Qi Yue was unaware of what had happened in the marquis’s mansion.
Today was the day for the injured man to have his stitches removed. Although Qi Yue had decided not to display her medical skills anymore, she still couldn’t help but come to see.
Seeing her arrive, the injured man jumped directly down from the bed.
“Madam Qi, why haven’t you come to see me for so long?” he said with surprise, joy, and some sadness.
It hasn’t been that long, Qi Yue smiled, looking up to examine the injured man.
“Good, you’re full of vigor after just a few days. Your constitution is indeed strong,” she said with a smile, then looked at the senior disciple who had followed in. “Has your master gone out?”
“Yes, he’s been gone for several days now. It’s good that Madam Qi came, otherwise we wouldn’t know how to remove the stitches,” the senior disciple said.
“Did he go on a house call?” Qi Yue asked casually, feeling somewhat regretful. She would rarely go out in the future, and following Dr. Liu Pucheng would probably mean no chance to meet again. This doctor had left an excellent impression on her, particularly reminiscent of her mentor.
“Master didn’t say,” the senior disciple replied. “He’s been gone for several days, only saying he went to search for medicine.”
Since Liu Pucheng wasn’t there, she would remove the stitches this time. Qi Yue turned to look for A’Ru.
Hu San, quick-eyed and nimble-footed, inserted himself.
“Master, what do you need me to prepare?” he asked respectfully.
Qi Yue glanced at the small bundle A’Ru held in her arms. The large medicine box was no longer necessary to carry. Except for instruments, all the medicines were gone, so before going out she had only asked A’Ru to wrap things in cloth.
“Liquor, the stronger the better, boiled water with salt added, and cotton,” Qi Yue said.
Hu San responded and hurried off cheerfully.
“Why are you still standing? Lie down quickly,” Qi Yue said after washing her hands and putting on her mask and gloves, only then noticing the injured man had been standing the whole time.
Seeing her look over, the injured man nodded happily, propped himself on the bed with one hand, and lay down smoothly.
“Nice moves,” Qi Yue said with a smile. Was this what people with martial arts skills in ancient times were like?
The injured man lay on the bed looking at her, showing a big smile.
Hu San quickly brought the items.
“It’ll hurt a bit, bear with it,” Qi Yue said, tearing off a piece of cotton, dipping it in liquor while smiling at the injured man.
The injured man’s gaze never left Qi Yue.
“Looking at Madam Qi,” he opened his mouth to speak, but a large hand promptly covered his mouth, and the rest of his words became muffled sounds.
“Madam Qi, it’s fine. This kid isn’t afraid of pain. Do as you please,” the dark-faced big man said to Qi Yue with a grin, his hand firmly covering the injured man’s mouth.
Qi Yue’s smile was hidden by her mask, showing only her curved eyes. She said nothing more, lowering her head to begin disinfecting. Forceps and scissors worked in busy but orderly alternation.
The room quieted down, with only the injured man’s occasional sharp intakes of breath from pain. Everyone’s gaze, except for the injured man’s, was focused on Qi Yue’s hands as scissors and forceps rapidly alternated—slender hands, skillful hands…
Walking out the door of Qianjin Hall, Qi Yue turned around to look at the people who had seen her out.
“Well then, goodbye,” she said, waving with a smile.
“Safe travels, Madam Qi,” the senior disciple and all the apprentices said in unison, bowing respectfully.
As they bent down, Qi Yue could see the injured man behind them. He was being held back by the dark-faced big man, wanting to follow out but unable to.
“Madam Qi, Madam Qi, my name is Jiang Hai,” he could only wave and call out to Qi Yue.
Qi Yue smiled at him, nodded once more to the senior disciple and others, then took A’Ru’s hand to board the carriage.
As the carriage was about to enter the side gate, it was stopped by an old man.
Since this old man was known to all the mansion’s servants, he wasn’t beaten away with sticks.
Although he wasn’t beaten away, the servants and matrons who came out still blocked him, not letting him approach.
“Young Madam, Young Madam, this old man wants to ask you one question. Please let this old man say one word, otherwise this old man will die with eyes unclosed,” the old man shouted hoarsely.
This had the flavor of blocking the road to voice grievances. Qi Yue lifted the carriage curtain but didn’t immediately recognize that the old man desperately blocking the carriage was the old physician she had seen that day.
“Young Madam, Young Madam, do you still remember this old man? That night I examined your maid’s illness,” the old man saw Qi Yue show her face and hurriedly waved and called out.
“Oh, it’s you, Doctor,” Qi Yue looked at him, having basically guessed what this was about. There it is, as expected, she thought, immediately showing a delighted smile on her face. “I was just wanting to thank you.”
The old man was stunned by her words, the words he was about to shout stuck in his throat.
“Me?” he said in bewilderment.
“Yes,” Qi Yue smiled with genuine feeling. “That day my maid was clearly going to die, but we followed what you said before leaving—we worshipped the divine physician Bian Que in the courtyard. My maid and I worshipped all night, and she indeed recovered.”
What… what?
The old man stared wide-eyed.
“I’ve been saying I wanted to reward you, Doctor, but never had the time. A’Ru, quick, grab some money.”
Qi Yue said with a smile.
A’Ru responded, got down from the carriage, untied the money pouch from her body and stuffed it all to the old man.
“Young Madam, you’re joking, aren’t you?” he finally came to his senses and shouted, but where was the Young Madam’s figure?
Qi Yue’s carriage had already entered the marquis’s mansion, the side gate slowly closed, leaving only him standing dazedly in place clutching a money pouch.
“This is impossible. This is impossible,” the old man murmured, his eyes unfocused.