Chapter 32: Shrewdness

Director Shen was genuinely startled when he saw the young man in the embroidered jacket standing at the door.

This troublemaker was truly out of control, and now he had truly encountered Young Master Jing.

Young Master Jing was not someone easy to deal with; though young in appearance, he was ruthless in his actions.

Fortunately, the boy hadn’t really escaped. Hopefully, Young Master Jing would show some mercy for his sake.

“Young Master Jing—you’ve returned just in time. My young master has no enmity with anyone, yet someone deliberately tried to harm him—”

Chang Ping began wailing again.

The young man in the embroidered jacket quickly scanned the scene, his gaze lingering briefly on his unconscious cousin before turning toward the unfamiliar person who had appeared in the room.

“Let go of me at once!”

Director Shen whispered a rebuke.

Shen Chuan was already completely panicked, having forgotten he was still gripping Shao Diandian’s plump wrist.

Shao Diandian, however, calmly removed his hand.

Director Shen hurriedly said, “Young Master Jing, please hear me out. My son had no intention—”

Before he could finish, Chang Ping’s cries interrupted him: “She drugged the young master! She almost killed him... It was your son who let her in... and you say it wasn’t intentional...”

Director Shen’s scalp tingled with dread.

This was a grave misunderstanding. How could he protect his son now?

At that moment, the shopkeeper from Rong En Hall arrived, sweating profusely, accompanied by a doctor named Yang.

They had originally been with the young man in the embroidered jacket, but when he suddenly quickened his pace, they fell behind by a few steps.

But what did that servant just say? Someone had drugged the noble?

The shopkeeper of Rong En Hall crossed the threshold and immediately recognized the plump village girl inside.

“It’s you!”

“Shopkeeper Cao, you know her?” Director Shen asked.

Cao looked at him and said, “She’s a little fraud. Last time she came to Rong En Hall to scam us, but I caught her in time and kicked her out! Director Shen, how could she be here? The one they said drugged the noble... could it really be her?”

Director Shen’s expression answered Cao’s question.

Clenching his fist, Cao pointed at Shao Diandian’s nose and said, “I see now! No wonder the noble’s illness never improves. It turns out you’ve been sabotaging him all along!”

Director Shen was displeased by these words.

Doctor Dong had only been treating the young master for a few days. Was Cao implying that this girl had been coming multiple times unnoticed? Was their academy so careless?

Or worse, was his son the one who let this girl in every day to harm the young master?

Shen Chuan sneered, “Cao, don’t slander without evidence! Your medicine is poor, so why blame Miss Shao? She only arrived today!”

With this, Director Shen was firmly defending his son.

The young man in the embroidered jacket shifted his stance.

He did not speak, but this slight movement silenced everyone instantly.

The room fell into a sudden hush.

Shen Chuan glanced nervously at him as the young man approached. Shen Chuan’s breath caught, his heart pounding fiercely.

The youth stopped right before him.

Shen Chuan was so nervous he could barely breathe.

“How did you end up here?” the young man in the embroidered jacket asked.

“I, I, I...” Shen Chuan stammered, unsure of how to answer.

“I came to find someone,” Shao Diandian said.

Shen Chuan was startled, realizing the young man was speaking to the girl beside him.

“What did you give my cousin?” the young man asked further.

“Medicine,” Shao Diandian replied.

“Do you know medicine?”

“A little.”

“What illness does my cousin have?”

“A lung disease.”

“Can you treat it?”

“Yes.”

“How confident are you?”

“If the patient has no hidden ailments, I’m quite confident.”

“Very well, you may treat him.”

Everyone was stunned!

Shao Diandian continued, “I prefer not to be disturbed while treating.”

Especially that Chang Ping—he was too noisy.

The young man said, “Agreed.”

“No onlookers.”

“Agreed.”

“The consultation fee is high.”

“Agreed as well.”

Shopkeeper Cao’s face darkened. “Young Master Jing! Don’t be fooled! She’s a fraud!”

Shen Chuan sneered, “You’re the real fraud! Taking so much from Young Master Jing yet leaving him half-dead! Who are you to call others frauds?”

“You!” Cao was left speechless, his face flushing with anger.

He turned to the young man in the embroidered jacket. “Young Master Jing, Doctor Yang is a renowned physician I specially brought from the capital. Are you sure you want a country girl to replace him in treating the noble? I warn you, if she worsens the noble’s condition, Rong En Hall will not be responsible for the aftermath. By then, it’ll be too late to come back to us!”

The young man’s expression remained unreadable. “Baize, escort them out.”

“Yes, sir!”

Baize, the guard, shot a cold glance at Cao and the doctor. “Please.”

“Hmph!” Cao flounced his sleeve and left without looking back.

Director Shen opened his mouth to speak: “Young Master Jing, this matter is serious; please reconsider.”

The young man said nothing, instead stating, “Given my cousin’s condition, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble Director Shen for a few more days.”

Director Shen understood the boy’s mind was made up and bowed respectfully. “It’s an honor.”

Once outside, Director Shen frowned at Shen Chuan. “Do you understand what’s going on? It seems Young Master Jing knows that village girl.”

Shen Chuan thought for a moment. “Father, now that you mention it, I remember. Young Master Jing was also at Jin’s place that day! He must have seen Miss Shao!”

The scene from that day was somewhat regretful. He hadn’t witnessed Shao Diandian’s rescue firsthand—he had gone to look for someone across the street—but he did see a plump village girl leave Jin’s place, and not long after, Young Master Jing came out too.

Everyone was talking, saying the young man in the embroidered jacket had knocked down a mad horse, and the plump village girl saved the choking child.

Inside the room, the young man looked at Chang Ping. “You may leave now.”

Chang Ping dared not disobey and quietly withdrew.

The young man turned to Shao Diandian. “Miss Shao?”

He had heard Shen Chuan call her that.

Shao Diandian nodded and tilted her head toward him. “Young Master Jing?”

She too had heard others address him that way.

“Jing Yi,” he said.

“Shao, miss,” she replied.

Some things happen by fate’s design; though one may try to avoid them, it seems destiny has already decided. His hesitation was settled by heaven’s hand.

“I will settle the consultation fee from last time together with this,” he said, referring to her treatment of his dislocated arm.

Shao Diandian did not refuse.

Though she did not care much for such matters, among these powerful people, favors were hard to repay. Better to pay a fee and have the debt cleared.

“I entrust you with my cousin’s illness.”

“I will do my best.”

They agreed that she would return the next day. After she left carrying her basket, Jing Yi called Baize over.

“Investigate her identity.”

“Yes, sir.”