A Jiu stood still, shaking her head to clear her thoughts.
She didn't have time to nag Tuoba Yan anymore; dawn was approaching.
"Miss A Jiu, you're still going to the yamen?"
Tongzi asked as he opened the door.
"Yes," A Jiu replied, stepping outside.
"Why don't I escort you?" Tongzi suggested. This time, A Jiu refused. "If a patient comes to the clinic, you can have them wait for me. You don't need to escort me. Just watch the clinic."
As soon as she arrived at the yamen, A Jiu's face lit up, and she produced four pomegranates from her spatial dimension.
The two men's eyes immediately shone. They eagerly examined the large pomegranates in their hands like treasures, carefully tucking them into their chests.
"Miss A Jiu, you went back yesterday. Who are you visiting today?"
"Visiting my grandma," A Jiu said as she walked with Yun Hao.
"You've come at a good time. Lord Wang went on a private tour to Nanzhou County yesterday. He'll be back by this afternoon at the latest," Yun Hao said, patting his chest happily. Inside, he carried two precious little ones.
"To Nanzhou County? I also heard there was an outbreak of plague there."
"Isn't that right? They say over a hundred people died overnight."
A Jiu gasped at Yun Hao's words. "So many?"
"Yes, this world is not peaceful."
A Jiu truly hoped the ear needle would help her sister-in-law. She wasn't seeking merit, but at least it might allow her to return to the city safely and quickly.
"Go ahead. You can stay a while longer today."
Upon entering the prison, Yun Hao cheerfully went to boast with the guards.
"Okay," A Jiu quickly found where her grandmother was held.
"You're quite punctual today," Madam Wang said, reaching out directly.
A Jiu handed him the water skins one by one. Madam Wang's eyes widened. "So many? If he drinks it all at once, won't he burst?"
"What's wrong? Do you have too much this time?" A Jiu thought her grandmother was truly hard to please.
"Not too much, not too much," Madam Wang beamed. Since he couldn't drink it all at once, he casually stuffed two water skins into the straw behind him.
"Granddaughter, you just wait for the rain."
See, before anything had even happened, Madam Wang was as happy as if he had gained a great advantage.
"Miss Jiu, come here for a moment," Yun Hao called from a distance.
It seemed today was not as rushed as usual.
A Jiu, looking puzzled, exited the prison and walked towards the mess hall.
The door was wide open. Several guards were gathered around a plate of peanuts, eating steamed buns and drinking wine.
"It's her. She healed my mother's leg," Yun Hao introduced.
"Then you are truly amazing, young lady. I have a knife wound from many years ago. It often aches at night, making me unable to sleep. Sometimes it causes involuntary tremors. Can you heal it?"
A short guard rolled up his sleeve, revealing a pale, old knife scar.
"I'll try," A Jiu said without hesitation. She didn't force herself to save people, but when she encountered them, it was an opportunity to accumulate merit.
The person quickly prepared a stool for A Jiu.
A Jiu carefully took out her silver needles, pinched them between two fingers, and inserted them into the man's ear.
"Hiss!" The others exchanged glances.
Yun Hao, experienced, quickly smoothed things over. "Miss A Jiu really did heal my mother's leg by needling her ear. We'll know if it works soon."
"Is there such a thing?"
The men stared with wide eyes, as if watching a monkey show.
"Huh, my arm is numb, and it's so itchy..." The man quickly scratched at his old wound a few times.
"When the meridians are unblocked, the blood circulation is restored, and it will indeed itch. It feels like ants crawling inside," A Jiu murmured in explanation. Seeing the effect, A Jiu withdrew her needles, carefully collected them, and tucked them into her chest.
"Try to see if you still tremble," A Jiu picked up a pair of chopsticks from the table.
"Let me try. I'll pick up a peanut first," he said, taking the chopsticks. He grasped a peanut but didn't eat it immediately, holding his arm suspended in the air.
The men leaned in, faces close together, observing.
"Huh, it really isn't trembling anymore. Hey, I don't even need to use my hand to grab peanuts now!"
"I told you Miss A Jiu's medical skills are good, didn't I?" Yun Hao said happily.
"Good, good, truly good." The man looked at the chopsticks in his hand from every angle. They were perfectly still.
"Are you guys bored?" A deep voice suddenly came from outside.
Yun Hao turned and, startled, quickly got up and bowed. "Lord Wang, you... how did you get back so soon?"