Actually, acupuncture usually hurts, but the pain is typically limited. Especially with experienced elderly physicians, you’d feel the prick, but before the pain fully registers, the needle would already be removed.
But Qi Yuan’s acupuncture—this wasn’t healing; this was practically torture.
Noble Consort Xiao Liu screamed like a banshee as she scrambled up from the ground, all her grace and gentleness completely gone.
She remembered Baorong’s earlier instruction to pretend she was in excruciating pain. But what was there to pretend? She really was in excruciating pain!
She was practically dying from it!
Clutching her head, Noble Consort Xiao Liu shook violently, crying and screaming in agony.
Qi Zhen, still hugging his tree, let out an uncontrollable hiccup.
In such a tense moment, when everyone’s attention was fully fixed on Noble Consort Xiao Liu, his useless mouth went and let out a hiccup!
Before Old Marquis Qi could even glare at him, Qi Zhen had already slapped himself across the face—Serves you right for having a loose mouth!
But even if he hadn’t slipped up, it wouldn’t have helped.
Though Qi Yuan had brought Noble Consort Xiao Liu back to consciousness, judging by her current state, she clearly had no intention of showing gratitude. On the contrary, it seemed she was about to pin the blame on Qi Yuan for “botched treatment.”
Noble Consort Xiao Liu writhed in pain on the ground, completely disregarding decorum.
Emperor Yongchang, both heartbroken and anxious, quickly stepped forward to hold Noble Consort Xiao Liu, his voice harsh as he questioned Qi Yuan: “What’s going on?! You were so confident—how is it that my consort’s condition has only worsened?!”
Princess Baorong bit her lip, her face full of panic: “Miss Qi, since you’re just a half-baked practitioner, how dare you attempt to treat my mother?! And to use such an aggressive method? If you’re even slightly careless, can you afford to take responsibility for my mother’s life?!”
Then she turned her face to the Emperor, instantly switching to a pleading expression: “Royal Father! You must harshly punish this reckless and greedy charlatan!”
It’s over, it’s over! Qi Zhen could no longer hold onto his tree—he was on the verge of tears.
Princess Baorong watched Qi Yuan coldly, her lips twitching into a faint sneer.
What a foolish wretch!
Though Baorong’s face showed anxiety, her heart was filled with murderous intent.
No—this kind of woman must never be allowed to stay by Xiao Yunting’s side.
Otherwise, she would surely become a dangerous threat in the future.
Better to get rid of her now.
Everyone was tense under the pressure of being questioned by the most powerful man in the world.
Liu Wangfei stepped forward: “If there’s any blame, direct it at me. Xiao Xianjiao, your delicate little pet faints morning and night, faints when startled, faints when not startled. Instead of blaming the doctor, you’d better go pray to the gods and see if perhaps your many sins are catching up with you, and that’s why you’re afraid of being struck by lightning every day!”
Qi Zhen’s heart could finally beat properly again.
Thank the heavens! He knew it—good people are eventually rewarded!
He and his daughter went through so much trouble to bring the Eldest Princess back from Jiangxi—see? The blessings are showing up now!
Ah, the Eldest Princess really knows how to curse someone!
Xiao Yunting, who had originally wanted to speak up in Qi Yuan’s defense, swallowed his words on the spot, now just as stunned as the others, looking at the Eldest Princess as if seeing her in a whole new light. So this was the original empress, huh? No wonder she had been the first wife—her presence was truly formidable.
Being scolded like this, Noble Consort Xiao Liu wanted to die from sheer humiliation. She clung tightly to Emperor Yongchang’s robe, her tearful eyes staring up at him, breathing erratically.
She desperately hoped the Emperor would stand up for her.
But to her dismay, Emperor Yongchang didn’t dare to reprimand Liu Wangfei at all. Instead, he turned to harshly question Qi Yuan: “Exactly what kind of treatment were you administering? Why has the Consort’s condition only worsened?!”
Qi Yuan calmly packed up her golden needles, lowering her gaze to hide the killing intent in her eyes, and gently explained: “Your Majesty, the Consort’s qi-closure was severe. If I hadn’t promptly cleared and stimulated her acupoints, she might have slipped away for good. I had no choice but to use slightly stronger techniques.”
Her explanation was clear and reasonable.
No matter what, the Consort was awake now.
Facts prove everything.
Before Princess Baorong could speak, Emperor Yongchang directly asked Qi Yuan, “So how is the Consort’s condition now? She’s fine, right?”
“No,” Qi Yuan sighed. “The Consort previously struck her head and already suffered blood and energy damage. After that, she was further aggravated by rage and emotional shock. Also, during this period, the Consort has likely been suffering from long-term liver qi stagnation, causing her to be irritable and quick-tempered. Therefore, she must often feel pain under her second rib and beneath her collarbone—is that correct?”
——
Old Marquis Qi was stunned.
Qi Zhen was stunned.
Princess Baorong was even more stunned.
This girl really does have some skill!
What exactly did she do before this?!
Actually, this was not just a question Baorong wanted to ask.
Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen also desperately wanted to know.
She can kill people and also heal them—could the Eldest Princess really have taught her such skills?
He looked suspiciously at the Eldest Princess.
The Eldest Princess and Jiang Mama both coughed at the same time and quickly looked away in perfect tacit agreement.
It didn’t matter who she actually learned from. Since Xiao Yunting and Qi Yuan said she learned it from them, then so be it—it’s settled.
Wasn’t there also that Divine Physician Xue?
Just say that Divine Physician Xue had once stayed at Baiyun Temple for a time and had taught Qi Yuan some skills—problem solved.
But right now, none of this was the point. Emperor Yongchang was utterly fed up!
On one hand, his main wife was scolding him without mercy in front of all these people, on another hand, his delicate little consort kept fainting, and on top of that, he still had to care about his daughter’s feelings.
Standing here like this wasn’t solving anything—what, was he supposed to just keep standing here for everyone to watch and laugh at?
He frowned and ordered, “Enough, enough, you’ll do. You’ll treat the Consort now!”
Noble Consort Xiao Liu bit her lip and was about to refuse, but Princess Baorong quickly gripped her wrist, leaving her no choice but to remain silent.
The nuns at Baiyun Temple all felt their scalps go numb—it had really felt like tonight they were repeatedly stepping on the edge of death’s door, but now things finally seemed to have temporarily calmed.
They quickly tidied up the meditation hall and arranged for Noble Consort Xiao Liu and Princess Baorong to rest.
Meanwhile, Emperor Yongchang directly followed Liu Wangfei to her own meditation hall.
Liu Wangfei had no intention of dealing with him at all—she slammed the door with a loud bang, refusing him entry.
Emperor Yongchang touched his nose and let out a calm sigh: “Wanyin, it was my fault. I spoke too harshly and my tone towards you was poor. I’ve wronged you.”
His impatience was genuine, but so was his guilt.
Humans really are such complex creatures.
But there was nothing complex at all about Old Marquis Qi and Qi Zhen.
Qi Zhen let go of the tree and looked at Qi Yuan in terror: “Ah Yuan, y-you, you can’t treat her!”
Faking a faint was easy—just stick a few more needles, and as long as the person wasn’t actually unconscious, they’d eventually wake up.
But treating a real illness was a completely different matter.
If someone wanted to pretend to be seriously ill and you didn’t see through it—that was simple.
But this was exactly why being a doctor was such a tough job.
Qi Yuan smiled and raised her eyebrows slightly: “How could I not treat her? I already promised His Majesty. If I fail to cure her, wouldn’t that be deceiving the emperor? That’s a capital offense.”
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