Chapter 137

Chapter 137: Were You Satisfied?

[Yes! Of course I did!] Madam Cui had been weaker than others since birth. Back in Qing He, Madam Cui was only a side-branch daughter and could not even get much good medicine.

Later, Madam Cui did everything possible to marry Duke Qi, only to discover that the Duke Manor was an empty shell as well.

But after Sheng Zhi Wan married in, everything changed. Madam Cui finally tasted truly good days, and Madam Cui’s body had also improved from that time on.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and asked, “Mother, do you think your health improved only because of Imperial Physician Song?”

Madam Cui stared at Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan curled her lips as if she could see through Madam Cui’s thoughts. Sheng Zhi Wan leaned close to Madam Cui’s ear and said softly, “Of course not.”

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke slowly, one word at a time. “The prescriptions Imperial Physician Song used to treat you were actually written by me. The reason you improved was also because I pressed and unblocked your channels every day.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice stayed calm. “Otherwise, why would you take the same medicine daily and still grow worse and worse?”

Madam Cui’s eyes widened in disbelief. A garbled sound bubbled up from Madam Cui’s throat.

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “I said it last time. Courtesy demands return.”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled faintly. “Mother sent me such a big gift in the middle of the night, and I accepted it. I wonder if Mother is satisfied with the return gift I’m giving you now.”

Sheng Zhi Wan straightened up. Her eyes curved, alluring and charming, yet in Madam Cui’s eyes, Sheng Zhi Wan looked vicious.

Madam Cui’s throat sounded as if phlegm had clogged it. Madam Cui struggled out, “Y-You… you…”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “You guessed right. Madam Tao is the first part of the big gift I planted for you.”

Sheng Zhi Wan began to pull out the silver needles from Madam Cui’s head one by one, unhurried and neat. “As for the other part…”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes held a look of regret. “Mother’s remaining years will probably be spent lying on this couch.”

Madam Cui trembled all over with fear and hate.

But even if Madam Cui used every ounce of strength, only the right half of Madam Cui’s body could manage a slight twitch.

Sheng Zhi Wan seemed pleased by that.

Madam Cui could hear. Madam Cui could feel.

Yet Madam Cui could not speak clearly, and Madam Cui could not get up.

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke again, as if chatting. “By the way, you said you were already in poor health. What kind of shock made you faint?”

Sheng Zhi Wan tilted her head. “Was it because Father brought a pregnant mistress into the manor? But that shouldn’t be.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice stayed light. “I clearly remember that when Heir Apparent brought Concubine Meng back, Mother said it was a great thing for the Duke Manor.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “Mother even said I wouldn’t need to suffer through pregnancy and childbirth and could still get a child for free. Mother said that there was no such good deal in this world.”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled. “Now that this good deal has fallen on Mother, why did Mother faint from anger?”

Sheng Zhi Wan admired Madam Cui’s expression while putting the needles away, then called toward the door, “Mother is awake. Heir Apparent can come in.”

The moment Sheng Zhi Wan finished speaking, Qi Shu Xian pushed the door open and rushed in first.

When Qi Shu Xian saw Madam Cui lying there with her eyes open, Qi Shu Xian’s eyes lit up. But almost immediately, Qi Shu Xian sensed something wrong.

Drool ran down the left side of Madam Cui’s mouth. The right side of Madam Cui’s face moved, but it looked twisted and strange.

Qi Shu Xian stopped and looked at Sheng Zhi Wan. “This is…”

Sheng Zhi Wan sighed. “A stroke. If Heir Apparent had come to me earlier, it would have been better. I could wake Mother, but it was still too late.”

Sheng Zhi Wan spoke with regret. “From now on, Mother will likely only be able to lie on the couch like this.”

Qi Shu Xian staggered back half a step. “How… how could it be like this?”

Meng Yang saw Madam Cui’s condition and suspected Sheng Zhi Wan had tampered with something. Otherwise, why had Sheng Zhi Wan chased everyone out earlier?

Meng Yang said, “Heir Apparent, since Mother is awake, why not invite Imperial Physician Li to take another look? Maybe Imperial Physician Li has a way to treat Mother’s current symptoms.”

Meng Yang thought that with Imperial Physician Li’s skill, if Sheng Zhi Wan truly did something, Imperial Physician Li would surely see it.

Sheng Zhi Wan only raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

Qi Shu Xian immediately ordered someone to invite Imperial Physician Li.

Imperial Physician Li had just left the manor gates and was quickly brought back. When Imperial Physician Li saw Madam Cui awake, Imperial Physician Li looked astonished.

Qi Shu Xian asked, “Imperial Physician Li, is there any way to treat my Mother’s condition now?”

Imperial Physician Li forced down his surprise. After taking Madam Cui’s pulse and examining her, Imperial Physician Li shook his head. “Her cun pulse is faint and rapid. The Duchess clearly suffered a stroke from sudden anger.”

Meng Yang insisted, “Could it have been caused by something else?”

Imperial Physician Li glanced at Meng Yang with displeasure. “If this lady knows medicine, why not check it yourself?”

Meng Yang’s face turned pale, and Meng Yang stopped talking.

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a small laugh and said, “Concubine Meng suspects I did something to Mother, and that is why Mother ended up like this?”

Meng Yang hurried to say, “I don’t. I only asked.”

“Good.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile turned colder. Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Qi Shu Xian. “Does Heir Apparent also think I did it?”

Qi Shu Xian did not answer yet.

Imperial Physician Li had already spoken in shock. “The Duchess woke up because of the Princess? What method did the Princess use?”

Imperial Physician Li looked so excited that Imperial Physician Li’s eyes shone.

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed her lips together and said, “I learned some acupressure techniques in the past. After I married into the Duke Manor, I pressed Mother daily for two years.”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “The last time Mother fainted, I also woke Mother with this method. So today I dared to try again.”

“So that’s it!” Imperial Physician Li exclaimed.

Imperial Physician Li laughed with delight. “I always believed acupressure could loosen the tendons and open the blood flow, but I never thought it could even work on stroke symptoms!”

On the bed, Madam Cui’s eyes widened and Madam Cui made an excited, hoarse sound.

Imperial Physician Li snapped back to himself and shot Meng Yang a dissatisfied look. Then Imperial Physician Li said to Qi Shu Xian, “Heir Apparent, you truly should not have doubted the Princess.”

Imperial Physician Li continued, “You can see how much care the Princess put into the Duchess over the years. If she did not care, how could she wake the Duchess with acupressure?”

Imperial Physician Li spoke sternly. “If the Duchess had not woken up, the Duchess probably would not have survived today. Heir Apparent, look at this. The Duchess is blaming you.”

Imperial Physician Li’s words left Qi Shu Xian deeply ashamed.

Madam Cui kept making hoarse sounds, as if agreeing.

Sheng Zhi Wan wore a gentle smile.

Only Meng Yang’s expression darkened. Meng Yang wanted Imperial Physician Li to expose Sheng Zhi Wan, yet it ended with Meng Yang being scolded instead.

Qi Shu Xian said guiltily, “Zhi Wan, this time again, it was thanks to you.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said calmly, “It’s fine. Heir Apparent only needs to remember what Heir Apparent promised to give me.”

Qi Shu Xian nodded.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Meng Yang and said, “Concubine Meng worries so much about Mother and fears I might do something to Mother. Concubine Meng must be willing to care for Mother personally from now on.”

Imperial Physician Li had also examined Madam Cui again and said, “The right half of her face can move. Her right leg and fingers have feeling, but she can only lift them a little.”

Imperial Physician Li added, “Her mouth can make sounds, but she can’t speak clearly. She truly needs someone close by to care for her.”

Meng Yang said nothing.

Qi Shu Xian looked at Meng Yang.

Meng Yang forced out, “Princess is joking. I will arrange servants to serve Mother properly.”

“Servants are not the same as family,” Imperial Physician Li said. “If a close person serves her, her mood will be better, and the stroke may ease.”

Meng Yang stayed silent for a long moment, then gritted her teeth and said, “I will.”