Qingfeng Courtyard
Early in the morning, Xing'er carried a basin of warm water to Leng Ruo Li’s door.
"Miss, are you awake? Your maid is here to help you wash up," Xing'er knocked gently and asked in a soft voice.
"I'm awake, please wait a moment," Leng Ruo Li replied. She quickly opened the door and let Xing'er in.
"Miss, I overheard some servants in the kitchen saying that Concubine Liu has contracted a strange illness. They've invited doctors from all over the capital, but none can diagnose the cause. Even the Imperial Physician Zhang from the palace came, but he was also helpless," Xing'er said with a hint of schadenfreude.
"Is that so?"
Leng Ruo Li sneered inwardly upon hearing this. The itching powder she, Leng Ruo Li, had developed was not so easily diagnosed by ordinary doctors.
"Miss, you have no idea how chaotic Concubine Liu's courtyard has become. Even Prince Qing..."
As she mentioned Prince Qing, Xing'er suddenly realized her mistake and quickly covered her mouth. She had brought up the most sensitive topic. If her young lady found out that Prince Qing had come to the General's mansion not to see her, how disappointed she would be.
"Xing'er, it's alright. I don't like Prince Qing anymore, and I'm planning to break off our engagement."
Leng Ruo Li spoke in a calm tone. She felt it wasn't worth getting angry over a scumbag like Prince Qing.
Xing'er, however, was shocked. She thought she had just heard her young lady say, "She doesn't like Prince Qing anymore and wants to break off the engagement."
It was as if the sun had risen from the west.
"Miss, have you really come to your senses? That's wonderful! In fact, your maid and Granny Hua have always told you that Prince Qing is not a suitable husband for you. But you just wouldn't listen to our advice, and you'd still secretly try to please him, only to be humiliated by him," Xing'er said excitedly.
"Don't worry, your lady is not foolish anymore and will no longer try to please him. I can promise you that."
Hearing this, Xing'er was genuinely happy for Leng Ruo Li.
After Leng Ruo Li finished washing, she first checked on Ling'er's injuries. Upon returning to her room, she changed into a tattered outfit, deliberately made herself look dirty, and revealed the dark spots on her face. Then, she walked out of Qingfeng Courtyard.
Meanwhile, Yuhua Courtyard was bustling with activity. The servants had brewed the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Zhang and administered it to Concubine Liu. However, the medicine showed no effect.
Concubine Liu was still unbearably itchy, and the red bumps on her body had increased. She became even more irritable and irrational, causing those around her to run around in a frenzy.
To prevent Concubine Liu from scratching herself and causing further harm, Leng Ruo Shuang had no choice but to have a few maids tie up Concubine Liu's hands and also have Ah Man acupressure her tongue-tied point.
"Imperial Physician Zhang, my mother still isn't getting better after taking this medicine," Leng Ruo Shuang said, a hint of anger in her voice.
"Miss Leng the Second, as I said earlier, this medicine might not be effective," Imperial Physician Zhang said, also feeling annoyed.
"You..."
As Leng Ruo Shuang was about to say something,
a beggar dressed in tattered rags suddenly rushed in, startling the women in the room into shrieking.
"Who let this beggar in?" Leng Ruo Shuang roared at the doorway in disbelief.
At that moment, a clear and pleasant voice rang out.
"Second Sister, it's me."
"Leng Ruo Li, why are you dressed like this?"
Leng Ruo Shuang exclaimed in astonishment after clearly seeing Leng Ruo Li's face.
"Second Sister, didn't you tell me before that if I dressed like this to see Brother Prince Qing, he would like me? I'm dressed like this today just to see Brother Prince Qing."
"Pfft... Haha..."
Imperial Physician Zhang almost choked with laughter upon hearing Leng Ruo Li's words. He had lived for so many years and had never heard of anyone liking another person dressed as a beggar. He could only be deceiving this foolish girl.
Leng Ruo Shuang felt very embarrassed by Imperial Physician Zhang's laughter. She had indeed said that to Leng Ruo Li before, with the intention of making Prince Qing dislike her even more.
However, she, Leng Ruo Shuang, would never admit to saying that. So, she retorted, "Eldest Sister, you must be mistaken. I never taught you that."
Damn it!
Leng Ruo Li couldn't be bothered to argue with her. Her intention today was not only to disgust Leng Ruo Shuang and Prince Qing, this pair of scumbags, but also to cause some trouble.
Leng Ruo Li looked up at the tall figure in the room. This person was none other than Prince Qing, Jun Mo Yao.
Although Prince Qing had handsome features and appeared gentle, refined, and sophisticated on the surface, he was far inferior to Prince Han, whom she had saved before.
However, this kind of man was the easiest to deceive women.
And the elderly man standing beside him was likely Imperial Physician Zhang.
He appeared to be around fifty years old, with a slender build, dark skin, and graying hair. His sunken eyes were particularly bright, and he had a short, sparse gray beard that looked rather comical, but overall, he appeared very spirited.
"Brother Prince Qing, Li'er hasn't seen you for many days. Why haven't you come to play with Li'er?" Leng Ruo Li said pitifully.
Prince Qing looked at her with disgust, especially at the prominent dark spot on her face, which made him feel sick.
Didn't Leng Ruo Shuang tell him that Concubine Liu had sent people to take Leng Ruo Li away from the capital to be killed?
How was she still alive and well?
Prince Qing looked at Leng Ruo Shuang with a face full of confusion.
Leng Ruo Shuang felt wronged by Prince Qing's accusing gaze. She wanted Leng Ruo Li dead more than anyone, so she could replace Leng Ruo Li and marry Prince Qing, thereby enjoying endless glory and wealth.
"Eldest Sister, there are outsiders here. A young lady shouldn't behave like this,"
Leng Ruo Shuang reminded her gently.
"Second Sister, I'm not like you, secretly hiding in a room with Brother Prince Qing, stripping off our clothes, and fighting."
As soon as she said this, everyone in the room blushed.
"Eldest Sister, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Leng Ruo Shuang's face instantly turned red, and she stared intently at Leng Ruo Li, her eyes almost spitting fire, wishing she could pounce on her and tear her apart immediately.
This little slut was truly an idiot, saying anything she dared.
"Second Sister, don't be angry. I won't say anything more, I won't say anymore."
With that, Leng Ruo Li immediately rushed towards Prince Qing and grabbed his arm.
"Brother Prince Qing, please save me. Second Sister is going to hit me again."
Leng Ruo Li blinked her large eyes and said pitifully.
Before Prince Qing could dodge, Leng Ruo Li tightly gripped his arm, and his face turned ashen.
He tried to shake off Leng Ruo Li's hand forcefully, but after several attempts, he couldn't break free from her grip.
He was utterly perplexed. How did he not realize this ugly woman had such strength before?
Suddenly, someone shouted, "Oh no, Concubine Liu is foaming at the mouth!"
Leng Ruo Li finally let go of Prince Qing's arm and followed the crowd to see Concubine Liu.
But no one noticed the cunning glint in Leng Ruo Li's eyes.
Heh heh, her scheme had worked again. Jun Mo Yao, just you wait, you'll have your share of trouble too.
"Quick, quick, unseal Concubine Liu's tongue-tied acupoint so she can cry out."
Ah Man quickly unsealed Concubine Liu's tongue-tied acupoint.
Concubine Liu immediately let out a cry of "Ah—" and fainted.
Imperial Physician Zhang, with quick hands and eyes, extended his hand to check Concubine Liu's pulse, and then his face was filled with surprise.
"Heavens, who poisoned her? This is so perverse."
Imperial Physician Zhang finally understood Concubine Liu's condition. He had been treating her symptoms as an allergic reaction.
"Your Highness, Concubine Liu has been poisoned. Moreover, it's an unknown poison, but it won't endanger her life. It will just... make her suffer for three days. After three days, the poison will disappear on its own, and there is no cure otherwise."
As soon as Imperial Physician Zhang finished speaking, Leng Ruo Li cast an appreciative glance at him.
This Imperial Physician Zhang was indeed extraordinary, to be able to diagnose the modern poison powder she, Leng Ruo Li, had developed through pulse-taking.
Not bad, not bad.
If it were her, without the instruments in the lab, she wouldn't have been able to quickly determine that Concubine Liu was poisoned.
"Then what should we do? Let my mother suffer like this for three days? Everyone will go mad," Leng Ruo Shuang said anxiously, hopping on the spot.
"Miss Leng the Second, this humble one is also powerless."
With that, Imperial Physician Zhang turned and bid farewell to Prince Qing. Since he could not cure the poison, there was no need for him to stay.
And not long after Imperial Physician Zhang left, Prince Qing said to Leng Ruo Shuang, "Shuang'er, there are urgent matters to attend to at my mansion, so I cannot stay with you. I will visit you another day."
Leng Ruo Shuang watched Prince Qing leave hastily as well, feeling a sense of loss.