"Yes!" Cao Qian immediately got up, saluted, and hurried away.
Cui Yi stood in the courtyard, lost in thought. Chi Ying walked up to him and gently rubbed his brows with her thumb, "Don't blame yourself, Your Highness. No one wants something like this to happen. We can only pray that Brother Yang's hand will recover and the assassin will be caught soon to avenge him."
Cui Yi let out a sigh, "Did you go to the Cheng residence today?"
Chi Ying immediately understood, "I just came back from Sister Cheng. Should I go again?"
Cui Yi slowly shook his head and walked toward the courtyard, "No, you take care of Gongqi's sister-in-law. I'll go to the Cheng residence myself."
Chi Ying thought it made sense and let him handle it, going into the room to check on Yang Qiong.
Although his palm was pierced by an arrow, Yang Qiong didn't look particularly dejected. His face was pale from blood loss, but his spirit seemed decent. Seeing Chi Ying enter, he tried to get up to greet her.
"Lie down, lie down. There's no need to be formal at times like this," Chi Ying hurriedly stopped him, "Brother Yang saved Your Highness's life. I should thank you instead." Saying this, she bowed gratefully.
Yang Qiong smiled easily, "Your words are too much, Lady. His Highness and you have shown great kindness to me. This is what I should do. How can I accept your thanks? Please sit down."
Chi Ying didn't sit down immediately but said, "Brother Yang, don't worry. The Wangfu has plenty of high-quality herbs. His Highness has personally gone to the Shangshu residence to invite Sister Cheng. Your hand will definitely recover."
Yang Qiong glanced at his bandaged left hand, smiling indifferently, "Martial artists often get injured. If it can heal, that's good. If not, so be it. Don't worry about it, Lady."
The more magnanimous he was, the more ashamed Chi Ying felt. In the past, Yang Qiong fought many tough battles alongside Cui Jie, but never suffered serious injuries. Now, less than half a year after joining Cui Yi, he had lost the use of one hand. The more she thought about it, the more she felt guilty.
"Oh, almost forgot," Chi Ying tried to dispel the gloom in her heart and said energetically, "When I returned, I met someone at the gate. She said she was your sister-in-law, surnamed Li."
Yang Qiong's face instantly became very unpleasant, unable to speak for a long time.
Seeing his expression, Chi Ying knew he didn't want to see Li, feeling somewhat at a loss, stammering, "Should I... arrange for her to stay in the Wangfu first? When you're ready to see her, I'll send a maid to invite her?"
Yang Qiong frowned slightly, "No need to bother. Tell her to leave. Tell her my elder brother is dead, and our Yang family has nothing to do with her anymore. My life or death is none of her concern. Ask her not to come looking for me again."
Xia Qiu muttered under her breath, "This isn't right, they used to be family..."
Chi Ying quickly patted her and scolded, "What are you saying? This is their family matter. Do as I say." Xia Qiu obediently went to deliver the message.
After the maid left, Chi Ying looked at Yang Qiong seriously, "Was there any impropriety in Li's behavior after marrying into the Yang family?"
Yang Qiong usually treated people politely, but his tone was somewhat harsh, "No, my elder brother died young. My father didn't want to delay her life, so he let her return home to find another man to marry. She refused, so my father drove her out of the house. She came back several times afterward, but my father never allowed her in, nor did he accept her offerings."
Given Old Man Yang's integrity, refusing his former daughter-in-law's aid was possible. Chi Ying had wondered how Yang Qiong, who was so poor he had to sell himself to bury his father, could have a sister-in-law who could somehow earn money together with the younger generation. Now everything was clear.
But as a woman, Chi Ying couldn't help sympathizing with Li a bit. Being rejected so coldly by her husband's family, despite her efforts to help, seemed a bit excessive. As Xia Qiu said, "They used to be family." Meeting once shouldn't be a big deal.
Xia Qiu returned from the front yard with a conflicted expression, taking a long time to say, "That Li refused to leave, insisting on seeing Brother Yang to feel reassured. I said no, and she knelt down to me. I had no choice but to promise to plead for her."
Chi Ying looked at Yang Qiong, thinking that the injury hadn't killed him, but Li might. She decided to mediate, "Since Brother Yang doesn't want to see her, I'll talk to her myself. Just focus on recovering."
"...Don't trouble yourself, Lady. Let her in."
Li entered quietly, trying not to make any noise, and stood far from the bed, cautiously asking, "I heard Uncle was injured. I couldn't stop worrying. How serious is it? Is there anything I can do?"
Yang Qiong's expression was very unnatural, coldly replying, "Just a minor injury, nothing serious. Please leave."
Li had said she'd leave after seeing him, but now she lingered, her eyes constantly glancing at Yang Qiong's bandaged hand, wanting to ask but hesitating due to his cold demeanor.
Chi Ying, having experienced similar situations, saw the meaning in Li's eyes and was slightly surprised. Maybe Li wasn't driven out solely because Old Man Yang didn't want to delay her life. She probed indirectly, "Brother Yang told me about your situation. The deceased cannot be revived. You still need to live your life. Have you considered remarrying?"
Li lowered her head respectfully, "As a married woman, I am part of the Yang family, dead or alive. I don't wish to remarry."
"But Old Man Yang has passed away, and you no longer need to fulfill filial duties. Why not find a good family to marry into and have someone to rely on for the rest of your life?" Chi Ying continued.
"I... haven't thought about it..."
"Go home and think about it. Living alone isn't a solution," Chi Ying advised gently, "Brother Yang is recuperating in the Wangfu, with servants to attend to him. There's nothing you need to do. Please go home."
Li still refused to leave. Xia Qiu glared, "Do you distrust the servants of the Wu Wangfu? We can take care of His Highness, let alone your younger brother-in-law?" Li hastily waved her hands, "No, no! Not at all. I... I'll leave, I'll leave..."
She was willing to leave, which was good. If she refused, it would be hard to arrange for her to stay. What title would she have? Sighing, Chi Ying instructed Xia Qiu to escort her out. Li left reluctantly, looking back every few steps, while Yang Qiong ignored her completely.
Estimating that she was far enough away, Chi Ying smiled, "Excuse me for asking, did you and your sister-in-law meet before?"
Yang Qiong seemed to be holding back anger, clearly uncomfortable. Though unwilling to answer, he had to respond out of respect for Chi Ying, "My elder brother and sister-in-law were betrothed since childhood, but they hadn't met. When I was sixteen, the matchmaker brought her to our home. I passed by the courtyard and saw her."
So the future sister-in-law fell in love with her younger brother-in-law at first sight. After her husband died early, the young widow, lonely and restless, kept pursuing her younger brother-in-law. Despite her efforts, her feelings weren't reciprocated. Her father-in-law noticed and expelled her. This was truly...
Chi Ying imagined the scenario, finding it both amusing and sad. "I see," she said, stopping short of probing further. Smiling, she added, "Since Brother Yang doesn't want to see her, I'll have her barred from entering the Wangfu next time."
Yang Qiong remained gloomy, "Thank you, Lady."
At that moment, Cheng Fengyi's voice was heard outside the courtyard. Chi Ying stood up, "Sister Cheng is here. Her medical skills are superb. Handling bone fractures and tendon repairs should be easy for her. Brother Yang's injury will surely recover."
"This room is too dark. Open the windows and bring more lamps, brighter ones," Cheng Fengyi entered, supported by her maid. Cui Yi followed closely behind, respectfully saying, "Thank you for coming."
Chi Ying instructed the maids accordingly, "I'm sorry to trouble you, Sister, especially at this hour."
Cheng Fengyi glared, "We're family. Don't be so formal. Leave two maids to assist, and the rest should leave."
Cui Yi signaled, and Chi Ying followed him out. Cheng Fengyi began to remove the bandages applied by the imperial physician half an hour ago.
During the early days of the Great Chu Dynasty, frequent plagues ravaged Jiangnan, causing widespread suffering. The Kang family had been doctors for generations. Kang Zao, reaching the pinnacle of traditional Chinese medicine at twenty, left his hometown to treat patients across the country, saving countless lives. Grateful citizens built shrines in his honor, spreading his fame throughout the land.
Emperor Taizu heard of his deeds and invited him to serve as an imperial physician, but Kang Zao declined, stating that all lives were equal. He preferred helping the common folk. Undeterred, Emperor Taizu offered to arrange a marriage for him, prompting Kang Zao to disappear, hiding his identity.
Eighteen years ago, another plague struck Jiangnan. A young woman claiming to be Kang Zao's disciple reappeared, saving countless lives. This woman was Cheng Fengyi's mother, Ma Shi.
After setting Yang Qiong's bones and tendons, Cheng Fengyi rushed home to have dinner with her husband. Chi Ying didn't want to keep her, instructing the coachman to drive her safely.
"You mentioned Yang Qiong's sister-in-law came. Where is she?" Cui Yi asked during dinner.
"I sent her away," Chi Ying replied. Seeing his slight frown, she added, "Their relationship is complicated. Yang Qiong is a gentleman, but Li persists. It's better to send her away."
Cui Yi exclaimed, "Such a thing!"
Chi Ying served him food while explaining, "Old Man Yang likely sensed something and refused her aid, leading to his burial without funds. Life is precious. Only the living have hope."
Cui Yi silently ate a few bites, then said, "I'll talk to him."
Chi Ying was startled, "No, it's their family affair. Why interfere? I didn't pry this afternoon, fearing Yang Qiong might be upset."
Cui Yi dismissed her concerns, "He can't avoid it forever. If he likes her, he should marry her. It's common for a brother to marry his elder brother's widow."
"It doesn't seem like that," Chi Ying recalled Yang Qiong's expression, concluding he genuinely didn't like Li.
Cui Yi spat out a fish bone, "If he doesn't like her, he should reject her firmly. A grown man shouldn't hesitate!"
That night, Cui Yi indeed talked with Yang Qiong late into the night. A few days later, when Li came again with chicken soup for Yang Qiong, he didn't refuse to see her.
"Our Wangfu doesn't lack her chicken. Sending soup seems fake; sending herself is real," Xia Qiu said disdainfully while helping Chi Ying sew clothes.
Chi Ying chided, "Xia Qiu, don't be so harsh. When you fall in love, you want to give everything to the person you love. You might do the same if you were in her shoes. Don't judge others."
Xia Qiu pouted, "I wouldn't do such foolish things."
Chi Ying smiled and continued sewing.
Later, Li apparently left crying. Xia Qiu gathered gossip from the servants and reported back, "I feel a bit sorry for Li. There are many good men in the world. Why does she fixate on her younger brother-in-law?"
"Other men may be good, but if you don't love them, what's the point?" Chi Ying thought of Xie Yuchan, who stubbornly pursued Cui Yi despite repeated rejections, even appealing to the emperor. Yet she remained, criticizing the servants daily.
What kind of spirit drives these women to pursue a man who doesn't love them? Chi Ying pondered but couldn't understand, eventually giving up.