Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Chased Out with a Broom

Sheng Zhi Wan did not slow down even a little, as if she hadn’t heard his words at all.

Qi Shu Xian stared after her departing figure. After a long while, he punched the pine tree beside him with fierce force.

…

“Princess… is what Lord Heir said true?” After they had walked quite far, Ting Lan finally couldn’t hold back her question.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and glanced at her. “Which part do you mean?”

“Was all this really your strategic scheming? From when Lord Heir discovered your involvement, to Madam accepting the bet, and even those shopkeepers you asked me to find…”

The little maidservant shook her head as she spoke.

“No, no! How could it be your strategic scheming? If Princess truly had such deep plans, you wouldn’t have been bullied by Duke Qi’s household for so long!”

Clearly, Lord Heir was just overthinking it, assuming her innocent Princess had such cunning intentions.

Ting Lan nodded firmly at her own thoughts. Yes, it must be that way!

The fault lay entirely with Duke Qi’s household. They schemed against Princess to obtain her private fortune, only to fall into trouble themselves when discovered.

Sheng Zhi Wan merely smiled and said nothing.

Actually, Qi Shu Xian had guessed correctly.

In her previous life, Qi Shu Xian accidentally found out about her donations of silver ingots. Back then, he had also come storming angrily to question her.

However, at that time, outsiders only knew of Prosperous Hall, not that Sheng Zhi Wan was behind it. As a result, Qi Shu Xian used Prosperous Hall’s reputation for his own gain and glory.

But in this life, she had purposefully revealed herself as the one behind Prosperous Hall early on.

As expected, Qi Shu Xian had come once again to interrogate her.

Still, what she had calculated were human hearts. If they fell for it, that only meant their greed was already rooted deep within.

The following days were surprisingly peaceful.

Yet, only Sheng Zhi Wan’s Pinglan Residence experienced peace, for the rest of Duke Qi’s mansion was exceedingly lively.

Under Duke Qi’s strict command, Qi Shu Xian personally oversaw the retrieval of Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry, item by item.

Qi Shu Lang’s courtyard was thoroughly searched. Qi Fei Yan, weeping bitterly, was forced to return to her husband’s home to recover Sheng Zhi Wan’s jewelry. Even Qi Fei Rui’s courtyard lost nearly half of its treasures.

Madam Cui stared blankly at the scattered jewelry boxes and ornaments, watching helplessly as her possessions were carried away piece by piece.

Her once lavishly adorned room was now empty, leaving only a solitary bed behind.

Just as the servants began moving her favorite screen, Madam Cui finally couldn’t hold back and spat out a mouthful of blood!

“Mother!” Qi Shu Xian panicked at once.

Madam Cui clutched her chest, eyes wide and fixed on the blood staining the floor. “Quick—quickly summon Imperial Physician Song!”

Qi Shu Xian did not dare delay and personally hurried to the Song residence.

But who knew, before he could even enter, Young Imperial Physician Song chased him out wielding a broom.

Needing help, Qi Shu Xian did not dare fight back.

Standing on the steps, Young Imperial Physician Song glared down at him with disdain and disgust.

“Pah! My father previously visited your residence only out of respect for Princess Qing Ning. Now you dare bully Princess Qing Ning and still have the audacity to seek my father’s help? Scram, scram! You are not welcome at the Song residence!”

The vermilion doors slammed shut with a loud bang.

Qi Shu Xian stood there, thoroughly humiliated, fists clenched tight.

How dare a mere imperial physician’s household humiliate him like this!

Imperial physicians filled the entire Capital City anyway. Turning around, he immediately sought out another household. As expected, they treated him respectfully, promptly sending an Imperial Physician Li to Duke Qi’s mansion without hesitation.

However, upon seeing that the arriving physician was not Imperial Physician Song, Madam Cui’s face darkened immediately.

This Physician Li had previously been invited two years ago. Back then, he had declared her incurable, bluntly stating she had no more than six months to live.

She had survived four times those six months only due to Imperial Physician Song’s meticulous care.

Could this incompetent quack possibly cure her illness now?

“Where is Imperial Physician Song? I will only accept his treatment!” Madam Cui refused to extend her wrist.

Qi Shu Xian had no choice but to ask Imperial Physician Li to review the earlier prescriptions.

Not wanting to upset Madam Cui further, he said, “Imperial Physician Song is currently ill himself and unable to come.”

“He is a healer! Saving lives is his duty. If he can’t walk, carry him here!” Madam Cui insisted. “Go find him again!”

But Duke Qi noticed Qi Shu Xian’s disheveled appearance.

“What exactly happened?”

Qi Shu Xian could only relay what Young Imperial Physician Song had said.

Duke Qi was stunned. “How could Imperial Physician Song owe her a favor?”

“What favor? Clearly, Sheng Zhi Wan must have schemed to keep Imperial Physician Song away deliberately! I always believed she was filial and sensible, but now it’s clear—it was all an act!”

“A jealous woman, a poisonous woman! Stirring up the entire household over trivial matters, and now scheming to anger me to death!”

Madam Cui’s rage threatened another spurt of blood.

Imperial Physician Li, finished examining the prescription, stepped in with admiration on his face. Seeing her agitated, he hurriedly advised, “Madam, please calm down. Your condition has greatly improved compared to two years ago. I reviewed Imperial Physician Song’s prescription; he truly deserves his reputation as a profound physician. However, careful attention must be paid to the decoction process.”

“I checked the medicinal residues you recently took. Apart from the very first batch, the following ones were clearly improperly decocted. This has caused disharmony in the herbs, leading to blood stagnation symptoms!”

“Has Madam changed who brews the decoction recently? As long as you revert to the previous brewing method, your symptoms will greatly improve.”