"Your Highness has always doted on Feng Ruoyan. If something were to happen to her, His Highness would naturally be devastated. Everything I've done is for His Highness's sake, without any personal agenda. Madam, I implore you, for the sake of our past acquaintance, to help me. I will be eternally grateful to you."
Liu Meng Han spoke with such heartfelt sincerity that even Feng Jin, who prided herself on her steely heart, felt a flicker of emotion. She couldn't help but sigh and slowly say, "The Consort to the Third Prince truly has a heart of pure devotion for him. It is indeed touching, but..."
"Ever since Feng Ruoyan's miscarriage last time, I warned her that she absolutely could not get pregnant again. At best, the fetus would be at risk; at worst, her life could be in danger. Yet, she persisted in her own way, never once heeding my words. The current situation was entirely within my expectations. Even an immortal could not save her life now."
Even if she managed to save Feng Ruoyan's life, it would only be a frail existence, with a shortened lifespan, sustained by medicinal soups. Living in this world would only be prolonging her suffering, making it better to have passed away.
"Cai Qing, escort the Consort out of the manor. I need to check on the child."
Feng Jin casually made an excuse to dismiss Liu Meng Han. She had no desire to get entangled in the Third Prince's affairs. She much preferred the leisurely pleasure of appreciating flowers at home.
With a 'thump,' Feng Jin's steps forward halted. She turned to look at Liu Meng Han, who was kneeling on the ground, concealing the hint of annoyance in her eyes.
Was she going to threaten her with death? Feng Jin patiently smiled and stepped forward to help Liu Meng Han up. However, Liu Meng Han seemed resolute, refusing to rise from the ground.
"Consort to the Third Prince, what is the meaning of this? Are you truly going to kneel here in my manor indefinitely?"
"Madam, please forgive me. I am acting out of desperation. Madam, please accompany me to the Third Prince's manor. I have already promised the Empress and His Highness that I would invite you. If you do not go, I will have no way to report back, and it would be better to kneel here forever."
Feng Jin's brow furrowed slightly. She wasn't a fool and understood the implication in Liu Meng Han's words. She was using the Empress as a shield, deliberately pressuring her to force her to treat Feng Ruoyan.
This was all to enhance her own reputation and gain favor with Chu Yan Xi. Now, she was resorting to threatening her with death.
If she refused to go today, she would likely offend both the Empress and the Third Prince. Moreover, if anything were to happen to Liu Meng Han in her care, she wouldn't be able to explain herself.
Indeed, a clever tactic that enhanced her reputation while absolving her of all responsibility. Liu Meng Han was clearly banking on the fact that she would go.
"Consort, are you forcing me to go?"
"Please forgive me, Madam. I am acting out of necessity. Please help me this once, and I will forever remember your kindness and repay you with my life one day."
"Alright, I will help you this once."
After careful consideration, Feng Jin agreed. It wasn't out of fear of Liu Meng Han's coercion.
She was also concerned that if she didn't go, Feng Ruoyan would die such an unfortunate death. Chu Yan Xi was a narrow-minded and vengeful person. If this incident caused him to hold a grudge against Ling Mo Han, that would be disastrous.
To appease Chu Yan Xi for now, she had to find a way to save Feng Ruoyan. At the very least, she had to keep her alive for a while longer.
This would allow Feng Ruoyan to continue to entice Chu Yan Xi and engage in conflict with Liu Meng Han, making things more interesting.
"Thank you, Madam."
Liu Meng Han breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, Feng Jin had agreed.
She instructed Chu Qing to retrieve the medicine box from her room and then headed to the Third Prince's manor.
When Feng Jin arrived, the courtyard was densely packed with people. The Empress and the Third Prince were seated in the center. Feng Jin stepped forward and curtsied to the Empress, "Your concubine greets the Empress. May the Empress enjoy peace and good health."
"There's no need for such formalities. Madam Ling, please go in and examine her."
The Empress waved her hand, her tone somewhat weary. Although she disliked Feng Ruoyan, seeing Chu Yan Xi so worried and grief-stricken over her caused her heart, as a mother, to ache.
"Your concubine obeys."
Led by a maid, Feng Jin proceeded into the room.
Feng Ruoyan lay on the bed as if devoid of breath. If not for the faint rise and fall of her chest, Feng Jin would have believed she had already passed away.
"Imperial Physician, what is the patient's condition?"
Without bothering to inquire further, Feng Jin directly asked the imperial physician who was examining Feng Ruoyan.
"When the side consort was pregnant, her pulse was weak. After childbirth, her fundamental health has been severely damaged. She is now clinging to life by a thread, and it is likely beyond recovery."
After hearing the imperial physician's report, Feng Jin reached out and took Feng Ruoyan's emaciated wrist. Indeed, as the imperial physician had said, she was terribly weak.
If she were to try her best, Feng Jin took a small piece of ginseng from the medicine box and sliced off a small piece, placing it in Feng Ruoyan's mouth for her to hold and sustain her breath.
It was a shame to use this piece of millennium-old red ginseng, which she had painstakingly obtained, on Feng Ruoyan. She truly felt it was a waste.
"You two, help your mistress sit up and remove her upper garments."
She instructed the maids standing by. She had no desire to personally attend to Feng Ruoyan.
"Yes, Madam."
The maids helped Feng Ruoyan sit up and removed her upper garments.
Opening her acupuncture kit, Feng Jin picked up a silver needle and inserted it into Feng Ruoyan's acupoints. The only solution now was to use needles to sustain her vital energy and then nurse her back to health with medication, which could ensure Feng Ruoyan lived for another ten years.
However, her body would remain frail, unable to withstand any shock.
About half an hour later, Feng Ruoyan began to stir slightly.
"Don't move recklessly. The needles must remain in your body for another half hour. If you wish to die, feel free to move."
Feng Jin reprimanded her sharply, continuing to insert needles.
The pain of the silver needles piercing her flesh made Feng Ruoyan's muddled consciousness become clearer. She bit her lower lip tightly, daring not to move even an inch, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
The half hour felt like an eternity. Only when the pain subsided did Feng Ruoyan slowly breathe a sigh of relief.
Feng Jin carefully removed the silver needles one by one, wiping them with a clean cloth. She said in a somber tone, "Your life has been temporarily saved, but you will need to continue taking medication to survive."
Supported by the maids, Feng Ruoyan lay back on the bed. Propping open her exhausted eyelids, she looked at Feng Jin. With great difficulty, she managed to squeeze out two words from her parched throat: "Thank you..."
"You're welcome. I didn't save you for your sake. Since you're alive, live well. And make sure those who harmed you don't have an easy time of it."
"What... what do you mean? Who wants... who wants to harm me!"
Feng Jin watched Feng Ruoyan's reaction with satisfaction and did not answer her. She packed her belongings and left.
"You stop... stop, explain yourself clearly. Who... who wants to harm me..."
With all her might, Feng Ruoyan cried out. Soon, she was breathless, clutching her chest, her frail body collapsing onto the bed.
"My lady, please do not get agitated. Your body is still extremely weak and needs to be well rested. You cannot afford any turmoil."
The maid, startled, quickly helped Feng Ruoyan up, her face filled with worry.
"Who is it... who wants to harm me... Who is it!"
"My lady, this servant truly doesn't know. The imperial physicians said you were beyond saving this time. It was the Consort who suggested... suggested the second young lady come to save you, and the Consort personally went to the Ling manor to invite the second young lady."
Feng Ruoyan calmed her mind and scoffed, "Could she possibly be so kind? She wishes I would die sooner. If I die, who would be happier than her!"
That bitch Liu Meng Han. She probably dreamed of me dying sooner every night. As long as I'm gone, Liu Meng Han could have the Third Prince all to herself.
"Is it Liu Meng Han who wants to harm me..." Feng Ruoyan suddenly said, "Yes, it must be Liu Meng Han. It must be her! I want to tell His Highness, I want to tell His Highness!"
Feng Ruoyan shouted wildly, only to be held down on the bed by the surrounding maids.
"My lady, you must not be impulsive. Your body cannot withstand such agitation right now. My lady, you must think of our young master."
"The child... my child..."
Feng Ruoyan suddenly quieted down. She still had a child. If something happened to her, who would protect her child? For the sake of her child, she had to live well. She absolutely could not have an accident.
"You are right. I have my child. I must be good... be good..."
Feng Ruoyan stopped her commotion and obediently leaned against the bed, resting quietly.
...
As Feng Jin pushed open the door, Chu Yan Xi, who had been waiting outside, eagerly asked, "How is it? How is Yan'er?"
"Your Highness, please rest assured. The side consort is out of danger, but still..."
Before she could finish speaking, Chu Yan Xi could no longer contain himself and rushed inside.
Feng Jin only felt a gust of wind pass by her ears, and then the person was gone. He ran truly fast. It seemed they were indeed true lovers.
"Thank you, Madam, for your life-saving intervention. You were saying something earlier, Madam?"
Liu Meng Han, playing the part of a good person to the end, stepped forward to thank Feng Jin and didn't forget to probe for details.
"The person has been saved, but her fundamental health has been damaged. With proper medication, she can be nursed back to health. However, her lifespan cannot be guaranteed to be long, perhaps only ten years."
"What? Then... Sister... she..."
Liu Meng Han put on a show of great sorrow, even shedding a few tears from the corners of her eyes. For a moment, even Feng Jin couldn't discern whether it was real or fake, only that Liu Meng Han's acting skills were truly superb.
"That is also her destiny. If the King of Hell wants to claim her, how can we prevent it? You have done enough. Do not grieve over this matter and harm your own body. Do not forget that the child in your womb is the legitimate heir and is of utmost importance."