A’Zhu went to look at Qiao Zhao.

However, Qiao Zhao did not react and tacitly agreed.

A’Zhu’s eyes flickered slightly.

Miss’s reaction was somewhat strange. If this were the case, why did she insist on returning home before calling for a doctor?

While there was chaos here in calling for a doctor, at Qingsong Hall, Old Madam Deng quickly received the news and came directly to Yahe Courtyard.

“He Shi, how is Zhaozhao?”

He Shi’s eyes were red from crying: “The doctor is cleaning Zhaozhao’s wound. My poor Zhaozhao—such a large wound on her face, how much it must hurt! I don’t even dare to look, my heart breaks just seeing it.”

“Let me go see!” Old Madam Deng stepped inside.

When Old Madam Deng entered, the doctor had just finished cleaning the wound, so she immediately saw the shocking wound on Qiao Zhao’s right cheek.

Old Madam Deng gasped, and her hands couldn’t help but tremble.

“Doctor, please use the best medicine for my granddaughter, no matter how much it costs.”

The doctor shook his head: “The wound on your granddaughter’s face is too deep. Even the best medicine will leave a scar.”

He Shi, who had followed in, immediately rushed over and grabbed the doctor’s sleeve upon hearing this: “Doctor, I beg you, you must find a way to prevent my daughter’s face from scarring!”

The doctor was stunned and quickly freed himself from He Shi’s grasp, explaining: “This is truly beyond my ability—it’s not a matter of how much money—”

“I’ll go to the East Residence!” Old Madam Deng suddenly spoke.

“Old Madam?” He Shi didn’t understand.

“I’ll ask the County Lady if she has any Cloud Frost Ointment bestowed by the palace.”

Cloud Frost Ointment, exclusively for the royal family, was extremely effective for external scars and had always been one of the most welcomed imperial gifts. Old Madam Jiang of the East Residence surely had some.

The doctor interrupted their conversation: “Old Madam, I have also encountered the Cloud Frost Ointment you mentioned. To be honest, even the finest Cloud Frost Ointment cannot prevent your granddaughter from scarring.”

Concerning her precious daughter, He Shi was naturally willing to spend money and had invited the most famous doctor in the capital. Such a physician naturally had access to Cloud Frost Ointment.

Upon hearing the doctor’s words, Old Madam Deng’s expression immediately darkened. She thought: Third Girl is truly pitiful. Perhaps it’s heaven’s will—with Third Girl’s face ruined, she’ll be even less likely to marry in the future. Fortunately, He Shi loves her daughter, and she doesn’t mind supporting a granddaughter for life. In the future, she’ll just remind Hui’er not to mistreat this sister.

Upon hearing this, He Shi held Qiao Zhao and cried loudly: “Zhaozhao, don’t be afraid. Even if Mother has to spend her entire dowry and invite all the famous doctors in the world, I will heal your face!”

The doctor twitched his mouth corners and spoke: “Madam, could you please step aside? I need to apply medicine to your daughter.”

Hearing this, He Shi released her hold, tears falling like broken pearls.

Qiao Zhao finally spoke: “I remember now—Grandfather Li left me medicine for treating scars. A’Zhu, go to the storeroom and bring the white jade box from the very bottom of the medicine chest.”

A’Zhu immediately went upon hearing this. Qiao Zhao bowed slightly to the doctor: “Thank you, doctor, for cleaning my wound. There’s no need to apply medicine—I have better medicine.”

Upon hearing this, the doctor was quite displeased and immediately looked toward Old Madam Deng.

Old Madam Deng couldn’t help but ask: “Zhaozhao, is it better than Cloud Frost Ointment?”

“Of course. Even the finest Cloud Frost Ointment doesn’t compare to even one ten-thousandth of it.”

After hearing this, Old Madam Deng was half-believing, half-doubting.

Although Physician Li was capable, doctors have their specialties. She had never heard that Physician Li possessed miraculous medicine for treating scars.

“At least it’s much better than ordinary doctors’ medicine,” Qiao Zhao said seemingly casually.

The doctor stroked his beard irritably.

What did this little girl mean? Ordinary doctor? He was a physician with a great reputation in the capital. If not for being too old and lazy to be constrained by the Imperial Medical Office, even becoming an Imperial Physician wouldn’t be a problem for him.

He was an ordinary doctor?

He Shi had no mind to notice the doctor’s expression. Hearing this, she quickly nodded: “Right, right. The medicine given by Zhaozhao’s grandfather is definitely stronger than those ordinary doctors in medical halls. We can’t use medicine carelessly.”

Doctor: “…” Truly, mother and daughter—equally infuriating in their speech. He was an ordinary doctor?

“Old Madam—” the doctor looked toward Old Madam Deng.

Old Madam Deng was similarly focused on Qiao Zhao’s face and had no energy to comfort the old doctor’s wounded feelings. She nodded: “That’s right, let’s use the medicine Zhaozhao has.”

Upon hearing this, the doctor nearly twisted his mouth in anger, stroking his beard: “Old Madam, your granddaughter injured her face. If medicine is used carelessly, and in such hot weather, if it becomes infected and festering, that would be even worse!”

Old Madam Deng nodded repeatedly: “The doctor is right—medicine indeed cannot be used carelessly.”

The doctor finally felt somewhat appeased.

See? Those two mothers and daughters were ignorant, but older people were still more prudent.

“Miss, the medicine is here.” A’Zhu entered carrying a palm-sized white jade box.

“Quickly apply the medicine to Third Miss!” Old Madam Deng urged.

The doctor nearly couldn’t catch his breath, his mouth twisting in anger: “Nonsense, nonsense!”

He Shi quickly handed over a purse: “Doctor, please don’t be angry. We won’t short you a penny of the payment—”

“No need, I take my leave!” Before He Shi could finish, the doctor left with a dark expression and fluttering sleeves.

Just as the doctor left, Hongsong from Qingsong Hall came to report: “Old Madam, the Eldest Miss has returned with Miss Du from Earl Guchang’s mansion.”

Miss Du?

Old Madam Deng’s eyes flickered slightly, and only then did she think to ask A’Zhu: “A’Zhu, tell me in detail how Third Miss was injured!”

A’Zhu knelt with a thud: “This servant went to Earl Guchang’s mansion and, like the maids brought by the young ladies from various mansions, was kept in front to have tea and was not attending to Miss personally. Later, someone called me over, and only then did I learn that Miss was injured. This servant heard others discussing that it was Miss Jiang, daughter of the Jinlin Guards Commander, who was testing Miss and made Miss serve as an archery target…”

“Truly outrageous!” Old Madam Deng’s face was as dark as water.

He Shi was even more furious: “The Jinlin Guards Commander’s daughter? Just because she’s the Jinlin Guards Commander’s daughter, she can treat my Zhaozhao like this? Even princesses aren’t this arrogant and domineering! No, I must petition the Emperor!”

“He Shi!”

He Shi blinked, tears streaming: “Old Madam, are you going to stop me? That arrow shot into Zhaozhao’s face hurts more than if it had shot into my heart! If I don’t seek justice for Zhaozhao, I won’t be able to live!”

Qiao Zhao’s heart trembled as she looked at He Shi.

Binglu was applying medicine to her. With this movement, she immediately touched the wound, causing Qiao Zhao to cry out softly in pain.

“Oh my, Miss, don’t move! It hurts, doesn’t it? This servant will blow on it for you—” Binglu leaned close to Qiao Zhao’s face, gently blowing on it, tears welling in her eyes.

Qiao Zhao curved her mouth corners and looked at He Shi, saying softly: “No, it doesn’t hurt—”

Then she heard Old Madam Deng speak: “Of course this matter cannot be left alone! He Shi, you go to the front first and dismiss the young lady from Earl Guchang’s mansion. We’ll discuss this when you return.”