Li Man'er and Duan Xu left the third branch's courtyard together.
Once they were in a secluded spot, Duan Xu eagerly asked, "Master, Master, tell me about it. Using cultivation to cure illness, I've never heard of such a thing."
Duan Xu was an obsessive medical scholar. Upon hearing such a rare piece of news, he couldn't wait a moment longer to know.
"You are ignorant, or perhaps you haven't read enough books. The Three Absolute Diseases are akin to a martial artist with shattered meridians. With the heart method as a foundation, they are repaired layer by layer, supplemented by acupuncture and medicinal herbs, naturally yielding twice the result with half the effort."
Duan Xu still couldn't quite grasp it. "Does Master mean internal cultivation?" He wasn't a martial artist, so he didn't understand the cultivation of inner strength, but his intuition told him there were similarities.
"Roughly!" Li Man'er said, "Imperial Physician Duan, can we make a deal? Can you please stop calling me 'Master' with every other word? It's really strange."
"But..."
Before Duan Xu could finish, Li Man'er continued, "Your medical skills have long been perfected. It's too late to switch to my sect now. Our sect's medical practice is very different from ordinary doctors treating people. Don't say I can't teach you; even if I did, you wouldn't be able to learn. Why waste time?"
Duan Xu pondered, "Then, why did you take that boy in?"
"If I didn't take him in, how could I treat him? I already said I was accepting him as a disciple on behalf of my master."
Li Man'er walked a few steps ahead. "Imperial Physician Commander Duan, please excuse yourself! My third uncle's family has just returned today, and I'm afraid it wouldn't be convenient to entertain you. Once I complete the pulse diagnosis for my cousin, I will naturally give it to you for research. Rest assured. However, from now on, please just call me Miss Li. Never call me Master again."
Duan Xu seemed lost in thought, as if he hadn't heard Li Man'er at all.
Li Man'er ignored him and was about to return to Qingping Pavilion when she suddenly heard Duan Xu say, "You scheming girl!"
Duan Xu had figured some things out, but he still didn't fully understand. His intuition told him that Li Man'er treating Li Qingyan's illness was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Li Man'er smiled. "Calling me 'girl' is fine, as long as you stop calling me Master."
At the same time, Li Nian was also discussing Li Man'er with Madam Yu.
"I truly never expected Man'er to change so much."
"Indeed," Madam Yu replied. "A few years ago, I heard she had a bad temper, was intolerant of others, and ran after Young Duke Tong without regard for propriety, to the point where her reputation was known throughout the capital. Now that I think about it, it doesn't seem like something that child would do. She's so steady."
Li Nian snorted coldly, "It's all Madam Guo's doing." It was very simple for the mistress of the house to ruin a child. Even if she couldn't ruin her, it wasn't difficult to damage her reputation.
Women were superficial and narrow-minded, only capable of stirring up trouble within the inner chambers.
"She's already dead, why speak of it? But she died of an acute illness, and the second daughter married in such a hurry. Do you think there's something we don't know about this?"
Li Nian simply said, "No need to concern ourselves with it. We are from different branches, after all!" He was from a concubine, and there was always a distance between him and his legitimate brothers.
"I understand. It's just that Man'er seems to be intentionally drawing closer to us."
"It's probably because of the incident in Mobei!" Li Nian said. "Regardless, she is my niece and the descendant of your cousin. It is only right that we protect her to some extent."
Madam Yu knew her husband was looking out for her, and a smile appeared on her face.
"It would be wonderful if Man'er could truly cure Qingyan's illness."
"She will," Li Nian affirmed.
Li Man'er's visit to the third branch did not escape the ears of others.
Madam Cui didn't say much. After all, the third branch was protecting Li Man'er on her trip to Mobei, so it was reasonable for Li Man'er to visit the third branch for whatever reason.
The second branch was not as accommodating as Madam Cui.
Especially Madam Bai, who complained that the third branch was impolite, not even sending anyone to offer condolences for Madam Guo's death; then she added that they were not full siblings, and the second daughter, Li Zhaor, hadn't received any wedding gifts when she married.
In short, she wished the third branch was entirely worthless.
Li Second Master, hearing this, became impatient and smashed a teacup, angrily exclaiming, "Do you think my third brother's family is as idle as you are? They are stationed at the city to defend it, working hard. News is limited, and do you know how much time it takes for them to travel back and forth? If there's military intelligence, they might have their heads on the line, and some people might never return. Where would they find the time to attend funerals or give wedding gifts?"
Madam Bai dared not speak further.
"If you can't speak properly, then don't attend the family banquet tonight; it would be embarrassing." Li Second Master left in a huff, and Madam Bai could only complain to their daughter.
Li Tian'er also had no desire to listen to this. These were the words of a resentful woman and would affect her future words and actions. If she also picked up these habits, how could she marry a prince and ascend to a higher position?
"Mother, there's no use saying these things now. Anyway, Li Man'er is going to Mobei, and Third Uncle is going too. It's uncertain whether they will return alive!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Bai felt as if a gust of anger had been vented, and her heart felt much more comfortable.
Meanwhile, back at Qingping Pavilion, after Li Man'er returned, she handed the pulse diagnosis written by Duan Xu to Zi Yan, asking her to keep it for her.
"Miss, is the Third Young Master's illness really that difficult to treat?" She had to practice martial arts, undergo acupuncture, and take medicine. It sounded more difficult than any illness Miss had treated before.
Li Man'er replied, "Duan Xu was clueless about it. Do you think it's difficult?"
"Do you have confidence?" After asking this, Zi Yan quickly pleaded, "This servant has overstepped."
"It's alright. You're worried about me damaging my reputation, aren't you?" Li Man'er said, "There's still some time before the family banquet tonight. I'll take a nap first."
Zi Yan and the others tiptoed out of the inner room and went to the outer room.
Li Man'er lay under the thick quilt, secretly chuckling, in an exceptionally good mood.
Who would have thought that after transmigrating to such a strange place, she would encounter a perfect inheritor of Xuan Yi like Li Qingyan!
The Three Absolute body was a fatal condition for ordinary people, but for the Xuan Yi sect, it was an excellent candidate for succession.
She genuinely felt admiration for his talent and wanted to take Li Qingyan as her disciple. It was a pity that they were cousins, so she couldn't be his master. Thus, she settled for the next best thing, accepting him as a junior disciple on behalf of her master.
After all, in ancient times, one absolutely could not mess up the generational order.
It was fine; a junior disciple was still a fellow disciple, and also a relative. It was even closer than a typical master-disciple relationship!
Yes, she absolutely had to bring Li Qingyan along on this trip to Mobei. Otherwise, he might not live to see her return.
After contemplating this, Li Man'er closed her eyes and fell asleep contentedly.
When Shen Shi arrived, Zi Yan woke Li Man'er.
"Miss, it's time to prepare."
A family banquet could not be taken lightly, even if they were still in mourning. Preparations had to be made.
Li Man'er's face fell as she thought about having to pretend to eat grass at the banquet that evening.