Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Blood as Medicine

“What do you mean?” Qi Shu Xian asked, startled. [What does he mean, deliberately tormenting?]

The doctor gave a cold snort.

Meng Yang couldn’t believe a mere doctor would dare disrespect her! Ever since working with the Third Prince, she’d been treated with utmost respect. Yet now, she was humiliated by Sheng Zhi Wan’s lowly maid, and even this small-time doctor dared…

Meng Yang lowered her eyes, hiding her resentment. Biting her lip, she softly admitted, “The doctor is right. It was my fault—I was too absorbed in thoughts of the winery and accidentally slipped into the flower pond.”

“What? You fell into the flower pond?” Qi Shu Xian exclaimed, alarmed. Rage flared in his eyes as he turned to Qing Xing. “You were with Yang’er yesterday, weren’t you?”

“Yes… yes…” Qing Xing hastily knelt.

Qi Shu Xian’s voice was icy. “Is this how you serve your mistress? If anything happens to Yang’er’s child, even a hundred deaths won’t be enough punishment! Go, receive your beating!”

Qing Xing’s face turned pale.

Meng Yang weakly grasped Qi Shu Xian’s hand. “My Lord, don’t frighten her. It was my fault—I prefer solitude when lost in thought, so I ordered her to keep a distance. It’s entirely my own mistake. How could I blame her?”

“Besides, Qing Liu is still bedridden. If you punish Qing Xing, this Concubine will have no one left.”

“We can always promote other maids…”

“My Lord!” Meng Yang pleaded softly, biting her lip.

Qi Shu Xian sighed, gently embracing her. “You… your heart is too kind. No wonder you get bullied.”

The doctor silently curled his lips. Concubine Meng’s story might deceive Qi Shu Xian, but not a seasoned doctor like himself. He could see at once she hadn’t merely slipped—she’d soaked in the water for at least half the time it took to drink tea.

Yet angry as he was, he wouldn’t leave a patient untreated. Grimly, he wrote a prescription and swiftly departed.

Meng Yang stared at his retreating back before lifting her gaze, feigning gentleness again. “My Lord, how’s your arm? I asked about several Eastern Wa healers yesterday. If you wish, we can summon them to the manor.”

Mentioning his arm, Qi Shu Xian stiffened. Memories of yesterday’s folly in Fragrance Gathering Garden filled him with regret and a strange, restless heat.

“It’s fine,” he avoided her eyes. “I’ve already found someone to treat it.”

“Oh? Who?” Meng Yang asked, startled.

But Qi Shu Xian gave no reply. After instructing her to take good care of herself, he left in a hurry.

A dark feeling rose in Meng Yang’s heart. Quickly, she sent another maid to track Qi Shu Xian’s movements.

Just as Qing Xing brought in the freshly brewed medicine, the maid returned to report. “Concubine, my Lord has gone to Fragrance Gathering Garden.”

Crash! The medicine Meng Yang had barely sipped splashed onto the floor.

[Fragrance Gathering Garden! Again, Fragrance Gathering Garden!]

Meng Yang trembled uncontrollably.

“Concubine, your health matters most. Please, drink another bowl,” Qing Xing said gratefully, thinking of Meng Yang’s earlier mercy, as she turned to brew more medicine.

“Stop!” Meng Yang suddenly ordered, fixing her with a fierce stare. “Did you hear Sheng Zhi Wan’s words yesterday?”

“W-what?” Qing Xing froze.

Meng Yang carefully observed her, relieved to find no sign of deception. She waved her hand, sending Qing Xing back to the medicine room.

Between Sheng Zhi Wan’s threats and her own frustrations about Huan Zhu, Meng Yang’s fever grew dangerously severe. Qi Shu Xian visited the Endless Courtyard but spent far more time in Fragrance Gathering Garden.

Three days later, Meng Yang fell unconscious again.

At that moment, Qi Shu Xian was with Huan Zhu, tangled in passion in the Fragrance Gathering Garden.

Sheng Zhi Wan arrived swiftly, looking at the unconscious Meng Yang, and smiled faintly.

“My Lord said before that dog’s blood wards off evil spirits. Last time, Concubine Meng fainted from spiritual harm. Perhaps this time is similar.”

“But since we have no more dog’s blood in the manor, I’ve heard another method: the blood of a loyal servant mixed with medicine can awaken their master. Ting Lan,” Sheng Zhi Wan glanced coldly at the rows of maids kneeling in the Endless Courtyard.

“That maid, Qing Liu, showed exceptional loyalty last time. Let’s use her blood.”

“Yes, Princess,” Ting Lan responded loudly.

Soon, Qing Liu, still severely wounded, was brought out on a stretcher.

Hearing Sheng Zhi Wan intended to use her blood as medicine for Meng Yang, Qing Liu stared in horror.

“No! You can’t! This is revenge! If Concubine Meng were awake, she’d never agree!”

“But she’s unconscious. If she fails to wake, your blood simply wasn’t loyal enough. But if your blood proves effective…”

“Your Concubine Meng will surely be forever grateful,” Sheng Zhi Wan chuckled softly, ignoring Qing Liu’s protests. With her mouth gagged, Qing Liu’s palm was cut open, drops of blood dripping steadily into a bowl until half-filled.

Sheng Zhi Wan leisurely stood, mixing the blood into the medicine, then approached the sleeping Meng Yang.

Of course, blood alone would do nothing. But with her own added ingredient…

Sheng Zhi Wan slipped a pill into the mixture, dissolved it, then forced Meng Yang’s lips apart and poured the medicine down her throat.

Moments later, Meng Yang opened her eyes.

Feeling a disgusting metallic taste, she immediately gagged. Her eyes fell upon the bloody bowl beside her.

“This… this is…?”