Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Do You Want It?

Upon hearing the news, Qi Shu Xian rushed back immediately.

Seeing Madam Cui’s pale face, he wasted no time. He hurriedly summoned doctors from every medicine hall in the city.

Yet, even after seeing a dozen doctors, Madam Cui remained unconscious.

Desperate, Qi Shu Xian finally decided to seek an Imperial Physician.

Imperial Physician Song refused to see him outright. Imperial Physician Li came instead, examining Madam Cui carefully before furrowing his brow.

“It shouldn’t be this way! Just a few days ago, I saw Madam looking perfectly fine. How could her liver and kidneys weaken this severely in so short a time?”

“Imperial Physician Li, is there a cure?” Qi Shu Xian had not slept all night, his head pounding with pain.

Imperial Physician Li shook his head and sighed deeply. “If Madam wakes today, she may recover. But if she doesn’t… Your Grace must prepare yourself.”

[How could it end like this?]

Qi Shu Xian collapsed into his chair, eyes reddened with exhaustion and sorrow.

Meng Yang gently took his hand in sympathy.

“Your Grace,” a maidservant hurriedly entered at that moment, announcing, “Heir Consort is here.”

Meng Yang’s hand tightened briefly, but before she could react, Qi Shu Xian had already shaken her off. Her hand struck the bedside painfully. She stifled a small gasp, eyes filling with hurt.

But Qi Shu Xian did not notice her distress. He stared only at Sheng Zhi Wan, who had just entered. “Why have you come?”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled faintly, her gaze briefly passing over Meng Yang before finally settling on Madam Cui.

“I heard Mother fainted. Naturally, I came to see her.”

Qi Shu Xian remained silent.

Sheng Zhi Wan paid him no mind, stepping forward and studying Madam Cui’s face with raised eyebrows.

“Tsk. She looks the same as before—her liver and kidneys are weak.”

Qi Shu Xian was startled. She had said exactly the same thing as Imperial Physician Li.

After a hesitant silence, he finally asked, “Could you plead with Imperial Physician Song for Mother?”

“Imperial Physician Li said if Mother doesn’t wake today… she might never recover.” His eyes reddened again.

Sheng Zhi Wan regarded him coolly. “What do you think, Your Grace?”

Qi Shu Xian’s lips tightened. He had known Sheng Zhi Wan wouldn’t agree, which was why he hadn’t initially asked her. And now she proved him right.

“Although,” Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips curved slightly, “I do have a way to wake Mother.”

Qi Shu Xian stared at her in shock. “Are you telling the truth?”

“No.” Sheng Zhi Wan blinked innocently. “After all, didn’t Your Grace and Concubine Meng suspect I tried harming Mother-in-law before? To avoid further misunderstandings, perhaps it’s better if I do nothing.”

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke cautiously, pointedly.

Qi Shu Xian suddenly remembered the previous incident when Madam Cui had fainted, and how he and Meng Yang had misunderstood Sheng Zhi Wan, suspecting her of ill intent.

But now was not the time for grudges!

Qi Shu Xian drew a deep breath. “What do you want? A life hangs in the balance! Will you truly watch Mother suffer?”

“Do not place blame on me, Your Grace,” Sheng Zhi Wan scoffed lightly. “Did I not say clearly before? If Mother ever had another mishap, you would have to pay a price for my help.”

“You!” Qi Shu Xian was incredulous. She had indeed said this.

But how could he have imagined this would really happen—and so soon?

Had she foreseen this? He quickly dismissed the thought. Impossible!

It had to be coincidence.

“Very well, since I’ve already seen Mother, I’ll leave now.” Sheng Zhi Wan turned to go.

“Wait!” Qi Shu Xian stared at her retreating figure, finally gritting his teeth. “If you can truly wake Mother, I’ll pay any price.”

Sheng Zhi Wan stopped immediately, turning to face him with interest. “Are you sincere, Your Grace?”

Qi Shu Xian was about to agree, but then recalled her recent remark about divorcing him. His expression instantly darkened. “Except for what you asked before!”

Sheng Zhi Wan sighed softly, pretending disappointment. “Fine. Then give me all your country estates and farmland. How’s that?”

Qi Shu Xian was stunned, not expecting Sheng Zhi Wan to be so greedy.

He had already sold off most of his estates and farmland to cover Duke Qi’s debts. Now, only two small country estates and a few dozen acres remained.

If she wanted them, she could have them.

He opened his mouth to agree immediately.

But Meng Yang anxiously tugged at his sleeve. “Your Grace promised to take me to the hot springs soon!”

That hot spring was located precisely on one of those estates.

“Concubine Meng earns plenty daily. She can afford any hot spring,” Sheng Zhi Wan remarked coolly. “Or perhaps you secretly hope Mother stays unconscious? After all, you wouldn’t need to waste silver to care for her.”

Meng Yang’s face turned pale. “Princess, don’t slander me! I never thought that!”

“Good.” Sheng Zhi Wan glanced at Qi Shu Xian again. “Will you accept, Your Grace?”

“Fine! If you wake Mother, I’ll give you the deeds.” Qi Shu Xian finally relented.

Sheng Zhi Wan didn’t press further. “Then, Your Grace, please have everyone leave.”

“What? We have to leave?”

“Naturally. My methods are special, and no one else can remain. Besides, given Mother’s condition, surely you aren’t worried I’ll harm her? If you distrust me, I’ll leave immediately.”

With those words, she turned decisively to go.

Qi Shu Xian panicked at once. “Wait! Fine, everyone out.”

Soon, the room was emptied.

Alone with Madam Cui, Sheng Zhi Wan calmly withdrew a thin row of gleaming silver needles from her sleeve.

She selected one, twisting it lightly between her fingers. Then, swiftly, decisively, she inserted it directly into Madam Cui’s crown.

Madam Cui’s closed eyelids twitched sharply at once.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled.

A second needle followed. This time, Madam Cui’s mouth moved strangely—but only on the right side.

When the third needle pierced her, Madam Cui’s eyes opened wide in alarm.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s reflection filled her vision, bringing instant terror. Madam Cui desperately tried to speak, only to realize she couldn’t control her body.

She couldn’t see it herself, but anyone else would notice that only the right half of her face moved.

Sheng Zhi Wan leisurely took up another needle, waving it lightly before Madam Cui’s terrified eyes.

Madam Cui was terrified, wanting to scream or struggle, but she couldn’t. Helpless, frozen, she watched as the needle approached closer…

“Ah—!” Suddenly, Madam Cui let out a faint, hoarse cry, surprising herself.

She could make a sound again! Though weak and unclear, it was truly her own voice.

[What’s happening?]

Madam Cui trembled, eyes fixed anxiously on Sheng Zhi Wan’s needle.

As it pierced softly into her skin again, she felt sensation returning to her previously numb right leg.

[Could it be… Sheng Zhi Wan is actually healing me?]

“Mother, do you want to speak again? Do you want to walk as you once did? Do you want to be healthy again?”

With every gentle question Sheng Zhi Wan asked, the light in Madam Cui’s eyes grew brighter.