Mrs. Yuan got up, ready to send Hemei and Henuan to sleep, but Hemei and Henuan had already quickly risen, drawn the soft swords from their waists, and charged out of the house. They started fighting with a person dressed in black in the courtyard.
Yun Jinnian was startled and quickly ran out of the room. By the moonlight, Yun Jinnian recognized the visitor—it was Leng Binghan from Princess Jinfeng's side.
"Hemei, Henuan, stop fighting, I know him!" Yun Jinnian called out.
Hemei and Henuan stopped at the sound and watched Leng Binghan warily.
"Mr. Leng, let's talk inside the house!"
Leng Binghan looked at Yun Jinnian, nodded to him, entered the parlor, and handed Yun Jinnian a letter.
Yun Jinnian took it, opened it, and saw that it was written by Princess Jinfeng. The letter stated she had to leave and couldn't come to say goodbye, expressing her apologies. She asked Yun Jinnian to give the medicine to Leng Binghan, and that the appointment on the fifteenth was canceled.
"Mr. Leng, is the Princess all right?" Yun Jinnian asked with concern.
Leng Binghan nodded.
As cold as a block of ice.
Yun Jinnian wasn't afraid of him; he had always been like this since they met.
"Wait for me for a moment, I'll get the medicine for you!"
Having said this, Yun Jinnian went into the bedroom, took a piece of cloth, placed several porcelain bottles on it, emerged from the bedroom, and placed it on the small table in the parlor. "Mr. Leng, come here, I'll tell you what each medicine is. You mustn't get them mixed up!"
Leng Binghan remained silent but moved a few steps closer.
"The red bottle contains a poison that seals the throat upon contact with blood. After you go back, apply it to the silver needles of your secret weapon. The blue bottle contains golden sore medicine, the purple one holds Detoxification Pills, and this black bottle has Qi Replenishing Pills. Don't consume the Qi Replenishing Pills unless absolutely necessary. Although they can replenish your energy, they also harm the body. And..." Yun Jinnian paused slightly, "take good care of the Princess, and send her a message for me—I'll wait for her return for the Mid-Autumn Festival!"
Then, taking out a purse, she handed it to Leng Binghan, "Give this purse to the Princess; it's hand-embroidered by me. The embroidery is not great, so I hope the Princess won't mind it!"
Leng Binghan took the purse, stuffed it into his chest, and wrapped up the bottles in the cloth, carrying it against his chest.
He turned and walked out.
"Mr. Leng!" Yun Jinnian called out again.
Leng Binghan turned his head to look at Yun Jinnian, who was on the verge of tears, causing his expression to soften slightly.
He was a pitiable person, and so was Yun Jinnian.
They pitied each other.
"You also must protect yourself. Only if you are well can you ensure the Princess's safety. I... I'll wait for you and the Princess to come back together."
Leng Binghan looked at Yun Jinnian, fell silent for a moment, then grunted in acknowledgment before leaving the house and quickly disappearing.
Yun Jinnian chased out of the house, but Leng Binghan's figure was nowhere to be seen.
She took a deep breath.
Turning around, Mrs. Yuan and Hemei and Henuan looked at her in shock and bewilderment.
"I have known Princess Jinfeng for a long time," Yun Jinnian said, sitting down on the Arhat bed.
The wet nurse had always protected her and would keep silent.
But what about Hemei and Henuan?
Yun Jinnian looked at them.
Hemei and Henuan exchanged glances, and then Hemei spoke, "Ever since the old master told us to follow miss, our final mission has been to protect Miss with our lives. During this time, we'll heed Miss's words. Whatever Miss wishes to be kept secret, we'll keep it to ourselves, including from the old master and Madam, without saying a word!"
Yun Jinnian was momentarily stunned upon hearing this.
She suddenly laughed, "Hehe!"
After all, her maternal grandfather did truly cherish her!
"It's all right now; you should also go to sleep. As for what happened tonight, don't speak of it to anyone!"
But how could Yun Jinnian know, in Niannian Garden where she lived, that there were always one or two with ulterior motives?