For three consecutive days, Nan Shiying arrived at the Liu residence punctually to treat Liu Wanjun.
"All done. Rest and recuperation are key from now on!" Nan Shiying said to the Liu father and son, accepting a towel from a maid to wash her hands and then putting away her needle bag.
Liu Wanjun was already able to get up, and a maid helped him to his feet.
"The life-saving grace of Divine Doctor Feng is something this old man cannot repay. I hear the Divine Doctor has a fondness for books. As luck would have it, I was fortunate enough to acquire a medical text in my youth. It's of no use to me now, so please, Divine Doctor, do not refuse."
As he spoke, he signaled to Liu Zijing. Liu Zijing, holding a thick medical book, walked over to Nan Shiying and respectfully presented it to her.
Nan Shiying glanced at it, her gaze momentarily sharpening. She accepted it graciously, "In that case, I thank you!"
"Divine Doctor Feng is too kind!"
Liu Wanjun's body was still somewhat weak, but he was no longer in critical condition. He had only eaten congee for these past few days, and his mouth had long lost its taste. Today, the small kitchen had prepared food that was light yet delicious. Liu Wanjun invited Nan Shiying to dine with him.
"Then I shall be imposing!"
She hadn't left immediately after her first treatment, and Liu Zijing, brimming with joy, ordered the servants to set out the dishes and serve them.
There was no wine on the table, only soup that had been simmering for over ten hours.
The taste was excellent. Nan Shiying couldn't help but drink several bowls.
"Lord Liu, your body has just recovered. You should drink less of this soup." Liu Wanjun handed his empty bowl to a maid. As the maid reached for the ladle to serve a second bowl of soup, a pair of chopsticks stopped her. The maid looked up at Liu Wanjun.
Liu Wanjun paused, then smiled, "Yes, yes, one bowl is fine!"
He waved to the maid. Just as the maid put down the empty bowl, a slender, fair hand holding an empty bowl entered her peripheral vision.
The maid turned her head, looked at the hand and the bowl, then looked up at the person handing it to her.
Nan Shiying wore a faint, gentle smile on her face, her expression calm and composed, showing no hint of embarrassment. Of course, she had no reason to be embarrassed.
It was just that there wasn't much soup left in the bowl.
The maid couldn't help but want to laugh but dared not. She twitched her lips, suppressing her laughter, and took the bowl from her, serving her a full one.
Liu Zijing was momentarily stunned, as was Liu Cheng.
They hadn't expected that this Divine Doctor Feng Luan, skilled in medicine and known for her aloofness, would be such a glutton!
Nan Shiying took a sip of soup. Noticing the gazes falling upon her, she was slightly taken aback. She looked at the soup, then at Liu Wanjun, and with a silent sigh, she drew the corner of her mouth. "Lord Liu, you really shouldn't drink more!"
Liu Wanjun nodded, "Understood, this old man understands!"
Nan Shiying: "..."
I don't think you quite understand!
...
"The Liu family's soup is quite good!"
Nan Shiying picked up a strawberry, took a bite, and shared her observations from the Liu residence that day with Ji Jinmo.
Strawberry juice dripped down her hand. Ji Jinmo used a handkerchief to wipe it away and said, "What soup? Have the kitchen learn it!"
"Just chicken soup!"
The soup wasn't particularly special, just flavorful. "Of course, that's not important!"
"My Lord, don't you have anything you want to tell me?" Liu Wanjun had been cured by him, and Nan Shiying felt that this big, sly wolf Ji Jinmo should explain himself. Although she could probably guess most of it without an explanation, the feeling was still unsatisfactory.
"You've been holding back for so long, I thought you wouldn't ask!" Ji Jinmo's voice held a hint of a smile. He didn't intend to hide anything; the only difference was whether he would confess proactively.
Nan Shiying rolled her eyes, daggers shooting out from her gaze.
Ji Jinmo stood up and said to Nan Shiying, "I'll take you to see someone!"
...
At the Dongbo Tower, Nan Shiying looked at the person kneeling before her and turned to glance at Ji Jinmo.
"Your subordinate greets Your Highness!"
Looking at this face, Nan Shiying found it hard to connect him with the mournful appearance he had that day. So, was that day all an act?
"Rise!"
Ji Jinmo nodded slightly towards him.
"Brother Feng, it's been a while!"
Nan Shiying twitched the corner of her mouth and took a bite of osmanthus cake. "Should I say that Your Highness is a true master of disguise?"
Wang Qiancheng grinned, his slightly upturned eyebrows still hinting at his dissolute nature. However, if one were to throw him out now, even Liu Cheng would likely feel a moment of bewilderment before tentatively calling out: Brother!
"Brother Feng is joking!"
With Feng Luan and Ji Jinmo sitting together, in terms of identity and status, he was not someone they could compare with. Wang Qiancheng constantly bore his status in mind, not daring to overstep even a little. Even his replies carried a hint of deference!
"So, poisoning Liu Wanjun was to allow the Wang family to curry favor with the Liu family?"
But her actions at Yipinjian back then were merely spontaneous. This whole line of events... so this matter was an extension of Ji Jinmo's taking advantage of the situation after she had acted freely?
Excellent, it not only allowed her, as 'Feng Luan,' to infiltrate the Liu family but also to plant the Wang family within.
Ji Jinmo nodded noncommittally, "Just going with the flow!"
Wang Qiancheng kept his head bowed, only listening to their conversation. The more he listened, the more he felt that Feng Luan and His Highness's relationship was somewhat unusual.
He still remembered the signals conveyed by the gestures of Feng Luan's guards at Yipinjian that day: Cooperate fully!
That's why he cooperated all the way to the gambling platform.
Nan Shiying looked at Ji Jinmo. The fact that the famous prodigal son Wang Qiancheng was his subordinate surprised her. She had thought that Wang Qiancheng that day had been overly cooperative, but it turned out he wasn't simply scared out of his wits!
"Did the Liu family promise anything?"
Now that Liu Wanjun was well, the Liu family would naturally remember the Wang family.
Liu Zijing had just left the Wang family before Wang Qiancheng came out. However, his father had not yet mentioned what had been promised to the Wang family. "Your subordinate does not yet know, but it is likely... an alliance through marriage!"
The Zhongshu Ling Liu family was a prestigious clan. Even though their Wang family had climbed the ladder by associating with the eunuch supervisor in the palace, their status was still incomparable to the Liu family. For the Liu family, the greatest favor to the Wang family would be to marry a young lady from their estate into the Wang family.
It would not be a concubine's daughter, but a legitimate one!
"Liu Cheng's sister, or perhaps the legitimate daughter from the second branch!"
Liu Cheng seemed to have only one legitimate sister. She wondered if the Liu family would be willing to marry a meticulously raised young lady to a prodigal son like Wang Qiancheng.
The legitimate daughter of the Liu family should be sent to the palace!
If it wasn't Liu Cheng's sister, then it would have to be the legitimate daughter of Liu Wanjun's second son who would be married over.
"The Liu family and the Wang family are forming an alliance through marriage!"
Nan Shiying stroked her chin and suddenly let out a laugh.
Was this considered successfully inserting a wedge into the enemy's circle!