Chapter 22
Su Yingxue slept all the way until daybreak. She escaped without much effort and did not meet any guards.
As she walked out of the Imperial Residence, she could not help but curse Chu Yihan. “Crazy!”
Why didn’t Manager Qi find out who the patient was before collecting the consultation fee?
She returned to the medical center and reprimanded Manager Qi sternly. “In the future, you must let me know the identities of all the patients who want to see a doctor, no matter who they are. Otherwise, I won’t go no matter how expensive the fee is!”
When Manager Qi saw Su Yingxue’s angry face, he blamed himself. “It’s all my fault for not checking properly! Miss, you were trapped in the Imperial Residence last night. Did anything happen?”
If something happened to her, he would not be able to face his old master even if he had to die to apologize!
Su Yingxue’s anger was hard to quell, but she did not flare up in front of Manager Qi. “It’s fine.”
Manager Qi patted his chest and felt relieved. However, he suddenly frowned. “Miss, the Ninth Prince targeted you. He won’t bring trouble to you, will he? Since he already knew about your identity, then the medical center…”
Thinking about the Ninth Imperial Uncle’s style of doing things, Manager Qi shivered.
Su Yingxue’s brows were tightly knitted together. Chu Yihan might have targeted her and wanted to deal with her, but he would not attack the center.
“With his identity and methods, if he wanted to attack the center, it would have been razed to the ground last night. Now that we are still standing here, it means that he won’t keep an eye on this place.”
Raised in a family of generals, Su Yingxue was especially clear that a decisive person on the battlefield would not show mercy to anyone he did not like.
The medical center was fine, but she was the one in trouble.
“Forget it. I’ll return to the residence first. Be careful next time.”
Su Yingxue instructed with a dark face and immediately rushed back to the Marquis’s Manor.
She had not returned for the entire night. If she was discovered, she did not know how much trouble she would cause.
However, when she went out, she met Wu Jinyan again. She was here to apply for a job.
The clerk in the hall did not know Su Yingxue’s instructions, so he said, “Miss, I’m really sorry. We already have enough manpower. You should go to another center to take a look!”
“But this advertisement was only published yesterday.” Wu Jinyan handed the advertisement to the clerk.
The clerk was confused. Su Yingxue lifted the curtain and walked out. “We’re still recruiting people, but I don’t know what you can do.”
Wu Jinyan’s watery almond-shaped eyes flashed with surprise. “Miss Su? This center is…”
“I run it,” Su Yingxue said frankly.
Wu Jinyan could not help but laugh. “Miss Su is indeed capable. I was rude. Goodbye.”
Wu Jinyan turned around to leave. She was dressed plainly, but Su Yingxue could see the scars on her arm through her thin clothes.
It didn’t seem shallow.
“Wait a minute. Miss Wu, aren’t you here to apply for a job? Why are you leaving after seeing me? Do you think I’ll let you in through the back door for my brother’s sake?” Su Yingxue’s voice carried a hint of mockery.
Wu Jinyan stopped in her tracks. Her expression was indifferent, but she was neither arrogant nor humble. “Miss Su, I know you won’t, and I’m not hiding from you. It’s just that I really need a job, but this has nothing to do with Brother Hao… It has nothing to do with General Su, so I won’t trouble you.”
“What can you do?” Su Yingxue sized her up and did not seem to care about her explanation.
Wu Jinyan had a delicate face. She stood in front of Su Yingxue and said calmly, “I’m good at acupuncture and fragrance. I know a little about medicinal herbs and can do manual labor.”
Su Yingxue touched her own chin. “But you’re the daughter of the Minister’s Estate. If the minister finds out and blames you, what will happen to the medical center?”
Wu Jinyan smiled. “Miss Su, you’re the daughter of a general. Why would you be afraid of the minister? Although I’m a girl, I’m working with dignity. What does it have to do with others? Why should I blame you?”
She was dignified and elegant, beautiful and refined.
Wu Jinyan’s status was not high, but her temperament was admirable.
Su Yingxue nodded. “Miss Wu, since you need a job, my clinic happens to be lacking people. If you’re willing, you can start work as soon as possible. However, your treatment is no different from others.”
“Of course, I will do more for the center.” Wu Jinyan didn’t hesitate. Su Yingxue had given her this opportunity, so she accepted her kindness.
The clerk brought Wu Jinyan to the backyard and assigned her uniform and work.
Manager Qi had been listening and said carefully, “Miss, I will take good care of Miss Wu.”
Su Yingxue nodded. “Give her some ointment made from the Blood Clotting Grass. Oh right, you said that she often goes to Fufeng Center. What’s that place?”
Manager Qi replied, “That place is specially used to take in the old, weak, and young. Although the imperial court has allocated money, corrupt officials will not pity the poor and the weak. Miss Wu’s mother grew up in Fufeng Center. Miss Wu takes special care of the old, weak, and children in that place. She is not rich, to begin with. Now that she has come out to find work, she must be doing it for those people.”
Su Yingxue’s impression of Wu Jinyan became even better. Only a kind person would love her brother with all their heart.
When she rushed back to the Marquis’s Manor, she heard many gossips.
She did not return for the entire night, and everyone was spreading rumors that she had an affair with someone.
Until she reached the courtyard entrance, Old Madam Zhang had been strolling in the Marquis’s Manor waiting for her return. Once she saw her, Old Madam Zhang pulled her over and told her everything.
Su Yingxue curled her lips in disbelief. “It’s really hard for her to have such thoughts.”
She had slept in Chu Yihan’s residence for a night. She didn’t know when Su Yurou had become a storyteller and was so good at spinning stories.
“You unfilial daughter, hurry up and get in!”
Su Dingheng’s furious roar was accompanied by the sound of cups shattering.
Su Yingxue slowly walked in. “Father, your body isn’t well. Don’t always lose your temper.”
“You did such a shameless thing and still care about my health? You’re simply infuriating me!”
Su Dingheng was about to beat her with a whip.
The whip was made of rattan and it was full of thorns. When the whip hit a person’s body, the skin and flesh would definitely split open.
Yuan Xiang was beaten to death by this rattan whip.
Su Dingheng did not hit her the first time. When he raised the whip again, Su Hao’s deep voice sounded, “Father, stop!”
Su Dingheng put down the whip and snorted coldly. “You came just in time. Do you know what shameful things your sister has done? It’s useless even if you protect her!”
Su Hao stood in front of Su Yingxue and said righteously, “My sister is obedient and sensible. She won’t make mistakes easily. Even if she did, she was framed.”
He looked at Su Yurou with a sharp gaze. Su Yurou’s heart trembled.
She quickly moved to Su Dingheng’s side and used a handkerchief to wipe away her nonexistent tears. “Father, I know that Eldest Brother doesn’t like me, but I’m only thinking for Older Sister. How could I possibly harm her?”
“That’s right! Besides, what does this have to do with you? If you hadn’t come to look for her to have breakfast and met that thief, I still wouldn’t know that my daughter is actually having an affair with the guards in the residence! It’s simply an insult to the family!”
Su Dingheng scolded Su Yingxue as if it was a matter of course and protected Su Yurou as well.