Princess Consort Lu tugged at the Eldest Princess’s sleeve and whispered, “How do we clean this up now?”
If Liu Wangfei had only gone after Noble Consort Xiao Liu, that would have been one thing. The problem was—she had scolded even Emperor Yongchang!
It seemed that back when Liu Wangfei was still in the palace, she must have still held out some hope for Emperor Yongchang, which was why she still cared about appearances.
Otherwise, this entire scene would have taken place in the palace, and she wouldn’t have chased them all the way here just to slap faces.
The Eldest Princess was starting to panic too.
The emperor was still the emperor—nothing on earth was more powerful than him. If he truly got angry, it wouldn’t matter that she was his own sister—even the Empress Dowager wouldn’t be able to save them.
She quickly rushed to Emperor Yongchang’s side, completely forgetting their cold war, and nervously swallowed before explaining, “Royal Brother, p-please, for the sake of everything Imperial Sister-in-Law has suffered all these years…”
Suddenly, Princess Baorong cried out, “Mother! Mother!”
Her heart was seething with rage.
That wretched Liu Wangfei actually scolded even her—and even called her a little b*stard!
Since she was a child, she had always been the most favored princess because of her extraordinary talents—even Qi Wang had to bow and scrape in front of her!
Empress Feng and the Crown Princess had always avoided her.
What was Liu Wangfei compared to her?!
A useless coward who was about to become empress, yet still got schemed against by her own father—a coward who had been in exile for so many years.
How dare she act so high and mighty in front of her!
She threw herself over Noble Consort Xiao Liu and sobbed, “Royal Father, please save Mother! I’ve already lost my grandfather and grandmother, and my uncle too. If something happens to Mother, what will we do?”
Emperor Yongchang quickly shouted to Pu Wuyong, who had followed behind, “Go summon the imperial physician! No—he’s too far away! Go see if there’s any doctor nearby! Also, Baiyun Temple—they must have someone with basic medical skills. Hurry, bring them all to check on the Consort!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen both felt something was wrong.
But before they could stop her, Qi Yuan had already darted forward like a gust of wind.
Her eyes lit up as she asked the Eldest Princess, “May I try, Your Highness?”
……
Qi Zhen felt like dying on the spot.
He knew it—he just knew it!
No, no, no!
Qi Yuan can’t be the one to step in! Was she here to treat an illness, or to take a life?
If she really ended up killing Noble Consort Xiao Liu right here, then—the entire Qi family would be doomed!
Even Old Marquis Qi’s hands were trembling uncontrollably, but he forced himself to stay composed and scolded Qi Zhen, “Stand firm! What are you shaking for? What kind of behavior is that?!”
Qi Zhen didn’t dare say another word but couldn’t help grumbling in his heart— You’re calling me a coward, but aren’t you trembling even harder yourself?!
Even Xiao Yunting was startled. This time, he didn’t just stand by and watch. He quickly stepped forward, grabbed Qi Yuan’s wrist, and smiled politely at the Eldest Princess and Emperor Yongchang. “Imperial Grandfather, Great Aunt, this grandson did learn a little basic medicine while I was in Jurong…”
He shot Qi Yuan a warning glance and lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear: “If you must kill her, let me do it.”
This wasn’t an ordinary crime. Killing Cheng Wang could be covered up, could be explained away with a convenient excuse.
But not Noble Consort Xiao Liu!
If Noble Consort Xiao Liu died here, everyone present would have to die!
Qi Yuan smiled calmly. “Your Highness, your skills are only superficial. Let me do it. I once learned from Divine Physician Xue—I can manage. If we wait any longer, it will be too late.”
Divine Physician Xue?!
Emperor Yongchang immediately pointed at her and asked, “What’s your name?”
Old Marquis Qi clutched Qi Zhen’s arm so tightly his heart nearly stopped.
Qi Yuan calmly and skillfully gave a proper bow and said, neither humble nor arrogant, “Your subject, Qi Yuan, of the Yongping Marquis household.”
……
Qi Zhen hugged a nearby tree for support, or else he might have fainted on the spot.
Princess Baorong sneered coldly in her heart.
She was just thinking about how to get this wretched Qi Yuan killed, and right on cue, here came the perfect opportunity delivered straight to her.
Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
How could she not know that Divine Physician Xue had been kept under the Liu family’s control ever since he became famous?
Qi Yuan must’ve learned medicine from Divine Physician Xue—only in her dreams.
While sobbing and gently stroking Noble Consort Xiao Liu’s hair, Baorong quickly whispered, “Royal Mother, don’t wake up. No matter what, don’t wake up. Even if you do wake, you must scream that your head hurts, that your head hurts terribly. Do you understand?”
Noble Consort Xiao Liu squeezed Baorong’s wrist in reply.
Xiao Yunting’s heart was practically beating out of his chest.
He had never known anything in this world could terrify him this much.
As he watched Qi Yuan step forward, he closed his eyes.
Qi Yuan had already crouched down on the ground. Seeing that Princess Baorong was kneeling right next to her, she politely said, “Your Highness, I must perform acupuncture on the Consort. If she remains unconscious for too long, it could threaten her life. Would you mind stepping aside?”
Baorong instinctively wanted to refuse.
But Emperor Yongchang frowned disapprovingly, “Baorong, don’t cause trouble!”
Qi Yuan chuckled silently in her heart. She had already expected Emperor Yongchang would order Baorong to move.
Once Baorong stepped away, Qi Yuan quickly pulled out a rolled cloth bundle from her sleeve.
When she opened it, it turned out to be a full acupuncture kit with gold needles of varying thickness—there must have been at least thirty or forty needles.
Qi Yuan, with practiced ease, picked up one of the needles and explained to Emperor Yongchang, “Your Majesty, the Consort has suffered repeated shocks and today endured another emotional blow. Her blood flow is blocked, and the stagnation has caused her to fall into a qi-closure state. This condition is extremely dangerous, and I must perform acupuncture immediately. Please grant permission.”
“Permission granted, granted!” Emperor Yongchang waved his hand but sternly warned, “Treat her carefully. If anything happens to the Consort, you will not escape blame!”
Qi Yuan’s hands didn’t tremble in the slightest. With decisive precision, she picked up a needle and pierced Noble Consort Xiao Liu’s Daling acupoint.
The golden needle was still quivering.
Noble Consort Xiao Liu’s eyelids fluttered.
Qi Yuan smiled slightly. “See? The Consort is already showing a response.”
Then she calmly picked up another needle and swiftly pierced the Guanchong point on the Consort’s finger.
Even Liu Wangfei instinctively clenched her fists in pain just watching.
Noble Consort Xiao Liu desperately clung to Baorong’s instructions. Despite the unbearable pain, she stubbornly refused to open her eyes.
Baorong was starting to lose her temper. She couldn’t stand it anymore. “Can you do this or not?!”
Don’t think she couldn’t see it—Qi Yuan was obviously using this as an opportunity to punish Noble Consort Xiao Liu.
Qi Yuan, looking serious, picked up another golden needle and said with slight exasperation, “I’ve already stimulated both the Daling and Guanchong points. Normally, even with qi-closure, the Consort should have regained consciousness by now. If she still hasn’t woken, then perhaps the condition is far more severe… But don’t worry, there’s still another way.”
She leaned down, moving close to Noble Consort Xiao Liu’s ear, and whispered like a ghost, “If the Consort can’t understand words, this subject also knows a little about acupuncture.”
As she spoke, her hand moved like lightning, plunging the needle straight into the Tongtian acupoint.
Noble Consort Xiao Liu instantly let out a blood-curdling scream and shot upright like a banshee.
