Chu Ruoyan hadn't expected to run into her father. She paused for a moment before saying, "I have urgent business to attend to outside. Don't worry, I have the Chief Minister's residence token, the patrol guard won't question me..."
Chu Huaishan guessed a part of it and his face darkened. "Come with me."
Once in the study, he asked directly, "You want to find the old Divine Physician to save Prince Qin, is that it?"
Chu Ruoyan didn't hide it either, softly acknowledging that it was.
Chu Huaishan gave a bitter smile. "Silly girl, the feud between our two families has only grown deeper. How could they possibly allow the old Divine Physician to go save Prince Qin?"
Although Chief Physician Zhang had also said that he was the only one who could save Prince Qin now...
Chu Ruoyan grasped her father's hand. "Father, regardless of whether Elder Brother and the others agree or not, we should still try our best. Otherwise, if Prince Qin dies, it won't just be Second Sister... who knows how many more people the imperial family will implicate... Don't worry, I have a plan. I'll return immediately after taking care of this."
Chu Huaishan looked at the weariness between her brows and felt a deep pang of guilt. "The Chief Minister sent you back to your maiden home so I could take good care of you. But before I could even do that, you're already exhausting yourself with worry and effort..."
"Father," Chu Ruoyan interrupted him, "we're family, no need for such formalities. Let's get through this difficulty together first."
Chu Huaishan had no choice but to agree.
That night, the carriage sped along.
Nanny Zhou added two more outer garments for her.
Chu Ruoyan had been thinking with her eyes closed when she suddenly opened them and said, "Hei Ya, in your opinion, can we successfully invite the old Divine Physician?"
A cold, stern figure outside the carriage moved closer to the window. "Third Young Lady, it's absolutely impossible. The Pavilion Master is still unconscious. Old Du, Bai Xiucai, and the others have a blood feud with the Murong family. They will never agree to let the old Divine Physician go save a prince from the Murong family."
Chu Ruoyan knew he was telling the truth, and her heart grew even more troubled with worry.
Murong Jin cannot die...
Not to mention he's the only sane one left in the imperial family, but if he dies, the royals are sure to go mad. If that gives Song Jia an opportunity to exploit, what will happen if the court falls into chaos?
Yan Zheng is still fighting at the front. She absolutely cannot allow this to happen!
"No matter what, even if I have to tie him up, I must get the old Divine Physician out first!"
Hei Ya seemed to want to say something but stopped himself, finally just acknowledging her order.
The carriage soon arrived in front of a common residence.
This was a temporary safe house for the All-Knowing Pavilion. After knocking three times and entering, everyone was stunned by the scene before them.
The courtyard was filled with wounded. Qin Yiru was so busy he barely touched the ground, even his white beard was stained with blood.
"Third Young Lady!"
Shopkeeper Du helped Bai Xiucai out. Only then did Chu Ruoyan see that Bai Xiucai's arm was also injured. She couldn't help but ask, "Weren't you supposed to have withdrawn early? Why are you still..."
At this mention, Bai Xiucai's eyes darkened. "It's all because of that Prince Jin's heir and his lot, kicking us when we were down! They took advantage while we were dealing with the authorities and ambushed us from behind! If only the Pavilion Master were here, he'd make sure they never returned!!"
"Song Jia?" Chu Ruoyan gasped. "Then Second Brother, he..."
Shopkeeper Du quickly said, "Third Young Lady, don't worry. The Pavilion Master is fine. It's just that Hongxiu's sleeping gu was administered too deeply; I'm afraid it will still be a few days before he wakes up... But rest assured, the foundation of the All-Knowing Pavilion remains. Once the Pavilion Master awakens, he can naturally take charge of the overall situation."
Then he asked, "By the way, Third Young Lady, what important matter brings you here so late at night?"
Chu Ruoyan pursed her lips. Looking at all the wounded soldiers on the ground, she couldn't bring herself to say the words about asking the old Divine Physician to leave.
Hei Ya saw her hesitation and said, "Old Du, it's like this. Prince Qin is critically ill. We were wondering if we could ask the old Divine Physician..."
"Nonsense! What does it matter to us whether someone from the Murong family lives or dies? Hei Ya, have you lost your mind? Look at all these wounded soldiers on the ground, all thanks to them! If it weren't for the authorities suddenly arresting people, would we have fallen for that ambush?"
Bai Xiucai cursed loudly. Shopkeeper Du also frowned deeply. "Third Young Lady, the Yun family and the Murong family are sworn enemies. Even though the Young Master, for everyone's safety, is unwilling to seek revenge, you cannot be soft-hearted and go save our enemy!"
Chu Ruoyan glanced at Hei Ya. Just as he had said, the All-Knowing Pavilion would never agree to let Qin Yiru go.
She had originally thought of simply tying him up and taking him, but now that seemed unrealistic too...
"Shopkeeper Du, I understand. However, I haven't been feeling well myself. Could I ask the old Divine Physician to take my pulse?"
Shopkeeper Du quickly said, "Of course, of course. Please, come inside."
Inside the room.
As soon as Qin Yiru felt her pulse, he said, "Well now? Where have you been running off to lately, girl? The fetal signs are unstable!"
Chu Ruoyan frowned. It was indeed just as the residence physician had said.
Nanny Zhou hurriedly asked, "Is it serious?"
Qin Yiru shot her a look. "How could it not be serious? Carrying twins and still running around like this? But luckily you ran into this old man. Let me give you a couple of acupuncture treatments first to stabilize the pregnancy. But afterwards, you must not overexert your mind or body, especially avoid extreme emotional ups and downs, understand?"
Nanny Zhou let out a long sigh of relief and urged him to treat the young lady.
After he finished the acupuncture, Chu Ruoyan said, "By the way, Old Master, if there were a patient with this kind of condition, do you think they could be saved?"
She quickly described Murong Jin's illness. Qin Yiru became interested as soon as he heard it. "From what you describe, he was likely secretly harmed earlier. Now he's forcibly stimulated his internal energy, causing injury on top of injury, hmm... That Zhang kid can't save him. If you don't bring him here for this old man to take a look, you can attend his funeral banquet tomorrow."
Chu Ruoyan couldn't help but give a bitter smile. In such a situation, how could the Emperor and the Empress Dowager possibly agree to move him out of the palace?
Qin Yiru remembered something and asked, "Is he from the Murong family? Then I definitely can't save him. Otherwise, your brother will throw a fit when he wakes up!" But then, thinking about that tricky medical condition made his fingers itch, so he added, "Anyway, I can't save a live one!"
A thought stirred in Chu Ruoyan's heart. "Old Master, then could I trouble you to prepare another dose of medicine for me?"
Late at night, on the way back to the residence.
Chu Ruoyan held the small medicine packet in her hand, the corner of her lips lifting slightly. "Shadow, I need you to do something for me."
She whispered a couple of instructions into Shadow's ear and handed him the medicine packet.
Nanny Zhou worriedly said, "Young Lady, isn't this too risky? What if..."
"Don't worry. Prince Qin was already severely injured. Now it's just a matter of a little sooner or a little later."
After saying this, she frowned again.
All these days, she had been passively taking hits.
From Roumin to Song Jia, each and every incident was a counterattack forced upon her when pushed to the brink.
She had originally thought to wait until Yan Zheng returned to deal with them, but now it seemed she couldn't wait any longer.
A cold, sharp light like the edge of a blade flashed in the woman's eyes. "Hei Ya, go investigate where Song Jia is right now."
"Yes!"
The Imperial Palace, Ci Ning Palace.
Prince Qin lay on the couch, his complexion ashen, blood continuously trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Empress Dowager Su carefully wiped it away with a handkerchief, her anxious tears streaming down her aged face. "Jin'er, Jin'er! It's your mother. Open your eyes and look at your mother! Jin'er!"
This scene pierced the heart of the Emperor standing nearby.
He suddenly flicked his sleeve and walked towards the palace entrance. Outside Ci Ning Palace, all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital were kneeling there.
"Chief Physician Zhang, have you thought of a way to save Prince Qin?"
Chief Physician Zhang shuffled forward on his knees. "Your Majesty, this old official is useless. I truly cannot save Prince Qin..."
"Useless!" the Emperor coldly shouted, his imposing gaze sweeping over the others. "And the rest of you? Who has a method to treat and save Prince Qin?"
The imperial physicians all bowed their heads, pressing their foreheads to the floor. The Emperor flung his sleeve in anger. "If you cannot cure the Prince of Qin, then there is no need for me to keep you. Drag them all out and behead them!"
As soon as the words were spoken, cries of despair filled the air. A young physician hastily spoke up, "Your Majesty! This subject has a suggestion. Does the Prince not have a beloved? Summon her to the palace. Perhaps the sight of her could rekindle his will to live!"
The Emperor was taken aback. Then, the Empress Dowager's icy voice came from behind him. "Attendants! Summon the second daughter of the Chu family to the palace at once!"
