"How is the wound?"
"Something else got into the wound, which is why she's been burning up and the bleeding won't stop," Ye Qing looked at Xiao Man's pale, bloodless face.
Xiao Man hadn't done anything wicked, so why would someone want her dead?
"Is it serious?"
"Fortunately, it was discovered in time. I'm already preparing the medicine. Once it's ready and applied to the wound, the bleeding will stop." Ye Qing sped up his movements.
Qiu Tong thought it was an accident, but Ying Xue was more observant, "Doctor Ye, what was it that got onto my mistress's wound?"
"Scorpion stone powder," Ye Qing said slowly. "This scorpion stone powder is non-toxic; it even has the effect of promoting blood circulation and dispelling stasis. However, for someone with an external wound, scorpion stone powder is indeed fatal. It causes uncontrollable bleeding, prevents healing, and triggers internal heat toxins, leading to a persistent high fever." Su Dan Novel Network
Ying Xue quietly noted the name, planning to have someone investigate further later.
Besides the few of them in this courtyard, no one else had been near their mistress. There must have been a problem originating from the old madam, which led to Xiao Man's condition.
Xiao Zhen returned to the small building within half an hour. He had changed into casual clothes, his facial features stern, his thin lips pressed together, and his eyes fixed on the unconscious Xiao Man.
The old madam had waited in the courtyard all day. She had already planned how to respond if Xiao Zhen came to question her. However, from her initial confidence to growing unease, Xiao Zhen had not arrived, and her anxiety intensified.
"Granny Xu, is the General still in the manor?"
Granny Xu sighed. Knowing that the General cherished their eldest young lady like his own eyes, the old madam still insisted on punishing her severely.
Thinking of the eldest young lady's injuries, Granny Xu said, "After the General returned, he went to the palace to invite the imperial physician and has been at Shuiyue Xiaozhu since. The madam and the concubines wanted to visit but were all turned away."
"My eldest daughter, how is she now?" Seeing Xiao Zhen constantly guarding Shuiyue Xiaozhu, the old madam was immediately worried.
She had instructed them to be ruthless. Could Xiao Man truly be in a bad condition?
"Doctor Ye has not left Shuiyue Xiaozhu. I asked the steward, and he said the eldest young lady's condition is not good. She has been unconscious and hasn't woken up yet. The General is extremely anxious."
The old madam swallowed. She said stubbornly, "I was merely angry that she caused trouble, so I administered a slight punishment. Who knew she was so fragile? Her health has always been good, and she's a martial artist. How could a few strokes of the rod result in such a serious condition?"
Granny Xu's expression was awkward. "Old Madam, in your anger at the time, you likely administered more than thirty strokes. The eldest young lady fainted on the spot, her clothes soaked with blood. After being carried back, she has not woken up. You also refused to let her see a doctor, and this delay has only worsened her condition. At this time, no one is allowed into Shuiyue Xiaozhu. You shouldn't go either, lest the General see the eldest young lady unconscious and so severely injured, and become angry with you."
The old madam's fingers tightened slightly. Hearing Granny Xu's words, she nodded gravely.
She had thought that by beating Xiao Man, she would vent her anger. Who knew it would lead to so much trouble? If she had known Xiao Man was so fragile, she wouldn't have ordered such a heavy punishment.
"Why didn't you stop me then?"
Granny Xu dared not answer. She had tried, but she couldn't stop her. The madam had incited the old madam in just a few words, making her want to beat the eldest young lady to death. If the old madam and the eldest young lady fell out, the manor would be under the madam's control!
***
The physician had not left Shuiyue Xiaozhu since entering. The madam and concubines in the manor were all concerned about the situation at Shuiyue Xiaozhu.
The third concubine, due to the second young lady falling into the water and catching a cold, did not dare to call for a doctor or even go near the entrance of Shuiyue Xiaozhu, for fear of incurring Xiao Zhen's wrath.
Concubine Lin was also looking after her own daughter, staying hidden in her courtyard. At this time, whoever went out would be unlucky. Fortunately, Xiao Man's beating had nothing to do with her.
"Concubine, is Elder Sister truly not going to make it?"
"Hush, don't speak nonsense," Concubine Lin put a finger to her lips, telling the fourth young lady not to talk carelessly. When the General was not in the manor, they could say whatever they pleased, but once the General returned, some words could not be spoken, or they would bring trouble upon themselves.
The fourth young lady lowered her voice and asked, "Concubine, will Elder Sister be alright?"
"Whether she will be alright or not depends on tomorrow," Concubine Lin said slowly. If Xiao Man survived the night, she would essentially be out of danger.
If Xiao Man truly passed away, the General might not do anything to the old madam. However, there was still the eldest young master in Yunzhong City. The eldest young master treasured the eldest young lady like a treasure. If Xiao Man were to be beaten to death by the old madam, their eldest young master would not show the old madam any mercy!
When Xiao Man was being beaten, the third concubine had intended to go and gloat, but she was stopped by Xiao Xiang.
Xiao Xiang hugged her quilt, shivering. Xiao Man's gaze was too terrifying.
She could only imagine that if she fell into Xiao Man's hands again, Xiao Man would kill her without hesitation!
***
After Ye Qing finished preparing the medicine, he had someone apply it to Xiao Man. Finally, the bleeding stopped, and the fever subsided.
Xiao Zhen had been guarding the room, his face terrifyingly grim. The maids were all trembling, afraid that Xiao Zhen would punish them too if he was displeased.
"Who was attending the young lady when she was beaten?"
Ying Xue quickly knelt down. "Replying to the General, it was I who was attending the young lady?"
"Why was the young lady punished?"
"It was for the young lady's confrontation with the Crown Prince," Ying Xue said immediately. "The second young lady and our young lady received an invitation to the Prime Minister's manor's flower viewing banquet a few days ago and went together. The second young lady fell into the water and returned to the manor early. Our young lady had a verbal altercation with Miss Du Qiu Ruo, the daughter of Minister Du, at the flower viewing banquet. Miss Du insulted the General by calling him a... an ill-bred brute. In her anger, our young lady taught Miss Du a lesson."
Ying Xue looked up at Xiao Zhen as she spoke. Seeing that Xiao Zhen had no expression, she continued, "The Crown Prince reprimanded our young lady for being lawless. Our young lady retorted, saying the Crown Prince was shielding the person who insulted the General, and asked if the Crown Prince intended to have Miss Du use her silver tongue to repel the enemy forces? Miss Du then falsely accused His Highness Prince Qin of favoritism and breaking the law. His Highness Prince Qin was angered and ordered Miss Du's tongue to be pulled out."
"Who informed the old madam that the young lady had confronted the Crown Prince?"
"It was the Crown Prince," Ying Xue replied. "After the incident with Miss Du, everyone returned to their respective manors. We left the Prime Minister's manor before the Crown Prince, but when we returned to the manor, the Crown Prince had already arrived at the General's manor. After the old madam saw the Crown Prince off, she immediately had our young lady tied up and beaten like this."