“Miss, I remember how to say it now, but what if they hit me again?” Ban Qin asked, kneeling on the cushion and unwilling to get up.
Meanwhile, Cheng Jiao-niang continued to study the characters on the screen, her hand slowly tracing on the table.
“You’re not part of their household,” she remarked.
Ban Qin paused, then nodded in realization, “Oh, right. I wasn’t bought by them; Old Madam Zhou bought me to serve you.” She smiled playfully at Cheng Jiao-niang, “I belong to you!”
Seeing that Ban Qin understood, Cheng Jiao-niang fell silent.
“Miss, are you still not going to claim credit for curing Fourth Young Master this time?” Ban Qin asked once more.
Cheng Jiao-niang paused her movements, looking at Ban Qin and subtly moving her lips. At times, expressing herself was a struggle, causing her genuine discomfort.
“For now, small credit is better,” she managed to convey her thoughts with some effort, using simple words.
Ban Qin appeared somewhat puzzled.
“They don’t trust me,” Cheng Jiao-niang explained, “It’s easier for them to believe in you. Let them trust you first, and then we can proceed step by step.”
Ban Qin was about to ask more questions when the maid waiting outside grew impatient and urged her on.
“I’m tired and don’t feel like talking right now,” Cheng Jiao-niang said, leaning against the table.
Miss’s health wasn’t great, and her speech was not fluent. If Master and Madam came to inquire, Miss wouldn’t be able to explain clearly. It was better to wait and explain later, when Miss was feeling better. For now, she could take the credit first, making their lives a bit easier.
Ban Qin suddenly grasped the idea once more. So that was what Miss meant!
Ban Qin felt proud, serving Miss certainly had made her cleverer!
“Understood, Miss. I’ll go now,” she said cheerfully, bowing before leaving.
First Master Cheng had already heard First Madam Cheng’s explanation of the situation, but he wasn’t interested in this.
To him, whether the maid came up with the idea herself or someone else suggested it, it all seemed like mere tricks and schemes typical of women’s gossip. He thought First Madam Cheng was overreacting or perhaps handling the situation incorrectly.
Why scold and intimidate when one should reward instead?
“This kind of behavior should not be rewarded. How can it be said to be for the good of Si-lang?” First Madam Cheng’s expression hardened. “To be influenced so easily by others to act in such a manner—it’s fortunate it turned out well this time. But what if next time someone suggests that taking poison could achieve certain results? She might end up giving poison to Si-lang!”
Chun Lan was terrified, crying and repeatedly bowing her head.
“I dare not, I dare not,” she sobbed.
First Madam Cheng’s words seemed sensible on the surface, yet something about them didn’t sit right.
First Master Cheng and Second Master Cheng furrowed their brows.
Perhaps this was what they call the twisted logic of women.
“She wouldn’t behave like that; you’re thinking too much,” First Master Cheng remarked.
Just then, the maid outside announced Ban Qin’s arrival, cutting off the conversation inside.
“This is…,” First Master Cheng paused, momentarily forgetting the name of that simpleton. As an elder, he couldn’t directly address someone as the fool, especially in front of others, he hesitated, “…the maid?”
“Yes, I am Ban Qin, maid to Jiao-niang,” Ban Qin said, bowing respectfully.
After completing her bow, she knelt down to sit.
“How bold of you!” First Madam Cheng raised her eyebrows and scolded.
She wasn’t sure if she was referring to the maid’s bold demeanor or her daring actions. After saying this, she found herself at a loss for words.
Bold to harm Fourth Young Master? No, in fact, she had ended up saving his life. Yet, the secretive manner in which she had done so was too unsettling for First Madam Cheng, who, as the matriarch of the Cheng family, found it intolerable.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Ban Qin replied.
Unlike the previous occasion, perhaps due to Cheng Jiao-niang’s earlier reminder, Ban Qin suddenly felt less intimidated by First Madam Cheng.
“Did you instruct Chun Lan to scare Fourth Young Master?” First Master Cheng interjected.
“Yes,” Ban Qin answered confidently, casting a glance at Chun Lan who remained on the ground, crying and unable to rise. “Please don’t blame her. It was my decision.”
“We don’t need you to teach us how to act!” First Madam Cheng’s tone was icy. “Who authorized you to act this way? What were you thinking?”
Ban Qin looked at First Madam Cheng with a puzzled expression.
“I wasn’t thinking anything; I just wanted to save Fourth Young Master,” she said.
“Why didn’t you come and tell me?” First Madam Cheng demanded.
“If I told you, would you believe me?” Ban Qin retorted, with a hint of grievance.
Of course she wouldn’t believe her…
First Madam Cheng was at a loss for words.
“Then you schemed with Chun Lan in secret? What do you take Fourth Young Master for? What if something had gone wrong…” First Madam Cheng’s voice was filled with anger.
“Oh, Madam, there’s no need to worry,” Ban Qin replied with a light laugh, waving her hand casually. “I’ve seen similar symptoms many times before. Back at the Taoist temple, the Taoist nuns often used this method—it’s quite straightforward.”
First Madam Cheng clenched her teeth, unsure of how to respond.
“I did plan to inform you earlier, but it’s not like Bing-zhou here, I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me. Fourth Young Master’s condition couldn’t afford any delay. If we were in Bing-zhou, it would have been simpler; once I mentioned Qingyun Temple, everyone would have believed me,” Ban Qin explained, her eyes shining with determination.
She paused, then turned to Second Master Cheng.
“Second Master, you must be aware that Qingyun Temple in Bing-zhou is renowned for its prowess in exorcism and healing,” she added.
Second Master Cheng’s expression soured at the inquiry.
He wished Qingyun Temple didn’t exist, so why would he bother to pay it any attention?
Moreover, seeking divine intervention was something only the women of the household did; how could a government official like him bother with such things?
He huffed but said nothing.
Watching the maid’s animated demeanor and hearing her rapid, confident voice, the previously solemn atmosphere in the room began to brighten.
First Master Cheng even unwittingly displayed a faint smile.
“You truly have quite the courage, young maid. If you explained it clearly to us, how would we have no reason not to believe you?” he said.
“Master, even if you believe, it won’t match Chun Lan’s belief,” Ban Qin replied.
Such foolishness from the fool’s maid! How could she say such things?
Second Master Cheng and his wife exchanged strange looks as they looked at Ban Qin.
Chun Lan knelt on the ground, wishing she could disappear.
If only she had known a fool’s maid couldn’t be trusted! How could she have been so deceived?
“You…” First Madam Cheng was about to erupt.
But First Master Cheng preempted her.
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
“Because you both are the masters of the household and have many concerns to manage. Chun Lan, on the other hand, is different. To her, there is only Fourth Young Master. As long as she can save him, even if I had suggested taking out her heart, she would not hesitate,” Ban Qin said earnestly.
As Miss mentioned, this was why Madam would not be easily deceived, while Chun Lan, who was only devoted to one master, was more easily fooled.
Chun Lan hadn’t expected Ban Qin to speak up for her like this. Overwhelmed with both grievance and joy, she burst into tears on the ground.
First Madam Cheng frowned, while First Master Cheng chuckled heartily.
“Women’s words, women’s words,” he laughed, without any hint of reproach in his expression.
“Truly, Master. Back at the Taoist temple, the Taoist nuns treated patients in a secretive manner, using crushed leeks to cover their mouths and noses without informing their families beforehand. Naturally, the families would never have believed that such a method could save lives,” Ban Qin explained.
Ban Qin spoke with a smile, reflecting on the situation. It wasn’t the Taoist nuns who devised this method; they only knew how to cook leeks, not that leeks could cure illnesses. The knowledge that leeks could heal came from Miss.
Had the family known that Miss had almost suffocated their mother behind the screen using leeks, they would have surely protested vehemently.
“According to the Taoist nuns, actions speak louder than words,” Ban Qin commented.
“Well said, well said!” echoed a voice from outside.
“Focus on the outcome, not just the approach—truly the mark of a skilled docter!” Doctor Liao applauded, impressed. “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.”
When did Doctor Liao arrive? First Master Cheng and Second Master Cheng quickly rose to greet him, but as they stood, they paused in surprise. Beyond Doctor Liao stood a young man.
This youth, aged around sixteen or seventeen, wore a dark-colored round-collared robe and had a slightly tan complexion with strong features. He stood calmly, his hands resting casually on his waist in a posture as if ready to draw a sword, though no sword was visibly present.
This stance seemed natural and habitual.
Could he be… Doctor Liao’s apprentice?
An apprentice of a healer shouldn’t exude an aura of aggression.
Or perhaps he was a bodyguard? But a bodyguard shouldn’t carry an air of nobility.
He’s…
“Are you the maid my grandmother sent to Lady Cheng?” the young man asked.
Instead of looking at the Cheng family members present, his gaze was fixed on Ban Qin, who sat kneeling inside the room.
Upon turning her head to face him, Ban Qin was momentarily stunned by his piercing gaze, leaving her speechless.
Without waiting for her reply, the young man continued, “Good, you are not bad,” he nodded with a touch of arrogance in his demeanor as he looked at her.
