Chapter 25: Bone Setting

 Chapter 25: Bone Setting

"Second Sister, what's wrong?" Chu Yunmu, holding a pine nut candy, curiously watched Chu Qianchen's actions.

Chu Qianchen's hand gently passed over Chu Yunmu's broken leg as she mentally assessed how severe the bone misalignment was, while asking, "Mu Ge’er, who has touched your right leg?"

"I..." Chu Yunmu was about to speak when Jiannian entered with a tray.

"Second Miss, what are you doing?!" Jiannian's eyes widened in shock as she cried out, "Someone! Hurry, someone!"

Jiannian placed the tray aside and suddenly lunged at Chu Qianchen to pry her hands away.

The noise alerted Shen Shi, who rushed over, flustered, and asked, "What happened?" 

"Madam, she... the Second Miss is moving Fourth Young Master's injured leg!" Jiannian spoke anxiously, finishing her sentence in one breath.

Shen Shi's face changed slightly. When Physician Li had applied the splint to Chu Yunmu’s leg, he had repeatedly instructed that the injured leg should not be moved to avoid improper healing and permanent disability.  

"Second Miss, what are you doing?" Chen Mama blurted out, her voice laced with coldness, thinking: Could the Second Miss really have bad intentions?! She must be the product of that one! Perhaps all her kindness towards Fourth Young Master was just an act!

"Chen Mama!" After the shock, Shen Shi immediately chastised Chen Mama.

Her gaze fell thoughtfully on Chu Qianchen.

At that moment, Chu Qianchen was sitting at the edge of the couch, her body shielding Chu Yunmu's injured right leg while Jiannian pushed at her back.

Shen Shi quickly regained her composure and gently asked, "Chen’er, is there something wrong with Mu Ge’er’s leg?"

Her voice remained calm and soothing.

Jiannian, still anxious, interjected, "Madam, when I came in, I saw..."

"No, Mother," Chu Yunmu interrupted Jiannian, defending Chu Qianchen, "I said my right leg hurts, and Second Sister came to check on me."

Just as she had expected, she knew she hadn't misjudged this child. Shen Shi felt a sense of relief, but her brow furrowed slightly in concern upon hearing that her son’s right leg hurt.

"Mother, Mu Ge’er’s broken leg has a misalignment," Chu Qianchen said seriously. She glanced sharply at Jiannian, her phoenix eyes sharp and cold, making Jiannian flinch and look away, not daring to meet her gaze.

When Chu Qianchen spoke, Shen Shi’s face turned pale, and she trembled, "Is what you said true?"

Chu Qianchen nodded, gesturing with her finger. "The bone misalignment is slight, but if left untreated, when the bone heals, Mu Ge’er will end up with a limp."

Even a slight difference could cause one leg to be longer than the other, which would affect walking, meaning Chu Yunmu would become lame.

Shen Shi’s heart clenched in fear. She instinctively placed a hand on her chest and took a small step back, with Chen Mama quickly supporting her. "Madam!"

Chen Mama looked at Chu Qianchen with suspicion, afraid she was playing tricks.

Chu Qianchen didn’t mind and met her gaze boldly, unflinching.

Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes, staring at Chen Mama’s chin and neck for a moment, her gaze deepening.

"Chen’er, what... what should we do now?" Shen Shi's voice trembled, her elegant face filled with panic, struggling to find the words.

"Don’t worry, Mother," Chu Qianchen shifted her gaze from Chen Mama's face and reassured her. "Fourth Brother’s broken bone hasn’t healed completely. It just needs to be realigned, and there will be no lasting consequences."

Shen Shi relaxed slightly, the color slowly returning to her face.

She reached forward and took Chu Qianchen’s hand, asking, "Chen’er, can you do it?"

"Madam?!" Chen Mama exclaimed in surprise.

Chen Mama felt it would be safer to call Physician Li to check on Fourth Young Master again. After all, how could the Second Miss manage such a task at her young age?

"I can," Chu Qianchen nodded solemnly.

Even if Shen Shi hadn’t asked, she would have insisted on setting the bone herself. If another physician did it, Chu Yunmu would suffer greatly.

"Good." Shen Shi released Chu Qianchen’s hand and said seriously, "Chen’er, I trust you."

She trusted Chu Qianchen’s sincerity towards Chu Yunmu.

"Don’t worry, Mother." Chu Qianchen smiled softly, her confident smile carrying a mysterious strength that seemed to soothe Shen Shi’s anxious heart.

Chu Yunmu understood and looked at Chu Qianchen with pitiful eyes. After a moment, he closed his eyes and said, "Second Sister, go ahead. I’m going to be a general in the future! I’m not afraid of pain!"

"Such a good boy." Chu Qianchen gently rubbed the top of his head.

Under Shen Shi’s intense gaze, Chu Qianchen skillfully removed the splint from Chu Yunmu's right leg.

She had already located the break, so she was confident. With her right hand pressing on his leg, she used her left hand to place a pine nut candy in his mouth.

Then, with swift movements, she pulled and pushed in one motion. Chu Yunmu only felt pain for a moment, but before he could even cry out, Chu Qianchen had already released him.

Chu Yunmu blinked, still dazed, and asked, "Is it done?"

"It’s done," Chu Qianchen replied affirmatively.

Chu Qianchen then carefully reattached the splint, tying it with a bandage. She turned to Shen Shi and said, "Mother, don't let anyone touch Mu Ge’er's leg again. If the bone misaligns again, Mu Ge’er will suffer even more."

"Mu Ge’er needs to stay in bed for at least another month before he can get up."

"I understand." Shen Shi, already shaken, would never let such a thing slip again, even if Chu Qianchen hadn't spoken up.

She decided to move Chu Yunmu to the green gauze wardrobe in her room, where she would watch over him day and night.

Chu Yunmu, curious, touched his newly bandaged right leg and said, "Second Sister, it didn’t hurt at all just now!"

His eyes sparkled as he looked at Chu Qianchen, thinking that his Second Sister was truly amazing and incredible!

Chu Qianchen leaned down and asked gently, "Mu Ge’er, did someone tell you not to tell anyone about your leg hurting?"

Chu Yunmu nodded. The five-year-old child looked a little embarrassed but pretended to be brave as he said, "I’m going to be a general! The wet nurse said that men can't whine about pain like this."

"..."

Shen Shi’s pupils constricted as she shot a sharp glance at Jiannian.

"Madam, I..." Jiannian’s face went pale, and she stammered, "I didn’t know..."

"Didn't know?" Shen Shi sneered. "You didn’t know, but you let Mu Ge’er endure the pain in silence?"

"I... I..." Jiannian’s gaze wandered, and she suddenly fell to her knees on the cold, hard ground, crying, "Madam, I didn’t know the physician misaligned the bone. I thought it was just the natural pain of the healing process. I was afraid Madam would blame me for not watching over Fourth Young Master properly..."

"Madam, I’ve always been loyal to Fourth Young Master..."

"Enough." Shen Shi interrupted Jiannian coldly.

Jiannian's lips trembled, too frightened to speak further.

(End of chapter)