Then she realized, and her smile grew even wider as she said:
"Once I’m back at the mansion, I’ll go discuss this with Grandfather. I hope he won’t refuse."
"Unlike my own condition, Grandfather’s poor health is due to injuries accumulated from his years on the battlefield. Perhaps someone out there can truly heal him."
Chen Yi nodded. "The world is a vast place, full of talented and extraordinary people. I’m sure a Divine Doctor exists somewhere."
He had mentioned the Elder Master for this very reason.
In fact, he had once used his Qi Observation Skill to examine Elder Master Xiao’s physical condition—and the outlook was not optimistic.
Beyond his old wounds and ailments, the most critical factor was the Elder Master’s advanced age; he didn’t have much time left.
An ordinary Medical Saint Hand would likely be helpless in this situation.
Unless, of course, he took action himself.
Even if he couldn’t completely cure the Elder Master either, he could still extend his life, ease his suffering, and make it easy for him to live another ten or twenty years.
Two hours later, the sky had long since grown dark. Chen Yi, Xiao Wan’er, and the others finally returned to their residence in town.
They washed up, changed their clothes, and had dinner.
The group settled in for the night.
However, since this residence was much smaller than the Marquis’s Mansion, Chen Yi’s room was directly across from Xiao Wan’er’s.
Shen Huatang, along with Juan’er and Cui’er, kept watch from the antechamber inside Xiao Wan’er’s room.
Liu Si’er was simply assigned a servant’s room next to the stables.
With nothing else to do, Chen Yi lay down on his bed early.
Worried that Shen Huatang might notice any disturbance, he didn’t even practice his Four Symbols Skill.
But before he could drift off to sleep, a knock sounded at his door.
"Brother-in-law, are you asleep?"
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. ’Xiao Wan’er?’
He sat up, called out in response, and went to open the door. Standing there were Xiao Wan’er and Shen Huatang.
They were both fully and neatly dressed, unlike Chen Yi, who was only in a light, comfortable robe.
Xiao Wan’er glanced at him, then lowered her head slightly. "I... My apologies for disturbing your rest."
Seeing the paper and brush in her hands, Chen Yi guessed it had to do with the Medical Dao Academy. He stepped aside and invited them in.
"Still awake so late? Eldest Sister, you’re truly losing sleep over the Medical Dao Academy."
Xiao Wan’er was a bit embarrassed that he had seen right through her, but with her straightforward nature, she didn’t just turn and leave.
Instead, she placed the paper she was holding on the table and spread it out. "I sketched a rough draft. Please, take a look."
"This quickly?"
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow and took the paper for a look.
Xiao Wan’er was a skilled painter.
With just a few strokes, she had outlined the general layout of the Medical Dao Academy.
The layout of the mountains and streams, the courtyards, and the residences she drew were identical to the scenery they had seen outside Monkey Mountain that day.
After looking it over, Chen Yi thought for a moment before picking up a brush and beginning to make his own modifications to the drawing.
Xiao Wan’er was taken aback. She moved to stand beside him, her bright eyes fixed on the paper without blinking.
Shen Huatang, standing nearby, paid no mind to the Medical Dao Academy. Her gaze was fixed solely on Chen Yi and Xiao Wan’er.
As she watched them, she couldn’t help but sigh to herself.
She found herself recalling the conversation she had overheard between Chen Yi and Xiao Wan’er earlier that day.
Their talk of an "incurable disease" made it impossible for her not to feel a sense of sympathy for Xiao Wan’er.
’If he were the Eldest Miss’s husband instead of the Second Miss’s, he and the Eldest Miss would be quite a good match.’
’What a pity...’
But whether it was a pity or not, neither Chen Yi nor Xiao Wan’er was concerned. At that moment, their minds were focused solely on the Medical Dao Academy.
Before long,
After a few strokes from Chen Yi’s brush, the simple sketch on the paper was completely transformed.
The academy was still built against the mountain, but compared to Xiao Wan’er’s drawing, his version was a clear step up in both layout and configuration.
He had, in particular, connected the study halls for the Medical Research Institute to the nearby waterway, making the academy’s layout far more practical.
Furthermore, Chen Yi had added several pavilions and terraces, as well as plans for the academy’s future expansion.
He looked at the sketch on the paper and explained to Xiao Wan’er:
"You won’t need too many people at the start. About a hundred students should be enough to get the academy up and running."
"Four study halls, twenty dormitories, and a small courtyard for the instructors will be more than enough."