Chapter 28: Get Out of My Way, I Am the Marquis’s Wife
Yu Luo obediently stepped forward without needing her mother’s instruction. Along with Yu Haojie, she helped move the people of the third branch back a little.
“My mother does know medicine. If you keep crying and waste the best time for treatment, not even the gods can save him.”
With the surroundings finally quiet, Ye Jiamai focused entirely on examining the boy.
Although she was only a surgeon, she was fortunate to have studied traditional Chinese medicine for three years. While she wasn’t an expert, she could still manage simple pulse diagnoses.
After a thorough check-up, she determined that the child had suffered a head injury, likely from hitting something hard. Additionally, his left arm was dislocated, probably from instinctively grabbing at something during the fall. Apart from the large wound on his forehead, the rest were minor injuries.
Ye Jiamai stole a glance at the guards and the people of the first and second branches, who were resting indifferently on a patch of open ground. Meanwhile, the third branch stretched their necks anxiously, trying to see what was happening. Feeling relieved, she took a quiet breath.
“Move back a bit. Any reaction from you might affect my treatment.”
The third branch was terribly worried about Yu Xiaofeng’s injuries. With no other choice, they placed all their hopes on Ye Jiamai and obediently stepped back a few paces.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Jiamai quickly took out a syringe and injected Yu Xiaofeng with medication—drugs that could nourish the brain’s nerves, highly effective for his symptoms.
Additionally, she administered some medicine to promote blood circulation and reduce bruising before putting away the syringes.
Ideally, in Yu Xiaofeng’s condition, a comprehensive examination with a CT scan to check for brain hemorrhaging would have been best. However, given the limited conditions, taking him to a hospital was out of the question, leaving her to rely solely on pulse diagnosis.
A few moments after the medication entered his body, Yu Xiaofeng gradually regained consciousness. Before that, Ye Jiamai had already stopped the bleeding on his forehead and bandaged the wound.
Waking up, Yu Xiaofeng furrowed his brows tightly, his whole body aching painfully—especially his left arm, which hurt so much that tears welled up in his eyes immediately.
“Don’t be afraid, child. Are you feeling any other discomfort?”
Seeing the concern in Ye Jiamai’s eyes, Yu Xiaofeng, who had initially felt a bit afraid, whimpered softly through his tears.
“It hurts… my whole body hurts…”
“These are just external injuries. Your arm seems to be dislocated. I’ll help set the bone in a moment. Rest for half a month, and you should recover. But tell me, do you feel dizzy or nauseous?”
“No… just pain…”
“That’s good. Seems like there’s no concussion.”
Then, Ye Jiamai gently held Yu Xiaofeng’s left arm, speaking softly to distract him. As he focused on her words, she swiftly applied force.
With a “crack” sound of the bone snapping back into place, followed by a heart-wrenching scream, Ye Jiamai released Yu Xiaofeng’s arm.
Yu Xiaofeng’s scream was so piercing that the people of the third branch couldn’t hold back any longer. Ignoring Yu Luo and Yu Haojie’s attempts to stop them, they rushed over frantically.
“Xiaofeng!”
Wang Ying’s eyes were brimming with tears, and the men of the third branch glared at Ye Jiamai with bloodshot eyes, their gazes as if they wanted to tear her apart.
“I-it doesn’t hurt anymore! My arm doesn’t hurt!”
But right then, Yu Xiaofeng, who had just screamed, suddenly realized that his arm could move and no longer throbbed with excruciating pain.
Ignoring the concerned and furious gazes of his family, Yu Xiaofeng’s tearful eyes were filled with surprise.
Seeing the joy on Yu Xiaofeng’s face, the men of the third branch immediately looked embarrassed.
“His arm was dislocated. I just helped set the bone. From what I can tell, there are no other issues. I can’t tell if there’s any internal bleeding in the brain. I treated him the best I could—the rest is up to fate.”
Hearing Ye Jiamai’s words, the people of the third branch looked ashamed. Bound by ropes, Wang Ying and Yu Yongcai couldn’t care less about their pride. They dropped to their knees in front of Ye Jiamai, dragging Yu Qiaoer down with them.
“Thank you! Thank you! If not for you, I thought my Xiaofeng was gone!”
Being just a simple village woman, Wang Ying’s world revolved around her husband and children. Seeing her son regain some strength, she completely forgot that they were convicts and kowtowed repeatedly at Ye Jiamai’s feet.
“We misunderstood earlier. We thought you did something to Xiaofeng… Are you our Second Sister-in-law? We haven’t met before, but if not for you…”
Watching Yu Yongcai, a grown man, tearing up, Ye Jiamai hurriedly helped them up.
“This path of exile is long and hard. It’s only right that we help each other. No need to kneel.”
“If everything’s fine, get moving. We have to cover fifty miles a day—that’s the imperial order. Don’t waste time!”
Treating Yu Xiaofeng had already taken up a quarter of an hour. If not for the favor Ye Jiamai had done for him before, Wu Dahai wouldn’t have allowed such a delay.
At his words, everyone was once again herded by the guards and began moving down the mountain.
Seeing how Ye Jiamai was willing to help a stranger, yet remained indifferent when his own mother was struck by an arrow, Yu Zhengqing let out a deep sigh.
It seemed that the past grudges between them would not be so easily resolved.
After three-quarters of an hour, they finally approached the foot of the mountain.
About fifty or sixty meters above the base, they suddenly heard Chen Shi’s screams for help from below.
The sound echoed through the empty mountains, shrill and terrifying, as if she had encountered wild beasts.
The faces of the people from the first branch turned pale, even the usually composed Old Master Yu Hui showed a hint of fear.
“That… that sounds like Grandmother!”
Yu Yingying murmured in horror. Even if she hadn’t said anything, everyone had already recognized the voice.
Yu Zhengqing, who had been re-tied with his two sons, was naturally anxious upon hearing the screams.
“Commander Wu, can you please…”
“Hah, it was your idea to leave her at the base of the mountain. Don’t blame me for this.”
Wu Dahai ignored Yu Zhengqing’s plea, continuing to lead the group down the mountain at an unhurried pace. Meanwhile, Old Madam Chen’s screams grew increasingly desperate, making Yu Zhengqing and the first branch even more anxious.
Left with no choice, Yu Zhengqing discreetly pulled out a hundred-tael banknote and slipped it into Wu Dahai’s hand.
After taking the bribe, Wu Dahai didn’t say much. With a quick slash of his sword, he cut the ropes binding Yu Zhengqing.
Finally freed, Yu Zhengqing tapped the ground lightly with his toes and rushed down the mountain.
“Get out of my way! Get out! I am the Marquis’s wife! You…”
