Du Meng Zhou could tell she was distracted from her delayed reaction, a mere beat of a breath.
This indicated that her husband seemed to truly care for her and understood her habits very well.
"My teacher truly understands me," Lin Yan said with a smile.
"I am your teacher, after all," Du Meng Zhou replied casually, not taking it seriously at all.
To him, understanding his students was a very ordinary matter. If he didn't understand his students, how could he discover their problems in time, offer corrections, and better guide them?
Lin Yan felt a touch of warmth. Although her teacher sometimes appeared unreliable, he was indeed a good teacher.
In the following days, Lin Yan and her companions continued their excursions with the Ying Chuan Wang's family, witnessing firsthand how frail the little County Princess An An truly was.
When An An coughed again with heart-wrenching intensity, Lin Yan could no longer bear her worry and stepped forward.
"Uncle Zhao, why don't you let me take a look at An An?"
"You?" Ying Chuan Wang looked at Lin Yan with a hint of confusion. "Do you know medicine?"
"I dare not claim to be an expert, but I should be able to cure An An," Lin Yan said with great certainty. She would use every method to save him.
"Are you serious?" This was the first time Ying Chuan Wang had heard someone confidently claim they could save his An An.
However, An An's status was special. Although he trusted Du Meng Zhou implicitly, he dared not risk An An's safety.
"I have at least a ninety percent chance of success," Lin Yan looked up at Ying Chuan Wang. "An An's current condition cannot hold out much longer. Some doctor must have told you that with An An's current health, she should not live to the age of maidenhood."
"Yan'er, don't speak nonsense!" Du Meng Zhou reprimanded Lin Yan. He understood the significance of An An to Ying Chuan Wang, and Lin Yan's words were like twisting a knife in his heart.
Lin Yan was merely a child of ten or so. If she could master the Four Books and Five Classics, she would be using all her effort. He truly couldn't imagine she also knew medicine.
If anything happened to An An because of Lin Yan, he couldn't fathom what an enraged Ying Chuan Wang might do. Even he wouldn't be able to protect Lin Yan then.
"Then how long can you keep An An alive?" Ying Chuan Wang did not look at Du Meng Zhou. His eyes were fixed on Lin Yan, as if trying to find any trace of a lie on her face.
"How long? Until the natural end of her lifespan," Lin Yan replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this answer, Ying Chuan Wang's pupils contracted, and his hands clenched involuntarily.
"You... Are you telling the truth?"
This was the first time Lin Yan encountered Ming Hao from this world. He was a tiny figure curled up in the quilt, with only a small face, no bigger than a palm, peeking out.
Lin Yan had no time to observe his expression towards her, her entire focus on his pulse.
After a long while, Lin Yan asked An An to offer her other hand. After feeling the pulses of both hands, Lin Yan then carefully examined An An's complexion.
"Brother Yan, are you a doctor?" Perhaps the atmosphere had been too heavy, and An An had remained silent. Only after Lin Yan finished taking her pulse did she speak.
"Sort of, but I can let An An play freely under the sun." Since An An's current identity was that of a girl, she couldn't make any overly familiar gestures.
"Brother Yan, is that true?" An An's eyes lit up.
"Yes, as long as An An takes her medicine obediently, she will be fine soon," Lin Yan stood up.
Ying Chuan Wang and his wife, who had been anxiously listening to Lin Yan's words, immediately approached her. "Yan'er, you mean?"
The Consort of Ying Chuan Wang felt as if she might have misheard, but seeing the excited expression on her husband's face, she knew she hadn't.
"Uncle Zhao, please rest assured. I said I had a ninety percent chance of success earlier. Now that I have examined An An's pulse in detail, I have about a ninety-five percent chance of curing her." The remaining half a percent was Lin Yan being modest.
She already understood why An An was so sickly, and with the cause of the illness known, it was much easier to treat.
However, An An's biggest problem was not her congenital weakness, but some non-scientific reasons.
"Yan'er, a word in private," Ying Chuan Wang seemed to have made up his mind. There were some things he couldn't say in front of An An, let alone let Du Meng Zhou know.
Lin Yan knew what Ying Chuan Wang wanted to say. After exchanging a glance with her teacher, she accompanied Ying Chuan Wang.
Du Meng Zhou watched Lin Yan leave with some concern. Was his little disciple perhaps too overconfident? Many renowned physicians were powerless against this illness, yet she so readily claimed a ninety-five percent chance of cure.
Although Ying Chuan Wang had a good relationship with him, when it came to his only descendant, his influence might not hold sway.
Since Ying Chuan Wang and Lin Yan had left, he was left alone with the Consort. It wasn't appropriate for him to stay, so he took his leave.
When Lin Yan returned, he would definitely scold her, to see if she would be so reckless next time.
"Yan'er, you should already know An An's identity," Ying Chuan Wang said after leading Lin Yan to the study.
"Yan knows what to say and what not to say."
"You are Meng Zhou's disciple, and I naturally want to trust you. However, An An's identity is extraordinary. Any oversight could lead to the threat of death.
Nephew Yan, since you already know this secret, tell me, how can I trust you for An An's safety?"
The usually calm Ying Chuan Wang suddenly became imposing, a silent pressure emanating from him and bearing down on Lin Yan.
"Uncle Zhao, or rather, Your Highness Ying Chuan Wang, please be assured. I will do my utmost to allow An An to live out her natural lifespan," Lin Yan met Ying Chuan Wang's gaze calmly.
"You are indeed a clever one," Ying Chuan Wang was not surprised that Lin Yan could guess his identity. However, concerning the safety of his only descendant, he had to be extremely cautious.
"You said you can let An An live out her natural lifespan, so I will believe you. However, Nephew Yan, you also have loved ones you cherish, so you should understand my feelings."
This was a threat, using Lin Yan's family. Ying Chuan Wang did not wish to resort to this, but the deaths of his previous two children made him unwilling to take any chances.
"Yan understands. An An is the little County Princess of the Ying Chuan Wang's household, and she will always be, until she can truly stand in the sunlight."
"Then An An's health will be entrusted to you, Nephew Yan. If you need anything, just list it out. No matter what rare medicinal herbs, I will procure them for you."
"I will not be polite."
"May I ask how long it will take to treat An An's condition?"
"It could be as short as a year, or as long as three years. However, there is one matter I need to inform Your Highness of in advance. Next year is the provincial examination year, and I need to participate."
Lin Yan had to complete the imperial examination process within these few years.