Volume One, Chapter 13: Pricked by an Embroidery Needle

After the imperial physician left, the Chen family doctor once again checked Qi Xizhou’s pulse. The situation was indeed grave, though not as exaggerated as the imperial physician had claimed. However, the family doctor frowned.

“The Third Prince was already severely injured, and on top of that, he was poisoned by a rare and strange fragrance. Fortunately, the antidote was administered in time; had it been delayed until now, even immortals might not have saved him.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Xizhou’s face turned icy as he slowly removed his clothes.

“Please, would you kindly examine me?”

On his waist were two needle marks side by side.

“This... what kind of silver needle could leave such marks?”

Gritting his teeth, Qi Xizhou hissed, “Embroidery needles!”

The family doctor was stunned for a moment before leaning down to inspect the needle marks more closely.

“The acupuncture points are quite precise, but I wonder if those embroidery needles were sterilized beforehand?”

At the time, Xu Zhiyi had produced those embroidery needles from somewhere unknown; Qi Xizhou suspected the woman was hardly benevolent.

“Most likely not.”

Hai Qing anxiously asked the family doctor, “Could this affect our master’s health?”

“Not immediately apparent. For now, I’ll treat the wounds on the Third Prince’s back.”

His back was torn in several places, with many bloodstains on his moon-white inner garment. Some wounds were deep enough to expose bone. The family doctor sprinkled a hemostatic powder on them for the time being.

After the acupuncture treatment, Qi Xizhou drifted into a heavy sleep.

“Doctor Chen, how is His Highness’s condition?” Hai Qing whispered.

Doctor Chen sighed. “The Third Prince’s condition is very serious. The wounds show signs of infection, and he will likely develop a persistent high fever. If anything seems amiss during the night, notify me immediately.”

Doctor Chen took a few steps, then turned back to ask Hai Qing, “Who did the young lady who administered the antidote study under? Perhaps she has remedies.”

To think that embroidery needles could neutralize the poison within Qi Xizhou and even protect his vital heart meridians—this woman was undoubtedly extraordinary.

Hai Qing shook his head. “Unknown as of now. This is the first time I’ve seen Miss Xu from the Xu family today.”

Doctor Chen hurried off to prepare medicine. “The Third Prince’s old wounds are not yet healed, combined with this leg injury... I suggest you bring that young lady here as soon as possible.”

With that, even the slowest mind could grasp Doctor Chen’s meaning: desperate times call for desperate measures.

“I understand! Please also find time to check on my three brothers... they still haven’t woken.”

Doctor Chen acknowledged and had already left the courtyard.

---

What kind of powerful sedative could knock out several burly undercover guards for over two hours?

At the Xu residence, Lady Lin was beaten nearly to death, naturally unable to curse Xu Zhiyi’s misfortune. Xu Yunwan could do nothing but weep.

“Father, how can you stand by and watch Lady Lin be beaten like this? Besides, that wretched girl has fallen so low and tarnished the Xu family’s reputation. What wrong is there in Lady Lin scolding her a few times?”

Xu Huai’an was annoyed by her incessant noise.

“Enough! Stop crying! She’s still alive, thanks to the Third Prince’s mercy! If this matter spreads, it will do you no good!”

Judging from the Third Prince’s stance, he would surely take responsibility for Xu Zhiyi.

His worry lay elsewhere.

“Wan’er, if your sister marries the Third Prince, you might never enter the Eastern Palace again!”

The emperor would never permit two daughters of the Xu family to marry into the royal family simultaneously.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunwan secretly rejoiced. This was exactly what she wanted.

She was delicate by nature; when she cried, tears fell like rain, and Xu Huai’an couldn’t bear to scold her further for speaking without caution.

“Forget it. You’ve been dragged into this because of your sister. Your father will find a better match for you.”

Twisting the embroidered handkerchief in her hands, Xu Yunwan looked bashful.

“The Marquis’s family will visit tomorrow. How should Father explain? If they give you a hard time, Wan’er and Lady Lin will be heartbroken...”

Biting her lip, she seemed torn but resolute.

“Father, I’m willing to marry into the Marquis’s family in place of my sister. That way, they won’t trouble you anymore.”

Xu Huai’an fell silent.

Deep down, he also did not wish to offend the Marquis of Ding’an’s family. Although the Third Prince was a royal son, he was disabled—what future could he possibly have?

Today’s incident was too serious to hide.

The Marquis of Ding’an’s family had lost face and would not dare defy the emperor, but dealing with the modest Xu family was a simple matter.

In any case, the Ding’an Marquis family and the Xu family were negotiating a marriage alliance; which daughter they favored was unknown to outsiders.

Xu Yunwan’s proposal did indeed solve his immediate crisis.

“But in that case... it would be a hardship for Wan’er!”

Xu Yunwan gently smoothed Xu Huai’an’s back.

“If I can ease Father’s worries, I don’t feel wronged at all. But if my sister marries the Third Prince, the dowry must not be lessened. As for my share...”

Though Xu Huai’an doted on Lady Lin and her children, he was only a seventh-rank official with a meager salary and no ancestral privilege, so he valued money greatly.

---

He simply patted Xu Yunwan’s hand.

“Wan’er, rest assured. Your father knows what to do.”

The dowry would certainly not be lessened, but the treatment between marrying a prince and a marquis would be different.

More importantly, Xu Zhiyi’s dowry would only increase, not decrease.

Judging by the Third Prince’s behavior today, he was a vindictive man, not to be lightly offended.

Xu Yunwan cursed Xu Zhiyi countless times in her heart.

She had achieved her wish but did not want Xu Zhiyi’s marriage to be better than hers.

Yet when she thought of Qin Huai, handsome as a jade tree in the breeze, her heart fluttered like a startled fawn.

That foolish Xu Zhiyi was truly blind and foolish!

---

At the Wutong Courtyard, Xu Zhiyi had finished bathing and laid down to rest.

The day’s events had been hastily planned, full of flaws, but the most baffling thing was that she had slept with the wrong man!

In her previous life, shortly after marrying into the Marquis’s family, she heard that the Third Prince had died in battle.

Qin Huai had not elaborated; she focused on managing the household and did not dwell on it.

The one who should have been lying in that side room was the drunken crown prince. Xu Yunwan had schemed to have the chief maid Haitang climb into the prince’s bed.

Later, Xu Huai’an, fearing trouble, claimed Haitang was his concubine’s child.

Thus, Haitang replaced Xu Yunwan as the crown prince’s secondary consort.

Unfortunately, within a few months, she slipped and drowned in the lotus pond.

When the servants found her body, Haitang was two months pregnant.

Reborn, many things seemed to have changed course.

Before she could ponder further, the door quietly opened.

Thinking it was Xiaoyuer, Xu Zhiyi did not get up.

The next moment, a black cloth bag was pulled over her head.

“Miss Xu, my apologies! Rest assured, I only intend to bring you to see my master; no harm will come to you!”

The noise was slight, but Xiaoyuer was guarding the corridor and could not have missed it.

This meant the servants at Wutong Courtyard had been sedated.

“Did you harm them?”

“Don’t worry, they will wake within two hours.”