Chapter 25


    and said, “Don’t worry, just act natural.”


    Meanwhile, Waldo was being led upstairs by Marina. The chilly little vi had only one servant on hand.


    He scoffed internally. Howard was clearly in decline, nothing like the grandeur of Bainbridge.


    “Dr. Waldo is here.”


    “Mr. Chadwick,” Dr. Waldo greeted coolly, his contempt for Gwendolyn rising as heid eyes on her. “I


    don’t like outsiders present during my treatments, especially not some medical student who thinks she


    knows it all. Please ask Mrs. Chadwick to leave.”


    He looked down on Gwendolyn, even more so after learning she was studying medicine. He thought


    she was arrogant, pretending to be something after picking up a little knowledge at school.


    “I won’t get in your way.” Gwendolyn asserted.


    “Do you hope to steal a few tricks? I was trained by the renowned Mr. White. You probably won’t get


    the chance to witness such exquisite needling techniques again in your lifetime. No wonder you don’t


    want to leave,” Waldo said mockingly.


    Howard remained calm, gripping Gwendolyn’s hand, “Newlyweds are often inséparable. I’m afraid I


    can’t bear to be apart from her even for a moment.”


    Marina covered her mouth and giggled behind her hand, thinking to herself how men only realize the


    worth of a good wife after they get hitched.


    Waldo snorted dismissively. “Well, she could stay here, though I doubt she has the aptitude to learn


    anything of value.”


    His arrogance was almostughable to Howard. No one knew better than him how gifted Gwendolyn


    was. Here was this chatan acting all high and mighty.


    *Thank you for your magnanimity, Dr. Waldo,” Howard said, not minding the extra courtesy.


    Waldo, with a stern face, instructed, “Please undress Mr. Howard. I’ll need to apply


    1/2


    14:18 F


    acupuncture.”


    Acupuncture involved both the insertion of needles and moxibustion.


    Gwendolyn, like a dutiful wife silently bearing an affront, helped Howard onto the bed and began


    to remove his shirt. She was used to this by now, though his physique still made her blush every time.


    Waldo opened hisvish medicine kit and spread out his needles, the golden ones looking particrly


    impressive.


    He handled the needles with a serious demeanor, inserting them at precise points.


    Gwendolyn watched his hands, mentally noting the key operation.


    These key operations could stimte the legs, but the technique was mediocre at best, just showy with


    no real substance. Waldo was clearly not here with healing intentions.


    After the needling, he began the moxibustion.


    Gwendolyn knew that warm–needle therapy could be more effective. She would roll up the wool. into


    small balls, wrap them around the needle ends, and light them, allowing the heat to prate the body


    through the needles.


    Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    It would warm the body, promoting cirction and invigorating the blood.


    Once Waldo finished, he produced a small packet of herbs, “This is for a medicinal bath, to be taken


    daily. I’ll return in three days for the next acupuncture session.”


    He left with his medicine chest, and Gwendolyn unwrapped the packet, wrinkling her nose as she


    sniffed at the contents. She picked out two tampered herbs.


    “The needling is harmless, but the medicinal bath is poisoned.”


    Gwendolyn turned icy, “He’s revolting! He even ground the herbs into powder and dyed them.”