Jiu Yue was in the middle of her work when she caught sight of Madam Chu barging in out of the corner of her eye. Watching the woman let out a shriek and nearly topple over, Jiu Yue’s lips twitched. With a swift kick, she sent a stool sliding right under Madam Chu’s backside, steadying her before she could fall.
Madam Gu, currently blindfolded, couldn’t see the two maids in the room who had been frightened earlier—nor her freshly startled mother-in-law. But she recognized Madam Chu’s voice and couldn’t help asking, “Mother, what brings you here?”
Jiu Yue didn’t pause her movements, glancing briefly at Madam Chu, who was still clutching her chest. She replied flatly, “Probably worried I’d stab you to death.”
Madam Gu: “…”
Madam Chu: “…”
Jiu Yue flashed Madam Chu a grin. “Now that you’ve seen your daughter-in-law is alive, Madam… Would you mind closing the door on your way out?”
Madam Chu turned her head and saw the two maids slumped weakly by the bed, still recovering from their fright. After a brief silence, she steeled herself and shut the door—but didn’t leave. Instead, she approached the bedside.
Up close, the sight was even more unsettling.
Madam Chu’s temple throbbed, her heartbeat quickening. The needles looked terrifying, yet her daughter-in-law’s expression showed no sign of pain.
“Mo’er, how do you feel?” Madam Chu asked worriedly.
Though blindfolded, Madam Gu could vaguely make out her mother-in-law’s figure. She offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Mother. It stings a little, but my body actually feels much lighter.”
Jiu Yue’s eyes darted mischievously before she launched into an exaggerated explanation. “Of course! Madam Gu’s body has never fully recovered since childbirth. Even in September, when the heat isn’t unbearable, her hands are as cold as midwinter—that’s hardly normal!”
“Such severe deficiency in both qi and blood can’t be fixed by mere medicinal soups. They’re like trying to put out a wildfire with a cup of water!”
“But now that she’s met me…” Jiu Yue smirked. “Madam Gu’s fortune is just beginning!”
Madam Gu and Madam Chu were left speechless.
By then, Jiu Yue had already started removing the needles. Watching the terrifying iron needles slide out of her daughter-in-law’s back without a drop of blood, Madam Chu couldn’t help but marvel.
With the maids still too shaken to move, Madam Chu personally helped Madam Gu dress and asked, “How do you feel now? Any unbearable pain?”
Madam Gu considered carefully. If anything, the spots where the needles had been inserted ached slightly—but it was nothing severe.
Just as she shook her head faintly, Madam Chu suddenly gasped.
“Mo’er! Your hands—they’re actually warm!” The two women clasped hands, as thrilled as if they’d discovered treasure.
Madam Gu had suffered from perpetually cold hands and feet even before childbirth, and it had only worsened afterward. Even in the height of summer, her palms were clammy with cold sweat.
Now, to feel her hands dry and warm so suddenly—she hadn’t expected the effects to be this immediate!
Madam Chu was the first to recover. She hurried over to Jiu Yue and exclaimed, “Divine Healer, thank you so much! How many more sessions will my daughter-in-law need?”
The title “Divine Healer” nearly made Jiu Yue’s tail wag with pride.
Heh.
Now this was professionalism!
Her inner strength wasn’t just for show!
While treating Madam Gu, Jiu Yue had channeled her inner energy through the needles the entire time, stimulating blood flow and warming the body from within. No wonder it felt so good!
Suppressing a smug grin, Jiu Yue glanced at Madam Gu, now standing, and said, “Madam Gu can continue her usual medicinal diet. As for the needles, she can come to me whenever she wants—it’s only beneficial.”
Madam Chu nodded eagerly and personally escorted Jiu Yue out.
Fu Yan’an had already heard the commotion inside. Turning, he caught the faint trace of triumph in Jiu Yue’s expression.
Fu Yan’an: “…”
How was it that this woman seemed like a completely different person after changing clothes?
When they’d met in the garden that evening, she’d seemed aloof and calculating.
After a moment’s silence, Fu Yan’an first checked on his wife. The results were indeed astonishingly quick—even he was surprised.
Concerned for her health, he quickly caught up with Jiu Yue and asked, “How long will tonight’s treatment last? Will her condition revert to its usual chill by morning?”
Jiu Yue waved a hand. “Don’t worry. My technique uses inner strength—it’ll hold for at least three to five days.”
“Inner strength…”
Fu Yan’an suddenly smiled. “Indeed. Your mastery is impressive.”
Jiu Yue tensed, sensing the trap even before he continued, “Though I can’t help but wonder… Surely such inner strength isn’t cultivated solely through acupuncture?”
His tone had taken on an interrogative edge.
Jiu Yue: “…”
She smiled back.
“Since you’re curious, how about I give you a free session?” she offered sweetly. “Experiencing it firsthand is worth a hundred explanations. What do you say?”
Fu Yan’an didn’t flinch.
“Then I’ll trouble you.”
They locked eyes for a silent moment before turning in unison and heading back inside.
Madam Chu, left standing there: “…”
After a brief internal struggle, she followed.
By the time Jiu Yue returned to her own courtyard, the moon was already descending.
Stretching wearily, she entered her room—only to find the Mute Girl still awake.
Jiu Yue blinked, blurting out instinctively, “You want a session too?”
Mute Girl: “…”
Her lips twitched. Seeing the exhaustion on Jiu Yue’s face, she quickly stepped forward to relieve her of her belongings.
“Prin—ahem—Miss, you misunderstand. I was just waiting for you.” Now that Jiu Yue was back, Mute Girl finally relaxed. “Why did it take so long?”
She’d half-expected Jiu Yue to be exposed as a fraud!
Jiu Yue rubbed her face tiredly. Freed of her equipment, she flopped onto the floor, rolling around like a restless caterpillar.
“Ugh, don’t even ask. I’m exhausted.” She closed her eyes and recounted the night’s events.
“Madam Gu’s pulse matched exactly what Doctor Tang described. I had to treat her.”
She sighed. “But using inner strength speeds up the effects… which made Fu Yan’an suspicious.”
“I didn’t want to explain, so I tried to scare him off by offering him a session. Who knew he’d actually take me up on it?” Jiu Yue opened her eyes, feeling oddly defeated.
“To convince him my inner strength came from acupuncture, I had to use nearly 70% of my energy on him!”
Remembering Fu Yan’an’s stoic expression despite the sweat pouring down his face, she had to admit—he was one tough customer.
“Then Madam Chu saw her son and daughter-in-law getting treated and demanded a session too…” Jiu Yue laughed weakly. “That family nearly drained me dry.”
Mute Girl: “…”
That… sounded really rough.
"But there are benefits too!" Jiu Yue blinked at her, brimming with joy. "My inner strength successfully impressed a few people. Fu Yan'an told me to rest for two days, and then he’ll personally escort me to the Fu family’s estate."
"Two more days," Jiu Yue held her hand and smiled. "Are you ready?"
The Mute Girl’s heart skipped a beat.
She pressed a hand to her chest, where another silver hairpin lay hidden beneath her robes.
A moment later, she reached out and tightly grasped Jiu Yue’s hand.
"Don’t worry, my lady!"
