Not far from the Yi Mansion in the west of the city, in the Hundred Herbs Valley, in the kitchen on the east side of the Xiaoyao Pavilion, two ethereal little fairies in green robes were busy at work. These two were Yi Junhao's two maids and confidantes, named Zisu and Baizhi.

Bai Zhi was beaming as she flattered Zi Su, "Zi Su, your cooking is truly superb. Whoever marries you will be the happiest person in the world. Look at this sumptuous feast today: there's Cordyceps Steamed Chicken, Tai Chi Eel, Fried Rice Cake, Braised Winter Bamboo Shoots, Jade Aloe Vera, Lily Bulb and Egg Shrimp Balls, and a yam, water chestnut, and mutton soup with a lingering sweet aftertaste... and this pot of plum blossom wine that you brewed yourself with winter plum blossoms..." Before she could finish speaking, a hand had already reached into the plate of lily bulb and egg shrimp balls.

Seeing this, Zisu slapped away the greedy hands and said, "Stop talking nonsense! Stop eating! You've been sneaking food all evening and you're still not full. If you keep eating, you'll turn into a little fat pig. Be careful no one will want you then, and you won't be able to get married!"

"Who are you calling a little pig? Who can't get married? Say it again if you dare, say it again..." Bai Zhi said, then mischievously stretched out her two greasy, sticky hands and smeared them haphazardly on Zi Su's fair face. Instantly, the two of them chased each other around the kitchen, having a great time.

Just then, Yi Junhao rushed back from outside, looking travel-worn. The moment he stepped into Xiaoyao Pavilion, he roared, "Zisu...Zisu..."

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zisu and Baizhi immediately stopped their playful antics. Zisu then instructed Baizhi, "It's Third Young Master back, hurry..."

As they spoke, the two hurriedly came to Xiaoyao Pavilion from the kitchen, each carrying a food tray in their hands.

Upon entering the house, the two women presented the delicious dishes with beaming smiles. Zisu said happily, "Young Master, why are you back so late today? You must be starving. Baizhi and I specially prepared this wine and food for you, all of which are your favorites. Please try them!"

Zisu was so focused on the dishes and wine she had spent the whole evening preparing that she didn't notice that Yi Junhao was looking very gloomy, with his eyebrows and eyes all bulging.

Yi Junhao slowly walked to the table of food and wine, glanced at the sumptuous dinner, and then reached out and violently overturned the entire table of food and wine.

The dishes hit the ground and immediately made a loud "crash, crack, crack" sound as they shattered.

"Third Young Master" Zisu and Baizhi immediately raised their eyebrows and said in unison with astonishment.

Seeing Yi Junhao's tightly closed lips, furrowed brows, and aggressive demeanor, Zisu stepped forward and asked, "What exactly happened today, Third Young Master? You've never been so angry before."

Upon hearing Zisu's words, Yi Junhao quickly turned his face and stared straight at her. It was the first time Zisu had seen Yi Junhao with such a chilling look in his eyes, and she instantly became timid and dared not look at him, hurriedly lowering her head to avoid his gaze.

At this moment, Yi Junhao spoke up, "Why didn't you report to me that the girl was suffering from a very serious leg ailment? It was caused by a severe case of cold poison."

So that's what it was about. Zisu suddenly realized, and hurriedly raised her head and said seriously, "Third Young Master, it's not that Zisu deliberately hid it, but before I could finish speaking, you rushed out. How can you blame me now?"

Yi Junhao then remembered that he hadn't listened to the whole report because he had only learned from Zisu that Yi Shangyun had been released from the palace today and was afraid he wouldn't have time to greet her.

Zisu then explained to Yi Junhao in detail the reason why Yi Shangyun had suffered from a leg ailment.

After a moment of silence, Yi Junhao apologized, "I'm sorry, it was my fault. I was too excited and too anxious at the time."

At this moment, Bai Zhi said with a wronged expression, "Third Young Master, Zi Su has been preparing for this dinner since early evening and hasn't had a drop of water yet."

Upon hearing this, Yi Junhao felt even more remorseful for his impulsive act, but could only fall into a helpless silence. After a moment, his eyes suddenly widened, and he said to the two people in front of him, "You two remember to prepare Yanghe Soup for me on New Year's Eve. I need it."

"Yanghe Decoction: deer antler slices, prepared rehmannia root, dried ginger, ephedra, cinnamon, licorice root, white mustard seed, Sichuan achyranthes root, ground beetle, saposhnikovia root, and angelica root. Its effects are to warm the yang, dispel cold and dampness, invigorate blood, remove blood stasis, and unblock the meridians. Does Third Young Master want to treat that girl?" Zisu reacted instantly.

After a moment's thought, she continued, "But Third Young Master should know that this medicine only has ordinary blood-activating and stasis-removing effects, and it's not very effective for that girl's leg ailment."

"Just do what I, the Valley Master, have instructed, and you don't need to ask any questions," Yi Junhao said with an unfathomable expression.

However, Zisu, who had studied medicine with him for many years, guessed his intentions. At this moment, she could hardly believe her own guess; could it be that the Valley Master wanted to find that thing...?

"Third Young Master, you're actually going to find that medicine for that girl?" Zisu asked with great concern, but Yi Junhao's face was resolute and left no room for doubt.

Zisu looked at him helplessly and said, "Third Young Master, you've changed, you've really changed. You used to cherish your life so much, never doing anything that would lose you money, and you paid special attention to your appearance, demeanor, and style. But now you don't even care about your own life."

However, Yi Junhao simply said, "Alright, you can go now."

Zisu and Baizhi could only retreat with helpless expressions.

At this moment, Yi Junhao muttered to himself with a worried expression, "Girl, for you, even if it means going through fire and water, I, your third brother, would do it without hesitation. As long as you're alright..."

Inside the Bright Moon Pavilion of the Yi Mansion, a long-lost dim candlelight emanated.

Yi Shangyun had just finished bathing and changing, her face flushed. She was wrapped in a thin undergarment that revealed her graceful and curvaceous figure. Her long, flowing black hair was gently tied up with a jade hairpin as she prepared to rest.

After a long and bumpy journey, it was not easy to return from the palace and regain this brief period of freedom.

At this moment, she felt quite content. Although this was not her real home in the end, but merely a temporary residence for the original owner's soul in this so-called home that belonged to her.

The door creaked open...

"Yan'er...it's so late, why aren't you resting yet?" Yi Shangyun asked when she saw Yan'er come in.

Yan'er held a basin of water in both hands and placed it at Yi Shangyun's feet, saying with great concern, "Miss, I heard from Master that your legs and feet are frostbitten, so I specially prepared hot water for you to soak your feet. After you've soaked them, I'll try giving you a massage."

Yi Shangyun stared at her wide-eyed in surprise, "Yan'er knows massage?"

Yan'er looked innocently at Yi Shangyun and said, "Miss, although Yan'er is slow-witted, I'm not completely useless. Sometimes Yan'er secretly learns some skills from Master."

"It seems my Yan'er is really hardworking and ambitious. Who would say our Yan'er is stupid?" Yi Shangyun said with satisfaction.

As she spoke, Yan'er skillfully removed the cloth socks from Yi Shangyun's feet and placed them in the extremely comfortable warmth. Yi Shangyun immediately felt as comfortable as a white cloud floating away.

“It’s really comfortable,” she said to Yan’er with a smile.

Yan'er noticed the frostbite marks on her legs and felt a pang of heartache as she shed tears. As if afraid that Yi Shangyun would see them and question her, she turned away and hurriedly wiped them away.

Then she stretched out her small, delicate hands and gently touched the scars on Yun's clothes, asking, "Miss, does it hurt?"

This was the first time in so long that Yi Shangyun had heard anyone care about her. Her heart ached, and her eyes filled with tears, but she still held back, smiling as she told Yan'er, "It doesn't hurt anymore."

Yan'er listened with her head down, massaging Yi Shangyun's soles and calves with just the right amount of pressure and speed. After a long while, she said in a slightly aggrieved tone, "Miss, here are some herbs that I just asked Master for to dispel wind, clear the meridians, and promote blood circulation: Sophora flavescens, Atractylodes lancea, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, Phellodendron chinense, Saposhnikovia divaricata, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Angelica sinensis, and Paeonia suffruticosa. Soaking them in this solution before bed every day will definitely help you get better. After you're better, I'll accompany you to the market. You don't know, Miss, since you entered the palace, I've had no excuse to go out."

"Okay, I promise you. When I feel better, I will definitely take Yan'er to the market again and eat Yan'er's favorite candied hawthorns," Yi Shangyun promised with a smile.

"Miss, sit like this on the couch. Yan'er will give you a massage. It will make you feel more comfortable." Yan'er helped Yi Shangyun into position on the couch, then stretched out her hands, gently clenched her fists, and began a series of skillful kneading and pressing movements, constantly changing the massage position on her legs.

"I really don't feel so uncomfortable anymore," Yi Shangyun said to Yan'er with relief.

"Then Yan'er will help Miss with this every day, and Miss will surely recover soon," Yan'er said happily.

As she spoke, Yi Shangyun smiled and looked towards the window, peering out through the slightly ajar crack.

And so, she saw that familiar wall once again, the wall that had appeared countless times in her dreams in the 21st century, and the only gateway he had when he left the 21st century and came to the Western Qin Kingdom a thousand years ago.

"Portal... Yes, it goes back to where it came from. Could the way back also be related to this wall?" Yi Shangyun's smile slowly faded as she began to seriously consider another important matter.

"What is Miss saying? What do you mean by going back? What do you mean by wall?" Yan'er seemed to have heard the mutterings of Yi Shangyun and looked up to ask.

"Oh, it's nothing," Yi Shangyun quickly said, pulling herself out of her thoughts.

“Miss, actually Yan’er thinks that Master treats you very well.” Yi Shangyun found Yan’er’s words somewhat nonsensical and asked her, “Why do you say that, Yan’er?”

Yan'er said, "Miss, don't think I'm too young to tell. Do you dislike Master? Do you resent him? You must think Master is indifferent, strict, and harsh towards you. Actually, Master has always cared about you; he's just not good at expressing it."

"Hmph... not good with words," Yi Shangyun sneered.

Upon hearing this, Yan'er suddenly looked up, her eyes wide, and said earnestly, "Really... actually, the prescription in the foot bath water just now was prepared by Master himself and given to Yan'er. He even started teaching Yan'er massage techniques several days ago, instructing Yan'er to take good care of Miss during her recovery."

"Is this really true?" Yi Shangyun asked in surprise.

"How could Yan'er dare to deceive Miss? And that's not all!"