Imperial Physician Cheng? There’s actually a physician among these exiled people! Xin Wenyuan belatedly realized this as he followed Xin Wenan’s pointing gesture.
In the corner sat Imperial Physician Cheng’s family of four, among whom an elderly woman appeared particularly unwell. Leaning against the firewood pile, her lips were pale and dry, her complexion listless, and she seemed to be having difficulty breathing.
Imperial Physician Cheng was likely like a skilled housewife unable to cook without rice – with neither medicine nor diagnostic tools at hand, he couldn’t properly treat even his own family member’s illness.
So would inviting him be useful? Xin Wenyuan secretly questioned this in his heart.
Yu Shi wore a sorrowful expression, “Fourth Brother, Sanya Tou has been drifting in and out of consciousness with persistent fever. As your mother, I have no choice but to beg you for help with this matter.”
The Old Madam hadn’t wanted to come take advantage of Fourth Brother’s wife either, her face flushing red as she spoke.
But no matter how difficult, she still had to open her mouth – who could blame her when Sanya Tou’s condition was so critical, and only Fourth Brother’s family currently possessed supplies and could afford to invite a physician.
Seeing his mother’s discomfort and Third Brother’s fierce expression that seemed to say “If you dare refuse, I’ll beat you to death,” Xin Wenyuan quickly said, “I’ll handle this matter. Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll go ask Imperial Physician Cheng right now if he’s willing to treat Sanya Tou.”
Xin Wenan curled his lips downward and said harshly, “Now that’s more like an uncle should act.”
Xin Wenyuan couldn’t be bothered with this person. He immediately wrapped several flatbreads, took three pieces of dried meat, and walked over to Imperial Physician Cheng.
After briefly explaining the situation, Imperial Physician Cheng’s face showed embarrassment as he helplessly clasped his hands toward Xin Wenyuan, “Brother Xin, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, but I have neither acupuncture needles nor medicinal herbs. I truly don’t know where to begin.”
“No problem, Imperial Physician Cheng. You’re still more experienced than us. Just come examine my niece’s pulse. We have some medicine here – please advise us on how best to use it.” Xin Wenyuan stuffed a small package of food into Imperial Physician Cheng’s hands. “A small token of appreciation. I hope you can assist us.”
Xin Nian paid no attention to what her father was doing. After a simple dinner, she began fully immersing herself in circulating and absorbing energy.
With Xie Ninglan covering for her, Xin Nian shrank into a corner and smoothly broke through to first-level Supernatural Power.
With her right hand behind her back, she clenched and withdrew it. The space slightly distorted, and the air gently trembled.
Instantly, a colorless, transparent Ningzhu appeared at the girl’s fingertip.
Several bundles of firewood behind her had vanished without a trace.
Xin Nian raised an eyebrow, looked up to meet Xie Ninglan’s brightly shining eyes, pursed her lips in a smile, and nodded.
“Space Compression. For now, it’s only about ten cubic meters of storage space.”
Xie Ninglan breathed a sigh of relief and said in a lowered voice, “This is wonderful.”
Ten cubic meters was just the beginning. Xie Ninglan had full confidence in her daughter, knowing the girl would surely reach unprecedented heights in the future.
When Xin Wenyuan returned from his busy running around, Xin Nian glanced toward the Xin family and saw they had used two straw mats to enclose the corner.
She asked curiously, “Father, what have you been busy with?”
“Imperial Physician Cheng examined Sanya Tou’s pulse and said the injury can’t be delayed. The wound needs immediate cleaning with hot water and fresh application of medicine.”
Seeing his wife and daughter, Xin Wenyuan began venting furiously, “The Old Madam was initially unwilling, saying something about this place having too many people and prying eyes, and how a pure young girl couldn’t possibly apply medicine here.”
Xie Ninglan and Xin Nian rolled their eyes in perfect synchronization.
“It was only when Imperial Physician Cheng said that minor injuries left untreated can become serious diseases that the Old Madam reluctantly agreed. I borrowed two straw mats from Dali to enclose the corner and had all the Xin family members stand outside the mats to keep watch.”
Xin Wenyuan grinned at his daughter, “The twelve coins for the hot water were sponsored by your mother. Right now, she’s the rich one among us—just a little leak from her fingers is enough to feed us for three to five days.”
“Wasn’t it eight coins for one basin of hot water?”
“Exactly! I haggled with them and got two basins.” Xin Wenyuan suddenly glanced at Xin Nian as if remembering something, “Daughter, you didn’t pay the original price for those two basins earlier, did you…?”
“I haggled too—got them for ten coins.” Xin Nian lifted her chin, putting on a proud face.
Xie Ninglan chuckled, covering her mouth as she laughed, “Lao Xin, your daughter has inherited your stinginess.”
“Of course! Look whose daughter she is.” Xin Wenyuan chuckled heartily.
“Dad, you’re ignoring my own eldest brother, yet you’re so concerned about your niece.” Had the Old Madam and the others all forgotten that her eldest brother was still unconscious?
No one had even stepped forward to show a bit of concern. Perhaps the Xin family had long treated her brother as a corpse, just waiting for him to breathe his last at any moment.
“Isn’t it because I know how capable my daughter is? Why bother with others’ fuss? Once you get the basic medicinal herbs, you’ll definitely be able to wake your brother up.”
Xin Wenyuan gestured with his chin toward the Xin family’s side, “Don’t worry about them anymore. The wives of the eldest and second sons are helping treat the wounds. With Imperial Physician Cheng guiding them to press the acupoints, the fever should subside…”
Before he could finish, the second son’s wife, Madame Mei, hurried over and bowed, “Fourth Uncle, may I borrow some clean linen from Fourth Aunt to wrap the wounds?”
When Dali, with a cold expression, pulled out a piece of linen from the flatbed cart, Madame Mei hastily reached out to take it.
Dali gave it a sharp tug, and the linen tore in two.
“This should be enough.” Dali kept the larger half and tossed the remainder to Madame Mei.
The latter awkwardly thanked him and left.
In the corner, after much effort, the Xin family finally managed to stabilize the Third Young Lady’s injuries.
The old escort walked into the room, smiling as he scanned the crowd with a benevolent expression. “It’s about time. Everyone, settle down and rest. Let me remind you again: we depart at the start of the Yin hour tomorrow.”
Xin Wenyuan was shocked, “Daughter, what time is the Yin hour??”
“Three in the morning.” Xin Nian made a pained face, showing an expression of utter despair. “It’ll still be dimly lit then—won’t even be able to see the road under our feet.”
“Holy crap.” Xin Wenyuan was so stunned his pupils trembled. “What kind of ghostly schedule is this for ancient people?”
Xin Nian sighed and explained to her father, “People here are used to rising with the sun and resting at sunset. They sleep around seven or eight and wake at three—that’s still seven or eight hours of sleep. Plenty for a good rest.”
“My god, I definitely won’t be able to sleep with this ghostly schedule.”
After saying this, Xin Wenyuan lay down and, in less than thirty seconds, began snoring.
Xin Nian was utterly miserable. All night long, the woodshed echoed with loud and soft snores—thunderous rumbles, high-frequency vibrations here, low-frequency accompaniment there, intermittent spirals, a chaotic rhythm rising and falling.
Her nerves were stretched taut, and she barely managed to fall asleep close to midnight.
Before three o’clock, Xie Ninglan shook her awake, whispering in her ear, “The escorts want us at the back gate of the post station.”
Xin Nian frantically channeled her healing power, using her supernatural ability to soothe her nearly exploding head.
As the healing power spread, a cooling sensation intensified. Xin Nian took a deep breath, feeling her mind clear up a bit.
The two rubbed their slightly chilly arms and walked to the back gate of the post station. Through the broken door, they faintly glimpsed a pale figure.
The tall, graceful young man turned around. The sky had not yet fully brightened, and a sliver of moonlight cascaded over him, carving his silhouette as if from jade—refined and coolly luminous.