This time, all the ladies stood united against the enemy; even Madam Hayes's eyes flashed with a trace of blame.
Serena Feng's words had insulted everyone present. William Wang Jinling wanted to speak up to defend her, but Serena stopped him with a look.
“Insulting? Miss Simm, you exaggerate. A scholar has the sharpness of his pen, a debater the sharpness of his tongue, a warrior the sharpness of his blade. I was praising all the young ladies here. With your collective talent, surely you won’t misunderstand my meaning.”
The noble ladies of great families were all well-educated and exceptionally talented. To outshine them, you couldn't use the tricks reserved for county princesses or lesser nobility.
“Serena Feng, don’t go too far!”
Yvonne Simm’s face went pale with rage, her whole body trembling. Just as Serena thought she’d spit out even harsher words, Yvonne suddenly foamed at the mouth, convulsed, and collapsed to the ground with a thud.
No way?
Serena Feng was momentarily stunned.
“Ah—!” The ladies screamed and scattered. Madam Hayes’s face darkened, a flash of anger in her eyes.
This poetry gathering really was full of twists and turns.
“Quick, go check on her!” The young gentlemen were startled. William Wang Jinling strode forward, but Serena Feng grabbed his arm to stop him.
“Everyone, stand back.”
Serena Feng stepped forward, her sweeping sleeve and commanding presence making everyone instinctively keep their distance.
“Serena Feng, what gives you the right to order us around?”
“Are you trying to kill Miss Simm?”
The ladies ignored her and tried to drag Serena Feng away, but William Wang Jinling intervened and stopped them.
“Everyone, listen to Serena Feng. Her medical skills are excellent.”
With William Wang Jinling’s words, no one dared to defy him. Even Madam Hayes, curious to see if Serena Feng truly had real skill, did not object.
Yvonne Simm lay on the ground, her body convulsing, her face tinged with blue and purple, foam at her lips, biting so hard on her lower lip that blood was visible.
These symptoms—anyone could see it was an epileptic seizure.
Serena Feng didn’t know whether the crowd recognized this illness, but she understood that when a noblewoman developed such a condition, her family would go to great lengths to conceal it. Yvonne Simm probably didn’t have frequent attacks, so today’s episode was truly a stroke of luck—for Serena.
“Miss Yvonne’s old ailment has recurred. There’s no need for alarm.”
Though Yvonne Simm had been vile, Serena Feng had no wish to ruin her reputation, so she offered a simple explanation. Besides, from a doctor’s perspective, she would never casually expose a patient’s privacy.
“That’s good.” The crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Serena Feng unfastened two buttons at Yvonne Simm’s collar to keep her breathing clear, turned her head to the side to let the foam drain, pulled out a hairpin from her hair and placed it in Yvonne’s mouth so she wouldn’t bite her tongue.
Serena’s first-aid movements were swift and practiced, leaving everyone staring in stunned silence, unable to speak.
They looked down on Serena Feng, but her bearing and composure were no less than theirs—there was simply nothing to criticize.
After making sure Yvonne Simm was out of danger, Serena Feng finally stood up. “It’s done—Miss Yvonne will be fine. You can all relax. Is there water? Bring me a basin so I can wash up.”
“Serena, you’re amazing!” A young lord in blue blurted out, his eyes fixed on Serena Feng, unable to look away.
Such women were rare in Eastlyn—how could anyone look away?
“Medicine is a specialized field. I only know a little,” Serena Feng said, waving her hand carelessly. Her wide sleeves traced an arc through the air, full of unrestrained ease.
A true scholar—Serena Feng, you have the bearing of a true scholar. William Wang Jinling watched as Serena stole all the attention, but felt not the slightest displeasure.
The young lord wanted to say more, but just then a servant brought water. Serena Feng didn’t hesitate; under everyone’s gaze, she washed thoroughly. By this time, Yvonne Simm’s complexion had improved—she’d stopped foaming, though she hadn’t regained consciousness.
“Madam Hayes, I’m afraid Miss Yvonne won’t be able to join the poetry salon. Why not have someone escort her home? She needs rest.” After washing, Serena Feng turned to Madam Hayes with her suggestion.
The sooner she’s sent away, the sooner this incident can be put behind them.
Serena had no intention of being stuck outside the gate all day.
“Quick, send Miss Yvonne home,” Madam Hayes ordered immediately, signaling the servants to carry Yvonne Simm away. She then turned to Serena Feng with heartfelt gratitude: “Thank goodness for Miss Serena. Otherwise, we might have lost a life today.”
Recalling Serena Feng’s unflappable composure just moments ago, Madam Hayes’s eyes flashed with admiration.
The Hayes clan had truly mistaken a pearl for a fish-eye before—Serena Feng was nothing like the rumors claimed. At least her medical skills were undeniably impressive.
Maybe, as for Noble Consort Helena Hayes’s matter…
Madam Hayes couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.
“Madam Hayes, you flatter me. Since the matter is settled, may I enter the garden now?”
Serena Feng glanced at the young ladies blocking her way. She was determined to enter the poetry salon today, no matter what.
Her smile was radiant, yet it made the noble girls tremble inside. After seeing what happened to Yvonne Simm, their gazes toward Serena Feng were tinged with fear. They hesitated, unsure whether to let her pass, but aristocratic pride kept them from giving in easily.
William Wang Jinling saw the impasse and smiled. “Of course Serena may enter the Hundred-Herb Garden. But the garden’s rule is that anyone who enters must first compose a poem about flowers and plants. Even though Serena saved Miss Yvonne, she can’t break tradition.”
“How elegant! Don’t worry, Grand Heir, I won’t break the Hundred-Herb Garden’s rules.” Serena Feng understood William was helping her, moving the focus away from Yvonne Simm’s incident.
“Miss Serena is refreshingly straightforward. Someone, bring brush and ink!” Ethan Hsieh chimed in, and the other young lords followed suit. For a moment, everyone forgot about Yvonne Simm.
Brush and ink?
Serena Feng shot a pleading look at William Wang Jinling—her calligraphy was nothing to brag about.
William smiled and shook his head. Before anyone else could speak, he stepped up to the desk and picked up the brush. “Shall I write for Miss Serena?”
Ah…
“Grand Heir…” The crowd gasped, all eyes on William Wang Jinling holding the brush.
At that moment, their expressions were just like when Ninth Royal Uncle delivered Serena Feng in person.
For the Grand Heir to act as scribe—only Serena Feng could receive such an honor.
The noble girls once again glared at Serena Feng with envy. A few couldn’t hide their distaste, letting it show plainly on their faces.
How could one person be so lucky? It seemed all the good fortune in the world was hers alone.
Faced with all those burning stares, Serena Feng’s smile only grew brighter. Since she was already the center of attention, she wouldn’t bother holding back.
Serena declared solemnly, “Grand Heir already has the brush—how could I refuse?”
“Indeed you can’t. To write for Miss Serena is my honor,” William Wang Jinling replied, his smile now genuinely warm.
Serena Feng was truly Serena Feng—she didn’t know the meaning of humility.
Today, he would do everything he could to pave a smooth road for Serena Feng—so her future would have fewer obstacles, and more ease.