Fortune Across the World

Chapter 182: When Will We Share the Bright Moon Again?

Aunt Jade hadn't thought much of it because Ding Qiyu's last recount of her journey with Zhuyi's father ended abruptly when they first arrived in Jiangnan. She hadn't mentioned how she ended up at Qianli Palace, so Aunt Jade was unaware that Ding Qiyu was destined to leave. Seeing her daughter come to terms with something, Aunt Jade, contemplating a new medicinal formula, said to Le Zhuyi, "Zhuyi, I'd like to cure your chronic ailment. Come with me to the medicine hut." Aunt Jade had come to regard Le Zhuyi as her own daughter and was determined to cure her, even if it required all her knowledge and effort. She needed a comprehensive understanding of Zhuyi's physical condition and the symptoms of the Moonwatcher nights to devise an effective treatment.

Le Zhuyi felt cherished by her godmother's love and obediently followed her to the medicine hut.

After a thorough examination, Aunt Jade had a vague idea and sent Zhuyi back to rest while she continued her research in the medicine hut.

With Ding Qiyu busy and her own injuries preventing practice with her whip, Le Zhuyi found herself the only idle person in the valley. Picking up a piece of unknown herb from a basket, she rubbed it between her fingers, inhaling its faint fragrance. Standing quietly behind her godmother, watching her make medicine, she found it fascinating and spontaneously asked, "Godmother, can you teach me medicine?" Idle time led to wandering thoughts, and learning something new would keep her busy.

Aunt Jade paused, then felt indescribable joy. Medicine to Aunt Jade was as significant as mechanisms were to Yan Huai. The thought of her exceptional medical skills not being passed on was a great regret, and now, with her daughter willing to learn, Aunt Jade was overjoyed.

Seeing her godmother's delay in answering, Zhuyi thought she was hesitant and said, "I was just saying it casually. Don't feel pressured, Godmother. I probably don't have the aptitude for medicine..." Her words carried a hint of regret.

The sight of her disappointment pained Aunt Jade, who quickly reassured her, "Why would it be difficult? You're my daughter, and I'm more than willing to teach you everything I know! I was just so happy that I didn't know what to say. If you want to learn, I'll teach you right away!"

Thus, Le Zhuyi began her long journey of learning medicine. Aunt Jade, eager to quickly formulate a cure, adopted a teaching method that combined medicine-making with instruction. She explained the core principles of medicine while guiding Zhuyi in recognizing various herbs. To her delight, Zhuyi had an excellent memory and learned quickly. If she continued, Aunt Jade believed Zhuyi would achieve remarkable proficiency in medicine.

While the mother-daughter duo learned medicine in the hut, the master and disciple of mechanisms were equally engrossed. They spent the entire morning clearing out a storeroom, and after a quick lunch, they were back at it, showing no sign of stopping.

Yan Huai hadn't begun formally teaching Ding Qiyu about mechanisms yet, and she wasn't in a rush to ask. They enjoyed a lively discussion. Despite not having worked with mechanisms for over a decade, Yan Huai's expertise was undeniable. His experience with wooden armor mechanisms was vast, and he was well-versed in contemporary offensive and defensive mechanisms. Although Ding Qiyu had a solid foundation in modern mechanical technology, much of that knowledge wasn't applicable to wooden armor mechanisms, presenting significant limitations. But Yan Huai, who specialized in wooden armor mechanisms and had been guided by a master in his youth, provided invaluable insights.

For Yan Huai, his disciple's intelligence and eagerness to learn, coupled with her deep understanding of various mechanical principles, promised great potential. While he had focused primarily on creating offensive and defensive mechanisms, Ding Qiyu's innovative ideas and divergent thinking offered new perspectives, benefiting their discussions.