Han Qiongyue had no desire to deal with Deng Zheng any longer, and continued asking:
"Still, Ningning, this only proves that Lian'er did not hang herself. How can it prove that she is not dead?"
"After all, the imperial physician just said she couldn't be saved!"
With this question thrown out, everyone's gaze fell once more upon Deng Youning, waiting for her to speak.
"No matter how she supposedly tried to end her life, in short, I have a way to bring her back."
Deng Youning's unhurried and composed tone left Han Qiongyue completely baffled.
As far as she knew, Deng Youning knew nothing about medicine.
"Deng Youning, do you know how to practice medicine? Human lives are at stake, you must not mess around!"
Lady Gu guarded Deng Xuelian fiercely, not daring to let Deng Youning come anywhere near her.
"I can see you just want to harm Lian'er and make sure she dies for good, you vicious woman!"
"Father, Grandmother, don't believe her!"
Deng Yi glared at Deng Youning now, his eyes burning as if two fires were blazing inside them.
Deng Youning let out a cold laugh.
"If you don't believe me, then go prepare her funeral!"
She spread her hands, losing all interest in meddling further.
Han Qiongyue asked curiously: "Ningning, how confident are you?"
Deng Youning answered with absolute certainty: "One hundred percent!"
Hearing this, the crowd was shocked once again.
To be so confident even when snatching someone from the jaws of the Underworld—it seemed this young girl truly had some real skills.
"But you simply..."
Before Han Qiongyue could finish, knowing that she meant to say she knew nothing of medicine, Deng Youning interrupted her.
"Grandmother, rest assured. Previously in the valley, my senior martial brothers encountered similar symptoms. I've watched others treat them, so I'm just putting what I learned into practice."
Deng Youning smiled playfully.
It wasn't that Han Qiongyue didn't trust Deng Youning, but this matter involved a human life after all.
If she succeeded in the treatment, she would be the benefactor of the entire State Protector Estate.
If she failed, she feared that her vengeful son, daughter-in-law, and grandson would never let her go, hunting her to the ends of the earth to make her pay with her life.
She could protect her for a moment, but not for a lifetime!
Deng Zheng remained half-doubtful and did not dare let Deng Youning proceed with the treatment.
Deng Yi, however, could no longer care about anything else.
He least wanted to lose his younger sister Lian'er. Since Deng Youning claimed she had a way to cure her, they might as well let her treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
If she failed to cure her, at worst he could always settle accounts with her afterward.
Lady Gu found it equally impossible to accept the departure of her precious daughter.
"Ning, Ningning, I beg you as your mother, you must do everything in your power to save your sister."
"All these years you haven't been by our side, it has been your sister fulfilling filial duties in your place. This family cannot do without her!"
Barely a few sentences in, Lady Gu started weeping again.
Listening to these sarcastic words, Deng Youning truly found them laughable.
Such family affection—was this actually what she had given her life for in her past existence?
Indeed, no matter what she did, in this family she would always remain a sinner.
Inferior to an outsider, a servant, or even some impoverished relative looking for handouts.
The title of Second Miss of the State Protector Estate, she felt, was a mockery indeed!
"Stop talking nonsense! If you can save her, hurry up."
Deng Yi was beside himself with anxiety.
If Lian'er truly died, life would hold no meaning for him either.
The others looked at Deng Youning with the same expression as Deng Yi, all hoping she could save Deng Xuelian quickly.
"Youning, as long as you can save Lian'er, your father will give you whatever you want," Deng Zheng pleaded.
"Ningning, if Lian'er is brought back to life by you, Mother will surely take you and your sister Lian'er together, and cherish and love you both," said Lady Gu.
Deng Youning responded to their words with nothing more than a cold sneer.
As long as Deng Xuelian could be revived, Deng Zheng would give her everything she desired.
As long as Deng Xuelian could be revived, Lady Gu would cherish and love her even more, treating Deng Xuelian like the apple of her eye and a precious treasure.
As for her, Deng Youning, they would likely cast her aside and forget her completely in the blink of an eye.
If she were her past self, she indeed would have yearned for such so-called family affection.
But having died from it once, she felt not a single ripple of emotion toward it now.
"I know you still don't believe I can cure her."
"How about we make a wager?"
She looked across the room with a playful glint in her eyes.
Having just returned to the capital, she had neither power nor influence and found it difficult to accomplish anything. Even her food and clothing were paid for with her grandmother's money.
She had to make herself grow rapidly.
She needed to possess the strength to contend with them.
And the first step was economic independence, so she wouldn't be constrained by others.
"If she is saved, you will give me one thousand liang of silver as the consultation fee..."
Before she could finish, Deng Yi pointed angrily at the bridge of her nose and retorted:
"One thousand liang! My salary as a sixth-rank captain doesn't even reach one thousand liang a year."
Deng Zheng and Lady Gu also felt that one thousand liang of silver was far too much.
An official's salary was never high to begin with, and many officials relied on private estates to live affluent and extravagant lives.
The State Protector Estate, however, was different.
Their family had nothing of their own; whenever funds ran dry, they relied entirely on Lady Gu's dowry.
Han Qiongyue did have her own private estate, but she was no fool and never allowed the Deng family to poke their noses into it, nor would she ever take it out for them to use.
Whenever anyone cast greedy eyes on it, she would declare it was her coffin money.
Thus, no one knew exactly how much she possessed.
"Let me finish speaking before you fly into a rage."
Deng Youning remained completely unfazed.
"If I fail to save her, a life for a life—I will take my own life to accompany her!"
As soon as she said this, Deng Yi was overjoyed, feeling a sense of relief wash over his entire body.
Deng Zheng and Lady Gu said nothing, wearing the expressions of mere bystanders.
Han Qiongyue, however, anxiously pulled Deng Youning aside, telling her not to make such foolish gambles.
Yet, meeting Deng Youning's gaze, which seemed to hold everything under control, she felt she should trust her granddaughter and let her take the risk.
Even if she lost, as long as she was around, she refused to believe anyone could actually force the girl to commit suicide.
The wager was set. Deng Youning asked a maid to fetch some needles.
The estate lacked specialized silver needles, so embroidery needles had to serve instead.
Her slender, jade-like fingers pinched a needle and held it over a candle flame to roast.
As the name suggested, the Turtle Breathing Pill left the user in a state of suspended animation unless the antidote was administered.
However, the five senses remained intact.
The sensations of pain, hearing, and hunger were all still present.
Deng Youning was skilled in martial arts; though she knew nothing of medicine, she recognized the pressure points and knew precisely where it hurt the most.
She refused to believe Deng Xuelian could endure this pain!
Locating the exact spot, she drove the needle in without a shred of mercy.
Yet Deng Xuelian showed not the slightest reaction.
Deng Youning sneered—she had quite a bit of endurance, it seemed.
She found another pressure point. Piercing this spot would be several times more painful than the last.
Sure enough, at this needle prick, Deng Xuelian could no longer hold back, and her brows furrowed slightly.
Deng Yi, whose eyeballs were practically glued to Deng Xuelian's body, naturally saw it clearly.
"Little Sister is reacting!"
He was as happy as a child who had just eaten candy.
Deng Zheng and Lady Gu reacted the same way, their brows finally relaxing.
Deng Youning drove in a few more needles in succession.
Although Deng Xuelian reacted, she simply refused to wake up.
While Deng Youning had been enjoying herself immensely, seeing that Deng Xuelian still wouldn't wake up, she felt something was amiss.
She swore she really wasn't doing this purely out of a desire for revenge.
After all, she disdained using such cheap and tacky methods.
It seemed she wouldn't wake up without the antidote.
She withdrew the needles and cast a glance at Yulian, her gaze carrying a heavy, oppressive weight.
"Alright, the show is almost over. Yulian, give your young miss the antidote."
Everyone: "???"
Yulian: "!!!"
The little play Deng Xuelian had put on must have required someone to cooperate.
As her personal maid, Yulian was the only choice for the role.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Deng Zheng was already utterly bewildered.
"Deng Youning, since you couldn't cure her yourself, are you trying to frame Yulian for poisoning her?"
Deng Yi still possessed a sliver of petty cunning.