Chapter 7: Sending the Child Away, Keeping the Mother

The voice continued, "Now, in front of so many people, you claim it's the young lord who is pestering you? How utterly shameless can you be?"

"But, as the young lord's wife, I have no wish to involve myself with the likes of you..." The speaker gave a cold laugh. "I don't want to be entangled with a lowly woman such as yourself. If you wish to enter the young lord's residence, you may, but the child must stay with you while the mother is cast aside. After all, someone like you—a woman of the brothels, passed from man to man—who can say whose seed is growing in your belly?"

"Someone, take this Miss Yinxue back to the young lord's manor and see that she is properly attended to."

"You can't do this, my lady! I've already said, nothing happened between myself and the young lord, and I have no desire to enter the young lord's house."

The young lord's wife only gave a soft laugh. "Ask the people gathered here—do they believe a word you say? The young lord is not present, so don't try to play your coy games with me. I've already said I permit you to enter the household. What more do you want?"

The crowd began to whisper among themselves, "Tsk, a courtesan—still pretending she sells only her art, not her body? If she hadn't seduced the young lord, why would the young lord's wife, with her status, be here making a scene?"

"There's not a single decent soul in a brothel."

"Pregnant before marriage—tsk, in any ordinary family, she'd be drowned in a pond, both mother and child. The young lord's wife is merciful to let her keep the child and cast off the mother."

Tan Qingjiu, hearing this, peeked her head out to look in that direction.

With just one glance, Tan Qingjiu recognized her: the young lord's wife was indeed Tan Yunge, her own elder sister.

What a coincidence. Today she had met the heir of Prince Ding, discovered he was the man who six years ago had left her to die and even tried to trample her beneath his horse.

And now, she saw Tan Yunge...

Tan Qingjiu fetched her veiled hat, placed it on her head, and stepped down from the carriage, quickly slipping into the crowd.

"Hurry up and take her away, back to the young lord's manor. Stop making a spectacle here."

"I don't want to go to the manor! I don't want to!"

But no one paid any mind to Yinxue's cries. The household guards swarmed around her, dragging her straight towards the carriage.

"The young lady has said nothing happened with the young lord, and she doesn't wish to enter the manor. My lady, do you not hear her?"

Tan Qingjiu's words drew a vicious glare from Tan Yunge.

"And who are you? Matters of my household are not for outsiders to meddle in."

Tan Qingjiu gave a cold chuckle. "You claim this young woman had relations with the young lord and is bearing his child, so you must take her back to the manor. Yet she says nothing happened between you. But still you insist on taking her away—how is this any different from abducting a common woman?"

"She is a courtesan—who would believe a word she says?"

"And what of it if she is from a brothel?"

Tan Yunge fixed Tan Qingjiu with a cold stare. "Even though she's a courtesan, I, the young lord's wife, am willing to let her into the manor. What more does she wish for?"

Yinxue, seeing someone had stepped forward for her, called out loudly, "It's only because the young lord took a liking to me and she couldn't bear it that she's using this excuse to take me away, planning to dispose of me in secret, and then claim I bled to death from weakness during childbirth!"

"An elder sister I once knew suffered such a fate at her hands."

"But we are of low birth. No one would ever believe a word we say, and we can only be at their mercy."

Tan Yunge's face grew dark. "Nonsense! Slander!"

Tan Qingjiu narrowed her eyes. "Is that so? If we wish to know who is lying, it's simple. We only need a skilled physician to examine this young lady and determine whether she is truly with child."

Tan Qingjiu removed the jade pendant from her waist. "I am the master of the Healing Hands Pavilion, famed for peerless medical skill. Surely no one would doubt my verdict?"

She displayed the jade pendant. Tan Yunge's expression turned ugly, and murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd. "Is that the master of Healing Hands Pavilion?"

"My goodness! The legendary doctor who can bring the dead back to life?"

"I've heard the master of Healing Hands Pavilion is in the capital. This must be her, surely?"

"Of course it's her. Who would dare impersonate the miracle doctor? That would be suicide!"

Tan Qingjiu curved her lips in a faint smile and turned to Yinxue. "Miss, may I take your pulse?"

Yinxue, finally recovering her wits, stretched out her hand at once. "Of course, please do."

Tan Qingjiu placed her fingers on Yinxue's wrist. Around them, the crowd buzzed in hushed voices. After a moment, Tan Qingjiu withdrew her hand. "This young lady's pulse is steady, with no sign of the slippery pulse associated with pregnancy. She is not with child."

Tan Yunge gritted her teeth. "You're clearly in league with her—of course you'd lie for her!"

Yinxue's face flushed red, but she stood her ground. "Not only am I not pregnant, but because I have always guarded my virtue, I have only ever sold my art, not my body, and so I remain untouched. If the young lord's wife doubts me, she may summon a reputable person to examine me on the spot."

"Do you hear that, my lady?" Tan Qingjiu smiled. "And if you do not trust my word, you may call for an imperial physician to examine her anew."

Tan Yunge bit her lip, her expression grim. "So you insist on protecting this wretch today, is that it?"

Tan Yunge stepped close to Tan Qingjiu, lowering her voice. "Are you really going to oppose me for the sake of some lowly woman?"

Threat was clear in her tone.

So what if she was the master of Healing Hands Pavilion? Tan Yunge was the wife of the young lord, kin to the imperial family. She refused to believe this so-called master would dare cross her.

Tan Qingjiu laughed lightly and raised her voice. "My lady overstates it. I merely saw injustice and stepped in. I only aid the side in the right—how is that opposing you?"

Tan Yunge hadn't expected to be so humiliated. Furious, she raised her hand to strike Tan Qingjiu.

But Tan Qingjiu reacted instantly, stepping nimbly back two paces. With a flick of her wrist, a silver needle flashed and landed in Tan Yunge's hand.

Tan Yunge suddenly felt her hand go limp, as if all strength had left it.

"You—"

Tan Qingjiu's lips curved. "With so many witnessing, surely you wouldn't want your own reputation ruined, branded as one who abducts common women and tramples on human life?"

Tan Yunge retreated two steps, grinding her teeth. "Very well, Healing Hands Pavilion's miracle doctor. I shall remember this!"

She took a deep breath. "Come, we're leaving."

"Leaving?" Tan Qingjiu laughed softly. "You accused Miss Yinxue of seducing the young lord and bearing his child, thereby ruining her reputation. Should you not apologize to her before you go?"

Tan Yunge's face grew even darker. She glared venomously at Tan Qingjiu. "Apologize? In your dreams! Come!"

With that, Tan Yunge and her retinue stalked away, the crowd gradually dispersing. Yinxue followed behind Tan Qingjiu. "Thank you, miracle doctor, for saving me. If ever you have use of me, I will serve you even at the cost of my life."

Tan Qingjiu's expression was casual. "I had my own reasons for stepping in. No need to thank me."

"Whatever your reasons, you still saved my life. I will never forget this kindness."

Tan Qingjiu simply waved her hand dismissively at Yinxue and strode quickly back toward where her carriage had been waiting.

But before she could reach it, a sudden cry came from behind: "Someone's dead! Miss Yinxue has collapsed and died!"