Old Madam Zhu didn't believe her at all. Using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, the elderly woman—who always feared that once someone closed their eyes they might never open them again—insisted, though knowing it was difficult for her granddaughter to speak, "Don't faint. You must hold on until the physician arrives."
Hua Zhi responded firmly. She knew better than anyone the extent of the wound she had inflicted upon herself. Such a minor injury couldn't possibly make her faint; at most, she felt dizzy from excessive blood loss.
"How did you arrive so quickly?"
"I originally came to deliver some items to your mother. On the way, I heard you were assassinated outside the city walls. It frightened me so much my heart nearly leaped out of my chest." The old madam lowered her voice and asked, "Do you know who's behind this?"
"Only a handful of people would dare act so boldly within the capital. Even fewer harbor such hatred toward me that they'd want me dead."
"It's good that you're aware." Old Madam Zhu sighed, swallowing the words that had reached her lips. Some things, when spoken, were merely empty talk. How could Zhi Er not want to recuperate properly? How could she possibly want to be injured? It was simply that some people couldn't bear to see her well.
Zhu Shan stood to the side watching her injured cousin. The mental barrier she had been unable to overcome suddenly seemed to vanish. Her cousin's very life was in jeopardy, yet she had been tormenting herself and her family over trivial personal desires, relying solely on her family's affection for her. Compared to her cousin, who had to bear everything alone, she truly didn't appreciate the blessings she had.
Nian Qiu entered carrying prepared supplies, instantly filling the room with the strong scent of alcohol. Old Madam Zhu quickly stepped aside, watching as several maids hurried forward to assist.
Out on the main street, the clip-clop of horse hooves sounded, prompting pedestrians to immediately clear the way. This was a courier horse delivering military reports—anyone blocking its path would be trampled to death without consequence.
But after the horse passed, the crowd came to their senses—this wasn't right. War horses should be galloping from the city gates toward the palace, yet this horse was racing from the palace outward. Had some major incident occurred?
Many grew concerned, each seeking their own channels to gather information.
Shaoyao, who had caused all this commotion, paid no heed as she urged her horse into a frantic gallop. Restrictions? Impeachments? They meant nothing to her!
As the Hua residence came into view, Shaoyao leaped from her horse before it even stopped. Without waiting for anyone to open the gate, she vaulted over the wall, using her qinggong to swiftly enter the courtyard. She kicked the door open and rushed straight to the bedside.
Smelling the alcohol, Shaoyao pushed people aside to examine the already cleansed wound. Seeing that Hua Hua remained conscious, she finally released the breath she had been holding since receiving the news. Climbing onto the bed, she lay down beside Hua Hua for a moment to calm herself before assuming an awkward position to check her pulse.
Hua Zhi nuzzled her head. "I'm fine. Don't worry."
"I'm the physician here. I decide whether you're fine or not." Confirming it was merely blood and qi deficiency, Shaoyao's mind settled. Seeing the wound's depth revealed there was more to the story, and she shot Hua Hua a fierce glare before sitting up to open her medical kit and treat the injury.
With Shaoyao's arrival, everyone felt reassured. After applying some unknown medicine to the wound, the burning pain finally subsided, and Hua Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.
"Young Miss, Old Madam Sun has arrived."
Before Hua Zhi could respond, Old Madam Zhu said, "I'll handle it. Don't concern yourself with outside matters."
Hua Zhi indeed refrained from intervening, though she remained aware of who arrived: the Qin family sent their senior madam, the Cai Family's old madam came with the pregnant Hua Qin, the Anguo Duke's household sent their managing madam, and even the Yu and Yuan Jia families—soon to be related by marriage—sent representatives.Hua Zhi thought to herself that the people on this ship were ultimately united.
"Is it Haoyue?" Inside the room, Shaoyao shooed the others out and asked in a low voice.
"Either her, or the Third Prince, or the Fourth Prince. There won't be anyone else." Hua Zhi sat up a little, her spirits much improved now that the pain had lessened.
Shaoyao glared at her fiercely. "Couldn't you have cut corners a bit?"
"Little Six's apprenticeship to me is already widely known in the capital. Now I'm firmly marked as part of the Sixth Prince's faction. If I'm assassinated, everyone will think in this direction, including the Emperor." Hua Zhi's tone was calm. "So the Emperor will first verify whether I was truly assassinated or if it's just an act. It won't be long before a royal physician arrives."
"The Emperor doesn't trust me?"
"If I weren't injured but needed to fake it, would you help me?"
"Of course."
Hua Zhi smiled. "That's why a royal physician is coming. The Emperor doesn't distrust you—he understands you. In his mind, you're harmless. He trusts you deeply, which is a good thing."
Shaoyao was still quite displeased. "Then what should we do now?"
"Wait." Hua Zhi looked at this much-improved face. "Wait for the Emperor's move, and wait for the other side's next step."
"Just wait?"
"Chen Qing is investigating. Cao Cao, you need to be aware—no matter who did this, the Emperor won't move against them for my sake. I don't expect to bring down the opponent in one strike, but they'll certainly have to sacrifice a few pawns. With Chen Qing's abilities, he should be able to trace the clues back to the source. From a broader perspective, cutting off one of their important arms would be a victory. As for the mastermind behind this... they won't remain triumphant for long."
"This is why I've always wanted to be a general since childhood. We'd settle things with real skill—no need for all these complicated maneuvers."
But military officers have never been able to outmaneuver civil officials, throughout all dynasties it has been so. Hua Zhi lowered her gaze. She didn't like civil officials either, yet she was playing by their rules.
"Young lady, a messenger from the palace has arrived."
The two exchanged glances. Shaoyao asked, "Who is it?"
"It's Eunuch Lai Fu."
An acquaintance—good. Shaoyao stood up. "I'll go greet him. Ying Chun, make Hua Hua presentable."
"Yes."
Soon Shaoyao returned. Lai Fu bowed at the doorway. "His Majesty, learning of your injury, has specially sent Physician Liu, who excels in treating external wounds, to examine you. May I ask if it's convenient?"
"Please come in."
Ying Chun placed a silk cloth over her mistress's wrist. Physician Liu felt the pulse through the cloth for a moment, then looked up and saw the young lady's pale complexion. His eyes flickered to the blood-stained clothes nearby, and he understood—the injury was real, and the assassination attempt was likely real too.
"The young lady's wound is in a delicate location, making it inconvenient for this old man to examine. Since Lady Shaoyao is a disciple of the master physician, might you inform me whether the young lady's heart meridian was damaged?"
Shaoyao's impression of him improved slightly upon hearing this. "The arrow was only half an inch from the heart meridian. Even if it didn't damage the meridian directly, the injury is still quite severe."
Physician Liu nodded. "Lady Shaoyao speaks reasonably. The heart meridian is an extremely vital area. Even an injury nearby would severely deplete one's vitality. This old man observes that the young lady's qi and blood are severely deficient—she needs careful recuperation."
Shaoyao looked at him, then at Lai Fu, her eyes asking: Is he one of us?
Lai Fu gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Shaoyao suddenly understood—no wonder. If the heart meridian had been damaged, how could pulse diagnosis fail to detect it?"Please have Physician Liu write the prescription."
Ying Chun understood the implication and escorted Physician Liu to the adjacent room.
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