The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Saving a Life

She subconsciously looked toward Ye Chutang, only to see the young woman’s expression was cold and calm as she passed a silver needle through the reddish-orange flame.

The fierce flame leaped, tempering the silver glint and reflecting in her dark, clear eyes like cold stars.

Princess Qingyang gritted her teeth and ordered, ”Lan Yi! Make everyone outside shut up! If anyone dares to disturb Doctor Ye and delay the Eldest Princess’s treatment, don’t blame me for being merciless!”

Lan Yi quickly replied, ”Yes!”

She hurried around the screen and went to the door.

Princess Qingyang dared not delay any longer. She strode forward to loosen the Eldest Princess’s collar and remove her shoes and socks.

Seeing this, Zhuxin also hurried to help.

The Eldest Princess’s eyes remained tightly shut, showing no reaction.

Princess Qingyang’s heart was in her throat. The Eldest Princess in her memory had always been full of vigor; she had never seen her so fragile, lying on the bed between life and death.

She turned back and looked at Ye Chutang as if asking for help. ”Alright, what’s next?”

Without realizing it, she had come to see Ye Chutang as her pillar of support.

Ye Chutang’s gaze was lowered as she inserted silver needles into the Eldest Princess’s Baihui and Renzhong acupoints.

Bright red beads of blood quickly emerged!

Then, she took the Eldest Princess’s hands and swiftly applied needles to the Shixuan acupoints.

Princess Qingyang subconsciously stepped back to give Ye Chutang space. Before she could even react, she saw Ye Chutang had already inserted the needles with clean, deft movements.

In the blink of an eye, dark red blood welled up from the tips of the Eldest Princess’s ten fingers and dripped down.

Princess Qingyang had never seen such a thing. She was both apprehensive and flustered, finding the blood jarring to the eye. The faint, bloody scent wafting through the air made her even more uneasy.

Zhuxin’s brows furrowed tightly as she turned to look at Princess Qingyang.

’This... this... Can Ye Chutang really do this?’

Princess Qingyang suppressed the turmoil in her heart and stood watch nearby without moving.

There was no telling how long it would take for the Imperial Physician to arrive. All they had was Ye Chutang.

Recalling how Ye Chutang had poured half a bottle of wine over her hands without a change in expression, Princess Qingyang held her breath. ’Perhaps... she really is the Eldest Princess’s only lifeline!’

「 ... 」

Zhuxin exited the room and quickly shut the door, blocking everyone’s line of sight.

”Everyone, Doctor Ye is treating the Eldest Princess and must not be disturbed. Please return to your own quarters for now.”

Ye Shixian’s eyes widened in disbelief. ”You—you really let her treat the Eldest Princess? What if—what if—”

Zhuxin frowned, a wave of displeasure rising in her heart. She said in a serious tone, ”The Eldest Princess is deeply blessed and will surely overcome this misfortune.”

Only then did Ye Shixian realize she had misspoken.

Saying something like that while the Eldest Princess was unconscious was tantamount to a curse!

She quickly said, ”Zhuxin, please don’t misunderstand. I—I’m just so worried about the Eldest Princess. Although my cousin ran a clinic before, she really only learned a few superficial skills from a wandering doctor. I’m afraid she can’t be a hundred percent certain...”

’What on earth is Ye Chutang thinking? Does she have to be in the spotlight like this!?’

Many people saw the Eldest Princess collapse, and it was obvious something was seriously wrong.

At her age, to collapse so suddenly... anyone could tell the prognosis was grim. Even if an Imperial Physician were here, a recovery wouldn’t be guaranteed, let alone with Ye Chutang.

’If the Eldest Princess really does... It would be one thing for Ye Chutang to be punished, but what if we get dragged into it?’

’After all, I was the one who brought Ye Chutang here!’

Ye Shixian was both furious and anxious.

Zhuxin glanced at her. Before, she had only thought this Miss Ye was a bit petty, but now she saw the girl also lacked a sense of priority and didn’t know her place.

She stood before the door, her chin slightly raised, her voice cold. ”Princess Qingyang is here. There is no need for Miss Ye to trouble herself with these matters.”

Princess Qingyang was very close to the Eldest Princess, practically a young mistress of the residence. With the Eldest Princess unconscious, it was natural for Princess Qingyang to be in charge of everything.

Where did an outsider like Ye Shixian get the right to speak?

Ye Shixian’s heart trembled. Her lips moved twice, but she ultimately swallowed the rest of her words.

When the others heard this, they naturally understood this was Princess Qingyang’s will and did not dare to defy it.

But they didn’t leave either.

The Eldest Princess was inside, her fate unknown. At a time like this, no one was willing—or able—to leave first.

Zhuxin tried to persuade them a few more times, but seeing their insistence, she didn’t press the issue. She simply invited them to wait in the adjacent room.

「 ... 」

Everyone took their seats, but for a time, no one spoke. The atmosphere was oppressive.

Meanwhile, Ye Shixian was led away to change into a new dress—her previous state had been far too unseemly.

It wasn’t until she returned that people’s gazes fell on her, and someone finally spoke.

”Miss Ye, does your cousin truly have a way to save the Eldest Princess?”

A muscle in Ye Shixian’s brow twitched, and she lowered her gaze.

”Well... to be honest, I haven’t seen my cousin in several years, so I don’t know much about what she’s been up to.”

Touching the red jade bead string on her wrist, Ye Shixian recalled the scene by the lake and added, ”But since my cousin went in, there should still be some hope, right?”

She wished she could sever all ties with Ye Chutang immediately to avoid future trouble. However, in everyone’s eyes, Ye Chutang had just been injured while saving her. If she spoke too harshly, she would seem utterly heartless.

So she could only resort to this vague statement, forcing a smile. ”The Eldest Princess is a virtuous person, so heaven will protect her. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

The other young women secretly exchanged glances.

It seemed Ye Shixian and Ye Chutang really weren’t close. They had been asking all this time without getting any useful information. It was a complete waste of time.

All they could do now was wait.

「 ... 」

Ye Chutang placed the last needle at the Yongquan acupoint.

Seeing her finally stop, Princess Qingyang couldn’t help but ask, ”Is it over?”

Ye Chutang said, ”This phase is complete for now. Next, we just need to wait for the Eldest Princess to wake up. However, her illness struck suddenly, and she is nearly sixty years old. Although the treatment was timely, she will still need someone to watch over her around the clock.”

Princess Qingyang let out a long sigh of relief. ”That’s not a problem.”

’As long as she wakes up, everything will be fine!’

Ye Chutang looked at Zhuxin. ”Please bring me a brush and ink. I need to write a prescription.”

Zhuxin, having watched her work with such clean, composed movements from start to finish, was already convinced of her abilities. She quickly agreed and brought the items over.

”Doctor Ye, please.”

Without realizing it, they had all started calling Ye Chutang ”Doctor Ye.”

Ye Chutang’s lashes were lowered as she dipped the brush in ink and began to write.

Afterward, she handed the written prescription to Zhuxin. ”Once the Eldest Princess awakens, brew the medicine according to this prescription. Three times a day will suffice.”

Zhuxin glanced at it quickly. Seeing the elegant small regular script, her admiration for Ye Chutang grew even more.

’To be able to place the needles so steadily and write such beautiful script despite her injured wrist... It’s truly...’

”Thank you, Doctor Ye. I will follow your instructions.”

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside.

”Judge Zhao is here!”