Jiang Yao returned to the Jiang family from the side courtyard.
Jiang Fu looked towards Shen Yuanwu not far away, his gaze tinged with guilt.
He felt heartache that his biological daughter had suffered these things, but it was indeed Yuan Wu who had been in the wrong.
Jiang Fu went over intending to help Shen Yuanwu up.
Feeling someone assisting her, Shen Yuanwu initially thought it was a passerby. When she looked up and saw it was Jiang Fu, her expression changed drastically.
She ultimately couldn’t restrain herself and abruptly shook off Jiang Fu’s hand. “Don’t pretend to be caring now! Why didn’t you stop her when she was bullying me earlier?”
“As expected of someone raised in a merchant family, and indeed raised by you for over ten years—treating an adopted daughter better than your own flesh and blood! She deserved to be mistakenly taken in and raised by you back then. Your kind of merchant family truly has despicable character!”
“Yuan Wu!” Jiang Fu said angrily. “What happened earlier was your fault. Yao Yao was saving someone—she wasn’t bullying you.”
Shen Yuanwu sneered. “Saving someone? That child had already stopped breathing. Even if there was a last breath left, he wouldn’t have lasted until the Sun family could take him to the clinic. His fate was death! So if it weren’t for Jiang Yao, I wouldn’t have lost so much face! Why did she have to meddle like that!”
Thinking of the reputation she had worked so hard to build over the years now about to be ruined, and how she would be gossiped about and doubted from now on, how could she not be furious? She even wished she could have Jiang Yao killed.
That’s why she vented her anger by spewing these harsh words at the Jiang family without restraint.
In her view, the Jiang family were mere merchants—inferior people who couldn’t cause any waves.
She had already told her father and mother that even if Jiang Yao was recognized, she didn’t want to acknowledge the Jiang family.
But her father and mother wouldn’t allow it, insisting that she must recognize the Jiang family. They said that although the Jiangs were merchants, merchants had their advantages—namely, being wealthy and influential.
The Wu’an Marquis Manor had long been an empty shell these years, often struggling to make ends meet.
Yet in the past six months, this Jiang family had only given her roughly ten thousand taels in silver notes—how utterly stingy!
And now their adopted daughter was bullying her like this!
Jiang Fu stared at Shen Yuanwu in disbelief, seemingly unable to accept that his biological daughter could say such things.
That was a human life.
Was it really less important than her face?
She actually thought Yao Yao shouldn’t have saved Xuan Ge’er, just because it damaged her reputation.
How could she be so disregardful of human life?
Wasn’t she supposed to care about the world?
So this cold and selfish appearance before him must be his biological daughter’s true nature.
Jiang Fu said gravely, “Yuan Wu, you’re wrong to think that way. That was a human life. What you should do is go to the Sun family to apologize. First, let me take you back to tidy up your appearance. When the Sun family returns later, I’ll accompany you to apologize to them. As long as you’re sincere, the Sun family won’t blame you for anything.”
Shen Yuanwu had already gotten up from the ground.
She said coldly, “Why should I apologize to the Sun family? I did nothing wrong. I knew you would only protect Jiang Yao—I never expected you to stand up for me.”
Having said that, she turned and left.
She ultimately didn’t say anything about cutting ties.
Afraid of being scolded by her father when she returned.
Watching Shen Yuanwu in the distance, Jiang Fu’s face showed a trace of bewilderment.
Was this really the Jiang family’s biological daughter?
Jiang Fu sighed softly, turned and entered the Jiang residence, his back appearing somewhat desolate.
Shen Yuanwu returned to the Wu’an Marquis Manor and began crying as soon as she saw Yang Shi.
Yang Shi’s heart ached terribly. “What’s wrong, Wu Wu? Stop crying now. Did someone bully you? Tell Mother quickly, Mother will help you.”
“Mother,” Shen Yuanwu sobbed, “It’s all because of that wretched Jiang Yao! Do you know what she did? She’s going to be the death of me!”
Yang Shi was startled, not knowing what had happened.
“Wu Wu, stop crying first. What exactly did she do?”
Shen Yuanwu tearfully recounted everything that had just occurred, concluding with, “Mother, I even used that method, but I couldn’t save the Sun family’s child. This shows he was bound to die even with his last breath. I don’t know what strange method Jiang Yao used to save him, and that old woman Sun even slapped me across the face.”
Yang Shi had already noticed the redness and swelling on her daughter’s face, initially thinking Jiang Yao had hit her.
Now hearing the full story, it was even more serious.
“How could this happen?” Yang Shi’s face also changed color.
“Wuwu, Mother, what should I do?”
Yang Shi’s heart ached for her daughter. Patting her back to comfort her, she said, “Wu Wu, don’t worry. The situation isn’t as serious as you think. This time it’s just because your skills aren’t refined enough, your medical knowledge isn’t proficient. You only meant well but things went wrong. It won’t greatly affect your reputation. In a few days, everyone will forget. Then you can just do more good deeds.”
Yang Shi desperately tried to think of solutions for Shen Yuanwu.
Shen Yuanwu cried, “But I still want to become Divine Doctor Xue’s disciple. After this incident, Divine Doctor Xue will definitely hear about it and surely won’t think highly of me. Mother, what should I do?”
It was precisely because she wanted Divine Doctor Xue to take her as his disciple that she had been providing free medical treatment every day recently.
When she saw today’s incident, she didn’t hesitate before stepping forward to help.
She thought that if she could save the child, it would be more favorable for Divine Doctor Xue to accept her as his disciple.
Even if she couldn’t save him, demonstrating such emergency treatment skills would still earn her Divine Doctor Xue’s admiration.
Everyone knew Divine Doctor Xue possessed many powerful prescriptions, including various formulas beneficial for women.
Obtaining these prescriptions would not only bring fame and fortune but also help her family.
Furthermore, being accepted as Divine Doctor Xue’s disciple would elevate her reputation even further.
She wanted the world to remember her, to be revered by all people. Therefore, she had always been diligent and striving to improve, learning everything. But today, Jiang Yao had ruined her like this.
Yang Shi was nearly heartbroken with distress.
“Wu Wu, don’t worry. When your father returns, we’ll think of a solution together. We’ll definitely make Divine Doctor Xue accept you as his disciple.”
Yang Shi had initially thought today’s incident wasn’t major—it was just due to her daughter’s lack of skill, and since the Sun family’s child was saved, it shouldn’t spread throughout the city.
But she never expected Shen Yuanwu’s reputation to be so immense.
She combined talents, virtuous conduct, skills, and more into one person.
She was unique in the capital.
No young woman in Jingcheng had a greater reputation than her. Even those young women with outstanding literary talent and beauty could only pale in comparison before her five famous poems.
Therefore, news about her spread rapidly.
In just two hours, everyone was discussing the incident.
“Have you heard? Miss Shen nearly caused a death today.”
“Really? Shen Yuanwu, the Commandery Princess from Wu’an Marquis Manor?”
“Of course it’s her. Today, Attendant Censor Lord Sun’s child choked on a fruit because a servant in their mansion was negligent…”
Those who witnessed the incident firsthand vividly described the scene to others.
“Heavens, what happened with Miss Shen? How could she so easily cut off someone’s chance of survival? Fortunately, another kind-hearted person noticed the child still had a faint breath—otherwise Lord Sun would have gone mad upon returning from his office. Who was this kind-hearted person? To possess such remarkable skill? With just one glance, they could tell whether there was still life left.”
“It was Pei Shaofuren, the wife of Zhuangyuan Lang Pei Muzheng.”
“So it was this young madam? I heard she previously had some disputes with Commandery Princess Shen at Dingguo Duke Manor?”
“Exactly! Because Commandery Princess Shen brought people to catch an adulterer, she declared the person inside was Pei Shaofuren before even entering. Upon hearing his sister-in-law’s words, Scholar Pei didn’t verify the facts and immediately threatened to demote his wife to Qie. So Pei Shaofuren even suspected her husband was having an affair with Commandery Princess Shen.”
“Miss Shen isn’t that kind of person, how could she covet a married man? But this time Miss Shen truly went too far.”
“Indeed, practicing medicine with inadequate skills is simply harming people.”
“I thought Miss Shen’s medical skills were exceptional too, never expected her to be so half-baked.”
“Regardless, Miss Shen’s literary talent remains outstanding. She usually accumulates merit through good deeds and even created such excellent wheelchairs. Let’s hope Miss Shen reflects on this and won’t be so careless as to endanger lives again.”
From street corners to teahouses and taverns, discussions about this matter were everywhere.
Officials from various yamens returning from work passed through the market alleys on their way home.
Those officials without carriages could hear vendors, porters, and commoners chatting about the incident all along their walk home.
Among these officials were relatives of the parties involved—Attendant Censor Sun Ying and Pei Muzheng.