The cries wrenched the hearts of everyone in the room; even Liu Laotaiye’s attendant, Liu Chengyang, visibly changed expression. Watching his wife and daughter weeping on the floor, he instinctively stepped forward, only for Old Master Liu to stand up.
"Marquis, I return your daughter to you; I shall meddle no further. But surely, I am entitled to take away my own child?" He spoke softly to the Marquis of Dingxi.
Indeed, this was an irrefutable logic.
The Marquis of Dingxi didn't even wish to speak or raise his head; regret began to fester in his heart. If only he hadn't kept Chang Chunlan and her daughter, this current humiliation would never have come to pass...
Old Master Liu’s words stunned Chang Chunlan and Yan'er, who immediately clung to each other in fright.
"...Aunt, Aunt..." Yan'er violently pulled free from her mother and rushed to Qi Yue, who had been silent beside them for a long time, "Aunt..."
She looked up, eyes brimming with tears, at Qi Yue, yet she didn't know what plea to utter.
Though small, she knew her surname was Liu, not Chang...
Could someone not surnamed Liu possibly help her?
Qi Yue caught her and looked towards the standing Old Master Liu.
"Old Master, Yan'er truly is ill. Even if you don't trust me, have you never sought consultation from other physicians?" she said, hesitating slightly, her tone and demeanor now utterly changed from before.
Relying on sweet talk to manipulate that brainless Marquis of Dingxi—that might just work! A decorated pillow!
A clear trace of undisguised disdain crossed Old Master Liu's usually stern expression.
Few people could provoke such an outward display of emotion from the father, Liu Chengyang noted with a slight awe from the side; despite the contempt, this young mistress could count herself privileged.
"...What physician could diagnose this?" Old Master Liu stated flatly.
His implication was clear: this was not a sickness.
Qi Yue offered a thin, awkward smile.
"I am ignorant and young; I wouldn't know. Yet, we have several fine physicians right here in our Yongqing Prefecture..." She seemed entirely oblivious to his meaning, speaking quickly. "I hear they are quite skilled..."
Old Master Liu cast her a cool glance.
"Skilled? You have skilled physicians in Yongqing Prefecture? If even you can claim to be a divine doctor, then Yongqing Prefecture must be teeming with immortals?" he retorted.
Qi Yue appeared only more flustered by his words.
"Well, then I don't know. I heard others say they are marvelous. If Old Master looks down on them, then I truly don't know who else qualifies as a good physician..." she insisted, determined to cling to the subject of doctors.
What Old Master Liu needed to do was leave, not waste time chattering with her here. But seeing the woman who was just moments ago so haughty now reduced to meek submission felt rather satisfying. An arrogant child, utterly devoid of insight—allow me to offer the Marquis of Dingxi a lesson or two through you.
"Speaking of good physicians, Old Doctor An from Shanning Prefecture could indeed be called one," he said coolly. "Next time, Young Mistress, before you casually speak of illness or claim divine healing powers, perhaps you should first visit this doctor and see what a true physician is."
Chang Yuncheng started, looking at Qi Yue, then suddenly broke into a faint smile, remaining motionless.
Qi Yue adopted an expression of sudden realization.
"Old Doctor An? Is he really that formidable?" she inquired.
"At least more credible than you," Old Master Liu stated plainly.
"Oh..." Qi Yue looked at him, drawing out her tone, "Old Doctor An from Shanning Prefecture, you say~"
The meekness vanished from her face once more.
"Is he truly that capable?" she countered. "Why have I never heard of him? And why should his words be more trustworthy than mine?"
Old Master Liu glanced at her sideways.
"What do you think you are!" he said calmly, then ceased looking at Qi Yue, directing his gaze toward the courtyard entrance. Suddenly, he froze.
Two figures had entered the courtyard, one seated in a wheelchair.
Old Master Liu stared at the person, his face registering shock.
What was he seeing?
The Marquis of Dingxi also spotted the two strangers in the courtyard.
"Who goes there?" he demanded irritably, his mind racing. Where was the steward? Had the cowardly dog hidden away? Letting strangers barge in without guarding the main gate?
"An Jinzhong from Shanning Prefecture, paying respects to the Marquis," the old man in the wheelchair said, cupping his hands in salute.
Old Master Liu's look of surprise intensified abruptly, finally turning into dumbfounded shock.
What?
"Father, it's Old Doctor An!" Liu Chengyang, lacking his father's decades of cultivated composure, couldn't help but exclaim loudly, pointing towards the elder in the courtyard. "It's Old Doctor An! The Sage's words are indeed true—speak of someone, and they appear!"
To hell with your sage! Old Master Liu cursed inwardly. That brat must have been reading those banned books he bought from the street again!
Still, what an astonishing coincidence—why was Old Doctor An here?
He quickly surmised that since this family insisted Yan'er was ill, they must have sent for Old Doctor An to examine her.
Yes, that must be it!
So what?
Would Old Doctor An declare this a sickness?
He let out a scornful snort, but before the sound was fully expelled, he froze again.
After greeting the Marquis, Old Doctor An turned and bowed respectfully toward Qi Yue.
"Young Mistress, An Jinzhong has come to offer you an apology," he said, bowing deeply; his legs were infirm, so only his upper body bent low.
"It's you, then. That's nothing; disagreements among doctors are inevitable," Qi Yue replied, gesturing for him to rise while simultaneously looking at Liu Pucheng. "Teacher, why didn't you announce yourself?"
Upon hearing her words, the suspicion that Qi Yue had acted deliberately, which had just begun to form in Old Master Liu's mind, vanished.
Chang Yuncheng couldn't help turning his head to conceal the smile tugging at his lips.
Teacher, how did you get here? Only this woman could utter those words without blushing or batting an eye. You're the one who called him!
Liu Pucheng waited until the two had finished their exchanges, then glanced uncomfortably toward the room, taking in the standing men and the kneeling woman and child...
"You have guests; my intrusion is untimely," he said.
His expression was restless and uneasy, without a hint of pretense.
Old Master Liu felt a strange disquiet; he felt something was amiss, yet he couldn't quite place it.
At that moment, Qi Yue suddenly looked toward him.
Old Master Liu's heart skipped a beat.
"Oh, right," Qi Yue said, with a touch of surprise. "Old Master, this doctor is also from Shanning Prefecture... the same place as the doctor you mentioned... Oh yes..."
She then looked at Old Doctor An.
"Elder, I forgot, what is your esteemed surname again?" she inquired.
"My humble surname is An," Old Doctor An replied quickly.
"Oh my, what a coincidence, you are also surnamed An," Qi Yue laughed, then looked at Old Master Liu. "Old Master, he is surnamed An too!"
Old Master Liu stared at the woman without uttering a word.
Qi Yue had no intention of letting him off.
"Oh? Old Master, surely... he isn't the Old Doctor An you were just talking about, is he?" she asked, her face a mask of curious surprise.
The Marquis of Dingxi finally snapped out of his stupor. Shaking off his earlier dejection, he strode over in two quick steps and looked out the entrance.
"Old Doctor An! Old Doctor An! Why have you come!" he shouted, his expression one of greeting an old friend unseen for many years.
The steward, hidden in some unknown corner, could swear on his life that this was the first time the Marquis had ever met this Old Doctor An.
"Old Master Liu was just mentioning you, Divine Doctor. Truly divine, you arrive the moment you are spoken of," the Marquis boomed with laughter.
What is this nonsense? Old Master Liu twitched his cheek. I didn't actually say much, did I...
"Are you the Old Master Liu from Danjiang Prefecture?" Old Doctor An asked him, smiling as he cupped his hands in salute. "No, no, Old Master Liu praises me too highly."
Old Master Liu owed Old Doctor An his mother's life when she was gravely ill, a favor he would never allow himself to neglect repaying. Even if Old Doctor An hadn't recognized him, he would have stepped forward to greet him, let alone the fact that the elder had known him.
"Doctor An is worthy of the title," he said gravely.
Old Doctor An shook his head.
"I dabbled in learning for a few years and thought I had achieved something. It was only upon meeting the Young Mistress that I realized I was a frog in a well. I dare not accept such praise," he declared.
Wh... what did that mean?
Old Master Liu froze in place once more.
Old Doctor An then offered another solemn bow to Qi Yue.
"Young Mistress, I have come this time not only to apologize for my son's previous rudeness but also to request that you accept me as your apprentice," he stated.
"Old Doctor An, I truly dare not accept," Qi Yue said quickly, returning the courtesy.
The Marquis of Dingxi, meanwhile, could hold back no longer, watching Old Master Liu’s face intently.
"...Yue Niang, since Old Doctor An is so eager to learn, please do not disappoint him," he urged loudly. "He has traveled all this way out of sincerity; do not let past matters cause you to refuse him out of spite."
Even Qi Yue felt a flush of embarrassment at his words, but the Marquis paid no heed; he had finally seen cracks appear in Old Master Liu’s eternally serene façade!
"This... Father, you still have guests. I will quickly ask Doctor Liu and Doctor An to wait in your study," Qi Yue said quickly.
The Marquis felt he hadn't enjoyed the spectacle enough, but before he could agree, Qi Yue had already instructed servants to escort Liu Pucheng and Old Doctor An away.
With the two gone, the living room quieted once more.
Chang Chunlan and Yan'er had already been helped up and were sobbing quietly in chairs.
"Chengyang, take Yan'er and depart," Old Master Liu commanded, flicking his sleeve as he prepared to leave.
Hearing this, Chang Chunlan and Yan'er renewed their weeping.
Liu Chengyang, however, hesitated.
"Father, Yan'er's condition..." he mumbled, unable to finish his sentence before being cut off by a glare from Old Master Liu.
"Hurry and come with me!" he barked.
Startled, Liu Chengyang dared not speak further and moved to pull Yan'er away, but Chang Yuncheng stepped forward, blocking his path.
"What? Does the Heir intend for us not to take the child?" Old Master Liu asked coldly.
Chang Yuncheng returned his cold smile.
"Indeed," he confirmed.
Qi Yue stepped forward with a bright, pleasant smile.
"Actually," she said, all vestiges of her earlier meekness gone, "we never intended for Yan'er to leave with you from the beginning. However, Old Master Liu kept interrupting us, so we never had the chance to tell you. Oh, right."
She stood beside Chang Yuncheng, tilted her head with a smile, and added,
"Old Master Liu just asked what I was... what is my worth..." she continued, "I am young and dare not make a judgment myself. May I ask, Old Master, what do you consider my worth to be?"
Old Master Liu let out a cold sneer.
"Young Mistress, do you find such tricks amusing?" he said, raising an eyebrow. The gravity had completely left his face now. "Since you knew Old Doctor An all along, why this deliberate act? What is your motive!"
How could it be such a coincidence? There are no coincidences in this world, only manipulation! Old Master Liu finally understood. He recalled the maid who had left earlier, only to return after speaking a few words with the Young Mistress. He remembered how this woman had deliberately led him to speak of those doctors—he had thought her panicked then, but now, it was clear it was all intentional! This! Woman!
Qi Yue burst into laughter.
"Motive? No motive at all, just wanting to give Old Master Liu a bit of entertainment," she chuckled. "If I had told you sooner, Old Master, would you be feeling this good right now?"
Shameless... Old Master Liu stared, speechless, his face flushing red.
Qi Yue looked on with a cold smile.
"I just wanted to let you know what I am worth," she continued, tilting her head slightly to look down on the old man. "I wanted you to know that if I say she is sick, she is sick. And the moment you pull out some doctor, he immediately appears to seek my tutelage. Do you think I am simply too lucky, or is it that you are such an unworthy person that even Heaven cannot stand by and watch as it slaps your face?"