"Darling..."
The young woman had regained her composure. She wasn't usually timid, but she had expected the swaddled bundle to hold a lovely baby—only to find a dog upon closer inspection. The shock had been too much, causing her vision to darken momentarily.
Fortunately, she recovered quickly.
Now, lifting her gaze to the man before her, the young woman hastily explained, "Darling, you misunderstood. This young lady meant no harm." She then offered Jiu Yue an apologetic smile.
Jiu Yue wasn't bothered. She released her grip at the right moment, watching as the woman walked over to her husband.
So, they were a young couple.
The older woman holding the child stepped forward, casting a disapproving glance at the man. "Meng Yuan, you were rude."
The man pressed his lips together, soothingly patting his wife's shoulder before taking a step forward. Facing Jiu Yue, he bowed slightly, his tone courteous. "I am Fu Yan'an. In my haste, I mistook you for troubling my wife and acted rashly. My sincerest apologies."
Jiu Yue's indifferent gaze suddenly sharpened.
"So, you're the famed Young Master Fu..." Jiu Yue sounded mildly surprised, openly studying him without restraint.
She didn't just scrutinize Fu Yan'an—she also observed his wife and the older woman behind him, likely his mother.
Come to think of it... Fu Yan'an was only a month or two older than Jiu Yue.
Her eyes flicked to the swaddled bundle in his mother's arms, and she blurted out, "I didn't expect you to already have a child."
The group froze.
Fu Yan'an, especially perplexed, arched a brow and chuckled. "That's an odd thing to say, young lady. Have we met before?"
Jiu Yue averted her gaze, shaking her head. "Just an observation. Young Master Fu has managed to excel in both career and love at such a tender age. I couldn't help but admire it."
Huh. It reminded her of someone else—a certain twenty-five-year-old.
No family, his only kin the emperor—whom he couldn't confide in—and now with only a few years left to live...
Was this the difference between people? Jiu Yue couldn't help but shake her head, feeling a pang of pity for Sima Qing.
Fu Yan'an: "..."
Her expression was unsettling.
Today's encounter had been an unexpected delight. Jiu Yue waved a hand, ready to leave. "I was just passing by while walking my dog. It's getting late, so I won't trouble you further."
She scooped up the dog and slipped away, only feeling the weight of unseen eyes fade after putting considerable distance between them.
Jiu Yue smirked.
The rumors held some truth.
This cousin of hers was quite the paranoid one!
Fu Yan'an had every reason to be suspicious.
Though he had misunderstood initially... that brief exchange had been enough to convince him this physician was no ordinary woman.
It wasn't unusual for those wandering the martial world to train in self-defense, but for a mere physician to possess such profound internal energy? Fu Yan'an couldn't fathom how she could have mastered medicine to such a degree. Where had she found the time?
And that look she had given him—curious, yet not entirely unfamiliar—left him feeling like prey under a predator's gaze.
He frowned slightly, unable to piece together the puzzle.
"Darling." His wife, Madam Gu, noticed his troubled expression and called softly, "What's on your mind?"
Fu Yan'an snapped out of his thoughts, shaking his head. The memory of that infuriatingly smug face flashed in his mind. After a pause, he asked, "Are you alright? She didn't... pinch you secretly, did she?"
Madam Gu laughed. "You worry too much. That young lady seemed perfectly kind. Don't assume the worst of people."
Behind them, his mother, Madam Chu, was also amused. "Pinch Muer? Do you really think that girl has such malicious intentions?"
"Mother..." Fu Yan'an sighed but didn't elaborate. Instead, he asked, "You usually avoid physicians. Why the sudden warmth today?"
"Those doctors reek of medicinal herbs. We were just concerned about the baby..." Madam Chu replied offhandedly before realizing, "But that young lady didn't have the usual bitter scent."
Fu Yan'an lowered his gaze to his son in the swaddling clothes.
"Indeed," he murmured, narrowing his eyes. "She carried no trace of medicinal bitterness."
---
When Jiu Yue returned to the courtyard, the Mute Girl hurried to meet her.
"I thought you'd gotten lost," the Mute Girl sighed in relief before spotting the dog in Jiu Yue's arms.
After a moment of silence, she hesitantly added, "That physician earlier came by to warn us—she intentionally increased the medicinal dosage in those snacks, so it's best not to overindulge."
Jiu Yue: "..."
Ah.
That explained why the usually energetic little rascal had exhausted himself just from relieving his bowels. The snacks must have played a part.
He was sleeping like a log.
Amused, Jiu Yue set the dog down and changed her clothes. Before she could even step inside after washing up, a group of maids and servants arrived in the courtyard. Leading them was Lan'er, the maid who had attended Madam Gu earlier.
Spotting Jiu Yue, Lan'er approached respectfully.
"Young lady," she said with a bow, "My mistress has been feeling unwell lately. Learning of your skills as a physician, she humbly requests your consultation."
She remained bent at the waist, awaiting Jiu Yue's response.
Jiu Yue wasn't entirely surprised. After a moment's consideration, she agreed. "Give me a moment to gather my supplies. They may prove useful."
Lan'er nodded.
Jiu Yue stepped inside.
The Mute Girl had overheard the exchange. "You met the Fu family?" she asked, surprised.
Jiu Yue nodded, retrieving her silver needles as she explained, "There's something I need your help with."
The Mute Girl straightened, expression solemn. "Your Highness, speak your command."
"For the family reunion to proceed smoothly, it's best if the Fu family takes the initiative. That will save us trouble, but it raises another issue..." Jiu Yue exhaled, locking eyes with the Mute Girl. "You must be the one to recount what happened between me and Muling."
Muling was a princess—Emperor Yan's most beloved daughter. Her death in Tianqi would demand an explanation between the two nations.
"From this moment," Jiu Yue said, "you alone know the full truth. The reason I came to Great Yan is because you devised a way to bring me here."
The Mute Girl's heart clenched, but she nodded firmly.
Jiu Yue gave her shoulder a reassuring pat and smiled.
"Don't overthink it. I'll be back soon." With her supplies in hand, she stepped out.
The Mute Girl watched her leave with the maids, her gaze lingering on the silver hairpin hidden in Jiu Yue's hair.
---
Now Jiu Yue understood why Prince Ping's men had recognized her time and again back in Tianqi.
Sigh. Being too capable was truly a burden.
That fleeting clash with Fu Yan'an earlier had likely tipped him off. This request to treat Madam Gu was just a pretext.
But Jiu Yue wasn't worried.
"Ready, System? It's time to fight side by side again!" she cheered inwardly, summoning her companion with gusto.
The system, worn out from burning the midnight oil, responded weakly, "...Thanks for the offer, but can I refuse?"
Jiu Yue clicked her tongue lightly. "Have a little confidence, will you? Who knows—if you perform well tonight, you might even skip the assessment in a couple of days!"
The system perked up at the reassurance. "Alright, I'm ready now!"
Compared to tonight's impromptu test, the assessment was far more daunting. The system suddenly felt capable again.
Satisfied, Jiu Yue nodded, her confidence soaring as she was led to Madam Gu's chambers. The moment she stepped inside, her gaze met Fu Yan'an's calm, steady eyes.
"Lord Fu, we meet again," Jiu Yue said, lifting her chin slightly to meet his stare without hesitation.
