Hearing Hongling's words, Bai Ruoshui feigned anger and snapped, "Hongling, shut up. The Princess Consort is injured as well."
With that, Bai Ruoshui looked up at Mo Qianhan and continued, "These past days, Cousin has been caring for Aunt, never once leaving her side even to change clothes. My injury is but a small one—it won't cost me my life. How could I let Cousin rush back and forth for such a trifling wound?"
Mo Qianhan stared at the scar on her hand, his brow furrowing even tighter.
With the Prince Regent's Manor and Consort Qi backing Ruoshui, whoever she married in the future would surely be of noble standing. If she were wronged because of this scar, it would certainly not be something he or Consort Qi wished to see.
It just so happened that he had also wanted to test Chu Fengge's medical skills again. If she could repair the scar on Ruoshui's hand, he might allow her to redeem herself through good deeds!
Mo Qianhan made no open declaration, saying only one thing flatly: "Rest well. Don't concern yourself with anything else for now."
With that, Mo Qianhan turned and left!
Seeing Mo Qianhan depart, Doctor Jian bandaged Bai Ruoshui's wound while saying, "Cousin, rest assured. I will do everything I can to treat this wound so it's as invisible as possible."
"No!" Bai Ruoshui suddenly pressed down on her injured hand, her face darkening, her voice icy. "I want this wound to never heal…"
Doctor Jian's face changed drastically. "This…"
Hongling threatened, "Just do as the young lady says. I'm sure Doctor Jian can find a way to pin the blame on the Princess Consort."
She then produced a silver ingot and slipped it into Doctor Jian's sleeve…
…
Meanwhile, at Peach Snow Courtyard.
After being carried back to Peach Snow Courtyard, Chu Fengge suffered a high fever and convulsions.
Her whole body ached unbearably, as if countless fists and kicks were raining down upon her.
In her dream, a crowd surrounded her, beating her with fists and feet.
She vaguely saw a woman holding a whip, lashing it viciously against her and Hua An.
She clutched Hua An tightly, looking up helplessly and despairingly at her father, who stood beneath the eaves, utterly unmoved as he watched her being tortured.
Clutching at a thread of hope, she pleaded, "Father, your daughter is willing to die, but Hua An is innocent. If you would only… leave her a mouthful of food to eat, even if she must serve as a slave or a maid, she would be endlessly grateful. Father, at the lantern festival, your daughter did not elope with anyone—your daughter was…"
Before she could finish, the whip in her sister Qingdai's hand came down hard upon her.
Chu Fengge let out a miserable scream. Her body was already covered in wounds, and when the whip, soaked in chili water, struck her, she felt as if her very soul were being torn away by Chu Qingdai.
In that instant.
Chu Fengge, who had lain unconscious for five full days, awoke from the nightmare…
Her eyes flew wide open, staring at the bed canopy—strange, yet somehow familiar.
The moisture in her eyes blurred her vision.
Xishi, the manor maid who had been keeping watch over her, saw Chu Fengge open her eyes and immediately ran out, crying, "The Princess Consort is awake! The Princess Consort is awake!"
Before long, Tan Liangyi and Nanny Song came in.
Only then did Chu Fengge learn that she had been unconscious for five days.
But those five days had been torment for her.
That dream was no dream—it was the abuse the original owner had endured at the Chu family's hands before her marriage!
In the dream, she could clearly feel the pain of Second Young Miss Chu Qingdai's whip lashing across her body.
And the coldness of her own father, Chu the Chancellor.
Inheriting Madam Jin's viciousness and hatred toward her.
Hostility surrounded her on all sides…
Right now, the person she most wanted to see was Hua An.
"Where is my child? Where is Hua An?" Chu Fengge suddenly grabbed Nanny Song's hand.
Just as Nanny Song was about to speak, Mo Qianhan walked in through the door.
The one he was leading by the hand was none other than Hua An…