“Whew, that’s done. Most of the toxins have been removed. The rest can be cleared with some ordinary detox medicine—I’m sure Madam will handle it. Let’s go.”
Seeing her vomit blood and her complexion change, Wanqing sighed lightly, wiping the fine sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. Of course, she wasn’t nervous—she was furious. Furious at her father’s incompetence, the kind that couldn’t even pull a rope from a well. Even if he wasn’t her biological father, he was still her adoptive father, and worse, the man who might abandon his own daughter to save his beloved Suxiang.
After a brief glance at Liu-shi, who had obediently stood aside while she treated Mu Wanxia with acupuncture, she instructed Honglian to pack up and leave.
But just as she finished packing and was about to step away, Mu Wanxia, who had shown signs of improvement, suddenly convulsed violently, vomiting several more mouthfuls of blood before her body stiffened abruptly.
The sight made Liu-shi and Mu Zhenfeng freeze in shock, and even Wanqing turned back in surprise.
“Madam, the young mistress, she—she—”
A maid by Mu Wanxia’s side, noticing everyone’s reaction, watched as Mu Wanxia vomited more blood before going completely still. Her eyes widened in terror, and with trembling hands, she cautiously reached out to check Mu Wanxia’s breath.
Finding none, she looked up in horror at Liu-shi and cried, “What’s wrong with Xia’er? What happened? Xia’er! Master, Xia’er—it’s her! This woman killed Xia’er! Master!”
Liu-shi, who had just been relieved by her daughter’s earlier improvement, now paled in horror. Stumbling to the bedside, she placed a shaking hand under Mu Wanxia’s nose.
Her face drained of color, she staggered back, clutching her blood-stained robes, and pointed a trembling finger at Wanqing. “You—you vile wretch! You killed my Xia’er! How dare you—!”
Mu Zhenfeng, equally stunned, stepped forward. When he confirmed Mu Wanxia had no breath, his face turned ashen, and he whirled on Wanqing. “Qing’er, what—what is this?”
“Let me check…” Wanqing frowned. If only Liu-shi and her maid had reacted this way, she wouldn’t have cared. But Mu Zhenfeng’s shock made her uneasy. She hurried forward.
“How could this happen? Honglian, bring the silver needles. Now!”
Wanqing rushed to the bedside, pushing Liu-shi aside with a cold expression as she began administering acupuncture to Mu Wanxia.
“You—you venomous little witch! Stay away from her! Don’t touch her!” Liu-shi shrieked, her face twisted in rage. Though she had been confident in the poison she’d used, Wanqing’s skill unnerved her. She lunged forward, screaming like a madwoman, her usual noble demeanor gone, replaced by sheer hysteria.
“Restrain her. Be careful—she might still have poison on her.”
Wanqing barely glanced up, her brow furrowed as she continued working. If not for wanting to uncover the mastermind behind this, she would have already sent Liu-shi to the underworld with a handful of powder.
“Don’t touch her! You wretched girl! You killed my daughter, and now you pretend to save her? I’ll tear you apart!”
Though Chunlan and Xiazhu held Liu-shi back, she thrashed wildly, her screams filling the room.
“Silence!” Wanqing snapped, finally looking up. “If you want your daughter to live, stop your screeching. And if you think you can intimidate me, think again. If you keep this up, I’ll send her to the underworld right now and spare her the pain of this poison.”
Liu-shi froze at the threat, her eyes darting to the dagger Wanqing now held at Mu Wanxia’s chest.
“Master, listen to her! Xia’er was only unconscious before—she still had breath! But after this girl ‘saved’ her, she’s gone! And now she dares to threaten me—!”
Liu-shi turned to Mu Zhenfeng, her voice trembling with feigned grief.
“Father, if you trust her, then prepare to bury your precious daughter. I’ve never seen a mother refuse to let someone save her child when there’s still a chance.”
Mu Zhenfeng hesitated, torn between his love for his eldest daughter and his growing distrust of Liu-shi.
“I can wake her up,” Wanqing said firmly. “And let me be clear—Elder Sister was poisoned before, but someone added more poison while I was treating her. That’s why it worsened.”
Her words were a clear accusation, and Liu-shi’s face twitched.
“Master, what nonsense is this? Who would—?”
“Enough,” Mu Zhenfeng cut in, his patience fraying. “The important thing is Xia’er’s life. Qing’er, do what you must. I trust you.”
With his approval, Wanqing focused fully on Mu Wanxia’s treatment. An hour later, she finally withdrew the needles.
“She’ll wake soon. Follow my prescription, and she’ll recover fully in three days.” Wanqing handed the prescription to a maid, then turned to Liu-shi, her voice icy.
“Madam, I must say—I’m curious. How could you poison your own daughter? Your heart must be truly…”
She left the sentence hanging, her gaze piercing as Liu-shi stiffened.
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