C26

After getting Lan Xiuxiu's approval, Yiyue eagerly followed Huang Jiuyang to gather herbs.

The original character had a penchant for martial arts, claiming to study poison techniques just to please her mother. Though she was eventually forced to learn, she never truly mastered it. As for her father's medical skills, she barely picked up any.

Yiyue, however, found these subjects intriguing. As Huang Jiuyang worked with the herbs, he would occasionally chat with her, and she absorbed everything he said.

Compared to martial arts, medicine and poison techniques were truly lethal in a subtle way. It was a shame the original character didn't appreciate her parents' intentions. As the daughter of a poison master and a renowned healer, she ended up inheriting neither skill.

Despite her lack of intent, the original character had picked up quite a bit just from being around it. Whenever she was unsure, a small hint from Huang Jiuyang was enough for Yiyue to connect the dots.

Seeing his daughter suddenly so perceptive and quick to understand, Huang Jiuyang was both surprised and delighted.

After preparing a medicinal brew for Yiyue, Huang Jiuyang went to find Lan Xiuxiu.

At that moment, Lan Xiuxiu was fully engrossed in concocting a poison. When she saw Huang Jiuyang enter, her expression immediately turned stern. "Don't come in! Are you here to sneak a peek at my new poison formula again?"

Just as he was about to share the news about their daughter, Huang Jiuyang paused, a flicker of emotion crossing his face.

Lan Xiuxiu had a peculiar habit: every time she concocted a new poison, she would insist that he try to find an antidote. It never failed, whether he succeeded or not, Lan Xiuxiu would inevitably be upset for a few days.

However, after seeing his daughter's sudden interest today, Huang Jiuyang had an idea. Previously, Yiyue had been reluctant to learn medicine, and he hadn't forced her. But today, she seemed less resistant. If Yiyue could learn all his skills, she could be the one to counteract Lan Xiuxiu's poisons in the future. This way, he wouldn't have to endure being locked up by Lan Xiuxiu every so often.

The more he thought about it, the more Huang Jiuyang liked the idea. He glanced at Lan Xiuxiu, who looked wary, and in an unusually good mood, he turned and left.

Watching him go, Lan Xiuxiu was momentarily stunned. She wanted to call him back but instead stomped her foot in frustration.

Meanwhile, Yiyue was blissfully unaware of the older couple's interactions, as she was sound asleep. Yiyue was now eleven years old. In this era, girls came of age at fourteen, so she had a little over two years to grow stronger and prepare herself.

The next morning, Lan Xiuxiu pulled Yiyue out of bed early. She spent the morning memorizing poison formulas and identifying toxic plants. Just when she thought she could rest in the afternoon, Huang Jiuyang whisked her away to the medicine garden to study medical texts.

In January, Yiyue seemed unusually focused in the eyes of Lan Xiuxiu and Huang Jiuyang. She wasn't her usual playful, lazy self, which was a pleasant surprise for both of them.

Once Yiyue went to her room to sleep, Lan Xiuxiu nudged Huang Jiuyang beside her. "Didn't you say our daughter wasn't cut out for medicine? What do you think now?"

Huang Jiuyang shrugged, holding his wine flask, and swaggered toward the door without a word.

Seeing his indifferent attitude, Lan Xiuxiu felt a surge of annoyance. "Huang Jiuyang, don't expect a good night's sleep tonight!"

Yiyue, having just laid down, wasn't asleep yet. Hearing the conversation outside, she couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

Though Lan Xiuxiu had threatened him, by the time she returned, it seemed she'd forgotten all about it. After a bath, she happily snuggled into bed, leaving Huang Jiuyang in peace for once.

Watching her sleep so sweetly, Huang Jiuyang thought their daughter was becoming more endearing by the day. With Yiyue studying medicine and toxicology diligently, Lan Xiuxiu was happy, and he got to enjoy the peace that came with it.

With a smile tugging at his lips, Huang Jiuyang pounced playfully and pulled Lan Xiuxiu into his arms.

When Huang Jiuyang arrived, Lan Xiuxiu was already somewhat alert. She gave him a sideways glance but let him proceed without protest.

With newfound confidence, Mr. Huang began his daily routine of advising his daughter. Time passed swiftly, each day following the same pattern. Thanks to the memories of the original owner, Yiyue quickly picked up on Huang Jiuyang and Lan Xiuxiu's medical and poison techniques within a month. However, her martial arts training suffered as a result.

During the day, she was constantly on the move, leaving little time at night to cultivate her inner strength. Consequently, her progress in that area was minimal. Noticing this issue, Huang Jiuyang decided to prioritize martial arts over medical studies, dedicating more of their afternoons to training Yiyue in combat.

Lan Xiuxiu, not wanting to be outdone, occasionally taught Yiyue a move or two as well. Both were eager to be her mentor, unaware that their combined efforts were overwhelming her.

While Yiyue had absorbed the medical and poison techniques from the original owner's experiences, her martial arts skills were self-taught. Previously, the original owner had focused on graceful, ornamental moves, but now, under the alternating guidance of the two mentors, Yiyue felt both physically and mentally exhausted.

Fortunately, despite the fatigue, her inner strength was improving. As the sun set, Yiyue stood up from her horse stance, wiping the sweat from her brow.

A few days ago, Xiuxiu came to visit and insisted that Yiyue's stance was unstable. So, for the past few days, Yiyue had been practicing squats endlessly. With a resigned sigh, Yiyue waited until she felt a bit better before heading home.

As she entered the yard, the house was completely dark, and she had no idea where Huang Jiuyang and Xiuxiu had gone. The aroma of delicious food wafted through the air, and after a day of squatting, Yiyue was starving. Without hesitation, she headed to the kitchen.

The kitchen lights were off, but by the moonlight, Yiyue could see two figures sparring inside. They bumped into each other, sending pots and pans flying, yet not a single sound could be heard. Somehow, the objects were caught mid-air and placed back quietly.

Seeing this, a few lines of exasperation appeared on Yiyue's forehead. "Dad, Mom," she called out.

Startled by Yiyue's voice, the two figures in the kitchen froze instantly. Yiyue lit an oil lamp and saw them standing there, one holding a spoon and the other a pot, as if caught in the act.

Casting them a glance, Yiyue calmly sat at the table. "Smells great, Mom. What did you make today?" Without waiting for Xiuxiu's response, Yiyue lifted the cover on the table and popped a piece of food into her mouth.

Yiyue took a bite and squinted slightly. "Hmm, it's pheasant."

But something seemed a bit off about the taste.

Looking at the plate with curiosity, Yiyue turned to Xiuxiu. "Mom, did you find some new seasoning again? It tastes a bit strange, but it's not bad..."