The snow in the northern desert fell one after another, and the weather grew colder with each passing day. The snow on the rooftops and treetops never melted, and the ground was covered by a thick layer, leaving the earth completely hidden.
Xiao Qiniang sat behind her desk, her brows furrowed in deep worry.
With the frigid weather and the incessant snow, she feared another large number of cattle and sheep would freeze to death on the grasslands, which would be a dire situation for them.
The heavy snowfall made traveling into the mountains even more difficult, and it was possible they wouldn't be able to go before the new year.
With this thought, Xiao Qiniang couldn't help but let out a sigh, setting down the letter in her hand. "Zhuyu, have you been to see Marquis Tiedan? How is he recovering now?"
Zhuyu's eyes lit up. "Miss, the skills of that Miss Li are truly uncanny, simply marvelous!"
"Speak properly. Why uncanny? What is marvelous about it?"
Zhuyu quickly explained, "After Marquis Tiedan suffered a stroke, he couldn't speak, his hands couldn't move, and half of his body was numb and devoid of sensation. The doctors from the yamen who examined him said it was severe. Even with three to four years of recovery, he might not get better, and he might be crippled for life."
Xiao Qiniang pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "And then?"
"But this was only a matter of a few days! Marquis Tiedan's symptoms have been improving daily." Zhuyu's eyes sparkled, and she spoke with animation. "The day before yesterday, he could speak. Yesterday, he said his hands and legs had regained sensation and were no longer so stiff. Today is even more astonishing. When I went to visit, the Marquis Tiedan was already able to get out of bed and was being supported as he walked!"
"Truly?"
Zhuyu nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. It's absolutely true."
Xiao Qiniang murmured, "How could she, at such a young age, possess such miraculous medical skills? To cure someone who had a stroke, what divine ability is this?"
The last four words were spoken so softly that Zhuyu didn't clearly hear what she said.
"Miss, what did you say?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Go see him again in a couple of days and take him some things. Since he's staying at our residence, we shouldn't neglect him."
"Yes!"
Xiao Qiniang returned to her desk, thought for a moment, ground her own ink, and began to write. She dried the letter, put it into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and handed it to Zhuyu.
"Deliver this to Father as soon as possible."
Zhuyu quickly took the letter and solemnly replied, "Yes, I will arrange it immediately."
Because of Xiao Qiniang's letter, Xiao Ruduo, the eldest son of the Xiao family, who was away, returned to the yamen ahead of schedule.
Xiao Ruduo had a瘸 (qú) leg, but it didn't impede his walking. He was a martial artist with far greater self-control than ordinary people, and he wore specially made shoes, so unless one looked closely, his gait was no different from others.
Although his walking was not hindered, in a battle between armies, it could cost him his life. Therefore, Xiao Ruduo had since given up his post in the military camp and devoted himself entirely to his business ventures.
Even though he was no longer in the camp, his standing among the people of the northern desert had not diminished in the slightest. Within the yamen, aside from Old Master Xiao, the eldest son Xiao's words carried the most weight.
Xiao Ruduo was in his early forties, a man of imposing appearance. He wore a short beard and had a stern demeanor, clearly a man of decisive action.
As soon as Xiao Ruduo entered the main courtyard, Xiao Qiniang came out to greet him with a graceful bow. "Father."
"Let's talk inside," Xiao Ruduo strode into the house, and Xiao Qiniang quickly followed. The attendants accompanying Xiao Ruduo lined up on either side, standing guard with their sabers, solemn and imposing.
The people within the yamen were accustomed to this. The eldest son was always forceful, and his subordinates possessed a measure of his demeanor.
"You urgently summoned me back, is there something pressing?"
Xiao Qiniang personally poured him tea before saying, "The weather is cold and the snow is heavy. My daughter is worried about your leg, so I wanted you to come back and have Miss Li from the Li mansion take a look."
"Nonsense!" Xiao Ruduo placed the teacup he had just picked up heavily on the table. "Do not mention this again."
"Father! You know what poison Marquis Tiedan was afflicted with. Even Feng Jue might not have had absolute certainty, yet Li Man'er, in less than seven days, brought Li Shu back to consciousness."
A flicker of emotion finally appeared on Xiao Ruduo's face, but he said nothing more.
"A few days ago, Li Shu's condition had just begun to improve, but unfortunately, he accidentally ingested medicine given by a maid and suffered a stroke, almost losing his life."
The phrase "medicine given by a maid" was quite loaded with meaning.
Xiao Ruduo cast a glance at his daughter, and Miss Xiao Qi immediately lowered her head.
She was still too young and lacked sufficient depth of character. Facing the astute and battle-hardened Xiao Ruduo, she was clearly outmatched.
Xiao Qiniang was a person of the old era, and her respect for her father was like a mountain within her bones. She was different from Li Man'er. Even a critical glance from Xiao Ruduo was something she could barely endure.
"Where is that maid now?" Xiao Ruduo had weathered storms far greater than this. Although his daughter's words were veiled, they did not escape his notice.
"She has already been dealt with by your daughter."
Jiaoniang, though resentful, had never been able to control her own destiny. If Xiao Qiniang willed her to live, she lived; if Xiao Qiniang willed her to die, she could only die.
"And how is Marquis Tiedan now?"
"He has greatly recovered." Xiao Qiniang said with a touch of excitement, "Father, when Marquis Tiedan first had his stroke, he couldn't speak, and his hands and feet were immobile. In just half a month, he can get out of bed and speak."
Stroke could be cured?
Xiao Ruduo pondered, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the tabletop.
Xiao Qiniang dared not speak. She knew this was her father's habit whenever he encountered something worth considering.
"That Miss Li, only seventeen years old, possesses such medical skill?" It was truly hard to believe.
Xiao Qiniang simply said, "Her uncle, Ning Daocheng, is also a renowned physician. Perhaps she has considerable talent in the art of healing?"
The world knew that talent was more important than diligence.
"I will go and see Marquis Tiedan." And incidentally, meet that celebrated Miss Li of the capital.
A flicker of joy crossed Xiao Qiniang's face. As long as her father's leg recovered to its former state, or even seventy percent of it, their grand aspirations would be within reach.
Xiao Ruduo went to meet Li Shu, and upon their meeting, it felt as if they had known each other for a long time.
"I have long heard of General Xiao's peerless martial prowess. To see you today, it is indeed so." When Xiao Ruduo returned to the capital that year, Li Shu happened to be leading troops to suppress bandits, so they never met.
This was their first encounter, many years too late.
"You flatter me, Your Highness." Xiao Ruduo examined Li Shu from head to toe, and said with some self-reproach, "It is my oversight that I did not provide adequate care, allowing Your Highness to suffer repeatedly. This is my failing, Xiao Ruduo's failing."
Li Shu waved his hand and spoke gracefully, "What has this to do with General Xiao? It is merely my misfortune and a period of bad luck."