The Double-Chapter 669 - 207: Return_5

She should think of a way to confess to her father as soon as possible.

...

In the Duke Residence, Jih Heng’s return seemed to attract less attention than Jiang Li’s. Naturally, he often left the city for work, sometimes not returning for ten days to half a month, and even Old General Jih had grown accustomed to it, so it was hardly noteworthy.

However, the myna bird hanging in the cage under the eaves, upon seeing Jih Heng return, enthusiastically welcomed him with, "Beauty! Beauty!"

This myna seemed like a lustful creature, and it was only due to Jih Heng’s extraordinary tolerance that it wasn’t killed on the spot. This further emboldened the bird, which behaved as if it had backing, pecking at all the servants in the courtyard. It had even snatched meat from Zhao Ke’s plate last time.

Yet no one dared to touch it.

The myna’s voice was loud, and everyone in the courtyard heard it, including Situ Jiuyue. It seemed that the bird was a bully that feared the tough; it didn’t dare act recklessly around Situ Jiuyue and wouldn’t even come close. It apparently knew that Situ Jiuyue was someone not to be trifled with; one puff of poisonous smoke from her, and it would be done for. Thus, the myna would act high and mighty around everyone else, fawn over Jih Heng, but kept its distance from Situ Jiuyue.

Situ Jiuyue was picking flowers in the garden. The flowers here grew quickly and needed tending. Situ Jiuyue would pick some plants every few days to perform alchemy, which was much simpler than seeking out materials herself.

When Wen Renyao brought Lin Yao over, he proudly showed his apprentice to Situ Jiuyue, saying, "This is my little apprentice, Lin Yao. Come, Little Yao, this is Sister Situ."

Situ Jiuyue only glanced at Lin Yao, who shivered in fear and hid behind Wen Renyao. Situ Jiuyue said, "Just like you, a coward."

"It’s because you’re too ferocious; you scared the child," Wen Renyao retorted as he pulled Lin Yao away. "Little Yao, let’s go. Don’t mind that fierce sister. Remember, the flowers in this garden are all poisonous, and you must keep your distance at all times. As beautiful as they may look, their toxicity is great, and if you get poisoned, even the gods will be unable to save you."

Lin Yao obediently nodded.

Situ Jiuyue contained herself and put the picked plants into the case before heading to the Alchemy Room. Wen Ji and Zhao Ke stood to the side, with Zhao Ke asking, "Miss Situ, that boy who was sent here before... how is he?"

"He seems fine, but his martial arts are completely ruined, and it’s impossible for him to stand again. If Jih Heng is thinking of having him join you, it’s absolutely impossible," Situ Jiuyue replied.

Her answer was quite definitive, but neither Zhao Ke nor Wen Ji doubted it. In fact, it was just as she said: with Situ Jiuyue’s conventional medical skills and various esoteric prescriptions, if she said there was no hope, then no one in the world could heal him.

"So what do we do now?" Zhao Ke asked Wen Ji for a decision. "Should we inform the elder? He’s probably forgotten about this person, hasn’t he? I’ve never heard him mention him. We can’t let him stay in the Duke Residence indefinitely, especially when we don’t even know his identity." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"You could try to find out more about his background," Situ Jiuyue suggested with a raised eyebrow. "I told him that his legs could never recover, but he’s still trying. He’s even tried to get out of bed behind my back, of course to no avail. I think he’s a man of obsession, not like the average person."

Zhao Ke said, "Since he was found in Princess Yongning’s Private Prison, he must be someone who had a falling out with Princess Yongning. Just follow this lead."

Situ Jiuyue: "That’s your matter." Having said that, she took the case and left. However, as she passed the door of the small room next to the Alchemy Room, she hesitated before entering.

Inside the room, a young man named Ah Zhao was holding a book and reading. Situ Jiuyue saw that he was reading a travel journal about mountains and rivers and found it odd. After all, his legs were irrecoverable; what was the point of reading such books? He couldn’t visit those places, and it would only make it harder the more he read.

Yet the young man showed no sign of sadness. Seeing Situ Jiuyue come in, he put down the book and smiled at her, "Doctor Situ."

"The external injuries on your body will heal completely if you continue to recuperate for a while longer," she said.

"Thank you, Doctor Situ," Ah Zhao hesitated before adding, "I’ve had injuries in the past, and they took a long time to heal. But with Doctor Situ’s short treatment, I’ve recovered substantially, which shows your exceptional skill in medicine."

"I’m not truly a doctor, so you need not flatter me," Situ Jiuyue responded. "There’s something I’d like to ask you. What deep hatred do you have with Princess Yongning?"

Ah Zhao was stunned for a moment, seemingly not expecting Situ Jiuyue to ask such a question. These past few days, Situ Jiuyue had been cold, speaking little to him and mainly discussing his injuries without asking about his personal affairs. The servants of the Duke Residence brought him food and water but didn’t talk much to him, so Ah Zhao didn’t know the situation outside, only that his enemy was dead.

"She killed my entire family," Ah Zhao said.

Situ Jiuyue nodded as if the answer didn’t surprise her.

"There’s something I’d also like to ask Doctor Situ," Ah Zhao said. "Last time you mentioned Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong were executed for the crime of murder, but you didn’t say which family it was. Please, may I ask..."

Situ Jiuyue replied, "There are many, as the two of them reportedly killed many people. However, the most significant incident would be how Yongning dug out the eyes of Grand Secretary’s daughter and locked her in a Private Prison, offending the Grand Secretary, resulting in their imprisonment."