Entering the Fu Residence turned out to be surprisingly effortless.
The Mute Girl made a quick trip back to the inn to fetch their luggage and the dog.
Among the many physicians who had also chosen to stay temporarily at the Fu Residence, Jiu Yue was one of only two female healers.
The two women shared the same courtyard, each occupying a side room.
Her roommate was unproblematic, rarely stepping outside. Occasionally, Jiu Yue could hear the rustling of pages and faint murmurs from the other room—reminiscent of the stressful days of exam preparation!
Jiu Yue shook her head, not daring to disturb her, lest she disrupt the other’s focus... but to her surprise, the woman took the initiative to approach her.
She didn’t enter, instead hovering hesitantly at the doorway, her expression conflicted.
Inside, Jiu Yue had removed her veil hat. She spoke up, "You can speak freely, miss. Since we share this courtyard, it’s only right we accommodate each other."
Encouraged, the female healer finally mustered the courage to speak.
Then Jiu Yue watched as she pointed at the dog happily prancing around the room and said, near breaking point, "Miss... it’s not that I want to cause trouble, but I was bitten by a dog as a child and have been afraid of them ever since."
"I know your dog is well-behaved, adorable, and doesn’t bark... but when I saw you walking it in the courtyard yesterday, I couldn’t help but feel terrified. It’s been impossible to concentrate!"
The healer nervously picked at her fingers as she struggled to voice her request. "For the next couple of days, could you please keep the dog inside?"
Jiu Yue: "..."
She glanced sideways at the dog, who seemed to understand human speech. It had rolled onto its back and was now staring at her with innocent eyes.
Ah, a pet-related conflict.
Jiu Yue nodded in understanding. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t run into it again."
The healer exhaled in visible relief, clearly aware she’d imposed. Flashing an apologetic look, she hurried back to her room and returned with an armful of homemade snacks.
"Th-These are something I made. As a fellow healer, I’m sure you can tell what they are." She gave another apologetic nod before hastily retreating.
It was obvious she’d spent a long time gathering the courage to make this request.
Jiu Yue shook her head, closed the door, and immediately scooped up the dog for a good cuddle.
"Don’t worry, I’ll take you somewhere else to play," Jiu Yue said with a grin.
The dog wagged its tail cheerfully but wisely refrained from barking.
Only then did Jiu Yue realize how much the dog had grown.
When she first picked it up, it could fit in one hand, but now its body was longer than her forearm. Twirling its tail around her finger, she suddenly declared, "From now on, your name is Trumpet!"
After all this time, it deserved a proper name.
"Trumpet, Trumpet, happy little Trumpet~" Jiu Yue sang, spinning in circles with the dog in her arms. "When times get better, you won’t have to hold back your barks anymore."
Behind her, the Mute Girl, having just finished her last dose of medicine, stood holding the bowl, watching Jiu Yue’s unexpectedly childish antics with amusement.
If all went well... this little dog would one day live a life of luxury alongside the princess.
The Mute Girl observed as Jiu Yue plopped down cross-legged on the floor, sharing the snacks the healer had brought with the dog.
As she approached, a medicinal aroma wafted over. Curious, she noted that the treats—dried meat and crispy biscuits—were unusually hard.
Turning her head, she saw Jiu Yue struggling to bite through a piece of jerky while the dog crunched away happily beside her. A strange feeling settled in her chest.
"Princess... I think these were made specifically for dogs..."
Jiu Yue: "..."
...
The snacks were indeed dog treats.
Laced with medicinal herbs, no less. Jiu Yue hadn’t expected to experience the "dogs live better than humans" reality so soon.
Her mood was complicated, but she was still happy—until she wasn’t.
Trumpet’s demeanor shifted abruptly. Its hind legs trembled, its tail tucked between them, and Jiu Yue’s heart lurched. She scooped it up and bolted out the door.
The Mute Girl blinked in surprise as Jiu Yue vanished in seconds. Just then, the healer from their courtyard pushed open her door and approached.
"I forgot to mention—I increased the dosage of herbs in those treats. It’s best not to let the dog eat too many at once..." She peered cautiously into the room but found neither the dog nor the woman in white.
"Eh? Where did she go?" the healer asked, puzzled.
The Mute Girl replied with a complicated expression, "...She took the dog for a walk."
...
By then, Jiu Yue had already asked a servant for directions and hurried Trumpet to a secluded patch of grass.
She set down a few leaves, and Trumpet immediately scurried into the bushes.
Moments later, the dog emerged looking refreshed—and even had the decency to wipe its rear on the grass afterward.
Jiu Yue: "..."
Too embarrassed to watch, she held her breath, bundled up the leaves, dug a hole to bury them, and finally exhaled in relief.
But before she could fully relax, Trumpet plopped down panting heavily after just a few steps, refusing to move further.
Jiu Yue paused, inspecting the dog’s face closely—only to find it had already dozed off, eyes shut tight.
Jiu Yue: "???"
Exhausted from just taking a dump? This was beyond ridiculous.
Since her outer robe had gotten dirty anyway, Jiu Yue stripped it off and wrapped Trumpet in it, cradling the dog like a baby.
She strolled back leisurely, mentally mapping the residence’s layout—a force of habit.
But before long, the sound of women’s laughter drifted from behind her.
Turning, she saw a group approaching through the courtyard gate.
After a brief stare, a maid stepped forward. "Who are you?"
Before Jiu Yue could respond, the leading matriarch smiled and interjected, "Lan'er, mind your manners... Judging by her attire, this young lady must be one of the new healers staying at the residence."
The woman’s gaze held a hint of curiosity as she studied Jiu Yue.
Pretending not to notice, Jiu Yue nodded politely. "I didn’t mean to intrude. I’ll be on my way."
"Wait," the matriarch called gently. "Seeing you carrying a child, I assume the little one’s fussiness led you astray."
Jiu Yue froze. "...Huh?"
Bewildered, she looked down at the sleeping dog in her arms. Well... couldn’t it technically count as a child???
At the mention of a child, the younger woman beside the matriarch—also holding a swaddled infant—perked up with interest.
"My baby’s been fussy too. Mother and I just managed to get her to sleep after ages..." Driven by maternal solidarity, the young woman handed her bundle to her mother and eagerly approached Jiu Yue.
"If you don’t mind, I could help you with—"
Her words choked off abruptly when she caught sight of the "child" in Jiu Yue’s arms.
A... dog’s face?!
Jiu Yue hadn’t expected such enthusiasm. Glancing up, she saw the woman’s eyes rolling back, looking seconds away from fainting.
Her eyelids twitched, and she quickly freed a hand to grab the other woman’s arm, preventing her from collapsing. Just as she was about to call for a maid to help, a figure suddenly descended from above.
"Let her go!" the man barked, striking at Jiu Yue’s elbow with a swift chop.
But Jiu Yue had already released her grip a split second earlier, countering with a kick that forced him back, leaving him no chance to intervene.
With a light laugh, Jiu Yue reached out again, steadying the frightened woman securely in her arms. A slight shift of her wrist, and the woman leaned against her shoulder, supported effortlessly.
Now holding the woman comfortably, Jiu Yue lifted her gaze to the man opposite her, her smile disarmingly innocent. "I let go, but you weren’t quick enough to catch her."
The man fell silent.
This person didn’t seem malicious.
But why was she so infuriating???
