Cui Xianrong's hand paused, his face showing displeasure. "Miss Song, are you doubting my medical skills?"
In this room, he was the supreme authority. Being questioned about his authority, he felt offended.
His first acupuncture needle was inserted into the Shenting acupoint.
The second needle was about to be inserted into the Chengjiang acupoint under the lips.
Although Song Wanchu didn't know much about acupuncture and pharmacology, she once bled profusely after donating her heart - blood. When Shen Yuhe used acupuncture to stop her bleeding, these were the first two acupoints she had targeted.
She didn't back down because of Cui Xianrong's aggressiveness. Staring into his eyes, she said, "Liang Yuzhou has a blood clot in his brain, and what's needed is dredging. However, the Shenting and Chengjiang acupoints you're targeting are for stopping bleeding and congealing qi. Are you sure that inserting the needles won't make the blood clot in his brain even bigger?"
The hand that Cui Xianrong held the silver needle with was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
He wasn't sure if Song Wanchu was just half - knowledgeable and got lucky, or if she had a deep understanding of acupuncture points. In any case, his scheme had been exposed as soon as he started.
He thought that Liang Yuzhou, lying on the couch like a dead man, could be at his mercy.
But he never expected to be foiled by a young woman.
He swallowed hard, clearly flustered, and forced out an awkward smile. "I wasn't actually aiming for the Chengjiang acupoint. I've been busy all morning, and my mind is a bit muddled. I missed my mark."
Song Wanchu's eyes were clear and bright, as if they could pierce through people's hearts.
She saw through his lie but didn't expose it. "Since Lord Cui is tired, you'd better go and rest first. A human life is at stake. We can't let a missed mark of yours ruin the reputation of your renowned medical family, right?"
Cui Xianrong felt his face burn with embarrassment. He hurriedly packed his medicine chest and left in a flurry, as if fleeing.
But just a moment later, he returned dejectedly, with a pleading look on his face. "Miss Song, it was really just a momentary mistake on my part. The Crown Prince has so many affairs to attend to. Please don't bother him with such a trivial matter."
Song Wanchu lowered her eyes and didn't answer him. She carefully tucked in the quilt for Liang Yuzhou.
Cui Xianrong was just another "Xu Mufeng".
She didn't need to speak ill of him in front of the Crown Prince. As long as the Crown Prince wasn't blind, he would notice that many of his subordinates were vying to impress him and gain credit.
Cui Xianrong left, looking extremely uneasy.
Not long after, Xiao Anzi came in.
He was beaming, carrying a tray of delicate breakfast.
As the Crown Prince's personal attendant, even court officials would show respect and curry favor with him. It was truly beneath his dignity to serve her breakfast in person.
Song Wanchu got off the couch and bowed to express her gratitude.
Xiao Anzi glanced at the unconscious Liang Yuzhou, looking worried.
He had been closely observing Cui Xianrong. He was certain that Cui Xianrong would try to harm Liang Yuzhou, but he wouldn't do it openly and fatally, as that would ruin his reputation.
Instead, he would surely tamper with the acupuncture or the prescribed medicine.
Sure enough, he was caught red - handed by Miss Song.
"Miss Song, Cui Xianrong's medical skills are poor. Your elder brother has already gone to find a new doctor. I'm sure he'll be here soon."
Xiao Anzi tried his best to comfort Song Wanchu.
He was afraid that Song Wanchu would be overly suspicious and say more hurtful things to the Crown Prince.
Song Wanchu just smiled faintly. "Is it that his medical skills are poor, or his medical ethics are lacking?"
Xiao Anzi moved his lips but couldn't utter a single word.
Women who were too smart were really hard to deal with!
A sarcastic smile played on Song Wanchu's lips. "I guess Lord Cui must have a well - thought - out plan. First, he'll use acupuncture and herbal medicine to 'worsen' Liang Yuzhou's condition, and then he'll pretend to try his best to save him.
But since Liang Yuzhou's 'injuries are too severe' and there's no way to reverse the situation, he'll manage to keep Liang Yuzhou alive, but won't be able to save his eyesight.
After this plan is carried out, Liang Yuzhou will be completely blind, but his reputation as a family of imperial physicians won't be damaged. Without lifting a finger, he'll eliminate a major threat to the Crown Prince and become a great hero to the Crown Prince."
She spoke calmly, but Xiao Anzi started to panic.
He tried to force a smile, but it looked more painful than a cry.
"Miss, this is all Cui Xianrong's own doing. It's not the Crown Prince's order! The Crown Prince is noble - minded and upright. He would never use such immoral means to harm others!"
Xiao Anzi was telling the truth, but in the face of Song Wanchu's sarcastic smile, his words sounded like a guilty man's excuse.
The Crown Prince was clearly innocent.
Why did he feel so powerless, as if he couldn't defend himself no matter how hard he tried?
Damn Xu Mufeng! Damn Cui Xianrong!
Song Wanchu was seething with anger. She was rational enough to know that she shouldn't take it out on Xiao Anzi.
But she was so frustrated that she had to let it out. "Whether it's Xu Mufeng or Cui Xianrong, they're both close subordinates of the Crown Prince. They'll follow his orders and try to figure out his thoughts. The reason they're all vying to kill Liang Yuzhou is because of that one sentence from the Crown Prince, isn't it?"
Just then, the Crown Prince happened to be standing at the door. Every word of this conversation reached his ears.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, as if falling into an endless abyss, surrounded by panic and darkness.
Wanchu was resenting him!
When Xiao Anzi returned to the Crown Prince's room, the Crown Prince was reclining on the couch, his eyes vacant as he stared into the void.
"Your Highness, Xu Mufeng and Cui Xianrong misinterpreted your intentions and tried to harm Liang Yuzhou to gain power. Their motives are despicable!"
Xiao Anzi rarely gossiped about court officials. He was well - aware of his own position and influence on the Crown Prince.
He didn't want to be known as a "power - hungry" eunuch and be reviled for generations.
But Xu Mufeng and Cui Xianrong had gone too far. They had ruined the little good impression the Crown Prince had left in Miss Song's heart!
The Crown Prince's eyes moved slightly.
On his once - handsome and energetic face, there was an unprecedented sense of loneliness and desolation.
It was as if, even though he held great power and reached the peak, he only left a lonely back to the world.
Xiao Anzi couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Father has always taught me that a king must be cautious in his words and deeds. Every word he says is not a joke. Even a joke can be taken seriously by many people. If a king can't control his mouth, it will lead to unpredictable consequences."
The Crown Prince murmured to himself, smiling self - deprecatingly. His eyes were filled with endless sadness. "I've finally reaped what I sowed."
He had been cautious in his words and deeds for over twenty years. The only time he lost his temper and his rationality was when he learned that Wanchu had fled Yunzhou with Liang Yuzhou.
That was the only time he, driven by anger, said, "Kill Liang Yuzhou without mercy."
Just one sentence was enough to plunge him into the abyss, and he would never be forgiven by Wanchu.
Xiao Anzi couldn't bear to see the Crown Prince so dejected.
"Your Highness, it's never too late to mend the situation. You need to show Miss Song that you'll never tolerate such behavior. Xu Mufeng and Cui Xianrong can't be spared. Disposing of them can also serve as a warning to others!"
The Crown Prince seemed to be awakened by Xiao Anzi's words. His pupils gradually focused.
"Needless to say about Xu Mufeng. But do we have any evidence that Cui Xianrong tried to harm Liang Yuzhou?"
Xiao Anzi thought for a moment and said, "The person who went to get the medicine will be back soon. We need someone who can identify the ingredients in his prescription that are harmful to Liang Yuzhou's condition."
Whether it was handling a case or punishing someone, the Crown Prince always demanded solid evidence.
The key was, where could they find someone who could see through Cui Xianrong's tricks?