Han's message reached Kang's residence the following morning, carefully worded concern about the extended family's collective health following such a traumatic attack, an offer of examination extended with the same measured, professional courtesy Han had maintained across decades of faithful service to the crown.
Kang accepted within the hour, and Yuan spent the intervening wait pacing the length of his own recovery chamber, unable to settle despite Han's earlier insistence that his still healing meridians required proper rest rather than anxious movement.
"You'll strain something further if you keep this up," Jian observed from his own bed, watching Yuan's restless circuit with fond, weary concern.
"I can't sit still," Yuan admitted. "If this works, we'll finally have him. If it doesn't, we've lost our only remaining advantage for nothing."
"Han is careful," Jian said. "Whatever happens, I trust his discretion completely."
