❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

Yi-Nuo sniffled, her eyes red and puffy as she watched Physician Zheng clean up the wound on his son's arm. The gash from the thief's knife was a clean cut, luckily, so it shouldn't have a problem healing. Though, the young master wouldn't be able to use his left arm for a significant amount of time.

They had rushed back to the clinic in a hurry after the tall man, Fang Lu, had offered to take the thief to the magistrate to get a punishment.

"Miss Wu..," The young master voiced, "There's no need to worry.....I'm alright, ok? My arm will heal up just fine."

She sniffed again and wiped her face with her sleeve.

"But you only got hurt because of me in the first place...." She muttered, clenching the fur cloak from before. "It's even my fault that the thief tried to steal your brand new cloak, too."

The old man chuckled at the young woman's words.

"My son is as prevalent as steel," He stated as he used cotton to dab away blood from the young master's arm. "I assure you, he'll be quite alright....so no need to worry, ok?"
Yi-Nuo sniffled once more, before nodding her head.

"Ok...but is there anything I can do to help?"

The old man stood, holding a bowl of water.

"Just keep him company for now while I go fetch some fresh water and my stitching kit, hm?" he said with a smile. "I'll be right back."

He exited the room, leaving the two in silence as Yi-Nuo sat down at the chair beside the young master.

She grasped the cloak tightly, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Hey...." He voiced after a moment, noticing her grasping the fabric of the Hanfu cloak. "I didn't get a chance to thank you for the gift...I really appreciate your thoughtfulness."

His smile was sweet as she finally looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes.

"...You're welcome." She muttered, a smile tugging at her own lips.

At that moment, the door to the patient's room slid open quickly, and a familiar face emerged.

The young master peeked to see his friend enter the room in a rush.

"Forgive me for intruding...but I came at once when I heard about what happened, Mingze...are you alright?" Liu Haoran questioned, eyes worried as he approached the two. He was a little pale, and out of breath from rushing over to the clinic.

"Haoran...don't apologize, you are always welcome here...and I'm alright, thank you. It was just a cut, nothing too worrisome. On the other hand, how are you feeling?"

The man breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze landing on his injured arm that lay out over a piece of cloth.

"Here you are, more worried about others when you've got a hand width cut needing stitches down your arm.." He voiced with a small chuckle, "But I'm doing very well now, thank you."

His gaze suddenly landed on Yi-Nuo, who tried her hardest to hide her puffy eyes and red cheeks from the male.

"Young master Liu," she greeted with a small bow, and he returned the gesture.

He smiled slightly, then looked back at the young master.

"I'd like to stay a while and spend some time with you. Is that alright?"

"Of course, you're welcome to stay as long as you like!" He replied quickly, "There's some tea and snacks in the kitchen, if you want to help yourself."

Yi-Nuo stood quickly, leaving the cloak at the young master's side as she bowed slightly.

"I'll start heating some water for tea. No need for you to trouble yourself. Please wait a moment and get comfortable." She voiced, then headed into the kitchen.

"Oh, alright, thank you!"

Haoran smiled, and he took her seat next to the male who rested on the bed.

"She seems very worried," He stated, a smile gracing his face.

The young master chuckled slightly, sitting up a bit to chat with him.

"The thief was aiming for her. It was a scare at the moment...I'm sure she's still shaken up. The man was desperate for money and supposedly pulled the knife because he was afraid of getting sent to the magistrate." he explained. Though, he had his doubts. Something about the whole thing seemed off. The way the man's eyes shone a tint of red didn't sit right with him specifically.

"Ah...I see. She must have been scared." Haoran voiced, nodding his head as his expression shifted.

Yi-Nuo and Master Zheng entered the room not too long after.

"Alright. I'm going to apply this numbing salve and then I'll start with the suturing." Master Zheng voiced, now sitting in the spot that Haoran was.

Him and Yi-Nuo stood by his side, watching as he applied the warm green paste around the injury. It had a strong, minty aroma, as it was made specially for this type of thing.

After he was finished, he let it sit for a little bit and then wiped it off and cleaned the wound once more.

He then threaded the needle with a thick silk thread.

With a few deep breaths, his hand shaking slightly, he brought the sharp curved needle to the injury.

The young master flinched as he tried to hide the pain of the needle puncturing his delicate skin.

"Forgive me," The man muttered, his brow furrowed as he focused on pulling the string through.

"The cut is deeper than I had previously thought."

The younger male clenched his jaw tightly, as he tried to keep his breathing in check.

He groaned, the pain tugging at his arm as the man continued to pull the needle through.

Master Zheng struggled as his hand was shaking more with each second.

"Aiyya....it's usually you doing the sutures, Mingze." He muttered, trying his hardest to keep steady. "My old body is not suited for it anymore..."

The young master shook his head, teeth clenched so tight that his jaw began to throb and a cold sweat beaded down his forehead.

"It's fine. I trust you, Ba." He stated, before shutting his eyes closed. He took a few deep breaths as the man continued.

"Um, Master Liu-" Yi-Nuo muttered, turning her gaze to the side. "Let's go wait outside."

"Oh...right. We'll go, then...Master Zheng, Mingze." He bowed, and the two of them headed out, closing the door behind them.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

Yi-Nuo poured two cups of steaming tea at the low table in the guests dining room, where she had also set out a few snacks.

She scooted the cup toward Liu Haoran, who sat anxiously in his seat.

"Thank you," he smiled, before taking a sip.

She only replied with a smile and nod as she sat opposite of him.

An awkward silence filled the air between them, as they both occasionally reached out to take a drink of their tea.

"If you don't mind me asking...how long have you known the young master?" Yi-Nuo finally spoke up as she looked to him.

"Ah, a good while now, I suppose." He voiced, "I first met him when I was about 15, making him...19? Yes, the same age as you now. Though we didn't become good friends until just about a year ago, when he came to my fathers porcelain factory to purchase some things."

"I see..."

"He's a good guy."

She nodded in agreement.

"Yes, he is..."

...

' He risked his life to protect me...more than once already. He really is a selfless person...'

She remembered back to when he stood up for her at the palace. His diligence in words and firm understanding of her situation were still fresh in her mind. Even though it had only been a couple days they knew each other, it felt like months to her already.

It was quiet again, this time Yi-Nuo pondered on whether to tell Haoran about what had happened at the palace. After a moment, she decided it would be best not to tell him for now, at this time at least.

So they continued to wait in silence, until the old master Zheng came into the room carrying a bowl of water that had a pink tint to it.

"It's done...I informed him to rest for a little bit, but he told me it was rude to rest when someone has come to see him," He said with a small laugh. "You are welcome to stay for dinner, Haoran. Though it will only be you three since I have to go to the palace tonight. Is that ok?'

"Of course, I'll keep these two company for you while you're gone, master Zheng,"

He smiled as he finished the cup of tea before him.

"Eh, Haoran...How about a game of Go?" the young master shouted from the patient's room, earning laughs from the other three.

"You're on, Mingze!" he shouted back with a laugh.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

Yi-Nuo entered her room and went to the desk in the corner, where she opened her bag and got out her sewing kit.

It was a small round tin..similar to the one that Lady Cheng had given her when she was mending the robe.

A sigh left her lips, as she brushed a thumb across the faded paint.

"What a kind girl you are, Yi-Nuo...I'll get you some candies for helping me out when you're done, ok? "

The woman's angelic voice echoed through her mind, bringing her back to that horrible memory. She didn't even get the chance to tell her goodbye...or thank you. And now she never would. The woman that was practically her mother in times of need was gone and would never know how much Yi-Nuo was grateful for her.

That thought brought tears to her already sore eyes. She had been such a pain lately, especially for the young master.
She even managed to get him hurt when trying to do something nice for him...it was like she couldn't do anything right.

No matter how hard she tried, things wouldn't ever go smoothly for her.

Maybe that was her cruel fate....a punishment, perhaps.

But, that wouldn't stop her from trying. She was still going to work as hard as she could, because she would never let someone's kindness and compassion go to complete waste.

She clenched the sewing kit tightly in her hands, her expression stiffening.

Her brow furrowed slightly.

'That's it...I'm going to work 10 times harder starting from now. I'm not going to take advantage of the kindness of the Young Master, Master Zheng...or anyone else for any longer. I'll prove my innocence and let Lady Cheng rest in peace, and in the meantime....I'll work until my legs and arms give out, because that's all that I can do.'

She nodded, placing the tin back on her desk. She left her room and went to the kitchen to start dinner preparations.

-

The two young masters sat on the floor on either side of the go board. White and black stones filled the wood crevices, creating an intricate pattern.

Haoran's brow furrowed in the slightest as he scanned the board, searching for a suitable place to make his next move.

Mingze, on the other hand, had a calm expression, hinting at a smirk as he watched the other man struggle with his turn. His left arm was bandaged and wrapped in a sling under his robes.

"Dammit....Mingze." Haoran sighed, reaching to place his stone in the corner. It made a 'click' sound as it touched the board.

The young master's smile widened.
"Sorry..." He chewed the inside of his cheek, then placed his white stone on the outer corner of one of Haorans, in turn capturing it and winning the game.

"Haha...you could do with some practice, but you're getting a lot better." he chuckled, watching as Haoran anxiously scanned the board once more.

After a moment, he sighed and began picking up his pieces.

"Ok, ok. Let's go again."

The young master agreed and began picking up his own stones as well.

They continued playing for quite some time, eventually Master Zheng entered the room and informed them that he was to go to the palace. They sent him off with goodbyes and then continued playing the game until the sun dipped near the horizon. It cast a glow across the city, from the remaining sunlight and from the lanterns that people had begun to light as darkness neared.

Yi-Nuo lit the candles and lanterns in the kitchen as well.

She lifted the wood top of the iron pot and smelled the porridge that had been steaming. A gingery sweet aroma rose into the air.

"Mmm....smells good..."

A smile graced her face, and she put the lid aside so she could begin serving three bowls.

After everything was finished, she brought it all to the low table and set it out nicely with the side dishes she had prepared as well.

"Young Master....dinner is ready," She voiced, cowering by the door to the room that Haoran and Mingze were in.

They both looked to her with smiles.

"Perfect timing...and it smells delicious, too."

The young master stood, and the three went to the dining room where it had been laid out.

But, before they could even sit down, a voice called out into the front clinic.

"Young Master Liu?"

Haoran's brow quirked in surprise, and they all went to see who was at the door.

"Ah, Young Master....your father has called for you to come home." The man voiced as he stood in the doorway. "He says that you should not be out after dark when thieves and criminals are running rampant."

A soft sigh left his lips, before he chuckled.

"He worries too much," he muttered, shaking his head gently. "But I suppose there is no arguing with him."

He turned to Yi-Nuo and the young master.

"I guess that means I should leave now. Enjoy your dinner, you two. And please don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything, as I should be happy to help out in any way I can."

The young master nodded at his words.

"Alright, then. Thank you...and thank you for coming over today, it was nice to spend time with you." He smiled, "Maybe next time we can play Mahjong with my father, and Yi-Nuo can join as well."

She looked up at the mention of her name, a smile tugging at her lips. She used to play Mahjong with Lady Cheng and her other servants back at the palace; she would always lose to them, no matter what. But still, the memories brought her warmth.

They sent him off with smiles, then returned to the dining room for their dinner.

It was quiet while they ate, as both of them figured the other was too exhausted from the day to engage in too much conversation.

The silence was warm, though. In literal and figurative ways. The young master found the porridge to be particularly comforting in this chilly weather, and he enjoyed having Yi-Nuo's company like this.

He looked to her, smiling as he finished up the braised vegetables.

"Sorry about today." he apologized after a moment. "I had plans to do some more work on nitric acid producers, but it looks like we had other things in store for us."

"Don't apologize!" She quickly shook her head, "I should be the one doing that...it was my fault that you got hurt, after all."

A soft sigh left her lips as she stood, done with her food now.
"All of this is my fault, really..." she trailed off, her gaze darkening as it landed on his bandaged and slung up arm.

He clicked his tongue and stood as well, shaking his head as he placed the bowls on top of eachother for ease of carrying.

"Nonsense. I would have gotten injured whether you were there or not... so I don't want you pondering over it any longer. Got it? Now, let's get these washed and put away." He stated, his tone firm but gentle.

She chewed her lip, carrying her own bowls as well.

"Alright, Young master." she nodded, lips tugging at a grin.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

After everything was cleaned up, the young master went to his room to finish some papers he was working on. He sat on his chair at his simple desk, using a brush to write out some prescriptions he needed to make for clients.

Using only his uninjured right arm, he carefully filled the papers and read over some books for the next half hour or so.

He leaned back and stretched a bit before going back to writing. As his inked brush touched the paper once more, a sharp pain struck his chest like thunder.

He groaned, arm shaking as he dropped the brush and went to clutch the fabric of his hanfu that sat above the left side of his chest. His heart pounded quickly, irregularly almost....prompting a cold sweat to form on his skin.

A heavy sigh escaped his lips, the pain easing a bit after he got his breathing under control.

After a moment, he swallowed hard and looked to see that the brush had rolled onto his lap and stained the hanfu that he wore.

He sighed once more, letting his head fall back slightly. His gaze flickered to the wall above his desk. Multiple paintings of acupuncture guides and anatomy studies filled the space, but one thing remained untouched by the others.

A paper with a few words written beautifully in ink.

一诺千金

His sister's voice rang through his mind at the sight of it. He saw her kind, beautiful smile and silky black hair. Felt her warm embrace as if it had never left.

"Whenever you see this...promise me you'll remember to stay strong. Endure, Mingze...you have to endure.That is all that can be done in this world. As long as you remain kind to others and you endure life's hardships, it will bring you happiness far greater than the worth of one thousand gold. I promise."

His eyes began to sting, as tears welled up and threatened to spill down his cheeks.

"Yi-Nuo...Qian Jin...." He muttered after a moment, lips tugging at a smile.

"Yi-Nuo..."

Suddenly, his eyes lit up with an idea. He remembered how the last couple days had been particularly hard on the female. This simple paper had given him so much strength to endure the last couple years, so he wondered if it might do the same for her.

He picked up his brush again and got a fresh piece of paper, then he began to paint the same sentence with gentle brush movements.

After it was done, he lifted the paper and fluttered it back and forth to allow it to dry. Then, he stood and made his way out the door.

"Yi-Nuo?" He called out, a wide smile gracing his face as he peeked around the halls illuminated by lanterns.

"Yi-Nuo...are you in here?"

He entered the dimly lit kitchen, only to see the female resting at the table with a small lantern.

Her eyes were closed, as she laid halfway over the table, breaths shallow but steady.
She had her sewing kit and the robe that he was wearing when the thief attacked, so she must have been mending the tear when sleep had overcome her.

'My Hanfu....she's mending it?'

There was also the fur cloak near her, too.

A smile graced his face, and he reached to pick it up.

There was a small rip on the bottom that had been sewn closed with care and gentle precision.

He brushed a thumb over the stitches, feeling the soft silk.

His smile widened, and he looked back to the female.

Her soft resting features illuminated by the flickering lantern light brought a fluttery feeling to his abdomen, and warmth to his cheeks and heart.

After a moment, he placed the cloak over her shoulders like a blanket, protecting her from the cold that seeped in through the door and windows.

She sighed heavily in her sleep, seemingly relaxed now with the weight of the fabric comforting her.
With a final glance at the girl who had worried so much for him, Mingze quietly left the room, closing the door behind him. A sense of peace settled over him, knowing that despite everything, they were both determined to endure, just as his sister had taught him.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜