Mrs. Han was getting a bit anxious before anyone arrived.
Indeed, the love of parents knows no bounds.
Bai Que promptly left upon receiving the order.
Thinking she might have been a bit too eager, Mrs. Han shook her head and laughed at herself.
But when she thought of Gu Wanruo’s hands and feet, icy cold even after a night’s sleep, her heart ached immensely.
Just as the pastries were being steamed in the kitchen, Bai Que entered, "Madam, the Master has returned and asks to speak with you in the study!"
Mrs. Han immediately understood what it was about and nodded her agreement before heading to the study.
Han Xuzi looked at his daughter, who entered with a smile, and pointed to the chair beside him, "Sit!"
"Yes!" Mrs. Han sat down before asking, "Father, have you summoned me here for any specific instructions?"
"It’s nothing serious, just about Jinnian’s medical skills..." Han Xuzi paused slightly.
"Well, let’s put it this way, for someone her age to have such medical skills, she’s simply a genius!" said Han Xuzi, pausing before adding, "But there is a saying, ’The innocent must suffer for the crimes of the guilty.’ A young child with exceptional medical skills—if exploited by those with ulterior motives..."
Han Xuzi didn’t dare to think any further about the consequences.
Other people’s lives were not his concern, but Yun Jinnian was his granddaughter, and he felt obliged to care for her.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Han remained silent for a long while before responding, "Father, although Jinnian is young, I deeply believe she is not foolish or naïve. She is fully aware of others’ intentions towards her!"
After conversing a bit longer, Han Xuzi stood up to find Yun Jinnian in the medicine garden.
Upon reaching the garden, Han Xuzi saw Yun Jinnian picking a medicinal leaf and placing it in her mouth to taste, then spitting it out and earnestly noting its flavor in a notebook with bound pages.
Han Xuzi watched her, shaking his head helplessly as he made his approaching footsteps heard.
Yun Jinnian heard the noise and hurriedly stood up, "Grandfather!"
"Grandfather is back!"
Han Xuzi patted Yun Jinnian on the head, "Come, walk with me; we won’t study these today!"
"Then what will you teach me, Grandfather?" Yun Jinnian asked.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Han Xuzi.
Her gaze was full of unabashed admiration.
"I’m not teaching you anything, just taking you for a walk around the Han Residence. It will be left to you in the future!"
Yun Jinnian was astonished, "For me?"
"Yes, for you, so you should have a good look around and think about how you’d manage it if you were to move in!"
"I think it’s quite good as it is now. We could use it to grow medicinal herbs so we don’t have to buy them all from outside. Plus, we could sell the ones we grow!"
As the grandfather and granddaughter walked slowly, Han Xuzi explained to Yun Jinnian about all the smaller and larger courtyards within the residence. At that moment, Yun Jinnian realized she hadn’t even set foot in half of the Han Residence.
"The Han Residence is indeed vast!"
"You’ll get used to it once you walk around more. Later, we can also prepare a soft sedan for you and get a few maids skilled in martial arts to carry you, which would be much faster!" Han Xuzi said affectionately.
Walking half a step behind Han Xuzi, Yun Jinnian looked at his large hands behind his back, hesitated for a moment, then reached out to grab the sleeve of Han Xuzi’s robe.
Han Xuzi was startled.
He grasped Yun Jinnian’s cold little hand in his and led her forward just as she retracted hers.
"Do you remember when you were little, and you loved it when your grandfather held your hand while walking? You didn’t care whether there were steps or potholes ahead; you just walked carelessly through them all!"
Yun Jinnian could no longer remember those times.
What she remembered the most were those dreams, in which it seemed she hadn’t seen her grandfather later on, and her mother had shown up just once when she was getting married. During those years in the Imperial Palace, no one had come to visit her.
Mother of the nation, yet so alone and forlorn...