Yao Lingxuan stood frozen, doubting she had heard correctly.
Not only had Su Yan not fled, but he had also convinced the head of the Jiang family to move his most cherished wife to the Lake Garden? Everyone in Yunhai knew that the reason Fan Hong was so pampered was entirely due to Jiang Yunhe’s indulgence. Fan Hong’s life was more precious to Jiang Yunhe than anything; he would have spent his entire fortune just to keep her alive. Yet, a man who valued her life so highly was willing to let her sit out in the garden breeze? How exactly had Su Yan managed to persuade Jiang Yunhe? At that moment, Yao Lingxuan found herself unable to fathom Su Yan at all.
Chen Jinglun asked in disbelief, "Is Old Madam Jiang really being treated in the Lake Garden?"
"Yes," the bodyguard replied. "Master Jiang is waiting there as well."
Chen Jinglun frowned deeply, thinking the boy, Su Yan, was utterly insane. For the sake of a wager, he was actually letting a critically ill patient sit out in the wind. It showed a complete disregard for the patient’s health and a total lack of medical ethics! Someone who disgraced the medical profession in such a way deserved to be eradicated.
Chen Jinglun turned to Shen Jianian and asked, "Fifth Young Master, what do you think of this?"
"Are you certain you can cure my grandmother?" Shen Jianian narrowed his eyes, equally shocked that Su Yan could sway Jiang Yunhe. Jiang Yunhe was an incredibly shrewd old man; how could an ordinary person move him? Yet he was actually listening to Su Yan? Who exactly was this Su Yan?
"I am certain!" Chen Jinglun declared confidently; he couldn't afford to falter at a critical moment like this.
"Good!" Shen Jianian called out, "Come with me!" He wanted to see where the Jiang family head found such confidence, and just how capable Su Yan really was.
Before long, everyone from the Shen family gathered at the Lake Garden. In the center stood two pavilions, separated by a gap of one meter—a distance an adult could bridge in a single stride. Yao Lingxuan stood at the edge of the garden with a dark expression, looking toward Su Yan at the water's edge, her face livid with rage.
"Su Yan!" She lowered her voice, glaring at him angrily. "When do you think this is? Are you still trying to get yourself killed?"
Duoduo, in Su Yan's arms, heard the familiar voice and stirred from its stupor. Upon opening its eyes and seeing Yao Lingxuan standing opposite, it struggled excitedly in Su Yan’s arms. "Woof, woof, woof..." It kicked off with its hind legs and tumbled down into the frigid lake water. Ignoring everything else, it paddled toward Yao Lingxuan. It reached her feet in a few strokes, but because of the half-meter-high ledge, no matter how hard its short legs scrambled, it couldn't climb up.
Yao Lingxuan only needed to crouch down to scoop it up with ease. Instead, she did nothing, merely looking down at the scene with cold, detached eyes.
"Woof, woof, woof..." Duoduo's yelps turned plaintive, sounding almost as if it were crying. Yet, no matter how it whimpered, Yao Lingxuan remained unmoved.
Yao Lingxuan stared coldly at Su Yan. "Su Yan, how could you possibly cure Old Madam Jiang? Stop making a fool of yourself here!"
Su Yan's eyes remained fixed on Duoduo. Having been in the freezing water for too long, the creature was growing weak. Its limbs moved with less and less strength, and its head was beginning to sink beneath the surface. It let out a pitiful sound from its throat, which Yao Lingxuan ignored heartlessly.
Without answering her, Su Yan vanished in a blur, appearing before Duoduo in the blink of an eye and scooping it up. He then turned to the person beside him. "Get me a blanket."
"Yes," Jiang Yunhe immediately ordered someone to bring one.
Su Yan crouched down, gently wiping the water droplets from Duoduo’s fur. The little dog trembled, its eyes fixed on Yao Lingxuan in the distance. Every time it tried to scramble toward her, Su Yan held it back. Jiang Yunhe and Xu Guangyao stood by Su Yan’s side, feeling a heavy pressure that kept their hearts taut.
Chen Jinglun walked up to Yao Lingxuan and said to Su Yan, "I’m ready on my end. Isn't it time to let us witness your medical skills?" His words were laced with contempt, as if he were settling in to watch a show.
Su Yan rose slowly and handed Duoduo to Xu Guangyao. "Take good care of it."
"Yes, yes," Xu Guangyao replied immediately, holding Duoduo tightly.
Su Yan swept a glance at Yao Lingxuan and Chen Jinglun; that single look made both of them shudder. He turned and walked to the bedside of Old Madam Jiang, Fan Hong, carefully examining her condition. He drew seven silver needles from his bag and laid them out on the table. Just as he was about to begin, Jiang Huili rushed in.
"Stop right there!"
Jiang Yunhe, shocked that Jiang Huili dared to interfere, shouted, "Why are you here? Get out at once!"
"Grandfather, I’ve found out about him! He’s an ex-convict who just got out of prison today!" Jiang Huili, thinking she had found the leverage she needed, said viciously, "How could an ex-convict possibly know medicine?" She rushed up to Su Yan and pointed at him. "I’ve exposed who you really are! Get out of our Jiang family now!"
"Heh..." Su Yan sneered. "Aren't you the one who should be getting out?"
*Slap!*
Su Yan didn't hold back, sending Jiang Huili flying with a single strike.
*Splash!*
Jiang Huili landed in the icy lake, struggling frantically. Su Yan looked at Jiang Yunhe, warning him, "This is the last time!"
Jiang Yunhe could see that Su Yan was furious. His legs trembled so violently that, had it not been for an unseen force holding him up, he would have knelt on the spot. "Mr. Su, please rest assured. I stake my life on the fact that no one will disturb your treatment again!" He immediately ordered guards to surround the area, and no one paid any further attention to Jiang Huili as she cursed from the water.
Seeing this, Chen Jinglun frowned, unable to understand why Jiang Yunhe feared Su Yan so much. Could Su Yan actually possess profound medical skills? Yao Lingxuan was equally baffled as to why the old master would go to such lengths to protect him.
"Just focus on treating Old Madam Shen, don't worry about him!" Chen Jinglun said. "I believe that while other things can be faked, medical skill certainly cannot!"
"That is true," Chen Jinglun replied with a smirk.
Shen Jianian looked toward the opposite side, but the mosquito netting blocked his view, making it impossible to see the situation clearly. However, not five minutes had passed before the voice of Fan Hong, the Jiang family's matriarch, drifted over from the Jiang side.
"Where... where am I?"
Jiang Yunhe said excitedly, "We are in our Lake Garden. How does your body feel? Is there any discomfort?"
Fan Hong asked in surprise, "What happened? Wasn't I dying? Why do I feel so light, as if there is nothing wrong with me?"
The distance between the Jiang and Shen families was short, and Fan Hong’s words were heard clearly by everyone present. They looked toward the opposite side in astonishment, then back at the bewildered Yao Lingxuan.
Had Su Yan really cured Old Madam Jiang?