228 Death Comes Sooner or Later

“Presumptuous. You are ignorant and unreasonable!” shouted the imperial physician, unable to contain his rage. “Whoever marries you will have eight lifetimes of misfortune. How can such an outrageous woman like you exist in the world?”

“Imperial Physician Zhang, your words could not be further from the truth. Being able to have a woman like Chuchu as my wife is the good fortune I accumulated over three lifetimes,” said Xie Heng, who just happened to walk in. He continued speaking to the imperial physician, “Without Chuchu, I would still be blind now.”

The imperial physician nearly perished from anger.

Xie Heng walked up to Zhao Chuchu’s side and subtly shielded her behind him. Then he stood before the imperial physician and said, “If my wife’s existence brings others misfortune, then wouldn’t the existence of other doctors be a worse nightmare?”

The imperial physician’s face turned as red as a beetroot, and his breathing became rapid.

“Be lenient wherever it is possible. My wife came to Qiaoyi Town at Mr. Qiao’s behest. If you have any complaints against this, it would be faster if we sought out Mr. Qiao to resolve the issue,” said Xie Heng. “Troubling a woman is not very gentlemanly behavior.”

The imperial physician was furious as he shouted, “Just wait and see!”

“Imperial Physician Zhang, who needs to wait?” said Qiao Heting right then. His voice rang. “I invited Mrs. Xie here. Imperial Physician Zhang, if you have any complaints, address them to me. Indeed, there is no need to trouble Mrs. Xie. If you need the prescription, I will personally submit it to the Emperor when I return to Imperial City.”

When Imperial Physician Zhang saw Qiao Heting, he deflated like a balloon. No matter how big his ego was, he forcefully suppressed it.

“Qiao…Mr. Qiao…” stuttered Imperial Physician Zhang. His previous arrogance was gone. Instead, he respectfully asked, “Why are you here?”

“I arrived before you did. I just overheard what you said. Did you want the prescription for treating big belly disease?”

“I would not dare.”

“Mr. Xie is right. I invited Mrs. Xie to Qiaoyi Town. I spent money to buy her prescription. If you wanted it, you could have come straight to me. Why did you need to flaunt your authority and bully a young maiden?”

“This is all a misunderstanding!”

“I have been listening for a long time, but I do not believe that this is a misunderstanding. However, Imperial Physician Zhang, if you believe that Mrs. Xie must surrender the prescription herself, you should also show some sincerity. Otherwise, social order would be in chaos if everyone acted like this.”

Qiao Heting no longer appeared like a feeble scholar. He had the authority of someone from the upper class. When he looked at Imperial Physician Zhang, the latter did not even dare to breathe.

“I merely considered that people elsewhere have also contracted big belly disease. Unfortunately, in my haste, I chose my words poorly and misspoke. I was not trying to force Mrs. Xie to hand over her prescription,” stuttered Imperial Physician Zhang. “Mr. Qiao, please understand.”

“Mrs. Xie, is this true?” asked Qiao Heting as he looked at Zhao Chuchu.

Before Zhao Chuchu could answer, Imperial Physician Zhang hastily apologized to her, saying, “Mrs. Xie, I have indeed misspoken in my haste. However, I did not mean to force you. Please forgive my transgression.”

As he said this, he bowed deeply toward Zhao Chuchu.

She stepped aside.

She did not accept his bow.

“Imperial Physician Zhang, there is no need for this. Since it was a misunderstanding and you have apologized, we will let bygones be bygones,” said Zhao Chuchu nonchalantly. “I had planned to share the prescription from the very start.”

Imperial Physician Zhang nearly coughed up blood.

He suspected that Zhao Chuchu was doing this intentionally.

However, he did not have proof.

Qiao Heting also appeared to be siding with Zhao Chuchu. Imperial Physician Zhang had no standing or backing in Imperial City. He would not dare to offend Qiao Heting.

He could only swallow his emotions and say, “Many thanks, Mrs. Xie.”

“You are welcome,” Zhao Chuchu said with a wide grin.

When Qiao Heting saw this, he said, “Since this was just a misunderstanding and has already been resolved, we will let this slide. After I return, I will naturally report the prescription to the Emperor. So, Imperial Physician Zhang, you need not worry.”

“Thank you, Mr. Qiao.”

Imperial Physician Zhang did not dare reveal his anger.

Qiao Heting asked, “Mrs. Xie, have you considered what we discussed last time?”

“I am sorry, Mr. Qiao. I am afraid that my skills are inadequate for such an important task.”

Zhao Chuchu turned down Qiao Heting in front of Imperial Physician Zhang.

When Imperial Physician Zhang heard this, he was elated.

So what if Zhao Chuchu embarrassed him? If she turned down Qiao Heting, she would die sooner or later.

Although the two did not state it outright, Imperial Physician Zhang knew that Qiao Heting was asking Zhao Chuchu to look at the Third Prince. However, she had turned him down!

All of Imperial Physician Zhang’s dissatisfaction faded away.

After all, Zhao Chuchu had offended Qiao Heting.

As expected, Qiao Heting said while frowning, “That was not what you said last time!”

“I have researched the prescriptions you gave me. For him to rely on such strong medicines to prolong his life, your friend will not have much longer to live. I do not wish to be involved in this mess.”

“You!”

“Mr. Qiao, please understand.”

“Mrs. Xie, do you know what you have done?”

“Oh, by the way, Mr. Qiao, please remember your promise. I expect my payment in full. My husband and brother-in-law need the money to spend.”

Qiao Heting was aghast.

On the side, even though Xie Heng knew that Zhao Chuchu was acting, the words “my husband” made him unspeakably happy.

Zhao Chuchu teased, “Mr. Qiao, are you going back on your word?”

“You will get your money!”

Qiao Heting was grinding his teeth.

He was clearly enraged by Zhao Chuchu’s backtracking.

Zhao Chuchu indeed did not want to get involved in this mess.

She could neutralize the Third Prince’s poison, but she would do so in secret.

After all, she had to protect Xie Jun.

Qiao Heting could do nothing against Zhao Chuchu. Even though he was displeased, he reigned in his emotions.

“When you return to Lengshui Village, I will send the money over. Rest assured, not a single cent will be missing.”

“Thank you, Mr. Qiao. If you have other good deals like this in the future, please seek me out.”

“Hmph!” Qiao Heting waved his sleeve and left.

Imperial Physician Zhang felt really good.

He did not feel aggrieved anymore.

She was an ignorant woman from the countryside who was witty with her speech. If she did not know how to deal with other people, she would die a horrible, unimaginable death.

Imperial Physician Zhang left feeling refreshed.

Zhao Chuchu watched as Imperial Physician Zhang and his group left. The corner of her mouth curled up slightly.

She spent another five days in Qiaoyi Town, inspecting the treatment of the contaminated water in each village again. Then, after she was certain that there were no more issues, she planned to return to Yuanjiang County.

After all, she had been away from Lengshui Village for more than a month. Finally, it was time to return home.

The townsfolk of Qiaoyi Town were extremely grateful to her. When they heard that she was leaving, they offered her the best items in their homes as gifts.

Zhao Chuchu did not know what to say.

She rejected their gifts.

Zhao Chuchu said, “I have already received payment for your treatment. So if you want to thank someone, thank the government for their trust in me. If it weren’t for that, I would not have come to Qiaoyi Town and would not have been able to treat all of you.”

“Mrs. Xie, regardless, we are all alive because of you. These are just tokens of our appreciation. Please accept them.”

“That’s right. Everyone believed we were impregnated by ghosts and that it was Qiaoyi Town’s punishment for evil doings. You came to save us. These are your just rewards.”

“I know that these aren’t worth much, but they are the best things we can offer. Mrs. Xie, please accept them.”

The townsfolk chimed in one after another.

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