The incident at Panlong Palace had caused quite a stir throughout the entire palace in just half a day. The two guards responsible for watching over her were afraid of neglecting Feng Yun Diao, so they kept offering her the best food and drink, but that little darling didn't even glance at them.
"Didn't you eat anything?" Wu Jianfeng grasped the important information and repeated it again.
The little ferret hasn't eaten since it went missing this morning. That means it hasn't touched food all day. If His Majesty finds out, they might be punished again.
"Could it be that it's not eating because it's not feeling well?" Wu Jianfeng asked the two guards as he walked toward the confinement room.
The guards were also divided into different ranks, and the guards serving An Honghan were undoubtedly of the first rank. The guards watching over the confinement chamber, however, could only be considered ninth rank at best. Both guards responded with utmost respect and courtesy.
"Very likely. Ever since that little ferret was brought in, it has been lying on the ground without moving." If it weren't for its big, bright eyes still moving around, they would have thought it was dead.
“I brought a veterinarian with me. He’ll take a look and we’ll know the reason.” Wu Jianfeng stopped at the end of the road.
Two guards took out keys, inserted them into the locks, turned them twice, and with a click, the lock opened. Pushing open the iron door to the confinement cell, one of the guards gestured for Wu to enter: "Guard Wu, please come in."
Hearing the sound, Xi Xizhi opened her eyes, glanced at it weakly, and then closed her eyelids again.
Its stomach was empty, yet it kept churning with bitter gurgling sounds, like a theatrical performance. Its stomach felt flattened, and Xi Xizhi was so hungry its eyes were seeing stars. Prolonged hunger had left it limp and powerless. However, because its fur was so long, it still appeared as a round, white ball.
"What are you standing there for? Go take the Phoenix Cloud Sable to see a doctor. Look how hungry it is." The once energetic little sable was now lying there listlessly, like a deflated balloon.
Wu Jianfeng panicked and quickly pulled the old veterinarian down to the ground.
The old man's brows were lined with wrinkles, but his bright, spirited eyes were exceptionally clear. He stroked his beard, seemingly already knowing the reason, and shook his head, saying, "I can't cure this illness."
If Wu Jianfeng hadn't failed to find a skilled veterinarian today, he wouldn't have brought this old man back to the palace for emergency treatment.
Seeing that he hadn't even seen a doctor before saying this, Wu Jianfeng said angrily, "When you received the imperial edict, you kept saying things that were profound and mysterious. I thought you had some skills, but when it comes to problems, you don't know anything at all."
The old man did not get angry, but said, "Young man, calm down. Whether she eats or not is beyond my control, because a mental illness requires a mental cure. However, I do have a way to treat the injury on its forelimbs."
Heart disease? Wu Jianfeng thought it was a fantasy. How could an animal have a heart disease? In his opinion, it was just that the old man's medical skills were mediocre and he was just making things up.
After hearing the old man's words, Xi Xizhi slowly opened her eyes. The old man had good eyesight; he could tell she was worried at a glance.
Ignoring the guards' disdainful looks, the old man was about to reach out and lift the little sable's forelegs when Wu Jianfeng suddenly stopped him.
"I'm not comfortable entrusting the Phoenix Cloud Sable to you for treatment." Wu Jianfeng said whatever came to mind, showing no consideration for the other party.
Feng Yun Diao is currently favored by His Majesty, who adores him. If this old man not only fails to cure Feng Yun Diao's illness but also worsens it, he will be held responsible if His Majesty investigates.
Serving His Majesty means doing things properly. If you mess up the tasks he assigns, the consequences are predictable.
Xi Xizhi muttered to herself, wondering how Wu Jianfeng had gotten this position. Just by looking at the old man's refined and aloof demeanor, one could tell he was a highly accomplished person. Yet, instead of treating him with courtesy, he made sarcastic remarks.
Xi Xizhi was a discerning little ferret. Trembling, it raised its injured foreleg and stretched it into the old man's hand, chirping as if asking him to treat its wounds.
The old man's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, and he laughed heartily, "This little sable has good taste. Since you trust me so much, I guarantee you'll be cured."
The old man exuded a faint medicinal scent, which smelled refreshing, and Xi Xizhi liked his approachable manner very much.
Wu Jianfeng wanted to stop it, but Xiao Diao had already made his move, and there was nothing he could do.
The old man's withered hands lifted Xi Xizhi's foreleg and examined it repeatedly in his palms.
"It's nothing serious, just a misaligned bone. It'll be fine once it's corrected. But... I advise you not to be reckless next time. A misaligned bone can be serious or minor, and you could easily become disabled. You were lucky to run into me this time; you might not be so lucky next time." The old man's seemingly withered fingers suddenly lifted Xi Xizhi's foreleg and twisted it a few times.
The pain was so intense that Xi Xizhi couldn't help but whimper.
Wu Jianfeng was startled and raised his sword to grab the old man. But the old man showed no panic, a faint smile on his lips, and said, "It's all better now. Try moving around."
Upon hearing this, Xi Xizhi propped herself up, staggering several times before finally regaining her balance. Her forelimbs still ached a little, but compared to before, it was negligible. She tried to lift her feet and take a few steps, and everything went very smoothly.
The mink cub was still a kitten, with delicate bones, and many veterinarians are only half-baked and can't quite gauge the force. Unexpectedly, this old man was a hidden master with such skill.
"Chirp chirp..." Xi Xizhi wanted to bow to him to express her gratitude. But does a ferret have a waist? So Xi Xizhi could only nod to him and keep chirping.
"Alright, alright, I know what you're trying to say." Seeing the little sable's adorable expression, the old man couldn't help but stroke his beard again. He accepted the imperial edict not for the reward money, but to see the Phoenix Cloud Sable in person. Seeing is believing; this was the first time he had ever seen such a spirited animal.
Seeing that the little sable was alright and could even walk freely, Wu Jianfeng released his grip on the old man's arm and said, "Consider yourself lucky."
Xi Xizhi really wanted to say that this had nothing to do with luck; it was all thanks to the old man's true skills.
Seeing a stack of osmanthus cakes on the ground, Wu Jianfeng picked up a piece and brought it to Xiao Diao's mouth.
Xi Xizhi pursed her lips, refusing to open her mouth despite her hunger. Why was Xi Xizhi going on a hunger strike? Because she felt An Honghan's punishment was too lenient, so she punished herself. The palace maids and eunuchs lost their eyes, while she would at most only go hungry for a few days.
The answer to which is more important is obvious without even thinking.
The eyes are vital organs for human beings to perceive the world. Without eyes, it's like living in darkness forever, without light. The thought of that kind of pain is terrifying.
Xi Xizhi turned her head away, ignoring the pastry.
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