Chapter 191: Knowing One

"The Lord is being manipulated by them because of the food supply; earlier a swarm of locusts passed through, reducing the harvest. Although the granaries were not completely empty, surviving the winter safely is truly difficult. The Lord has been prefect for only about half a year, and when he tried to open the granaries to release food, he found that the storehouses had not a single grain of rice, making it impossible to aid the disaster victims. At that moment, those who were threatening the Lord offered to provide food, provided that he followed their earlier instructions. Recently, heavy snow sealed the city, leaving the townsfolk cold and hungry; without food, they would not only be vulnerable to the plague but also struggle to survive. The officials had to agree, yet they dared not let them use the medicine that treats the plague, so they secretly searched for a remedy to give to the infected. Though it cannot cure, it can at least delay the disease."

"Then why doesn't he say it?"

"Young Master, it's not that the Lord doesn't want to speak; he simply dares not. If he were to speak, not only would the household suffer, perhaps others would be harmed as well. Apart from the old servant, the Lord trusts no one else in the manor. He says, 'The enemy hides, I see clearly; a single misstep would bring endless calamity.'"

"I understand." Chi Nan Yi tightened the ledger in their hand and turned to leave.

After returning to the inn, Chi Nan Yi relayed the steward's words to Xie Yuwei.

"Even with extenuating circumstances, the law cannot be avoided; the fact that Liangzhou City has become what it is today is indeed his doing alone," Xie Yuwei sighed, then said to Chi Nan Yi, "Can this plague really be cured?"

"It can."

That night, each pestilence infirmary set up a large cauldron to brew a red soup medicine; after the plague victims drank it, the symptoms vanished shortly thereafter.

As the temperature dropped, the red rashes on their bodies also receded.

"It actually got better."

"Whose Divine Doctor's formula is this? One bowl of soup medicine cures all illnesses!"

What they don't realize is that this isn't soup medicine at all, but a genuine pot of Spirit Spring Water.

Xie Yuwei's hanging heart finally settled.

"Sir, this is not a time for celebration," Chi Nan Yi said gravely, "The those behind the scenes have not been found yet; this time it's the plague, what will the next be?"

Xie Yuwei nodded, "Miss Chi, you are absolutely right; I have been overly optimistic."

Just then, Ji Bai walked over and whispered, "Miss, we have already found the family head's location."

Chi Nan Yi felt a surge of joy, about to leave with Ji Bai, when they saw Xie Yuwei also heading outside.

"Sir, where are you going?"

"I have just learned that an elder is also in Liangzhou City; I now wish to go take a look. Miss Chi, what about you?"

"Earlier I told you that my maternal grandfather is in the city; just now Ji Bai said we have already found his location."

The two of them exited the inn together and headed in the same direction.

If Chi Nan Yi didn't know Xie Yuwei's character, they would think he was deliberately following them.

Eventually, the two stopped in front of the same manor.

"Is the elder of Lord Xie also in this manor?"

Xie Yuwei nodded, "Miss Chi as well?"

"Mm."

Receiving her affirmative answer, a bold conjecture surfaced in Xie Yuwei's mind.

"She couldn't be…"

"Southern First Young Master, you have arrived."

Before he could step down, the attendant laughed and said, "The family head was just mentioning you! Please come in quickly."

"Southern First Young Master?"

Hearing the attendant address Chi Nan Yi as such, the sparkle in their eyes dimmed a bit.

If she were a member of the Chi family, how could the attendant call her Southern First Young Master?

Yet she clearly said her maternal grandfather is here…

"Lord Xie has also arrived; please come inside. If the family head knows you have also come, he will be very delighted."

Xie Yuwei followed the attendant with a puzzled expression, while Chi Nan Yi walked at an unhurried pace behind him.

Upon arriving at Elder Chi's courtyard, before Xie Yuwei could speak, Chi Zhongshan had already approached. As Xie Yuwei was about to bow, Elder Chi's figure brushed past him like a gust of wind, not even sparing a glance.

"You stinky brat! You still know to come see my old bones!" Chi Zhongshan stood before Chi Nan Yi, his eyes bulging, "If you come a few days later, you'd be here to collect my corpse."

Chi Nan Yi touched their nose tip and smiled, "Grandfather, just hearing your voice shows you are full of vigor; looking at your face, flushed with red light, how could it be at the stage of corpse collection?"

"How could it not be? Today I still… still…" Chi Zhongshan began, but didn't know how to continue, his neck stiff, his face reddening.

How could he speak after having eaten two bowls of rice tonight?

The attendant stood nearby, his face shocked as he stared at Chi Nan Yi.

"She! She is! She is the young miss?"

"How could that be?"

Although Xie Yuwei had long prepared himself mentally, hearing Chi Nan Yi call Elder Chi 'grandfather' confirmed her relation to the Chi family, and his heart gave a sharp jolt.

She truly is the daughter of Miss Chi.

He had seen that Miss Chi in his youth; a single glance made him think she was like a celestial being. When he first saw Chi Nan Yi, her features seemed strikingly familiar, instantly recalling that astonishingly beautiful Miss of the Chi family.

He never imagined she would truly be Miss Chi's daughter.

The grandparent and grandchild talked at length in the courtyard until the attendant brought tea and snacks, finally interrupting their conversation.

"Girl, try it quickly; I had the small kitchen make it fresh before you arrived."

The attendant placed the flaky pastry before Chi Nan Yi, his hand trembling slightly with excitement.

"Young Miss, please help yourself."

"Thank you."

"Family head, Lord Xie has been standing in the courtyard for a long time."

"Lord Xie? Which Lord Xie?" Elder Chi looked aside and finally noticed Xie Yuwei's figure.

Xie Yuwei: "…"

It turned out Elder Chi hadn't deliberately ignored him; he truly hadn't noticed him.

"Yuwei, when did you arrive?" Elder Chi, with a displeased expression, glanced at the attendant, "Lord Xie has arrived; why didn't you inform anyone?"

He didn't know whether he had heard their conversation with Yi'er.

"This is the Southern First Young Master."

Xie Yuwei: "……"

Besides being silent, he didn't know how to answer.

"Maternal grandfather." Chi Nan Yi pointed a finger at his maternal grandfather's arm and said with a smile, "Lord Xie came with me."

"Oh, together... what? Together?" Old Master Chi's eyes widened suddenly, and he shouted, "How could you have come together?"

"This story is a long one to tell."

"You old man, make it short!"

Chi Nan Yi was seeing her maternal grandfather like this for the first time.

It was as if her precious cabbage had been rooted up by a pig.

Xie Yuwei had been taught by Old Master Chi since childhood and could be considered his prized disciple; he had never spoken so harshly before.

At this moment, Old Master Chi stared at him with deep hatred, as if guarding against a thief.

"Chi... Old Master Chi, I, the junior, heard you were in Liangzhou, and just happened to be dispatched by the emperor to oversee the plague relief, so I came to see you."

Chi Nan Yi briefly explained the whole story, and Old Master Chi looked at them both suspiciously: "Did you really come only for disaster relief?"