“You there, stop right there. You said earlier that if I could save the person, you would kneel and kowtow to me. Now it’s time for you to fulfill your promise.”
Her voice was cold and brooked no argument.
“Yes, Father, do you know that this woman just tried to…”
Xia Lin quickly walked up to Valley Master Xia and rattled off the whole story from beginning to end. Only then did everyone learn that Xia Lin was actually Valley Master Xia’s son.
“This is truly reckless disregard for human life! Calling you a quack wouldn’t be wrong at all.”
After hearing this, Valley Master Xia and Divine Physician Qiu both glared at Chen Xue’er with righteous indignation and shouted at her.
At the same time, Chen Xue’er’s master and the other physicians also flushed red with embarrassment, for none of them had detected the problem earlier.
“Master, save me…”
Chen Xue’er finally began to show signs of fear, because she too had seen Xiao Sui’s grim expression.
Her master, the head of Huichuntang, was also filled with shame and dread at this moment. They had nearly harmed someone of noble status, and dared not speak a word.
“I was only joking. Why are you taking it so seriously? You really have no tolerance at all, do you?”
Seeing that her master remained silent, Chen Xue’er turned to Feng Wangge and spoke, attempting to morally blackmail her.
“A gentleman’s word is his bond. If you won’t honor what you said, that’s fine—I’ll help you do it.”
Feng Wangge raised an eyebrow, then stepped closer to Chen Xue’er and kicked her directly in the knee.
Chen Xue’er fell to her knees instantly. When she tried to say something, Feng Wangge pressed her head down and forced it to the ground.
“There. Isn’t this how a gentleman keeps his word?”
Such an act left everyone present stunned. This was the first time they had ever seen a woman like this.
“Guards. Chen Xue’er is incompetent in medicine and vicious of heart. Banish her from Jingcheng. Huichuntang has failed to discipline its disciples and has compromised its medical ethics. From this day forth, it shall be closed until it has reformed its skills and ethics before reopening its doors.”
Xiao Sui glanced at Feng Wangge, then spoke in a cold voice.
All the physicians of Huichuntang looked ashen-faced, glaring at Chen Xue’er with intense hatred. It was all her fault.
Yet they never considered that they themselves had only been thinking of earning merit and hefty consultation fees, without a thought for the old man’s safety afterward.
“You bitch! It’s all your fault! Why did you have to ruin me? It’s all you! Why don’t you just die, you slut!”
When Chen Xue’er heard Xiao Sui’s judgment against her, a look of utter despair flooded her face, and then she glared viciously at Feng Wangge.
Not only had this person humiliated her, but she had also caused her to be banished from Jingcheng. Never again would she be a physician revered by all.
“Slap.”
But Feng Wangge simply raised her hand and struck her across the face.
“Try cursing me again.”
Her tone was cold and calm, yet somehow terrifying. After being slapped, Chen Xue’er didn’t dare utter another word.
Xiao Sui waved his hand, and some men came forward to drag Chen Xue’er and the physicians of Huichuntang away.
“This is my personal jade pendant. With this pendant, you may make any request you wish.”
Looking at the jade pendant Xiao Sui offered, Feng Wangge accepted it without any hesitation. It was what she deserved.
After nodding to Divine Physician Qiu and Valley Master Xia, she turned her gaze to the other bald head in the room—or rather, the abbot.
“Master Shanjue, my grandfather is staying here. I would ask you to look after him well.”
“You flatter me, Miss Chu. This old monk will certainly treat your grandfather with the utmost care.” Compared to the help Feng Wangge had once given Changuangsi, this was nothing worth mentioning.
Feng Wangge nodded, but couldn’t help adding one more thing.
“My surname is Feng, not Chu. I am not of the Chu family. Master, please don’t call me Miss Chu in the future.”
After saying this, she nodded to everyone present and walked out.
She even knew the abbot of Changuangsi? Just who was this young woman?
Xiao Sui murmured to himself.
Meanwhile, Feng Wangge arrived at the gates of Changuangsi.
Standing beside Steward Li were now dozens of people—maidservants and guards alike. Seeing Feng Wangge emerge, they all bowed respectfully in unison.
“We pay our respects to the Young Miss.”
What impressive bearing. Even the maidservants and attendants looked ten times more refined than the servants of the Chu family.
“Young Miss, let us depart. Everything is ready.”
Looking at the assembled retinue, the brand-new luxurious carriage, and Steward Li, who was now washed clean and quite imposing, Feng Wangge’s expression remained indifferent. She gave a soft “mm” and boarded the carriage.
The other maidservants and guards exchanged silent glances with one another. Their Young Miss was truly different—seeing such a spectacle, she showed not the slightest reaction.
“Move out.”
But none of that mattered. Steward Li mounted his horse, the maidservants and guards each took their positions, and the procession departed in an orderly and swift manner.
Along the way, they happened to cross paths with another carriage procession.
“Mother, whose family is this? How grand they are!”
Chu Mingzhu lifted the carriage curtain and happened to see the procession passing by. The guards carried weapons with formidable bearing, while the maidservants moved with graceful elegance, holding plates of fruits and pastries.
Compared to their own procession of barely seven or eight servants and attendants, this was far too impressive. A look of intense envy flashed in Chu Mingzhu’s eyes.
“It looks like it should be an official’s household, or perhaps a noble family—otherwise, how could they be so grand and ostentatious?”
Mrs. Chu said with a hint of envy. Such grandeur and depth were something the Chu family, being mere merchants, would never dare to compare themselves to.
“Mother, that person on horseback looks somewhat familiar to me.”
Looking at the steward leading the horses, Chu Mingzhu felt a flicker of familiarity.
Could this person’s build resemble the one who came to pick up Feng Wangge?
But she dismissed the thought immediately. Feng Wangge was merely the daughter of a hunter; by now, she should have returned to her mountain valley, and from this day forward, they would belong to two different worlds.
This was utterly impossible.
“Alright, let’s not worry about that. Shall we go see your grandfather? You must make a good impression when you meet him—he still holds quite a number of estates and shops in his hands.”
Mrs. Chu said earnestly to Chu Mingzhu.
“Mother, rest assured, I will be a dutiful granddaughter to Grandfather.”
Chu Mingzhu’s eyes lit up as she spoke immediately. However, when they arrived at the entrance of Changuangsi, they were not allowed inside, with the reason given that a noble personage was present and no outsiders would be permitted entry today.
The mother and daughter were annoyed and unwilling to accept this, but seeing the row of tall guards at the gate, they could only return dejectedly.
On the other side, after three days of traveling by carriage, Feng Wangge and her party finally arrived in Jingcheng.
But looking at the residence before her, even though she prided herself on having seen much of the world, she couldn’t help but glance sideways in surprise.
“Is this my home?”