With these words spoken, Zhan Tianye was astonished. He likely hadn't expected Yun Shu to actually admit it!
Yun Changfeng's eyes widened. "Slightly skilled in medicine? Shu'er, you haven't just impulsively agreed after the King of Night's suspicion, have you?"
"This..." Seeing Yun Shu admit it, Zhan Tianhong's suspended heart finally relaxed. But as it did, he couldn't help but cough, "Cough, cough, cough..."
The violent coughing made Yun Changfeng's heart clench. It seemed the condition was worsening.
Yun Shu stepped forward.
Seeing this, Zhan Tianye roared, "What do you think you're doing?!" How bold this woman was! She dared to approach Zhan Tianhong of her own accord in his presence! Was she trying to use this opportunity to solidify her relationship with Zhan Tianhong? Did she even know she was several years older than Zhan Tianhong? For some reason, watching her approach Zhan Tianhong, an inexplicable discomfort suddenly arose in his heart.
Yun Shu shot Zhan Tianye a cold glance, then took out a silver needle and pricked it into the area above Zhan Tianhong's chest.
"Yun Shu!"
"Shu'er!"
Zhan Tianye was shocked, the veins on his hand gripping the chair bulging. Yun Changfeng was covered in a cold sweat, his back completely drenched. This was more heart-wrenching than being on the battlefield.
Zhan Tianhong, however, was not nervous at all. After seeing Yun Shu approach, the pain that had been unbearable suddenly subsided, his heart calming and the pain lessening. Then, as the silver needle in Yun Shu's hand pierced him, he suddenly felt a sense of relief. His throat, which had been causing him to cough incessantly, suddenly felt comfortable. He looked at Yun Shu as if she were a life-saving straw.
In a voice only they could hear, tinged with a hint of grievance, he said, "I'm sorry, it was I who did not keep my promise. I have no other choice." If there had been anyone else he could trust, he would never have become a hypocrite who broke his word.
Yun Shu did not blame Zhan Tianhong. She softly replied, "It's fine."
Zhan Tianhong, who had been worried with a furrowed brow, relaxed upon hearing Yun Shu's words, his eyes shining with a bright joy.
When Zhan Tianye and Yun Changfeng saw that Zhan Tianhong's complexion had improved, his coughing had stopped, and he was no longer in mortal danger, they first breathed a sigh of relief. Then, Zhan Tianye narrowed his cold, chilling eyes, fixing them on Yun Shu with a gaze that could send shivers down one's spine.
Yun Shu sensed Zhan Tianye's gaze, an intensity that felt like it could bore a hole through her and see into her soul. She raised an eyebrow, turned to him, a slight curve to her red lips, a bright smile on her face, and said slowly, "Now, can the King of Night believe that I am slightly skilled in medicine?" His intensely suspicious look just now seemed to imply she was a charlatan. If she truly knew no medicine, she would have already been charged with treason, a crime punishable by the extermination of her entire clan!
Yun Changfeng blinked, then straightened his back, his previous worry completely gone, and he immediately regained the composed and imposing presence of the Zhen'an Great General. "Shu'er is indeed slightly skilled in medicine, but because she only knows a little, she has not publicized it. I have taught her since childhood to be discreet and not to be too ostentatious."
Hearing this, Yun Shu's lips twitched. She almost burst out laughing inwardly. *My daughter was really not discreet at all back then!*
Zhan Tianye looked at Yun Changfeng in disbelief. Discreet? Not ostentatious? Yun Changfeng's eyes suddenly flickered. He remembered Shu'er from five years ago. "Discreet" was the furthest thing from describing her.
"Last time in the Imperial Garden, I suddenly fell ill and didn't have time to take my medicine. It was Miss Yun Er who happened to be passing by and saved me! However, Miss Yun Er is indeed discreet and didn't want anyone to know she knew medicine. I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone."
"Fifth Brother, you've seen it with your own eyes. I was feeling chest discomfort and couldn't stop coughing just now, but after Miss Yun Er made her move, I've stopped coughing," Zhan Tianhong said to Zhan Tianye eagerly.
Zhan Tianye's expression remained grim and chillingly cold, and he merely grunted in response.
"I didn't actually want to take Miss Yun Er as a concubine. I just wanted Miss Yun Er to treat me," Zhan Tianhong said, looking at Yun Shu.
Yun Shu sighed inwardly. *Young man, aren't you being too hasty? Do you really believe my medical skills?* She suddenly thought of Yun Yueyin finding the Regent as her backing, making her difficult to deal with. If she saved the young emperor, he would owe her a favor, which could be useful if something unexpected happened later. *No, Yun Yueyin is not a threat. I need to be wary of Zhan Tianye. He's been targeting me all evening. If he finds out I'm Zhan Xiaoli's mother, he might want to silence me. With a word from the young emperor, I won't have to fear Zhan Tianye.*
"Are you sure she can treat you?" Zhan Tianye retorted.
Zhan Tianhong nodded almost without hesitation, "Yes, I believe in Miss Yun Er!"
Yun Changfeng still felt a little uncertain. He naturally hoped Shu'er could save the Emperor. But Shu'er hadn't really studied medicine since childhood. Was her action just now a fluke born of desperation?
"Alright," Yun Shu suddenly said. Just one word. It filled Zhan Tianhong with delight and made Zhan Tianye even more wary of Yun Shu.
Half an hour later.
Yun Shu and Yun Changfeng were on their way back to the General's mansion.
"Shu'er, can you really save the Emperor?" Yun Changfeng had hesitated the entire way and finally couldn't help but ask. The sky outside was gradually turning white, almost dawn. Yun Shu was unaccustomed to staying up all night and, in the swaying carriage, felt drowsy. Hearing Yun Changfeng's question, she smiled and nodded, "Don't worry, Father, I can." She would diagnose him properly next time she entered the palace. For today, she just wanted to sleep, not think.
Yun Changfeng wanted to ask more, but seeing her yawn and about to fall asleep, he swallowed his words. Forget it. He wouldn't ask. In the past five years, she must have suffered greatly outside to have learned medicine.
Not far behind their carriage, another carriage was also moving slowly. Qiu Lu was driving. Thinking of the people inside being the Great General and the Second Miss Yun, Qiu Lu suddenly recalled the scene at the palace banquet.
"My Lord, the young master actually likes Miss Mu Er very much. At the palace that day, he took the initiative to hug Miss Mu Er." As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted it, wanting to slap himself! He followed his Lord daily and knew better than anyone how much his Lord disliked Miss Yun Er! After all, what Miss Yun Er had done to his Lord five years ago was simply... enough to cause nightmares.
"My Lord, your subordinate misspoke!" he quickly said. He expected to be reprimanded by his Lord, but instead, the next moment, his Lord's command came from the carriage, "Investigate Yun Shu. I want to know everything about her these past five years!"