Chapter 18 Pinning Someone Down and Groping?

Tan Yunge kept pointing anxiously at her mouth and throat, almost frantic with distress.

The people in the room stared at Tan Yunge’s almost monkey-like gestures for a long time before someone finally reacted. “The Young Princess... has lost her voice?”

Tan Yunge nodded urgently.

“She can’t speak?” Chen Yueru’s eyes were filled with confusion. “How did she suddenly lose her voice? Wasn’t she perfectly fine just a moment ago?”

Tan Yunge raised her hand, gesturing that she wanted to write. Tan Yun pressed his lips together before speaking, “Bring paper and brush.”

Tan Yunge seized the writing tools and wrote rapidly.

It must have been that wretched Tan Qingjiu who poisoned me!

Tan Qingjiu from our own household!

We absolutely cannot let her get away!

She filled three sheets with her hurried script and handed them to Chen Yueru and Tan Yun.

“She poisoned you? But just now, she didn’t even get close to you, let alone touch you, did she?”

“Our Tan Qingjiu? Who do you mean?” Tan Yun looked utterly baffled, but Chen Yueru quickly came to her senses and reminded him, “It’s the one born to Madam—the younger sister of Yunge. The one who, six years ago, was drowned because she became pregnant before marriage, refused to reveal the father of her illegitimate child, and infuriated Master.”

Tan Yun finally recalled, and at the thought of that daughter, he couldn’t help but frown. “Wasn't she drowned? There were so many witnesses. Besides, Miracle Physician Qingjiu—she can’t be the same person. That physician never said which characters were in her name; perhaps it just sounds the same, not the same person. After all, Tan is a rare surname, but there are plenty of people called Tan, just not the same family.”

Tan Yunge shook her head vehemently and quickly wrote again: It’s definitely Tan Qingjiu, I recognized her voice. She’s not dead—she’s back, and she must have returned for revenge.

Tan Yun furrowed his brows. “Nonsense. Our Tan Qingjiu grew up in our household—how could she have learned medicine? Miracle Physician’s skills are not something you can master in five or six years. It’s impossible.”

Yet Chen Yueru, seeing Tan Yunge’s absolute certainty, grew more cautious. “Even if the likelihood is low, this concerns your safety, Master. We can’t be careless. Why not send someone to investigate?”

“If she truly is Tan Qingjiu, and she returned for vengeance, then we absolutely must not seek her medical help again.”

Tan Yun remained skeptical, casting a doubtful look at mother and daughter. “But after she treated me just now, I do feel much better.”

“Enough, enough. If you want to look into it, do as you wish. I still think Yunge must have offended the Miracle Physician and, unwilling to apologize, is making up this story.” He turned to Yunge. “By the way, just what happened between you and the Miracle Physician?”

Tan Yunge bit her lip, her hands clenching tightly in her sleeves. She was already the Young Princess—why should she suffer such humiliation here?

Gnashing her teeth, she lowered her head and wrote: Yesterday she poisoned me and ruined my face. Today she crippled my left hand, and now she’s taken my voice. Father, shouldn’t you call a doctor for me first?

Tan Yun frowned. “Go fetch the household physician.”

Outside the Tan residence, Tan Qingjiu had already spotted the steward of the Prince Duan’s manor.

“Miracle Physician.”

Tan Qingjiu nodded, her gaze landing on the steward’s face. “His Highness has fallen ill again?”

His eyes flickered, but he only smiled and bowed. “His Highness waits in the carriage. Would the Miracle Physician not care to attend to him personally?”

Tan Qingjiu hesitated. After all, Shen Yingjue was a madman through and through—if he had an episode, she would be in grave danger.

Moreover, she had come today to treat Tan Yun. Her medicine chest contained only what was necessary for him and some common remedies; she hadn’t brought any sedatives.

Though she wished to use Prince Duan’s influence to make her name in the capital quickly, she had no wish to lose her life in the process.

She hesitated, but the steward had already opened the carriage door. “Please, Physician.”

Tan Qingjiu pressed her lips together and turned to the curious Xingqi and Xingyou. “You two wait for me in our carriage. I’ll see Prince Duan and return soon.”

Xingqi narrowed his eyes, the look in them flickering with thought, though nothing showed on his face. “All right,” he replied, pulling the unwilling Xingyou onto their carriage.

Only after the two children had boarded did Tan Qingjiu turn and step into Prince Duan’s carriage.

Inside, Shen Yingjue wore his intricate golden mask, its ornate patterns lending him an air of mystery.

“Those two children—are they yours?”

Tan Qingjiu’s fingers twitched. She realized that since leaving the Prince Duan’s manor yesterday, he must have had her investigated. Lying now would do her no good.

“They are.”

Shen Yingjue recalled the appearance of the two children, frowning slightly. Neither looked much like him or Shen Xiao. Why, then, did Li Wei say they resembled him and Shen Xiao so much? Were his eyes deceiving him?

Tan Qingjiu saw the pensive look in Shen Yingjue’s eyes but paid it no mind. She simply raised her gaze to him. “Your Highness does not appear to be unwell. May I take your pulse?”

Shen Yingjue did not extend his hand. “Tan Qingjiu, second daughter of the Tan household—six years ago, drowned for bearing a child out of wedlock and refusing to name the father.”

He lifted his lids. “Six years later, the second Miss Tan returns to the capital, causing such a stir—have you come for revenge?”

“And if I have? And if I haven’t?”

Shen Yingjue chuckled, his eyes candid as he studied her. “I sent my steward especially to inform you and save you, Miss Tan. How will you repay me?”

Tan Qingjiu had already suspected as much, and now, hearing his words, her guess was confirmed. The hand she had kept clenched in her sleeve finally relaxed a little. “Even if your men hadn’t come, I would have found my own way out.”

“So, Physician, do you think I meddled unnecessarily?”

Tan Qingjiu lifted her brow ever so slightly. She gave no answer, but her expression was reply enough.

Shen Yingjue laughed. He found Tan Qingjiu a most fascinating woman.

“How would you have gotten away? By poisoning them? Or as you did to me yesterday—overpowering me and... groping at will?”

...What the devil?

She had indeed subdued him yesterday and touched his neck, but it was to threaten him—and to take his pulse!

Why did it sound so indecent when he put it that way?