The group finally dispersed—it was already quite late. Mingxi returned to her courtyard, changed clothes, washed up, took a quick bath, and had a late-night snack before finally remembering—she hadn’t heard any news about Xiao Muchen.
With his skills, she doubted he’d be in danger. Still, would he be able to catch up to Qiao Yu? Where might they have moved him?
Now that Qiao Yu’s identity was exposed, to keep him out of their hands, the other side would definitely relocate him somewhere they couldn’t reach.
That would make things much more difficult.
Mingxi tossed and turned for who knows how long before finally drifting off to sleep.
Just as the first light of dawn crept in, Xiangxiang came in and gently lifted the bed curtain, whispering, “Miss, Bairui from the Young Madam’s side needs to see you urgently.”
Mingxi felt like she had only just fallen asleep. Xiangxiang’s words swirled in her mind before she finally processed them.
Someone from her sister-in-law?
She sat up. “Did she say what it’s about?”
“No, just that it’s urgent,” Xiangxiang said as she fetched clothes to help her dress.
Mingxi sat in front of the vanity. Qiancao rushed in to do her hair and quickly twisted it into a simple bun, securing it with a pearl hairpin. Then she supported her lady out the door.
Bairui was waiting in the outer room. When she saw Mingxi, she immediately stepped forward to greet her. “Greetings, Miss. I’m sorry for the early disturbance—please forgive me.”
“Rise,” Mingxi said. “If it weren’t urgent, my sister-in-law wouldn’t have sent you. What happened?”
Bairui lowered her voice. “Miss, Xu Shizi was attacked and seriously injured.”
Xu Shizi?
Xu Heng?
Mingxi froze. “When did this happen?”
“Last night. Early this morning, Second Miss went begging for medicine all the way to Marquis Fuchang’s residence. But they didn’t have anything effective, so the Madam thought of our house and sent someone to see the Young Madam. Since she can’t come out herself, she sent me to ask you.”
“Why hasn’t Duke Wei called an imperial physician?” Mingxi frowned.
The shizi of the Duke Wei’s house being ambushed and injured? That’s no small matter.
“I don’t know…”
Right, Mingxi thought—how would a maid know such details?
She turned to Qiancao. “Bring that jar of ointment.”
Qiancao quickly returned from the inner room, holding a colorful porcelain jar. She looked reluctant. “Miss, this is your last one. Shouldn’t we save a little?”
“This is a matter of life and death,” Mingxi said, not hesitating. She took the jar and strode toward Madam Xiao’s residence.
Bairui quickly led the way.
Qiancao followed behind, silently mourning the ointment. That was the final jar left by Divine Physician Cui—and no one knew where he had wandered off to again. Getting another one would be nearly impossible.
When Mingxi arrived, Madam Xiao was about to get out of bed to greet her.
Mingxi rushed forward to steady her. “Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Lie back down quickly.”
“I’m troubling you again, Little Sister,” Madam Xiao said apologetically.
“No need for all that—we’re family. This is Han Yu Ointment, made by Divine Physician Cui Yu. It works wonders on external injuries. Let’s have someone deliver it right away.”
Madam Xiao had never heard of Cui Yu, but any doctor with the title “Divine Physician” had to be extraordinary. She immediately had the ointment carefully handed off and sent back to her maiden home.
Her younger sister was still waiting over there.
“Xiao Ling wanted to come ask for medicine herself,” Madam Xiao explained, “but it was so early, she didn’t want to be impolite. So she sent someone instead. I hope you’ll forgive us.”
Mingxi nodded. “Is Xu Shizi’s life in danger?”
Madam Xiao shook her head. “It’s unclear. The messenger only said he was badly injured.”
Seeing that Madam Xiao didn’t know much either, Mingxi didn’t press further. She stood to leave. “In that case, it would be best to summon an imperial physician. But this is Duke Wei’s family matter—we shouldn’t interfere. Sister-in-law, rest well. I’ll head back now.”
Madam Xiao tried to see her off, but Mingxi gently pushed her back into bed and left.
Elsewhere, Xiao Ling returned to her family residence with the Han Yu Ointment in hand, riding like the wind.
When Duchess Wei saw her, she sprang up. “How did it go?”
Xiao Ling was still panting and couldn’t speak. She simply held out the ointment.
The duchess carefully took it. “Good child. Thank you. Rest a moment—I’ll go apply it to him right away.”
Before Xiao Ling could even explain, her mother-in-law had rushed off. Her maid handed her a warm cup of tea, which she drank in one gulp before quickly following.
Inside, the family physician took the ointment, sniffed it carefully, and looked a bit grim. He turned to Xiao Ling. “May I ask, madam, where this came from?”
Duchess Wei immediately looked nervous. “What is it? Is there something wrong with the ointment?”
“It can be used, but I dare not be certain. From the smell, it seems to be Han Yu Ointment.”
Xiao Ling quickly nodded. “It is Han Yu Ointment, made by Divine Physician Cui Yu.”
The physician’s hands trembled, and he quickly steadied the jar. “With this, there’s no need to worry about the Young shizi’s injury.”
Duchess Wei was overjoyed. As she watched the physician apply the medicine to her son, she quietly asked, “Is Divine Physician Cui’s balm that effective?”
“Madam, why else would he be called a divine physician? But Divine Physician Cui is elusive, and he’s quite advanced in age. Meeting him is near impossible.” The physician carefully scooped out a small spoonful with a little silver spoon and gently applied it to Xu Heng’s wound, not wasting a single bit.
Duchess Wei grew anxious and asked, “Is that tiny amount enough?”
The balm was precious, but her son’s life was more important.
“Mother, this is the last jar,” Xiao Ling quickly explained upon hearing her concern.
The Madam was startled and dared not urge further. She turned to Xiao Ling. “The last jar? Mingxi gave it just like that?”
Xiao Ling nodded. “Sister Xi is a good person.”
Duchess Wei nodded. “We must personally visit and thank her one day.”
“Alright,” Xiao Ling quickly replied.
Xu Heng felt a chill on his back, then gradually heard his mother and wife talking. He was half-conscious, unable to open his eyes. The burning pain on his back clouded his mind. He wanted to speak, but couldn’t manage to before passing out again.
When Duke Wei returned from the palace, his face was stern, and he strode straight to the rear courtyard. Upon seeing his wife, he immediately asked, “How is Heng Er?”
“Did you meet His Majesty?” the Madam asked in return.
The couple spoke almost in unison, then both fell silent.
Seeing her husband’s troubled expression, the Madam’s heart sank. She forced a smile. “Thanks to Eldest Miss Duan giving us Divine Physician Cui Yu’s Han Yu Ointment, the physician said it’s highly effective. Heng Er’s life is no longer in danger.”
Hearing that his son’s life was saved, Duke Wei relaxed slightly and steadied himself against a nearby chair. Only then did he speak: “I didn’t get to see His Majesty.”
“What? His Majesty refused to see you?” The Duchess was shocked.
