Chapter 28: Do Not Get in the Way Here

The Princess of Duan was stunned by Qi Yunyan’s words.

"You are the noble Heir of the Prince of Duan’s Mansion, yet you are acting like a lovesick fool over a lowly woman. You are going to be the death of me!"

"Without Qingyu, there is no meaning to my life as the Heir. I would rather give it all up," Qi Yunyan replied, his eyes rimmed with red.

"For her sake, you would even discard your title? You truly are something… truly…"

As the Princess of Duan spoke, her anger overwhelmed her, and she fainted. The room descended into chaos. Seeing his mother collapse, Qi Yunyan panicked. He rushed to her side, swept her up into his arms, and hurried into the inner chamber to lay her on the bed.

"Where is the physician? Call for the physician immediately!" Qi Yunyan bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Doctor Qin had just finished taking her pulse earlier and had already departed with Doctor Wang. To travel to the Tongji Clinic and back would take over an hour.

"Your Highness, we have already dispatched men to fetch the imperial physicians. They will be here soon."

But even at the fastest pace, a round trip from the palace would take at least half an hour.

Just as everyone was at a loss, Shen Mengli walked in from outside. Hearing from the maids at Snow Bamboo Abode that the Princess of Duan had been angered into a faint by Qi Yunyan at Hibiscus Pavilion, she had rushed over with her medical kit.

"Your Highness, I possess some knowledge of medicine. May I examine Mother?"

"Shen Mengli, how could you possibly know medicine? You are a woman raised in the inner chambers—where would you have learned such things?"

"My uncle’s family runs a pharmacy. Through constant exposure, I have picked up a few things."

In truth, Shen Mengli had not learned from her uncle. In her previous life, she had met a renowned master of medicine who had taken a liking to her and accepted her as a disciple. She had mastered most of his craft.

"I do not trust you. We will wait for the imperial physicians," Qi Yunyan rejected her.

"How is the Princess?"

At that moment, the Prince of Duan strode in, asking anxiously.

"Father, Mother’s condition is critical. The longer we wait, the worse it will become. If we delay, she may suffer lasting damage, which would be disastrous for her health," Shen Mengli said earnestly to the Prince.

"Father, you cannot! How could she possibly know medicine? You cannot entrust Mother’s life to her. If something goes wrong, it will be a catastrophe. Let us wait for the imperial physicians; they will be here shortly."

Seeing Qi Yunyan, the Prince of Duan’s temper flared. "You scoundrel! You dare speak? If not for your unfilial behavior, would your mother be lying here? The sight of you infuriates me. Get out of my sight at once!"

"Father, I know I am in the wrong. Once Mother recovers, I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit. But please, do not let a moment of frustration lead you to entrust Mother to her so rashly. What if she makes things worse?"

Shen Mengli spoke with sincerity, "Father, if we do not treat her now, I fear it will be too late. Look at Mother—her breathing is becoming dangerously faint."

The Prince of Duan looked down to see his wife’s face deathly pale and her breath shallow, as if she might stop breathing at any moment. He turned to Shen Mengli urgently, "Crown Princess, how confident are you in treating the Princess?"

"Barring any unforeseen complications, I am eighty percent certain."

With no other options, the Prince of Duan placed all his hope in Shen Mengli. "Very well, I leave your mother in your hands. You must ensure her safety."

As Qi Yunyan tried to protest further, his father shoved him aside. "You useless scoundrel, stop standing there and getting in the way!"