Yin Yin went to Shili Courtyard early the next morning to look for Jia Qing.

Just as she was about to leave, she ran into Madam Yin, who was also preparing to go out.

“Mother, where are you going?”

Madam Yin glanced at her and replied, “Back to Yin Manor. Xiao Yin, you’ve been out for quite a while too. Why don’t you come with me?”

Go back?

But…… I haven’t finished capturing the male protagonist yet.

“Madam Yin, are you leaving?” Ling Long walked into the courtyard and asked.

“I’m planning to return to Yin Manor with Xiao Yin.”

Ling Long’s eyes flickered. He looked at Yin Yin. “You’re going back too?”

I’m not!

Yin Yin looked pitifully at Madam Yin. “Mother, can I stay a few more days before I return?”

Madam Yin originally intended to scold her playful daughter, but when the words reached her lips, she changed her mind and said, “As you wish.”

Eh? That easy?

But Madam Yin’s next slightly ambiguous words cleared up Yin Yin’s doubts, “I’ll have to trouble Young Master Lin to look after my daughter.”

Ling Long nodded. “Please rest assured, Madam Yin.”

……

Yin Yin suddenly had the feeling of being sold off. Were ancient parents really this open-minded?

Madam Yin walked a few steps and then suddenly turned back. “By the way, I remembered where I saw Qingmei. Isn’t she from the Qing family? I visited them a few years ago and met her then.”

Yin Yin’s heart skipped a beat. “You must have remembered wrong, Mother. I heard the Qing family had a tragedy. Their eldest daughter even fell ill. How could she attend the Fragrance Banquet?”

Madam Yin frowned, thinking. “True, the Qing family did suffer a great misfortune back then…… Sigh, maybe it’s just someone who looks similar.”

“Yes, exactly! Mother, you should get going now.”

“You stinky girl, you’re that eager to get rid of me?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, by the way, I heard Qianqian is the missing young princess of Prince Luo Manor?”

“Yes, she’s already returned to Prince Luo Manor to acknowledge her roots~”

“Who would’ve thought your father would just pick up a princess off the street like that?”

“……”

Yin Yin and Madam Yin bickered as they parted. Though Yin Yin wasn’t taken away, Sang Ze was forcibly brought along.

Before coming to the capital, Sang Mei had specifically asked Madam Yin to make sure Sang Ze returned with her. The academy had started long ago. Sang Ze couldn’t stay out playing forever.

Sang Ze kept turning back to look at Yin Yin every few steps. All Yin Yin could do was wave her handkerchief helplessly.

────ρя


Shili Courtyard

Yin Yin looked up at the words above the gate. Just as she was about to step inside, a flash of white flew toward her.

“Eh? You again? Do you want to play with me that badly?”

……

Who wants to play with you, you lunatic?

“I’m here to see Jia Qing. Is he in?” Yin Yin forced a smile.

Jia Renyi raised a suspicious brow. “What do you want with our family’s Qingqing?”

“To save someone.”

“Save someone?” Jia Renyi gave her a sly smile. “Don’t tell me it’s that little girl from Tianxiang Society?”

Yin Yin paused. This Jia Renyi looked frivolous, but he was actually very sharp.

“My family’s Qingqing isn’t here.”

“……” Yin Yin stared at him with wide eyes.

“Miss Yin, did you need something?” Jia Qing walked out from inside. After more than a month, he still wore that same expressionless face.

“I’d like to ask for your help to save someone. Her face is burned, and she’s been poisoned mute.”

“Qingqing, don’t help her.” Jia Renyi cut in. “Don’t think I don’t know. That girl killed Zhu Wuwen. The Zhu family is searching for her across the land. Do you want us to harbor a fugitive?”

“It’s because of Zhu Wuwen and the others that Luzhu ended up like that! She’s the victim!” Yin Yin argued passionately, but Jia Renyi remained unmoved. Clearly, there was no hoping for his sympathy.

So she changed tactics.

“Senior Jia, just think of it as doing a good deed. Who knows, maybe one day Prince Luo will show up and confess to you.”

“Pah! Who wants his confession?” Jia Renyi went full tsundere.

Yin Yin blinked, curious. “If Prince Luo really confessed to you, how would you respond?”

Jia Renyi’s brow twitched. “What’s the need to respond? I’d kiss him right there.”

……

How could someone this shameless be the martial world’s alliance leader?!

Yin Yin almost wanted to point at him and shout, ‘Get out of the entertainment industry!’

Jia Qing thought for a moment and said, “I can try, but I can’t guarantee a cure.”

“Thank you!” Yin Yin looked at him with starry eyes. “I’ll bring her to see you tomorrow!”

“Mm.”

Jia Renyi pouted. “Qingqing, how could you help her and not me?”

“It means I’m still normal.”

Jia Renyi: “……”

────ρя


The next day, Yin Yin once again headed early to Shili Courtyard. Ling Long had said he would find a way to bring Luzhu over and told her not to worry, but she couldn’t help going to watch anyway.

When she arrived, she found not only Ling Long and Luzhu, but even Liu Ruoxi was there. A whole group of people were staring down Jia Renyi.

……

You all came in a group to farm Jia Renyi, hoping he’d drop loot or something?

As if he still had any dignity left to drop.

“Miss Yin, don’t stand at the door. Come in.” Jia Qing suddenly appeared behind her, giving her a fright.

She followed Jia Qing inside.

He looked at Luzhu and asked, “This is Miss Luzhu^[1]露珠 / lù zhū – Dewdrop?”

Luzhu^[2]绿竹 / lǜ zhú – Green Bamboo: “?”

The others: “……”

Yin Yin almost wanted to kneel to Jia Qing’s superhuman memory for names.

“Ahem.” Yin Yin cleared her throat. “This is Divine Physician Jia Qing.”

Luzhu saluted him politely.

Jia Qing looked at her mask and said, “I’ll need to remove it.”

Luzhu’s body stiffened, but she slowly nodded.

Jia Qing removed her mask, and Luzhu trembled slightly. Even seeing the burned face again, Yin Yin still found it hard to look directly. Jia Renyi exaggeratedly clutched his chest and jumped away.

Liu Ruoxi glared at him, displeased. Jia Qing, however, seemed entirely unfazed by the scars and studied them carefully.

Sure enough, medical people were not normal. Yin Yin couldn’t help but slander in her heart.

“Can she still be treated?” Liu Ruoxi asked nervously.

“The burns are quite severe, and they’re old. I can only do my best.” Jia Qing replied.

Liu Ruoxi looked disappointed. Luzhu patted her on the shoulder and gestured with her hands.

“What did she say?” Yin Yin asked curiously.

“She said it doesn’t matter. She’s used to it.”

Yin Yin frowned. How could anyone ever get used to that? No one could live like that forever.

“Miss Luzhu^[3]Dewdrop, try saying something.”

Luzhu: “?”

Yin Yin pressed her temple. “That’s you, Luzhu^[4]Dewdrop.”

Luzhu: “……”

Luzhu opened her mouth and tried to speak, but after much effort, only a few unintelligible syllables came out.

“Her throat can still be healed, but her original voice may not return.”

“That’s great, Luzhu! You’ll be able to speak again!” A smile finally appeared on Liu Ruoxi’s face. “Thank you, Divine Physician Jia.”

Jia Qing only shook his head without replying.

Jia Renyi scoffed. “Our family’s Qingqing doesn’t treat people for free.”

“Of course not.” Liu Ruoxi said. “As long as Divine Physician Jia can heal Luzhu, Tianxiang Society will offer generous thanks.”

Jia Renyi added, “Harboring a fugitive is dangerous, you know.”

“I’ll make sure no one finds out Luzhu is here. I’ll also be responsible for Divine Physician Jia’s safety.”

Jia Renyi gave Liu Ruoxi a mocking look. “But you can’t even beat me.”

Liu Ruoxi: “……”

Yin Yin silently lit a candle in her heart for Liu Ruoxi. Jia Renyi’s combat strength was terrifying.

Still, why did it feel like Jia Renyi had disliked Liu Ruoxi from the moment he first laid eyes on her?

……

After Luzhu was taken in by Shili Courtyard, the group left.

Yin Yin and Ling Long went for a stroll through the capital’s streets. Liu Ruoxi said she had many matters to handle at Tianxiang Society and excused herself, though there was a trace of bitterness in her eyes.

With Luzhu’s issue resolved, Yin Yin finally felt at ease. Even her footsteps carried a cheerful tune.

Ling Long chuckled. “In a good mood?”

“Of course.” Yin Yin nodded vigorously. “A face is important.”

Ling Long let out a soft laugh and said no more.

As they passed a calligraphy and painting shop, Yin Yin walked in curiously.

“You know anything about art?” Ling Long doubted she had that kind of hobby.

“My father does.” Yin Yin was wondering whether to buy some paintings to take back to Yin Dongjiang. After all, she had spent so much of his money. It was a little embarrassing.

Except…… she forgot that the money she’d spend on paintings also came from Yin Dongjiang. 🙁

In truth, she didn’t know anything about art, but Ling Long definitely did! She was just about to ask him to help her pick something when a ragged-looking man entered, clutching a scroll.

The shopkeeper frowned at his appearance. “What are you doing here? Who let you in? Get out, get out!”

The man clung to the shopkeeper pitifully. “Boss, if I weren’t starving, I wouldn’t be selling this family heirloom. Please take pity on me and buy it.”

The shopkeeper replied impatiently, “Who wants your worthless painting? Go on, get out! You’re disturbing my customers!”

“Please, just look at it! It’s really a famous piece!” The man unrolled the scroll despite the resistance.

The painting depicted a beauty in ancient palace attire, holding a round fan and gazing at the moon with sorrowful eyes.

“This is our family heirloom, 《Beauty Under the Moonlight》. It’s a famous work by the great Fan Daxian!”

“Fan Daxian?” The shopkeeper scoffed. “You dare claim it’s an authentic Fan Daxian? Don’t think you can say anything just because the man’s dead.”

The man grew anxious. “It really is his work! It was passed down from my grandfather’s generation! Look, I’ll even let you hang it in the shop. If anyone wants to buy it, just give me half the price!”

“Hah! That junk probably won’t sell at all, and you want half?”

“Then…… thirty percent? At least give me something!”

While the man was still bargaining, Yin Yin couldn’t help but smirk.

“What, don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to that painting?” Ling Long asked.

“Of course not.” Yin Yin looked at him, smiling with hidden meaning.