Rebirth: The Courtyard Bride Is Cool and Radiant

Chapter 243: Chapter 243: Who Is Behind Qiao Yuxiang

Old Sir Yuan looked at his grandson, who was cowering and shivering, and truly couldn’t bring himself to refuse. ”This great kindness... I’m afraid I cannot repay it...” He stopped mid-sentence, falling silent for a long while before making a decision. ”Please wait for me a moment.” With that, he went outside.

Yunyi saw it was about time and stepped forward to remove the silver needles from the boy. By the time she had covered him with the blanket she brought, Old Sir Yuan had also returned, a bundle in his arms.

Upon entering, Old Sir Yuan first looked towards the kang. Seeing the blanket on his little grandson, a flash of regret crossed his face. Have I really become so muddled? How could I have left without first making sure Zining was settled? He glanced at Yunyi with gratitude. ”You should take this.” After speaking, he placed the bundle on the edge of the kang.

Yunyi recalled meeting Qiao Yuxiang and this grandfather-grandson duo on the mountain. ”What is this?”

Old Sir Yuan stared at the bundle for a moment, then closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. ”That’s something passed down from the ancestors of our Yuan Family; it’s also the lifeblood of generations of our Yuan Family.”

Hearing this, Yunyi understood. ”Is this what Qiao Yuxiang has been pressuring you to hand over?”

Old Sir Yuan nodded. ”My name is Yuan Yuxun.”

Upon hearing this name, Yunyi looked up sharply. ”You’re from the Yuan Family?”

Yuan Yuxun nodded. ”You know of us?”

Yunyi glanced at the child lying on the kang. ”I am Chu Yuliang’s granddaughter. My name is Chuyunyi.”

Yuan Yuxun clearly hadn’t expected to encounter a descendant of the Chu Family here either. ”You are Chu Yuliang’s granddaughter.”

Yunyi nodded. ”Yes.”

In the original owner’s memories, Old Master Chu had mentioned the Yuan Family. They were a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners who were unfortunately framed, causing the entire family to scatter to various places. Yunyi had not expected to meet someone from the Yuan Family here.

Yuan Yuxun felt even more assured about his decision. He pointed to the bundle on the edge of the kang. ”It seems this item is fated to be with you. Even if I die, I can rest in peace.” After saying this, he reluctantly moved his gaze from the bundle to his grandson, who was now sleeping soundly. ”You take the item. From now on, let’s act as strangers. This is to prevent you from being implicated by us and targeted again.”

Curious, Yunyi unwrapped the outer layer of the bundle and saw a wooden box inside. The wooden box wasn’t locked; its sliding lid opened with a simple push.

Yuan Yuxun began to speak. ”These are various medicinal formulas passed down from our ancestors, including treatment remedies for some complex and miscellaneous illnesses, and formulas for some established traditional medicines.

”I disliked studying medicine since I was young. As I grew older, I was extremely rebellious. To defy my family, I petulantly studied Western medicine. You’ve probably heard about these things.

”These items are not only useless in my hands, but they could also genuinely harm Zining and me.

Perhaps I was indeed wrong back then. If I had listened to my family’s elders, I wouldn’t be so helpless now, unable even to treat my own grandson’s illness.”

Yunyi didn’t know how to console him, but these items were indeed a huge problem in Old Sir Yuan’s hands. ”Since you and Grandfather knew each other, I will keep this for you. If, one day, you can return to the Capital, I will return it to you completely intact.”

Yuan Yuxun sighed. ”Zining is still young, and I, this old bag of bones, don’t know how much longer I can hold on. Since this item has been given to you, there’s no taking it back.

”My only request is that if a day comes when I can no longer protect Zining, you will lend him a hand.”

With those words, silence immediately fell upon the straw hut.

Old Sir Yuan also knew he was asking for too much. After all, anyone involved with the Yuan Family’s affairs would be targeted. But today’s incident would surely not be the last. He feared that if something were to happen to him, what would become of Zining? He also knew this was no different from repaying kindness with malice, but he had no other choice. Ever since their encounter on the mountain, he knew this young woman before him was no ordinary person.

She was his grandson’s only hope for survival, so he had to swallow his pride and make such a request.

Yunyi looked at the wooden box on the edge of the kang. ”Who is behind Qiao Yuxiang?”

Yuan Yuxun shook his head. ”More than one party is coveting the Yuan Family’s medicinal formulas. As for who is exactly behind her, I truly cannot be certain.”