Having sat despondently in bed for most of the night, Yun Jinnian finally got out of bed, his movements slow as he opened the door.
Hemei and Henuan quickly stood up, "Miss!"
"Are you all right?" Hemei asked with concern.
Yun Jinnian shook his head slightly.
Seeing no need for further words, Yun Jinnian eventually stepped out of the Chaoyang Academy.
Hemei and Henuan looked at each other, hurrying to follow.
Yun Jinnian inquired where Mrs. Han was at the moment and learned that she was still in the study.
He trudged toward the study at a leisurely pace.
From a distance, a strong medicinal scent wafted out, causing Yun Jinnian to frown slightly; despite his indifferent demeanor, his heart began to feel entangled.
He lingered for a while at the entrance to Han Xuzi’s study before mustering the courage to walk into the courtyard.
The maid saw Yun Jinnian coming and hurriedly rose to curtsey, "Greetings, cousin Miss!"
Yun Jinnian responded indifferently.
He entered the study.
Han Xuzi stood behind the desk, a smile on his face as he looked at Yun Jinnian, "You came!"
This child had not disappointed him after all.
"Grandfather!" Yun Jinnian called softly, her voice slightly hoarse.
As if she had been crying!
Han Xuzi couldn’t help but be emotional.
This child, untaught, had learned propriety quite well and had a kind heart.
Yun Jinnian remained silent.
Unsure of what to say, she chose to say nothing at all.
"Go see your mother," he suggested.
Yun Jinnian agreed and walked toward the inner room.
She entered the inner chamber, where the light in the corner was brighter, but it was still quite dim by the bed.
Yun Jinnian approached the bedside and looked at the sleeping Mrs. Han.
Two years ago, when she saw her mother, her mother was gentle and serene, and simply by watching her quietly, she knew her mother loved her.
During their subsequent separation and her eventual return, she could sense subtle changes in her mother, but she hadn’t taken them to heart because of trivial matters.
Sitting on the stool by the bedstead, she took Mrs. Han’s pulse.
As a doctor, she knew what was truly wrong with her mother, and her heart sank further.
Gently laying down Mrs. Han’s hand, she carefully placed it under the blanket and sat beside her, lost in thought.
What on earth had happened?
Hadn’t everything been fine before? Why had she fallen ill?
"Your mother, she’s sick," Han Xuzi murmured from the side.
"Do you have any thoughts?"
After pondering for a moment, Yun Jinnian said, "Let’s start with medication and apply acupuncture daily, I will stay and take care of her!"
Yun Jinnian had Hemei bring warm water, then dissolved a Blood Lotus Pill for Mrs. Han to take and wrote a prescription.
Throughout, Han Xuzi watched from the side without saying a word.
He left everything to Yun Jinnian.
Not until after Mrs. Han had taken her medicine, around the third hour after midnight, did Yun Jinnian look up at Han Xuzi, "Grandfather, please rest. I’ll watch over here."
Han Xuzi turned and left the room, not taking Mrs. Han back to her own courtyard.
Only then did Yun Jinnian remember Bai Que, "Henuan, go find out where Bai Que has gone."
Henuan agreed and went to inquire.
Yun Jinnian, watching Mrs. Han lying on the bed, had truly never dreamed that her mother would suffer from dementia.
Was it the adversities of recent years, the numerous grievances in her heart, or perhaps the lack of concern from her children...
She had no control over the mistakes of others, but as for the negligence of her children, Yun Jinnian felt that she might have truly erred.
Gripping Mrs. Han’s hand, Yun Jinnian softly called, "Mother!"
Suddenly struck still, she widened her eyes in disbelief, frozen on the stool. When had she started to call her mother "Mother" instead of "Mom"?