Chapter 21: 21. Chapter 21: The Heir is a Woman 21

Chapter 21: The Heir is a Woman (21)

Qiao Hui snapped her eyes open. Seeing the familiar surroundings, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, but as her consciousness slowly returned, she remembered everything that had happened. She pushed aside the bed curtains with one hand, and the maid outside hurried in immediately.

"Has Madam awakened?"

"Madam certainly had a peaceful sleep. Dr. Yun is truly capable."

"The Fifth Young Mistress and Heir Ning are still waiting outside. Dr. Yun has already been checking the pulses of many people in the manor," the maid added, thoughtfully explaining the entire situation.

Qiao Hui was momentarily dazed, but she recovered quickly. She sat up and allowed the maid to help her dress.

"How is everyone?" She was asking about the progress of Yun Qing's pulse readings for the household. Her expression appeared calm, but her heart could not settle.

She was panicking.

She hadn't been sleeping well lately. Previously, she had been burdened by many worries, yet after receiving just a few acupuncture needles from Yun Qing, she had actually managed a good night's sleep.

How could she not panic?

Yun Qing was highly capable.

But she couldn't find any joy in it.

"Dr. Yun is truly miraculous. She can even identify hidden ailments and minor issues that everyone else ignores, providing solutions for them. For some minor ailments, Dr. Yun can even cure them on the spot," the maid said with some excitement, finally adding, "Dr. Yun is a divine physician."

"With Dr. Yun here, the Fifth Young Mistress's illness will surely be cured sooner or later. I expect good news will arrive from that side before long."

These words did not comfort Qiao Hui; instead, they only made her chest feel tighter.

"Dr. Yun truly has some skill. It seems we will be congratulating my fifth sister-in-law before long," Chen Keshun, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke's manor, spoke with a complex tone, though she felt compelled to thank Heir Ning for bringing Yun Qing today.

It was rare for her to speak without a sharp edge.

This was only because as soon as Dr. Yun had made her move, she had diagnosed a difficult-to-speak-of female ailment.

The doctor had prescribed both internal and external medicines. She had already tried the external one, and it had indeed made her body feel much more comfortable. Yun Qing had even said that if she persisted with the treatment, it could be cured.

Because of this, she found it difficult to speak harshly or mock Ning Yulan. If it weren't for Ning Yulan, Heir Ning would never have brought a divine physician like Yun Qing. Having accepted someone's kindness, how could she not soften her tone?

Furthermore, she wanted to ask Heir Ning if he would be willing to let Dr. Yun examine the sisters and mother of her maiden family. Anyone who had given birth would, to some extent, suffer from such female ailments.

Female physicians were already hard to find, and a female physician who could be called a divine physician like Yun Qing was even rarer.

"Mother-in-law." Chen Keshun immediately spotted the Duchess, Qiao Hui, walking out and hurried to meet her. "Divine Physician Yun's medical skills are truly profound. She has identified every minor ailment in the manor."

"Congratulations, Mother-in-law. The Fifth Young Mistress's illness should be curable now. You won't have to worry about these things anymore," Chen Keshun said with a face full of smiles. For Dr. Yun's sake, she would offer her sincere blessings to Ning Yulan this time.

But that didn't mean she would be on good terms with her in the future.

Her parents-in-law favored her brother-in-law's family; she was jealous and felt the injustice. What harm was there in saying a few unkind words?

Wu Fangfang chimed in, "Indeed. In the past, Mother-in-law was always worried and searching everywhere for prescriptions. Now, it's finally settled."

The others followed suit with their congratulations.

Facing everyone's smiles, Qiao Hui felt a sense of suffocation. The hand clenched inside her sleeve never loosened.

Yun Qing was too capable; she could not let her examine Fifth Son's pulse.

Absolutely not.

With the medical skills she had displayed, once she checked Fifth Son's pulse, she would undoubtedly discover something.

Yun Qing had come at the wrong time.

If she had appeared from the beginning, she would have begged her to examine Fifth Son. But at this critical juncture, it was impossible...

Heir Ning was not an easy person to deal with. The matters involved were very complicated, and she didn't even dare to imagine the scene if everything were exposed to the public. Setting aside the others, Heir Ning would certainly not let the matter rest.

Qiao Hui's back was soaked with sweat. Thinking of her arrangements from just now, she breathed a slight sigh of relief. As long as Fifth Son did not return today, she might just make it through this crisis.

Yun Qing merely gave a brief greeting and continued checking the pulses of the Duke's household. While doing so, she was actually secretly observing Qiao Hui. *Heh, so she is panicking now.*

It seemed they wanted to hide it, unaware that her master had already investigated everything thoroughly.

It was impossible to hide a single thing.

It was also just bad luck for these people; why did they have to provoke her master?

She glanced toward her master's position. He was sitting in the guest area, sipping a cup of tea. He looked noble, every movement exuding the aura of a well-mannered young gentleman, as if he were oblivious to any irregularities in the Duke's manor.

His looks suggested he was very easy to deceive.

Anyone would want to try and trick him.

But only upon true contact would one realize that he was the King of Hunters, most skilled at entering as prey, easily drawing the prey into his grasp. By the time they realized it, it was already too late.

"I wonder when Eldest Brother-in-law will return?" Azhen suddenly asked Ning Yulan. "Dr. Yun is almost finished. If Eldest Brother-in-law can return in time, he could have his pulse checked as well."

Ning Yulan said, "He should be back soon. Your brother-in-law returns very punctually every day. Since no one was sent ahead to notify him today, he should arrive at his usual time."

"It is almost noon. Heir Ning and Dr. Yun must be tired; they should have a meal first," Qiao Hui said. "As for Fifth Son, I don't know if he will return, but if he doesn't, he will surely send word. Heir Ning and Dr. Yun, please eat first; we can discuss the rest later."

"Regardless, thank you, Heir Ning, for bringing a divine physician like Dr. Yun today. Our Duke's manor has truly gained a great advantage."

In her words, there was no hint of wrongdoing from Qiao Hui.

"Mother, what are you whispering about me?" Yuan Bingjun's voice suddenly came from outside, followed by him stepping into the hall. He didn't find it strange that there were so many people present.

When he entered, the household members had mentioned that his brother-in-law had arrived. He had been surprised at the time but didn't pay it much mind. He had intended to ask a few more questions, but then people from the Ning Prince's Manor arrived, saying they were looking for Ning Zhen to deliver news. Thus, he didn't feel it was appropriate to ask the household why Ning Zhen had come today.

Qiao Hui's face turned pale. Hadn't she arranged for someone to intercept Fifth Son? Why had he still returned?

What should she do?

The people in this manor were so dim-witted. When Fifth Son entered the gates, why didn't they tell him what Heir Ning was here for? In her panic, Qiao Hui failed to notice Qingzhu walking in from outside to stand beside Azhen.

Qingzhu was whispering in Azhen's ear, though it wasn't anything particularly important.

Azhen had intentionally left Qingzhu outside specifically to wait for Yuan Bingjun's return, to prevent the people in the Duke's manor from giving him a heads-up so he could be prepared. Additionally, Qingzhu could monitor the movements of the household from the outside.

Qingzhu had just told her that someone had secretly slipped out, likely to intercept Yuan Bingjun.

How could Qingzhu let that servant succeed? She had immediately arranged for two people to cause him some trouble.

"Husband, you've returned at just the right time," Ning Yulan stood up. "Azhen brought a divine physician today. She just finished diagnosing me and said she can treat my body; I should be able to conceive a child in a year."

"Dr. Yun is a divine physician and has already seen many people in the manor. She can treat all sorts of ailments. She even helped Mother-in-law with her insomnia; Mother-in-law slept very well this morning."

"Since Dr. Yun is almost finished, let her check your pulse as well. Hasn't your appetite been quite poor lately? Such a minor issue will surely be a piece of cake for Dr. Yun." Ning Yulan smiled gently and tried to pull Yuan Bingjun toward her, but he did not move.