Chapter Fifty-Six: Sought Far and Wide, Yet Found by Chance

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After a whole day of hard work, they had achieved nothing.

Not only were the doctors helpless in the face of Su Xiyan’s muteness, but they also knew nothing about Gu Xian’er’s whereabouts.

“Are you really up to this?” Su Qingmeng couldn’t help but complain.

The mention of these words made Li Yunjie jolt upright. “What do you mean, am I up to it? Of course I am! Absolutely!”

Su Qingmeng rolled her eyes. “I meant your plan!”

Li Yunjie paused, then replied in a low voice, “There’s nothing wrong with the plan.”

“As long as Gu Xian’er remains in Jiangnan, she’ll surely be curious about Xiyan’s illness.”

“But what if she’s only curious and never comes to see for herself?” Su Qingmeng questioned further.

Li Yunjie frowned slightly, his tone calm. “That’s certainly possible.”

“Do you have any other ideas, then?”

“I…” Su Qingmeng wanted to retort but found herself at a loss for words.

“It’s getting late,” Li Yunjie remarked, glancing at the sky. “Let’s call it a day and continue tomorrow.”

With that, he surveyed the table littered with leftover dishes and cast a glance at Su Xiyan, whose stomach was round and full, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

How could this girl eat so much!

Only a grand family like the Su clan could afford to raise her. In an ordinary household, she would have eaten them into ruin by now.

“Shiyi,” Li Yunjie’s own stomach rumbled, “get your young master two chickens.”

“Young master,” Shiyi exclaimed, shocked, “isn’t that a bit much?”

“For eating!” Li Yunjie shot him an exasperated look.

Back in his room, Li Yunjie lay down on the soft bed.

Just as he was about to rest, a faint, unusual fragrance drifted over.

He sat up abruptly, and there beside him, Yun Xiqiu sat gracefully at the edge of the bed.

“My dear Lady Yun,” Li Yunjie exhaled, dropping his guard, “could you not keep appearing out of nowhere like this?”

“My heart can’t take it.”

With a mischievous grin, Yun Xiqiu replied, “Would you prefer I make a grand entrance, young master?”

“That’s hardly necessary,” Li Yunjie waved her off.

He slowly sat up and sighed. “As for that matter you mentioned last time, it’s not that I won’t lend it to you.”

“It’s just that I’m bound by too many constraints—there’s simply nothing I can do.”

Yun Xiqiu covered her mouth with a laugh. “The Celibacy Curse?”

Li Yunjie’s face changed instantly. “How do you know about that?!”

“I saw it before I left that day,” Yun Xiqiu replied breezily.

“Damnation!” Li Yunjie couldn’t help but sigh in despair.

“So, what brings you here tonight?”

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Yun Xiqiu propped herself up on the bed, crossing her legs, and asked, “I heard you’re searching for the Divine Healer Gu?”

“How do you know that?” Li Yunjie frowned, recalling a fleeting shadow from earlier that day which indeed bore some resemblance to Yun Xiqiu.

“The whole of Jiangnan is abuzz with it—it’s impossible not to know,” Yun Xiqiu said with a smile. “May I ask why you seek Gu the Divine Healer?”

Li Yunjie replied, “My younger sister suffers from muteness. All the renowned doctors in the land are powerless.”

“I heard Gu the Divine Healer’s skills are unmatched, and that she’s recently been seen in Jiangnan, so I came here in admiration.”

“I see,” Yun Xiqiu nodded lightly. “From what I know, Gu Xian’er is indeed in Jiangnan.”

Li Yunjie’s brows drew together. “From the way you speak, Lady Yun, it sounds as if you know her well?”

To call someone directly by name—aside from close friends, only enemies would do so.

Yun Xiqiu tilted her head. “Something like that.”

After endless searching, here was the lead delivered without effort!

Hope flickered instantly in Li Yunjie’s eyes.

“Could Lady Yun perhaps introduce me?”

Yun Xiqiu pursed her lips. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”

“It’s just that Gu Xian’er is eccentric and dislikes socializing.”

“To meet her won’t be so easy.”

Li Yunjie’s heart wavered. He muttered, “A famed healer uninterested in my sister’s strange illness?”

“Doesn’t she want to conduct some research?”

Yun Xiqiu considered, then said, “From what I know of her, she is quite interested in rare ailments.”

“But…”

“But what?” Li Yunjie pressed.

“It’s nothing,” Yun Xiqiu’s eyes flashed. “I can let her know, but I can’t guarantee she’ll come to see you.”

Overjoyed, Li Yunjie cupped his hands in thanks.

“No need for thanks,” Yun Xiqiu suddenly stood, her lips curving into a faint smile. “You and I are mere acquaintances by chance, but if I help you, I’ll expect a favor in return.”

Li Yunjie felt a vague sense of foreboding and instinctively took two steps back.

“Please, speak freely, as long as it’s within my power I will do my utmost.”

Yun Xiqiu laughed softly. “You can owe me for now.”

“When I need something in the future, I’ll come to you for it~”

With that, she leapt lightly and slipped effortlessly out the window.

Yun Xiqiu had barely left when Shiyi entered with the roast chicken.

“Young master, your chicken.”

The two of them sat at the table, eating heartily.

“Young master,” Shiyi wiped the grease from his lips, “why did Lady Yun come to see you today?”

Li Yunjie was taken aback. “How did you know she was here?”

“I heard you talking at the door,” Shiyi explained.

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“You really do have sharp ears,” Li Yunjie coughed to cover his embarrassment. “She said she could find Gu Xian’er.”

Shiyi’s eyes widened. “How does she know the Divine Healer?”

Li Yunjie shook his head. “That’s her private business. It wouldn’t be right of me to ask.”

Shiyi only murmured in reply, “So Miss Su’s illness and the missing tax silver case might finally have hope?”

“Not so fast,” Li Yunjie sighed. “Lady Yun is only passing along a message—whether we can actually meet is another matter.”

Shiyi nodded again.

With a sigh, they resumed eating their chicken.

……

While waiting for Yun Xiqiu’s news, Li Yunjie continued to search for clues himself.

After all, one mustn’t put all one’s eggs in a single basket.

Besides, he wasn’t sure if Yun Xiqiu was truly reliable.

Thus, the grand consultation continued for another three days.

And for three days, Su Xiyan’s belly stayed round and full.

When the last doctor finally left the inn, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

“At last, it’s over,” Su Qingmeng said, utterly exhausted.

Li Yunjie gazed at the messy pile of clues on the table, frowning slightly.

Not a single useful one…

Su Xiyan stretched contentedly, wiped her mouth, and went to the window for some fresh air.

“Young master,” a black-clad servant leered at Song Zeye below the inn, “that mute girl who’s been causing such a stir in Jiangnan these days—there she is.”

“I hear she’s from the capital.”

“Just look at her—what a beauty~”

The man in white grinned. “If you ask me, she’s even prettier than Zhang family’s lady!”

“Young master, why don’t we—”

Before he could finish, Li Yunjie’s figure suddenly appeared at the window.

The two ruffians blanched, dragging Song Zeye with them into the shadows.

“Young master!” the one in white stammered, “That’s him!”

“Who?” Song Zeye was bewildered.

“The one who rescued the Zhang family’s lady!” the one in black growled, his eyes flashing with hate.

Song Zeye poked his head out, and when he saw Li Yunjie, a wicked smile crept across his lips.

“So it’s him…”