Chapter 14 Tell Her to Leave!

The butler looked utterly bewildered, his gaze darting between the two of them several times. “The Lady of the Heir Apparent knows the famed Miracle Doctor?”

Tan Yunge ground her teeth. “Know her? That’s an understatement.”

Then she suddenly realized. “So, the person Mother sent yesterday, who said they’d invited a renowned physician newly arrived in the capital to treat Father today—she was talking about her?”

Tan Qingjiu’s smile was bright and easy. “Indeed, what a coincidence.”

“Tell her to get out!” Tan Yunge’s voice brimmed with irritation. “What miracle doctor? She’s nothing but a charlatan! She can’t cure Father’s illness—throw her out!”

Tan Qingjiu, however, was not the least bit annoyed, still beaming at Tan Yunge. “Has your rash improved, Lady of the Heir Apparent?”

At the mention of this, Tan Yunge’s expression darkened further. She stormed toward Tan Qingjiu, grabbing her by the front of her dress, her voice trembling with fury. “What did you poison me with? Quickly, give me the antidote—or else I’ll kill you.”

“Oh…” Tan Qingjiu, her collar gripped, showed not a hint of fear. “Kill me? In broad daylight, with the law above us all, the Lady of the Heir Apparent openly threatens murder. How brazen.”

“As for poisoning?” Tan Qingjiu blinked, her tone full of mockery. “What are you talking about? How can you slander me so recklessly? When did I ever poison you?”

“I never so much as touched you yesterday. You clearly picked up something unclean yourself and broke out in a rash. How can you accuse me without a shred of evidence?”

“As for an antidote, if you want me to examine you or treat you, you’ll have to pay. My consultation isn’t cheap.”

Suddenly recalling something, Tan Qingjiu turned to the butler. “By the way, since I’m already here, even if you don’t want me to treat anyone, the consultation fee must still be paid.”

Tan Yunge, provoked by Tan Qingjiu’s nonchalance, released her grip and raised her hand to strike. But just then, her arm went numb, as if struck by something, and half her body was paralyzed.

Her raised hand fell limply to her side, pain shooting through her.

“What did you do to me? Why can’t I move my arm?”

“Innocent, I swear!” Tan Qingjiu smiled, looking completely blameless. “Don’t accuse me wrongly, Lady of the Heir Apparent. I did nothing at all—everyone saw it. You grabbed my collar, and I never so much as moved.”

“As for why your arm is useless…” Tan Qingjiu cocked her head and regarded Tan Yunge. “Perhaps you haven’t exercised in a long time, so your limbs are stiff. Making such a sudden, forceful move might have dislocated your shoulder.”

Tan Yunge was beside herself with rage. She glared hatefully at Tan Qingjiu and shouted, “Someone, seize her at once!”

The servants behind Tan Yunge immediately stepped forward.

Tan Qingjiu retreated two paces, and her own attendants quickly moved to block her.

“What are you doing, Lady of the Heir Apparent? I did nothing, yet you want to arrest me and mete out your own justice? Have you been the Heir Apparent’s wife so long you think you’re above all law?”

“I may be a doctor, but I am not some nobody. And right now, I am treating Prince Duan by imperial order. If you detain me, and Prince Duan cannot find me, I’ll have him come straight to your residence to demand my return.”

At the mention of Prince Duan, Tan Yunge recoiled two steps, her body shrinking back as if terrified.

Tan Qingjiu noted this reaction with interest. Though Prince Duan was mad and had nearly cost her her life, he certainly had his uses for intimidation.

The butler hurried forward to persuade, “Lady of the Heir Apparent, if you do not wish the Miracle Doctor to treat the Master, we can always find another physician. But please—”

He gestured for her to look around. The Tan household’s main gate opened onto the street, and already a crowd had gathered to gawk at the commotion between Tan Yunge and Tan Qingjiu.

Tan Yunge always presented herself as the gentle and virtuous Lady of the Heir Apparent. If anyone overheard what she had just said, her reputation would be ruined.

She drew a deep breath. This wretched woman—nothing good ever came of meeting her.

With so many onlookers, she would let it go for now. Later, she would find a secluded place and deal with her properly.

Grinding her teeth, Tan Yunge lowered her voice. “I’ll let you go this time. You’d better pray we don’t meet again, or else—”

Tan Qingjiu laughed. “That might be difficult. If you truly wish to avoid me, Lady of the Heir Apparent, just turn away the next time you see me.”

With that, she climbed into her carriage, leaving Tan Yunge stamping her foot in fury. “I should avoid her? Who does she think she is?”

“Wretch!” Tan Yunge took a deep breath and ordered her attendant, “Find out exactly who she is, and whether she’s really treating Prince Duan.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Only after watching Tan Qingjiu’s carriage depart did Tan Yunge clutch her injured hand. She shot the butler a glare. “What kind of miracle doctor did you invite—she’s lamed my hand! Go fetch a physician at once!”

Calling for her maid, Tan Yunge allowed herself to be helped into the Tan residence.

In the main hall, Chen Yueru paced anxiously, her face drawn with worry. Behind her hovered the other anxious relatives of the Tan family.

“Why hasn’t the miracle doctor arrived yet? I just went in, and my brother is breathing more shallowly than deeply. There’s a deadly pallor on his face—if the doctor doesn’t arrive soon, I fear…”

Chen Yueru bit her lip. “I’ve already sent someone to hurry her, and the butler is waiting at the gate.”

“Didn’t we ask a favor of Prince Ding to summon an imperial physician? What did he say?”

Chen Yueru was truly panicked. She had humble origins, once nothing more than Tan Yun’s chambermaid. Her current status depended entirely on his favor. Her son was still young; if Tan Yun died now, she doubted her ability to hold together the vast Tan estate.

“The imperial physician said it would be very difficult,” she choked out. “If we can’t find a miracle doctor to treat the Master, at most he has half a month…”

“But I’ve inquired—this Miracle Doctor has healed similar cases since arriving in the capital. She should be able to help.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than the butler entered with Tan Yunge.

Chen Yueru hurried forward. “Yunge, you’re here? Thank goodness!”

Then she turned to the butler. “Where is the miracle doctor? Has she arrived?”

“She did,” Tan Yunge replied coldly. “But I sent her away.”

“What? Sent her away?”