Chapter 29: Who Dared to Move My Things

Shen Xiao’s sudden remark left Madam Li dumbfounded for a moment, unsure how to respond.

“Oh dear, it’s so foul!” Shen Xiao pinched her nose, waving her hand.

“I’ll clean it up at once, at once,” Madam Li bowed her head, hurriedly explaining, “This was a remedy I heard about some time ago, said to make a lady’s skin fair and delicate. So I went and prepared some.”

“My original intention was to let the young lady try it, but once it was mixed, the stench was overwhelming. I poured it all out but hadn’t had time to tidy up when the young master arrived.”

Shen Xiao frowned, “With a smell like that, who would dare put it on their skin?”

Only when Madam Li took the bowl outside did Shen Xiao release her nose. Yet, as soon as she did, the odor seemed to intensify, flooding her nostrils.

Unable to help herself, Shen Xiao retched a few times.

“It’s unbearable! Even after it’s been taken away, the stench still lingers in this room,” she said, quickly heading for the door. “Forget it, I’m leaving; it’s too foul here for me to stay.”

“Tell your mistress to take good care of herself,” she added, before fleeing the courtyard. Madam Li watched her go, finally breathing a sigh of relief before hastening into the washroom.

The conversation between Shen Xiao and Madam Li had been clearly audible to Tan Yunge, who sat in her bath with a grim expression. When Madam Li entered, Tan Yunge slapped the water angrily.

“Ah! I want to kill Tan Qingjiu!”

Madam Li hurried to the bath’s edge, her gaze falling on Tan Yunge’s body. “Mistress, it seems Tan Qingjiu’s medicine is working. Look, your rashes used to be bright red, large, and densely scattered—a frightful sight. But after two days of treatment, most have faded, leaving only faint traces. Unless you look closely, you can hardly see them.”

Tan Yunge glanced down at her rashes; indeed, they were as Madam Li described.

“I know you hate Tan Qingjiu, Mistress, but you still need her medicine.”

“Just endure a little longer; after tomorrow, once the medicine is finished and the rashes have faded, you can deal with Tan Qingjiu as you wish.”

Tan Yunge nearly ground her teeth to dust. “I know, I know I can’t truly kill her yet. But I can spare her life and still make sure she doesn’t live comfortably.”

She took a deep breath. “Come closer.”

Madam Li obeyed, but as she leaned in, the pungent smell hit her. She tried to endure, but couldn’t help retching.

That sound seemed to enrage Tan Yunge completely. She inhaled sharply. “Courting death!”

Madam Li dropped to her knees. “Spare me, Mistress! Spare me!”

While chaos reigned in Tan Yunge’s chamber, half an hour later, Tan Qingjiu received the news.

“How absurd! The heir of Prince Ding actually asked Madam Li if they were eating feces in that room?”

Qingdai laughed, her eyes crinkling. “Oh, that story will keep me entertained for a year.”

She turned to Tan Qingjiu. “Why aren’t you laughing, Mistress? Don’t you think it’s funny? When I saw the letter from our new informant in Prince Ding’s manor, I nearly died from laughter.”

Tan Qingjiu looked up from her pile of herbs, a faint smile in her eyes. “You find it amusing, but Tan Yunge must hate me now. With her temperament, she’s probably desperate to kill me.”

“I imagine she’ll make a move soon.”

Hearing this, Qingdai straightened, her expression serious. “Don’t worry, Mistress. If Tan Yunge hires an assassin to harm you, I’ll make sure she regrets it.”

Tan Qingjiu smiled lightly. “I trust you.”

She lowered her eyes. “Send more people to guard Xingqi and Xingyou. Make sure they’re well protected.”

“Yes.”

Tan Qingjiu’s lips curled, “Tan Yun wants to use me, Tan Yunge wants to kill me. I suppose I ought to move back to the Tan residence as soon as possible.”

“Have someone pack our things. Today, we’ll move back.”

“Yes.”

Packing was not troublesome; within half a day, Qingdai had everything sorted and sent ahead to the Tan residence.

Once everything was in place, Tan Qingjiu entered the mansion with her maids and medical attendants.

The steward who greeted her was the same as before.

“Second Miss, this way, please.”

Tan Qingjiu glanced at him. “Are all my things properly arranged?”

The steward bowed deeply. “Please rest assured, Second Miss. Once the master heard the news, he called me over repeatedly to remind me that your belongings are very important and must be handled with care.”

“Moreover, the master considered that since you are now a renowned healer, you will need to see patients. It would be inappropriate for patients to enter the inner courtyard, so he had the guest room beside the front hall specially prepared for you.”

“He even commissioned new medicine cabinets modeled after those in the clinic. Once you’ve settled in at Yunshang Courtyard, you can inspect the new room and let me know if anything is lacking—I’ll see to it immediately.”

Tan Qingjiu raised her brows, giving the steward a half-smile. “Is that so? Father is quite thoughtful.”

“Indeed, indeed,” the steward replied with a placating smile. “The master said that you must have suffered greatly these past years away from home. Now that you’ve returned, we must serve you well.”

Tan Qingjiu laughed softly. “With Father valuing me so much, I suppose many in the household must be anxious.”

“Ah?” The steward hesitated. “Why do you say that, Second Miss?”

“Well, when I lived here before, there were plenty who mistreated me because my mother died young.”

“Though I was little then, I was old enough to remember. Every incident—I recall them all.”

A hint of discomfort flashed across the steward’s face. “Haha, Second Miss… has a remarkable memory.”

He lowered his head, saying no more, and led Tan Qingjiu into Yunshang Courtyard. The items brought from the inn were placed in the main room. Tan Qingjiu entered, and with one glance, her expression changed.

“Who has dared to open my things without permission?”