"Is there any other way?" Madam Cui asked, her composure growing with the situation.
Nan Xing shook her head. Madam had started bleeding prematurely. Although she had used acupuncture to stop the bleeding, she dared not exert any force. The fetus in her womb was also difficult to deliver.
"Nan Xing, I entrust my life and the life of the child in my womb to you. If you succeed, you will be the foremost physician in Da Wei," Madam Cui said, gripping Nan Xing's hand tightly.
"Yes, this servant will not disappoint Madam."
Nan Xing knew this was the only way to save Madam. She gathered all her focus.
Nan Xing took out a set of surgical instruments from the bottom of her medicine pouch. This set was designed by herself and crafted by the best artisans at Madam's request.
She never expected to use it on Madam for the first time.
Nan Xing first sealed several acupoints with acupuncture to prevent excessive bleeding. She then gave Madam a pill and finally disinfected her abdomen with alcohol.
"Madam, this pill will only relieve pain for the duration of one incense stick. This servant will finish as quickly as possible. It will be very painful during the process, so Madam must bear with it," Nan Xing said solemnly.
Ci An Hall
When the Old Madam saw that Madam Cui had ordered guards to block the entrance to the courtyard, she became furious. She cursed Madam Cui, wishing her a terrible death, and accused her of plotting to seize control of the Duke's mansion just as her son had fallen into trouble.
In truth, when the Old Madam first learned that her son had been demoted to Ji Zhou, she felt as though the sky had fallen. But in a flash, she realized that if the eldest son left the capital, her You'er could return. This was not necessarily a bad thing.
Moreover, he was merely demoted. The Duke's mansion still held its title. In a couple of years, when the Emperor's anger subsided, the eldest son would be able to return.
In an instant, she even conceived a brilliant plan to get rid of Madam Cui.
Childbirth was a journey through the gates of hell. If Madam Cui had any conscience, she should have miscarried upon hearing the news of her husband's misfortune, resulting in the death of both mother and child.
Once Madam Cui was dead, who would protect that little vixen Yu Mingyue in the mansion? Then, she could mold them as she pleased.
But this damnable Madam Cui, at this moment, showed no concern for her husband and had even sent guards to block her path.
The Old Madam, having originated from the marketplace, only grew more vigorous in her curses.
The commotion was not confined to the Old Madam's courtyard; the second branch of the family was also in uproar.
Zhao Shi was in the Old Madam's courtyard. Upon learning of the Duke's demotion, she had initially thought the Old Madam's plan to send people to Qing Feng Yuan to cause Madam Cui to miscarry was brilliant.
If Madam Cui was gone, she would be in charge of the household.
The Old Madam was advanced in age, the third branch was born of a concubine, and the fourth branch was not in the capital. Only she was the most suitable.
However, before this dream could fully materialize, a maidservant from Madam Cui's retinue, accompanied by guards, barged in. In front of everyone, they directly suffocated the young maidservant the Old Madam had sent.
She and her daughter were then escorted back to the second branch by the guards, who were ordered to watch their courtyard.
"You, Cui Shuang Hua, only know how to throw your weight around in your own home. It's best if the Duke never returns, and the title falls to our second master..."
*Slap!*
Zhao Shi's words were cut short as a heavy slap landed on her face.
Her hair disheveled, Zhao Shi stood stunned, clutching her face and looking at Second Master Yu. "Yu Ze Ning, have you gone mad!"
"I think you're the one who's mad! How dare you curse my elder brother? Have you lost your mind?" Yu Ze Ning had been in his room, listening to his concubine sing and having breakfast, in an excellent mood.
But the noise outside grew louder, so he came out to investigate.
He never expected to hear this foolish woman cursing his elder brother the moment he stepped out. It was unbearable.
"You hit me? I bore you children and managed the household, and you hit me for your elder brother? Have you no heart? My elder brother was just demoted, and Cui Shi blocked the courtyard entrance, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Am I not even allowed to curse a few times?" Zhao Shi's face was swollen, and her crying and shouting had completely ruined her image.