Chapter 146: Living Bodhisattva

Aiqing’s expression stiffened before she lowered her head, her entire body beginning to tremble.

Recalling that day, it felt like a nightmare she could never forget for the rest of her life.

Just as she had received the news of her husband’s death, her brother-in-law had unashamedly approached her, demanding that Aiqing, who was heavily pregnant and close to full term, become his woman.

He immediately started tearing at Aiqing's clothes. Terrified, the frantic woman kicked out blindly in panic, injuring the man right between his legs, and thus managed to escape a catastrophe.

Because of this, she dared not return home.

Knowing that her mother-in-law would inevitably side with her younger son, she had no choice but to wander out alone.

Had it not been for encountering Qiao Qingyun and the others, she likely would have lost her life long ago.

"Yes," the woman sobbed, nodding twice. "It was my child's father's younger brother. But I refused, so he tried to force me. In my panic, I ended up injuring him."

Upon receiving confirmation, Qiao Qingyun felt her teeth itch with anger. Managing to steady her emotions, she gently patted Aiqing's back and said, "It's alright, don't worry."

"Please, Miss Qiao, if I must go to the official authorities, can it wait until after my child's full-month celebration?"

As she spoke, Aiqing's voice trembled violently, her grip tightening visibly around the baby she held in her arms.

Qiao Qingyun shook her head. "No one is going to take you away. Do not go outside for the next few days, and someone will take care of you the entire time. Rest assured, your brother-in-law is currently in another ward anyway."

"Ah?"

Hearing this news, Aiqing shrank back in fear.

Remembering the terror in Aiqing's eyes whenever she mentioned her family, Qiao Qingyun vaguely sensed something.

Could it be that she was frequently subjected to abuse and beatings even at home?

"Don't be afraid, I'm going out for a moment."

Qiao Qingyun stood up. Upon stepping outside, she found the mother-in-law beaming broadly at her.

"What is it?"

The woman frowned deeply. For some reason, the trace of sympathy she had originally felt for this old woman completely vanished into thin air.

Catching the look of disgust in Qiao Qingyun's eyes and failing to understand what had happened, the old woman—concerned for her son's future—quickly pulled Qiao Qingyun aside.

"Young lady, tell me honestly, is there any possibility my son can recover?"

"How could there be? If there were, I wouldn't have said so much to you earlier. Did you really think I was just fooling you?"

Qiao Qingyun was almost angry enough to laugh at the old woman; she had never encountered anyone so stubbornly persistent.

Thinking of Aiqing's situation, this outcome was actually for the best, as it would prevent him from ruining another woman's life.

Upon hearing this, the old woman immediately threw a tantrum on the spot. Slapping her thighs and bursting into loud wails, she cried, "Oh, my poor son! How could such a heartless woman ruin his manhood?! Someone, come quick!"

Creating a scene inside the medical hall wasn't enough; the old woman simply rushed out to the entrance and began shouting at the passersby.

"Come quick! The doctors at Taihe Medical Hall are bullying people! They rendered my son impotent and now they're trying to shirk responsibility, even after taking twenty taels of silver from me!"

The more she shouted, the more spirited she became. A crowd quickly gathered, but upon seeing that it was the Taihe Medical Hall, someone immediately cut the old woman off.

"Impossible! The doctor in charge here is like a living Bodhisattva. During the plague, she saved all of us common folk! You're talking nonsense out of your mind—this is clearly malicious slander!"

"Exactly! Slander!"

Faced with the pointing and criticism of the crowd, the old woman was momentarily stunned.

If she had caused a scene like this at any other medical hall, they would have either settled privately or refunded the money. Why was the situation so unusual today?

"I'm telling the truth! My son is lying right inside! I cannot let this go!"

"Then make the doctor come out!"

"That's right!"

Hearing the commotion downstairs, Zhong Shi spotted Qiao Qingyun alone on the ground floor. He vaulted over the railing and quickly arrived by her side. "County Princess, what is this?"

Qiao Qingyun watched coldly with a detached expression and snorted, "Pay no attention to her."

Just as Qiao Qingyun intended to return to dispensing medicine, the old woman, seizing what she thought was the right moment, lunged forward with a ferocious expression, grabbed Qiao Qingyun's arm, and forcefully dragged her toward the entrance.

"Audacious!"

Zhong Shi was ready to fly into a rage on the spot, but a single glance from Qiao Qingyun stopped him.

With extreme puzzlement, he watched as Qiao Qingyun was dragged outside.

Dressed in a pristine white medical robe, her three thousand strands of dark hair gently pinned up, she stood before the crowd without a shred of fear. "What is the matter?"

Seeing that it truly was Qiao Qingyun, someone among the crowd immediately asked, "Living Bodhisattva, this old woman just said that you were the one who rendered her son impotent?"

"Yes."

Qiao Qingyun showed no fear and calmly admitted to it. In an instant, it caused a massive uproar, and the crowd began whispering in disbelief.

"That can't be right!"

"Exactly, how could such a thing happen?"

Seeing that Qiao Qingyun had taken the bait, the old woman hurriedly began to put on a pitiful act. "You all heard it! She is the one who rendered my son impotent!"

"It was because her son arrived with severe lower abdominal pain and had already lost consciousness. If the pain nerves had not been excised in time, he would have likely lost his life. Furthermore, her son had already sustained prior injuries; even if I hadn't intervened, he would no longer be able to use it."

Qiao Qingyun stated the raw truth, prompting many in the crowd to voice their support.

"I knew it! The living Bodhisattva would never do such a cruel thing."

"What are your true intentions? Why are you falsely accusing her?"

Realizing how the wind was blowing, the old woman immediately sprang to her feet, pointed directly at Qiao Qingyun's nose, and began hurling abuses with spittle flying everywhere. "Where is your proof?! You little wench, do you really think you're somebody special? Let me tell you, today you either return my silver, or you become my son's wife! Otherwise, I am not leaving!"

With that, the old woman threw herself onto the ground once more to throw a fit.

Hearing that she demanded Qiao Qingyun become her son's wife, the onlookers exchanged covert smiles and remained silent.

Not a single person present was unaware of Qiao Qingyun's true identity.

It was simply because Qiao Qingyun had always kept a low profile; whenever she went out to practice medicine, people addressed her either as "Miss" or "Living Bodhisattva."

Over time, they had simply forgotten that she was a dignified County Princess.

"Very well, you say there is no proof? Zhong Shi."

A murderous aura radiated from the man, who wished nothing more than to execute this old woman right at the door on the spot. Hearing Qiao Qingyun's call, he immediately responded, "Present."

"Bring the signed agreement written yesterday."

"Yes."

Zhong Shi turned instantly. After darting inside, he returned a moment later with the agreement and held it up before the crowd.

"Respected elders and villagers, please take a look with your own eyes. These are the postoperative complications I discussed with her yesterday, clearly laid out right here. If she had not signed and pressed her thumbprint, I would not have performed the surgery."

"So, the thumbprint can be seen quite clearly here, can it not?"