Stepping out of the Wang family's courtyard, Nan Shiying saw Nan Yuan'er.
Since that winter banquet, Nan Yuan'er had seemed to vanish, fading from public view. The disgrace that had fallen upon her also faded with her disappearance, forgotten amidst recent events.
If not for the fleeting malice in her eyes, Nan Shiying might have thought this woman had truly changed her ways and become as serene as a lotus.
"Young Master Feng!"
Nan Yuan'er gracefully walked up to Nan Shiying and bowed.
A standard smile graced her face, the corners of her mouth lifting to reveal eight perfect, white teeth. The sunlight that day was pleasant, falling obliquely from the branches onto Nan Yuan'er's left side, illuminating her face and making it appear fuller and more refined.
Normally, a man would be overwhelmed with gratitude to receive a smile from a celebrated talent of the capital and would return the courtesy. However, putting aside that Nan Shiying already knew of this woman's wicked heart, the sheer hypocrisy emanating from her gave Nan Shiying a nauseating feeling, as if she had stepped on something unclean.
Nan Shiying walked straight past her, not stopping to exchange pleasantries, nor even sparing a glance. She treated her as nothing more than a stray dog that had suddenly darted out, or some foulness floating in the air.
Qing Zhu, who had followed her out, slowed his steps slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he decided not to pursue further. Qing Yuan, who was following Qing Zhu like a shadow, peeked her head out and saw the unconcealed, cold glare in Nan Yuan'er's eyes. She nervously clutched Qing Zhu's sleeve.
Nan Yuan'er turned halfway, spotting Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan. She seemed slightly surprised, then flashed a brilliant smile. "Why have you two come out? Are you perhaps..."
Her gaze drifted towards where Nan Shiying had departed, her unfinished words appearing somewhat affected to Qing Zhu and Qing Yuan. After all, they had witnessed her earlier expression. Although they didn't fully understand their junior uncle's character, Nan Shiying's willingness to examine Madam Wang again, even at the cost of her reputation, indicated she wasn't unreasonable. Nan Yuan'er's cold reception must have had a reason. Compared to their junior uncle's straightforwardness, Nan Yuan'er seemed rather disingenuous. What was this reaction? Did she think they had come out to cause trouble for their junior uncle?
Qing Zhu stopped Qing Yuan, who was about to speak, and replied with a smile, "We just had a few questions for Divine Physician Feng. Since Divine Physician Feng has already gone far, we'll forget about it."
He then took Qing Yuan's hand and led her back to Madam Wang's courtyard.
Nan Yuan'er, however, was pondering Qing Zhu's address for Feng Luan. He called her Divine Physician Feng?
What did that mean? Weren't the people from Medicine King Valley here to seek retribution? How had their attitude changed after just meeting Feng Luan?
Could it be that Feng Luan truly was from Medicine King Valley?
No, that didn't make sense either. If Feng Luan was indeed from Medicine King Valley, why would Qing Zhu address him so distantly as Divine Physician Feng? Nan Yuan'er was at a loss, unable to comprehend what had happened in that brief half-hour.
Seeing Qing Zhu return, the people from Medicine King Valley surrounded him, bombarding him with questions about whether their junior uncle had said anything else. Qing Zhu told them he hadn't managed to catch up to their junior uncle. Catching sight of Nan Yujin standing behind the crowd, he signaled for everyone to step aside.
The crowd parted obediently, allowing Nan Yujin to approach Qing Zhu.
He bent his knees, about to kneel again. Qing Zhu quickly supported Nan Yujin, preventing him from doing so.
Qing Zhu said, "Young Master Nan, there's no need for this. Since Junior Uncle has entrusted me with the responsibility of treating your honorable mother, I will do my utmost to diagnose and treat her. I will not fail the hopes of Junior Uncle or yourself, Young Master Nan."
Nan Yujin could only place all his hopes on Qing Zhu now. Hearing this, he dared not say anything more, offering his sincere gratitude.
Leaving Madam Wang's courtyard, the people from Medicine King Valley returned to their temporary residence.
"Senior Brother Qing Zhu, are we still staying here?" The speaker, Qing Yi, was a somewhat prematurely aged young man who looked closer to thirty than twenty.
However, compared to his appearance, his voice was rather crisp.
Qing Yi voiced the question on everyone's mind. Since Feng Luan was their junior uncle, it only made sense that they should be staying at the Tongji Pharmacy.
Qing Zhu considered for a moment and replied, "Tomorrow morning, you will all accompany me to Tongji Pharmacy to pay our respects to Uncle. As for the lodging, we will make arrangements after consulting with Uncle tomorrow. However, even if we don't stay at Tongji Pharmacy, we cannot remain at the Nan manor."
It seemed their junior uncle had some grievances with Miss Nan Yuan'er of the Nan manor. While they couldn't say much due to the relationship between Prime Minister Nan and Elder Hui Ji, it was already rather inappropriate to be staying here. Moreover, their purpose for this trip was to clarify their junior uncle's identity. Now that they knew, they could technically go wander the four directions and practice medicine. However, since their junior uncle had asked him to treat Madam Nan, he couldn't just leave.
Besides, their junior uncle was going to teach him the needling technique. Who would be foolish enough to leave?
Hearing Qing Zhu's words, the others nodded and dropped the topic. They excitedly began discussing the junior uncle's breathtaking needling technique. Qing Tang asked excitedly, "Senior Brother Qing Zhu, with the prescription from Junior Uncle and the needling technique, can Madam Nan truly live past the summer solstice?"
Qing Zhu replied, "She should be able to!"
"My medical skills are not as refined, so I dare not speak too definitively. But if we speak of the prescription alone, it is not a life-saving prescription, but rather one that could kill. However, when combined with the needling technique..." Qing Zhu chose his words carefully, "it is perhaps like Yu the Great taming the floods, completely smoothing out the potent medicinal properties of the prescription."