Chapter Seventy-One: Let Me Set Your Bone

“What happened here? Why is there such commotion?” Jun Yeli frowned slightly, his gaze already shifting to the man sprawled on the ground, wailing and crying loudly.

The man's clothes were tattered, his hair unkempt and face grimy; he was nothing but a common beggar from the streets. Yet the racket he made was truly jarring. They had chosen to travel discreetly, bringing no guards along—the coachman was hired from outside, and no one knew their true identities. Unexpectedly, they had just set out and already encountered such a scene.

The coachman, hearing the question, hurried to clasp his hands respectfully and explained, “Young master, our carriage was moving along just fine when this beggar suddenly dashed out, threw himself in front of us, and now insists that we ran over him!”

This was rather amusing. “Isn’t this the legendary ‘staged accident’? It seems this profession has been ahead of its time by several millennia!” With a hint of playful irony, Jun Yeli could not wholly dismiss the coachman’s account.

Huarong glanced at Jun Yeli, as if seeking his opinion, and asked, “Young master, shall I go have a look?”

“Call me husband.”

“Well… as you wish, husband…” Although it was somewhat difficult to say, thankfully no one was watching, and uttering the word wouldn’t cost her her life. Besides, the two of them were indeed married by proper ceremony.

Huarong approached the beggar, noticing he clutched a bowl with a few copper coins scattered inside, stubbornly clutching his leg and howling in misery—his cries were discomforting to the ear.

The beggar was aware of Huarong’s arrival; he cocked his head, shooting a sly glance at Huarong, his eyes shifty, sizing him up. Though she wore no finery, even her simple garments carried a sheen like brocade, clearly not the attire of the destitute.

The beggar’s eyes suddenly sparkled. He lunged at Huarong, crying out, “Miss, your coachman ran into me! My leg is most likely crippled. Though my status is low, I was once whole. You must compensate me…”

Huarong’s gaze fell upon the leg the beggar shamelessly claimed was broken; the trouser leg was spotless, not even a speck of dust upon it, and yet he dared to say it was fractured?

“Such unprofessional staging—clearly the pioneers, but the true masters of this craft will not emerge for thousands of years.” With a faint sigh, Huarong stepped forward and shook the man’s leg.

Yet with only the lightest touch, the beggar let out a pig-like scream, nearly frightening everyone out of their wits. “What are you doing?”

Huarong looked at him in astonishment—it was as if she were slaughtering a pig! “What do you think? I told you, your leg is broken, and here you are kicking it so hard. You wealthy types are disgusting! Pay up, or I’ll report you to the authorities!” The beggar spoke with righteous indignation, gritting his teeth, his attitude more aggressive than injured.

Huarong rolled her eyes. Though the beggar’s extortion skills were clumsy, his shamelessness was first-rate. “If you can’t manage this, then let the authorities handle it.”

Jun Yeli came over, his brow furrowing as he looked at the filthy beggar. Remembering how the man had pestered Huarong, Jun Yeli grew increasingly displeased.

Huarong quickly shook her head, “We must keep a low profile; why involve the authorities? If word spreads, who knows what rumors will fly about me and the emperor’s closeness and affection—trouble would surely follow.”

She tossed Jun Yeli a confident glance and squatted before the beggar. “Rest assured, my hands possess miraculous healing. I’m adept at setting bones and treating injuries; why not let me help you?”

“No need, just pay up!” the beggar replied sharply, clearly a man who only cared about money—a single-mindedness that was oddly admirable.

But Huarong was not one to suffer such losses; handing over money was out of the question. Without waiting for his agreement, she seized his leg, making the beggar tremble with fear, glaring at Huarong and shouting, “What are you doing, woman? This is indecent!”

At the mention of “indecent,” Huarong was momentarily speechless. What confidence did it take to utter such shameless words without a second thought?

“Why would I need to be indecent with you? Isn’t your leg injured? I’m only trying to help you. Or do you truly wish to spend your life crippled?”

She turned to the crowd, “Everyone, bear witness—if I fail to heal him, I’ll pay fifty taels as compensation; if I succeed, I’ll still give him fifty taels. What do you say?”

It was a guaranteed deal: if healed, the beggar still received fifty taels. Why refuse?

“That’s right, you’re already so poor—life would be hard with a lame leg. Let her take a look; you’ll get paid either way!” The crowd began to jeer, putting the beggar in a difficult spot.

Pressed by the onlookers and the lure of money, the beggar had no choice but to agree grudgingly, “Since you insist, I’ll give you this chance—just do your best!”

Huarong wasted no time, lifting his trouser leg to reveal a scar, though it had long since scabbed and healed.

“Are you serious? That’s hardly a fresh wound.” Huarong shot him a cold glare—the beggar’s act was far too careless. Did he really think her a fool?

The beggar ignored her. “Mind your own business, just treat me already!”

Seeing his rudeness, Huarong matched it in kind. She recalled the pain of bone-setting she had once described. “Remember, you asked for this—don’t blame me for being rough. It’ll hurt, so bear it. I’ll set your bone!”

Without further ado, Huarong gripped his thigh and wrenched it upward with force. A crack resounded from his bones, sending chills through the bystanders.

The sound alone suggested the agony of a snapped bone. A heart-wrenching scream erupted, “Are you saving me or killing me?”

The beggar tried to struggle, but Huarong gave him no chance, seizing both his arms and twisting them behind his back. No matter how he thrashed, it was useless.

“Don’t panic, it’s not over yet!”

Pressing down his arms, she gave another forceful twist.

A sharp, grating sound echoed.

It was the sound of utter defeat.