Dusk gradually deepened, and the night was cool as water.
Inside Duke Wei’s residence, it was quiet. The Duchess stood waiting by the second gate. When she saw Duan Wang, she stepped forward to greet him.
“This humble woman greets Wangye.”
“No need for formalities,” Duan Wang nodded. “The Duke has still not awakened?”
The Duchess, eyes red, shook her head. “Not yet. The court physician said if he doesn’t wake by tonight, then I fear…”
Her voice choked, and tears fell. She quickly wiped them away with her handkerchief.
Xu Heng stepped up to support his mother. “Mother, Wangye has brought a physician—perhaps there’s still a way.”
“Truly?” Joy surfaced on the Duchess’s face.
Xu Heng nodded and turned to Duan Wang. “Wangye, this way please.”
Seeing this, the Duchess quickly stepped aside. Only then did she notice Kang Wang behind Duan Wang, as well as another unfamiliar face: a man in plain robes carrying a medicine chest. He looked entirely unremarkable, no different from the common physicians at medicine shops.
The Duchess didn’t dare ask questions and watched the group go inside, feeling anxious.
Xiao Ling emerged from the hall once it was empty. Holding her pregnant belly, she said to her mother-in-law, “Mother, please sit down. You haven’t had a proper rest all day.”
“What are you doing out here?” the Duchess asked her daughter-in-law. “You’re with child—go rest.”
“I’m already far along. I have to walk around a bit—I can’t sit all the time. Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Xiao Ling said with a forced smile.
She knew her mother-in-law was worried about her father-in-law. So was she. The Duke was the pillar of the household. If anything happened to him, both her mother-in-law and husband would be devastated.
The two women sat quietly together, time slowly passing. Their hearts were full of anxiety, but they dared not go in and interrupt.
Inside, Ren Mian was inserting acupuncture needles. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and the Duke’s scalp was covered with a dense array of silver needles—an alarming sight.
Kang Wang, seated nearby, was so shaken that his legs felt weak. He avoided looking at the Duke entirely—the sight of all those needles was simply too frightening.
Ren Mian finally let out a long breath after inserting the last needle.
“How is it?” Duan Wang asked in a deep voice, eyes fixed on him.
Ren Mian replied, “It’s still too early to tell. We’ll have to wait until the needles are withdrawn.”
Duan Wang: “…”
Xu Heng personally handed Ren Mian a cup of tea. “Physician Ren, please have some tea.”
“Many thanks, Young Lord.” Ren Mian accepted it and, without caring about decorum, downed it in one gulp. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead before sitting to the side and beginning to write a prescription, waiting for the time to remove the needles.
Xiao Muchen glanced at Xu Heng. “Let Ren Mian wait here. You come with me.”
Xu Heng nodded. Kang Wang followed as well, and Ren Mian stood to see them out.
The group didn’t go far, just to the room next door. The three of them sat down.
“Is there confidence on Fengcheng Marquis’s side?” Xiao Muchen asked Xu Heng.
“He’s already contacted a censor to submit a memorial. The situation in Qiping Prefecture is extremely serious—several counties under its jurisdiction show signs of famine, and there’s a lot of wasteland. While Zhang Guangan was in office, not only did he collude with the Crown Prince to embezzle taxes and grain reserves, he also exploited the common people, hoarded fertile lands, and forced many into homelessness,” Xu Heng reported solemnly.
Kang Wang, always a mild and honest man, couldn’t help but exclaim in anger, “This is lawless! Truly outrageous!”
Xu Heng observed the dark expression on Duan Wang’s face and cautiously continued, “Qiping Prefecture reported consecutive disasters for two years. The court exempted taxes for both years and even allocated grain and silver for relief. Only after Official Qu arrived and investigated in disguise did he discover there were no such disasters at all.”
Xiao Muchen had already read some of this in the reports, but hearing Xu Heng describe the details made his face darken with rage. He slammed his palm down on the table.
Kang Wang was dumbfounded. He knew Qiping wasn’t in good shape, but never imagined the corruption ran so deep. Falsely reporting disasters, gaining tax exemptions, and still receiving disaster relief—weren’t they double-dipping?
He couldn’t imagine what kind of upheaval this would cause once all of it was exposed in court.
Would the Emperor even be able to withstand the fallout?
His face turned pale with a greenish tinge, and he sat there speechless for a long time.
Xu Heng glanced at Kang Wang’s ashen face, then at the composed Duan Wang—clearly, a contrast in caliber.
“Wangye,” Xu Heng said, “if we are to expose everything tomorrow, we must strike swiftly and decisively. If we hesitate, chaos will only deepen. Have you made up your mind?”
He had long been eager to act against the Crown Prince—this was the long-awaited opportunity.
Blood must be repaid with blood!
“Have Qu You and Censor Zhong been properly approached?”
“Rest assured, my lord. The matter is grave—neither would dare shield the Crown Prince unless they have a death wish. Censor Zhong is upright, no worries there. Lord Qu is a bit slick, but he knows we’ve been tracking this. He nearly died investigating this time—he won’t cover for the Crown Prince.”
“Good. Then follow the plan,” Xiao Muchen said solemnly, turning to Xu Heng. “Don’t let your father’s hard-won path go to waste.”
“Yes,” Xu Heng rose quickly in affirmation.
He wouldn’t. Duke Wei’s household and the Eastern Palace were sworn enemies—only one side could survive.
“Duke, you’re awake?!”
Duchess Wei’s voice, brimming with joy, drifted over faintly. The three men exchanged glances. Xu Heng immediately rushed out, propriety forgotten.
Xiao Muchen and Kang Wang followed quickly into the adjacent room. Sure enough, the Duke had opened his eyes. Though gravely injured and unable to speak, his breath was steady. Careful treatment would be necessary, but his life was no longer in immediate danger.
The Duchess wept with joy, clutching her husband’s hand and refusing to let go.
Ren Mian packed up his medical kit and placed the written prescription on the table before speaking: “The Imperial Medical Bureau’s prescription differs from mine. Madam, you may decide which to use.”
The Duchess turned to him immediately. “We’ll use yours, Physician Ren—your skills are trusted.” She looked to her stewardess, who came over with a thick money pouch and handed it to Ren Mian.
Ren Mian looked toward Duan Wang, who gave a small nod. Only then did he accept it.
“My prescription is potent and aggressive,” Ren Mian said. “The Bureau’s is milder and safer. You’ll need to decide carefully.”
If something went wrong, better to be upfront now.
The Duchess’s face tightened. She turned to Xiao Muchen. “Wangye, this…”
Xiao Muchen looked at Ren Mian—truly someone brought by Duan Mingxi. His demeanor was mild, but when it mattered, he showed no hesitation.
“How confident are you?” Xiao Muchen asked.
Ren Mian didn’t even lift his head. “Fifty percent.”
The Duchess choked on her breath. Only fifty?
Ren Mian strapped the medical kit to his back. “With the Duke’s injuries, the chances were originally thirty to seventy. Having even a fifty-fifty chance now is already a blessing.”
Xu Heng glanced at him. If this weren’t Duan Wang’s man, he would have punched him on the spot.
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