4
Teaching the Arrogant Servant a Lesson
Bai Jing’an’s hand paused abruptly.
“Out, out! Is this a place for you to boss around and act crazy?” The Marquess’s wife was the first to shout, driving her away.
Shen Jingchu stood firm, unwavering, and spoke with absolute certainty: “I’m not wrong. Five fen below the earlobe, and the silver needle must be heated. With this needle, the patient will temporarily stop breathing. Then, immediately insert the fifth needle at the philtrum, entering from the left and exiting from the right. The breath stuck in her chest will be released, and her panting will ease immediately.”
No one would believe the words of a fool, no matter how confident she sounded.
Two matrons stepped forward, unceremoniously grabbed Bai Jingchu, and threw her out into the courtyard.
Bai Jingchu stumbled, unable to steady herself, and fell heavily to the ground.
Ah, I should have minded my own business.
If the Old Madam were to die, the friendship between the Bai family and the Marquess’s household would come to an end.
Inside the room, Bai Jing’an hesitated, moving the silver needle back to the Old Madam’s Shaoshang acupoint, hesitating and not daring to insert it.
Chi Yanqing frowned. “Young Master Bai seems to have reservations.”
Bai Jing’an could only reply honestly, “I truly cannot determine the direction of this acupoint. I can only take a gamble.”
“We understand,” said the Marquess. “Life and death are fated. If anything goes wrong, we will not blame you.”
Just as Bai Jing’an was about to insert the needle, Chi Yanqing stopped him. “Since it’s a gamble either way, why not follow Miss Bai’s suggestion from earlier?”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?” the Marquess’s wife scolded. “You’d actually believe the words of a fool? She didn’t even check the pulse, let alone know what illness your grandmother has!”
Chi Yanqing insisted stubbornly, “That silly girl spoke with confidence and reason earlier. Moreover, she grew up following Old Doctor Bai and has been immersed in this since childhood. Perhaps there’s a chance she’s right.”
Bai Jing’an was indecisive, afraid that if he made a mistake, it would ruin his reputation. With Chi Yanqing’s suggestion, he was happy to shift the consequences onto Bai Jingchu.
If it succeeded, he would share half the credit. If it failed, it had nothing to do with him. The Marquess’s household would also hold Chi Yanqing accountable.
So he changed the direction of the needle. “Then, as the Young Master suggests, shall I switch to the Jiache acupoint?”
Chi Yanqing nodded firmly. “Yes!”
Everyone was at a loss, and for a moment, no one dared to speak up and dissuade him, fearing they would be blamed.
As soon as the needle was inserted, the Old Madam, who had been struggling to breathe, suddenly couldn’t catch her breath. She leaned back, her mouth wide open in agony.
Everyone exchanged glances, astonished.
What that foolish girl had said was actually true!
After his initial surprise, Bai Jing’an decisively inserted the fifth needle at the philtrum.
The Old Madam took a deep breath, a “gurgle” sound coming from her throat, and then slowly exhaled. Her chest, which had been heaving violently, gradually calmed, and she struggled to open her eyes.
It worked!
It was a miracle!
Everyone chattered excitedly, asking the Old Madam how she was feeling.
The Marquess, overjoyed, slapped Bai Jing’an on the shoulder. “This is a narrow escape from death! Thank you, Young Master Bai, for today. It’s all thanks to you.”
Bai Jing’an had been holding his breath the entire time. Seeing the Old Madam out of danger, his hands trembled.
“The Old Madam is blessed with great fortune. I am honored to have been able to contribute in my small way.”
Chi Yanqing curled his lips into a mocking smile and turned to look for Bai Jingchu.
Outside the courtyard, Matron Bai finally found Bai Jingchu, flustered and exasperated.
She had only dozed off for a moment, but when she woke up, the girl was nowhere to be seen. She had been searching all over the unfamiliar Marquess’s residence.
Seeing no one around, Granny Bai pinched Jingchu’s arm hard and cursed her with the most venomous words:
“You wretched little slut, you little temptress! You must have had quite the time, screaming so loudly and carrying on endlessly, leaving me to suffer the cold wind half the night.
The moment I dozed off, you vanished. How come Lord Yan didn’t shatter your bones? I hope you catch some filthy disease and rot through, you little hussy! Running around like that!”
The more she cursed, the harsher her words and actions became.
This wasn’t the first time.
Three years ago, after Bai Jingshu returned to the estate, Granny Bai had curried favor with her new mistress by aiding and abetting her cruelty. She had splashed cold water on Jingchu while she was kneeling in punishment, hidden needles in her cushion, fanned the flames of conflict, and even set traps to frame her.
Just yesterday, Bai Jingchu had been seething with rage.
Now, having finally regained her strength, she moved like lightning, seized Granny Bai’s wrist, twisted it, and pinned her to the ground. Then, mounting her, she rained down a flurry of punches, unleashing all the pent-up grievances she had endured over the past days.
“Let’s see you bully me again! Hit me again!”
Granny Bai struggled helplessly under Jingchu’s grip, screeching like a stuck pig: “You rebel! How dare you hit me? You damned little harlot! Madwoman!”
Bai Jingchu pulled a silver hairpin from her bun, holding it inches from Granny Bai’s eyes, and hissed coldly through gritted teeth: “Say that again?”
Granny Bai finally grew terrified, her eyes wide with fear: “I won’t, I won’t dare anymore! Please spare me, my lady!”
From the courtyard came the sound of hurried footsteps as a crowd rushed out to see what was happening.
Satisfied, Bai Jingchu withdrew the hairpin.
Seeing the danger had passed, Granny Bai mustered all her strength, struggled free, and flipped Jingchu beneath her:
“How dare you fight back! You must have a death wish!”
Bai Jingchu raised her arms to shield her head, her face full of fear: “Granny Bai, I was wrong! I won’t run off again, I promise. Please don’t hit me.”
Granny Bai raised her hand high, ready to strike.
“Stop this at once! How dare you cause such a scene!”
A crowd surged out of the courtyard. The one who shouted was Bai Jing’an, but standing at the forefront was Chi Yanqing, his expression deeply meaningful.
What a show.
He had just witnessed a full, uninterrupted performance.
The same little lamb who had lain dazed and foolish in his bed just moments ago had transformed into a fierce, bloodthirsty wolf.
That first swift, effortless move—so clean and precise—was hardly the action of a delicate, sheltered young lady.
And her punches had landed with pinpoint accuracy, striking the old woman’s vital points without leaving a trace, like hitting an ox through a mountain.
What had she experienced during those three years by Eunuch Li’s side?
And why was she pretending to be mad and foolish?
Chi Yanqing curled his lips into a mocking smile. “Young Master Bai, I never imagined the servants in your household could be so fierce. One might mistake her for the mistress.”
Bai Jing’an, humiliated, snapped at Granny Bai: “You insolent old wretch! How dare you cause trouble here? Have you grown tired of living?”
Granny Bai hastily released Bai Jingchu and dropped to her knees with a thud, pleading in grievance: “This old servant wouldn’t dare! It was this mad girl who pinned me down and beat me just now…”
From the back of the crowd, laughter erupted.
She should have looked in a mirror before lying—her burly frame made the story impossible to believe.
Meanwhile, Bai Jingchu had already retracted her fangs and claws. Her lips trembled, and her dark, glistening eyes welled with tears that seemed ready to fall at any moment. Her pitiful expression melted the hearts of everyone watching.
“She hit me and called me filthy, saying I’d catch the Young Marquis’s strange illness and die soon. Wuwu, I don’t want to die!”
I refuse to believe that a prestigious marquis’s household would tolerate a servant’s slander and insolence.
Smack!
Bai Jingchu only saw a blur before her eyes—she couldn’t even make out what it was—before the flash of light retracted back into Chi Yanqing’s hand.
Granny Bai collapsed to the ground with a thud, spitting out two teeth mixed with blood. The left side of her face swelled into a red, bruised mess, quickly oozing blood.
Chi Yanqing leisurely coiled a purple-gold snakebone whip, as thick as a finger, around his wrist. He looked at Granny Bai with a smile on his lips, but his eyes were sharp as blades.
“What’s the point of bullying a fool? Repeat those exact words to me. If you get them right, I’ll reward you handsomely.”