Xiao Zhen's leave of absence was over, and he rushed back to the military camp. Before leaving, he told Xiao Man that he would return soon.
Although not explicitly stated, Xiao Man understood that her injury this time had made her father particularly worried, and he planned to return to the imperial capital to personally watch over her.
As soon as Xiao Zhen left, news of the Fourth Miss falling gravely ill at the nunnery reached them. The Old Madam, heartbroken for the Fourth Miss, decided to have Concubine Lin and the Fourth Miss brought back.
After Ye Qing treated the Fourth Miss, he came to re-examine Xiao Man. Xiao Man's injuries had almost healed, but she still remained holed up in her courtyard, busy with something. However, every time Ye Qing visited, he could smell a faint medicinal fragrance on Xiao Man, and these were not the herbs from his prescriptions.
Ye Qing entered and saw Xiao Man bent over her desk, drawing. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is the Eldest Miss drawing?"
Xiao Man looked up at Ye Qing. "Drawing."
Ye Qing leaned in to look and saw that Xiao Man was drawing a flower.
The petals were black, and the stamens were red. This was the Nine Nether Underworld Flower, a substance of extreme toxicity. The Nine Nether Underworld Flower originated from the Western Regions, and its entire being—flower, leaves, roots, and stem—was poisonous. Its most potent poison lay in its stamens, which were as red as blood and incredibly deadly!
More importantly, the components of the poison that Nangong Yu had suffered from included the Nine Nether Underworld Flower.
"Why would the Eldest Miss draw this?"
"I saw it in a book once. I found the flower very special, with petals that were actually black. I've never seen anything like it before, so I sketched it down."
"This flower is not to be trifled with," Ye Qing said, his voice gentle, like pearls falling onto a jade plate. "This flower is called the Nine Nether Underworld Flower, and it is incredibly poisonous. To touch it is to die."
"How terrifying. I was merely curious about its strange appearance. Doctor Ye, are you here for my follow-up examination today?" Xiao Man extended her hand to Ye Qing, but her gaze remained fixed on the flower she had drawn, a subtle, elegant curve gracing her lips. Ye Qing, for reasons unknown, felt a chill run down his spine. He had a feeling that someone was about to meet misfortune with Xiao Man smiling like this. Sudan Novel Network.
"I have a few bottles of poison here, which I developed myself. The Eldest Miss can keep them for self-defense."
Xiao Man's eyes sparkled, as if filled with a sky full of stars. "That would be wonderful. Thank you, Doctor Ye."
Ye Qing took out three small porcelain bottles from his medical bag, colored brown, gray, and black respectively. "The darker the color, the stronger the poison. Be extremely careful not to harm yourself."
"I understand," Xiao Man nodded.
"Your injuries have almost healed. Don't forget to use the scar-removal cream." Ye Qing produced another bottle. "This bottle is for strengthening your foundation and regulating your body. Take one pill daily, and don't forget."
"Doctor Ye, you are truly thoughtful. I wonder which woman will be fortunate enough to be your wife in the future," Xiao Man smiled. "Are all doctors as gentle as you, Doctor Ye?"
"Gentle?" Ye Qing chuckled at the word. It was the first time anyone had called him gentle.
If Xiao Man knew that he was the eccentric and ruthless Medicine King, who had entered the Protectorate General's mansion with ulterior motives under the guise of a physician, would she still call him gentle?
"Yes, exceptionally gentle. Coupled with your good looks and your superb medical skills, there must be many women who like you." Xiao Man's voice was like a warbler's song, and a gentle breeze stirred her long hair, brushing against Ye Qing's face. A ticklish sensation spread from his face to his heart.
"There are also many people who like the Eldest Miss."
"Yes, there are indeed many who wish for my death," Xiao Man said, putting away the medicine. "Thank you, Doctor Ye."
"You are too kind, Eldest Miss." Ye Qing rose to take his leave.
As he walked out of Shuiyue Xiaozhu, he ran his hand over the spot where Xiao Man's hair had brushed him. The tingling sensation remained, and his heart inexplicably quickened, as if something were about to break free from its constraints and leap out of his chest. Ye Qing took a deep breath to suppress the tremor in his heart.
"Doctor Ye." Xiao Xiang arrived just as she encountered Ye Qing.
Ye Qing immediately adopted a distant demeanor and bowed. "Second Miss."
"How is my elder sister's injury?"
"It has almost healed and will recover completely in a few days." Ye Qing's voice was devoid of emotion, like the wind in February, carrying a touch of warmth and a hint of coolness.
"Then I am relieved. You have worked hard during this time, Doctor Ye." Xiao Xiang bowed and entered Shuiyue Xiaozhu.
Since their father returned to the military camp, the people in the mansion had become restless again. The Second Madam, Yan Shi, was openly trying to undermine them, and the Old Madam was no longer involved in affairs. Their lives had become quite difficult.
When Xiao Xiang entered the room and stated her purpose, Xiao Man was still fiddling with the poisons Ye Qing had given her. "Don't worry. Yan Shi will soon have no time to concern herself with you."
Although Xiao Xiang didn't know why Xiao Man said that, she understood that if Xiao Man had said it, she must have done something.
"Who was responsible for Eldest Sister's injury?"
"I inflicted it myself," Xiao Man replied calmly, not concealing anything.
Xiao Xiang's expression contorted as if she couldn't believe it. Had Xiao Man gone mad? To stab herself and suffer a severe injury?
"Why did you do that?"
"The Thirteenth Prince was severely injured, and I was present. There were also witnesses who saw me following the Thirteenth Prince into Chonghua Palace. What do you think the outcome would have been for me?"
"To be accused of... harming a prince."
"You understand." Xiao Man didn't even raise her eyelids. "How is Fourth Sister's illness?"
"Doctor Ye said there is no serious issue."
"Keep a close eye on Concubine Lin. It's quite a coincidence that Concubine Lin returned at this time." Xiao Man continued her tinkering. The poisons Ye Qing concocted were quite good. She wondered if they could incapacitate Qin Yu.
"Eldest Sister means that Concubine Lin has ill intentions?"
"Second Sister, do not underestimate anyone in this mansion." Xiao Man looked up at Xiao Xiang. "In this mansion, besides you and Third Concubine, everyone else has a significant background. A slightest misstep could lead to disaster."
"Concubine Lin is merely a woman from a brothel. She..."
"For a woman from a brothel to become a concubine in the General's mansion is itself a skill. Moreover, she was actively brought back by Father, who generally does not indulge in romantic entanglements." Xiao Man said slowly.
Currently, besides Fourth Concubine, she had not yet fully understood the background of this Concubine Lin.
"My sister personally believes that Madam is the most dangerous one..."
"Second Sister, a person who openly shows malice towards you is not frightening. What is frightening are enemies hidden in the shadows. We naturally guard against overt enemies, but we don't know how to defend against those in the dark."
Xiao Xiang took a deep breath. How foolish she had been to think Xiao Man was a useless good-for-nothing. Did everyone in the mansion think she and her concubine were idiots? Did they really take Xiao Man for a fool?
"Please instruct me, Eldest Sister."
"Observe and wait. Respond to all changes with no changes."