"Miss! What happened to our Miss?!" Chun Tao was about to cry and ran after Xiao Rongyan and Bai Qingyu, "Miss!"
"Quick! Quickly carry Doctor Hong to the side hall! Hurry!" Wei Zhong loudly instructed the nearby imperial guards. He followed for a few steps, then turned back and said, "Go and invite Imperial Physician Director Huang too! Quick! Quick! Quick!"
The incident of the Empress of Zhou fainting while meeting with Mr. Xiao and the Rong masked Prince quickly spread throughout the Imperial Palace.
Mrs. Dong was with the Bai familyâs second lady Mrs. Liu, third lady Mrs. Li, and fourth lady Mrs. Wang, as well as the fifth lady Mrs. Qi, together teasing Xiao Ba. They were also discussing with Mrs. Dong the news from her family being sent frequently these days, and the matter of sending students to the girlsâ academy.
Upon hearing about Bai Qingyan fainting in the grand hall, she was so frightened that she let go of the teacup in her hand, spilling water all over herself.
"I told you not to let Kid overwork! Kid canât overwork! Kidâs health has been weak before!" Mrs. Li, the third lady, said anxiously, her eyes reddening. She turned to the nanny beside her and said, "Go! Bring those hundred-year-old wild ginseng sent by the family before, they might be useful!"
Mrs. Dong was scared, her face losing color, yet she managed to remain composed and asked, "Did Doctor Hong go over?"
"Eunuch Wei has already sent someone to fetch Doctor Hong and Imperial Physician Huang!" The little eunuch who came to report said with a trembling voice.
She put down the teacup, standing up with her sweaty hands holding onto Nanny Qin, "Iâll go check first!"
"Sister-in-law, Iâll go too!" Mrs. Liu, the second lady, said hurriedly, standing up, clutching a handkerchief tightly.
The fifth lady Mrs. Qi also handed Xiao Ba to her personal nanny and said, "Iâll go have a look too!"
Mrs. Dong was worried about Bai Qingyanâs heartache and didnât stop them... holding onto Nanny Qinâs hand, lifting her dress hem and heading out, with the second lady, third lady, fourth lady, and fifth lady following suit.
·
Xiao Rongyan, without caring about the blood flowing from his arm, placed Bai Qingyan on the soft couch. With his blood-drenched hand, he reached to feel Bai Qingyanâs pulse on her neck, and could sense Bai Qingyanâs pulse strong and powerful, but... too fast!
Could it be... poisoning?!
Xiao Rongyan remembered when his elder brother was ill, the pulse was extremely fast!
Bai Qingyu turned and instructed, "Open all the windows! Quickly!"
Turning around, Bai Qingyu saw Xiao Rongyan reaching to unbutton Bai Qingyanâs collar, and Bai Qingyu immediately grabbed Xiao Rongyanâs wrist, his expression dark.
"Iâm saving someone, not being indecent!" Xiao Rongyan shook off Bai Qingyuâs hesitant hold and swiftly, enduring the pain, slightly unbuttoned Bai Qingyanâs collar.
Chun Tao knelt beside the soft couch, unable to help, feeling at a loss, suddenly saw blood from Bai Qingyanâs back collar. Chun Tao cried out loud in shock, holding Bai Qingyanâs legs in panic, "Blood! Missâ back neck is covered in blood! Miss! Miss... whatâs to be done now!"
Chun Tao turned her head, crying as she looked toward the door, then back at Bai Qingyan, crying out in distress, "Doctor Hong! Why hasnât Doctor Hong come! Doctor Hong, save us! Please come save us!"
"Kid! Kid!" Xiao Rongyan called Bai Qingyan softly, resenting why he didnât understand medicine himself.
Doctor Hong, with his old bones, lay on the back of the imperial guard, sprinting all the way to the side hall. As soon as he got off the gasping imperial guardâs back, he rushed inside.
Upon seeing Doctor Hong, Chun Tao got up, rushed forward a few steps, and knelt down, crying out, "Doctor Hong, please save Miss!"
As soon as Doctor Hong arrived, Bai Qingyuâs eyes were red, wishing he could rush forward a few steps to lift Doctor Hong to his sisterâs side.
Seeing Doctor Hong arrive, Xiao Rongyan finally got up to make way beside the soft couch, speaking to Doctor Hong, "The pulse is extremely fast, similar to when my brother was poisoned! But no blood vomited!"
"Missâ back neck is all blood! Doctor Hong..." Chun Tao said, suppressing her cries.
This statement startled the grave-faced Doctor Hong, who stepped on the stool and turned Bai Qingyanâs head to check. Bai Qingyan had blood on the back of her head but wasnât wounded. Doctor Hongâs gaze fell on Xiao Rongyanâs slightly trembling hand with blood dripping downward, and he understood what was going on. He instructed the little Yingshuang behind him, "Go bandage Mr. Xiaoâs wound."
After speaking, Doctor Hong directly sat on the stool, diagnosing Bai Qingyanâs pulse.
Xiao Rongyan moved his injured hand behind him, frowning, "Please, Doctor Hong, diagnose Miss first."
Yingshuang tightly held the medicine chest strap, motionless, with snacks filled in her arms, thinking about bringing them to Miss when she heard she was coming to see Miss. How could Miss be lying there motionless?
"Miss..." Yingshuang murmured softly, taking the snacks from her chest, approaching the bed, and spreading out the oil paper, calling Bai Qingyan, "Miss... eat! Delicious!"
"Go bandage Mr. Xiaoâs wound, do my words not work?!" Doctor Hong scolded Yingshuang.
Yingshuang placed the snacks beside Bai Qingyanâs pillow, then responded, turned her head, and scrutinized Mr. Xiao, "Bandage the wound!"
Doctor Hong felt Bai Qingyanâs pulse without saying a word, clearly sensing Bai Qingyanâs pulse speed slowly lowering... tending toward stability.
Chun Tao knelt aside, daring not to cry loudly, afraid of disturbing Doctor Hong.
Not long after, Imperial Physician Huang also arrived. Upon seeing Doctor Hong already diagnosing Bai Qingyanâs pulse, he ascended the steps, thick-handed, and watched Yingshuang bandage Xiao Rongyanâs wound.
Perhaps Doctor Hong took too long diagnosing the pulse, Bai Qingyu grew anxious, asking, "Doctor Hong..."
Doctor Hong raised his hand, signaling those around to remain silent.
Inside the grand hall, silence reigned. Xiao Rongyan, the bleeding stopped, saw Doctor Hongâs hands with rugged and brown-spotted marks holding Bai Qingyanâs wrist without moving, thanked Imperial Physician Huang, then received bandages from him, casually wrapping his wound twice, and approached.
Who knew, as he drew closer, he saw Doctor Hong suddenly look up, turning to eye him, the gaze unfriendly, with traces of ferocity.
Xiao Rongyan hesitated in his steps, then walked toward Doctor Hong again, "Whatâs wrong with Miss? Is it poisoning?"
Before Doctor Hong could erupt, he heard Mrs. Liu, the Bai familyâs second lady, calling from outside the side hall, "How is Kid?! Has Doctor Hong arrived?"
Bai Qingyuâs palms tightened, turning to see his mother, Mrs. Dong, stepping into the hall while holding Nanny Qinâs hand, the hand behind his back clenching.
Inside the side hall, palace maids and eunuchs knelt everywhere.
"Whatâs going on?!" Mrs. Dong entered, her gaze landing on Chun Tao kneeling aside, and asked.
Chun Tao felt as if she were having her heart gouged out, crying as she said, "The maid was guarding outside the hall, I donât know what happened! If only... if only I knew something would happen, the maid would never leave Missâs side for a moment even if it meant death!"