CMWKSD -Chapter 98 Treating Madam Shen

But Jiu Yue was just like that—she didn’t hold grudges. After all, if there was a grudge, she settled it on the spot.

Looking at the thick stack of banknotes Shen Zongnian had sent over, along with bolts of fabric, porcelain, gold and silver jewelry, Jiu Yue felt that this man really knew the ropes. So, seeing his bruised and swollen face, she very kindly presented him with a bottle of excellent medicine for bruises and injuries.

Then she had Ji Yiqing carry the medicine chest.

Jiu Yue trotted along behind Shen Zongnian, heading off to the General’s Residence.

Ji Yiqing had originally said that before the spring examinations, it would be best to avoid getting involved with nobles in the capital as much as possible.

But letting Jiu Yue go alone…

Ji Yiqing glanced at Shen Zongnian’s battered face and decided—never mind.

Better to follow along. Even the young general of the Shen family had been beaten into this state.

Ji Yiqing was worried that if Jiu Yue got unhappy again, she might beat up General Shen as well!

They reached the General’s Residence. The steward, who had just taken over the household authority, was waiting at the gate. Seeing the Shen family’s carriage, he hurried forward at a trot.

Then a dazzlingly colorful face popped out.

The steward’s smile froze on his face, his brain completely stalled—what had he just been about to say?

Still, from that face, one could vaguely tell something had happened.

The steward craned his neck, cautious and puzzled: “Seventh Young Master?”

Shen Zongnian truly had no temper left. If an ordinary person had been beaten like this by Jiu Yue, they would have long used their family’s power to force submission.

But Shen Zongnian wasn’t that kind of person. He had entered the army at twelve—an environment where only strength reigned supreme.

Shen Zongnian had been beaten not a thousand times, then at least eight hundred.

After so many years of tempering, by now, in the military camp, aside from General Shen and Shen Zongsheng, he could say he had fought just about everyone.

Although he’d been beaten by Jiu Yue, he didn’t feel anything negative at all. On the contrary, he felt that Jiu Yue’s footwork and martial skills were worth learning from.

Don’t be fooled by Jiu Yue’s small stature—back in the snow, Shen Zongnian had already noticed it.

Every move she made, every action, was methodical and disciplined.

If the scouts in the army could learn this—even if not all soldiers were big, burly men, there were also smaller ones.

If those smaller ones could learn even a bit from Jiu Yue, that would already make an elite squad.

Smaller builds were suited to being vanguards, scouts…

Many places where weight or height were limiting—places difficult to conceal oneself, places only smaller people could reach—wasn’t that perfect?

Shen Zongnian gave a low “mm” as a response to the steward: “Madam Ji is here.”

The steward hurriedly answered, but inside his heart was already a raging storm. How did he go out once and come back beaten this badly?

Who was it? Who dared to beat their Seventh Young Master like this?!

Soon after, Ji Yiqing and Jiu Yue climbed out of the carriage behind.

Shen Zongnian stood by the carriage, not making any special effort to greet them.

Ji Yiqing got down first. Just as he raised his hand to help Jiu Yue down, Jiu Yue directly jumped off.

Shen Zongnian: …

Ji Yiqing: …Alright then. Not a shred of public affection allowed. Who was it last night that hugged him, held him, and kissed him nonstop?!

Behind them, the steward rattled off explanations, since General Shen had given explicit instructions.

He said Jiu Yue was a distinguished guest. Normally, such a guest should be received by the female members of the household, but at the moment, Concubine Zhu was still in the residence, arguing with General Shen.

So the steward had no choice but to come himself.

Shen Zongnian couldn’t be bothered with any of that, and Jiu Yue even more so—she had the feeling of “do this job and then run.”

She urgently urged Shen Zongnian to take her straight to Madam Shen’s courtyard.

So much so that the tea and refreshments prepared in the main hall never got used.

Ji Yiqing, a juren scholar, followed behind Jiu Yue like a little medicine boy, carrying the medicine chest.

Once again, he decided that after the spring examinations were over, he really had to find Jiu Yue a proper medicine boy.

They arrived at Madam Shen’s courtyard. It was Jiu Yue’s first time in such an official family residence.

The Wang family’s estate had been luxurious, sure.

But compared to this kind of old, well-established noble family, it was still lacking. After all, there were certain regulations that merchants were not allowed to use.

Just in terms of size alone, the Wang residence couldn’t compare.

From the gate to Madam Shen’s courtyard, the distance made Jiu Yue walk until she desperately wanted Ji Yiqing to carry her.

Stepping into the courtyard, Jiu Yue let out a “whoa”—every step revealed a new view.

Even someone like Jiu Yue, who had zero aesthetic sense, was stunned by the scenery.

She quietly sidled up to Ji Yiqing and whispered, “When I buy a residence in the future, my courtyard has to be this pretty too.”

Even if she didn’t have the refinement of “learning from books reflected in one’s aura,” she at least had the attitude!

Ji Yiqing lifted his gaze to glance at Shen Zongnian, who was leading the way ahead.

With a smile full of warmth in his eyes, he nodded to Jiu Yue. “Alright. When the time comes, I’ll personally arrange it for you.”

Jiu Yue was delighted, and all the irritation she’d felt along the way vanished.

Ji Yiqing watched as Jiu Yue, who had just been a bit puffed-up and unhappy, instantly became cheerful after he merely answered her.

So easy to please.

How nice.

They arrived at the main room. The nannies serving in the courtyard saw Shen Zongnian and hurried forward to pay their respects. Shen Zongnian raised his hand.

“Get up. I’ve found a physician to take a look at my mother. You all go about your own business.”

Jiu Yue followed them into the room. The moment she entered, the place was filled with the smell of incense—so strong it made her want to vomit. Anything in excess was bad.

This incense was really too much.

Perhaps others might think it was fine.

But Jiu Yue’s sense of smell was too keen—many scents were infinitely magnified for her.

On the bed lay a woman who looked withered and emaciated, her eyes devoid of any spark.

Yet when she saw Shen Zongnian, she forced out a smile. “Zongnian…”

Seeing Madam Shen like this made Shen Zongnian feel deeply uncomfortable. “Mother…”

Jiu Yue stood to the side. After Shen Zongnian finished speaking with Madam Shen, she sat down on a brocade stool and reached out to take Madam Shen’s pulse.

From what Ji Yiqing had told her earlier, Jiu Yue had already roughly guessed the issue. Now that she examined her, it was indeed as she thought—emotional stagnation.

Similar to depression in modern terms.

Jiu Yue wasn’t a psychologist. If it was a physical illness, as long as she said she could cure it, then she absolutely could.

Fortunately, traditional medicine also had prescriptions targeting depression. The most important thing, however, was that the person had to be able to think it through themselves.

Seeing Jiu Yue fall silent after taking the pulse, Shen Zongnian thought Madam Shen had some serious illness.

And since he didn’t dare ask in front of her, he quickly led Jiu Yue to the outer main room. “Madam Ji, what exactly is wrong with my mother?”

“It’s not anything very serious—just depressive disorder.”

Shen Zongnian lowered his eyes. “We’ve found many physicians. They all said the same thing. But ever since my eldest brother passed away, my mother’s health has declined day by day.”

Jiu Yue didn’t really know how to comfort him. The person was already dead—there was no bringing him back. Saying more was useless. There was no such thing as true empathy in this world.

So she could only dryly say, “She still has to think it through herself. After all, you still have several brothers left, don’t you?”

There are still three left!