Dongfang Huo poured tea for his two younger brothers. "Second brother, what did you find out on your trip this time?"
"There wasn’t much, but I always feel like Father’s injury was part of a conspiracy!" Dongfang Xu said, sipping his tea before he continued, "Is Father’s poison cured?"
"Speaking of Father’s poison, we owe a great deal to Miss Yun today. Her medical skills are truly astonishing!" Dongfang Huo praised.
He couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
"How so?" Dongfang Xu asked.
He was curious, having not seen it himself.
When Prince Rui initially suggested this to him, he had doubted whether Yun Jinnian, with her young age, possessed the medical prowess the prince had described.
"Her needle technique was incredibly precise; she remained unfazed as she cut away flesh and scraped bone, as calm as if she were doing embroidery!" Dongfang Huo, taking a deep breath, said.
He still felt excited thinking about it.
It was a pity that Yun Jinnian was a woman; had she been a man, he would have earnestly sought her friendship and cherished it for a lifetime.
"More than that. She used silver needles to extract an Iron Sand Snake from Father’s arm, prescribed a medicine that was boiled in a big tub, and had Father soak his injured leg in it. The Iron Sand Snakes came out one by one, filling up almost half of the water vat!"
Dongfang Xu felt his scalp tingle upon hearing this.
He saw Dongfang Zan, who had been silent all along. "Third brother, what’s wrong with you?"
"It’s nothing!" Dongfang Zan hurriedly replied, clearly distracted.
Dongfang Xu didn’t think much of it. "What about those filthy poisons?"
"Per Miss Yun’s instructions, all were taken to the ice cellar. She said they need to be brought back to Capital City for disposal!"
Why take them back to Capital City? Can’t they just be dealt with at the City Lord Residence?
The three brothers talked some more, inevitably discussing the several major families in the city that were getting restless.
"Big brother, we need to be cautious and also inform Second Uncle. Command everyone in the City Lord Residence to act prudently and avoid falling prey to someone’s schemes!" Dongfang Xu said gravely.
He had a feeling that a conspiracy was targeting the City Lord Residence.
"Don’t worry. I understand completely, and have already given the orders. If anyone dares to abuse their power, they won’t be let off easily!"
Having spent some time in Huguo Temple, Yun Jinnian had come to cherish Mrs. Han’s affection and sympathy for her, and now held Mrs. Han closer to her heart than ever.
When she got up in the middle of the night to relieve herself, she tucked Mrs. Han in and carefully embraced Mrs. Han’s arm, resting her little face on Mrs. Han’s shoulder before falling back into a deep sleep.
When Yun Jinnian woke up in the morning, she was still holding onto Mrs. Han’s arm, even drooling a little. Mrs. Han gently smiled as she wiped Yun Jinnian’s face with a handkerchief. Yun Jinnian, still groggy, looked at Mrs. Han. "Mother!"
Yun Jinnian nodded. "Was I restless in my sleep last night?"
Mrs. Han chuckled. "Not at all, you just drooled!"
Since returning from Huguo Temple, Yun Jinnian had grown much closer to Mrs. Han, shedding some of her earlier hesitations and becoming more affable. Mrs. Han was delighted at heart.
She, too, desired to indulge in the deep affection shared between mother and daughter, letting Yun Jinnian be pampered and willful.
Time was slipping away, and soon the child would be grown.
Yun Jinnian’s cheeks flushed a little, and she shyly burrowed into the covers, curling up like a shrimp. Mrs. Han laughed out loud at the sight.
"It’s still early, sleep a little longer!"
Yun Jinnian shook her head. "No, I should go check on the City Lord first!"
Dongfang Fu and Dongfang Rong soon arrived, and after breakfast together, they went to treat the City Lord.
Entering the room, Dongfang Huo and Dongfang Zan greeted them, accompanied by a young man. When Yun Jinnian saw him, her expression changed abruptly.