The apothecary room settled into a gentle quiet. Xiao Mei slept on the low bed. Her face looked peaceful now. The silver lines under her skin had disappeared. Her breaths were deep and even. The warm towels rested on her wrists and ankles. Steam still rose from the basin. It filled the air with a clean, soft smell.
Yelan sat on the wooden chair by the wall. Her shoulders dropped a little. She looked tired. Her dark brown eyes were half-closed. The scent from the poison had been strong. It clung to her senses even now. Healing Xiao Mei had taken more from her than she showed. Every time she touched someone sick, she felt their pain like it was her own. The cold chill from the silver lines had moved into her too. It left her body heavy. Her head ached soft. She rubbed her temple with one finger. The bracelet on her wrist caught the lantern light. The moon flower pendant swayed slow.
Maomao wiped her hands on her apron. She looked at Yelan for a moment. Then she turned to the door screen. She spoke loud enough for the ones outside to hear.
"Jinshi-sama. Gaoshun-sama. You can come in now."
The screen slid open with a soft sound. Jinshi stepped inside first. His indigo robes moved smooth. Gaoshun followed right behind. The two men filled the doorway. Their presence made the small room feel smaller. But they kept their voices low.
Jinshi's eyes went straight to Xiao Mei. Then to Yelan. He saw how she sat. How tired she looked. He spoke first.
"Is she out of danger?"
Maomao nodded quick. "Yes. The silver chill is gone. Her skin is warm again. She will wake soon. But she needs rest. No work for days."
Jinshi looked at Yelan. "You did this. How?"
Yelan lifted her head slow. Her voice came soft. "I smelled the poison. It was sweet. But empty. Like flowers without life. I used herbs to push it out. Nightshade to fight. Starwort to hold warmth. Frostroot to melt the cold."
Gaoshun stood with his arms behind his back. His face stayed calm. But his eyes were sharp. "You knew the herbs right away. No thinking. No doubt. How?"
Yelan looked at her hands. The bandage had fresh blood spots. She spoke quiet. "The scent tells me. When something is wrong. The body shows it. The air carries it. I just... know what to do."
Maomao crossed her arms. She looked at Yelan hard. "This is not normal. Palace maids do not know old village cures. Or foreign poisons. You do. Where did you learn?"
Yelan paused. She took a slow breath. "From home. Before here. I grew up smelling plants. Flowers. Sickness. Good things. Bad things. It stayed with me."
Jinshi stepped closer. His voice stayed gentle. "You felt it too. The cold. When you healed her. I saw you sit down. You look tired now."
Yelan nodded once. "Yes. When I touch someone sick. I feel their pain. A little. It goes into me. Then it leaves. But it takes strength."
Gaoshun spoke next. His voice low. "You ran here. You yelled at the lord. You said death was coming. How did you know the time?"
Yelan met his eyes. "The scent was changing. Getting stronger. Like it was winning. I knew if we waited. She would not wake up."
Maomao tilted her head. "You said the poison was not from here. Not from our gardens. Not from our books. Then where?"
Yelan thought for a moment. "From far away. North. Or places with cold winters. The sweet smell. It was like ice flowers. But wrong. Someone brought it in. On purpose."
Jinshi's face did not change. But his eyes got darker. "You think this was not an accident."
Yelan looked at him. "No. The scent was too strong. Too hidden. Like it wanted to stay secret. But it could not hide from me."
Maomao spoke up. "I agree. The poison acted slow. Chilled the blood. Numbed the body. If you did not come. She would be gone by night."
Gaoshun asked next. "The maid. Xiao Mei. Did she say anything before she fell?"
Yelan shook her head. "She only said bitten. Something small. She did not see it."
Jinshi looked at the bed. Then back at Yelan. "You saved her life. The palace will remember this."
Yelan smiled small. "I only did what I could. She is my friend."
Maomao snorted soft. "Friend or not. You worked fast. Good hands. Good nose. Palace needs more like you."
Gaoshun nodded once. "We will watch the gardens. The paths. The traders. This is not over."
Jinshi looked at Yelan again. His voice softer now. "Rest. You have done enough for today."
Yelan bowed her head. "Arigato Jinshi-sama
The room went quiet again. The lanterns burned steady. Xiao Mei slept on. The silver chill was gone. But the questions stayed.