“If that is the case, then first…”
Yeon Hwi-cheon trailed off and glanced at Yeon Baek-yu.
Taking advantage of that moment, Yeon So-taek tried to step in, but I spoke first.
“Before stopping the bleeding, you need to deal with the infiltration. If you cover it with hemostatic powder as it is, the black energy will become trapped inside the wound and spread even deeper.”
A strange silence settled over the main hall.
Yeon Hwi-cheon and Yeon Dopyeong stared at me in surprise, while a glimmer of interest appeared in Grandfather’s green eyes for the first time.
“Adjusting the treatment according to a patient’s medical history and constitution is the very basics of medicine.”
Yeon Hwi-cheon frowned and hurriedly tried to defend himself.
“Ryeong-hwa, do you really think I don’t even know that? I was going to do exactly that from the beginning…!”
“Enough.”
Grandfather’s low, heavy voice cut him off.
Yeon Hwi-cheon flinched and immediately fell silent.
Grandfather slowly turned his head toward me.
He looked at me with eyes completely different from before and ordered,
“Continue. What treatment should be done next?”
I pointed to the inside of my wrist, at the point where it met my palm.
“You need to insert a needle here to open the blood vessel. Then gently press around the wound to draw out the tainted blood before stopping the bleeding.”
In my previous life, I had only learned this treatment after experiencing it myself, after enduring the excruciating pain of my flesh rotting away.
Only later did I discover that the same method was recorded in one of the clan’s secret medical texts hidden deep inside the library.
Yeon Hwi-cheon and Yeon Dopyeong, who were more interested in power struggles than medicine, were hardly the type to seek out and study such documents on their own.
I didn’t stop there.
“And…”
I tilted my wrist slightly and pointed to another spot.
“The pressure needs to be applied one inch below this point for the bleeding to stop.”
As Grandfather watched me explain the treatment method clearly, his eyes narrowed.
He soon turned his gaze toward Yeon Hwi-cheon.
Reluctantly, Yeon Hwi-cheon continued the treatment.
Still, since he did have a talent for medicine, he completed the treatment without difficulty, following exactly what I had told him.
“Thank you, Big Brother.”
I made sure to thank Yeon Hwi-cheon. Grandfather valued principles and etiquette, and he was watching.
Yeon Baek-yu’s gaze returned to me.
“How did you get this injury?”
Yeon So-taek’s sharp gaze fixed on me. His eyes seemed to say, Go ahead. Tell us.
I blinked once and assessed the situation.
There were things I could reveal now and things I still needed to keep hidden.
I haven’t earned Grandfather’s trust yet.
Everything required justification and trust.
What would happen if I accused the servant of pushing me and causing the injury?
There was a good chance I would simply be branded as an immature child making up lies just to attract attention.
And Yeon So-taek, who was skilled at manipulating situations, would have no trouble making that happen.
Besides, just as in the past, Grandfather currently trusted his son—the acting head of the household and my physician, Yeon So-taek—far more than he trusted me.
I won’t let the same thing happen again this time.
I quietly steadied my breathing.
First, I need to earn Grandfather’s trust.
“I accidentally broke a bowl. I was trying to clean up the pieces, and then…”
I answered calmly.
At that moment, Yeon So-taek suddenly interrupted.
“Father, since Ryeong-hwa’s treatment is finished, shouldn’t we continue Hwi-cheon’s test? Wouldn’t it be better to proceed before the herbal medicine gets any colder?”
He was trying to divert Grandfather’s attention away from me.
I also shifted my gaze toward the table.
A bowl of herbal medicine had been prepared there to test Yeon Hwi-cheon’s abilities.
A faint wisp of steam still rose like mist from the black bowl.
Yeon Hwi-cheon stepped toward it.
“Wait.”
Grandfather glanced at me once before turning his attention back to them.
“You have already tasted it.”
He pointed at the herbal medicine.
“Now tell me. What medicinal ingredients are in it?”
Yeon Hwi-cheon answered calmly.
“Milkvetch root and licorice.”
“Good. You got that right.”
In my previous life, I had heard about the test Yeon Hwi-cheon had taken.
Even Yeon Hwi-cheon could identify the ingredients that had been used.
But the real problem came next.
“Then explain how this herbal medicine was prepared using those two ingredients.”
“……!”
The main hall immediately erupted into murmurs.
No one had expected such a sudden question.
Even in my previous life, Yeon Hwi-cheon ultimately failed to answer this question and was severely reprimanded by Grandfather.
Afterward, he had ordered the servants to take out his frustration on me behind Grandfather’s back.
Yeon So-taek’s face went pale as he stared at Yeon Hwi-cheon.
Tense, Yeon Hwi-cheon moved his lips several times, but eventually clenched his fists and barely managed to say,
“…I’m… sorry.”
At that moment, Yeon So-taek stepped forward.
He was forcing a smile, but the anxiety he could not conceal was evident.
Of course, Yeon Hwi-cheon was not his biological son.
However, at the request of his sister, who was staying at the Imperial Palace, Yeon So-taek had raised the boy to become the clan’s successor.
Yeon Dopyeong has neither the qualities nor the talent to become the heir…
So he must be trying to secure his own influence by helping Yeon Hwi-cheon become the next head of the clan.
Which meant he obviously couldn’t simply stand by and watch Yeon Hwi-cheon humiliate himself like this.
“Father. Hwi-cheon is still young, so—if you could just give him a little more time…”
“That will do.”
Yeon Baek-yu cut him off.
“Hwi-cheon is twelve years old this year. If he cannot answer even this much, then perhaps he simply lacks talent.”
Tsk.
Yeon Baek-yu clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“The young master was already preparing all kinds of medicine and saving countless people at the age of eight.”
At those words, Yeon So-taek’s expression changed completely.
My father, the clan’s young master.
Being compared to him was Yeon So-taek’s most sensitive weakness.
Ever since childhood, he had constantly been compared to his older brother, causing his inferiority complex to grow.
“Father, twelve is still a young age! It’s too early to judge his talent…”
Yeon So-taek spoke in a trembling voice as he suppressed his rising emotions.
His anxious eyes wandered around the room.
Then they stopped directly at me.
I blinked innocently twice, pretending I knew nothing.
As Yeon So-taek stared at me, malice flashed in his eyes.
“Why don’t you ask Ryeong-hwa as well?”
His tone was gentle, but his intention was obvious.
Yeon Dopyeong, along with the servants nearby, widened their eyes in surprise.
The reason he dragged me into this was obvious.
He thought there was no way I could know how to prepare medicine after spending all my time bedridden.
If even the only blood relative of the young master failed to answer, then Yeon Hwi-cheon’s failure would seem like nothing more than a minor mistake.
He could cover up Hwi-cheon’s humiliation while simultaneously proving that even my father’s bloodline was nothing special.
And of course, I had no intention of playing along with his plan.
The moment Grandfather’s gaze returned to me, I quietly lowered my head while kneeling.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot answer.”
Yeon So-taek’s eyes lit up.
Ignoring him, I raised my gaze halfway and continued.
“How could I dare taste the precious medicine Grandfather personally prepared immediately after returning home?”
“……?!”
Yeon So-taek’s eyebrow twitched.
But I didn’t stop there.
“Instead…”
I reached into my clothes.
I had prepared something in advance.
I took out a small cloth bundle.
When I unfolded the palm-sized piece of fabric, a single round medicinal pill rolled onto my palm.
“…What is that?”
Grandfather’s voice lowered.
I calmly answered,
“I made a medicinal pill to give to you, Grandfather.”
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