CMWKSD -Chapter 105 Beaten to Death

Concubine Zhu let out a few groans as she came to, and when she saw the bloodthirsty look in General Shen’s eyes, she no longer cared about the pain wracking her body.

Forcing herself up, she tried to crawl to General Shen’s side, only to see him turn away abruptly.
“This wretched concubine spoke without restraint and sullied Doctor Jiu Yue’s reputation. Doctor Jiu Yue may dispose of her however she wishes!”

Concubine Zhu’s heart choked. “My lord!”

Jiu Yue clicked her tongue. She knew well enough that this dynasty was like this—concubines could be bought and sold. To put it bluntly, to the main household, a concubine was just a plaything, beaten or scolded at will as a matter of course.

There were indeed favored concubines who could contend with the principal wife, but such cases were exceedingly rare. Any family that could maintain both a principal wife and a group of concubines—how could it possibly be a simple household?

Without some foundation or official rank, one wasn’t even qualified to have concubines.

Concubine Zhu had managed the household for barely two years and had already forgotten who she herself was.

Jiu Yue wasn’t the least bit worried that the Shen family might hold a grudge against her. Let them resent her if they wanted—she had always lived as she pleased.

Why burden herself by thinking about whom she might offend?

Choosing words carefully, acting prudently—none of that had anything to do with Jiu Yue.

She had suffered countless hardships and endured endless trials in Dark Moon, forging all those skills. They were more than enough for her to live happily and freely.

As for other people’s thoughts or actions—what did they have to do with her?

Ji Yiqing came out with his medicine chest on his back. “Jiu Yue, let’s go.”

Shen Zongnian no longer cared about propriety and hurriedly grabbed Ji Yiqing’s sleeve. “Brother Ji, it was a servant of my household who overstepped, but that absolutely does not represent the views of the Shen family.”

Shen Zongsheng touched his own leg, his gaze burning as he looked at General Shen.
“Father, beat her to death.”

A man who could kill decisively on the battlefield and fight bathed in blood—how could he be soft-hearted?

Besides, Shen Zongsheng had long disliked Concubine Zhu. It was only because his leg had been injured and he had grown disheartened that he hadn’t bothered with matters inside the residence.

Now, with just two sentences, Concubine Zhu had directly severed his chance to ever stand again for the rest of his life.

How could Shen Zongsheng possibly tolerate that?

Concubine Zhu let out a shrill cry. “My lord, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have said those things—I was truly wrong!”

General Shen said nothing more. He merely waved his hand, and guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Concubine Zhu away.

Jiu Yue didn’t plead for mercy in the slightest, nor did she care whether the Shen family thought her cruel or ruthless.

Something that never happened had been pinned on her like a bucket of filth—she wasn’t a saint. Why should she forgive?

Besides, the matter of that invitation was clearly Concubine Zhu’s attempt to give her a show of authority.

What kind of trash was she, daring to provoke her?

Seeing that the Shen family handled the matter in a way that was still satisfactory to her, Jiu Yue snorted lightly. “You’re not worried that what I said might be false?”

General Shen cast Jiu Yue a heavy look. A mere concubine—if she was to be beaten to death, then so be it.

He didn’t particularly care. Whether Jiu Yue could cure Shen Zongsheng or not, Concubine Zhu’s fate had already been sealed—either she would die of old age secluded in the courtyard, or she would die of illness.

What’s more, due to her mismanagement, he himself had been afflicted by a gu, and the fifth son had been poisoned. Case after case had yet to be settled with her.

Originally, he had planned to deal with Concubine Zhu after Jiu Yue and the others left. After all, family scandals should not be aired publicly.

But now things had come to this.

This was perfect—two birds with one stone. Concubine Zhu was dealt with, and Jiu Yue’s anger was appeased.

As for whether Jiu Yue could truly cure him—well, they weren’t completely without means.

No matter how skilled Jiu Yue was in martial arts, she was still just one person, and Ji Yiqing was only a frail scholar.

Compared to ruthlessness and cruelty, how could a young woman like Jiu Yue, who wore all her emotions on her face, compare to men who had fought their way through battlefields and court intrigues?

He simply didn’t say these thoughts aloud, lest he anger Jiu Yue.

Ji Yiqing, for his part, merely glanced at the Shen family without saying anything. He had long known how complicated human hearts could be.

Seated in his wheelchair, Shen Zongsheng lowered his head slightly. “My leg has long since been sentenced to death. No matter what Doctor Jiu Yue says, I accept it.”

Jiu Yue clicked her tongue and sat beside Shen Zongsheng, raising her hand to feel his pulse.

She then felt his leg as well, examining his condition before silently withdrawing her hand.

Seeing her reaction, Shen Zongsheng felt the last bit of hope in his heart finally fall away.
“Since Doctor Jiu Yue also has no solution, it seems I simply lack the fortune. In this lifetime, I suppose I’ll never stand again.”

As he spoke, seeing that Jiu Yue didn’t respond, Shen Zongsheng understood her meaning—perhaps she couldn’t bear to strike him with the truth, so she didn’t answer at all.

He rolled the wheels of his chair and weakly pushed himself away.

Only after a moment did Jiu Yue come back to herself. Shen Zongsheng’s situation was rather special—both poison and injury were involved. From the looks of it, surgery would be required.

But she had no instruments.

She was already thinking about how to con the Shen family into having a full set of surgical tools made just for her. Those weren’t cheap—judging by prices in this era, a complete set, factoring in losses since it likely couldn’t all be forged in one go, might easily cost tens of thousands of taels of silver.

“Hey, why did he leave?” Jiu Yue asked.

General Shen and Shen Zongnian looked as if their parents had died.

Shen Zongnian muttered, “Wasn’t my fifth brother’s leg beyond saving? Didn’t Doctor Jiu Yue just now not answer either?”

Jiu Yue looked at Ji Yiqing in confusion. “Did I ever say that? How come I don’t remember?”

Ji Yiqing immediately caught on to her meaning. “Jiu Yue, are you saying… the fifth young master’s leg can still be saved?”

Jiu Yue let out an “ah.” “If it couldn’t be saved, why would I be sitting here? To pray? I need to think it through properly—without full confidence, how could I speak carelessly?”

Just as Shen Zongsheng reached the courtyard gate, Shen Zongnian’s loud shout startled him.

“Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother! Doctor Jiu Yue says your leg can be saved!”

Shen Zongsheng spun his wheelchair around in one swift motion. His eyes shone with tears, rims red, as if he were about to cry.

“Truly? But just now Doctor Jiu Yue she—”

Shen Zongnian hurried to push his wheelchair. “Doctor Jiu Yue was just thinking about the treatment plan, that’s why she didn’t answer you. She wasn’t saying your leg couldn’t be saved.”

He then pushed Shen Zongsheng back.

Seeing everyone gathered, Jiu Yue couldn’t be bothered with beating around the bush.

She walked up to Shen Zongsheng’s wheelchair and jerked her chin at Shen Zongnian.
“Roll up his pants.”

Shen Zongnian responded twice with “oh, oh” and rolled up the pant leg, then heard Jiu Yue instruct, “Bring a brazier, and some strong liquor as well.”

There was no helping it—this era had no concept of sterilization, so Jiu Yue could only make do like this.

Of course, she wasn’t about to start treating the leg immediately. First, the poisoned blood in Shen Zongsheng’s leg had to be drawn out.

While people went to prepare what Jiu Yue had asked for, she felt it necessary to explain things to them.

Hearing her talk about cutting the leg open with a blade, realigning the displaced bones, then stitching everything back together—everyone listening couldn’t help but bare their teeth.

But General Shen, Shen Zongnian, and Shen Zongsheng had all spent time on the battlefield.

Ancient times already had “ulcer surgery,” essentially trauma medicine, which included basic suturing and treatment.

Still, voluntarily slicing open a leg and working around flesh and bone sounded uncomfortable no matter how one looked at it.

Jiu Yue explained everything using Shen Zongsheng’s leg as an example. When she finished, she straightened up, hands on her hips.

“My method is indeed somewhat unconventional. But since I dare to do it, that means I have the ability to make him recover.”

“If you can’t accept my approach, I won’t force it.”

“And as for the fifth young master’s leg wanting to fully recover—”

Shen Zongsheng immediately forgot all those horrifying treatment methods Jiu Yue had just described.

Jiu Yue gave a conservative estimate. “Two years. Including rehabilitation, in two years he should be able to ride horses and go to war again.”