Chapter 15: Meeting Huo Heng Again—I'll Buy You with Silver

Qin Hanxiao rolled her eyes silently, wanting to curse. She was a doctor, not an assassin. Even if he didn’t suffer from paranoia, he clearly had some issues. But he wasn’t the one who had hired her, nor was he the one who paid her. Ignoring Huang Da entirely, Qin Hanxiao turned to Young Master Huang Qi.

“After making it into pills, the effect will be better and it’s more convenient to take. However, it will take some time. I will bring them next time I come to treat the matriarch.”

Just as Young Master Huang Qi nodded and was about to speak, Huang Da interrupted.

“Unless you can guarantee responsibility if anything goes wrong, I absolutely won’t agree.” He was rude not only to Qin Hanxiao but to his own younger brother as well. “Do you even know who she is? Where she learned her skills? Is there anyone vouching for her? You dare let mother take medicine prescribed by someone you know nothing about? Are you crazy?”

Watching him jump around in agitation, Qin Hanxiao thought he was the one who was truly insane. He was definitely sick! Claiming to care for the matriarch, yet making things difficult for her at every turn—it was obvious he didn’t want her to treat the old lady. Not wanting to get involved in their family affairs, she simply kicked them both out.

“I need to treat the matriarch now. You two can discuss this outside.”

Young Master Huang Qi glanced once more at his mother lying in bed, nodded to Qin Hanxiao, then pushed Huang Da out.

Throughout this, the matriarch kept her eyes closed. Only after they left did she open them, weakly saying, “You’ve made a fool of Doctor Qin. Please, just treat me and prepare the medicine. Whatever you prescribe, I will take.”

She knew her own body best. She had thought she would die, but after Doctor Qin’s treatment, she clearly felt some relief. Everyone dies eventually, but she wasn’t ready to go yet—not until the seventh son settled down. She was well aware that her elder sons hoped she wouldn’t wake so they could divide her dowry. She wouldn’t give them that chance. Her dowry would only go to her biological son. Even in death, she would arrange things properly.

After applying acupuncture to the matriarch, Qin Hanxiao came out to find only Young Master Huang Qi waiting.

“All the medicine has been bought. Please, Madam Qin, kindly prepare the medicine for my mother. Also, here is the fee for preparing the medicine.”

Qin Hanxiao glanced at the purse he handed over and politely declined.

“Young Master Qi has already paid for the treatment. I cannot accept more. Besides, I must thank you for the flowers you sent me.”

Young Master Huang Qi smiled. “We are both lovers of flowers. For that reason alone, I consider Madam Qin a friend. Please, don’t mention thanks again.”

“If that’s so, then Young Master Qi must not bring up fees again. Otherwise, this talk of friendship would be too trivial.”

Qin Hanxiao’s words left Young Master Huang Qi momentarily stunned before he burst into hearty laughter.

“Very well, let’s skip the formalities. In the future, if Madam needs anything involving Yue Zhi, please don’t hesitate to ask. Rest assured, Yue Zhi will never be reserved with you.”

Qin Hanxiao smiled and agreed, though she didn’t truly take it to heart.

Later, Huang Yue Zhi invited her to stay for a meal, and she politely refused again.

“I still need to go to the market to buy some things for home. I won’t stay long. Also, there’s no need for your young master to escort me. After I finish shopping, I’ll just call a carriage home.”

They exchanged courteous words once more before Qin Hanxiao left the Huang estate. Her need to buy things was genuine; they were running low on rice, flour, and cooking oil. She also needed to refill Pei Yuantang’s medicine and buy some seeds for vegetables.

She first went to the Ming Shan Hall where Doctor Chen worked to collect herbs but didn’t see Doctor Chen. After asking a young man, she learned Doctor Chen had gone on a house call.

Not long after leaving the clinic, she unexpectedly ran into Huo Heng. Mingjiang Prefecture was a maze of more than a dozen intersecting streets, yet she happened to cross paths with him—what bad luck.

But were those bruises on his face from Pei Yuanxing? Serves him right!

Huo Heng’s encounter with Qin Hanxiao was no accident. He had stationed someone at the Huang estate gate to wait, then followed her all the way here.

“Hanxiao.”

Huo Heng quickened his steps toward Qin Hanxiao, using a folding fan to cover the lower half of his face. He was confident in his looks but was vain enough not to want his beloved to see him in this battered state.

“Hanxiao, I finally found you. You have to come with me.”

He reached out to grab her hand. “I saw it—today that brute didn’t follow. Let’s leave here quickly.”

Qin Hanxiao would never go with him, nor would she allow him to touch her. She took a large step aside to avoid him, feeling his presence brought only misfortune.

Huo Heng missed grabbing her hand, frowned, and tried again.

“Enough explanations for now. Let’s go quickly. The carriage is just ahead.”

Only then did Qin Hanxiao realize he had come prepared this time. All the more reason not to go with him—who knew where he might sell her?

This time she didn’t dodge. Instead, she freed her hand and slapped him hard.

“Daring to forcibly seize a virtuous woman in broad daylight—do you believe I’ll report you to the authorities and have you arrested right now?”

Huo Heng stood there stunned, staring at Qin Hanxiao in disbelief.

“You slapped me? And you want to report me?”

It wasn’t a questioning tone but one of shocked confusion, even hurt.

“We agreed to be together, we loved each other and pledged to be lifelong partners. Have you changed your mind?”

But the next moment, Huo Heng dismissed his own doubt. He couldn’t believe Qin Hanxiao, who once adored him so much, would reject him.

“You said you wanted a place for just the two of us, undisturbed by others. I would study, you would play the zither, you would cook for me, and we would be together forever. I already prepared such a place—just for us, and no one will bother us. Come with me now. I even prepared the zither you like.”

“Shut up.”

Qin Hanxiao felt tempted to slap him again.

“Get lost! I will never go with you. And don’t ever show your face to me again, or it won’t just be a slap next time.”

But her words only strengthened Huo Heng’s resolve to take her away.

“Did the Pei family bully you? Did they hit you? Come with me first—I promise I won’t let them off. I’ll get revenge for you.”

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

“Are you afraid of involving me? Don’t worry. That uncouth country bumpkin can’t do anything to me. Don’t be afraid—I have a way to make them agree to let you go.”

Qin Hanxiao gave him a cold glare. “What way?”

“They’re so poor they can barely eat. I’ll give them silver. I’ll pay back the twenty taels they spent to buy you. If they think that’s too little, I’ll give them another ten. Consider it as if I’m buying you from them.”

So in his mind, she was worth thirty taels. Not a small sum—usually, a countryside bride’s betrothal gift was five or six taels.

Huo Heng was even raising her price.

“Hmph… Should I thank you then? You gave me a deed of sale. Now that you’ve bought me, do you intend to have me as a servant or a maid?”