Yet what the imperial physician just said filled Noble Consort Liu with utter disbelief.
Upon hearing this, the Prince burst out into a hearty laugh.
"It seems this Divine Doctor chosen by this Prince was indeed the right choice!" The Prince then said to the imperial physician, "Since Divine Doctor Xiao's medical skills are so extraordinary, we won't trouble the imperial physician any further!"
The imperial physician hurriedly bowed to the Prince: "Understood, everything shall be as the Prince commands! This humble subject will now return to the palace to report to the Empress Dowager!"
"Very well!" said the Prince, looking at Xiao Chen with a gaze that held a newfound measure of trust.
"Divine Doctor Xiao, Qing'er's health is now in your hands! Why don't you proceed with the acupuncture to treat her?"
Xiao Chen nodded: "I had that intention all along, though I still need to make a few preparations."
With that, the Prince instructed the servants below to start making preparations.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen took Chai Keqing's pulse and organized his prescription.
Noble Consort Liu accompanied them the entire time, her gaze growing increasingly cold.
"Divine Doctor Xiao, since your abilities are so formidable, why has everyone outside always rumored that you are an idiot?"
"I've recovered, is that not allowed?"
Xiao Chen held a certain disdain for Noble Consort Liu.
Like most people, this lofty consort merely believed whatever gossip she heard on the wind.
"Recovered? Word has it you've been a fool for years, how could you possibly get better so easily?"
True to form, the Prince's consort voiced her skepticism.
Xiao Chen smiled: "I took a tumble and got better, is that not allowed?"
"Or could it be that the Consort has so much time on her hands that she's now poking her nose into my private affairs?"
Left speechless by the retort, Noble Consort Liu could only say coldly: "The Princess is the apple of the Prince's eye, I hope Divine Doctor Xiao... will be able to cure her!"
Meanwhile, Steward Chen had already returned to the Prince of Zhennan's Estate.
As soon as he entered, he saw people bustling in and out of the Princess's room.
Steward Chen immediately grabbed a maidservant who was carrying water: "Has some distinguished guest arrived at the estate?"
"Replying to Steward Chen, it's a divine doctor invited from outside by the Prince, specially come to treat the Princess," the maidservant answered truthfully.
"A divine doctor? Does he bear the surname Xiao?"
"Yes."
Hearing the maidservant's reply, he could be almost certain that the person treating Chai Keqing at the Prince of Zhennan's Estate was none other than Xiao Chen!
The mere memory of the cold look Xiao Chen had given him made Steward Chen's blood boil with rage.
Xiao Chen, oh Xiao Chen, heaven helps those who try, and my efforts have finally paid off without wasting any real trouble!
You made me lose face in public and forced me to kneel and apologize to you; now, I'm going to make you pay it all back in full!
Upon learning that Xiao Chen was currently treating patients in the Princess's chambers, Steward Chen inquired about the current situation and discovered that preparations were underway for Xiao Chen to administer acupuncture to Chai Keqing.
"Come with me!" Steward Chen grabbed the maidservant and dragged her back to his room, where he prepared a set of poison-coated silver needles, intending to have the maidservant deliver them to Xiao Chen.
Terrified out of her wits, the maidservant repeatedly refused: "Steward Chen, if this is discovered, this servant will surely die without a burial site!"
If these poison-coated silver needles were used on Chai Keqing, how could Chai Keqing possibly escape unharmed?
Chai Keqing was the Prince of Zhennan's most cherished youngest daughter. If anything happened to her, absolutely no one involved could possibly escape culpability.
Seized with panic, the maidservant refused to accept them no matter what.
"Please, Steward Chen, find someone else!"
Unexpectedly, Steward Chen grabbed the maidservant by the collar: "Xiaohong, could it be that you've forgotten your gravely ill mother?"
Hearing Steward Chen mention her mother, a flicker of shock crossed Xiaohong's eyes.
"Your mother is still recuperating right here in the Prince of Zhennan's Estate. All her expenses, food, clothing, and medication are entirely approved by yours truly. If I am so inclined, I can cut off your mother's medicine this very instant!"
With that, he shoved Xiaohong aside.
Xiaohong's body trembled, and she could not help but take a few steps back.
Her eyes were filled with utter disbelief.
"Xiaohong, I will give you one more chance to choose. If you aren't willing, I won't force you."
Though he spoke these words, he was clearly using her gravely ill mother as leverage.
Xiaohong's mother had originally been an elderly servant in the Prince of Zhennan's Estate.
She had a child—Xiaohong—with an old steward who worked there years ago, and after the old steward passed away, the elderly mother stayed behind at the estate with Xiaohong.
As time passed and the old mother grew older, she gradually developed many common ailments.
Now, because she was a longtime servant of the Prince of Zhennan's Estate, she had received special permission to stay and recuperate on the grounds.
Yet all her expenses had to pass through Steward Chen's hands.
In the past, Steward Chen had never paid much attention to these matters and thus had never guarded against her. As long as Xiaohong and her mother behaved sensibly, a small gift from Steward Chen during festivals was enough.
This time, however, things clearly could not pass by so easily.
Xiaohong looked at him in terror, her eyes filled with hesitation.
"It seems you are still unwilling. Never mind, I'll go find someone else!"
With that, Steward Chen ignored Xiaohong and made to leave.
To his surprise, Xiaohong suddenly dropped to her knees behind him: "Steward Chen, don't go!"
Xiaohong's eyes streamed with tears.
"Please don't cut off my mother's medicine!"
If the medicine were cut off, Xiaohong's monthly wages would not be enough, and her mother would surely die!
Steward Chen knew Xiaohong wouldn't refuse.
She was the most filial of daughters; how could she bear to watch her mother's medication be cut off?
A smile finally broke across Steward Chen's face as he turned around and pulled Xiaohong to her feet.
"You silly girl, you're just too insensible. How much better it would have been if you'd agreed sooner!"
Steward Chen patted Xiaohong on the shoulder: "Don't worry, once this business is done, I'll have someone look after your mother and prescribe her a few extra boxes of good medicine so she stops ailing like this all the time."
Xiaohong sobbed: "Then many thanks, Steward Chen..."
Afterward, Steward Chen wrapped up the silver needles he had long since coated with poison and handed them to Xiaohong.
"Alright, hurry up and deliver these silver needles to the front, and don't dilly-dally any longer."
Xiaohong took the needles, nodded, and headed toward Chai Keqing's courtyard.
A sinister smile finally surfaced on Steward Chen's face.
Xiao Chen, let's see if you can escape this time!
Time and again you've ruined my plans, and now I'm going to let you know just how terrifying the consequences of crossing me truly are!
Fulfilling Steward Chen's orders, Xiaohong returned to Chai Keqing's room in trepidation, clutching the poison-coated silver needles.
By then, everyone had been waiting for quite some time.
Seeing Xiaohong, Noble Consort Liu could not help rebuking her: "Why did you take so long? You servants are far too careless—can the Princess's illness afford to wait?"
"Forgive this consort, Your Ladyship!" Xiaohong shivered all over, her legs nearly buckling beneath her as she dropped to her knees.
"Stop wasting breath, give the silver needles to Divine Doctor Xiao!"