Chapter 58 Leaving a Scar

The moment Pei Yanzhou found Liang Shanru, he dispatched a messenger back to the city to report the news, sparing Madame Liang the agony of harrowing suspense.

By the time the party arrived at the general's residence, Madame Liang was pacing back and forth on the steps by the front gates, wringing her hands—there was no telling how long she had been waiting.

Pei Yanzhou stepped down from the carriage first, extending a hand to assist Liang Shanru, but Madame Liang hurried forward, covering the distance in two or three rapid strides.

She nudged Pei Yanzhou aside, half-supporting and half-embracing Liang Shanru as she helped her down. "My dear Chuchu, as long as you're safe, as long as you're safe!"

She was practically on the verge of tears. "Chirang sent word that you had been found and were temporarily unharmed, but you have no idea how my heart..."

She had spent the entire morning on tenterhooks, and only now, seeing Liang Shanru safe and sound before her, could she finally let her suspended heart drop back into place.

Ever since this ordeal began, countless grim thoughts had flashed through her mind.

What could a scoundrel like that sixth young master of the Li family possibly want with a young woman he had abducted? Having raised children of her own, how could she not know?

Chuchu had yet to taste a single day of happiness, and the troubles involving the Liang family were far from settled; not only had the Li family pressed down upon them with bullying arrogance, but now this disaster had struck on top of it all.

She even felt that she would have no face to face her deceased brother and sister-in-law in the netherworld.

Fortunately, she had come to no harm.

In her agitation, a woman usually so sharp and wise was left nearly incoherent, until she suddenly noticed the square handkerchief bound around Liang Shanru's hand.

Her expression changed drastically. "Are you injured? Where else are you hurt?" Abandoning all other thoughts, she carefully cradled Liang Shanru as she walked toward the interior of the estate. "I had already sent for a female physician to wait at the manor. Let the doctor examine you first, and we can talk leisurely after."

A gentle warmth blossomed behind Liang Shanru's eyelids, and a mist gathered in her eyes.

She hadn't even thought of crying when she was being bullied by Li Ziyang, but at this moment, her aunt's reaction made her nose sting.

Perhaps when one has suffered a grievance, one simply cannot bear to face elders who truly cherish them; all pent-up emotions are stirred to the surface in a single instant.

Supported and embraced, Liang Shanru walked obediently, her voice choked with sobs when she finally spoke. "I'm not seriously hurt. It's just this little injury, and my cousins found me very quickly. Li Ziyang didn't manage to accomplish anything."

It would have been fine if Li Ziyang hadn't been mentioned, but with Madame Liang's heart entirely fixed on her niece, she felt only tender pity and lingering terror. The moment that beast was brought to mind, along with the vile deeds he had committed, she wished she could tear him limb from limb.

Seeing her aunt's expression darken, Liang Shanru tightened her hold on her arm and acted spoiled. "Aunt, I'm so tired."

Madame Liang instantly pushed thoughts of Li Ziyang aside once more, slowing her pace as she gathered her closer. "Shall I have someone fetch a spring-vine sedan chair? Didn't you say there were no other injuries on your body? Why can't you walk?"

Pei Yanzhou knew she was deliberately acting spoiled to keep their third aunt from growing too enraged, but this was a matter over which their third aunt was bound to fly into a towering fury; a bit of coy pleading would not be enough to gloss this over.

Thus, he hurried forward a few steps and called out in a low voice, "Third Aunt, Li Ziyang used a numbing incense. The effects probably haven't worn off yet, and Cousin is likely feeling weak in the limbs, which is why she's tired."

Liang Shanru shot him a sharp glare.

She had a mouth and could speak for herself—she didn't need him speaking on her behalf!

Her aunt was already heartbroken over her ordeal and had probably wept through several rounds at home. Only by breaking the news gently could her aunt be kept from flying into such a rage; who asked him to meddle and blurt it out so straightforwardly?

Blood is thicker than water, after all—outsiders remain outsiders.

Contrary to expectations, Madame Liang did not fly into the towering rage he had anticipated.

Mostly because this turn of events fell within her expectations; the methods were utterly base, but since filthy deeds had already been committed, could one possibly expect Li Ziyang to act like a decent human being?

With a taut expression, Madame Liang instructed servants to fetch the spring-vine sedan chair, refusing to let Liang Shanru walk any further as she pulled her close and stood waiting with her.

Perhaps guided by some telepathic bond of shared blood, she lowered her gaze to look at the injury on Liang Shanru's hand, her thumb gently brushing across the plain handkerchief. "This wound wasn't inflicted by Li Ziyang, was it?"

Liang Shanru pressed her lips together and nodded. Knowing she could not conceal it—even if she wished to hide a thing or two, Pei Yanzhou and Pei Jingxing would never help her cover it up, and her aunt was certain to pursue the matter to the end—she added:

"I inflicted it on myself, to fight off the effects of the incense. Aunt, returning to you safe and sound is already a blessing from the heavens. Please don't grieve or distress yourself. Once the physician examines my pulse, figuring out how to go to the Li family to demand justice for me is what matters most."

She lowered her gaze slightly. "When they found me, my cousins asked about it, but I didn't know how to handle such a matter, so I can only leave it for you and my cousins to decide."

Madame Liang's heart ached to an unbearable degree, and she pulled her straight into her embrace. "Demanding justice is a certainty; without you even asking, this matter cannot possibly end amicably. Chuchu, don't let your mind dwell on these things. Restoring your health is the most important priority. Even if there are no other wounds, falling victim to numbing incense is no small matter. Since your cousins came all the way to Yangzhou with me, it is to back you up and stand up for you. It is entirely right to leave all these matters to them."

Liang Shanru nestled against her, wrapping her arms around her in return, and gave two muffled nods of assent.

Pei Jingxing chimed in at just the right moment, "Indeed. Cousin must not let herself brood over such wretched matters and fall into deep depression, or it will leave behind lingering root causes for illness."

His cousin was still so young, and he truly found the people of Yangzhou City to be utterly vile.

The Jiangnan region was prosperous, and having been born and raised in Shengjing, he had always believed that the soil and water of these parts nurtured refined people.

Even though he had heard tales of scandalous affairs in other households and witnessed thoroughly dissolute wastrels in the past, he had never imagined such monsters could exist.

From the eldest maternal uncle to the Li family, these people had all banded together to prey upon a single cousin of theirs—were they utterly out of their minds?

Only then did Liang Shanru look up and force a smile. "I'm not that fragile."

As they spoke, several robust maidservants arrived carrying the spring-vine sedan chair. The young maids carefully assisted Liang Shanru onto it, and the entire group proceeded toward the inner residential quarters.

The female physician had been waiting in Madame Liang's courtyard the entire time. Now, having taken Liang Shanru's pulse and dressed the wound on her hand, she began writing out a prescription while giving instructions:

"The young lady has a sound constitution. Although the effects of this numbing incense are potent, accidentally inhaling it once will not permanently harm her body. I will prescribe a few more courses of herbal medicine to help her recover her spirit, and once she has rested, there will be no major cause for concern."

Her voice paused briefly before Madame Liang immediately pressed, "What about the wound on her hand? Will it leave a scar?"

When she had untied the square handkerchief just moments earlier, she had seen it clearly: the flesh had been sliced entirely open into a bloody, mangled mess. Just looking at it made her feel the pain.

How helpless and driven to desperate straits Chuchu must have been to inflict such a ruthless wound upon herself.

The most critical problem was that the wound was far too deep. If mishandled, it was bound to leave a scar—and on a hand, no less. Young girls naturally treasured their appearance, and this was something that would affect her for the rest of her life.

The female physician hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "I will prescribe an ointment for the young lady to use first, but... the finest healing salves are certainly to be found within the imperial palace. If the nobles have a way to obtain the Jade Complexion Ointment from the Imperial Physicians' Bureau, and have the young lady apply it three times a day, keeping it away from water for ten days with careful tending, and making sure she does not scratch it when the flesh begins to regenerate and heal—even if a scar remains, it will be extremely faint, and with a touch of powder later on, it will be entirely invisible."

Madame Liang's breathing hitched.

The physician had spoken with tact, but her meaning was clear: a scar of some depth or lightness would be unavoidable no matter what. The notion of escaping completely without a trace of a scar was utterly impossible.