Chapter 39

Chapter 39: A Lesson to Myself

“Princess, this common woman knows her humble place and should never disturb you. Yet…I heard Madam is gravely ill. In the past, it was always you who brewed her medicines, and she refuses any medicine brewed by others.”

“This common woman begs you, Princess, please do not punish Madam because of your grievances with the Heir Apparent and me. If I have truly offended you, I…I would willingly leave on my own accord!”

Each time she called herself a “common woman,” her voice trembled, weak and sorrowful. Her eyes, reddened with tears, let a single delicate drop slide down her pale cheek.

A fragile beauty knelt on the cold ground, clad thinly, appearing pitiful and forlorn.

Though Sheng Zhi Wan had not uttered a single word, her mere act of standing already cast her as a bullying figure.

With a gentle smile, she leaned leisurely against the doorway. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you? Kneeling like this, are you not worried about harming the child within?”

“Princess, all faults lie with this common woman,” Meng Yang replied earnestly.

“As long as you agree to brew Madam’s medicine again, I would gladly kneel for eternity if required!”

Saying this, she struck her pale forehead hard against the ground, instantly leaving it flushed red.

“You truly are devoted,” Sheng Zhi Wan spoke quietly, her expression calm and her eyes unwavering. Yet that clear gaze seemed to pierce straight through Meng Yang’s heart, making her feel strangely exposed.

But Meng Yang had finally found an opening, and she would not give up so easily.

Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “If you are indeed this devoted, why don’t you brew Madam’s medicine yourself? Why seek me, who is clearly unwilling?”

Meng Yang lowered her eyes meekly. “This common woman is too clumsy. Such delicate work, I fear, I could not manage properly.”

In truth, she had heard the medicine required two and a half full hours of brewing each day. She would have to be mad to accept such tiresome work herself.

Yet, she hadn’t expected Sheng Zhi Wan—a princess born into royal luxury—to have willingly endured such hardship for two whole years. Clearly, she deeply loved Qi Shu Xian.

Indeed, she must have loved him profoundly to cause such an uproar just because of Meng Yang’s presence.

“Clumsy?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Hardly. I have heard Miss Meng possesses extraordinary medical skills—so remarkable, in fact, that even military physicians’ opinions in the Imperial Army hold no weight against your own.”

Meng Yang froze, stunned that Sheng Zhi Wan knew of such details.

She had indeed studied medicine in her former life—although only at a modest college level. She hadn’t even received her graduation certificate due to certain incidents.

Still, compared to these ancient physicians, her knowledge was vastly superior. Thus, she had confidently displaced the original military doctor and treated soldiers herself without guilt.

But how could Sheng Zhi Wan possibly know about this?

She struggled to find words to defend herself.

However, Sheng Zhi Wan had already lost interest in her theatrics. “I refuse your request. As for you, whether you choose to leave or remain kneeling is none of my concern, as long as you don’t dirty my courtyard.”

She turned swiftly, intending to leave.

But just as she moved, Meng Yang’s eyes flashed sharply, and her hand swiftly reached out to grab Sheng Zhi Wan’s arm.

“Princess, if you truly cannot tolerate my presence, I will leave! I beg only that you continue brewing Madam’s medicine. Everything is my fault; even if you command my death, I would obey—”

“Do not touch me!”

Sensing Meng Yang’s hidden schemes and recalling memories of her past life, Sheng Zhi Wan instinctively raised her hand to fend her off.

But just as Sheng Zhi Wan made this small gesture, Meng Yang suddenly swayed, letting out a sharp cry as she dramatically fell backward—

“Ahh! It hurts!”

Her frail voice pierced the air with anguished misery.

“Sheng Zhi Wan, what are you doing?!” An icy voice rang out from behind.

Before Sheng Zhi Wan could even look up, a figure rushed past her, roughly pushing her aside.

“Princess!” Ting Lan cried out in panic.

Sheng Zhi Wan felt sharp pain burst through her palm, her waist colliding harshly with the tree beside her.

“Princess, you’re bleeding!” Ting Lan gasped, terrified at the blood swiftly appearing from Sheng Zhi Wan’s palm.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s face turned deathly pale.

Memories of both past and present intertwined chaotically at that moment.

“Wuwu…Heir Apparent, what are you doing? Just now, clearly it wasn’t—”

“Ting Lan!” Sheng Zhi Wan fiercely interrupted through gritted teeth.

How foolish she had been! Fully aware of Meng Yang’s treacheries yet repeatedly falling into her traps!

This time…

She clenched her wounded palm even tighter, letting the pain serve as her punishment.

“My Lord…I—I’m alright. I simply fell on my own; the Princess is not at fault!” Meng Yang remained collapsed on the ground, fists clenched tightly.

[Damn it, why is there moss here?]

She had practiced this move countless times and successfully performed it before. She had even carefully protected her belly as she fell. Yet, this patch of slippery moss had transformed her calculated fake-fall into a genuine one!

Meng Yang’s face twisted grotesquely, her heart filled with furious curses. But outwardly, she continued to defend Sheng Zhi Wan.

Qi Shu Xian, seeing her earnest defense, softened even more toward her.

“You still defend her after what I saw with my own eyes—”

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically.

“Oh! Miss, y-you’re bleeding!” Meng Yang’s maidservant shrieked.

Meng Yang froze, glancing downward. Her plain dress was shockingly stained red with blood.

Her complexion turned truly ghastly pale—not from acting this time.

If she lost this child…

Then what point was there in scheming against Sheng Zhi Wan anymore? The only reason she was able to stay at Duke Qi’s manor was the life she carried within!