"Xiao'er."
Yun Zhen could hardly believe it. On her gentle and elegant features were astonishment, elation, and profound suspicion. She was his sister, Xiao'er.
Xiao'er had disguised herself, that much didn't shock him. What shocked him was that she was no longer foolish. Xiao'er was no longer foolish.
Yun Zhen suspected he had misheard or misseen. He abruptly raised his head, closed his eyes, then opened them again. He firmly grasped Yun Xiao's hand and examined her from head to toe.
Elation instantly consumed him. His Xiao'er was no longer foolish. It was wonderful. It seemed Heaven had been kind to the Yun family.
Yun Zhen pulled Yun Xiao's hand and quickly brought her closer, to Yun Mo's bedside, speaking with a heavy heart.
"Father, Father, look who's here?"
The person his father worried about most in his heart was Xiao'er. If he knew Xiao'er was well, he would die with a smile, for then he could face Madam Ji without guilt.
The person on the bed, hearing the urgent calls, laboriously opened his eyes. He glanced at Yun Zhen, then at Yun Xiao beside him.
Because Yun Xiao's face was darkened, her eyebrows were drawn thickly, and a crescent moon was painted on her forehead, Yun Mo did not recognize her. With just a glance, he was too tired to open his eyes again.
"Father, Xiao'er has come to see you."
When Yun Xiao spoke, Yun Mo didn't react. After a long while, he suddenly opened his eyes. His pupils emitted light, fervent and ecstatic, burning with flames as he stared desperately at Yun Xiao.
Looking closely, her brows, her delicate nose and cherry lips, her watery smile, and her dark eyes brimming with tears – who else could it be but his Xiao'er? What had happened to Xiao'er? Why was she crying?
Yun Mo felt immense heartache. He wanted to reach out and wipe her tears. Why was his Xiao'er crying? Xiao'er loved to smile the most. Who had upset Xiao'er? He would skin that person alive.
But no matter how hard he tried, his hand would not extend. Yun Xiao grasped her father's hand. At this moment, however, Yun Mo remembered something and recoiled in horror, crying out.
"Xiao'er, no, it's contagious!" He couldn't let Xiao'er get infected.
"Father, it's alright. Xiao'er isn't afraid of infection. Xiao'er will be fine."
Yun Xiao spoke again, tears like pearls rolling down more fiercely.
Yun Mo remembered something, his eyes widening. His dark pupils, deep and profound, held disbelief. His pupils dilated further and further. Ecstasy overwhelmed him. He moved his lips, and after a long moment, managed to utter,
"Xiao'er is actually not foolish anymore. I can die content."
His hand suddenly drooped, and his head tilted, a satisfied smile on his face. Yun Zhen was greatly alarmed and grabbed Yun Mo's hand.
"Father, Father, don't scare me and Xiao'er."
Yun Xiao, forgetting her tears, quickly took her father's hand from her brother's grasp and began to feel his pulse calmly. Her darkened face was serene and composed, veiled in a sacred radiance.
Watching Xiao'er like this, Yun Zhen couldn't help but be startled. What did Xiao'er's actions signify? Did she know medicine? Was she skilled in medicine?
If his earlier joy had blinded him, his mind was now slowly clearing. Xiao'er had been foolish since childhood. How could she suddenly be well and even inexplicably understand medicine? What changes had occurred?
Yun Zhen narrowed his pupils, his eyes holding dangerous, surging waves. But thinking of his father, his heart ached again. He clutched it forcefully and turned to look at the person on the bed.
Yun Xiao finished feeling his pulse quickly and ordered without looking back.
"Medicinal chest."
"Yes, Master," Wanwan stepped forward, skillfully opening the medicinal chest. Yun Xiao reached out and took the silver needles, preparing to administer them.
Yun Zhen did not know what she intended to do. He reached out and stopped her, "What are you doing?"
"Administering acupuncture. Brother, if we don't act now, it will be too late. We must seal the heart meridian. This way, he will be fine for a short period."
Yun Zhen trembled. Looking at Xiao'er's sincere face, the deep affection in her eyes, how could he doubt her? She was his Xiao'er. He withdrew his hand and nodded, "Alright."
He believed Xiao'er would not harm their father. She must be his sister, Xiao'er. But what exactly had happened to Xiao'er?
Yun Zhen glanced at Wanwan, who was handing him the medicinal chest. Only now did he recognize that this beautiful and charming woman was the maidservant under Xiao'er. Her fine clothes and opulent attire were a world apart from before. If one didn't look closely, they wouldn't recognize her.
Yun Xiao sealed her father's heart meridian with silver needles and began to examine him carefully. The symptoms were indeed no different from a typical plague, and it seemed to lean towards a rat plague.
"Were the initial symptoms Father experienced limb pain, headaches, fever, restlessness, dry throat, and later, a dark blue complexion, and a soft, weak body?"
Yun Xiao spoke word by word. Everyone in the tent was stunned. Meteor and Jingyun only now saw their master display astonishing medical skills. It was truly superb. She had accurately described the previous symptoms at a single glance.
Yun Zhen nodded heavily, but the deep doubts in his dark pupils grew.
If he could understand Xiao'er's recovery as Heaven's mercy, then this astonishing medical skill was not something one acquired casually. Even with study, it would take many years to reach such a high level of medical expertise. Who exactly was she?
It absolutely could not be Xiao'er.
Yun Xiao didn't think too much about it. What she wanted most now was to investigate whether this was a plague or something man-made, and how the army doctors had handled it.
"How did the army doctors treat those patients and Father?"
Yun Zhen knitted his brows, thinking seriously. Regardless of who she was, his duty now was to cooperate with her to save his father. If her medical skills were truly extraordinary, perhaps his father and all those infected with the plague could be saved.
Hope gradually arose, like the eastern dawn, illuminating the earth with warm rays of light.
"Croton seeds. Using a highly toxic substance to kill the toxins. However, croton seeds are also highly toxic. Those with strong bodies can endure it and be fine for a short time. But those with weak bodies cannot withstand this 'fighting poison with poison' therapy. They will only die faster."
Yun Xiao stood up and paced within the tent, her face grave. Her mind raced, searching for answers. The surroundings were silent. No one dared to disturb her train of thought.
"Brother, immediately gather some people to question those who are unharmed. Ask them what they have eaten and drunk recently. Leave nothing out."
"You mean?" A glint of icy coldness flashed in Yun Zhen's eyes. A killing intent curved his lips as he stared intently at Yun Xiao.
Could it be that this was not a plague but a man-made incident? Otherwise, why question the survivors? As soon as Xiao'er mentioned it, he understood.
If it were a true plague, everyone here would likely be beyond saving by now. Why were some people unaffected? This indicated a problem with their diet, that some of the food they ate contained an antidote.