Chapter 219

Chapter 219: It Would Be Best If She Died

“You do it.” Noble Lady Fu glared bitterly at the palace attendant kneeling on the ground.

That palace attendant had knelt for far too long and struggled to stand.

Before the palace attendant could even take the bowl, a bird flapping its wings suddenly flew over and dipped its beak into the medicine.

This was the bird Sheng Zhi Wan had given Sheng Zhi Hui.

The moment Noble Lady Fu saw it, hatred surged in Noble Lady Fu’s chest.

If it were not for Sheng Zhi Wan, Noble Lady Fu would not have locked Hui’er in the room. Hui’er would not have secretly run out and climbed the rockery, and then…

Noble Lady Fu raised her arm, wanting to snatch the bird down.

Yet before Noble Lady Fu could move, the bird let out two mournful cries and dropped to the ground.

Noble Lady Fu froze.

The palace attendant swallowed hard and pointed at the bowl in Noble Lady Fu’s hand. “Noble Lady! This medicine-this medicine is poisoned! Someone wants to harm the little princess!”

What?

Noble Lady Fu’s hand shook. She nearly dropped the bowl, but the palace attendant hurriedly caught it.

Noble Lady Fu felt as if her mind had gone blank.

Noble Lady Fu stared at the bowl, then at her daughter lying on the bed, tears pouring down, but Noble Lady Fu still could not think of what to do.

“Where is His Majesty?” Noble Lady Fu grabbed the nanny behind her. “Does His Majesty still not know about Hui’er?”

The nanny hesitated. “His Majesty had someone send tonics over.”

Tonics?

What use were tonics?

Noble Lady Fu wanted to ask, but Noble Lady Fu did not dare.

Noble Lady Fu was only a Noble Lady. The reason Noble Lady Fu could become a Noble Lady was because she had Hui’er.

Now, was she about to lose Hui’er too?

“I… I will go beg the Empress.” Noble Lady Fu staggered toward the door. “I will beg the Empress to thoroughly investigate who wants to harm my Hui’er.”

*

Sheng Zhi Wan had just entered the palace when Sheng Zhi Wan sensed something was wrong.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan did not expect Hui’er to be involved.

Hui’er was a princess, and Hui’er was not favored. Hui’er had grown up safely in the Imperial Palace for so many years.

How could someone suddenly want to harm Hui’er?

What was more, this had not happened in Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life. Was it because Sheng Zhi Wan had influenced things?

Sheng Zhi Wan quickened her steps toward Fu Xiu Palace.

A palace eunuch followed behind, carrying a little dove cart.

Sheng Zhi Wan had promised this to Hui’er, and Sheng Zhi Wan had not broken her word.

Hui’er… had to grow up safe and well, just like in the previous life.

Sheng Zhi Wan walked faster and faster.

Just as Sheng Zhi Wan reached the outside of Fu Xiu Palace, Sheng Zhi Wan heard faint crying from within.

Fu Xiu Palace was in chaos, and there was not even anyone guarding the entrance.

Sheng Zhi Wan pushed the door open and walked straight in.

The Empress, Noble Consort Qi, Noble Consort Li, and the Four Consorts were all gathered inside the small Fu Xiu Palace.

The Empress’s expression was solemn.

Noble Lady Fu sat collapsed on the ground, her face full of tears.

Imperial Physician Xu and a young apothecary apprentice were also kneeling on the ground.

As for Fu Xiu Palace’s palace attendants, they did not even dare to breathe loudly.

When the Empress saw Sheng Zhi Wan, surprise flickered across the Empress’s face.

“Why did Qing Ning come?” the Empress asked.

“Qing Ning greets Your Grace.” Sheng Zhi Wan bowed quickly.

Sheng Zhi Wan had no time to bother with anyone else and immediately went to check Hui’er’s condition.

The Empress frowned and was about to speak.

Noble Lady Fu had already rushed in front and blocked Sheng Zhi Wan. “What does Princess Qing Ning want to do? If it weren’t for Princess Qing Ning, Hui’er wouldn’t have secretly run out and suffered this disaster!”

“Move.” Sheng Zhi Wan coldly shoved Noble Lady Fu aside.

Noble Lady Fu stumbled.

When Noble Lady Fu met Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes, Noble Lady Fu swallowed the words she wanted to say back down.

Sheng Zhi Wan checked Hui’er’s pulse.

The pulse was choppy and blocked, and its movement was unsettled.

It was not only the blood stasis obstructing her. Her fainting was also caused by qi and blood surging in disorder.

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted Hui’er’s eyelids and checked her tongue as well.

The lingering taste at Hui’er’s lips made Sheng Zhi Wan’s fingers pause.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan understand why Imperial Physician Xu and the apothecary apprentice were kneeling.

Fortunately, judging from Hui’er’s pulse, Hui’er had not swallowed the poison.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood at once and looked at Imperial Physician Xu. “Imperial Physician Xu, do you have silver needles? Lend them to this princess.”

Imperial Physician Xu was drenched in sweat.

Imperial Physician Xu also did not know why poison had been mixed into the medicine he prescribed. Luckily, the Fourth Princess had not drunk it.

Hearing Sheng Zhi Wan’s request, Imperial Physician Xu stared blankly for a moment, then nodded reflexively. “Yes, yes.”

“Then what are you standing there for?” Sheng Zhi Wan snapped. “Hurry and give them to this princess.”

Imperial Physician Xu finally came back to himself.

Princess Qing Ning also knew medicine?

That was right. Rumor said Princess Qing Ning had been the one who saved the Prince of Northern Di at the drill ground.

Imperial Physician Xu hurriedly took out the needles and handed them over.

The Empress’s fingers tightened.

The Empress stepped forward to stop her. “Qing Ning, don’t mess around. I have never heard that you knew medicine. Even the Imperial Physician has no solution. Hui’er is still breathing. If you…”

The Empress sighed.

Noble Lady Fu instantly widened her eyes and blocked Sheng Zhi Wan again. “Get away! You are not allowed to touch my Hui’er!”

Noble Lady Fu’s eyes were filled with hatred.

Hui’er was gravely ill, yet Emperor Chong Sheng had not even come to see her in person.

Noble Lady Fu did not dare to hate the emperor’s coldness.

Noble Lady Fu dared even less to think about who in the palace could have harmed Hui’er.

There were far too many who could.

Noble Lady Fu could not protect Hui’er, so Noble Lady Fu could only find someone who truly treated Hui’er well and pour her hatred onto them.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not have time to waste on her. Sheng Zhi Wan stepped forward. “If you don’t want Hui’er to lie there forever as a living corpse, then move.”

Noble Lady Fu met those dark eyes and shuddered.

Noble Lady Fu took an unsteady step back.

Sheng Zhi Wan took the chance to push Noble Lady Fu aside.

Then Sheng Zhi Wan pinched up the needles and moved with lightning speed, piercing Bai Hui, Ren Zhong, Neiguan…

The movements were so fast that dozens of needles sank in one after another.

As Sheng Zhi Wan twisted them, the needles trembled slightly.

The people in the room were so frightened they did not dare to breathe.

Under the Empress’s wide sleeve, the Empress’s hand clenched tightly. The pure gold finger guards dug into the Empress’s palm, yet the Empress did not even notice.

Time passed minute by minute.

Hui’er still showed no sign of waking.

Only then did the Empress finally let out a quiet breath.

Of course.

Last time, His Majesty had said Princess Qing Ning saving Lu Chuo had been pure luck, nothing more than stumbling onto the right medical text.

Now Hui’er had fallen from the rockery. How could Princess Qing Ning possibly cure that?

If Princess Qing Ning accidentally treated Hui’er to death, that would be best!

With that thought, the Empress’s lips curled. In the next instant, the Empress hurried forward with a shocked expression.

“Qing Ning is truly messing around!” the Empress cried. “What are you doing? Heavens… Imperial Physician Xu! Imperial Physician Xu, hurry and check the little princess-”

The Empress’s voice abruptly stopped.

Because the Empress saw it with her own eyes.

Hui’er’s finger on the bed twitched.

The Empress’s heart also seemed to twitch with it.

Noble Lady Fu saw it too. The hatred and tears in Noble Lady Fu’s eyes turned into sudden joy.

“She’s awake… she’s awake!”

“Don’t come close!” Sheng Zhi Wan barked.

Sheng Zhi Wan drew in a deep breath. Then, under everyone’s gaze, Sheng Zhi Wan slowly, slowly pressed in the final needle.

The Empress’s expression looked terrible.

The Empress had personally asked Imperial Physician Xu, and Imperial Physician Xu had said the Fourth Princess’s condition was very bad.

The chances of waking were very small, and even if she woke, she might still be left with lasting damage.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan had brought her back so easily.

The Empress narrowed her eyes at Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not have time to care what anyone else thought.

Sheng Zhi Wan knew that today’s events would certainly make Imperial Father even more wary of her, but it had come to this.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not stand by and do nothing.

If the swelling and blood stasis on Hui’er’s head did not disperse quickly, it would press on other acupoints. Even if Hui’er woke, Hui’er might spend her whole life as a fool.

So Sheng Zhi Wan could not wait, and Sheng Zhi Wan could not gamble.

But Sheng Zhi Wan still did not know who wanted to harm Hui’er.

So the final needle was the back road Sheng Zhi Wan left for Hui’er…