If General Evan Xiao Finds Out, I'll Have to Eat Cucumber Again

"Dad, the Imperial Advisor is a high-level Spiritual Alchemist. His rank is way above any alchemist in Danyang City!" Grace said.

"Really? Then... how is Lena now? Does the Imperial Advisor have a way to cure her?" Minister Zhuo asked, still dazed.

Leon Zane shook his head.

"You... what does shaking your head mean?"

"Her body is already extremely weak. If the Winterbane poison flares up again, she won't survive it. Even if I use every method I know... at best, I can prolong her life for one year," Leon Zane said.

"What..." Minister Zhuo staggered. "One year... Are you saying she'll die in a year, at most?"

Leon Zane said nothing.

Minister Zhuo stared blankly at the hairpin in Leon Zane's hand, his eyes vacant, as if possessed.

"Isn't there any other way?" Grace looked at Leon Zane through teary eyes. "Isn't there anything else you can do to save her?"

Leon Zane took a deep breath and said, "If you want to save her life, you have to cure the Winterbane poison in her body. But—maybe no one in the world can cure Winterbane!"

Grace fell silent, quietly sitting by her mother's bedside.

She knew Leon Zane was telling the truth.

She had once found an ancient scroll in the Archive Pavilion of the Vermilion Spirit Alliance.

That scroll recorded some things about Winterbane.

It said that maybe the cure could be found at the Alliance headquarters.

But it only said: maybe.

More likely, there was no one on this continent who could cure Winterbane...

"So the Imperial Advisor is a Spiritual Alchemist! You've really been hiding your skills well!" Suddenly, a voice rang out.

It was Grace Wan again.

"Imperial Advisor, you must save our poor Madam!" Grace Wan dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. "Otherwise, the Prime Minister will never forgive himself!"

The Prime Minister will never forgive himself?

Grace glanced at her dazed father, then suddenly stood up and walked toward Grace Wan.

Maybe her gaze was just too scary—Grace Wan edged closer to the Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu, full of caution. "Grace, what's wrong?" she asked.

Grace took a deep breath. "Aunt Wan, could you please take Grandmother back for now? It's stuffy in here—I don't want her to feel uncomfortable!"

"Oh! Sure." Grace Wan replied smoothly. "Mother, don't worry too much. Let's head back first!"

The Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu realized Grace was trying to send them away.

She didn't say anything and left with Grace Wan.

Once they were gone, Grace asked Leon Zane, "Imperial Advisor, what can I do to prolong my mother's life?"

"I need to go back and prepare a special medicine," Leon Zane replied. "It'll take about three days. In the meantime... give her a little of this every day."

As he spoke, he handed Grace a small bottle.

"What is this?"

"Dragon Blood," Leon Zane said.

He had just drawn his own blood and filled a small bottle with it.

"Dragon Blood holds immense divine power, and this... is the purest, strongest yang Dragon Blood. It can keep her alive for three days," Leon Zane said. "I'll be back after three days."

The reason it's the purest yang Dragon Blood is because it's the blood of the Child Dragon.

And that Child Dragon... is him.

Grace dropped to her knees with a thud. "Imperial Advisor! Thank you! I owe you so much—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don't do that!" Leon Zane quickly pulled her up. "If the General finds out about this, I'll be in trouble again!"

After a pause, he added, "And you know, I'm not doing this just for you."

Grace nodded.