.

“Don’t kneel to me, everyone get up. Whatever the matter, we can talk standing.”

The man bowed and stood, and the child and the other three women all stood up as well; the old man rose too.

Seeing this, the old woman clung to Feng Jiu’er’s arm.

“City Lord, you have no idea — my grandson is the only heir of our family across four generations. If anything had happened to him…”

The old woman covered her face, choking up.

“Thankfully he’s alright, thankfully he’s alright. City Lord, you are our family’s great benefactor.”

Feng Jiu’er smiled faintly and let go of her.

“As long as he’s alright, that’s all that matters.”

She hadn’t failed to notice the two similar-looking young women, each holding a large basket in their hands.

But she wasn’t one to accept things without merit, and didn’t feel right taking anything.

“As long as he’s fine.” She walked over again and rubbed the little boy’s head, her gaze sweeping unintentionally over the boy’s mother.

Then her eyes settled, fixed on the boy’s mother.

“Madam, your complexion doesn’t look very good — would you allow me to check your pulse?”

The woman blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

“Wife,” the man said in a low voice.

The woman came back to herself, took a deep breath, and immediately offered her hand.

“Y-yes, of course.”

Feng Jiu’er’s lips curved slightly. With one hand she held the woman’s hand, and with the other, her long fingers rested on the woman’s pulse.

After a tense moment, she smiled slightly and gently let go of the woman’s hand.

“Congratulations, congratulations!” Feng Jiu’er cupped her hands toward the family. “Madam, you’re with child.”

“With child?” Both the man and his mother looked as though they couldn’t believe it.

“City Lord, could there be a mistake?” the man said, visibly excited. “When my wife gave birth to my son, she — she lost a great deal of blood.”

“Her life was saved, but the physician said she’d never be able to bear children again.”

“How could this… be possible?” The man took hold of both his wife’s hands.

“It’s true,” Feng Jiu’er said with a smile.

“If our Jiu’er says it’s true, then it’s true.” Yue Qinchun walked over, beaming.

“If you’re not at ease, why not come inside and let our physician take a look at Madam as well?”

“Our Dragon Shadow Pharmacy’s branch in Yongshan City is already in the planning stages,” Yue Qinchun said, turning to point at a spot not far off.

“That’s the storefront Dragon Shadow just purchased. It’s being renovated now, and will open in ten days.”

“For now,” Yue Qinchun turned, looking back at the gate behind her, “for now, we’ll offer consultations right here.”

“Consultations these next few days are free of charge. Everyone can take our physician’s prescription and go collect the herbs themselves, at no cost to you.”

“Once our pharmacy opens, our medicinal herbs will gradually be put on display too.”

“Our medicines are made with the utmost care and dedication, all to provide everyone with the very best service.”

Yue Qinchun rattled on at length — she’d clearly said these lines so many times they now rolled off her tongue smoothly, without a hint of hesitation.

“That’s right, the city lord is opening a pharmacy,” one townsperson said.

Yue Qinchun turned and looked at her, nodding gently. “Actually, we’ve had a pharmacy in Yuecheng for a while now, and business has always been booming.”

“Now that Jiu’er’s back, she wants to bring the pharmacy to our Yongshan City too, to benefit her own people.”

The man’s family was still caught up in excitement and disbelief when the old woman stepped forward and took Feng Jiu’er’s hand.

“City Lord, would you be able to examine my daughter-in-law? It’s not that I don’t trust you, I’m just worried there might be some mistake.”

“Of course,” Feng Jiu’er said, gently patting the back of her hand.

“From what I can see now, she’s just a bit weak in constitution, nothing serious — but still, let’s go inside and take a proper look.”

Feng Jiu’er turned and waved a hand.

“City Lord.”

“City Lord.”

The two similar-looking young women stepped forward, holding out their baskets to Feng Jiu’er.

“City Lord, this is from our mother, a small token, nothing much,” one of the women said.

Feng Jiu’er glanced down and shook her head. “I don’t need this.”

She looked up at the old woman and said, “I really don’t need it — these are eggs, aren’t they? Take them back for your daughter-in-law, to help her recover.”

“They’re eggs,” one of the women nodded.

“Mine are wild herbs — treasured ones our family has kept, quite good quality,” the other woman said.

“Wild herbs?” Feng Jiu’er lowered her head, lifted the lid, and picked up a piece that looked like a chunk of wood. “This is good quality.”

“Did you gather these yourselves, up in the mountains?” she asked, looking up at the woman holding the basket.

“Mm,” the woman nodded. “My sister and I gathered them.”

“We’ve been going up the mountain to gather herbs for a long time now, and later the skill was passed down to my sister and me.”

Feng Jiu’er looked at the woman who’d spoken, then at the woman beside her. “Are you two sisters, born of the same parents?”

“Mm,” the woman nodded. “City Lord, my name is He Xiaomei, I’m the older sister.”

“City Lord.” The other woman pressed her lips together briefly. “My name is He Xiaolan, I’m the younger sister.”

Feng Jiu’er set down the herbs in her hand and said, “Take all of this back, your sister-in-law can make good use of it.”

“I have plenty of medicinal herbs myself, I’m not short on any. Take the eggs back too, leave them for your sister-in-law to eat.”

“City Lord, this is a small token of our gratitude,” the man said.

Knowing she couldn’t refuse, Feng Jiu’er picked up the older sister’s basket. “I’ll take the eggs — I happen to love eating eggs too.”

“But I truly don’t need the herbs. You know I have my own pharmacy — take these back, or I won’t even take the eggs.”

“Alright,” the man nodded immediately. “Then please, City Lord, would you go examine my wife’s health yourself?”

“No problem!” Feng Jiu’er waved a hand and turned.

She led the man, his wife, their son, and his parents onward, deeper inside.