Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Could You Do It?

Qi Shu Xian left Wen Xi Courtyard and went straight to Ping Lan Residence.

At that time, Sheng Zhi Wan lazily lay in a huge hammock An Zhi and Ting Lan had woven for her. The late sun filtered through the plane tree leaves, leaving dappled light across her face. Her flowing skirt and calves swayed together.

One pale hand hung down. Lai Fu lay on his back on a square chair padded with a soft cushion, and that hand lightly scratched his round belly on and off, making Lai Fu hum in contentment.

Sensing a stranger approaching, Lai Fu immediately sprang up. His small body faced the doorway as he let out a few soft puppy-barks.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan open her eyes. The warm sunlight made her fair skin look as if it had been coated in a faint sheen.

Qi Shu Xian unconsciously halted.

Sheng Zhi Wan saw it was Qi Shu Xian. Her brows and eyes stayed indifferent, and she did not even sit up: “Heir Apparent, have you returned my dowry?”

That single sentence made Qi Shu Xian’s face turn cold like ice.

Qi Shu Xian gritted his teeth: “I do not believe you did not hear what happened outside. Mother vomited blood. Did you know that?”

“Oh.” Sheng Zhi Wan pulled Lai Fu into her arms and tugged gently at his ear, then turned her head to look at Qi Shu Xian. “Then invite an imperial physician. Why did Heir Apparent come to me?”

Qi Shu Xian’s expression was severe, his thin lips pressed into a straight line: “Do you really not know why I came? Imperial Physician Song refuses to come to the Duke residence now. What did you do?”

“The legs are on Imperial Physician Song. Whether Imperial Physician Song comes or not has nothing to do with me.”

Qi Shu Xian suppressed his anger: “You dare say it was not because of you?”

Sheng Zhi Wan said calmly, “Maybe. I once helped Imperial Physician Song with a small matter. Imperial Physician Song remembered the favor, so Imperial Physician Song came to the Duke residence a few more times. Now Imperial Physician Song probably feels my favor should not be repaid on the Duchess.”

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes burned: “That is my Mother!”

Imperial Physician Song’s grandson had once offended a noble lady. Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan had casually said a few words, and the noble lady let it go. The “small matter” Sheng Zhi Wan mentioned was probably that.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Qi Shu Xian: “So?”

Qi Shu Xian forced the anger down: “The servants brewed the medicine wrong. Father said that from now on, Mother’s medicine must be brewed by you personally!”

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a cold laugh: “I brewed medicine for two years, every single day, without missing a day.”

“From preparing the water to finishing the broth, I had to change the fire thirteen times and handle thirty-four different herbs. It took a full five hours, and I could not look away for even a moment.” Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Qi Shu Xian. “Heir Apparent, do you think you could do that?”

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips together and said nothing.

There were only twenty-four hours in a day. After sleeping and eating, spending five hours every day on brewing medicine would take almost half of what was left. Qi Shu Xian could not possibly waste his energy on something like that.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “So if Heir Apparent cannot do it either, what right does Heir Apparent have to demand I keep doing it? If someone wants to use this to attack me for being unfilial, then brew medicine for the Duchess for two years first, and then talk.”

After speaking, Sheng Zhi Wan closed her eyes again.

Qi Shu Xian stood there, unable to answer.

When Sheng Zhi Wan opened her eyes again, Qi Shu Xian had already left at some point.

Ting Lan hurried over: “Princess, Shopkeeper Lin just sent word.”

Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow.

Ting Lan lowered her voice: “Lady Tao really went to Ci Xi Hall. Shopkeeper Lin told Lady Tao that the famous fertility doctor will be seeing patients tomorrow.”

“Mm.” Sheng Zhi Wan nodded, then suddenly glanced toward Xin Lan Courtyard. “I remember Concubine Lian was good at raising orchids. Did Concubine Lian grow any rare new varieties lately?”

Ting Lan froze. “This… this servant did not pay attention.”

Sheng Zhi Wan stood up: “Come with me to take a look.”

“Yes.” Ting Lan did not know why the Princess suddenly wanted to see Concubine Lian, but Ting Lan knew she only needed to obey.

Xin Lan Courtyard was tucked far away. When the mistress and servant arrived, Concubine Lian was trimming the branches of an orchid.

After the maid announced the visit, Concubine Lian was stunned. Concubine Lian truly did not expect Sheng Zhi Wan to come looking for her.

Not only had Sheng Zhi Wan changed a lot recently, but even before, Sheng Zhi Wan could barely manage a few words with Concubine Lian.

Concubine Lian had a quiet temperament. In any place, Concubine Lian would simply stand there and rarely speak.

In her previous life, Sheng Zhi Wan had never imagined that someone she had barely spoken to would risk being discovered and secretly send her medicine several times.

Even though it had not saved Sheng Zhi Wan in the end, Sheng Zhi Wan still had to repay that kindness.

And the knot in Concubine Lian’s heart for her whole life was that she had no child.

Concubine Lian bowed: “Heir’s Wife!”

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded. Ting Lan led away the maid who had been serving Concubine Lian.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze settle on the orchids, each one blooming brightly. Sheng Zhi Wan reached out a slender hand, the pale fingers looking even whiter against the rich green leaves: “Concubine Lian raised orchids so well. If it were a child, could Concubine Lian also care for the child with such attention?”

Concubine Lian froze, still not understanding what Sheng Zhi Wan meant.

Sheng Zhi Wan turned slightly, her clear eyes fixed on Concubine Lian: “Did Concubine Lian want a child of her own?”