At a small side gate of the prince's manor, Zhao Jiaqi boarded an inconspicuous carriage outside and quickly departed.
Using a token, leaving the city was quite convenient. Their destination was the cemetery.
The road was smooth. Not long after leaving the city, they arrived at the cemetery. Shi He was guarding the entrance. She twisted the stone gate’s switch, and after a rumbling sound, a staircase appeared. Torches were lit on both sides of the stairs, illuminating the path ahead.
They descended the stairs for half a cup of tea's time, then turned several corners, and after another hour's walk, they finally arrived.
Qi Xuan heard the movement and walked out of the stone house. Seeing who had arrived, he was momentarily surprised, then quickly understood why she was dressed as a maid.
"You've arrived!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded slightly at him, responding, "Yes, how is my mother now?"
"She's stable, but the longer the antidote is delayed, the more detrimental it is to the Old Madam's condition."
Everyone understood this, but this poison was not ordinary, and the antidote was naturally hard to find.
As they spoke, they entered the stone house. She took out a bowl of ginseng soup from the food basket and placed it on a stove with burning golden silk charcoal.
"The Prince sent a letter this afternoon saying he has obtained the ice silkworm and is rushing back at top speed. He should be back in a few days. I'll need you to continue taking care of my mother."
Hearing that the ice silkworm had been obtained, Qi Xuan's somber face finally showed a hint of relief and relaxation.
His nerves had been stretched too thin for too long, always fearing some unforeseen accident.
"That's good news. I'll sort out those medicinal ingredients tomorrow. As soon as the ice silkworm arrives, I'll prepare the antidote."
She nodded silently, her long eyelashes concealing the light in her eyes, making it impossible for anyone to discern her emotions at that moment.
The silent room was filled with a suffocating atmosphere. After a long pause, she finally looked up, her face regaining its usual approachable demeanor.
"Uncle Qi, I remember you have a disciple, what was his name again?"
Qi Xuan was perplexed by the sudden mention of his disciple but didn't overthink it. "Yan Luo."
Yan Luo!
"Yan is a surname I've never heard of before. It's not common in our Yun Country."
Qi Xuan stroked his beard, somewhat proudly, "That surname isn't common. His family has a history of running a pharmacy. The child has a calm disposition, and I've known his family for generations."
Hearing him say "generations," it was clear they had known each other for many years.
Zhao Jiaqi was curious about his story. "So, you and Yan Luo's father were old acquaintances?"
Qi Xuan smiled and waved his hand, pulled up a chair, adjusted himself to a comfortable position, and began to chat.
He spoke enthusiastically, and Zhao Jiaqi listened attentively.
It turned out that Uncle Qi's father and Yan Luo's grandfather had been inseparable since childhood. Yan Luo's ancestors ran a pharmacy, while Qi Xuan's family were physicians.
The pharmacy had no doctors, and by chance, the Qi family practiced medicine. Both families lived in the same town, and through their interactions, the two families began to do business together.
The Qi family had excellent medical skills, and the Yan family offered high-quality and affordable medicinal ingredients. They quickly won the hearts of the townspeople. The heads of the two families, though not biological brothers, were closer than brothers. This relationship had endured for three generations.
Zhao Jiaqi fell silent after hearing Qi Xuan's account.
"Years ago, I resigned from my position as a judge in the Imperial Hospital and returned to my hometown for ancestral rites. I discovered that Yan Luo had a great talent for medicine, so I brought him out to travel and treat patients. This way, he could encounter various illnesses and have more room to develop his skills."
Zhao Jiaqi blinked and asked, "How long did Uncle Qi stay in the Imperial Hospital? How many years did it take for you to return home for ancestral rites?"
Mentioning this, Qi Xuan also fell into thought. After a pause, he said, "I was in the Imperial Hospital for twenty full years. Shamefully, during those twenty years, I was constantly busy with matters within the palace and never returned for ancestral rites. It was only after I resigned as judge that I went back for the first time."
Zhao Jiaqi seized the opportunity and quickly asked, "So, Yan Luo wasn't raised by Uncle Qi? You only met him after returning home after twenty years, is that right?"
Qi Xuan nodded, a hint of confusion in his deep eyes, and slight lines appearing on his weathered face. "But what's wrong with my disciple? Did he offend the Princess?"
"Ah? Oh, no. I just see that Yan Luo has a good temperament, and my parents often praise him. I was just thinking of asking about his character. My mother even said she wanted to take him as a godson. I only thought of it now that I have some free time."
She had asked a bit too eagerly. Being questioned so directly by Qi Xuan, she blurted out an excuse, intending to brush it off. However, the news she heard next nearly shattered her.
Qi Xuan chuckled, "If the Princess hadn't brought it up, I was planning to wait until after the Old Madam was cured, and then I would humbly ask for a favor from you on behalf of my beloved disciple."
This time, it was Zhao Jiaqi's turn to be confused. "What favor?"
"My beloved disciple and Miss Xueyao are deeply in love. However, due to their status, they... If the Old Madam also has this wish, I would shamelessly beg the Princess to let these lovers finally be united."
The words stunned Zhao Jiaqi so much that she lost her bearings.
Who was she?
Where was she?
Uncle Qi had brought Yan Luo out when he was twenty years old. More than ten years had passed since then, meaning Yan Luo was at least thirty-three or thirty-four years old.
But Xueyao was only fourteen. Yan Luo was more than old enough to be Xueyao's father. How could they have developed feelings?
After a long while, she finally found her tongue, stammering, "When did this... this happen? My sister-in-law and mother never mentioned it to me!"
Qi Xuan's old face reddened, and he quickly explained, "Ah, I only learned about these children's matters not long ago. Yan Luo, out of consideration for face and his age, didn't dare to speak. I intended to mentor Xueyao, but Xueyao said that age is not a problem, and as long as they love each other, they should bravely pursue happiness. This moved my disciple, and he came to me a few days ago. But then the Old Madam was poisoned, which delayed things."
"Age is not a problem, height is not a distance." How familiar these words were. Zhao Jiaqi now felt like she had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.
It was a bit of a headache.
After a long silence, Zhao Jiaqi shook her head, unable to muster a fake smile. "I have no right to interfere with Xueyao's marriage. Since ancient times, it has been decided by parents. Uncle Qi, this matter needs to be discussed with my sister-in-law and elder brother, and given the current situation at home..."
Qi Xuan heard her clearly and understood that now was not the time to discuss this. He said tactfully, "Everything can wait until after the Old Madam's matter is resolved. It's not too late to talk then. Besides, Xueyao is still a few months away from her capping ceremony."
Zhao Jiaqi forced a smile. "That's true. There's no need to rush. After all, it's a matter of their lifetime, and it cannot be taken lightly."
But her heart trembled. It seemed her sister-in-law and elder brother were unaware of Xueyao and Yan Luo's matter, otherwise, why would they have sought her out?
Gurgle gurgle...
The ginseng soup began to bubble in the porcelain pot, bringing her back to attention. She quickly took the pot down, let it cool slightly, and then fed it to the person on the bed.