Chapter 161: Prince, Why Don’t You Smile? Is It Because You Can’t?
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Yu Zhi Yi spoke with a calm air, “Although the abilities of mystic practitioners are endless within our Mystic Sect, anything applied to the human body works best only the first time. Afterward, the effects diminish significantly.”
“When this humble official treated the Carefree Prince previously, I used a healing talisman. The first application of such a talisman could regenerate flesh and grow new skin with ease.”
“But a second use would not yield such powerful effects. To what extent it could heal him, even I cannot guarantee. That’s why I refused the Empress Dowager’s request.”
“It is not because I lack filial piety, but rather, I do not want to disappoint Her Majesty.”
The Empress Dowager, with her meticulously maintained visage, was filled with disbelief. “It truly cannot restore him as he was before?”
Yu Zhi Yi sighed. “If Her Majesty insists on having me try, of course I can attempt it. However, should the results not meet expectations, I hope Her Majesty will not hold me accountable.”
The Empress Dowager hesitated.
The Emperor, having just exited court, heard of Yu Zhi Yi’s visit and hurried to the palace. As he entered the grand hall, he caught the tail end of Yu Zhi Yi’s words, which sounded suspiciously like a preemptive attempt to shift responsibility. His brows furrowed. “What’s going on?”
Yu Zhi Yi repeated her explanation and concluded, “If His Majesty and Her Majesty promise not to pursue blame, then I will act. Otherwise… feel free to lock me up.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression froze.
She felt affronted.
“Just a mere Fifth-Rank Official,” she thought bitterly. “Even if elevated by the Emperor, how dare she behave so presumptuously before me?”
The Empress Dowager retorted, “Yu Zhi Yi, do not assume that helping me once grants you immunity from my ire.”
Yu Zhi Yi replied nonchalantly, “Your Majesty misunderstands.”
The Empress Dowager felt momentarily appeased. However, Yu Zhi Yi continued, “The last time I acted, it was under His Majesty’s command. The matter of cause and effect lies solely between me and the Emperor. It has nothing to do with Her Majesty.”
The Empress Dowager: “…”
Was this a story for three people, in which she held no role?
She was livid.
The Emperor felt his head ache. “Yu Qing,” he chided, “perhaps fewer words would be better.”
He turned to the Empress Dowager. “Mother, Yu Qing’s words are blunt, but she has never lied. Since she says the success rate isn’t guaranteed, we shouldn’t force the issue.”
The Empress Dowager remained dissatisfied.
The Emperor pressed, “Mother, think of the Carefree Prince’s current condition.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened.
Since that incident, the Carefree Prince had been paralyzed from the waist down. Though his condition had previously been severe, it was mostly internal damage. Except for moments of incontinence, he appeared relatively normal.
But now… his waist and hips had been punctured. Furthermore, during the aftermath, the imperial physicians had exacerbated the injuries while extracting wooden splinters from his body, leaving his wounds even more mangled.
At present, his midsection was a gory mess. Due to residual splinters embedded deep within, the imperial physicians dared not let his wounds fully close….
The Carefree Prince now found even urinating a torment, let alone defecating, which felt akin to tearing himself apart.
In a short span, he had withered to skin and bones, his once-proud demeanor utterly shattered.
The Empress Dowager did not lament his lost splendor but feared his impending death and dreaded his prolonged suffering.
Closing her eyes briefly, the Empress Dowager gritted her teeth before declaring, “Fine. Go ahead and treat him. Regardless of the outcome, I promise you will not be blamed.”
Yu Zhi Yi almost blurted out, “What if I end up killing him instead?”
When she next saw the Carefree Prince, even though she knew his condition was dire, Yu Zhi Yi was still taken aback.
The once-handsome and regal man was now pale with a sickly green tinge to his complexion. He had grown so thin that he was practically skin and bones, resembling one of those wretched Evil Cultivators.
The room was infused with incense, but it couldn’t mask the stench of urine, feces, and blood.
As Yu Zhi Yi approached the bed, the Carefree Prince’s eyes fluttered open, as if sensing her presence.
Upon seeing her, his expression turned wild and accusatory. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’ve done this to me!”
Ignoring his outburst, Yu Zhi Yi spoke calmly. “Prince, please maintain a positive mood. It will greatly enhance the effects of my treatment.”
The Carefree Prince: “…”
Not only was he rendered speechless, but so were the servants filling the room.
Seriously, was this something a person would say?
The Carefree Prince was in this miserable state, and she wanted him to keep a positive outlook? That would be nothing short of miraculous.
Yu Zhi Yi, however, remained unperturbed by their reactions. Seeing the prince glaring at her with fury but unable to utter a retort, she tilted her head curiously. “Prince, what’s wrong? Are you unable to feel joy?”
The Carefree Prince: “…”
If speaking wasn’t so exhausting, he would have cursed her to high heaven. Wasn’t the answer obvious?
Not wishing to waste any more time, Yu Zhi Yi decided to proceed. She was eager to move on to her next destination, South Cao Village. Without further ado, she retrieved a Healing Talisman.
With a flick of her fingers, the talisman transformed into glowing green motes of light. The lights descended upon the Carefree Prince, and in an instant, his complexion gained a healthy flush.
While ordinary onlookers couldn’t see the full extent of the changes beneath the blankets, Yu Zhi Yi could. The prince’s festering wounds were healing rapidly, and shards embedded in his flesh were dissolving into life force, seamlessly merging with his body. These transformations occurred without causing him any harm.
As the final traces of green light dissipated, Yu Zhi Yi announced, “It’s done.”
The Carefree Prince’s face lit up with hope.
He recalled how, during her previous treatment, he had been able to move immediately afterward. Eagerly, he tried to sit up, only to find his body still unbearably heavy. His expression darkened instantly. “How dare you toy with me!”
Yu Zhi Yi feigned innocence. “Before starting, I already explained the pros and cons to both His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. If you have any complaints, feel free to address them.”
“Yu Zhi Yi! You must heal me completely!”
“Yu Zhi Yi, come back here!”
Ignoring his shouts, Yu Zhi Yi walked into the main hall and addressed the emperor and the Empress Dowager. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, the treatment is complete. If you’re still concerned, you can have the imperial physicians examine him.”
The Empress Dowager offered no words of praise and promptly sent the physicians in to check.
Moments later, they returned, their faces alight with astonishment. “Your Majesty, Your Highness, the prince’s condition has significantly improved. While he still cannot leave his bed, his once-fatal wounds have healed entirely. Moreover, though he has no sensation below his waist, his ability to maintain basic functions has been restored.”
The cryptic phrasing wasn’t lost on anyone in the room.
In simpler terms, he would no longer suffer from incontinence.
The Empress Dowager’s emotions were complicated as she hesitantly asked, “Yu Official, is there truly no chance for a full recovery?”
Yu Zhi Yi shrugged. “First, the Healing Talisman is now used up. Second, I already explained the key points. The first application of the talisman is the most effective; subsequent uses yield diminishing returns. Furthermore, the talisman is just a tool, not a person. It lacks human intuition and cannot tailor its healing according to individual desires.”
“After three uses, the talisman’s effects would become negligible.”
She paused, then added pointedly, “Are you certain you wish to waste such a resource on symptoms that are no longer life-threatening?”