Ye Yingfeng saw the empty yard and then turned to enter the Zhao family's courtyard.
The faint smell of blood still lingered in the air, making him can't help but frown slightly.
"My little daughter knows something about medicine. I brought her here without prior notice. Please don't mind."
Old Lady Zhao, with tears in the corners of her eyes, grabbed Ye Zhinan's hand as if she had caught a life - saving straw.
Her face was full of wrinkles, all traces left by years.
She should have been living a care - free life in her old age, but instead, she had to endure hardships here.
"Good child, my granddaughter - in - law's life is in your hands."
Ye Zhinan waved her hand hurriedly and distanced herself from the old lady.
"I'm not very skilled in medicine. I can only do my best."
The old lady nodded repeatedly and didn't say more. Mrs. Zhao chimed in a few words and led them into the house.
"Our old lady was just too anxious and said those words. She didn't mean to make things difficult for you. Please don't take it to heart."
Ye Zhinan nodded and didn't dwell on this matter.
She understood the old lady's feelings. After all, it was two lives at stake. Anyone would be panicked.
Even though the old lady had lived most of her life, she couldn't help but worry about her kin.
She saw the woman in the room moaning in pain. She walked over quickly, felt her pulse, and frowned tightly.
"The baby is okay, but there's severe internal bleeding. If we delay any longer, the fetus might be in danger."
She let out a sigh of relief. Things weren't as bad as she had thought.
A safe delivery for both mother and child was the greatest blessing.
"I brought some herbs, but I can only make one dose of medicine to hold her over for now. You'll have to take care of the rest."
It wasn't that she was reluctant to share the things in her space.
It was just that she had only brought a small medicine bag. If she suddenly took out a dozen doses of medicine, it would surely arouse suspicion.
Mrs. Zhao thanked her repeatedly and knelt on the ground with a thud, about to kowtow to Ye Zhinan.
"This won't do. Please get up quickly. I've only done a little. It's nothing."
She helped Mrs. Zhao up, took out the herbs from her medicine bag, and urged her to boil the medicine quickly.
Ye Zhinan took out some silver needles and inserted them into a few acupuncture points to stop the bleeding temporarily.
"…Thank you."
The woman on the bed suddenly spoke. Ye Zhinan then looked over and saw her face.
She was extremely beautiful, with a delicate and proper appearance. One could faintly see the charm of a Jiangnan woman in her.
If it weren't for the illness, she would surely be a real beauty.
"Save your strength. If you really want to thank me, just give birth to this child safely. That would be worth all my efforts."
Ye Zhinan took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off the woman's forehead.
Zhao Qingyun rushed in in a hurry, holding a bowl of hot medicine in his hand.
"Qiu'er, the medicine is here."
He knelt on the ground halfway, blew the medicine in the spoon gently, and slowly fed it to Shen Qiu.
Ye Zhinan touched her nose awkwardly. Not wanting to be in the way, she turned around and quietly left.
Since Shen Qiu was out of danger, she could go back home with peace of mind.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, she saw a familiar - looking man standing by the door.
She suddenly recognized him. He was the man who had bumped into her that day.
Zhao Qingfeng, the eldest son of the Zhao family.
"Thank you, miss, for saving my sister - in - law. Besides, I'd like to apologize to you."
He bent slightly, with his eyes lowered, and respectfully bowed to Ye Zhinan.
She suddenly felt at a loss and took a few steps back.
"You don't have to be so polite. It's just a small favor, not worth mentioning."
Zhao Qingfeng smiled. Somehow, Ye Zhinan even thought he looked a bit shy.
She had heard something about the man in front of her.
Before the exile, his life had been smooth sailing.
He had passed the highest imperial examination as the top scholar when he was young and had been promoted continuously after entering the officialdom. He was the dream man of all the young ladies in the capital.
"I remember that the daughter of the Xu family was engaged to Zhao Qingfeng. Why haven't I seen her?"
On the way back, Ye Zhinan couldn't help but gossip. She also wanted to know what this gentle and jade - like gentleman had gone through.
Ye Shenyan sighed, as if recalling something sad.
"Xu Youning is the niece of the queen. How could her family be willing to marry their daughter into an exiled family?"
Ye Zhinan nodded. The memories in her mind gradually connected.
The Zhao family's marriage had indeed been full of twists and turns back then. In the end, it had even been delayed for several years.
Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the situation where the eldest son was still unmarried while the second son had already married a new wife.
Everyone in the capital had thought that the marriage between the Zhao family and the Xu family was a done deal, only a matter of time.
But who could have thought that the Xu family would change their mind at the last minute and cancel the engagement before the exile.
"Now that I think about it, it's likely that the Xu family had heard some news earlier and was just stalling for time and watching from the sidelines."
Ye Shenyan let out a sigh. He had also once wanted to marry Ye Zhinan to Zhao Qingfeng.
It was just that fate had played a trick on them, and the Xu family had gotten there first.
Unexpectedly, after all the twists and turns, the two families would meet again here. It was really a coincidence.
"Sister - in - law of the Zhao family is in great need of nutrition. The constable Qin sent us a few eggs the other day. You can take them all there tomorrow."
Ye Zhinan thought of Shen Qiu's death - pale face and felt a pang in her heart.
She just couldn't bear it and offered the eggs voluntarily.
"Even if you didn't say it, I was going to do it. The Zhao family is really in a difficult situation. It will get better after this period."
…
Early the next morning, Ye Zhinan walked out of her room, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
Just as she was about to stretch, she saw Zhao Qingfeng sitting in the yard.
He was wearing coarse cloth clothes but still looked very elegant. He was sitting on a crude wooden chair, chatting with Ye Shenyan.
Zhao Qingfeng glanced over and saw Ye Zhinan. He suddenly stood up, looking a bit flustered.
"You left your handkerchief last night. I was entrusted by my mother to return it to you."
He carefully took out a handkerchief from his bosom. Seeing that Ye Zhinan didn't say anything, he walked over cautiously.
He held the handkerchief in front of Ye Zhinan. Whether it was because of nervousness or something else, his hand was trembling slightly.
"Thank you."
Ye Zhinan bowed slightly to show her gratitude.
But when she took the handkerchief, she found that the sweat stains on it had disappeared completely, replaced by a refreshing fragrance.
"I've washed the handkerchief. I don't have any high - quality perfume. Please don't mind."
Ye Zhinan shook her head. A strange feeling flashed through her heart, but she couldn't figure out what it was.
"You've gone to so much trouble. Why don't you stay for breakfast? You can go to work with your Uncle Ye later."
Zhao Qingfeng declined a few times, but couldn't resist the enthusiasm of Ye Shenyan and his wife, so he had to accept the invitation.
I don't know if it was intentional, but Ye Zhinan happened to sit next to Zhao Qingfeng during breakfast.
She didn't feel any discomfort, but Zhao Qingfeng was so nervous that he was sweating on his forehead.
"Were you this nervous when you went to court in the past?"
She suddenly had a mischievous thought and secretly teased Zhao Qingfeng just before he left.