"Wretched woman, wretch! You filthy wretch!" Second Master Hsieh pummeled and kicked his concubine.
Serena Feng was about to intervene, but Caleb Wang stopped her with a single look.
This was not something Serena Feng had the right to speak about.
Serena Feng sighed quietly, turned away, and began packing up her surgical tools, separating the used from the unused.
"Third Young Master, at last! My Wang clan's name has finally been cleared." Caleb Wang sat down, smiling broadly.
The Wang clan's reputation was restored. As for the Hsiehs, that was no concern of Caleb Wang's.
Punishing Serena Feng? That matter was best left forgotten—she truly had skill.
Magistrate Leonard Wei also let out a sigh of relief. Though he seemed incompetent in this affair, at least he hadn't offended anyone. In official circles, ability mattered less than knowing when to keep your head down.
"Soon, I will have my second uncle personally visit the Wang clan to apologize." Ethan Hsieh was not without magnanimity.
The facts were plain to see.
Since the Wang clan woman was not the culprit, the relationship between the Hsieh and Wang families could continue as before.
And as for Serena Feng? The Hsiehs were not so petty—whatever else, she had helped their family today.
"Well said." Caleb Wang sipped his tea unhurriedly, ignoring the sobs and chaos in the room.
Magistrate Leonard Wei saw how things stood and knew there was nothing more for him to do here. Though he'd wanted to linger and build connections with the Hsieh family...
But with the Hsieh household in turmoil, it was best not to tempt fate. He promptly excused himself and left.
Caleb Wang was no fool either. When he saw Serena Feng finish packing, he got ready to leave with her, planning to escort her part of the way.
A woman threatened by both the Wang and Hsieh clans, running around all morning—she had to be exhausted.
No matter what, today Serena Feng had helped the Wang clan too.
Today, both witness and evidence had been stacked against the Wang clan.
Yet Serena Feng refused to accept their gratitude. She walked straight to the woman lying in a pool of blood, crouched down, and said, "Second Madam Hsieh, your wounds need urgent attention. If you trust me, may I clean and treat them for you?"
Serena Feng knew this could cause trouble, but she did it anyway. As a doctor, she simply could not stand by while a patient lay bleeding at her feet.
"Serena Feng, don't stir up more trouble!" Caleb Wang spoke up before Second Madam Hsieh could say a word.
He was genuinely looking out for Serena Feng.
Second Madam Hsieh's injuries were serious. Even with a doctor present, there was no guarantee they could be treated well. If Serena Feng intervened and succeeded, all would be well; but if she failed, she'd make powerful enemies.
Though Second Madam Hsieh was technically of the Wang clan, Caleb Wang barely knew her. If Ethan Hsieh hadn't stepped in today, he wouldn't have gotten involved at all.
"Seventh Young Master, I'm a doctor." Serena Feng didn't accuse Caleb Wang of being cold—she simply stated her principles.
Caleb Wang had his own position to consider.
Second Madam Hsieh had married into the Hsieh family and was now one of them. When disaster struck, not a single brother from her own family came to stand up for her. Caleb Wang's presence was already a gesture of respect; as for her injuries, he clearly preferred not to get involved.
"Miss Feng, I trust you. Please, save me." On the floor, Second Madam Hsieh struggled to lift her head, pleading.
She might be the legitimate wife of a side branch, but in this vast Hsieh manor, there were plenty of women who wanted her dead.
"Don't worry. As long as you let me treat you, I promise you'll heal completely—without a single scar." Serena Feng gave her word.
It wasn't bragging—Serena Feng truly had the skills to back it up.
"Such bold words, woman. I'd like to see how you plan to leave my aunt without scars. Someone, help Second Madam Hsieh to her room, and bring Miss Feng along." Ethan Hsieh gave brisk orders, not allowing Serena Feng any chance to back out.
At that moment, the Hsieh Manor servants demonstrated the discipline and efficiency of a centuries-old noble house, swiftly arranging everything.
Serena Feng cooperated fully, treating herself as part of the household and directing the process with calm authority.
At first, the Hsieh Manor servants hesitated, but under Serena Feng's commanding presence, they quickly sprang into action.
Caleb Wang had intended to leave, but seeing the situation, he decided to stay.
People from the Capital Prefecture had praised Serena Feng to the skies; he'd been skeptical, but now he was starting to believe there was some truth to it.
He wanted to see just how capable Serena Feng really was.
If she truly was that skilled, then the Wang clan ought to cultivate ties with her.
Caleb Wang understood better than anyone how important a skilled doctor could be to a family—or even a country.
Besides, his own family had an elder brother who needed a renowned physician.
If Serena Feng's medical skills were truly exceptional, perhaps there was hope for his brother's illness.
With this in mind, Caleb Wang was even more determined to stay. No matter how Ethan Hsieh tried to provoke him, he remained unmoved.
Serena Feng directed the maids to prepare white cloth, clean water, hot water, strong liquor, and scissors, then waved for everyone to leave.
Serena Feng handled everything herself, even doing the nurse's work, personally cleaning and changing Second Madam Hsieh's clothes.
The maids, following Ethan Hsieh's orders to obey Serena Feng, were confused but obediently withdrew.
Once everyone had left, Serena Feng began examining Second Madam Hsieh's injuries.
The attacker was skilled: the injuries were all external, with torn skin and flesh, but no damage to muscles or bones.
Serena Feng lightly pressed the black ring on her left hand, and with a quiet "beep beep beep," the Smart Med-Pack activated, covertly running a full-body scan on Second Madam Hsieh. The results appeared quickly.
The results matched Serena Feng's assessment, except that the full-body scan from the Smart Med-Pack showed Second Madam Hsieh had blocked fallopian tubes.
"Oh? So Second Madam Hsieh is infertile?" Serena Feng was surprised, then nodded in understanding.
No wonder—even though she was born to the Wang clan, Second Madam Hsieh had been subjected to harsh interrogation. It was because she couldn't have children.
In this era, a woman like her was destined to have no standing in her husband's family, and her own family would consider her a burden, unconcerned for her fate.
Sigh... Women really are pitiful, having to fight for affection and respect.
Serena Feng sighed, then stood up and slipped behind the screen. From the Smart Med-Pack, she took out medical scissors, bandages, suturing needles and thread, disinfectant, anesthetic, and other supplies.
Second Madam Hsieh was already groggy, so when the anesthetic was injected, she didn't react at all.
Not every patient was as difficult as that silver-masked man.
Thinking of that man, Serena Feng felt uneasy. Would he wake up furious and come looking for trouble?
But even if he wanted to cause trouble, it would take a few days. That heavy dose of anesthetic would keep him unconscious, and with the time needed for recovery, it would be at least ten days or half a month before he could seek her out.
And whatever happens half a month from now, she’d deal with it then.
Serena Feng shook her head, pushing thoughts of the silver-masked man aside. Once Second Madam Hsieh was fully anesthetized, Serena began cleaning the wounds, disinfecting them, removing necrotic tissue, and using cosmetic sutures on the larger gashes.
As for scarring, there was no need to worry. Once the stitches were removed, she could use the medical devices in her Smart Med-Pack for several rounds of scar treatment—there shouldn’t be any major issues.
The real problem was Second Madam Hsieh’s blocked fallopian tubes.
For Second Madam Hsieh, this was a life-changing matter. But for Serena Feng, it was just a minor surgery—easily solved.
But should she intervene?
As a doctor, she had to act; she couldn’t watch her patient suffer or let Second Madam Hsieh lose her chance at motherhood. But as a woman transplanted into ancient times, she didn’t want to get tangled up in elite family disputes...
What should she do?
Serena Feng was torn.