Chapter 65: Face (Second Update)

 Chapter 65: Face (Second Update)

Chu Qianchen rubbed his head, "If you've done something wrong, you must be punished."

She felt a bit puzzled. Recently, Chu Yunmu had been staying in the Bisha Chamber at Shen Shi's place, lying in bed every day, unable to go anywhere. How did he find out about Concubine Jiang's punishment?

Before she could ask, Chu Yunmu tilted his head and said, "Elder sister clearly said that this would make you happy..."

The brother and sister didn't notice that Shen Shi was standing just outside the door.

Liu Shi had just left, and Shen Shi quickly entered, eager to know how well her son's broken bones had healed after removing the splint. Coincidenseal, she overheard the conversation.

Huang Jie'er?! Shen Shi couldn't help but recall the day Shen Wan came to the house and the words Chu Qinghuang said.

She frowned, feeling something was off. It seemed that her daughter was more concerned about Concubine Jiang's punishment than Chu Qianchen was.

When her daughter returned from the palace in a few days, she would have to ask her about it.

Thinking of this, Shen Shi entered the Bisha Chamber.

"Mother," Chu Yunmu happily called out, "Elder sister took off my splint, and I can get out of bed now..."

"No," Chu Qianchen immediately interrupted, causing Chu Yunmu's small face to fall.

Seeing her son looking so pitiful, Shen Shi couldn't help but smile and sat by the bed, patiently explaining, "When you hurt your muscles or bones, it takes about a hundred days to heal. You've only been recovering for a short time; you can't get up so quickly."

"A hundred days?" Chu Yunmu stared in shock, as if the sky was about to fall.

Chu Qianchen patiently explained, "Healing a fracture is a complicated process. The younger you are, the faster you heal. You're only five, so your recovery will be much quicker than others. Now that the splint is off, you can move your leg slightly, gradually increasing the range of motion to avoid muscle atrophy and joint stiffness."

"In a few more days, you can start using a cane to walk."

"In about a month and a half, you'll be almost completely recovered."

"Really?!" Chu Yunmu's eyes lit up, sparkling like jewels.

The thought that he wouldn't have to stay in bed for a hundred days made him feel like his sister was his savior!

"Really!" Chu Qianchen rubbed his brother's head, "You need to behave!"

"Then you have to come and play with me every day!" Chu Yunmu tried to get more out of her.

Seeing Chu Yunmu, the little troublemaker, so obedient to Chu Qianchen, Shen Shi's smile deepened.

She looked at Chu Qianchen with a soft smile for a moment, as if casually saying, "Chen'er, earlier, your second aunt asked me about the miracle physician from Jishi Hall and wanted your aunt to help with an introduction."

Liu Shi had seen Qiniang's scars healing well at the entrance of Yuanqing Temple. After asking around, she found out that it was the miracle physician from Jishi Hall who treated her, and the ten-part ointment was especially effective. Liu Shi wanted Shen Shi to ask her younger sister, Shen Wan, to introduce the physician or share some of the ointment for Chu Qianling to try.

Chu Qianchen looked up at Shen Shi, meeting her calm, gentle gaze.

The room grew quiet for a moment.

Shen Shi also looked at Chu Qianchen's beautiful phoenix eyes, smiling slightly, her demeanor warm yet insightful, as if she understood everything.

When Liu Shi asked for her help earlier, she had thought that Liu Shi could have just gone to Jishi Hall herself to seek medical help.

Now she realized that Liu Shi had likely already gone but was rejected by the physician, which is why she asked Shen Wan for an introduction.

Recalling that Shen Wan had mentioned the young physician, who was only about twelve or thirteen years old, Shen Shi suddenly felt enlightened. It was like a string of disconnected pearls had suddenly been strung together.

So that's how it is!

I didn’t expect that Miss Chen, at such a young age, would have such remarkable medical skills!

Indeed, if she could even save Young Master Mu, Shen Shi had no doubt that the girl had the power to bring someone back to life.

Although Chu Qianchen didn’t say it outright, Shen Shi didn’t ask any further questions either.

A silent understanding formed between the two of them, and they shared a smile.

Chu Yunmu looked at his mother, then at his sister, feeling confused, as if they were discussing something he didn’t know about!

This wasn’t good!

Was he still their most beloved Mu-ge’er?!

“Mother~~” Chu Yunmu blinked his eyes curiously, “Second Sister~~”

Chu Qianchen skillfully pulled out a pine nut candy and shoved it into his mouth. Chu Yunmu immediately broke into a smile, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons.

Forget it, he was magnanimous and forgave her!

Shen Shi didn’t stay long and left, allowing the siblings to play on their own.

As the mistress of the marquis' household, Shen Shi had many things to do every day.

Especially with the matriarch’s birthday approaching in a few days. Though it wasn’t a grand celebration, and the matriarch didn’t want anything too extravagant, there were still many details that required Shen Shi’s personal attention.

After leaving the Bisha wardrobe, Shen Shi took Chen Mama to the East Chamber.

As soon as she sat on the Rohan bed, the young maidservant presented her with hot tea. Shen Shi picked up the teacup and suddenly asked, “Chen Mama, do you think Miss Chen’s eyes look like mine?”

Shen Shi remembered that her sister had mentioned the little physician’s eyes resembling hers and couldn’t help but ask.

Chen Mama hesitated for a moment before replying, “It seems there is some resemblance…”

In the past, the second young miss always kept her head down, appearing timid and shy. Even her phoenix eyes often showed a sense of fear and cowardice, which was far from how the madam looked.

But now, the confidence and determination in her eyes made her phoenix eyes even more radiant and charming, and indeed, she now resembled the madam somewhat.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Mama added, “Perhaps it’s because the second young miss has been spending so much time with the madam lately, learning some of the madam’s poise.”

At that moment, a young maidservant in green rushed over and respectfully reported, “Madam, Xu Mama has something to ask. She says the new batch of Bixuan rice in the kitchen has worms…”

Shen Shi took a sip of tea before replying, “Let her in.”

Shen Shi was busy, and so was Chu Qianchen, who was occupied with playing with Chu Yunmu. She had lunch in the main courtyard and, at dusk, accompanied Shen Shi to Rongfu Hall to pay respects to the matriarch.

By the time they arrived, people were already gathered in the left chamber.

In addition to the matriarch, Liu Shi and Chu Qianling had also arrived.

Chu Qianling was dressed in a pink ru skirt, her face veiled with a rosy-colored mesh, and she shot a resentful look at Chu Qianchen, gritting her teeth.

Since her face had been scarred, she had been hiding in her courtyard for nearly a month.

Even now, after almost a month, she would still have nightmares, replaying the scene of the sword slashing her face, and the blood-red vision that followed…

She still couldn’t understand why it was her face that was damaged!

It should have been Chu Qianchen’s face!

Chu Qianchen kept her gaze straight ahead, walking gracefully to the matriarch’s side with Shen Shi and greeting her with a bow.

Liu Shi glared at Shen Shi and Chu Qianchen, feeling frustrated. “This little wretch, Chu Qianchen, thinks she has Shen Shi’s support and can do whatever she pleases! She ruined my daughter’s face, and I’ll settle the score with her sooner or later!”

Shen Shi was a fool, protecting Chu Qianchen, this wretched creature, without fearing that one day she might be bitten by this ingrate.

After Shen Shi and Chu Qianchen sat down, Liu Shi couldn’t wait to speak to the matriarch. “Mother, you know I’ve been seeking physicians for my daughter’s face injury…”

When Liu Shi mentioned her daughter’s face, Chu Qianling lowered her eyelids, tightly clutching her handkerchief.

Liu Shi continued, “A few days ago, I heard about a young physician from Jishi Hall, who is very skilled. Not only did he save General Ming, but he also brought Young Master Yun back from the brink of death. Today, I ran into County Princess Jing at Yuanqing Temple, and she told me that this young physician also healed Seventh Miss’s face!”

Liu Shi spoke while secretly glancing at Shen Shi, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction and resentment.

Earlier that afternoon, Liu Shi had gone to Shen Shi to ask for help in seeking out County Princess Jing, but Shen Shi had been vague, saying the ointment was for Gu Zhiyan and that the physician only gave a three-day supply each time. When Liu Shi asked her to introduce the physician, Shen Shi claimed that County Princess Jing had not met with anyone lately and refused to assist.

Liu Shi felt resentful toward Shen Shi, thinking that her daughter was also Shen Shi’s niece, and such a small favor shouldn’t have been hard to grant.

The matriarch, however, was unaware of Liu Shi’s thoughts and did not know that Liu Shi had already asked Shen Shi for help.

Hearing about this skilled physician, the matriarch’s spirits lifted, and she turned to Shen Shi, asking, “Azhi, is it true that Seventh Miss’s face is healed?”

Shen Shi shook her head, “Mother, I don’t know. When my sister and Seventh Miss visited me a few days ago, Seventh Miss still had ointment on her face. My sister only said that they had just found a physician and were still testing his treatment.”

Shen Shi then turned to Liu Shi, “Second Sister, you met my sister and Seventh Miss today at Yuanqing Temple. How do you think Seventh Miss’s condition is now?”

Liu Shi could only stiffly reply, “I think the scar on Seventh Miss’s face is no longer visible, so it must be thanks to that physician’s skill.”

Shen Shi quickly glanced at Chu Qianchen, who was drinking tea with her head lowered, as if completely uninvolved in the matter, calm and composed.

The matriarch had no reason to doubt Shen Shi’s words.

To her, Shen Shi had no reason to lie.

The matriarch fiddled with a string of pearls and then said to Liu Shi, “Why don’t we invite that physician to the marquis’s residence to check on Seventh Miss?”

Liu Shi: “…”

Liu Shi’s face stiffened, her expression turning sour.

Earlier that afternoon, after meeting County Princess Jing at Yuanqing Temple, Liu Shi hurriedly took the marquis’s invitation to Jishi Hall to ask the young physician to see Seventh Miss. But the shopkeeper there refused to cooperate, saying the physician was unavailable.

Out of frustration, Liu Shi had wanted to have the place smashed, but the shopkeeper wasn’t scared. He even mentioned that the last person who caused a ruckus at Jishi Hall was Marquis Zhongyong, and after facing Prince Chen, he had to leave with his tail between his legs.

When Liu Shi heard about Prince Chen, she immediately backed down.

Everyone knew that Prince Chen was ruthless, even the emperor didn’t dare to provoke him, let alone the small Marquis’s residence.

Liu Shi had no choice but to turn to Shen Shi for help after returning from Jishi Hall.

The scar on her daughter’s face, a one-and-a-half-inch deep wound, had been deemed fatal by all the physicians in the capital, even the imperial physicians at the Tai Hospital. They all said it would definitely leave a scar.

A scar meant ruined beauty, and Chu Qianling had been devastated over it, crying endlessly. Liu Shi had to calm her down repeatedly.

Now, this young physician was her only hope.

The more Liu Shi thought about it, the more dissatisfied she became. Her gaze toward Shen Shi turned darker.

Even though Liu Shi was frustrated with Shen Shi, she didn’t dare to openly target her and instead sighed dramatically at the matriarch, “Mother, you don’t know. That young physician, relying on saving Young Master Yun, has gained the protection of Prince Chen and now looks down on us.”

“Seventh Miss is truly fortunate to have caught the young physician’s eye…”

Liu Shi sighed enviously again, her tone a bit bitter. She believed the young physician had become arrogant after gaining fame, only willing to treat those high-ranking royals and nobles.

What was even worse was Shen Shi!

It was just a small matter. If she had just mentioned it to County Princess Jing, Shen Shi could have helped. But she refused to, even though Liu Shi had lowered herself to plead for help.

It would have been so easy to share a little of the ointment with her daughter to slow the healing down. It wasn’t a big deal!

The matriarch’s mind shifted, and she began thinking that perhaps she could ask County Princess Jing for some of the medicine.

(End of this chapter)