Yun Jinnian gestured to Hemei, who immediately invited the Duan Family members inside.
Not many people came: the elderly Madame Duan, Duan Qimeng, Duan Qimeng’s father, and a few uncles, totaling seven people.
All seven of them were rather wary upon seeing Duozhu.
Duan Qimeng handed the worn-out brocade box to Duozhu, "Senior, if you are the person my great-grandfather spoke of waiting for, then this brocade box is what my great-grandfather left for you!"
Duozhu hesitated for a long time before finally taking the brocade box.
The brocade box was very old, but it was made of extremely fine wood, aged but not rotted.
Looking at the key, Duozhu’s eyes instantly reddened.
Pulling out a red cord from her neck, to which a key was attached on the other end, she inserted the key into the keyhole, and with a click, the lock opened.
Madame Duan immediately became excited, "So you truly are the person my husband mentioned!"
"Is there another key?" Duozhu asked.
"Before my husband passed away, he expressly wished to be buried with that key, saying the person who came must have a key, and also that among his burial items was a painting and a wedding dress!"
Duozhu clenched her fist tightly.
Upon opening the box, there was only a letter inside.
Stack upon stack filled the box.
The letter on top was sealed with wax, Duozhu took the letter, tearing it open only to see handwriting that was familiar to the bone.
There was love, and there was hatred.
But after reading the letter, Duozhu instantly wept like rain.
She had toiled for decades at the bottom of the valley before climbing up, filled with resentment, never ceasing to wonder if he actually loved her. But she never imagined that he had spent twenty years looking for her, and upon discovering the truth, had not the courage to live on, cruelly killing his wife, and being buried with her portrait and wedding dress.
"What is love in this world, that demands life and death vows!" Duozhu said, then turned her head to Yun Jinnian, "You give them the antidote now!"
She rose, clutching the box, and left the room.
The Duan Family members immediately sank into their chairs, sweating profusely.
Fortunately, fortunately...
As for what was written in the letter, Duan Qimeng and the others did not dare to ask, nor dared to chase after Duozhu.
The issue was resolved more easily than they had imagined.
"Commandery Princess..." Duan Qimeng called softly.
Yun Jinnian rubbed her forehead, "Let’s go back to the Duan Family, I will prepare medicine for you!"
After taking the medicine, they would still need rest for a while, not to mention that the detoxification process itself would take a considerable amount of time.
"Thank you for your trouble, Commandery Princess!" Duan Qimeng bowed with his fists clasped.
Together they returned to the Duan Family, and Yun Jinnian got busy.
She retook pulses one by one, preparing medicines, "Remember, you must not mix them up, and you certainly cannot take someone else’s medicine!"
Ruan Wanrong watched Yun Jinnian busy herself for a long time before approaching her, "Jinnian, I’ve prepared some food, you should come eat in my courtyard, and we can talk as well!"
Yun Jinnian stood up, stretching her limbs.
Sitting for so long, she was indeed very tired.
They arrived at Ruan Wanrong and Duan Qimeng’s courtyard, where the meal was already laid out, and Duan Qimeng had also come over after grooming and changing clothes.
"Let’s keep the meal simple today, and someday I’ll treat you to a good meal at Huiquan Tower!" Ruan Wanrong said.
Perhaps it was the knowledge that the poison could be cured that lightened her mood, making her seem more radiant.
"Alright then, I won’t hold back when the time comes!"
"Between us sisters, there’s no need for formality!"
The food was light, very much to Yun Jinnian’s taste, and since she was really hungry, she ate a few more bites than usual.
After the meal, Duan Qimeng found an excuse to leave, giving space to Yun Jinnian and Ruan Wanrong.
Ruan Wanrong hesitated for a while before asking, "Jinnian, once the poison is gone, how soon can we expect to conceive a child?"