Whoever Does It Gets the Money
“If her body cannot withstand it after taking the medicine, she will still die, with no possibility of revival.”
The physicians listened and nodded in agreement.
That pill was indeed a miraculous medicine with extraordinary effects. A single small pill filled the entire room with a refreshing fragrance, and those who smelled it felt clear-headed and sharp-eyed—truly a rare treasure.
If put up for sale, it could easily fetch ten thousand taels of silver, or even more!
Throughout the entire capital, there were definitely no more than three people who possessed such a medicine.
The physicians were so anxious they were pacing in circles.
Shen Liuguang knew that although the Crown Prince appeared expressionless on the surface, he must be burning with anxiety inside. With a cold face, she stepped forward to urge them.
“Physicians, someone must make a decision. Should this medicine be taken or not?”
Cold sweat beaded on the physicians’ foreheads, and their hearts pounded with fear.
If this were an ordinary commoner, they might have been bolder. But given the current situation, the person lying there was undoubtedly a noble. If anything went wrong, they would likely bring disaster upon themselves.
The Crown Prince and Xu Zhiyan’s expressions turned grim. Princess Tingyun’s condition was worsening, and the imperial physician had yet to arrive. What should they do?
“Has the imperial physician still not arrived?”
Xu Zhiyan turned to ask Shen Liuguang, who shook her head.
“We’ve already sent someone on horseback to his residence to fetch him.”
Behind the curtain in the neighboring room.
Jiang Zhaoying listened quietly. The hour of the princess’s death was drawing closer. Amidst the anxiety and unease, Jiang Zhaoying adjusted her hat and robe. Unable to care about anything else, she frowned, turned, passed through the private room, opened the door, and walked toward the neighboring room.
Even through the door.
Jiang Zhaoying could feel the suffocating tension inside. The Crown Prince’s eyes were dark and gloomy—life and death hung by a thread.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Zhaoying forcefully pulled open the double doors.
Wind rushed into the room from the doorway, and all eyes instantly focused on the person at the entrance.
It was an exceptionally handsome young man.
Seeing that Jiang Zhaoying had come after all, Xu Zhiyan’s expression changed slightly. Shen Liuguang was also taken aback. They had already discovered that the young man who had followed Xu Zhiang into the Crown Prince’s residence earlier was Jiang Zhaoying, the daughter of Chief Astronomer Jiang’s household—the very young man standing before them.
Unexpectedly.
So late at night, she was still disguised as a man and with Xu Zhiyan.
These two.
The Crown Prince’s sharp gaze swept lightly over Xu Zhiyan and Jiang Zhaoying. Jiang Zhaoying felt as if a knife were pressed against her neck, and with the slightest pressure from the other party, she would meet a heavy death.
Instinctively, she wanted to flee.
But to save Princess Tingyun, she had no choice but to come forward. Steeling herself, she stepped forward and bowed.
“Sir, allow me to save that young lady.”
All the physicians who had entered the room, led by Physician Qiu, turned to look at Jiang Zhaoying in unison, frowning. He was merely a young lad—how could he treat such a complex and difficult illness?
“Are you a physician?”
Physician Qiu disliked nothing more than those who pretended to know what they did not, delaying the best time for treatment. At this moment, it wasn’t about who treated her or not, but about how to administer the medicine to save this patient.
“I am not.”
Jiang Zhaoying bowed to the physicians and answered respectfully. Upon hearing this, Physician Qiu snorted coldly and pointed at Jiang Zhaoying, angrily rebuking her.
“If you’re not a physician, why are you speaking nonsense here? This young lady’s illness is sudden and severe. How could a mere teenager like you claim to treat her so easily?”
“Which family’s young master are you? You barge in and talk recklessly, aren’t you afraid of offending the noble?”
“Get out now!”
The physicians looked at Jiang Zhaoying’s youthful and delicate face, their eyes filled with mockery as they continuously ridiculed her.
Just as Xu Zhiyan was about to speak, Jiang Zhaoying stepped in front of him, signaling him not to rush, before addressing the physicians.
“Physician Qiu, I know you are the most respected doctor in the capital, even offering free consultations every year and saving countless commoners. I hold great respect for you and all the physicians present here, with no intention of belittling or provoking anyone. It’s just that this young lady’s condition is too urgent. If we delay even another quarter of an hour, she may lose her life.”
These words caused the Crown Prince’s cool, long eyelashes to tremble slightly. He gazed at Jiang Zhaoying’s slender and gentle back. This young woman had only married into the Song Marquis’ residence today, yet in just half a day, she had already caused such a commotion that the entire city knew about it.
However.
The intelligence gathered by the covert guards about her was limited. Jiang Zhaoying had rarely left home since childhood and seldom attended social gatherings, so the covert guards only reported that she was gentle-natured, obedient, and well-behaved.
But everything that had happened today in the Song residence was certainly not the actions of a docile woman.
“A quarter of an hour?”
One of the physicians, his anger flaring, stepped forward.
“What nonsense are you spouting here, someone who knows nothing about medicine? This young lady’s illness is urgent, but it’s not to the point where she’ll die in a quarter of an hour, is it?”
As soon as he finished speaking.
A physician emerged from the crowd, bent down, and took Princess Tingyun’s pulse once more. This time, the pulse-taking lasted a long while. When he opened his eyes again, his expression had turned rather grim, even showing a hint of panic.
After standing up.
He glanced at Physician Qiu, his lips trembling violently but saying nothing. Seeing him like this, Physician Qiu hurriedly turned to check the pulse himself, then stood up and said.
“Bring the silver needles.”
Someone went to fetch the silver needles, but Jiang Zhaoying gently shook her head.
“Physician Qiu, this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. She will still die; it merely delays the inevitable for a while.”
“You insolent little brat, are you the physician or am I? Do you wish for her death so eagerly?”
Physician Qiu, momentarily enraged, glared with wide eyes, his beard bristling as he pointed at Jiang Zhaoying and rebuked her harshly. Jiang Zhaoying slowly raised her gaze, fearlessly meeting his eyes, and took a step forward.
“Physician Qiu, I am truly not joking. If we wait any longer, she really will die.”
“Get out.”
Physician Qiu snapped angrily.
The atmosphere in the elegant room instantly dropped to freezing point. Xu Zhiyan turned to look at the Crown Prince, only to see his gaze dark and heavy, fixed on Jiang Zhaoying’s back, as he said coldly.
“Let her treat her!”
Physician Qiu abruptly turned and glared angrily at the Crown Prince, about to say something, but Shen Liuguang and Cheng Ting’an hurriedly stepped forward to stop him. Jiang Zhaoying took the medicine from Xu Zhiyan’s hand, then glanced at Shu Yun.
Shu Yun immediately understood, turned around, and fetched a cup of warm water.
Jiang Zhaoying placed the pill on a clean handkerchief, used a dagger to cut it into three parts, and placed the smallest portion into Princess Tingyun’s mouth. While slowly feeding her water and waiting for the pill to dissolve, she said to Physician Qiu.
“Physician Qiu, the necessary medicine must still be administered. At most within half an hour, the princess must take the medicine. We cannot afford any further delay here.”
“Hmph!”
Physician Qiu was sixty years old this year and had practiced medicine for fifty years. His prestige over the years had been earned through genuine skill. When had anyone dared to speak to him like this? Even high-ranking officials and nobles treated him with considerable respect. If he was displeased, he would simply pack his medicine chest and leave without even accepting the consultation fee.
Hearing Jiang Zhaoying speak this way, he not only remained unmoved but grew even more furious.
Jiang Zhaoying thought the old man was pedantic and stubborn, but she didn’t argue with him. Instead, she took a thousand-tael silver note from her sleeve and placed it on the table in front of her.
“Whoever prepares the medicine gets this silver.”