LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 34
Yuan Qingling stood up and moved her sore and soft hands around. Her shoulders and neck were also aching and she could barely endure it anymore.
She took a look around, none of the people present had the qualifications of intern doctors, let alone nurses, so she couldn't rely on anyone else.
"Consort Yuan, if you are really tired, why not call for your personal maid to come and help you, she is quite skilled with needles and threads." Xu Yi awkwardly suggested, trying to regain some face after embarrassing himself earlier.
"If Prince Qi were a piece of clothing, I could indeed ask my maid to come and help." Yuan Qingling lightly responded.
Prince Qi really couldn't hold it in any longer, "What are you doing? The wounds will naturally heal, why do you have to stitch them up?"
It looked like this woman knew a thing or two about medicine, but it wasn't orthodox medicine, rather some witch doctor's skills. That box of hers was a witch doctor's box.
If it wasn't for his grandfather the Emperor's orders, he wouldn't have let her mess around like this.
What was most laughable was her saying that his blood wasn't suitable for the 5th Prince. He and the 5th Prince had the same father, their bloodline was connected, how could it not be used?
Yuan Qingling didn't even want to bother with him, she turned around slowly, rotating her neck to relax.
Prince Qi was so angry he wanted to spit blood. What Consort Yu said was completely right, this Yuan Qingling, full of lies and arrogance, forgot herself and looked down on everyone else.
He firmly believed that the reason why the 5th Prince's condition had improved was because of his Purple Gold Elixir.
Not because of Yuan Qingling.
And this detestable Yuan Qingling actually continued sewing up the wounds.
In between, Yuwen Hao had woken up briefly, but he wasn't fully conscious and vaguely looked at Yuan Qingling before passing out again.
Yuan Qingling knew he was in great pain, because even when unconscious, his body would still tremble slightly from the agony. But there was nothing she could do, as there was no more anesthetic left in the medicine box.
This was very strange, it was as if the medicine box held some grudge against Yuwen Hao. Yuan Qingling had seen a bottle of anesthetic in there just yesterday, but now no matter how she searched, it couldn't be found.
It seemed the medicine box had a mind of its own, feeling that Yuwen Hao was too detestable, so it refused to provide anesthetic for him.
As Yuan Qingling stitched the wounds, she pondered to herself that perhaps the medicine box was a manifestation of her own subconscious. And everything she was facing now was merely a dream.
Finding joy in hardship was impossible, as human life was at stake here. After treating the wounds, it was almost noon.
She continued the blood transfusion and IV drip to bring down inflammation. Finally by evening, his condition had stabilized somewhat.
But there was still no cause for optimism, as the extent of internal injuries remained unknown. It was uncertain whether his condition would deteriorate again overnight.
Yuan Qingling let the others rest in shifts, while she quickly ate something and laid down a mat to nap for a while herself.
When it was almost the hour of the rooster, Eunuch Chang came to ask about the situation. Tong Yang hurriedly woke Yuan Qingling up.
As Yuan Qingling climbed up from the floor, she saw Eunuch Chang had already entered.
The way Eunuch Chang looked at her this time was full of pity. He had witnessed how difficult things had been for the Consort these days.
"How is the Prince?" Eunuch Chang softly asked.
"Better, but we'll have to observe him through the night to know for sure." Yuan Qingling replied. "How is His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus?"
"Throwing tantrums!" Eunuch Chang said helplessly. "No one can persuade him to take his medicine, not even His Majesty. He says it's too bitter."
Yuan Qingling nodded. "Let me prescribe some medicine for you to bring back to him, I'll trouble you to serve it to him."
By now, she didn't hide the fact that she knew medicine anymore. Either way, the truth about her medical knowledge would eventually come to light.
Prince Qi's eyes widened in shock. "You... you're prescribing medicine for my grandfather? Do you really know medicine?"
Eunuch Chang looked at the slow-witted Prince Qi with a smile. "Why else would His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus summon her back to the manor in the middle of the night to treat the Prince?"
Prince Qi looked at Yuan Qingling, sizing her up and down, as if seeing her for the first time.
Eunuch Chang asked Yuan Qingling again, "His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus also asked me to check on the Consort's own injuries, have they gotten better?"
Yuan Qingling sighed inwardly. In the end, the old man still cared for her.
"Please convey my thanks to His Majesty for his concern. I'm much better now."
Eunuch Chang smiled. "That's good to hear. His Majesty said for the Consort to properly nurse her wounds and strengthen her constitution. I guess the next round of punishment won't be far off. Only with a strong constitution can one withstand fiercer storms."
Yuan Qingling lowered her eyes, silently taking back what she had just thought. This rotten old man was wicked through and through.
Prince Qi glared at Yuan Qingling enviously. He knew that his grandfather's words always contained double meanings like this. The more he doted on someone, the more he would say such things.
How did this woman manage to gain such care from his grandfather? Just by serving in the palace for a few days, she had gained such favor.
After Eunuch Chang left, Prince Qi looked at Yuan Qingling and asked lightly, "Just what have you used to bewitch my grandfather?"
Yuan Qingling's eyes glanced at him briefly, not wanting to bother with him.
"I'm talking to you, how can you be so rude?" Prince Qi was very angry.
Without even lifting her head, Yuan Qingling directly said, "Go back to your manor!"
"What do you mean?" Prince Qi was stunned for a moment, what did going back to his manor have to do with anything? Weren't they talking about her lack of manners?
"I'm telling you to leave!" Yuan Qingling said bluntly.
"On what grounds can you do that?" Prince Qi asked furiously, his neck bulging.
Yuan Qingling replied, "This is the Prince Chu manor, I am the Princess Consort of Chu. That's my grounds."
Prince Qi was extremely irritated. He flung his arms and said, "Don't even think about making me leave. I'm staying here to keep an eye on you, to prevent you from plotting anything."
"If you don't leave, then shut your mouth!" Yuan Qingling glared at him, then went to fetch a thermometer to check Yuwen Hao's temperature.
Prince Qi sat to the side, puffed up with anger. He secretly vowed that once the 5th Prince recovered, he would definitely have him properly punish this woman.
Since Prince Qi refused to leave, after taking Yuwen Hao's temperature Yuan Qingling left. His temperature had gradually gone down, so she could step out for a while.
She went to check on Huoge'er.
Seeing Yuan Qingling arrive, Huoge’er’s wet nurse immediately stood up.
Huoge’er's condition had indeed improved a lot. The wounds were slowly healing. Yuan Qingling examined him and said in relief, "Very good, the cornea hasn't been damaged, his vision won't be affected."
Huoge’er knelt on the ground. "This slave pays his respects to the Consort."
"Stand up, what's a child like you saying slave for?" Yuan Qingling pulled him up with one hand, smiling as she rubbed his forehead.
Huoge’er was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor. He nervously glanced at his wet nurse, whose expression was very complicated. The Consort seemed to have become a totally different person, her change was unbelievable.
Thinking of how she had betrayed the Consort in the past, the wet nurse felt very uneasy. She wanted to apologize but also feared that Yuan Qingling's change was only temporary. If she brought up her past betrayal, the Consort might settle scores later, and her future days would be miserable.
After sending Huoge’er away, Yuan Qingling sat down and asked his wet nurse, "What is the Purple Gold Elixir? How does it harm the human body?"
The wet nurse's eyes darkened a little as she was reminded that Yuan Qingling had drunk the Purple Gold Elixir before.
"Did the Consort vomit blood from it?" The wet nurse asked.
"Yes, I vomited blood three times in the palace." Yuan Qingling replied.
"Apart from vomiting blood, were there any other discomforts?" The wet nurse was slightly nervous now.