The Terminally Ill Youngest Daughter of a Medical Dynasty Is a Genius Physician - Chapter 5

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 5
Grandfather’s gaze turned directly toward me.
When confusion and surprise met the pale green of his eyes, my shoulders tensed without my meaning to.
“A child who should be resting in bed after taking medicine—yet here you are.”
His voice came firm and measured.
“I don’t know how you reached the Main Hall in that condition, but you shouldn’t be here. You must return to the Separate Quarters at once.”
“I’ll escort her immediately, sir.”
The Chief Steward stepped forward as though he’d been waiting for this very moment.
“See that you do. With so many people coming and going, the air grows thick with their scents and their vital essence. It’s not good for Ryeong-hwa’s body.”
His words sounded less like affectionate concern than a physician’s cold clinical assessment.
‘I have to speak now. Clearly.’
I swallowed my nervousness and forced dry saliva down. Then I answered deliberately, my voice bright and steady.
“Grandfather, I’m fine.”
Only then did his gaze shift to my face.
His eyebrows lifted slightly, as if he’d immediately perceived my condition had improved.
“How is it…”
Before the question could continue, I quickly thrust out my bloodied hand.
“But first, please treat my wound, Grandfather!”
I knew Grandfather valued principle above all else—he wouldn’t simply turn away an injured child.
“Treat?”
His gaze lowered to my hand.
As expected, his eyes narrowed with a sharp, cold scrutiny.
“Your hand is wounded.”
“I can have one of the servants tend to the young lady’s wounds—”
“Are servants physicians?”
At that curt retort, the Chief Steward’s face went pale and he bowed his head.
“To turn away from a patient at Yak Ryeong-ga is a sin. No matter how urgent the business, if a physician abandons a patient, what right does he have to call himself a physician?”
The surroundings fell silent as a tomb.
Yeon Baek-yu clasped his hands behind his back and delivered his command with grave authority.
“Let her through.”
“…Yes, Household Head.”
The Chief Steward finally stepped aside.
“Ryeong-hwa, you will follow me.”
Grandfather said nothing more, turning to enter the Main Hall.
I watched his broad back for a moment, then carefully placed one small foot forward.
* * *
The moment we crossed the threshold into the Main Hall, the atmosphere transformed entirely.
Outside, murmurs scattered chaotically on the wind, but here it was serene as the depths of water.
Wide pillars and the deep scent of incense, through which the subtle fragrance of medicinal herbs diffused softly.
I felt anew that this place truly was “the heart of Yak Ryeong-ga.”
Beside the great table in the center of the Main Hall stood my uncle, Yeon So-taek.
A mild smile played across his lips, but beneath it gleamed a thinly veiled greed that could not be hidden.
At his side stood Yeon Hui-cheon, the Eldest Grandson of Yak Ryeong-ga, his hands clasped respectfully before him, and slightly to the rear stood Yeon Do-pyeong.
‘This should be interesting.’
The moment Do-pyeong saw me, he went silent with shock.
His wide eyes seemed to wordlessly demand: “What are you doing here?”
But Grandfather paid no attention to their disturbance.
I followed him step by careful step as he advanced with a long, measured stride.
Then he stopped abruptly.
“…Your hand.”
A brief command.
As Grandfather turned with furrowed brow, I quickly opened my injured palm to show him.
Beneath the dried blood, red inflammation marked the edges of the wound.
After examining my injury with careful attention, Grandfather suddenly called out to Yeon Hui-cheon.
“Hui-cheon.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
Yeon Hui-cheon came forward with perfect posture, not a single gesture out of place.
The hem of his blue robe slid across the floor with a hushed whisper.
His face wore the same composed and orderly smile as always.
“I want you to treat Ryeong-hwa’s wound.”
At those words, Yeon Hui-cheon’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
‘As expected. He’s hiding his true nature.’
Yeon Hui-cheon was the son of his great-aunt who had taken a son-in-law into the household, and the eldest grandson of Yak Ryeong-ga.
His father, the Deputy Household Head, had no other children besides me, and with his one daughter gravely ill, Hui-cheon was considered a leading candidate for the next Household Head.
Pale skin and dark hair.
Green eyes that proved the Bloodline of Hyeonmu.
Neat clothing, correct posture, measured words and manner—he was flawless in every setting.
People called him the pillar that would one day support Yak Ryeong-ga.
But I knew the truth.
I knew how rotten that pillar was inside.
In my past life, I too was once deceived by that spotless face.
I thought he was different from Yeon Do-pyeong, who tormented me openly.
I believed his gentle tone was sincere, that his hands checking on my condition held genuine concern.
It was a perfect illusion.
“Bring water at once.”
“I touched something filthy.”
‘It was the third life when I overheard those words.’
While smiling warmly in front of me, he viewed me as filthy Contamination behind my back.
And in places where he thought I couldn’t hear, he spat out his contempt.
“A filthy mass of disease.”
So it made no sense that he would be pleased to treat my wounds directly.
Though outwardly composed, he would surely be recoiling inside.
I could guess why Grandfather was deliberately entrusting my wound to him.
‘He wants to verify how much his skill has grown during my absence.’
He meant to personally assess the abilities of the one being considered as his successor.
“Yes, of course. I shall do so.”
Yeon Hui-cheon forced a bright smile and stepped closer to me.
At that moment, my uncle cut in urgently.
“Father, let me do it. I am Ryeong-hwa’s physician, am I not?”
“It seems this physician didn’t notice that his patient’s vigor has recovered.”
Yeon So-taek’s face stiffened as if struck.
“Hui-cheon will handle the treatment. I expect a detailed report from you on her progress thus far.”
Yeon Baek-yu’s green eyes grew cold as winter water.
“You have no objection, I trust?”
“No, sir.”
Yeon So-taek stepped back without another word.
He knew well enough that contradicting the Household Head here would only expose his true intentions.
Yeon Hui-cheon bowed respectfully once more.
“I receive your command, Household Head.”
Not “Grandfather,” but “Household Head.”
The moment he sensed his mood had soured, he shifted to formal propriety—a textbook display of deference.
Yet as he turned and extended his hand to me, I caught the faintest flicker of displeasure in his eyes—something only I could see.
“Closer… hold your hand closer.”
I obediently extended my injured hand.
Yeon Hui-cheon withdrew a clean piece of gauze from the medicine box beside him.
His touch as he cleaned the wound was steady, the pressure neither too light nor too firm.
Then his fingertips halted for just a moment.
Our eyes met.
A neat smile still curved his lips, but contempt swam in his gaze.
‘How dare someone like you.’
In my past life, I would have bowed my head the instant I saw that look.
But not anymore. Instead, I met his stare even more directly.
Yeon Hui-cheon withdrew his gaze first and resumed his work.
He took some fine medicinal powder and dusted it lightly over the wound—powder used to dry the surrounding area and stanch the bleeding.
“Brother.”
At my soft call, his hands stilled. Yeon Hui-cheon erased every trace of scorn from his eyes and smiled warmly.
“Yes? What is it, Ryeong-hwa?”
“Medicinal powder shouldn’t be used on my wound.”
The unexpected words froze the entire Main Hall.
Yeon Hui-cheon’s green eyes trembled faintly.
“What do you…?”
I pointed to the wound with calm deliberation.
“Look closely, please.”
Beneath the dried blood, reddish and crusted, a faint black miasma spread like a stain.
Yeon Hui-cheon’s expression hardened the moment he saw it.
“This is…”
“Contamination. It likely stems from my condition. Whenever I’m wounded, this black miasma seeps in like this.”
There was one thing Yeon Hui-cheon had overlooked—that I was no ordinary patient.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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