Jiu Yue had already secured her recommendation, so she spent the entire next day resting in her room. By the afternoon of the following day, another female physician from the same courtyard was escorted away by a servant—undoubtedly to the examination hall.
Leaning against the doorway, Jiu Yue heard the system’s voice in her mind, sounding relieved.
"It seems we’ve dodged a disaster…" The system was the happiest of all!
Who could understand? If it had to watch any more of this, it might as well switch careers!
Jiu Yue couldn’t help but laugh before turning back into the room.
Barring any surprises, she would meet Old Master Fu tomorrow.
The mute girl was busy organizing her account of the truth.
She was determined to expose everything, but there was one slight adjustment regarding Jiu Yue’s origins.
In the information they currently shared, Jiu Yue only knew that she and Muling were sisters, evidenced by the matching silver hairpins they both possessed. However, she had no idea that Muling was a princess of Great Yan.
After avenging Muling, the mute girl planned to take Jiu Yue to Great Yan.
Uncertain of the current political climate there, she had refrained from revealing anything about Jiu Yue’s true identity, lest they attract unwanted attention and trouble.
After all, Muling’s vengeance wasn’t fully settled yet.
Qi Xiuyuan was dead, but back in Great Yan’s palace, there was still Consort Ning.
First, she had incited Muling to flee, and later, she had tried to find someone to impersonate Muling… Jiu Yue still couldn’t figure out what Consort Ning was really scheming.
But if Consort Ning learned of her identity first, she might rush to curry favor with Emperor Yan. Once Jiu Yue’s status as a princess was reinstated, it would be difficult to openly oppose Consort Ning.
Back in Tianqi, Jiu Yue had already had enough of the endless mind games—the deceit, the schemes, the convoluted plots. It was exhausting.
She much preferred direct confrontation!
So for now, the most urgent matter was to "be recognized" at the Fu Residence.
With Grand Tutor Fu and Fu Yan'an as her backing, returning to the palace would be effortless.
Jiu Yue exhaled deeply. The sky had darkened, and the mute girl went to light the lamps.
She stood and glanced outside, estimating that the other female physician from their courtyard would return soon.
But just as she reached the doorway, a sudden scream echoed through the courtyard.
It was the physician’s voice.
Frowning, Jiu Yue looked out and saw the physician being cornered by a man in a dimly lit corner of the courtyard.
The lanterns hadn’t been lit yet, making it hard to discern the man’s features.
Seeing him raise his hand as if to act, Jiu Yue frowned and called out, "Stop! What do you think you’re doing?"
The physician froze, then looked up to see her housemate striding toward her.
The fear in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by relief.
The man in front of her had already withdrawn his hand and taken a polite step back.
The physician quickly ducked behind Jiu Yue, who eyed the stranger suspiciously. "Who are you?"
The man sighed, sounding exasperated.
"Young lady, this is a misunderstanding. This old servant was merely escorting her back as ordered."
Jiu Yue paused.
His voice did sound aged.
She studied him—his attire matched the Fu Residence’s uniform, and his slight, frail frame didn’t seem suspicious.
The old man added, "This young lady said she dislikes people getting too close, so I kept my distance the whole way. But seeing how dark this corner was and how she kept her head down, I worried she might not see the path clearly and wanted to offer a warning."
"…Before I could even speak, she ended up startling me instead."
Jiu Yue: "…"
She turned to the physician behind her.
The latter nodded meekly, embarrassed. "That’s right. He followed me the whole way, but I didn’t expect him to approach so suddenly… Sorry, I’m just a bit afraid of people."
"I see." Jiu Yue rubbed her chin and gave the physician a reassuring pat, signaling her to return to her room.
The old servant clasped his hands and turned to leave.
Jiu Yue watched his retreating figure.
Then, unexpectedly, he glanced back as if making casual conversation. "You seem unfamiliar, young lady. Did you not attend the examination today?"
Jiu Yue didn’t answer. Instead, she stroked her chin thoughtfully before suddenly striking out with a swift palm strike aimed at his face.
The man reacted instantly, raising his arm to block her attack.
Exposed.
"Big brother, put more effort into your disguise next time." Jiu Yue smirked, her tone mocking.
His gait had been off from the start.
Since when did elderly servants stride so energetically?
The "old man" stubbornly insisted, "What do you mean, young lady? Even an old servant can exercise to stay fit."
"Exercise?" Jiu Yue couldn’t help but laugh. "You must be quite the fitness enthusiast—so much so that your body is sturdier than mine despite your age."
Casually blocking her strike wasn’t something mere strength could achieve.
With that, she kicked straight at his abdomen—only for her foot to meet what felt like solid steel.
A sharp pain shot through her leg.
Was his stomach made of iron?
Grimacing, she looked up to see the man drop his act entirely.
"It seems even among physicians, there are hidden talents," he said, his voice now noticeably younger. "No offense intended. Farewell."
As the lanterns inside flickered to life, Jiu Yue clearly saw the smirk curling his lips—mocking, almost taunting.
Jiu Yue: "?"
She immediately gave chase.
This man was definitely not from the Fu Residence.
But she was a step too slow. At another turn in the courtyard, she lost him.
How bizarre!
Where had he come from?
Frowning, Jiu Yue turned back, only now shaking out her sore foot. She was about to drag the system out for answers when a shadow flickered at the edge of her vision.
She stilled, then crept silently toward the figure before making her move—reaching out and seizing them in one swift motion!
The person under her grasp stiffened, frozen in place.
Jiu Yue sneered. "So this is where you were hiding!"
But when the person turned around trembling… both of them froze.
Huh. This one was actually an old man.
Jiu Yue’s eye twitched, and she quickly released him. But the old man, instead of retreating, grabbed her wrist with unexpected strength.
"Not so fast!" He straightened, scrutinizing her with displeasure before scoffing in realization. "Another half-baked physician who’s wandered in from who-knows-where!"
Jiu·Actually Half-Baked·Yue: "…"
She felt insulted, but now wasn’t the time to break character.
So she scowled and retorted, "How rude, old man! Who are you calling half-baked? Want me to stick a needle in you?"
The old man blinked. "You—you called me rude?"
Jiu Yue had no patience for this. "You misheard. I said you’re polite. The politest. So… could you let go now, oh courteous elder?"
The old man: "…"
While he stood dumbfounded, Jiu Yue easily twisted free and made her escape.
The old man was initially left speechless by the young woman's words, but the moment she turned away, his gaze froze on the top of her head. After a brief pause, he immediately called out.
"Ouch! Oh, ow-ow-ow!"
Jiu Yue was startled. When she turned back, she saw the old man sitting on the ground with a thud.
"It hurts! You, girl—when you swung your arm just now, you made me pull a muscle in my back..." the old man blurted out.
Jiu Yue: "..."
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was serious.
After all, she was quite strong, and this was a genuine old man with bones that couldn’t take much rough handling.
Hesitating briefly, her kind nature won out, and she crouched beside him, unsure whether to help him up or avoid touching his supposedly injured back.
So the old man watched as she reached out, then pulled back, repeating the motion several times.
The old man: "...What are you doing?"
Jiu Yue scratched her head before finally tucking her hands away and asking, "Should I go get someone to carry you?"
"Get someone?!" The old man reacted strongly. "Aren’t you a physician? Come on, help me up and take me back for a check-up."
Jiu Yue still didn’t dare lift him, afraid he might fall apart the moment she touched him.
But the next second, the old man patted his backside and scrambled to his feet on his own, then grabbed her arm and urged, "Which courtyard do you live in?"
Jiu Yue: "..."
Jiu Yue: "?"
