Chapter 54: How Dare She!

This time, Yuan Zaichun could no longer restrain himself. He ordered Liu Fu to bring the two attendants over and questioned them personally.

“Greetings to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Upon hearing someone pay their respects, Yuan Zaichun, who had been resting with his eyes closed, lifted his eyelids to reveal sharp, penetrating eyes.

“Hmm, where is your mistress?”

Hong Ying looked at his indifferent demeanor, secretly grumbling in her heart, yet outwardly maintaining the proper decorum.

“Her Highness took Qingluo out. We do not know what for.”

“You don't know?”

Fury surged within Yuan Zaichun—this was already the second day!

“Liu Fu! Go and bring the Crown Princess here for me!”

“My lord.”

Liu Fu hastily cupped his fists, addressing the prince who was on the verge of losing his temper. “My lord, if you do this, you’ll only frighten Her Highness. What if next time she runs away?”

“Run away? The Emperor bestowed this marriage—she wouldn’t dare!”

Yuan Zaichun was shaking with rage. He had never been so disregarded by a woman before. Usually, he was the one who disliked women—when had it ever been someone like Qiao Qingyun’s turn to snub him?

“My lord, can’t you see? The Crown Princess isn’t trying to defy you—she simply doesn’t know how to face you. That day, you were indeed a bit rough. I quietly inquired and found out Her Highness is still bruised.”

“And her wrists, too—they’re all bruised.”

Liu Fu had discovered this the previous night after seeking out Qingluo, who, in her indignation, confided in him. Upon hearing this, Liu Fu realized their prince had truly stumbled this time.

“So what! I only wished to fulfill my marital duties!”

“My lord…”

Liu Fu sighed, saying no more, his manner hinting he was waiting for Yuan Zaichun to rescind his command.

But Yuan Zaichun waited a long time and still did not hear Liu Fu leave. He turned around again, angrier than ever. “So you intend to defy me through passive resistance!”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Liu Fu immediately knelt, for who could have imagined he now actually hoped Qiao Qingyun and Yuan Zaichun would become close?

Yet Yuan Zaichun’s attitude made it clear he was simply unwilling to admit defeat.

Truthfully, Yuan Zaichun himself was not entirely sure what he felt.

He paced back and forth in the main hall for quite a while, then looked at Liu Fu. “Go and see what Qiao Qingyun is doing. You two may return. In the future, report to me immediately if she has any movements.”

Hong Ying and Zhong Shi exchanged glances but said nothing, nor did they flatter him.

Yuan Zaichun frowned. “I am speaking to you!”

Hong Ying immediately cupped her fists. “Your Highness, we are the Crown Princess’s attendants, and we can only obey her orders. If she told us to die, we would. If she learns that we’ve been following your instructions, she’d likely dismiss us outright.”

“So you mean I cannot command you any longer?”

Yuan Zaichun was so exasperated that he actually laughed, but Hong Ying quickly denied it. “No, Your Highness, please don’t be angry. If you truly wish for us to serve you, you could speak to Her Highness, for our lives were saved by her. We would never betray her.”

“You—fine, fine! Out!”

Driven nearly to madness by Hong Ying and Zhong Shi, Yuan Zaichun waved them away with great force, and the two hurriedly fled.

Seeing the prince in such a rage, Liu Fu dared not speak either and slipped outside to investigate.

Qiao Qingyun, meanwhile, was busy with her companions, and thanks to Feng Ke, the opening of the clinic was going smoothly.

“This is Tahe Medical Hall! If you have any complicated ailments that cannot be treated elsewhere, come here—perhaps we can save your life.”

“All our facilities here are state-of-the-art, so please rest assured.”

Qiao Qingyun and Feng Ke appeared together, which was a rare sight. Many recognized Qiao Qingyun’s identity and were surprised.

“Today is the grand opening! The first ten people to enter will receive free pulse diagnosis and free treatment. For the first hundred, pulse diagnosis is free!”

As soon as these words were spoken, a crowd surged forward.

Qiao Qingyun chuckled, glancing at the bewildered Feng Ke beside her. “Let’s go in and take a look, shall we?”

“Let’s.”

Feng Ke was also curious to see what new tricks Qiao Qingyun might pull.

Inside, two apprentices were taking pulses. They were both quite skilled, able to discern the patients’ conditions.

Looking at the people waiting outside, Qiao Qingyun smiled. “Don’t worry! From tomorrow on, every day the first fifty people will receive free pulse diagnosis!”

“Good!”

Now, Tahe Medical Hall need not worry about a lack of visitors—even if only for a simple pulse check, many would come. If further issues arose, they could simply treat them as needed.

“How is it?” Qiao Qingyun walked over to Xu Lu and inquired.

Xu Lu looked up. “No major issues—just a few with weak constitutions. I told them to go home and drink some brown sugar water.”

“Yes, exactly. Save money for them wherever you can.”

This was Qiao Qingyun’s guiding principle in running the clinic, spoken at just the right volume for everyone to hear.

Feng Ke couldn’t help but laugh, and outside, Liu Fu watched the scene from a tree, quite surprised.

How had she ended up opening a medical hall?

While people inside were still having their pulses checked, a sudden wailing erupted outside.

“Help! Please, someone save us!”

Perhaps it was because the medical hall was nearby that the family had rushed over, not seeking help elsewhere.

Upon hearing the cries, Qiao Qingyun immediately went over. Seeing a patient being carried in on a stretcher, she turned to Qingluo. “Bring me the stethoscope.”

“The stethoscope?”

“The thing you were playing with yesterday!”

“Oh, here it is!”

An elderly woman sat nearby, weeping, trying to rouse her daughter lying on the ground, but to no avail.

Qiao Qingyun put on the stethoscope and placed it over the young woman’s chest, just above the heart.

“Cardiac arrest—this is bad! She needs resuscitation!”

She glanced at the old woman. “Madam, please step aside and let me try to save her.”

“Yes, yes!”

What else could the old woman say? She could only do as Qiao Qingyun asked.

Qiao Qingyun placed her hands, one over the other, on the woman’s chest and began rhythmic compressions.

“One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…”

After more than twenty compressions, there was still no response. Qiao Qingyun grew anxious.

“Someone help! Bring a stretcher—take her to the emergency room!”

The emergency room was essentially the operating room, fully equipped for urgent care.

Seeing how swiftly Qiao Qingyun and her team acted, the old woman looked worried, her poverty evident.

“You—put the oxygen mask on the girl’s face and keep squeezing the bag. Don’t stop, understand?”