Upon entering the courtyard, Feng Yinwan finally understood what Qi Xuan meant by "destination."
Yu Ping, however, was still puzzled. "How did you know the key was hidden under a brick?"
Was this posture a national standard?
Qi Xuan scratched his head. "I hadn't mentioned it to the Princess before, but I am from Jiangzhou, and this courtyard is my old home."
Feng Yinwan thought about it and found it quite reasonable.
For example, he had chosen an inn in an excellent location from the start, and he was able to easily escape Feng Wuxi's pursuit despite being poisoned by the cold.
Nodding, she looked up at the courtyard again.
It was an ordinary courtyard, built with blue bricks and green tiles. It wasn't new, but it was neatly arranged. However, judging by the dust on the window sills, it seemed no one had lived there for a long time.
Sensing her confusion, Qi Xuan nodded. "Your Highness may not know, but my birth mother passed away years ago, and I only have an empty house left."
Unexpectedly, Feng Yinwan was slightly taken aback and immediately nodded.
Feng Wuxi had returned to his peak, and his Cold Light Art had become even more sinister. It was Qi Xuan's limit to be able to bring them back.
A healthy person suddenly fainted. Yu Ping's face turned pale with shock, and she quickly helped him up.
"Miss, what happened to him?"
Feng Yinwan's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. "Help him to the side first. I'll go and prepare the medicine."
When the bracelet was dormant, she had almost died trying to save Ye Tinglan. Now that the bracelet was awake, she didn't need to go through detours anymore.
"My dear, do you have purple ginseng? Hurry up and spit some out!"
The bracelet was silent for a moment, then reluctantly spat out a medicinal packet.
Feng Yinwan stared at the packet and fell into thought.
"No way, you don't even have purple ginseng? You're such a pauper!"
The bracelet flickered indignantly and then threw out several more packets, as if to say.
[You can call me incompetent, but you can't insult me by calling me poor!]
For the sake of the medicine, Feng Yinwan decided to postpone settling accounts.
Without purple ginseng, Feng Yinwan was unsure if the medicine provided by the bracelet could suppress the cold poison. To be safe, she gave Qi Xuan a full set of detoxification and health-preserving needles.
As the last silver needle was removed from Qi Xuan, Yu Ping happened to be carrying the medicinal soup over. Feng Yinwan nodded and reattached the silver needle to her waist.
"Perfect, feed him this."
Yu Ping was startled and her cheeks immediately turned red.
She was used to serving her lady, but she had never taken care of a man before. What had her lady just said? Feed... feed him medicine?!
She secretly glanced at her lady, who was heading into the room, and then at Qi Xuan, who was lying there as motionless as a cabbage. Yu Ping pursed her lips and resolutely took on the heavy responsibility.
This... should be the same as feeding livestock, right?
Years ago, her young master had bought a puppy to cheer up her lady, and she had taken care of it for a while.
Therefore, Yu Ping reviewed the process in her mind, and when she picked up the bowl again, her expression was noticeably calmer.
Qi Xuan, who had gone from being a cabbage to a dog: I can't stand it, I'm waking up from anger!
As the porcelain spoon, filled with soup, was handed over, Yu Ping, before she could even begin, met a pair of open eyes. Startled, she shook her hand, and the spoonful of soup poured directly onto Qi Xuan's face.
The medicine had just been brewed and was still scalding hot. Suddenly doused, Qi Xuan's eyes snapped open, and his consciousness instantly cleared.
Yu Ping guiltily withdrew her hand.
"Are... are you alright?"
His complexion wasn't fair, yet the red mark left by the scalding was clearly visible on his face.
Yu Ping felt even more guilty.
"You..."
Their voices overlapped for a moment as they spoke. They paused, and before they could say anything more, they were interrupted by a commotion outside the door.
"Who's in there!"
A woman, holding a broom, kicked open the door and looked up, meeting the gazes of Qi Xuan and Yu Ping. She froze.
"It's... it's Little Qi who's back!"
Yu Ping frowned in confusion. As their eyes met, Qi Xuan immediately got up.
"Aunt Li."
The woman called Aunt Li smiled sheepishly and retracted the broom.
"When did you get back? I heard from next door and thought a thief had broken in!"
The Li family had been neighbors for many years, and had taken good care of Qi Xuan's mother before she passed away.
Qi Xuan nodded. "I was passing through Jiangzhou on business today and decided to come back and see."
"Oh, is that so."
Aunt Li responded with two quick acknowledgments and her gaze shifted to Yu Ping beside him, her smile widening.
"This girl looks so lovely. Did she come back with you?"
After entering the courtyard, Yu Ping had removed her mask. Although she was still dressed as a man, her features clearly indicated she was a woman.
Aunt Li had entered so suddenly, and she was still holding the soup. The two of them were so close that it was obvious she was feeding Qi Xuan.
Realizing this, Aunt Li's smile became even more pronounced. "Little Qi, you're not young anymore. After running around outside for so many years, it's time you got married and settled down. Even I, as your aunt, worry about it, let alone your mother, who must be thinking about it in the afterlife!"
Her words couldn't have been more obvious.
Being spoken to like this in front of her, Yu Ping's face flushed, and her cheeks turned red.
Feng Yinwan emerged from the room and happened upon this scene, frowning in confusion.
"Yu Ping, have you finished feeding him the medicine? Why is your face so red?"
"Miss!"
This exclamation was urgent and suppressed. Feng Yinwan blinked and finally understood the situation in the courtyard.
Something was wrong; she smelled gossip.
Qi Xuan hadn't expected this either and nodded.
"Madam, this is a neighbor's aunt. She heard the commotion and thought there was a thief, so she came to check."
Aunt Li was initially confused to see Feng Yinwan, but after hearing Qi Xuan call her "Madam" and combining it with what Feng Yinwan had just said, she understood.
"Madam, is this young lady your maid? She looks to be of an age. I wonder if she's married?"
Little Qi was a bodyguard, and this girl was a maid. They sounded like a perfect match.
Aunt Li's satisfaction was evident. Her eyes twinkled as she looked from one to the other, waiting for Feng Yinwan to speak.
However, before Feng Yinwan could reply, Qi Xuan spoke hastily.
"Auntie, is... is Uncle Li's health good recently?"
The transition was abrupt, but Aunt Li's expression immediately changed.
"Alas... don't mention it. He got malaria earlier and was quarantined. It's been more than ten days, and he hasn't returned. The military camp is heavily guarded, and I can't even see him..."
Feng Yinwan had intended to break up a potential couple with her bare hands, but she paused upon hearing this.
"Aunt Li, you just said Uncle Li contracted malaria?"
Jiangzhou was one of the epicenters of the epidemic. However, the scene she had witnessed since arriving here was completely different. This was the first time she had heard the word "malaria" since coming to Jiangzhou.