CHAPTER 84: CHAPTER 78:

"The feud was established long ago." Zhou Qi sneered, "Your dear mother is really something, humiliating me in front of so many people. She’s just a maid, yet she wants to confront me. This isn’t some cousinly relationship; we’re pure enemies."

Zhao Minghua’s heart sank upon hearing this: Indeed, as his mother had said, Zhou Qi wouldn’t give him any regard.

In a rush to save Chun Nuan today, he had kicked the door when they wouldn’t open it, cursing him in the process.

He was then dragged into the hall to confront this arrogant Master Zhou Qi.

Honestly, he was quite flustered.

"Um, Master Zhou Qi..."

"Get lost." Master Zhou Qi said to Zhao Minghua, "Neither you nor your mother have any place here. Stop blocking my view."

"I can leave, but she must leave with me."

"No." Chun Nuan and Master Zhou Qi spoke at the same time, implying that Chun Nuan couldn’t leave.

"Do you know what you’re saying?"

Zhao Minghua laughed in anger; he risked so much to rescue her, yet she wouldn’t cooperate. How ironic.

"I know. I’m here at Master Zhou Qi’s invitation to do a diagnosis, no need to worry about me. Thank you."

Chun Nuan was still very grateful to him.

He was the first to lend her a helping hand when she arrived in Shu City, a kindness Chun Nuan felt she would remember for a lifetime.

Facing danger now, she had Chun An seek his help without hesitation, and he came right away.

"Are you truly not leaving?"

"I’m not leaving."

Chun Nuan decided to hold on to Master Zhou Qi’s support.

"It seems you’re confident in curing Miss Liu’s illness?"

Even Master Zhou Qi hadn’t expected Chun Nuan to return so quickly, and with such confidence.

"You can only tell if there’s hope if you try," Chun Nuan said. "However, I need Master Zhou Qi’s cooperation for my treatment."

"Speak, how should I cooperate?"

Master Zhou Qi had never compromised for anyone except Miss Liu.

"This is how we should arrange it..."

As Chun Nuan spoke, Master Zhou Qi’s demeanor changed.

"You mean to say Miss Liu isn’t really ill?"

What a perceptive person, instantly seizing the key point.

"Whether it’s true or not, Master Zhou Qi, please stand back a bit."

Chun Nuan was tired of beating around the bush with Miss Liu, deciding to confront her directly and reveal her intentions.

Inside the room, Miss Liu frowned subconsciously upon seeing Chun Nuan enter.

What kind of doctor could a woman be?

"Where is Master Qi? I want to see Master Qi," Miss Liu started crying.

"Miss, don’t worry, I’ll go find Master Qi now," said the maid.

The servants were flustered.

"You all leave for now," Chun Nuan ordered.

"Yes."

In fact, they had already received instructions from A Zhuang to listen to Chun Nuan, so they quickly slipped away.

"Who are you? How dare you command my maids and servants?"

Miss Liu was shocked, sitting straight up from her sickbed.

"Who I am is not important, what’s important is Miss Liu’s illness," Chun Nuan knew that Master Zhou Qi was listening behind the side door: "Miss Liu, where are you unwell?"

"What’s it to you where I’m unwell? Why are you loitering in Liu Xiang Garden?"

Miss Liu felt a sense of crisis, sensing this person was here to compete for favor.

Indeed, Miss Liu was shrewd. Knowing her father died for Master Zhou Qi and that he was a man of his word, she realized she wouldn’t have to wander for the rest of her life.

So, when Master Zhou Qi insisted on taking her in, she started creating drama, even threatening to cut her own throat.

As expected, Master Zhou Qi, though seemingly fierce, had a soft heart.

He agreed to every demand she made.

Instead of moving her to Zhou Mansion, he acquired a courtyard named Liu Xiang Garden.

The treatment there was on par with that of a main wife.

In order to maintain her hold on Master Zhou Qi, Miss Liu bribed the household physician, constantly nourishing her already frail body, and occasionally feigning illnesses to keep Master Zhou Qi anxious and on edge.

She hadn’t anticipated that today’s events wouldn’t follow the usual script; the household physician wasn’t called, only a young girl was brought to diagnose her.

"Leave, you’re not welcome here."

Becoming more upset, Miss Liu shrieked at Chun Nuan.

"See for yourself, Miss Liu seems quite energetic, not at all like someone who’s frail."

"You..."

Miss Liu was furious. All her years of acting were about to be exposed; it was infuriating!

"Miss Liu, to speak frankly, your frailty is actually due to over-nourishment?"

What?

Master Zhou Qi, listening in the other room, was astonished by the revelation.