Chapter 60: Wouldn’t Finding the Corpse Be Even More Heartbreaking?

At this moment, the Song family didn’t have time to argue with Hua Xiao. Madam Song looked pleadingly at Ren Bang.

“Official, I believe my son and daughter-in-law are definitely safe. Please allow my two children to go look for them. I can stay at the inn.”

She was willing to remain at the inn as a hostage while Song Jiuli and Song Jiuchi went to search for their older brother and sister-in-law. That was the most secure arrangement.

“I’ll go help too,” said Chen Ce, stepping forward. “Madam, please help take care of my wife and Wenhao.”

“What’s the point of searching? Wouldn’t it be even more heartbreaking if you found a corpse?” sneered Second Madam Song, clearly unsympathetic. The others, anxious to find their loved ones, ignored her callous words.

“…Alright.”
Ren Bang sighed. In all these years, this was the first time he’d allowed an exiled person such freedom. He just hoped he wasn’t putting his trust in the wrong people.

“Thank you, thank you!”

With permission granted, Song Jiuli, Song Jiuchi, and Chen Ce hurriedly turned to leave—only to catch sight of two figures at the inn’s entrance.

Jiang Wan had returned, carrying Song Jiuyuan on her back!

“What are you standing there for? Come help your brother already!” Jiang Wan rolled her eyes in exasperation. Even with her abilities and decent physical strength, carrying Song Jiuyuan for such a long distance had been extremely exhausting.

“Brother!”
Song Jiuchi rushed forward and immediately took Song Jiuyuan from her. Song Jiuli and Madam Song ran over as well, followed by Chen Ce.

Lin Tingyu visibly relaxed at the sight of Jiang Wan returning safely, a quiet sigh of relief escaping him.

Hua Xiao noticed his reaction and felt a sharp sting in her heart. Her eyes welled with pain, and she bit her lip in sadness.

Everyone finally let go of their anxieties—except for the old Song family, who looked anything but pleased.

They had thought Song Jiuyuan and Jiang Wan, those two bringers of bad luck, were dead. Without Jiang Wan, they could manipulate Madam Song however they pleased.

“It’s good you’re back. Everyone, get ready—we’ll be heading out soon.”

Ren Bang finally eased his tense expression and deliberately went upstairs to give them a moment of reprieve. Jiang Wan felt a flicker of warmth in her heart—he was buying them time.

“Yuanyuan, Wanwan, are you two alright?”

Madam Song’s eyes scanned them from head to toe, checking for injuries.

Tears welled up in Song Jiuli’s eyes. “Big brother, sister-in-law, we were so worried we nearly died of anxiety. Who was that heartless scoundrel trying to harm you?”

Her voice trembled with emotion, far more endearing than her usual arrogance.

“It’s over now,”
Song Jiuyuan shifted the subject. No one here was a fool—aside from that person’s orders, who else would dare attempt to kill him so brazenly?

At that reminder, a heavy gloom fell over everyone’s hearts. Song Jiuyuan had once given everything for Dafeng, and now even preserving his own life had become so difficult.

“Tingyu-ge!”

Suddenly, Hua Xiao’s startled cry broke the silence. Not far off, Lin Tingyu had collapsed.

His attendants were in a panic, immediately carrying him upstairs while someone rushed to find a doctor.

Madam Song dabbed her tears with a handkerchief. “That young master Lin is a good man. He spent all last night searching for you two. He was already unwell, and now he’s reached his limit.”

“You go rest. I’ll go check on him.”

Jiang Wan gave a few words to Song Jiuyuan and turned toward the inn’s second floor.

“Mother, I’ll go too. Please look after big brother.”

Song Jiuli thought of Hua Xiao’s resentful glance and felt uneasy, quickly following Jiang Wan upstairs.

Inside Lin Tingyu’s room, chaos reigned. His servants were newly hired stewards from a nearby branch and unfamiliar with the situation. The more fragile attendants were still en route due to the exhausting journey.

Hua Xiao bustled around, helping with an air of authority—as if she were already mistress of the Lin household.

Knowing how important Jiang Wan was to their master, no one stopped her or Song Jiuli from entering.

“I’m a doctor. Let me examine him.”

Jiang Wan frowned at Lin Tingyu’s pale face. She had heard he collapsed from searching for her and Song Jiuyuan, and she hated owing favors.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

Hua Xiao was skeptical of Jiang Wan’s claim. Since Lin Tingyu didn’t keep a maid, she stepped forward and wiped his face with a damp cloth herself.

“Miss Hua,”

The newly appointed steward quietly reminded her, “Our young master trusts Madam Song deeply. The doctor is still in town and won’t arrive anytime soon. Let Madam Song examine him first—his body can’t wait.”

Though phrased as a suggestion, the steward stepped aside to let Jiang Wan through.

“Miss Jiang, our previous manager said our young master has always been frail and prone to illness. After being locked up by those cursed villagers, his condition worsened. Then he searched all night and collapsed from exhaustion.”

“…I see.”

Jiang Wan stepped forward, and Hua Xiao had no choice but to retreat, biting her lip in distress.

She was merely a pitiful girl Lin Tingyu had helped along the way. That’s why no one truly took her seriously.

One day… one day, once she became Lin Tingyu’s wife, she would never let Jiang Wan get near him again!

Jiang Wan had definitely noticed Hua Xiao’s sharp, watchful gaze, but she had no time for it. She placed a cloth on Lin Tingyu’s wrist.

Her fair fingers gently rested on his pulse. The longer she examined him, the deeper her frown became. After a while, she finally said:

“Bring him some food—light and easy to digest. And also, fetch me some wine.”

“But Tingyu-ge hasn’t even woken up yet. Why do we need food? And he can’t drink alcohol!”

Hua Xiao frowned with displeasure, already suspecting Jiang Wan was a fraud. Back in her time, she’d been conned by several “traditional doctors.”

Jiang Wan ignored her and looked at the steward instead. He quickly ordered a servant:

“Do as Madam Song says—go quickly.”

“Yes, sir.”

The servant hurried off. Hua Xiao was livid. Why were they all listening to Jiang Wan?

“I’m going to use acupuncture.”

Jiang Wan, under the cover of her sleeve, pulled out silver needles from her spatial storage. The servant soon returned with the wine.

Unable to use alcohol openly as disinfectant, she carefully sterilized the needles with the wine instead.

Once everything was ready, she lifted the blanket and reached to untie Lin Tingyu’s shirt. Hua Xiao’s eyes went wide and she rushed to stop her.

“Wait! Men and women shouldn’t be so close. How can you just undress him?”

Even though she was from modern times, this was the ancient era! What if Lin Tingyu woke up and fell in love with Jiang Wan?

“In the eyes of a doctor, there are only patients.”

Jiang Wan shot her a calm glance. For someone claiming to be from the modern world, Hua Xiao sure didn’t understand much.

“But—”

Hua Xiao tried to protest again, but Song Jiuli finally lost her patience.

“If you can’t stand to watch, then leave. Don’t interfere with my sister-in-law treating someone!”

She was never the kindest person to begin with. Only under Jiang Wan’s influence had she restrained her temper. She had no intention of being polite to Hua Xiao.

Face turning red with embarrassment, Hua Xiao looked to the steward, hoping he would intervene.

But the steward’s full attention was on Lin Tingyu and didn’t even notice her silent plea.

Though fuming, Hua Xiao didn’t leave—she wasn’t about to give Jiang Wan a chance to be alone with Lin Tingyu!

Everyone else: …

Do you think we’re invisible or something?