This beating instantly enraged Marquis Dingxi.

“What am I asking about? What’s there to ask! Gone for three years without a word or inquiry, Yueniang making clothes for him all four seasons of the year, and he doesn’t accept a single piece, even letting those subordinates mock Yueniang’s maid! Is that mocking the maid? That’s mocking Yueniang!” He also stood up, sternly shouting, “Returns and still doesn’t ask or care. If it weren’t for Yueniang humbling herself and begging at his feet, a mere maid could block the legitimate young madam from even entering her own husband’s courtyard gate! Cold words and remarks aside, because of a bed-warming concubine, he kicks her out again. Xie Zhengmei, I don’t believe you don’t know about all these things! You still ask me what I’m investigating! You tell me what to investigate! If you can’t explain yourself today, you can roll back to Shanning Prefecture with me!”

When Marquis Dingxi stood up, Concubine Zhou and Chang Yunqi knelt down again.

Upon hearing Marquis Dingxi directly call out Madam Xie’s name and speak of sending her back to Shanning, one cried out “Father, calm your anger,” while the other knelt tearfully and crawled to Madam Xie’s side.

“Madam, Madam, quickly speak well with the Marquis…” she pleaded for reconciliation.

Madam Xie was so angry her whole body trembled, and she flung away Concubine Zhou’s hand.

“Chang—” She opened her mouth to shout, but was grabbed by Chang Yuncheng.

“Mother, causing Father to rage is this child’s lack of filial piety.” Chang Yuncheng knelt before her, forcefully gripping her sleeve tightly. “Mother, this is trouble that your child has caused, and your child will naturally give Father an explanation.” After saying this, he kowtowed toward Marquis Dingxi.

“Father, your child knows his wrongs. Your child will definitely give Father an explanation, and only hopes Father will forgive Mother’s fault of overprotective indulgence.” He spoke sincerely, lifting his head to look at Marquis Dingxi.

“It’s not giving me an explanation, it’s giving Yueniang an explanation.” Marquis Dingxi said, full of rage. Just as he was about to say more, he heard the sound of someone stomping outside the door.

“Who’s outside!” He angrily shouted, “What are you skulking around for!”

The person outside was so frightened they immediately knelt and entered.

“Marquis, there’s a visitor!” This was a male servant.

What visitor would make him disregard protocol and rush into the inner courtyard to report at this time?

“Not seeing anyone.” Marquis Dingxi said irritably.

“Marquis, it’s the Prefecture Magistrate and his wife.” The male servant said anxiously.

A prefecture magistrate wasn’t much in Marquis Dingxi’s eyes, but as the saying goes, “a county magistrate is not as good as current management.” On the territory of Yongqing Prefecture, respecting each other for mutual benefit was best. Moreover, the magistrate’s wife was also considered a close friend of Madam Xie.

To suddenly come without reason, neither for festivals nor invitations, there must be urgent business.

“Please escort them to the study, I’ll go right over.” Marquis Dingxi said, his expression softening.

“Marquis, they’ve already reached the door, and this humble servant… couldn’t stop them!” The male servant kowtowed as he spoke.

What? Everyone in the room was surprised. What matter made the magistrate and his wife disregard even common courtesy?

Before Marquis Dingxi could speak again, they heard a woman’s crying from outside.

“Sister, sister.”

The magistrate’s wife came in crying, supported by a female servant.

Everyone in the room was startled.

Madam Xie also couldn’t care about her previous anger and hurriedly reached out to receive her.

“What’s happened?” She asked in alarm, supporting the magistrate’s wife’s hand, only to discover she could barely hold her up.

The magistrate’s wife had completely lost her strength.

With servants and maids calling out in chaos, it took quite a commotion to settle her down.

Chang Yuncheng, Concubine Zhou, and Chang Yunqi withdrew with the maids and servants.

Magistrate Huang was his surname, forty-two years old this year. He came from a prominent family, and since entering official service, though there had been ups and downs, overall it could be considered smooth. Now he had the qualifications and opportunities for further advancement in his career. His wife was virtuous and children filial – it was truly the prime of his life. Usually when Marquis Dingxi saw him, with his discerning eye, he quite envied this young man’s bearing.

“Just looking at your official demeanor, entering the imperial court wouldn’t be excessive,” he had privately joked with Magistrate Huang many times when no one was around.

But at this moment, Magistrate Huang appeared completely transformed in his eyes – his manner was panicked, his face looked ten years older, and the white hair at his temples seemed to have sprouted overnight like bamboo shoots.

“How could he be kicked by a horse!” Learning the whole story, Marquis Dingxi was also greatly shocked, while feeling desolate in his heart. This Magistrate Huang had one wife and two concubines, but had difficulties with offspring. It was hard to finally have this son, whom the whole family treasured like a phoenix. What was even more delightful was that this child was intelligent and gifted – only twelve years old this year, but his studies were excellent.

Who would have thought he would suffer such a great calamity.

“Quickly, our residence still has a stalk of old ginseng!” Marquis Dingxi said to Madam Xie.

Madam Xie was personally using a handkerchief to wipe the magistrate’s wife’s face. The magistrate’s wife had already lost some of her wits, with two old women helping her regulate her breathing and massaging her body.

“Go get it quickly.” Madam Xie immediately called out.

The female servant hurriedly responded and went.

But the magistrate’s wife grabbed Madam Xie’s hand.

“Sister, please save my child.” She said breathlessly.

“Tell me, whatever you want I’ll give you…” Madam Xie tightly grasped her hand and said.

“Your family’s physician, quickly let her go save my child’s life…” The magistrate’s wife struggled to sit up, “I’ll kneel before you…”

This alarmed Madam Xie, who hurriedly supported her.

“My family’s physician? Sister, you’re confused. What physician does my family have?” She shook her head, while also looking at Marquis Dingxi, “Where do you know any good physicians? Go invite them quickly.”

Marquis Dingxi frowned, about to think, when he was grabbed by the arm by Magistrate Huang.

“Marquis, the excellent physician in your residence.” He said urgently.

Since both husband and wife were saying this, it couldn’t be nonsense.

“It was in the seventh month, a maid was beaten with rod punishment, and the residence’s steward asked this old man to take a look…” Dr. Guo said with his head lowered, cleverly avoiding mention of the kick injury. He had walked among these wealthy households long enough to know about such unspeakable matters. “This maid had a weak constitution and actually suffered reverse flow of qi and blood that injured her internal organs. This old man said she couldn’t be saved and left. But not long ago, coming to the residence again, I encountered this maid still alive and well…”

After hearing his words, Marquis Dingxi was very surprised and immediately had the summoned steward questioned.

Here, Nanny Su already understood who was being discussed and couldn’t help but look toward Madam Xie, her eyes unable to hide her shock. When that maid recovered back then, they were also very surprised, but didn’t think much of it, only assuming the maid’s body was strong enough to escape disaster. Could it be that someone had actually treated and cured her?

“How could that be? Doctor, you must have looked incorrectly. Originally there was nothing wrong, and nursing her back to health naturally healed her.” Madam Xie said.

“That’s impossible. This was an illness with pulse evidence. How could I be wrong?” Dr. Guo cried out anxiously.

“We truly don’t know. Since you say that condition was so critical, it certainly couldn’t have been cured by an ordinary physician, but our family never went out to seek any physician.” Madam Xie said.

“I won’t hide this from Madam – that maid refuses to tell me the truth. No matter how I pursue the question, she won’t say who cured her. Please, Madam, ask her.” Dr. Guo bowed and said.

Madam Xie still hesitated a bit, while the magistrate’s wife grasped her hand and wept loudly.

“Go then, ask her.” Madam Xie said.

Nanny Su responded and went down.

Marquis Dingxi was somewhat confused listening to all this.

“Who is it?” He asked.

Madam Xie looked at him, a slight smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

“A’Hao.” She said.

Marquis Dingxi’s face was instantly filled with astonishment.

Before long, Nanny Su returned.

“That maid says no, that she recovered on her own.” She said.

“You see.” Madam Xie said helplessly to the magistrate.

Before she finished speaking, Dr. Guo cried out first.

“Impossible, she’s unwilling to speak.” He shouted, anxiously tugging at his beard.

“Did you tell her it was a matter of great importance?” Madam Xie asked.

Nanny Su nodded.

“This servant told her, and even said if she dared to hide anything, she’d be thrown out.” She said.

Madam Xie looked at Dr. Guo somewhat helplessly.

Dr. Guo paced around the room in circles.

“This kind of condition, only if Hua Tuo were alive, performing the surgery of cutting open the abdomen for treatment… cutting open the abdomen, cutting open the abdomen…” He suddenly stopped, turned to look at Nanny Su, his eyes lighting up as he rushed over.

Nanny Su was frightened and couldn’t help but step back several paces. Could this old man be crazy? “You, go look at her belly.” Dr. Guo stared with wide eyes, his expression urgent.

“I, why would I look at someone’s belly!” Nanny Su stammered. This old lecher…

“Look to see if her belly has any scars. If there are none, then I saw wrong. If there are…” Dr. Guo stared intently at Nanny Su, his whole body shaking with excitement and nervousness.

Nanny Su looked at Madam Xie somewhat at a loss.

“Go quickly!” Marquis Dingxi slapped the table. “What time is it now? A life hangs in the balance!”

Nanny Su hurriedly rushed out in panic.

The room fell silent, so quiet it felt like time itself had stopped.

“Speaking of physicians, my eldest daughter-in-law also knows some things.” Marquis Dingxi thought of something and spoke, breaking the indoor silence.

“Really?” Magistrate Huang was now like a startled bird – he became excited at any mention of physicians.

“Marquis, what does Yueniang know? Just herbal folk remedies. This is not the time for jokes.” Madam Xie said.

True enough, Marquis Dingxi felt somewhat awkward, coughed once, and straightened his expression.

While Madam Xie comforted the magistrate’s wife, she inwardly sneered with disdain. Just because of a face, he kept thinking well of her, bringing her up for everything. Still saving people, still physician – bah! Beggar’s cheap life…

Footsteps came running from outside. Dr. Guo’s body tensed all at once, almost stopping his breathing. Those footsteps seemed to step on his heart with each sound.

“Madam, Madam!” Nanny Su rushed in, her face full of terror. “There really is a wound! There really is a wound!”

“What?”

Everyone suddenly stood up.

“Such a long scar on her belly, just like it was sewn up with thread…” Nanny Su’s teeth chattered as she shouted.

Nanny Su was still trembling uncontrollably even now. How was such a thing done?

A person’s belly sewn up with a line of thread – it was simply too terrifying! Too terrifying!