Chapter Ninety-Three: Leading People Into Peril to Snatch the Bamboo Shoots

She first prepared some medicine to suppress the poison within you and lull it into a deep sleep. Then your appearance will return to what it was before. But your frostbite is quite serious, so for the time being you must not touch anything hot, nor go near any fire. Let your body adjust to the warmth little by little. I will also mix you an ointment, and there will definitely be no scar left behind. Rest assured.

As she wrote down the herbs on paper, Su Jingluo instructed Lin Wanwan at the same time. She did not see the indifference and hatred in Lin Wanwan’s eyes. All at once, she had the strange feeling that she had returned to the hospital, where she had once been the doctor saving people from pain, and before her stood a helpless patient.

“All right.”

At this moment, Lin Wanwan was exceptionally calm, feeling more clear-headed than ever before. In her eyes, Su Jingluo was utterly hypocritical.

A Lan soon brought back a great many medicinal herbs. Su Jingluo quickly prepared the medicine, told her exactly how to decoct it and how to apply it, what should be ground into powder and mixed with cucumber juice to be spread over Lin Wanwan’s face, leaving nothing out.

She also handed A Lan the prescription for treating the frostbite.

“These are all Miss Lin’s prescriptions. I have written very clearly how to take them internally, how to apply them externally, and how many times a day. You must take good care of her. For the next few days, let her stay in the manor until I return. If there is anything you do not understand, ask Ruihuan. She knows what to do.”

Su Jingluo wrote everything out in full and carefully instructed A Lan on each step. Worried that A Lan might not handle it well, she even told her to seek guidance from Ruihuan. Ruihuan had come from the Spirit Medicine Palace; to be frank, if she were placed in any medical hall outside, she would be the resident physician that the place relied on.

“Your Highness, this servant is supposed to accompany you into the palace.”

Hearing this, A Lan understood that Su Jingluo did not intend to take her along. But if the princess went in alone, how dangerous that would be.

“No need. You stay here and look after Miss Lin.”

In truth, Su Jingluo did not much want to bring A Lan into the palace. Even if it were not dangerous, there would still be many restraints within those walls. For A Lan, making even one mistake could bring disaster. If there truly were any peril, bringing her along would only make things crueler.

“No. These matters can be left to Sister Ruihuan. A Lan wants to follow Your Highness and protect you.”

A Lan looked at Su Jingluo with unwavering determination, unwilling to yield even a step. She actually did not know what else she could do, but it was still better than being in the manor, knowing nothing, yet trembling with anxiety through every turn of thought.

Su Jingluo could not help but laugh. Seeing the youthful face of A Lan, still carrying all the innocence of a girl barely over a dozen years old, and she was speaking of protecting her safety.

“Ruihuan knows medicine, so she is better suited than you to care for Miss Lin. But someone must also look after Yun Bai. A Lan, though you have not been with me for long, I truly trust you. There is someone in this manor who matters to me more than my own life. If you help me care for him well, that will please me even more than protecting me. Be good. Nothing will happen to me.”

Su Jingluo took A Lan’s hand and spoke every word with great seriousness.

If the palace was truly dangerous, then there would be no escaping it. But if the exalted figure within those walls wished to protect her, then no one would dare lay a finger on her. So all this worry was needless.

What truly troubled her were Xiao Jingxuan and Yun Bai. Yun Bai was being obedient today in a way that felt almost unnatural. In the past, he would either flare up with anger or insist on following her around. Today, he was so quiet. She could not help suspecting he was scheming something again.

A Lan’s eyes suddenly turned red. She nodded heavily. She was a clever girl and not an obstinate one; she understood why Su Jingluo said this. A Lan observed things with great care and was also adept at reading people’s hearts. After only a few days together, she had already realized that Yun Bai was no easy person to deal with, and that the princess was asking her to keep an eye on him.