Everyone turned their eyes to Li Yue Shu, waiting curiously for her answer.
Li Yue Shu looked deeply at Wei Zi Miao, but did not answer directly. "Young Master Wei, may I take a small sample of your blood? I need to conduct a check to reach a conclusion."
Wei Zi Miao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, not asking further questions.
Seeing his cooperation, Li Yue Shu acted swiftly.
However, she had not prepared any blood-drawing tools in her medical kit, so she had to resort to the most primitive method—a knife cut.
Wei Zi Miao remained calm throughout, as if he wasn't the one being cut.
After drawing the blood, Li Yue Shu began bandaging the wound, unable to help but sigh inwardly.
As expected of a significant character in the original book, he appeared frail but possessed remarkable endurance.
As Li Yue Shu finished bandaging the wound and was about to speak, an excited voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "Zi Miao, good news, good news! I have news about your sister!"
Everyone subconsciously turned, and saw a man in his forties walk in, his face beaming with smiles. His imposing demeanor was very much like a general.
After entering, the man noticed guests in the room and was momentarily stunned.
Wei Zi Miao calmly lowered his sleeve. "Father, this is Madam Shen from Tong Mu County, and this is her husband and daughter."
Li Yue Shu guessed the man's identity and bowed. "Greetings, City Lord Wei."
Wei Tong Hao scrutinized Li Yue Shu, not hiding his surprise. "So young! Is your medical skill truly as miraculous as the rumors say?"
His words were clearly tinged with doubt. An ordinary person might have felt somewhat uncomfortable, but Li Yue Shu's expression remained unchanged. "Since it's a rumor, there are bound to be exaggerations. However, I have examined Young Master Wei's condition. Whether it can be cured depends on the blood test results tomorrow."
Wei Tong Hao frowned.
He had brought Zi Miao to see many doctors, but this was the first time he had encountered such a strange situation.
Even if a blood test was required, why wait until tomorrow?
As Wei Tong Hao was about to ask, Wei Zi Miao spoke first, "Then I will trouble Madam Shen."
He then turned to the people behind him. "Prepare the courtyard next to mine. Madam Shen and Young Master Shen will be accommodated here tonight."
Wei Tong Hao glanced at his son and swallowed the questions he was about to ask, complying fully with his son's arrangement.
Li Yue Shu said nothing more. She bowed to the two men and left with the servants.
As she stepped out the door, she heard Wei Tong Hao's excited voice: "Zi Miao, I have news about your sister!"
Wei Zi Miao's voice remained weak. "Has the news been verified?"
"Someone has already been sent to investigate. I'm sure we'll have results soon!"
...
The subsequent words faded away, and Li Yue Shu paid little attention.
From their first meeting, the City Lord of Hong Ning City, Wei Tong Hao, appeared to be an honest and straightforward general, accustomed to taking his son's opinions.
As for Wei Zi Miao, his role in the original book was no less significant than the second male lead. No wonder she had found the name Hong Ning City so familiar from the start!
In the original book, Wei Zi Miao was the young master of the Hong Ning City Lord's mansion, frail and sickly since childhood.
Remnants of the former Crown Prince coveted the copper mines in Hong Ning City and used a stratagem to seize it, leading to Wei Zi Miao's family's destruction. He only survived by hiding in a secret chamber at home.
In the original book, the remnants of the former Crown Prince were the Crown Prince, the male lead's greatest rival in the early stages. Therefore, it was naturally the Crown Prince who led the troops to support Hong Ning City.
It was for this reason that Wei Zi Miao became the Crown Prince's advisor, helping him win many times in the struggle for power. He even played a crucial role in the Crown Prince's overthrow of Shen Yi Min.
Wei Zi Miao presented himself as a weak and sickly young master, but in reality, he was deeply cunning and manipulative. He clung to life with a weakened body, all for the sake of using the Crown Prince's influence to exact revenge.
Li Xiang Ru, knowing he was the Crown Prince's most trusted advisor, had diligently searched for the renowned physician Ji Mo Bai for him.
As they spent more time together, Wei Zi Miao, bearing a deep-seated vendetta, fell in love with her. Even when he knew his body was failing, he orchestrated a scheme to help Li Xiang Ru eliminate her greatest romantic rival and solidify her position by the Crown Prince's side.
It could be said that Wei Zi Miao played a pivotal role in Li Xiang Ru gaining the trust of the naturally suspicious Crown Prince.
Now that she had met him first, could she find a way to cut off a major source of support for Li Xiang Ru?
Li Yue Shu became somewhat lost in thought, naturally not noticing Shen Wei's gaze.
Shen Wei's expression was tense, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
Ever since she heard Wei Zi Miao's name, she had become somewhat unusual, and would unconsciously stare at him during the examination.
What was so captivating about that sickly, effeminate man!
...
Soon, the family of three followed the servants to a courtyard, where dedicated maids were ready to unpack their luggage.
Li Yue Shu refused.
They didn't have many belongings, and she was not accustomed to others touching her things.
The maids did not insist. That evening, they were instructed to escort them to the main hall for dinner.
The dishes on the dining table were exquisite and delicious, clearly showing that the City Lord's mansion held great respect for her as a physician.
"Come, come, Young Master Shen, I'll toast you!" Wei Tong Hao said heartily, pouring a cup of wine for Shen Wei.
Shen Wei blinked, then suddenly tilted his head to look at him. "A Shu said children can't drink wine!"
The room fell silent instantly, and everyone turned their surprised gazes to Li Yue Shu.
Li Yue Shu maintained her composure and naturally swapped the wine glass in front of Shen Wei with her own teacup. "That's great! I'll make you a small cake when we get back."
Shen Wei immediately beamed, looking rather pleased with himself.
Wei Tong Hao awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "I apologize. I heard that Madam Shen can perform lung transplants and mend broken bones. I didn't expect Young Master Shen to..."
"Father!" Wei Zi Miao quickly interrupted him, his expression one of reprimand.
He then looked at Li Yue Shu with a hint of apology. "Madam Shen, I apologize. I have been frail since childhood, and my father, in his efforts to find doctors for me, often encountered charlatans. Each time, dealing with them was always troublesome."
The last sentence carried a subtle threat.
If they were truly charlatans, they would likely have been scared into revealing themselves by now.
Li Yue Shu, however, smiled faintly and shook her head. "It's alright. The City Lord was merely concerned."
Since they had already sent people to Tong Mu County twice, she didn't believe that someone as cautious and vigilant as Wei Zi Miao hadn't investigated her.
The father and son's coordinated act was merely a test.
Wei Zi Miao looked at her calm and composed demeanor, a hint of admiration appearing in his eyes.
Even if she were not a charlatan, an ordinary person would typically show some embarrassment in public upon revealing that their spouse was intellectually impaired.
But this Madam Shen showed no change in her expression throughout. Either she loved her husband deeply, or she possessed a steadfast heart and was by no means ordinary.
After this episode, the atmosphere at the dinner table became somewhat harmonious. Shen Wei and Shen Ting Yi behaved very well throughout.
Li Yue Shu spoke calmly with Wei Tong Hao and his son, even inquiring about Wei Zi Miao's usual health condition.
However, amidst the harmonious conversation, Li Yue Shu always felt a strange gaze upon her.