Chapter 7: Mysterious Youth

In the backyard of Baicao Hall, three people sat upright in the hall. An elderly man, with kind and benevolent features, was clearly a physician; a middle-aged man, brimming with heroic spirit, was clearly a martial artist; and a youth, unruly and travel-worn, whose identity was indiscernible.

The middle-aged man looked toward the elder: "Why did the Eldest Miss suddenly go to the Southern Border? Is there no news even from Mr. Hu? What about Qingyu's poison?"

The youth's brow furrowed into a tight line as he also looked toward the elder: "Sir, I want to go to the Southern Border."

The elder soothed him, "Young Master Jin, do not be impulsive. The Eldest Miss's sudden departure for the Southern Border must be for an important matter. If you rush off recklessly, you will only cause trouble for her and likely bring disaster upon yourself." After a moment of thought, the elder continued, "Lady Liao's poison has not been a one-day or two-day affair; there is no need to rush. The Eldest Miss has been researching the poison Lady Liao contracted, and she surely left behind notebooks or journals. Why don't we go to the Murong Estate to take a look? We can also visit the Little Miss; her fifth birthday is in three days. What do you think, Master Liu?"

The middle-aged man nodded. "That is the only way. I have yet to meet the Little Miss; I should also prepare a gift."

The youth remained silent. Before setting out, his parents had repeatedly urged him to listen to Mr. Hu. Now that Mr. Hu had said this, what else could he say? Besides, he also wanted to see Auntie Su's daughter.

Having made their decision, the three decided to stay for a while. Just as they were about to have the steward prepare three side rooms, a commotion broke out outside Baicao Hall. Before long, Physician Yang, who was supposed to be attending the hall, rushed in hurriedly: "Steward, a maid from the Murong Estate says the Fifth Young Miss of Murong has been seriously injured. She is in the carriage outside right now. Hurry out and take a look!"

The people sitting in the room all stood up in shock, and Mr. Hu followed the steward out.

By the time Nie Chen was carried into the room by a frantic group of people, she was already at death's door. The bloodstains on her green silk skirt had coagulated across her chest, patch by patch, bit by bit, silently testifying to her master's injuries. Young Master Jin was extremely shocked to see a five or six-year-old child in such a state. He wanted to step forward to help but didn't know what he could do, standing there dazed for a moment. Master Liu's worry deepened; he paced back and forth in the room, wringing his hands in anxiety, wanting to pull Mr. Hu for help but fearing he would interfere with the treatment.

Seeing the crowd gathered made it inconvenient to treat her, Mr. Hu said, "There is another girl in the courtyard who seems to have injured her ribs. Physician Yang, Master Liu, you two go out and tend to her first. I will handle the Little Miss. Young Master Jin, come and support the Little Miss; help her circulate some true qi to protect her heart vessels. Steward, go get a jar of old wine—the purer, the better, quickly!" As he spoke, he pulled a set of golden needles from his robe and lit a white candle, intending to perform acupuncture.

As the crowd dispersed, Master Liu kept looking back, feeling very uneasy. But remembering that the "Healing Saint" Hu the Golden Needle was present, he figured it would be more effective than himself and stepped out.

Young Master Jin carried Nie Chen to the Luohan bed and loosened her robes. As he slowly channeled true qi into her, Nie Chen's infinitesimal heartbeat was finally able to continue. Mr. Hu took out the golden needles, soaked them all in a bowl of wine, retrieved a few, roasted them over the flame, and then rapidly applied them to Nie Chen's body. Nie Chen spat out another mouthful of filthy blood and coughed a few times; her chest finally began to rise and fall again. She could breathe! Mr. Hu let out a long sigh of relief. It was fortunate they had arrived early; a little later and it might have been too late.

When Nie Chen woke up, she blinked her eyes, feeling only excruciating pain in her chest. Her internal organs felt as if they were being churned together, and even moving a finger caused unbearable pain, causing her to groan involuntarily.

Mr. Hu was resting in an armchair by the bed. Hearing the slight sound, he immediately opened his eyes, walked over in three steps, checked her pulse, stroked his beard, and smiled. "The Little Miss is blessed by heaven. I won't have to worry about giving the Eldest Miss an explanation."

Nie Chen was bewildered, her face full of confusion. Had she traveled through time again? Seeing Nie Chen's expression, Mr. Hu suddenly realized something. Stroking his beard, he explained with a kind face, "My surname is Hu. I was a fellow disciple of the Fifth Young Miss's mother. Strictly speaking, you should call me Grand-Martial Uncle."

Nie Chen swallowed hard and called out with difficulty, "Grand-Martial... Uncle... Mr. Hu, you saved me? Where is this? Do you know where my mother is?"

Mr. Hu nodded. She was a clever child, knowing who had saved her and understanding the need for caution. He said, "This is Baicao Hall. The girl who was with you, Lianqiao, is in the next room; you needn't worry. It was the Fourth Concubine of the General's Estate who sent someone to bring you here. As for your mother, she has likely returned to your maternal family's home. Do not fret; your mother surely has arrangements for you, and Baicao Hall will not abandon you." *Without the Murong Estate, you would still be one of the most noble young ladies in this land of Huaxia.* Of course, Mr. Hu would not say this aloud; it was her family's business. He had a responsibility to care for and protect her, but no standing to interfere.

Nie Chen thought for a while but still didn't quite understand. It seemed the Fourth Concubine had rescued her and Lianqiao from the Eldest Madam and Murong Zhi, but why? The Old Madam had likely heard of her mother's disappearance and was rushing from the countryside. This Mr. Hu was clearly a physician and seemed very familiar with her mother's side of the family. What was her mother's purpose, and where had she gone? Could this all be the Eldest Madam's scheme? Had her mother been killed by the Eldest Madam? No, this white-bearded old man said she had gone to her maternal home. What exactly did her maternal family do? They seemed to hold great status. The more she thought, the more her head ached, unable to piece together the cause and effect.

While she was lost in thought, two figures, one tall and one short, flashed past the doorway. "Miss~!" Seeing Nie Chen wake up, Lianqiao rushed forward crying, but fearing she might hurt Nie Chen, she forced herself to stop at the bedside. She touched Nie Chen's hand and then her hair. "Miss, you've been unconscious for three days. You nearly scared Lianqiao to death!" With snot and tears, her delicate little face was smeared like a little kitten. After a few cries, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Mr. Hu: "Sir, you saved my Miss. Lianqiao will repay your kindness a thousandfold."

Mr. Hu hurriedly helped her up. "Good child, get up quickly. Only by recovering your strength can you properly care for your Miss. Your Miss's heart and lungs were injured this time, damaging her constitution; she must be carefully nurtured, otherwise, a lingering illness could last a lifetime."

Lianqiao nodded repeatedly. She turned back and sat by the bed, her eyes brimming with tears, containing a mixture of sorrow, indignation, grief, and self-reproach as she stared at Nie Chen, as if she could heal Nie Chen's injuries just by looking at her.

Nie Chen managed to force a smile and comforted her, "Am I not alive again? Wipe your tears. Even if Mother isn't here, we will eventually settle this debt."

Lianqiao indeed wiped her tears and gave a small nod.

Both Mr. Hu and Young Master Jin at the door were momentarily stunned, though their thoughts differed. Mr. Hu nodded inwardly: *Though she is an illegitimate granddaughter, she has not disgraced the bloodline of the Emperor of Kyushu. Despite her age, she has spirit; she neither panicked nor acted unreasonably. However, she is still young; she likely won't be able to handle the conspiracies within the deep manor and will eventually suffer.*

Young Master Jin looked Nie Chen up and down with great interest, as if seeing something novel. "Is this Auntie Su's daughter? She is quite pretty, but those eyes... no matter how I look at them, they are strange, yet I can't say exactly what is strange." Perhaps it was that she did not look like a five-year-old; even if she felt hatred, she shouldn't have such eyes.

Nie Chen felt a burning gaze fixed upon her. Following the gaze, she saw a very handsome youth, about fourteen or fifteen years old, who was pretending to be mature with a stern face. His clothing was very ordinary, yet it could not hide the aura surrounding him; he must have come from a wealthy or noble family. Standing at the doorway, the afternoon sun shone upon him, making him appear golden and hazy, like a celestial being about to ascend with the wind.

Seeing Nie Chen looking at him, the corners of the youth's mouth curled up slightly, and he actually smiled. The sight made Nie Chen's eyes dizzy, and she closed them. Only then did she hear the youth speak: "You are Auntie Su's child. In the future, you shall call me Brother Jin."

Nie Chen's brain truly couldn't keep up. Her mother had so many acquaintances. She didn't know who this youth was, but his identity was likely not simple either. Nie Chen's mind and soul were that of an adult, but her body was still that of a five-year-old, and having suffered such heavy injuries, the conversation had exhausted her. She wanted to stretch, but she couldn't move, her whole body aching.

How could Physician Hu not know? After calling the medicinal boy from outside to bring the medicine in and personally feeding it to Nie Chen, he sent both her and Lianqiao back to rest, leaving only two medicinal boys to care for Nie Chen. The medicine contained ingredients to calm the mind and induce sleep; after drinking it, Nie Chen fell into a deep slumber.

At the side gate outside Baicao Hall, the Fourth Concubine's trusted maid was pacing anxiously. Seeing the steward come out, she hurriedly grabbed him: "How is the Fifth Young Miss of the General's Estate?"

The steward comforted her that her life was no longer in danger.

Hearing this, the trusted maid only breathed a half-sigh of relief and said repeatedly, "Then I will take her away now. This is the consultation fee. Please, Steward Lin, lead me in." As she spoke, she handed a heavy purse of money to Steward Lin.

Steward Lin was caught in a dilemma, not knowing whether to accept it or whether he was even allowed to let Nie Chen be taken away. He stood there momentarily, at a loss. Mr. Hu and Young Master Jin emerged from Nie Chen's room just in time to see this, and Mr. Hu said, "Young lady, it is not suitable for the Fifth Young Miss to be moved right now. It is best that she recovers here at Baicao Hall; there are doctors, medicine, and people to care for her."

The Fourth Concubine's maid bowed and said urgently, "Sir, please find a way. At the latest by tomorrow, if the Fifth Young Miss is not at Jingyue Temple, it will be our master whose life is in danger. Sir, you possess a kind heart and great skill; please do not make things difficult for a mere servant like me."

Having reached this point, Mr. Hu was speechless. He considered that the Little Miss's surname was Murong, and Murong Zhi was the Great General of the Great Zhou. As an outsider, it was truly difficult for him to interfere, yet it was absolutely impossible to just let it be. He could only say, "If I let you take her like this, I truly won't be at ease. How about this: I will accompany you as well."

Hearing this, the weight lifted from the maid's heart. "That would be wonderful. I must trouble you, Doctor. The carriage is just outside the gate, fully equipped with everything needed. Let us go now." As she spoke, she forced the purse into Steward Lin's arms and followed Mr. Hu into the room.

***

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