He stood in the corridor, his brows tightly furrowed, waiting as Divine Doctor Xue worked inside.
The events of the past few days flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
When summed up, everything led back to Qi Yuan.
His heart on the left side skipped an irregular beat, a surge of blood and energy rushed through him, and he barely managed to suppress it. At the same time, a thought formed in his mind.
After a while, Divine Doctor Xue called Duke Chu inside.
The room had already been tidied up. The blood-stained cloths and basins had been cleared away. A soft lily incense burned on the table, filling the room with a faint fragrance.
But Duke Chu had no mind to appreciate it. Gripping Divine Doctor Xue’s wrist tightly, he asked anxiously, “How is it?”
Qi Wang was Emperor Yongchang’s most favored son.
When he was young, the Emperor had even carried him on his knee to attend court.
Because of this, his standing among the court officials was extraordinary.
It was almost universally accepted that, with the Crown Prince dead, Qi Wang would be the next heir.
Even the recent scandal at the brothel hadn’t truly damaged his position, since all the blame had been shifted onto Zhan Wenhui.
He couldn’t be harmed. He absolutely could not have anything happen to him.
Divine Doctor Xue, however, was oblivious to their political intricacies. He bluntly shook his head. “Not good. It’s been delayed too long, and the injury is too severe. The bone at the knee… it’s not easy to set. Although I’ve set it now, I fear it will still affect his walking in the future.”
Boom.
It was like a thunderclap had struck directly on his head.
Duke Chu felt his mind go blank, his ears buzzing.
Was Divine Doctor Xue saying that Qi Wang might not be able to walk again?
Before he could process this, the screen suddenly collapsed with a loud crash.
Qi Wang’s ashen face appeared before them.
He stared fiercely at Divine Doctor Xue. “You’re saying… I’m crippled? I’m going to be a cripple now?!”
What a f*cking joke!
He had merely fallen off a horse.
Qi Yuan had fallen countless times and never died or became disabled. Why was it that when it happened to him, he was crippled after just one fall?!
The heavens must be playing him for a fool!
Why were they so unfair to him?!
Divine Doctor Xue was startled by his madness and instinctively stepped back, eyes wide. “Your Highness, I’ve done everything I could. If you hadn’t returned in time, you might have died from this injury!”
Being unable to walk normally in the future was already considered incredibly lucky!
But how could Qi Wang accept that?
He grabbed the sword hanging on the wall with his crippled leg and, in a frenzy, slashed it at Divine Doctor Xue. “Quack! Useless! You call yourself a divine doctor? You can’t even treat a minor injury. I’ll kill you!”
Divine Doctor Xue may have been skilled in medicine, but he certainly had no power over life and death. He only had one life—once lost, it would never return. Terrified, he quickly hid behind Duke Chu.
Duke Chu finally snapped out of it, suppressing his grief as he blocked Qi Wang and allowed Divine Doctor Xue to escape.
Only then did he hold down Qi Wang. “Your Highness! Nothing is certain yet. Didn’t Divine Doctor Xue say it’s only a possibility? It might still heal well!”
He shook Qi Wang’s shoulders. “Your Highness, you must understand that Divine Doctor Xue is the best doctor in all of Great Zhou. If you kill him, then there won’t even be that slim chance left!”
Qi Wang’s shoulder, shaken so roughly, began to bleed again.
Duke Chu quickly let go and helped him lie down on the bed.
Seeing his condition, Duke Chu felt unspeakable sorrow.
He gently patted Qi Wang’s shoulder. “Your Highness, don’t worry. I will avenge you immediately.”
Qi Wang looked up at him, finally regaining some spirit. “How will you avenge me?”
Duke Chu sneered coldly. “You’ll know very soon.”
At this moment, Qi Yuan was still unaware of Qi Wang and Duke Chu’s plans.
But even if she didn’t know the details, she could easily guess.
These people were the kind who could decide others’ life and death, but could not tolerate being harmed themselves.
After suffering such a huge loss, they were surely already conspiring to kill her.
When Xiao Yunting escorted her to the Marquis’ residence, he couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really have nothing you want to say to this prince?”
She had offended so many people.
She had lured Liu Jinghong into a trap, severely injured Qi Wang, and nearly wiped out the elite guards of Qi Wang’s residence.
Did she not understand the concept of danger? How could she still act as if nothing had happened?
Qi Yuan was getting impatient.
She glanced at him suspiciously. “Why are you so naggy now?”
In her past life, Xiao Yunting had been a man of few words, as if every extra sentence would cost his life.
But now, he just wouldn’t stop talking.
The words he had just said a few days ago—he was repeating them again.
Xiao Yunting’s face darkened. “…”
He really had a sharp tongue and deserved to be shut up.
Qi Yuan waved her hand behind her back as a farewell. “If soldiers come, we’ll block them. If floods come, we’ll stop them. If the sky falls, we’ll just use it as a blanket. Your Highness, no need to worry about me.”
Liujin and Babao were now serving at her side again.
Hearing what she said, the two exchanged a glance and both clicked their tongues silently.
Young Lady Qi was truly formidable!
One sentence left His Highness completely speechless.
Xiao Yunting lowered his gaze and looked at his palm, unable to stop a self-mocking smile.
There was still a scabbed wound on his palm.
It was from the injury he sustained while galloping day and night to chase the elite guards, tightly gripping the reins.
But in the end, all his efforts were merely his own wishful thinking that he could help.
She had never placed her hopes on him.
Let alone relied on him to solve her problems.
Although they were allies now, Qi Yuan still clearly drew a deep dividing line between them.
He lowered his hand and said expressionlessly, “Let’s go back.”
Liujin sensed the tension and didn’t dare to say much. He quickly responded and urged the horse to turn back.
Meanwhile, the entire Qi family was celebrating.
When they heard that Qi Yuan had returned, the Old Madam and the Old Marquis personally rushed to Mingyue Pavilion.
Over the past few days, although they hadn’t followed her into battle, they had suffered terribly in the capital.
They could neither eat nor sleep properly.
They didn’t know if Qi Yuan would, as always, emerge victorious, or if this time she would be defeated by Liu Jinghong.
The Old Marquis had been so worried that blisters had formed at the corners of his mouth.
Now, seeing that Qi Yuan had returned, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Since she was back, it meant Liu Jinghong was surely dead.
As expected, Qi Yuan was still Qi Yuan—if she said she would kill you, she would kill you. Never missing her mark!
