The Valley Master and Dr. Marcus Guile looked visibly conflicted, their faces practically spelling out "I want it." If Serena couldn't read their thoughts, she'd truly be foolish.
The Jade-Flora Orchid may be precious, but its effects can't be fully realized in my hands. Only with Dr. Marcus Guile and the Valley Master can its true miracles be brought out.
When the Valley Master handed over the Jade-Flora Orchid, Serena didn't accept it. Instead, she pushed it back: "Valley Master, Dr. Guile, I know the Jade-Flora Orchid's wonders, but I can't compound medicines. Keeping it with me would be a waste. If you two don't mind, please take it and let its power be fully used."
"Wh-what? Serena, what did you say?" The Valley Master was so excited he could barely speak. Had he heard her right just now?
Seeing their excitement, Serena teased, "I didn't say anything. Give the Jade-Flora Orchid back to me."
"No, no way. Serena, I definitely heard you say you were giving us the Jade-Flora Orchid." The Valley Master hugged the Jade-Flora Orchid like a child afraid someone would snatch it away, and Dr. Guile nodded vigorously in agreement.
They couldn't bring themselves to snatch it by force, but now that Serena had offered, there was no way they'd ever give it back...
Serena laughed softly. "Since you heard me clearly, why ask again? The Jade-Flora Orchid is wonderful, but in my hands it's a pearl cast into the dark. Good things need worthy masters. Only with you will it not go to waste."
Of course she was reluctant, but what could she do with it herself?
"Serena, you're too modest. But if you really give me the Jade-Flora Orchid, I promise I won't let it go to waste." Dr. Guile's eyes sparkled, his mind racing with ideas for new medicines.
"Wonderful, wonderful! Serena, you really are exceptional—I knew I wasn't wrong about you!" The Valley Master was so delighted, he couldn't stop patting Serena Feng's shoulder.
"Cough, cough, cough..." The Valley Master was so excited that his hand got a bit heavy, and Serena nearly got patted to death.
"Valley Master, I'm still injured! You're abusing a patient here," Serena complained pitifully, while Dr. Marcus Guile immediately spoke up to defend her: "Valley Master, show some restraint—Serena is a young lady! Save that heavy-handedness for your apprentices and disciples."
The Valley Master grinned, showing a goofy smile just like Beanie's: "Don't worry, Serena. That little wound is nothing—I'll make you a medicine tomorrow, and I guarantee not a single scar will remain."
"Thank you, Valley Master." Serena accepted graciously, not putting on airs. Watching the two elders hugging the Jade-Flora Orchid and giggling endlessly, Serena knew that if she didn't speak up, they'd completely forget about the Emperor.
"Valley Master, Dr. Guile, let's get back to the gu-poison discussion. When do you think the gu in the Emperor and the Eighth Prince can be drawn out? How will we do it?" Serena deliberately raised her voice, but the two, lost in the Jade-Flora Orchid, didn't hear her at all—they were busy debating how to use the Orchid.
Serena asked again, and the Valley Master swatted the air at her: "Don't make noise! If a child can't sit still, go outside. You're making a racket in here."
Well, she'd been thoroughly dismissed.
Serena obediently sat to listen, but after a long while, she realized she couldn't understand a word of their technical talk. Shame flickered in her eyes; she rubbed her nose and quietly slipped out.
Just as she stepped outside, she ran into Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan, who'd come looking for them. Seeing Serena's dejected face, Nolan quickened his pace toward her.
"What's wrong?" Nolan asked gently, seeing how hurt Serena looked. Who in the Feng Manor would dare make Serena feel this way?
"It's nothing. The Valley Master and Dr. Guile are busy—they don't have time for me," Serena replied with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of girlish petulance.
So it was just a case of being left out. Nolan patted Serena's head in silent comfort.
Serena sensed Nolan's kindness and temporarily set aside her worries.
The truth was, Serena wasn't upset because she'd been ignored—she was troubled by how little she understood of the Valley Master and Dr. Guile's discussion.
As a doctor, this was a dangerous gap. It meant she was 'ignorant'—she needed to learn, but never seemed to have time for real study.
Would she really have to leave the task of advancing medical arts to the next generation?
Serena stared at her own belly, pondering that possibility...
As they walked, Nolan noticed something was off. Serena's steps grew slower; when he glanced over, he saw her deep in thought, staring at her stomach.
What's going on with Serena? Why was she staring at her belly—did the Valley Master tell her she couldn't have children, and that's why she's upset?
Nolan studied Serena's face, trying to read her expression, but she quickly shook off the thought and asked about his palace visit: "How did things go in the palace?"
Nolan withdrew his gaze and answered, following Serena's lead: "Everything went smoothly." He'd ask the Valley Master about the other matter later.
"Was the Emperor very angry?" Serena regretted not seeing the Emperor's fury firsthand—missing that was truly one of life's great disappointments.
"Yes. The Emperor sent a lot of medicinal materials so you two can recover and enter the palace soon." As long as the gu-poison remained, the Emperor would never be at ease.
"Did the Emperor mention finding someone to take his anger out on?" Serena asked mischievously, not believing Nolan would pass up the chance to use the Emperor for his own ends.
"He did. To save the Emperor time, I presented all the evidence I'd gathered." The Hsieh Clan and Lyndaria's Princess Royal would eventually suffer, but for now, the only scapegoat at hand was Jason Lan—so the Emperor took his anger out on Mr. Jingyang.
"Offending the Emperor—poor Mr. Jingyang. I hope he survives this disaster." Serena pressed her palms together in mock prayer, wearing a wicked smile.
Nolan was amused by Serena's antics, pinching her nose: "You've gotten bad lately—your hands are even blacker than mine."
"How am I bad? Compared to you two, I'm just a little bad." Serena swatted his hand away and sniffed. "Don't pinch me, I'm already ugly—if you squash my nose, I'll never be able to show my face again."
"Even squashed, you're not ugly." Nolan switched to holding Serena's hand, slowing his pace so he could talk with her longer.
Nolan spent the whole afternoon with Serena, neglecting his paperwork. He wasn't great at comforting people, but keeping Serena in a good mood was easy for him. Beanie tried to find a chance to talk to Serena but couldn't get in all day.
After dinner, Nolan finally let Serena go and called the Valley Master alone to his study for a private talk.
"Will Serena's health affect her ability to have children?" Nolan asked the Valley Master bluntly, with no hesitation.
The Valley Master was startled—he'd expected Nolan to ask about the Emperor's condition, not this.
The Valley Master was baffled. He'd thought Nolan was concerned about the Emperor's condition, not Serena's. After a moment's thought, he answered, "Serena has suffered a lot, and she's taken some serious injuries. Her body is indeed damaged, and her constitution is naturally cold. Having children isn't impossible, but it'd be best to wait a couple of years and focus on recovery."
Not impossible to have children—that was enough.
Nolan nodded. "Understood. You may go now."
"Yes, Your Highness." The Valley Master replied, but as he stood to leave, something seemed to occur to him. Seeing Nolan's cold, hard expression, he sighed and swallowed the words he was about to say.
He really didn't dare tell Nolan that, in his youth, Nolan had suffered even more. His body had been ravaged by all kinds of poisons; though the Valley Master's long treatment allowed him to live like a normal man now, there was still a price...
In the future, Nolan would face great difficulties with heirs, and even if he, Dr. Guile, and Dr. Redwater all worked together, it wouldn't change that fact.