Chapter 27: Rescuing Wei Jinyi

“Yes, yes.” Xiaobei hurried off to do as he was told.

He peeled back the quilt covering Wei Jin Yi and unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his chest.

Contrary to what Wei Ruo had imagined, Wei Jin Yi was not as frail as his appearance suggested. His muscles were firm and well-proportioned—robust, but not overly bulky; strong, yet not ostentatious.

At that moment, Xiumei returned with Wei Ruo’s medical emergency kit.

“The bottle with the red label—pour out one pill, mix it into a bowl of water, stir it thoroughly, and feed it to him,” Wei Ruo continued instructing.

Xiumei, having served Wei Ruo for years, was adept at assisting her. She quickly dissolved the pill and handed the mixture to Xiaobei.

“Why are you just standing there? Go feed your young master!” Seeing Xiaobei hesitate, Xiumei urged him.

“This… Miss, where did this medicine come from?” Xiaobei asked.

“Don’t worry about where it’s from. All you need to know is that it can save your young master’s life! Do you think my lady would harm your young master? He’s already in such a state—would anyone bother to harm him now?”

“All right… all right…”

Xiaobei could not think any further. He carried the bowl to the bedside and carefully spooned the medicine into Wei Jin Yi’s mouth.

Wei Ruo dipped a towel in cold water, wrung it out, and gently wiped Wei Jin Yi’s upper torso.

Then she opened her acupuncture kit and took out slender silver needles.

Seeing the needles, Xiaobei’s face went pale, his hand trembling so badly that some of the medicine spilled from the spoon.

Xiumei, concerned, scolded him, “Be careful! My lady’s medicine is hard-earned!”

“Don’t get distracted—focus on your task. At this point, you have no choice but to trust me,” Wei Ruo said sternly.

“Yes… yes…” Xiaobei replied hurriedly, forcing himself to concentrate.

Wei Ruo’s hand moved swiftly and precisely, placing more than a dozen needles into Wei Jin Yi in just a short time.

Then, a commotion sounded outside the door. Someone was coming.

“Miss…” Xiumei looked at Wei Ruo, worried.

“Go guard the entrance. I’ll be finished soon,” Wei Ruo said.

“Yes.”

Following orders, Xiumei went to stand at the door.

The newcomers were Madam Zhang and Cui Ping, the chief maid from Lady Yun’s household.

“Is the eldest miss inside?” Madam Zhang asked Xiumei, her expression grave.

“She is,” Xiumei replied.

“Please ask the eldest miss to come out. The lady is waiting for her in Plumview Courtyard,” Madam Zhang said.

“Please wait a moment. My lady has some matters to attend to and will come out as soon as she’s done,” Xiumei answered, not moving from her spot, blocking the doorway with her body.

“What are we waiting for? Avoiding problems won’t solve anything. If you’d known, you should have acted with more restraint,” Madam Zhang said, assuming Wei Ruo was avoiding punishment.

“My lady isn’t trying to avoid anything.”

“Not avoiding? Then what is she doing?”

“She just needs a bit more time. Please wait,” Xiumei repeated.

Madam Zhang sighed, “It’s good to be loyal, but now the lady wants to see the eldest miss. If you block her, you might not even be able to protect your mistress. We are servants; we must mind our duties and not anger our masters.”

Seeing that Xiumei was only thirteen or fourteen, Madam Zhang tried to reason with her.

“If the lady wishes to punish me, I’ll accept it. But right now, please wait a little longer; my lady will come out soon.”

Xiumei’s stubbornness was unwavering—she only listened to Wei Ruo.

“You haven’t learned your lesson! If you keep being so rigid, you’ll suffer for it. Fine, I won’t argue with you,” Madam Zhang said. Unable to persuade her, Madam Zhang and Cui Ping stepped forward, intending to force the door open.

Xiumei pressed her back firmly against the door. She did not resist their hands, but neither did she budge, blocking the doorway with all her strength.

Inside, Wei Ruo heard the quarrel outside, but remained fully focused, finishing the acupuncture treatment for Wei Jin Yi.

Once finished, she quickly packed away the acupuncture kit, preventing the newcomers from seeing it.

“He’ll remain unconscious for a while longer. If all goes well, he’ll wake up tomorrow morning.”

“Really…?” Xiaobei stared at Wei Ruo, hardly believing it.

“No need to doubt—I don’t gamble with lives. There are two pills left in that bottle. Dissolve one in a bowl of water as I showed you, and give him one when he wakes, then another tomorrow night,” Wei Ruo instructed.

“Yes, yes, I’ve got it!” Xiaobei agreed hurriedly.

Turning to Xiaobei, whose expression was vacant and bewildered, she said, “You must not speak to anyone about what I did for your young master tonight. Can you do that?”

Xiaobei blinked, then nodded blankly.

Wei Ruo didn’t know if he truly understood, but even if he hadn’t, there was nothing she could do now. Saving him was her own choice; whatever consequences followed, she would bear them.

Wei Ruo glanced toward the doorway, guessing why Lady Yun had sent for her.

“Take good care of your young master here. I have other troublesome matters to deal with,” she said.

After instructing Xiaobei, Wei Ruo went to the door and opened it.

Outside, Madam Zhang and Cui Ping looked thoroughly disheveled.

Having gained nothing from Xiumei, they were both exhausted and out of breath, unable to move her from the doorway despite their efforts.

Wei Ruo examined Xiumei carefully, making sure she was unharmed, then said to Madam Zhang and Cui Ping,

“Don’t trouble my maid. I’ll go with you now.”

“Miss…” Xiumei looked at Wei Ruo anxiously.

“I’m fine. Go back to Pinesong Courtyard,” Wei Ruo instructed.

Though worried, Xiumei chose to trust Wei Ruo.

Madam Zhang straightened her clothes, both annoyed and helpless. “If only the eldest miss had come out sooner, none of this would have happened. When you see the lady, don’t behave like that again.”

“Let’s go—wasn’t it urgent?” Wei Ruo said, stepping ahead of Madam Zhang.

Madam Zhang and Cui Ping hurried after her, as if afraid Wei Ruo might escape.

Wei Ruo had no intention of running—where could she go in the Wei residence?

She was escorted to Plumview Courtyard, which was brightly lit.

Lady Yun, who had been asleep, was now fully dressed, sitting solemnly in the main room.

Madam Li knelt before her.

Wei Ruo approached and stood beside Madam Li, facing Lady Yun with a calm expression.

Lady Yun glared at Wei Ruo, demanding angrily, “Ruo’er, what is the meaning of this? Why did you cause trouble in Wanwan’s courtyard in the middle of the night? You pushed Wanwan and injured her! Do you realize how much blood she lost from her foot?”