The news that Madam Xie had successfully undergone surgery and was resting at Qianjin Hall sent a veritable tidal wave of people from the Dingxi Marquis’s manor surging toward the hall.

The Marquis of Dingxi had even taken the trouble to change into new clothes.

“The Marquis can rest easy now…” the steward murmured contentedly beside him.

“Yes, yes,” the Marquis of Dingxi nodded repeatedly, his face alight with relieved excitement. “I knew that Yue Niang still held our family in her heart.”

The steward tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“My Lord, I meant that the Young Mistress is well,” he corrected.

The Marquis of Dingxi, whose hands had been busy adjusting his attire, paused.

“Right, that’s what I meant too,” he said. “If Yue Niang didn’t care for us, how could she have healed her? After such a great feud.”

This was entirely beside the point. The steward was speechless. The Young Mistress had cured countless people; did that mean she held affection for every single one of them?

The Young Mistress was a physician. A doctor’s duty was naturally to save lives and succor the suffering.

The Young Mistress was nothing like that!

But, never mind. It was better not to deflate the Marquis’s spirits. Having this rare chance to visit Qianjin Hall was an opportunity; if he frightened him out of it now, the chance would be lost entirely.

Opportunity? The steward startled himself. What opportunity was he thinking of?

Could there really be a chance for them to become a family again?

The word 'family' flashed through the steward’s mind, bringing a sharp pang of sorrow. Even now, subconsciously, they still regarded Qi Yue Niang as the Young Mistress, as one of their own.

Only, only in their hearts. In reality, that chance was gone, impossible.

He watched the beaming Marquis, who acted as if this were a grand celebration, and finally sighed, saying nothing.

My Lord, from the moment the Young Mistress stepped out of the manor gates, nothing could ever be taken back.

The throng from the Dingxi Marquis’s manor flooded towards Qianjin Hall, blocking the entire street, but they wouldn't manage to blockade the hall itself.

“What are you doing?” The disciples at the entrance shouted down the dark, oppressive mass of people trying to enter. Despite facing people dressed in outrageously opulent finery, those wearing the uniform blue-green smocks showed no fear. “Why are so many of you here?”

“Young sir, we are here for a visit,” the steward hurried forward to say.

“We are from the Dingxi Marquis’s manor,” the Marquis of Dingxi stated, straightening his posture with an air of authority.

“The patient from the Dingxi Marquis’s manor is in critical care; visitation is forbidden,” the disciples replied, showing no sign of yielding.

The Marquis of Dingxi and his retinue froze.

“Young sir, we are friends, friends,” the Marquis coughed, saying.

“What friends?” the disciple frowned.

“Didn’t I say? We’re from the Dingxi Marquis’s manor,” the Marquis frowned back, clearly displeased with the disciple’s lack of discernment.

How could business prosper like this? Yue Niang, as a single woman, couldn't manage everything alone.

“So what if you are?” the disciple grew impatient. You are blocking the street; other patients can’t get in! “Go, go, go! I said critical care patients don't allow this many visitors. Someone from your household is already attending to her; the rest of you can wait a few more days.”

The Marquis of Dingxi was unwilling to miss this chance to mend relations with Qi Yue.

“Go, go, what’s all this commotion? Truly lacking in perception,” he snapped, pushing past the disciple and striding inside.

Once he led the way, the others were quick to follow, and the entire group poured inward.

“What do you think you’re doing!”

An impatient female voice cut through from within.

The surging crowd halted, watching as Qi Yue walked out.

“Yue Niang,” the Marquis rushed to say, “you’ve truly worked hard. I’ve come to check on…”

“No visitation is allowed right now. Elder Madam Xie and the heir are present. You must choose two others to go in,” Qi Yue stated flatly.

Choose? Those two inside would certainly never agree.

Seeing the Marquis prepare to argue further.

“If you do not leave, I will have your wife carried out, and you can all leave together,” Qi Yue threatened.

Was this the way a friend spoke?

This was not something even a friend would dare to do.

But those waiting outside knew this woman was entirely capable of such an act…

“I… I will go in.”

An elderly man squeezed through from the back.

“I am not from the Dingxi Marquis’s manor…” he called out.

Qi Yue looked at Imperial Physician Zhou and could only permit him entry.

Silence instantly returned outside Qianjin Hall, and the street traffic flowed smoothly once more.

“Master?” a disciple called softly.

Qi Yue, who had been staring blankly at the street from the doorway, snapped back to attention.

She made a soft sound, turned, and went inside.

The outside was quiet, but the courtyard quickly grew lively.

“Hey, stop moving around, won’t you?”

“Esteemed Elder, you cannot enter here…”

Imperial Physician Zhou wandered around the courtyard, peering curiously at everything. It had been dark the night before, and the chaotic service to Madam Xie had prevented him from noticing the setup of Qianjin Hall. He had come today intending to inquire about Qi Yue’s miraculous techniques, but upon reaching the back courtyard, he couldn’t help but look around.

Unfortunately, the disciples were highly vigilant. This one couldn’t touch, that one couldn’t enter. Even asking questions yielded no answers.

“Little girl, come here,” Imperial Physician Zhou called when he saw Qi Yue. He pointed to a room bearing the characters for 'Sterilization Room' and asked, “What is this used for?”

Qi Yue glanced at him.

“For sterilization,” she replied.

That was practically saying nothing at all.

Imperial Physician Zhou looked at the characters on the door.

“I can read,” he stated. “What does this ‘sterilization’ mean?”

Qi Yue looked at him, opened her mouth to speak, then closed it.

“My apologies, I’m not feeling up to talking much today,” she said, then called out to the nearest disciple, “You explain the meaning of sterilization to this Imperial Physician.”

The disciple immediately agreed. These concepts were thoroughly memorized. He stood beside Imperial Physician Zhou.

Imperial Physician Zhou glanced at the disciple, who was carrying a basket of herbs—clearly just a general helper collecting supplies, not even an apprentice. What could such a person possibly know?

“Not feeling up to it? What do you mean, not feeling up to it?” he frowned.

It was just reluctance to speak, wasn't it? Secrets of the trade? Doctors were always secretive when it came to medical arts.

“Master performed two surgeries yesterday and looked after the patient; she’s tired,” the disciple said defensively, displeased. He then proceeded to fluently explain the concept of sterilization to the Imperial Physician.

Imperial Physician Zhou hadn't taken it seriously at first, but as he listened to the helper speak with such coherence, he realized the boy had clearly been taught.

These people at Qianjin Hall—even the lowest helper was so capable…

Qi Yue had gone into a room but wasn't resting or reading. Instead, she sat at a desk, staring blankly at a book.

“That person’s death is not your fault.”

Chang Yuncheng’s voice sounded from outside the door.

Qi Yue snapped back to attention and looked over, seeing he was standing there without her noticing.

“Is your mother awake?” she asked, not acknowledging his statement.

“She’s awake. Doctor Liu is applying the medicine now,” Chang Yuncheng replied.

Qi Yue nodded and stood up.

“Good, I’ll go take a look. Since we didn’t use general anesthetic, she must be in severe pain,” she said.

“Yue Niang,” Chang Yuncheng said again, “that person’s death is not your responsibility. Don’t be sad.”

Since yesterday, no one had mentioned the dead man. For everyone else, with injuries that severe, survival was impossible anyway, so it simply hadn’t been a point of focus, let alone concern.

They all attributed Qi Yue’s strange demeanor to exhaustion and thought no further.

“Actually, I don’t know why either,” Qi Yue said, clutching her hands, then managed a smile for him. “But it’s fine, I’ll be alright soon. After all, it’s a sad thing for a doctor to watch a patient die before their eyes, right? It’s only human nature.”

She was always trying to comfort herself—no matter what happened, it was fine, I’ll be fine in a moment…

Chang Yuncheng watched her, then reached out and pulled her into an embrace.

Qi Yue, suddenly held, was startled.

“Hey,” after her initial tension, she relaxed and patted Chang Yuncheng’s back. “If you don’t let go soon, I won’t consider this comfort, but assault.”

Chang Yuncheng released his hold.

“Regardless,” Qi Yue smiled at him, “I must still say thank you.”

With that, she walked out.

Watching Qi Yue leave, Chang Yuncheng only then registered what he had just done!

He hugged her! He had actually hugged her!

The awakened Madam Xie was a mixture of terror and shock regarding her condition. She tried to touch her neck, tried to scream, but the disciples held her down. The agonizing pain kept her from making a sound.

“You learned surgical skills from your master, so naturally, you are most adept at pain relief,” Imperial Physician Zhou remarked.

Liu Pucheng nodded. Once the medicine took effect, Madam Xie’s pain subsided slightly, and her emotional state improved a bit.

Qi Yue entered at that moment.

“Use charcoal braziers, perhaps some incense burners, mix salt and water into steam, and have her inhale it every so often,” she instructed the disciples behind her.

The disciples acknowledged her and busied themselves carrying out the orders.

Seeing her enter, Madam Xie, who had just calmed down, suddenly became agitated again.

“Get… get out…” she tried desperately to shout, ignoring the pain and waving her hands fiercely at Qi Yue.

“Don’t move! Don’t let the tube fall out!” Qi Yue cried out urgently, and the disciples by the bed rushed to hold Madam Xie down again.

But Madam Xie continued to struggle relentlessly.

“Damn it, quiet down!” Qi Yue suddenly raised her voice, pushing the disciples aside, standing by the bedside, and shouting fiercely at Madam Xie.

Everyone in the room jumped in fright.

Madam Xie stopped struggling, stunned by the volume.

“What are you shouting about! What commotion are you causing! You think too highly of yourself! Why would I bother saving you just to please you? How pretentious!” Qi Yue continued to yell, looking at her scornfully. “You truly think you’re some precious treasure, and your whole family is some treasure trove! Look at your foolish expression!”

The people in the room stared blankly. Hearing those words, they couldn't help but feel a wave of awkwardness.

This, this—cursing someone out at a moment like this was perhaps a bit inappropriate…

Madam Xie gasped, staring at Qi Yue, her eyes wide.

“If you kick the bucket, dying would be a quick release! How spirited! Denying me, your enemy, the satisfaction of showing mercy! Satisfaction? Ha! If you died, it would suit me even better! Who has the time to show you kindness!” Qi Yue declared with disdain.

Madam Xie was so enraged she nearly stopped breathing.

Liu Pucheng couldn't help but want to step forward to intercede, but Qi Yue paid him no mind.

“Look at your mother!” she continued to berate, pointing a finger toward Elder Madam Xie sitting nearby.

Without maids to serve her, she insisted on staying in the room. An elderly person simply couldn't endure this; at this moment, she couldn't even stand up.

Chang Yuncheng also entered then, and Qi Yue pointed at him too.

“Look at your son!” she shouted. “Look at what they’ve become because of you! It would be easy and quick for you to die! What about them! Truly, enemies from a past life, family in this one—they must have owed you a great deal of money in their last incarnation!”

As her words faded, laughter echoed in the quiet room.

Imperial Physician Zhou looked at Liu Pucheng and the others looking at him, and he sheepishly suppressed his smile.

“It really was quite funny what she said,” he explained, gesturing toward Qi Yue, his expression conveying, Isn't that right? Didn't you feel it too? He almost laughed again, but constrained himself under the scrutiny of Liu Pucheng and the others.

Hearing such a story wasn't entirely uncommon, but given the current medical environment, it was certainly a rarity.

My mother, when she was young and practicing medicine in the countryside, rarely had people admit her to a residence; instead, doctors were invited to the home, especially for childbirths—there was no concept of hospital stays. My mother attended the delivery for one family that had three daughters, and this time, the daughter-in-law gave birth to a son. However, the newborn suffered from asphyxia and died. My mother felt immense guilt, a guilt she carries to this day. She often says that of all the children she delivered, she can never forget this one. She often remarks that if it had happened in a hospital, the child surely could have been saved. Had this occurred now, my mother would likely have been pressured into jumping off a building. Fortunately, the times were different then. That family instead comforted my mother, saying that they simply weren't fated to be this child’s family. Yes, in those days, everyone believed in fate. Doctors believed in fate, adhering to doing their utmost, while patients believed in fate, accepting heaven's will.

So, don't mock my writing for being melodramatic, exaggerated, or simplistic. Life is far more dramatic than fiction. What you deem impossible is not necessarily so; anything can happen. The bad things can, and so can the good.

PS: No charge for this word count. RS