Chapter 133: Chapter 133

An Ning chuckled lightly as she played with the spices in her hand, not even looking up as she repeated the term. "System, how do you think my master has been doing these years?"

"Well... quite well, I suppose!"

At the very least, compared to before, he was respected now rather than being constantly undermined by his peers.

Yes, quite well, An Ning thought to herself, but that was all.

And this was with the support of health-boosting pills and the backing of the Lin household. Despite this, in the eyes of those powerful officials and nobles, he was still just a plaything.

It was common for him to be berated and even threatened with his life when treatment results didn't meet expectations.

They say one should never offend a doctor, but An Ning sneered inwardly—when there was such a vast difference in status, there would always be foolish, powerful people who didn't care.

Respected like the miracle doctors in storybooks?

Even Old Physician Liang, a man of virtue with decades of experience, faced such treatment—let alone her, a lone orphan girl who would only invite more attempts at control.

This was precisely why she had chosen the Lin family from the beginning.

Not because she trusted their character, but because anyone who could hold the position of Salt Inspection Commissioner for so many years couldn't possibly be a fool.

From the start, An Ning had never intended to exhaust herself like her master, running around treating patients every day.

Medicine could be a tool for her, but it would never become her daily profession—especially in an ancient society where physicians were considered lowly and easily manipulated.

"Ah... then what will you do in the future, host?"

After all, this wasn't exactly a great start!

Her slender fingers played with the incense cup as An Ning hummed a tune but didn't answer. If she remembered correctly, the opportunity she wanted would arrive soon.

No matter how skilled one's medical expertise was, it was only at the most critical moments that it held the greatest value...

For now, her life was passable, and she wasn't in any hurry.

It watched helplessly as its host spent only a small portion of each day making pills. The rest of her time was spent reading, studying medical cases, offering guidance to her master, or indulging in poetic pursuits with Miss Lin next door. She even took up the guqin with great enthusiasm.

For the next two years, the system remained utterly confused about its host's plans.

Until one day, Head Steward Lin rushed over in a panic:

"Terrible news! Physician Liang, Miss Chen—please come quickly to examine my master!"

Though he addressed Old Physician Liang, his desperate gaze was fixed firmly on An Ning standing nearby, his eyes filled with pleading.

As it turned out, for the old steward to act , Lin Ruhai's condition was indeed dire. When they arrived in haste, the man was already coughing up blood.

"Impossible... this can't be..."

Old Physician Liang hurried forward to check the pulse, only to find that it indicated severe exhaustion, with his already frail body pushed beyond its limits.

The pulse seemed normal—but that normality was precisely what made it abnormal.

Under normal circumstances, Physician Liang wouldn't have noticed anything amiss. But thanks to his disciple's health-boosting pills over the years—and Lin Ruhai's willingness to spend generously—his body had long since shed its former frailty.

Moreover, Lin Ruhai had abstained from indulgence and maintained his health diligently, fearing to leave his children orphaned.

So how had his health deteriorated so drastically overnight?

Shocked beyond caution, Physician Liang turned to his treasured disciple.

Madam Lin, Jia Min, wore the same bewildered expression.

Under their intense gazes, An Ning stepped forward and lightly pressed her fingertips against Lin Ruhai's pale wrist. After a moment, she withdrew her hand and said softly:

"Master, you're not mistaken. This isn't illness... but poison."

And not just any poison—a slow-acting, hard-to-detect one.

At these words, Jia Min's face drained of color. Swallowing her tears, she asked An Ning:

"Since Miss Chen can identify the cause... do you... is there..."

Afraid to hear a negative answer, Jia Min—whose beautiful eyes so resembled Lin Daiyu's—stared unblinkingly at the teenage girl before her.

Only when An Ning nodded did Jia Min finally exhale in relief. A moment later, her legs gave way, and she would have collapsed had a maid not caught her in time.

Seeing this reaction, An Ning understood that given Madam Lin's usual sharpness, she likely knew something about the current crisis facing the Lin household—or at least the salt administration.

Taking a pure black pill from her medicine box, An Ning instructed the maid to feed it to Lin Ruhai before quickly writing out a prescription.

To Jia Min, she explained quietly:

"That was a detoxification pill I prepared earlier. It can neutralize most of the current poison..."

She didn't want them thinking she had anticipated this.

Jia Min responded with utmost politeness:

"Miss Chen misunderstands. Please rest assured, I would never question your intentions."

After years of interaction, Jia Min knew full well that if this young girl could be called a once-in-a-century talent in medicine, then in pill-making...

It was no exaggeration to say she was peerless, past or future.

Fortunately, the girl was clever enough not to flaunt her skills—even the pills sold at the pharmacy were deliberately reduced in potency. Jia Min suspected even the ones in her possession were...

An Ning merely smiled without comment.

Time passed. As dark blood oozed from a deliberately pricked fingertip, Lin Ruhai finally opened his eyes.

Outside the room, the Lin siblings waited anxiously but were barred from entering by the steward.

When An Ning emerged, they rushed forward. Recalling Lin Ruhai's grave expression earlier, An Ning said little, only shaking her head gently:

"My deepest apologies..."

Without another glance at the pale-faced siblings, An Ning and her master left the Lin residence, their expressions identically solemn.

Only upon returning home—and through the system's vision—did An Ning relax slightly as she watched Lin Ruhai, now conscious, laboriously drafting a memorial.

Sure enough, half a month later, under the system's surveillance, An Ning saw a group of people stealthily knocking on the Lin family's door under cover of darkness.