Chapter 101

Chapter 101: About to Face Great Misfortune

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled faintly. “Concubine Meng, have you forgotten? I once said if you fell sick again, you’d have to take Qing Liu’s blood. See, isn’t this Qing Liu’s blood?”

“Speaking of which, Qing Liu truly is loyal. Just one bowl of her blood, and you’re already awake. I thought it would take several bowls at least.”

“Ugh…ugh… Sheng Zhi Wan, you… you…” Meng Yang leaned over the bedside, nearly vomiting out her gall.

Sheng Zhi Wan narrowed her eyes slightly, stepping back with disdain. “What was that? Think carefully before you speak, Concubine Meng.”

Meng Yang felt the metallic taste of blood rise in her throat again, unsure if it came from Qing Liu’s blood or her own rage.

Seeing her silence, Sheng Zhi Wan laughed softly. “Since Qing Liu’s blood works so well, you’ll take it daily until you’re recovered.”

“Impossible! I won’t drink anyone’s blood!” Meng Yang shouted resolutely.

“Really? Then there’s no choice.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice turned gentle, her eyes sparkling dangerously. “The name Zhang Da Hu—I wonder if Concubine Meng still remembers it?”

Meng Yang’s pupils shrank sharply, her hands beneath the quilt clenched tightly.

[Zhang Da Hu!]

[How could she know about Zhang Da Hu? Could it be—that useless thing is still alive?]

Meng Yang’s mind spun chaotically.

But Sheng Zhi Wan appeared not to notice her agitation. “You’re carrying the Heir’s first child. Surely drinking a maidservant’s blood isn’t too much?”

“I—I’ll drink it!”

“Very good.” Sheng Zhi Wan smiled, satisfied. “Then from now on, I’ll send someone daily to Endless Courtyard to supervise the bloodletting. Concubine Meng must recover soon.”

With a graceful step, Sheng Zhi Wan casually passed Qing Liu, who lay pale and weak on the wooden board, and departed.

As soon as Sheng Zhi Wan was gone, Qing Liu cried out miserably to Meng Yang, her voice faint and pleading, “Concubine, please save me! The Heir Consort clearly wants my life!”

Meng Yang knew very well Sheng Zhi Wan had planned this deliberately.

But what could she do?

She had to pacify Qing Liu, saying softly, “Good Qing Liu, rest assured, I won’t abandon you. It’s just that she’s the Heir’s main wife. My status is still low, but when I see the Heir, I’ll plead with him to stand up for you!”

Though she spoke reassuringly, Meng Yang’s heart sank heavily, her expression darkening.

Recently, the Heir had been occupied, rolling around every day with that backstabbing, bed-climbing maidservant, completely disregarding her feelings.

She tirelessly worked outside, earning silver ingots to win his heart. She wanted him to see she could do anything Sheng Zhi Wan did, and even better!

Yet now that she’d finally succeeded, another lowly wench had snatched her place!

But none of that mattered right now. Meng Yang’s greatest worry was Sheng Zhi Wan’s mention of Zhang Da Hu.

[How did she find out?]

[Is Zhang Da Hu really still alive?]

No, she had to immediately confirm his fate. If he was already dead, fine. If not…

Meng Yang’s pale face darkened with cruelty.

[If he dares live, don’t blame me for being heartless!]

For the next four or five days, under Sheng Zhi Wan’s close watch, Meng Yang drank the medicine mixed with blood daily.

At first, she tried switching the medicine secretly. But with Lai Fu’s death fresh in their minds, no one from Pinglan Residence allowed any tricks, refusing even bribes.

On this particular day, after drinking the blood concoction, Meng Yang vomited violently again, tears mingling with the blood’s stench, wishing she could faint and escape.

Yet strangely, her illness really started improving.

“Concubine Meng looks healthier these days. It seems Qing Liu is indeed loyal. Her blood works wonders.”

Today, the observer was Ting Lan, who had specifically begged Princess Sheng for this task.

She just wanted to see Meng Yang suffer.

Meng Yang clenched her fists silently until Ting Lan left, then swept the empty bowl away fiercely, clutching her bedsheet tightly, teeth gritted in fury, “Sheng Zhi Wan! I swear, you’ll pay dearly for this!”

“Concubine! Something terrible has happened! Qing Liu fainted!” A maidservant hurriedly ran in.

Meng Yang was stunned, then her eyes suddenly brightened with a sly thought.

Soon, Qi Shu Xian received the news.

Learning Sheng Zhi Wan had forced Meng Yang to drink human blood without his knowledge, he was outraged. Gazing at Qing Liu, pale and faint, with horrifying cuts on her palms, his anger surged.

“Absurd!”

“Where is Sheng Zhi Wan? Bring her here!” Qi Shu Xian shouted furiously.

Sheng Zhi Wan, already informed by Huan Zhu, arrived leisurely, unhurried.

Seeing Qi Shu Xian’s fury, she lifted her brows calmly, “Why did the Heir summon me?”

“What’s the meaning of this?” Qi Shu Xian pointed at Qing Liu’s pale body angrily. “Do you know what you’ve done? Human blood as medicine! That’s a human life!”

“Thank you for reminding me,” Sheng Zhi Wan smiled coldly. “If dog’s blood wards off evil, what’s wrong with using human blood medicinally?”

“How can animals compare to humans!” Qi Shu Xian’s fury reached its peak. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re avenging that dead beast!”

“The Heir misunderstands me,” Sheng Zhi Wan replied indifferently. “In ancient times, the Medical Sage used bloodletting to cure illnesses. Even texts like the Thousand-Gold Prescriptions and Materia Medica mention human blood as medicine.”

“Instead of accusing me, shouldn’t you see Concubine Meng’s health first?”

“She seems perfectly healthy now, doesn’t she?”

At Sheng Zhi Wan’s words, all eyes involuntarily turned toward Meng Yang.

Qi Shu Xian paused. He finally noticed Meng Yang’s rosy complexion, far healthier than before.

[Could Sheng Zhi Wan’s words actually be true?]

[Could human blood really cure illnesses?]

Sheng Zhi Wan continued smoothly, “Besides, Concubine Meng is carrying your child. Qing Liu is her servant. If she gives some blood, simply nourish her well afterward. Yet after a few days, she fainted?”

“Could it be Concubine Meng forgot to nourish Qing Liu properly?” Sheng Zhi Wan feigned surprise.

Meng Yang remained silent. These past few days, she’d been preoccupied searching for news of Zhang Da Hu, hardly bothering with Qing Liu’s health, let alone nourishing her.

“Tsk, seems Concubine Meng indeed overlooked it,” Sheng Zhi Wan sighed lightly.

“But no matter. Given Qing Liu’s condition, perhaps she can’t continue donating blood. The medical books mention blood from a beloved, strong young man works best.”

“The Heir is youthful and strong. Donate blood for Concubine Meng for just two more days, and she might fully recover.”

“Sheng Zhi Wan! Do you even realize what you’re suggesting?” Qi Shu Xian shouted incredulously.

Meng Yang was equally shocked by Sheng Zhi Wan’s casual words, lips trembling, speechless.

Qi Shu Xian stormed away in anger.

Sheng Zhi Wan regarded Meng Yang with a faint, mocking smile, “Concubine Meng, have you forgotten my warning? Telling tales afterward only brings misfortune.”

With a soft laugh, she turned gracefully, leaving with An Zhi and Ting Lan.

Meng Yang’s face immediately grew extremely pale.

[What does Sheng Zhi Wan mean by this?]

She soon discovered exactly what Sheng Zhi Wan meant!