Lin Lang had intended to remind her about Lin Ze Qu, but seeing her so excited, she swallowed her words.
Su Yun Mo busied herself all night and did not emerge from the alchemy room until after lunch the next day.
Lin Lang called out to her twice from outside the door, but there was no response from within.
Worried, Lin Lang pushed the door open and peered inside through the crack.
The little dumpling had fallen asleep on the table.
She was covered with a blanket, one small hand tightly clenched into a fist, gripping the edge of the blanket, while the other held the white porcelain bottle. A contented smile graced her lips.
Lin Lang’s heart softened. She tiptoed forward, picked her up, and wrapped her in the blanket, carrying her back to her room to sleep.
Perhaps due to something weighing on her mind, Su Yun Mo did not sleep for long before waking up.
She had someone prepare a carriage and, holding the medicine, headed straight out of the manor.
Upon reaching the manor entrance, she encountered Su Qing being shoved out of the manor.
A Cai stood in the courtyard, watching coldly.
“Sister A Cai? What’s going on?” Su Yun Mo stopped.
A Cai saw her approaching and said, “Miss is going out? Please wait a moment, and go out after Old Master has left.”
“You unfilial son, you don’t even care about your own father. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?” Su Qing was still cursing.
The servants then covered his mouth and threw him out of the gate.
A Cai said with disgust, “Old Master lent all his money to the second branch of the family, and even took over all the debts of the second branch behind the General’s back, signing IOUs.”
Although as a subordinate, she couldn’t speak ill of her master, Old Master had gone too far this time.
He had actually used the General’s Manor as collateral for the second branch, and that money was no small sum. How could someone help outsiders scheme against their own family?
Su Yun Mo heard a cry of “Oh no!” from outside. “When did this happen?”
A Cai replied, “I heard it was borrowed during the birthday banquet.”
“But that was only a couple of days ago. Why are they so eager to ask Father for help so quickly?”
A Cai explained, “It seems to be because their businesses have suffered consecutive losses, and he wanted to get some money back from the second branch to tide him over. They refused, and only then did he realize something was wrong, so he came to the General’s Manor to make a scene.”
“Is that so?” Su Yun Mo’s eyes flickered. She felt something was off, but didn’t think much of it.
There was no more commotion outside.
Su Qing had left.
“Sister A Cai, I’m going out now.” Su Yun Mo didn’t ask any more questions and walked out.
Lin Lang followed her out, helped her onto the carriage, and then drove towards the Han Manor.
Upon hearing of her arrival, Han Ji Tong had someone welcome her directly into the inner courtyard.
“It’s fortunate you came today. I was just about to send someone to invite you.”
Su Yun Mo’s heart skipped a beat. “Did something happen to Feng Qing’er?”
“No, Qing’er is out of danger now. Thanks to you, she has something she wants to tell you. She even asked me to find you early this morning.” Han Ji Tong looked refreshed.
Seeing his demeanor, Su Yun Mo knew that Feng Qing’er’s condition had likely improved considerably.
“That’s good then.” She took out the porcelain bottle from her怀 and handed it over. “Use hot ginger water, two pills daily, taken after meals. It specifically treats her illness.”
Han Ji Tong’s eyes lit up. “You mean Qing’er can be saved?!”
This was truly wonderful. He had been filled with anxiety all this time. Qing’er was already frail, and then she suffered such a severe injury. He had thought her chances of recovery would be slim.
Never did he expect this turn of fortune!
“Don’t get too happy too soon. She might not be completely cured, but it can be alleviated. Let her take the medicine for a month first,” Su Yun Mo said as she walked into the house.
Han Ji Tong was overjoyed. “As long as it can be alleviated, that’s the best. I’ll go prepare the ginger water now!”
He took the medicine and turned towards the small kitchen.
Su Yun Mo tried to call him back but couldn’t. She looked around and realized there were no other servants in the courtyard besides him, so she had a general idea of what was happening.
“Is Miss Su here?”
A faint cough came from inside the room.
Su Yun Mo pushed the door open and went in.
Feng Qing’er was propped up on the bed. Seeing her enter, she smiled faintly. “It’s cold outside. Come in quickly and warm yourself up.”
Su Yun Mo noticed her rosy cheeks and raised an eyebrow. “It seems you’ve indeed recovered well. Have you come to your senses?”
Feng Qing’er paused, lowered her gaze, and pursed her lips, her earlobes instantly turning red.
After a while, she looked up with a flushed face. “Thank you for what happened last time.”
Brother Tong was right. The past couldn’t be changed. If one remained stuck in the past, then one day, looking back, they would realize that the present had also become the past.
Her own body was something she knew best. If she didn’t live each day as if it were her last, she would be letting down the person who saved her from a pit of fire.
Su Yun Mo stepped closer and reached out to feel her pulse. “What did you want to see me about?”
“It’s about the assassination attempt last time.” Feng Qing’er frowned. “I’ve thought about it carefully afterwards.”
“Although the assassins were fierce and terrifying that day, I had no ability to resist. Logically, he could have taken my life with a single sword strike.”
Normally, when killing someone, one would aim for a vital point. In that situation, slitting her throat would have been the easiest, but that person inexplicably stabbed her in the chest.
“I think the real purpose of the assailant was not to kill me, but to delay you from going to the Feng Manor.”
Su Yun Mo furrowed her brows.
She had also harbored doubts.
Moreover, Feng Qing’er had already said what she needed to say. After the other party learned that the evidence was in the Feng family, their first priority should have been to seize the initiative and destroy the evidence, not to stab Feng Qing’er and alert the enemy.
The people from Ye Jing Cheng’s side would not be so foolish as to do such a thing.
First, they used Feng Qing’er to stall her. Then, when Ye Ning Yuan went to retrieve the evidence, the Feng Manor caught fire, escalating the situation. Finally, the evidence she obtained was only half.
In this scenario, only Ye Ning Yuan was suspicious. Only she could have orchestrated everything from beginning to end. But what was her motive?
To protect Ye Jing Cheng?
That was also impossible. Her deliberately letting Su Yun Mo know that the Empress was trying to win over Prince Yun Yi was to tell her that she had no connection with Ye Jing Cheng.
Su Yun Mo rubbed her temples with a headache.
Ultimately, she couldn’t figure out Ye Ning Yuan at all. Sometimes she felt she was a friend, and other times she felt she was an enemy.
“Qing’er, the ginger water is here.” Han Ji Tong came in with a bowl of ginger water.
Feng Qing’er’s eyes flashed with joy upon seeing him.
She smiled and said softly, “Why did you suddenly think of making ginger water?”
“It’s cold, so drink some ginger water to ward off the cold. And this is to give you your medicine.” Han Ji Tong brought the bowl over and handed her the medicine bottle. “One pill in the morning and one in the evening. It’s good for your injury and will help you recover faster.”
Su Yun Mo’s eyes flickered.
Injury?
“My wound doesn’t hurt anymore, so I don’t need so many tonics.” Although she said this, Feng Qing’er slowly sat up and reached for the ginger water.
Han Ji Tong glanced at Su Yun Mo and nodded slightly.
Su Yun Mo understood. He probably wanted to wait for the medicine to take effect before telling Feng Qing’er. If he told her beforehand and it didn’t work out, she might be saddened.