Ye Ningyuan paused, her smile widening in her eyes.
She reached out and placed her hand on Su Yunmo's head, ruffling her hair. "Momo, haven't I told you before? It's not good for children to lie."
Su Yunmo's gaze flickered.
Her decision to save Feng Qing'er was indeed due to more than just that reason.
The day she left the manor intending to end her life.
But after all the effort she had put into dragging her broken body to the riverbank, she ultimately didn't jump in. Instead, she used a dagger.
Because she suddenly remembered her illness was contagious, and she wasn't sure if anyone used the river water for their daily life, she hesitated and switched to her cherished dagger.
It was only later, when Han Jitong rushed over, that she was forced to jump into the water.
Therefore, when she said her blood would harm anyone who saved her, she was terrified and chose to live, giving up her 'chance to die.'
A person who wants to die is not worth saving, but a person willing to live for others is very much worth saving.
Seeing her silence, Ye Ningyuan rubbed her chin with one hand, playfully saying, "Let me guess, Momo, your kind heart was moved, wasn't it?"
"If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute." Su Yunmo weighed the herbs, immersed them in hot water, and turned to find Feng Qing'er standing not far behind her, though she didn't know when she had arrived.
Feng Qing'er's pale face held a hint of complexity; she had clearly overheard their conversation.
Ye Ningyuan smiled at her, "You're truly lucky. Even though you just met, Momo is taking such good care of you."
It was truly annoying.
Feng Qing'er's body stiffened, and she lowered her gaze.
"If you keep making noise, you can go outside," Su Yunmo said, giving her a disgusted look. She then looked up at Feng Qing'er, "The hot water is almost ready. Come in, it might hurt a bit."
Feng Qing'er nodded and, with heavy steps, painfully entered the bathtub.
Ye Ningyuan shrugged and closed her mouth.
The medicinal bath required soaking for at least the time it took an incense stick to burn, and hot water had to be added continuously.
The medicine needed to enter the body through the pores, and the pain from the festering wounds touching the medicinal water was excruciating.
But from beginning to end, she didn't utter a sound of pain.
After about half an hour, Han Jitong came in from outside, helped her wrap a bath towel around herself, and carried her back to her room.
Su Yunmo took some of the bathwater to observe how the medicine was being absorbed.
Ye Ningyuan, feeling bored, went to wander around the courtyard.
Han Jitong carried Feng Qing'er to the bed and covered her with a quilt.
"I know you don't like others touching you. For the next period, I will stay in the courtyard with you and personally attend to all your needs, ensuring no one else enters."
Feng Qing'er's gaze fell indifferently on the opposite side of the bed. After a while, she turned to look at him. "I'm very cowardly, aren't I?"
Han Jitong's hand paused. He chuckled, trying to sidestep the topic. "Today is a happy occasion. Let the past be the past."
Feng Qing'er shook her head, fumbled for a dagger under her pillow, and looked at it with a faint gaze. "Actually, by the river that day, I could have used this to cut my throat or stab my chest."
Although she had always wanted to die, she still held a sliver of hope and didn't want him to see her gruesome appearance after death.
She wanted him to remember her in her best light forever, so she had thought of many ways and only chose to cut her wrist.
However, she hadn't expected him to arrive so quickly, and in her haste, she had gone against her original intention and jumped into the river.
The fact that he and the girl who saved her were unharmed was her greatest fortune. If they had contracted the illness that day as well.
Just thinking about it sent a wave of panic through her.
How could Han Jitong not know her character? Her insistence on leaving and not wanting to die in the Han manor was to avoid causing trouble for others.
"No, you are very strong. For your brother, you have endured for long enough."
Back then, when the Feng manor was raided, she and her brother were sold as slaves to official households, and later they both ended up in brothels and small establishments.
Qing'er had a strong and resolute nature. If it weren't for her brother, why would she have submitted herself to others? It was a pity that the child ultimately did not survive.
Han Jitong held her hand, looking at her earnestly and persistently. "Don't be afraid. From today onwards, I am your family."
Feng Qing'er's body stiffened. She slowly closed her eyes, tears tracing down her cheeks, and turned her head away.
A pang of bitterness rose in Han Jitong's heart. He tucked her in, covered her, and turned to leave.
Feng Qing'er opened her eyes and suddenly said, "Your information is correct. The raid on the Feng manor back then was indeed related to Duke Yingguo."
She surmised that Prince Yu had been meticulously sending people to find her precisely because of this case.
Han Jitong stopped in his tracks and turned back abruptly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
It wasn't just because she was willing to speak, but because her speaking meant she was ready to pull herself together.
"Go and tell that child that by the old well of the Feng family manor, a box is buried containing evidence of Duke Yingguo's injustice."
"Alright, you rest. I'll go now." Han Jitong nodded and hurried out.
Su Yunmo was walking towards them, holding a newly adjusted medicinal prescription.
Han Jitong met her. "Something is buried by the old well of the Feng family manor. You should send someone to check it out."
Su Yunmo glanced towards the room door and handed him the prescription. "Starting tomorrow, take this once a day. I'll come back in three days."
"Thank you very much." Han Jitong took the prescription, almost weeping with joy.
With this, Qing'er's illness had hope.
"Are you done? I'm sleepy and want to go back to bed." Ye Ningyuan came from outside the courtyard, yawning and idly kicking stones on the ground.
Su Yunmo shot her a glare and was about to speak.
Suddenly, a scream came from inside the room.
Han Jitong's heart leaped. He turned and quickly entered the room, freezing the moment he pushed the door open.
Feng Qing'er lay on the bed, one hand resting on the edge. Blood dripped onto the floor from her pale arm.
A man in black withdrew his sword from her chest, turned, and saw Han Jitong flee.
"Qing'er!" Han Jitong's eyes widened in fury as he rushed over.
"Don't move her!" Su Yunmo stepped into the doorway, her voice sharp as she stopped him, simultaneously saying, "Ghost Shadow, go after him!"
Ghost Shadow flashed away.
Su Yunmo blocked Han Jitong and reached the bedside first.
Feng Qing'er had been stabbed in the chest, and the quilt was stained red.
Su Yunmo quickly took her pulse and said gravely, "Hurry and prepare warm water. She can still be saved."
Han Jitong stood frozen, his mouth opening as if to call for help, but his body felt as if it were frozen, unable to move.
Unable to rouse him, Su Yunmo cursed under her breath. Without further ado, she waved her hand and took out healing medicine, bandages, and other supplies from a glazed lamp.
Ye Ningyuan followed closely into the room and happened to witness this scene.
Her eyes flickered, but she said nothing more.
Su Yunmo stopped Feng Qing'er's bleeding with the utmost speed, her mind in a turmoil.
The Feng manor had long been sealed. Even if there were enemies from the past, they wouldn't target a lone girl now.
Unless it was for the 'evidence' Feng Qing'er had mentioned.
Since those people dared to act in the Han manor, it meant they had been lurking in the shadows for some time, and perhaps they already knew about the well!
"Damn it!" Su Yunmo cursed inwardly, trying to calm her mind. She shouted angrily, "Stop standing there! Quickly summon people to the Feng family manor!"
There was still a chance if they went now.