As soon as Wang Qingyao left, Old Madam Wang scrambled out of bed.
Watching Wang Qingyao’s receding figure, she couldn’t help but curse softly.
Seeing Gu Shi still standing by the bed, her resentment turned to her.
“You don’t even try to stop the Princess, always acting like a dead person.”
Gu Shi lowered her head meekly, not uttering a single word in rebuttal.
After Old Madam Wang had cursed for a while, and Gu Shi hadn’t responded at all, it felt like punching cotton, utterly pointless. She gave Gu Shi a cold glance and said, “Go and call the cousin over for me.”
He Rufang lived in Old Madam Wang’s courtyard. When Wang Qingyao had arrived earlier, she had already lifted the curtain and peeked a few times.
Seeing that Wang Qingyao was not as beautiful as herself, she felt incredibly happy.
Instantly, she felt that her own turn to shine was coming.
Gu Shi called He Rufang to Old Madam Wang’s room. Old Madam Wang used an excuse to send Gu Shi away and then told He Rufang what had just happened.
“That brat refused! Hmph, she puts on airs of a Princess with me. I am her own grandmother, isn’t she afraid of being struck by lightning! I hadn’t even spoken, and she ran off like her tail was on fire, even saying she’d invite an imperial physician. It’s obvious she doesn’t trust me.”
Old Madam Wang was indignant about Wang Qingyao’s disobedience.
He Rufang was a resourceful person. Her dark, bright eyes darted around, and she leaned close to Old Madam Wang’s ear, saying, “Great-Aunt, why don’t you play along with her plan? Since the Princess of Ding’an doesn’t believe you, then you should pretend to be gravely ill for her to see. I don’t believe she’d dare to refuse if her own grandmother were dying!”
Old Madam Wang was old and couldn’t stand the word “dying.” She frowned slightly upon hearing it, but ultimately said nothing, only asking, “But the doctor said I just ate too much and didn’t sleep well. If an imperial physician comes later, everything will be exposed.”
He Rufang patted her chest, a confident smile appearing on her face. “Great-Aunt, don’t worry, leave it to me.”
He Rufang’s maternal grandfather was a barefoot doctor, and she had learned a bit from him through constant exposure.
This superficial knowledge wasn’t enough to treat illnesses and save lives, but it was sufficient for some minor tricks and illusions.
He Rufang was intelligent, but her intelligence wasn’t applied to proper pursuits.
When she had learned that her maternal grandfather was a doctor, she had pestered him to teach her acupuncture and how to use it to alter a person’s pulse, making it appear as if they had an illness inconsistent with their actual condition.
She was beautiful, and young at the time. Her grandfather doted on her and thought she was just playing.
Little did he know, she had learned it precisely because she believed altering one’s pulse would be beneficial to her in the future.
Wang Qingyao returned to the Wang manor and indeed sent someone to inform the palace.
The Princess of Ding’an carried considerable weight, and Imperial Physician Lu happened to be free, so he accompanied her to the Wang residence.
Wang Qingyao had subtly explained Old Madam Wang’s intentions beforehand, so Imperial Physician Lu had an idea of the situation.
When they arrived at the Wang residence, Imperial Physician Lu took Old Madam Wang’s pulse several times, and each time it indicated a pulse of someone in the throes of death.
He and Wang Qingyao went outside to speak.
“Reporting to the Princess of Ding’an, the old madam is likely beyond saving.”
Wang Qingyao was genuinely surprised this time. It wasn’t an act?
Gu Shi also showed a look of astonishment, her gaze lingering on Imperial Physician Lu as if she wanted to say something but hesitated several times.
“Madam Wang, please speak your mind,” Imperial Physician Lu said, noticing Gu Shi’s unusual demeanor.
Gu Shi hesitated for a moment and then said, “The previous doctor only said that the old madam had eaten too much, harming her stomach, and with the hot weather, she wasn’t sleeping well at night. There was no serious illness.”
Imperial Physician Lu’s expression turned grave. “The pulse I felt is indeed that of someone in the throes of death. If Madam does not believe me, you can invite more physicians to examine her.”
Gu Shi had the same thought.
Wang Qingyao trusted Imperial Physician Lu’s medical skills and asked directly, “How much longer does the old madam have to live?”
Gu Shi’s eyelids twitched.
“Only a few more days,” Imperial Physician Lu replied.
Wow, that fast.
Gu Shi’s face changed color.
She couldn’t understand it; Old Madam Wang had clearly been faking.
After Imperial Physician Lu left, Wang Qingyao entered the room and saw that another person had appeared.
A very beautiful woman, appearing to be in her early twenties. She exuded an air of pride and allure, which intertwined to create a uniquely captivating aura.
Wang Qingyao knew who she was.
He Rufang.
She had to admit, He Rufang was indeed a beauty.
However, she was currently “blind,” so it was inconvenient to offer any opinions.
Old Madam Wang coughed and said to He Rufang, “Fangfang, quickly pay your respects to your cousin.” Then, turning to Wang Qingyao, she said, “This is your cousin, He Rufang, whom I told you about.”
He Rufang paid her respects to Wang Qingyao. Wang Qingyao nodded slightly, offering no pleasantries.
Old Madam Wang’s temper flared at this, and wiping her eyes, she said, “Now you believe me, don’t you? Your grandmother doesn’t have many days left. The only thing your grandmother worries about is you…”
Old Madam Wang kept repeating the same few phrases: she was dying, Wang Qingyao was blind again, she was afraid she would be bullied, and she wanted He Rufang to look after her.
Wang Qingyao found herself in a difficult position.
In ancient times, filial piety was paramount.
She couldn’t disregard her own grandmother’s dying wishes.
However, she felt the entire situation was too coincidental.
She looked at He Rufang again, and this time, she spotted silver needles on her.
Using silver needles to alter one’s pulse was a plot device Wang Qingyao had encountered many times in palace intrigue novels, and she immediately understood.
With her excellent acting skills, tears immediately welled up in her eyes. “Grandmother will surely live a long and healthy life. Tomorrow, I will invite the Grand Tutor of Fengfu Kingdom to see you. Grandmother, have you forgotten? The Grand Tutor cured your insomnia once.”
She sobbed, “If Grandmother truly, truly… Yao Yao will certainly abide by Grandmother’s dying wish and bring Cousin back to the Ding’an Prince’s manor!”