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Qi Yiran continued to shout as she lunged toward Shen Yu’an. “You wretched woman, I’ll beat you to death!”
Lady Xie watched in worry as her beloved daughter thrashed about, shielding her with a hint of disdain. She commented, “Our General’s Mansion didn’t invite you. Why is this girl so shameless, coming to pester us on her own?”
It was clear who she was talking about, and the room was filled with varying expressions.
In the midst of the commotion, Lady Wen and Xin Rui also noticed that Shen Yu’an had “intruded” uninvited.
Bai Ji stood in front of Shen Yu’an to prevent the agitated Qi Yiran from harming her. He explained, “I heard that the General’s Mansion’s young lady is injured, and I invited Shen Yu’an to come and assist.”
Xin Rui also quickly added, “It’s been a while since we last saw Shen Yu’an, and I’ve been missing her. Even if she didn’t come today, I was planning to invite her to our mansion in a couple of days.”
She smiled and walked over to Shen Yu’an, taking her hand and saying, “Since you’re here, let’s go to my courtyard to chat.”
Shen Yu’an replied with a smile, “I heard that Miss Qi is not feeling well, and I’ve had some interactions with her in the past. I came to see how she’s doing.”
The way Shen Yu’an spoke, she might as well have said she had come to witness a spectacle, leaving everyone in the room astonished.
On the other side, Qi Yiran had been forced back onto the bed by Lady Qi and two maidservants, a struggle that had left Lady Qi flustered, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
She turned to Bai Ji and urgently said, “Quickly, come and see what illness has befallen my child.”
Bai Ji handed his medical kit, slung over his shoulder, to Shen Yu’an for her to hold and approached to take Qi Yiran’s pulse, despite her resistance.
As everyone in the room watched, his expression changed multiple times, with furrowed brows loosening and then furrowing again. The room was filled with hushed anticipation for his diagnosis.
Bai Ji withdrew his hand and handed a jar of ointment from his medical kit to a waiting maidservant. “I cannot yet determine what has afflicted Miss Qi, but this ointment can temporarily suppress the spreading of the ulcers and should be applied.”
Lady Qi, anxious, questioned, “Isn’t your Bai family known for having the most skilled physicians in the city? How can you not diagnose my child’s illness?”
She pointed at Shen Yu’an and accused, “Did that wretched servant girl bribe you with something?”
Lady Wen and Xin Rui spoke up simultaneously, “Younger sister, be careful with your words!”
Seeing Qi Yiran’s suffering, Lady Qi was deeply distressed. She had spent many years in the General’s Mansion, and Qi Yiran was her only biological child. She had placed all her hopes on Qi Yiran. The numerous other children of the General, born from different mothers, couldn’t compare to her own flesh and blood.
When Lady Wen and Xin Rui didn’t support her but instead defended an outsider, Lady Qi exploded.
“Have I said something wrong? This wretched servant girl came to our mansion for the first time and stole my child’s clothes, causing my child to endure punishment for so many days. Now, at this time, she returns to our mansion. Who knows what wicked intentions she might have in her heart?”
Shen Yu’an chuckled and said, “While it’s true that Dr. Bai couldn’t diagnose Miss Qi’s illness, by a stroke of luck, I happen to know the cure. However, seeing the way Lady Qi is acting, I doubt she would trust me. In that case, I’ll take my leave.”
With that, she turned to leave without a hint of reluctance.
Lady Wen saw Shen Yu’an about to depart and quickly signaled Xin Rui to stop her. She also shot a disapproving look at Lady Qi, just in case what Shen Yu’an said was true.