Tian Yao's face fell instantly.
[Look at my face and tell me if you think I'm joking?]
[Answer me! Look into my eyes!!]
"Of course," Tian Yao replied calmly. "Please just tell me directly. Are there any taboos?"
Doctor Zhang stroked his beard, his face etched with such distress that it seemed as if it could wring out water.
"Are you willing to risk your life?"
"Yes!" She couldn't just stand by and watch He Ciyuan be tortured to death.
Her life was tied to this powerful figure. If anything happened to him, in this ruthless Marquis Mansion, she would probably be left with nothing but bones.
"Please just tell me, Doctor Zhang. Don't beat around the bush."
Seeing her determination, Doctor Zhang sighed and asked her to wait a moment. Then he went into the room and took out an old, yellowed atlas.
"The name of this herb is Snow - Breaking Grass. Its effects are quite similar to those of the Heart - Breaking Grass. It grows in the crevices of the rocks on the cliff of the back mountain. Picking it is extremely difficult and may even cost one's life. I have to take care of everyone in the mansion, so I'm really stretched thin, and no one dares to go for it..."
"It's okay. I'll go!" Tian Yao memorized the appearance of the herb in the atlas firmly. "Thank you for the advice."
After returning, Tian Yao deliberately changed into an old set of clothes that were easy to move in, and then went to the study to request an audience with He Ciyuan.
He was reading a book by the window. The sunlight fell on half of his face, highlighting his well - defined side profile, but there was no trace of warmth.
"What is it?" He didn't even lift his head.
"Back to you, my lord. This servant... this servant wants to go out of the mansion for a while," Tian Yao carefully chose her words. "This servant has heard that there are several herbs on the back mountain that are useful for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, expelling cold, and dredging collaterals. I want to go and pick some to use with the massage. Maybe it will make you feel better."
He Ciyuan stopped turning the pages of the book.
Finally, he raised his eyes and looked at this audacious little maid.
She was always doing unnecessary things, always reminding him that he was a cripple who needed someone's care.
"You're meddling too much," his voice was as cold as ice.
He didn't think he particularly needed others' care, especially when it came to searching for medicine, and there was someone willing to take the risk on their own initiative.
Maybe Tian Yao wasn't the kind of person who tried to gain credit, but this matter had nothing to do with her either.
Tian Yao's heart skipped a beat. She knelt down with a thud. "This servant just wants to share your worries, my lord. There's absolutely no other intention!"
"Share my worries?" He Ciyuan twitched the corner of his mouth, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "That place is full of wild beasts and poisonous insects. Do you want to be their snack?"
It was harsh and unpleasant, but it was also a fact.
"This servant is not afraid for your sake, my lord," she raised her head, her eyes shining brightly like a pool of spring water. "Even if I can't find it, it's just a wasted trip. But what if I do find it?"
He Ciyuan stared at her for a long time.
"Do as you wish," he lowered his head again, his tone indifferent. "If you die on the mountain, don't blame me for not warning you."
"Thank you, my lord!" Tian Yao was overjoyed and dashed out in a flash.
"Follow her. Don't let her die."
"Yes." Mo Chen left.
Tian Yao carried a small bamboo basket on her back and held a firewood - cutting knife in her hand. She marched up the mountain bravely.
It was an ancient forest, not a developed tourist attraction like in her impression. It was overgrown with thorns everywhere.
She stumbled along, each step a struggle. At the same time, she had to worry about suddenly stepping into thin air. After walking for a while, she already had quite a few wounds on her body.
Tian Yao gritted her teeth and climbed up the mountain. After searching for a long time, she finally found a herb that looked similar to the one in the atlas.
"I found it!"
Tian Yao was extremely excited. She climbed over there using both hands and feet. Because the terrain was steep, it was extremely difficult for her to pick the herb. Fortunately, she had asked someone to make a wire in advance. She made a loop like a fishing hook and rubbed it on the rock wall until the herb was broken off and then it naturally fell into the loop.
Before she transmigrated into the book, Tian Yao loved climbing mountains and cycling alone, so her physical strength was still quite good. However, when she was about to go down the mountain, she found that it was getting dark. The birdsong in the forest had turned into the growls of wild beasts. Something was lurking in the dark.
Tian Yao found that the path she had come on was already completely dark. She didn't know where her markers were.
She was lost...
This was a disaster...
Tian Yao groped forward carefully. Accidentally, she tripped and fell.
"Come on, I don't want to be wolf food here."
"How miserable. I have to look for medicine for others, and I don't even have someone to protect me..."
Tian Yao cried where she was, muttering a bunch of nonsense. But she still didn't give up. She groped her way down and even planned to climb a tree to spend the night.
Just when she was in despair, a cold male voice came from the tree above her head.
"Why are you crying?"
When Tian Yao saw who it was, she was extremely shocked for a moment.
"Brother Mo Chen?"
"I just happened to pass by. If you can't get down, come with me."
Bullshit. This must be He Ciyuan's idea.
But with someone's help, things were much easier to handle.
On the way back, Tian Yao was very happy. She limped along behind him, and nothing went wrong. Moreover, the other person had brought a fire starter and lit a torch. Although it was dark all the way, it was also extremely bright.
According to what Doctor Zhang said, these herbs had to be mashed before they could be used.
Just then, there came a noisy sound from outside. It was said that He Ciyuan's illness had flared up again.
Tian Yao looked at the medicine bowl in her hand and didn't know what to do.
There was no saying that it couldn't be drunk or couldn't be applied.
"My lord!"
Tian Yao didn't hesitate. She lifted the quilt, grabbed his cold and stiff calf, and started massaging with all her strength.
A steaming hot cloth was quickly applied, carrying the unique pungent smell of the Snow - Breaking Grass.
This herb should be able to be applied. However, according to the situation, to expel the cold poison from the body, it had to be refined into medicine and taken internally.
Anyway, all things could be used as medicine.
One cold and one hot, one internal and one external.
Tian Yao was sweating profusely, and her hands kept moving, gradually pushing the strange medicinal power along with the warmth of her palms into his tense meridians.
I don't know how much time had passed, but He Ciyuan's violent tremors finally subsided slowly. His tightly knitted brows also relaxed. In the extreme pain and the rare warmth, he fell into a deep sleep again.
"That's great..."
However, this definitely wouldn't last long. Because of his current situation, the faster the illness flared up, the more troublesome it would be to treat.
Just as she was about to go out, she heard He Chengyu's voice.
Tian Yao suppressed the nausea in her heart and wanted to slap him.
"Third Young Master, our young master has already gone to rest. Please go back."
In the courtyard, another voice sounded, as cold as ice.
It was Mo Chen!
Tian Yao's tense nerves relaxed a little.
He Chengyu gave a frivolous laugh. "I heard that big brother is not in good health. As his younger brother, how can I not come to visit? Are you, a mere servant, going to stop me?"
"Of course not. But if you force your way in, I won't show any mercy today."