“Young master, to prevent you from spending recklessly, the steward is holding our monthly allowances too,” they said with bitter faces.
It was over…
Fan Yilin was dumbfounded, wanting to cry but having no tears.
Chaotic footsteps sounded outside, then the door was kicked open with a bang.
“Which one? Which bastard drinks flower wine without paying?”
Four or five fierce-looking men with clubs rushed in.
Lord, save me…
Chang Yuncheng had completely forgotten about Fan Yilin when he saw the servant being brought in and couldn’t help but be startled.
“You want me to pay?” he asked.
The bruised and battered servant looked up awkwardly and quickly nodded.
“Not to mention whether the Fan family, called the first salt merchant of Shaanxi, has money, even the Wang family with their estate called the Little Jiangnan of Yongqing, surely wouldn’t be unable to pay for a meal, right?” Chang Yuncheng asked with a smile. “Or are you determined to extort a meal from me?”
The servant was left with a bitter smile.
“Lord, going home to get money means being beaten to death, not going home to get money also means being beaten to death. Please save a life – it’s worth more than building a seven-story pagoda,” he stamped his foot and kowtowed, unable to tell outsiders about his family’s affairs.
Chang Yuncheng understood and couldn’t help but laugh loudly again, throwing a bag of money to him.
“No guts, yet trying to play the rake,” he laughed.
The servant didn’t care about his mockery, quickly kowtowed, grabbed the money and ran. After running a few steps, he came back.
“Lord, my young master told me to tell you that today’s incident was because he said something wrong again and was beaten by you. Please remember to be a good person to the end and send an apologetic gift. He’ll repay your kindness in the future,” the servant said in one breath, then hurried away without waiting for Chang Yuncheng’s reply.
Chang Yuncheng laughed heartily.
Before his laughter ended, he saw more people running over.
“What? Is there something else to report?” he asked with a laugh.
“Lord!” The newcomers were two women servants, their voices panicked. “Is the Young Madam here?”
“She’s not here,” Chang Yuncheng said, looking at these two servants in the courtyard’s lamplight – they seemed unfamiliar.
The two servants hadn’t expected the Young Madam to be absent and became even more panicked.
“This is terrible, what should we do?” they cried out in distress.
“What’s the matter?” Chang Yuncheng frowned and demanded.
“Concubine Zhu can’t give birth! The midwife says it’s not going well! The Marquis wants the Young Madam to come quickly,” the servants said.
I see. Chang Yuncheng nodded and immediately ordered someone to go to Qianjin Hall to fetch the Young Madam.
The servant was about to go when he called out again.
“I’ll go myself,” he said, striding out while Qiu Xiang hurried to bring a large cloak and follow.
Night had just fallen and the streets were still bustling. Because of the urgency, Chang Yuncheng didn’t take a carriage but rode directly. Qianjin Hall hadn’t closed yet, and though it wasn’t as crowded as during the day, there were still people coming and going to see doctors and get medicine.
Chang Yuncheng dismounted and walked in. A worker immediately took his horse, but when he saw who it was, his expression changed instantly.
“Lord… Lord…” he stammered.
Chang Yuncheng nodded, tapping his riding whip in his hand.
“Go ask the Young Madam to come. There’s something at home,” he said.
The worker still stood there as if he hadn’t heard him.
Chang Yuncheng frowned and simply stepped inside himself.
“Senior Brother…” the worker called out in a sharp, loud voice.
This voice was so shrill and bright it seemed to lift the roof.
Senior Brother Zhang Tong had just finished treating a patient with a broken bone when this shout scared him so much he nearly jumped. He angrily rushed out of the consultation room.
“What’s happening? What are you shouting about…” he shouted loudly, but before finishing his words, it turned into a cry of alarm.
Chang Yuncheng was already in front of him.
“She’s here, right?” he asked, about to walk further inside.
Zhang Tong’s forehead instantly broke out in sweat. He stared wide-eyed and tongue-tied, and seeing Chang Yuncheng about to step forward, instinctively moved to block the way.
Chang Yuncheng stopped and looked at him.
“Lord… You… please wait… I’ll go… go…” Zhang Tong stammered.
Dear heavens, where could he immediately call the Young Madam out from!
Chang Yuncheng’s expression darkened, and he stopped tapping his riding whip.
“Where is she?” he looked at Zhang Tong and asked slowly.
In the charity morgue, after two sessions of adaptation, Hu San and the others finally wouldn’t huddle together without looking, but they still didn’t dare look openly, only carefully glancing occasionally.
A’Ru’s work had been completely replaced by Coffin Boy, and he could even spare hands to assist Liu Pucheng with retraction and sutures.