He glared at Xiao Chen with such malice that if looks could kill, Xiao Chen would have been pierced through a thousand times over by now.
Xiao Chen paid him no further mind and simply turned to Xiaohong. "Where is your mother at the moment?"
Xiaohong, knowing she had done wrong, had been kneeling quietly to the side, waiting. Hearing Xiao Chen’s inquiry, she immediately lowered her gaze and replied, "Mother is in the courtyard on the west side."
The west courtyard of the Prince of Zhennan's Estate was where the servants lived.
"Go and bring your mother here first."
Xiaohong looked up at Xiao Chen in confusion, then glanced toward the Prince of Zhennan, seeking guidance. Although the Prince did not know what Xiao Chen intended, he waved his hand and said, "Do as Divine Doctor Xiao says."
Before long, Xiaohong’s mother was brought to the scene. She was an old woman with a hunched back, looking at least eighty or ninety years old. Yet, given Xiaohong's age, the woman could not have been more than forty-something. Her aged appearance was entirely the result of being ravaged by a persistent, debilitating illness.
Xiao Chen stepped forward to take her pulse. He discovered that the woman was suffering from a very common geriatric condition. In modern times, it would be known as coronary heart disease, but since medical knowledge at this time was not yet so advanced, the root cause could not be diagnosed, let alone cured. The condition was primarily caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart, leading to agonizing pain as if the body were being crushed by a heavy weight.
"Do you often break out in cold sweats, feel the world spinning, experience nausea and vomiting… and suffer unbearable pain in your shoulders and below your chest?"
The old woman nodded. "I’ve been taking medicine for years, but nothing has improved; I’ve just been barely hanging on like this."
That was to be expected; in this era, there was no understanding of coronary heart disease. Even if doctors noticed the signs, they could only use ordinary medication to keep the patient alive, with no hope of a cure. It was because of this chronic torment that Xiaohong’s mother had withered into such a frail, elderly state.
Xiao Chen located the woman’s acupuncture points and began his treatment. Once the needles were inserted, the heavy, stifling sensation soon vanished. Almost instantly, the color in the old woman’s face improved significantly. Finally, Xiao Chen scribbled out a prescription. "Follow this recipe, boil the medicine, and drink it. Within three days, you will be completely recovered."
After the acupuncture, the old woman felt her body ease considerably; even the sense of exhaustion and weakness had completely dissipated.
"My chest… it doesn't hurt anymore," the old woman gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "This illness that has plagued me for years—it’s just been cured like this?"
Seeing the visible, healthy flush returning to the old woman’s face, everyone present was astonished. Noble Consort Liu was particularly taken aback. She had been highly skeptical of Xiao Chen’s medical skills from the start, believing him to be nothing more than a charlatan incapable of performing miracles.
However, the fact that Xiaohong’s mother had been critically ill for many years was known to everyone in the estate. Because she had served there for so long, Noble Consort Liu had once ordered her to be treated, but the doctors at the time had declared the ailment an incurable, stubborn disease. Since it wasn't worth moving heaven and earth for a mere servant, Noble Consort Liu had dropped the matter once those renowned physicians from the Capital City gave their verdict.
If those famous doctors were helpless against this illness, how could Xiao Chen have cured her so easily? How was this even possible?
Xiaohong was even more stunned. "Mother, are you really alright?"
The old woman nodded, tears streaming down her face as she gripped her daughter’s hand. "The tightness in my chest is gone—it doesn't hurt at all! I even have strength in my body again..." She then turned to Xiao Chen and immediately knelt to kowtow. "Thank you, Divine Doctor, for saving my life!"
Seeing this, Xiaohong also kowtowed to Xiao Chen. "This daughter will never forget the Divine Doctor's immense kindness!"
Xiao Chen reached out to help them both up. "It was merely a small effort; there is no need for such thanks."
Xiao Chen did this partly because, as a physician, he could not stand by and watch someone die, and partly to prove his own capabilities. He glanced at Noble Consort Liu, whose mouth was agape in astonishment. The Prince of Zhennan was also moved.
"The Divine Doctor truly possesses the heart of a healer!" the Prince remarked. He then looked toward Steward Chen, who was being held down. "You are truly heartless to have dared to harm Qing'er. I will never forgive you… Divine Doctor Xiao, how do you suggest we deal with him?"
Xiao Chen looked at Steward Chen and stepped forward. "Why did you try to poison the Princess?"
Steward Chen raised his head, his eyes filled with hatred for Xiao Chen. "I didn't try to poison the Princess! I just… I just couldn't stand the sight of you! I wanted to make you stumble in front of the Prince, that’s all!"
"But you must realize that if I hadn't discovered the poison on that needle, the Princess would have died by your hand. Did you really think you would have lived after that?" Xiao Chen found the man utterly foolish.
However, Xiao Chen also realized that since Chai Keqing was unharmed, even though Steward Chen’s actions were wicked, killing him now might cause the Prince of Zhennan to lose face. Steward Chen was different from a maid like Xiaohong, whose death would go unnoticed. As a steward who frequently represented the estate in public, executing him so casually would inevitably lead to gossip. Yet, letting him go entirely was not something Xiao Chen felt inclined to do, nor would it satisfy the Prince’s anger.
Thinking this, Xiao Chen spoke calmly. "It is fortunate that the Princess did not lose her life due to your stupidity, which is why you are able to keep yours."
Xiao Chen then turned to the Prince. "Your Highness, why not have him thrown out? For a man like him, being cast out of the Prince of Zhennan's Estate would be a great disgrace and leave him with nowhere to go. That in itself is the greatest punishment."
Hearing this, the Prince of Zhennan immediately understood his intent. He ordered loudly, "Someone come! Give this ungrateful, treacherous wretch a sound beating and throw him out of the estate!"
Dozens of household servants rushed forward, brandishing sticks. They dragged Steward Chen into the courtyard and beat him without hesitation. As the sound of his wailing echoed through the yard, Xiao Chen caught a glimpse of the trembling Xiaohong out of the corner of his eye.
Xiao Chen turned back to the Prince. "Your Highness, why not allow Xiaohong and her mother to remain in the estate? They were innocent; the true culprit has been found. While they made mistakes, they were unintentional. Perhaps it would be best to demote them to labor in a remote area, so they no longer serve near their masters."