Spring Rises in the Phoenix Pool Chapter 24

Qi Zhen’s face turned from pale to green and back again—he was deeply agitated.

It’s not this, and it’s not that—then what on earth is it?

Qi Yunting thrashed restlessly on the bed, like a shrimp thrown into a pot of boiling water.

Madam Wang’s tears streamed down uncontrollably. “Doctor, please, think of something! We can’t just let him suffer like this!”

A mother’s heart was tied to her son—seeing Qi Yunting in such pain felt like a knife cutting into her own flesh.

If she could take his pain upon herself, she truly wouldn’t hesitate for even a moment.

The imperial physician stroked his beard with a troubled expression. “I’ll prescribe a calming powder first. Let’s see if that helps at all.”

Unable to identify the cause, he couldn’t give a targeted remedy—even the physician felt uncertain.

But with no better options, Qi Zhen made the call: “Then let’s give him the medicine first.”

Everyone bustled about in a flurry, hurriedly preparing and feeding the decoction to Qi Yunting.

Night had grown deep.

Qi Yuan gave a light yawn.

Lianqiao gently urged her, “Miss, it’s late. Let me help you get some rest?”

Qi Yuan, however, simply shook her head with a smile. “No need. I’d just have to get up again if I fall asleep—better to skip the trouble.”

Lianqiao blinked, not quite understanding what her mistress meant. But since Qi Yuan had spoken, she assumed her lady had her reasons. So she tiptoed out, intending to bring back a bowl of ginseng soup.

But just as she stepped out the door, she saw Zhang Mama hurrying away.

The lanterns under the corridor swayed in the wind. A chill breeze made Lianqiao shiver involuntarily, and suddenly, she felt something was off.

She rushed back into the room and whispered, “Miss, Zhang Mama just left.”

Qi Yuan smiled as she set down the book in her hands, sitting by the table with a trace of mockery at the corner of her lips. “Get ready—there’s no need to sleep tonight.”

Even after taking a calming medicine, Qi Yunting didn’t improve at all. Instead, he continued clutching his stomach and directly rolled off the bed onto the floor.

He writhed in pain on the ground, the veins at his temples bulging.

Just looking at him was enough to strike terror into anyone’s heart.

Even Qi Zhen panicked this time. Grabbing the imperial physician’s hand, he asked in alarm, “Imperial Physician, have you ever seen such an illness before? How could someone perfectly fine suddenly end up like this?”

This was his legitimate eldest son!

Madam Wang cried until her throat was raw, almost unable to make a sound.

Thankfully, Stewardess Gao was firmly holding her up. “Madam, you must steady yourself! If something happens to you now, how would Young Master even begin to cope?”

But how could Madam Wang care about that now?

If Qi Jin was her heart, then Qi Yunting was her very life.

She had two sons and a daughter, but her younger son had been frail since childhood and was sent to the countryside to be raised by their clan. Which meant, the children she personally raised were Qi Yunting and Qi Jin.

And Qi Yunting was her son, her future support. Naturally, he was the most important.

She threw herself on top of Qi Yunting, crying. “Yunting, if anything happens to you, your mother won’t go on living either!”

Qi Zhen was so frustrated his head was about to explode. He was just about to order someone to go fetch more imperial physicians when Liuzhong hurried over and whispered in his ear, “Marquis, Zhang Mama from the Eldest Miss’s side has arrived. She says she has something important to report to you and Madam.”

Something from Qi Yuan’s side?

Although Qi Zhen was somewhat satisfied with this daughter, right now he had no mind to concern himself with her.

He immediately snapped impatiently, “I won’t see her! Whatever it is, she can wait to speak about it later!”

Liu Zhong looked a bit troubled. “Marquis, she said… she came for the Young Master.”

Qi Zhen frowned but ultimately suppressed his impatience and ordered Zhang Mama to be brought in.

As soon as Zhang Mama entered, she knelt heavily on the ground. Qi Zhen didn’t bother with any pleasantries and asked bluntly, “What matter is so urgent that you’ve come at this late hour?”

Qi Yunting seemed to have improved somewhat, now lying on the floor gasping heavily for air.

Madam Wang held him, continuously patting his back, trying her best to ease his pain.

Zhang Mama didn’t dare look around. She kept her head lowered, nervously wringing her hands, and spoke with a trembling voice, “Marquis, Madam, this old servant… this old servant has something of great importance to report!”

Madam Wang was completely distraught, and Qi Zhen was also deeply agitated. He barked, “Speak directly!”

Zhang Mama knocked her head hard against the ground with a loud thud, her voice tense as she said, “Reporting to Marquis and Madam, this old servant discovered that… that the Eldest Miss has been practicing witchcraft in the manor to curse the Young Master!”

The entire room was stunned.

All sounds in the room instantly disappeared.

Madam Wang, clutching Qi Yunting, was suddenly filled with intense hatred.

No wonder Yunting was suffering so terribly today, to the point even the imperial physicians were at a loss. So it was that little wretch working her evil tricks behind their backs!

Qi Zhen walked heavily over to Zhang Mama and ordered in a low voice, “Raise your head!”

Zhang Mama anxiously lifted her head to look at Qi Zhen, swallowing hard.

Qi Zhen studied her closely, his expression cold. “Do you realize what you are saying? If this is true, so be it. But if you dare to falsely accuse your master, that is a grave crime!”

Zhang Mama was so nervous her stomach was churning.

But she firmly remembered her mission and desperately shook her head, gritting her teeth as she swore, “This old servant would never dare deceive the Marquis. Marquis, ever since the Eldest Miss returned home, she’s been at odds with the Young Master and harbors deep resentment against him!”

Madam Wang gnashed her teeth. “How vicious she is! That wretched girl!”

They had kindly brought her back into the family, yet she repaid their kindness with betrayal!

And over such a trivial matter, she would curse her own brother!

Qi Zhen raised his hand to silence Madam Wang, his eyes still fixed on Zhang Mama. “Mere words are not enough. I cannot pass judgment based on your accusations alone. What proof do you have?”

Zhang Mama wiped the sweat from her forehead and spoke with certainty, “Marquis, this old servant personally saw the Eldest Miss sewing several strange-looking dolls. At the time, I asked her what they were, but she stammered and wouldn’t give me an answer…”

In noble households, the thing they feared most were these witchcraft and curse practices.

Elders, in particular, were extremely superstitious about such matters.

There was even an old lady from the Duke Cheng’s family who had been so frightened by a burial pottery piece gifted by a younger relative that she died on the spot.

If Qi Yuan had come home and immediately begun practicing such sorcery to harm her own brother, then she truly deserved death.

Qi Zhen’s eyes narrowed, his face instantly clouded over. “Where are these things now?!”

Zhang Mama quickly kowtowed. “Reporting to Marquis, after the Eldest Miss finished sewing them, she wrote and drew on them. This old servant felt something was wrong and secretly kept watch. She buried all those things under the jujube tree in her courtyard.”

Qi Zhen glanced at his son, who was still unconscious, and said in a deep voice, “Let’s go!”