Nurse Qian smiled. “Much better. The climate in Lingnan is pleasant. Ever since moving back, the old lady’s leg has improved a lot. But although it’s warmer here, the rainy season brings high humidity. Combined with the damp mountains and forests, rainy days still make her leg ache, keeping her up at night. However, Young Master said he heard of a miraculous doctor who could cure her leg. Apparently, he’s already settled nearby. This doctor is elusive, a man you rarely see—he’s said to be from Beichen, yet over the years he’s treated patients in Nanyao. If we can find him, perhaps he can finally heal the old lady’s leg.”
“Really that skilled? What’s his name?” Jiang Yueli asked. In this era, some rare doctors could perform miraculous cures, and some were hidden masters. But such people were extremely difficult to encounter.
“The Young Master said his name is… ah, yes, Chu Fengchun,” Nurse Qian said after a moment’s thought.
“Miracle Doctor Chu Fengchun?” Jiang Yueli had indeed heard of him. The first time she’d heard the name wasn’t because of his medical prowess, but because of his mysterious nature. Elusive, he rarely appeared in public. Many nobles in the capital had tried to find him, all in vain. Few had ever seen him, and he treated patients based on fate and mood. If he deemed someone worthy, he’d treat them for free; if not, even a fortune couldn’t persuade him. His skills were legendary, but his temperament was notoriously peculiar.
“Miss Jiang has heard of him too?” Nurse Qian’s eyes gleamed with affection. She had raised Jiang Yueli’s eldest cousin and was very fond of him, so seeing his filial devotion now naturally brought her joy. “The Young Master spent a fortune placing a bounty to locate him. He has found the doctor’s residence, and plans to visit him in the coming days.”
“Will my eldest cousin be home these days?” Jiang Yueli asked. She was curious about this doctor, and since it concerned her grandmother’s health, she wanted to go as well.
“The Young Master is currently sorting accounts at home, so he shouldn’t be going out. If he knew you were here, he’d likely come soon.”
By the time Nurse Qian finished speaking, they had reached Grandmother Shen’s courtyard. Jiang Yueli saw her grandfather sitting outside playing chess, and her grandmother at the window sewing something.
Seeing her grandparents, Jiang Yueli felt warmth in her eyes. In this life, fate had been kind, surrounding her with loving family but also binding her heart to them.
“Grandfather.”
At her voice, the old man looked up, dropping a white chess piece with a soft clack. His face brightened.
“Ah, A’li? My dear granddaughter! Finally, you’ve arrived! I’ve been waiting and watching for you day and night. It’s chilly outside—come in first.”
As he spoke, Grandmother Shen put down her work and hurried over, gently grasping Jiang Yueli’s hands. “Child, how are you dressed so lightly? Your hands are freezing! And why are you wearing boy’s clothing? The fabric is so coarse, it’s rubbing your skin raw!”
Though Jiang Yueli had dressed in male attire to resemble Jiang Yuebai, her grandparents immediately recognized her. Their love for her made it impossible to mistake her identity.
Grandmother Shen held Jiang Yueli’s hands and led her inside. Jiang Yueli smiled wryly. “Grandmother, I’m not delicate. This outfit is comfortable and not cold at all. I dressed like this for convenience while traveling.”
“Nonsense! How can you not be delicate? You’re a young lady of the Zhenyuan General’s household and the jewel of our Shen family! You cannot think yourself rough and unworthy because you practice martial arts. You mustn’t endure hardships unnecessarily. I’ll have your eldest cousin take you to a tailor to select new clothes and accessories. You’re at the perfect age to dress beautifully,” Grandmother Shen said, eyes full of affection.
Her care was unmistakable. Jiang Yueli understood that her grandmother’s love meant she would never be forced to follow strict societal norms. Both grandparents provided her with confidence and security—an assurance that even if she married in the future, she would not be wronged.
“Understood, Grandmother. Tomorrow I’ll pick out the clothes and dress beautifully,” Jiang Yueli replied, linking her arm with her grandmother as they approached the cushioned bench by the window.
On the bench was a sewing basket and a pair of hand protectors. Jiang Yueli picked up the protectors. “Grandmother, your eyes aren’t good. Why are you doing needlework? Shouldn’t the servants handle these?”
Grandmother Shen held the soft, white hand protectors and compared them to Jiang Yueli’s hands. She smiled. “I have time, so I do it myself. Your second brother recently obtained a fine snow fox fur. I thought the material was beautiful, so I made some things for you. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough for more than a shoulder cape and these hand protectors. The cape is finished, only the hand protectors remain. When you return to Kyoto, the winter may bring snow. Take these with you and keep warm.”
Jiang Yueli felt a pang in her heart, nearly tearing up. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
At both the Shen and Jiang households, Jiang Yueli was always the most cherished. The servants naturally treated her with utmost respect. During her three days in Lingnan, her grandparents took her around the city to explore and buy delicious food and beautiful things, though the elders still felt it was not enough.
Shen Huaizhi, having finished his accounts, spent the day accompanying her. Jiang Yueli wasn’t particularly interested in leisure; although she appeared fifteen, her mind was over twenty. She cared more for her grandmother’s health, and Shen Huaizhi agreed to take her to seek Miracle Doctor Chu Fengchun.
For convenience, Jiang Yueli remained in male attire. Although Nanyao and Beichen were neighboring regions, Xilan and Dongchu lay farther apart. The four kingdoms weren’t square in layout, but diamond-shaped, with Nanyao and Beichen the closest, separated only by a massive tropical-like rainforest and continuous mountain ranges.