Old Madam Qi was walking so quickly that she did not even remember to put on a cloak. When a maid hurried after her carrying one, Old Marquis Qi was so flustered himself that he did not know how to react.
Qi Yuan took the cloak from the maid’s hands, draped it over Old Madam Qi’s shoulders, and then supported her arm.
Only then did Old Madam Qi feel somewhat calmer. With Qi Yuan helping her, the heart that seemed ready to leap from her chest finally settled a little, though she still quickened her pace toward the outside.
The moment they stepped out of the courtyard gate, Old Madam Qi abruptly stopped.
Qi Changting was slowly walking toward them.
His pace was somewhat slow, but he was indeed walking. His posture was upright, and aside from moving more slowly than usual, he looked no different from a healthy person.
At that moment, Old Madam Qi felt as though she ought to thank every god and Buddha in existence.
Never before had she been so grateful for Heaven’s protection.
Old Marquis Qi was equally overcome with emotion. Tears filled his eyes as he rushed forward and grabbed Qi Changting by the shoulders, examining him carefully from head to toe.
After a long while, he patted Qi Changting’s shoulder and said in a choked voice, “Good! Good! Wonderful!”
Qi Zhen also let out a long breath of relief.
After all, Qi Changting had been crippled by Xu Fengqiao because of Qi Yuan.
Though the second branch of the family had never spoken of it, he had always felt guilty.
Not to mention that he knew perfectly well that Qi Yuan carried even greater guilt than he did.
Otherwise, she never would have traveled thousands of miles and risked everything, even killing Qi Wang, to bring Divine Physician Xue back.
They had already done everything they could. Beyond that, the rest had been left to fate.
Now that Qi Changting was truly healed, there was every reason to celebrate.
Second Master Qi and Second Madam Qi were already speechless.
Standing on either side of their son, they could only stare at him.
After a long moment, Second Madam Qi suddenly burst into tears.
With a thud, she dropped to her knees before Qi Yuan.
Qi Yuan immediately reached out to help her up.
Third Madam Qi arrived shortly afterward and froze when she saw the scene.
Her gaze shifted from Qi Yuan to the perfectly healthy Qi Changting.
She could hardly believe it.
Although the eldest branch had brought Divine Physician Xue back and had repeatedly said that Qi Changting could be cured, Third Madam Qi had never truly believed it.
How could someone whose leg had been ruined ever stand again?
She had thought the second branch was desperately grasping at any hope available, and that their faith in Qi Yuan had clouded their judgment.
She had even worried about what would happen to her Old Second and sister-in-law if that hope were ever shattered.
But now, Qi Changting was genuinely healed. Qi Yuan had once said that she would restore him. And she had truly done it.
As astonishment gave way to understanding, Third Madam Qi finally realized why Second Madam Qi had always rushed to defend Qi Yuan and had never hesitated to accompany her wherever she went. Why, during the affair involving Duke Cheng, she had nearly thrown herself at him in a life-and-death struggle.
So that was why.
Because if you treated Qi Yuan well, she would repay that kindness many times over.
Qi Yuan helped Second Madam Qi to her feet. “Second Aunt, you’re embarrassing me by doing this. I’m only trying to make up for a mistake I made. It isn’t some great achievement. Changting was injured because of me in the first place.”
Old Madam Qi tightly held Qi Changting’s hand, nodding through tears. “Good! Good child! As long as you’re well. As long as you’re well!”
She immediately instructed Liu Zhong to go to Dazhao Temple and set up a longevity tablet in honor of Divine Physician Xue.
Divine Physician Xue, however, felt the family was making far too much fuss.
He had said all along that Qi Changting could be cured.
Not once or twice, but countless times.
Yet now everyone was crying and rejoicing as if they had never believed him before.
It made him feel somewhat slighted.
Still, hearing Old Madam Qi’s words, he could not help feeling a little pleased.
So this was what Qi Yuan had meant by the difference between healing one person and healing the world.
Qi Changting bowed deeply to Qi Yuan. “Thank you, Elder Sister.”
Qi Yuan smiled and shook her head. “No. Besides Divine Physician Xue, the people you should thank are your parents. And the person you should thank most is yourself.”
Though Divine Physician Xue never said it aloud, Qi Yuan knew exactly how agonizing the treatment process had been.
His leg had been broken and reset multiple times.
The pain and suffering involved were unimaginable.
The fact that Qi Changting had endured it all was already an extraordinary achievement.
Everyone was immersed in joy.
Not long afterward, Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzheng returned from school.
When they saw that Qi Changting was standing and walking, their eyes widened in disbelief.
They ran over excitedly. “Third Brother, you’re better?!”
“You’re really better?!”
Qi Changting smiled gently, his face full of warmth. “That’s right. I’m better now.”
The entire family gathered together.
Old Madam Qi simply ordered a meal to be served in the side hall of her courtyard.
The atmosphere was lively and cheerful.
In fact, it was even more festive than the New Year.
Qi Yuan finally let out a long breath from the bottom of her heart.
She had known that, with Qi Wangi’s successful treatment as a precedent and with Divine Physician Xue’s medical skill, things should have gone smoothly.
But what ought to happen and what actually happened were two different things.
Fortunately, the outcome had turned out well in the end.
Pressing her lips together, she smiled faintly and raised her wine cup toward the distant sky.
Xiao Yunting, do you see this?
Hard work is ultimately rewarded.
My younger brother has recovered.
The night wind stung Xiao Yunting’s face. Beside him, Qingfeng spoke quietly. “Your Highness, it’s already very late. Linhai returned and reported that there are no villages or post stations for quite some distance ahead. We should find a place to rest.”
After all, they were traveling with an imperial inspection party.
Not that Xing Min and the others mattered, they were all young and strong.
Even Prefectural Judge Wang could endure the rough journey.
But there was also Zhang Zongbin, the Shilang of the Ministry of Justice.
The man was already in his fifties or sixties.
And then there was Feng Nanmu from the Dali Temple, another aging official.
If they kept rushing day and night like this, those two old men might be worked to death.
Xiao Yunting slowed his horse and glanced back.
Sure enough, from the carriage came occasional weak and exhausted voices: “When will we finally reach a post station?”
Their bones felt as though they were being shaken apart by the journey.
Reining in his horse, Xiao Yunting surveyed the surroundings before nodding. “We’ll rest here. Start fires for warmth and set up camp.”
Qingfeng instinctively glanced at him in surprise.
Nevertheless, he immediately acknowledged the order.
Xiao Yunting then turned toward Zhang Zongbin and Feng Nanmu. “Are you two all right?”
Zhang Zongbin was already exhausted to the point of having only half a life left.
Forcing a smile, he said, “Your Highness, even if you’re avoiding local officials and trying to conceal your movements, you can’t keep traveling day and night like this! These old bones of ours can’t take it!”
He truly harbored some resentment.
Xiao Yunting was pushing himself so hard for one reason only, to investigate the Lu family’s case.
But that didn’t mean he could treat everyone beneath him as though they weren’t human.
This wasn’t traveling.
It was practically rushing to attend a funeral!
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