Chapter 72: The Supreme Master of Schemes

After that blow, the beggar could no longer endure and collapsed on the spot in a faint. The others were stunned, staring in disbelief. "What happened to him? Did he die from the pain?"

"Goodness, do you even know how to treat people? You’ve tortured him like this—his injury was on the leg, why did you do something to his arm?"

A crowd gathered, each voicing their confusion, and even Jun Yeli, standing nearby, felt the scene tear at his heart.

Unable to hold back, he frowned and asked, "Did you kill him?"

"How could I be so cruel?" Huarong stuck out her tongue at him. "This is called bone-setting. After the procedure, the whole body feels refreshed, it can even help improve bone development and increase height. If you have time, I’ll do it for you too!"

The only side effect was a touch of pain—not something the average person could withstand.

Jun Yeli listened without fully understanding, but seeing the beggar’s miserable state, he quickly shook his head, "No, thank you. I think my body’s quite healthy. I don’t need you to put me through that."

Huarong paid him no mind, looking instead at the unconscious man and the murmuring crowd. She showed no courtesy, picking up a kettle and pouring water directly onto his face.

"Alright, stop pretending. If you keep faking, I’ll pour this water down your nose and you won’t be able to breathe."

Her words were light, but the beggar grew fearful and finally blinked his eyes open in confusion.

"Now, see if you can walk. If not, I’ll do it again!" Huarong waved her hand. She had seen the flicker in his eyes before—clearly, he had feigned death.

After such a fright, the beggar dared not pretend any longer. Hearing Huarong threaten another round, his eyes nearly rolled back; he felt an urge to give up his life.

"No need, no need! I think I can walk now. Just watch!"

He stood and walked several laps in front of Huarong, his steps smooth and steady.

Seeing this, Huarong nodded in satisfaction. "Now I’m relieved. I almost delayed your recovery!"

She rose, stretching her arms. The treatment had indeed taken a toll.

As she turned, the beggar, still nervous, cried, "Wait! Didn’t you say even if I was cured, you’d give me fifty taels as compensation? Are you going back on your word?"

"How could I? But treating you costs money too—curing your leg is worth fifty taels, isn’t it? Let’s call it even," Huarong replied with a faint smile, her expression laced with a quiet, lethal charm that left him speechless.

"You—you tricked me! You rich people are disgusting!"

The beggar, indignantly, raised his bowl to throw it.

Jun Yeli’s reflexes were swift. He pulled Huarong to his side, catching the bowl with his other hand and fixing the beggar with a cold stare. "You know whether your leg was really broken or not. If you keep causing trouble, we’ll settle this at the magistrate’s."

With those words, the beggar dared not act rashly. If he ended up in court, who knew what punishment awaited him.

"Fine, your mother’s ruthless—but I won’t let you off so easily!"

He tried to snatch his bowl, but seeing Jun Yeli’s imposing presence, he didn’t dare move. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Hmph, we’ll see about this!"

With that, he abandoned his bowl and hurried away.

Witnessing this, Huarong sneered, "These days, beggars grow ever bolder, resorting to such despicable tricks!"

She turned to Jun Yeli, seeing his solemn expression fixed on the beggar’s retreating figure, lost in thought. Thinking he was upset, she quickly comforted him, "Husband, don’t be angry—there’s no need to lower yourself to their level."

She gently placed a hand on his chest, soothing him with tender care.

The subtle gesture made Jun Yeli sigh, hands clasped behind his back as he shook his head, "I’m not angry about what happened. I’m simply puzzled—how could a beggar appear in such a prosperous city, and resort to such vile means for money?"

Elsewhere, encountering beggars was understandable, but in a thriving city like this, beggars were strictly forbidden.

Now, seeing one in the streets was odd enough, but to have him shamelessly scheme in public was truly baffling.

"Perhaps the authorities were negligent this time. I’m sure after the next patrol, you won’t see beggars here again."

At her words, Jun Yeli could only nod, though the trace of worry in his brow remained visible, hard to decipher.

"What’s wrong, Your Majesty? It’s just a beggar," Huarong muttered, remembering the man’s foolish antics and feeling vexed.

The two boarded their carriage, but Jun Yeli kept his gaze fixed outside, as if searching for something—perhaps unsettled by the beggar’s presence.

Huarong, meanwhile, brooded over the earlier kiss, unable to shake it from her mind. Occasionally, she’d steal a glance at Jun Yeli’s handsome face, feeling increasingly like a rogue.

"What am I thinking? It’s just good looks—there are plenty in the world!"

"So what if there are more? I can’t indulge in their beauty, after all, I’m a married woman…"

The thought only made her more anxious, and she felt a pang of helplessness. Her own beauty—was it meant to be wasted in the palace, passing the days in such indifference? It seemed so ill-fitting.

Lost in daydreams, she felt drowsy as dusk slowly descended.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when a gentle voice sounded by her ear, "Wake up, we’ve arrived."

"Hmm? So soon? I haven’t slept enough…" Huarong pouted, reluctant to rise.

Her head drooped again, sleep clearly her priority. Jun Yeli found it amusing, but had no choice but to gently lift her halfway up.

"If you’re not willing to move, then I’ll just carry you."

Drowsy and unwilling to argue, Huarong mumbled, "Mm."

She found it quite comfortable, the gentle rocking reminiscent of a cradle, lulling her into deeper sleep.