My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

The next day, Qin Liuxi arrived at the Old Princess Consort’s quarters early to prepare for the acupuncture treatment, and noticing her radiant and refreshed appearance, she couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

"Did Your Highness sleep well last night?"

The Old Princess Consort beckoned to her with a smile and said, "Thanks to your help, I had a good night’s sleep."

"That’s good to hear. One needs to be in good spirits to handle the upcoming acupuncture and medicine bath treatment," Qin Liuxi said with a smile. "Let me take Your Highness’s pulse first."

She took the medicine pillow handed to her by Chen Pi, checked the pulse, and felt reassured upon finding it steady. Then she said, "Your pulse is stronger, that’s good. As mentioned last night, today I will use a different acupuncture method named Rejuvenation Nine Needles."

While locating the acupoints for the Old Princess Consort, Qin Liuxi took the opportunity to explain the wonders of the Rejuvenation Nine Needles: "It is said in traditional medicine: Yang is the root of life, while Yin is the base of death. It is beneficial to diminish Yin regularly and to increase Yang. To follow Yang leads to life, to follow Yin leads to death. Mortals should maintain a balance of Yin and Yang. Yang energy is the foundation of life. Once Yin and Yang are imbalanced, one’s health and lifespan are naturally compromised. Your Highness has had cold poison in your body for many years, which means your body is typically Yin-dominant with insufficient Yang energy—this is an imbalance of Yin and Yang. It is necessary to eliminate the poison and elevate Yang energy."

"... The Rejuvenation Nine Needles are used to puncture nine of the body’s most critical acupoints. Upon administration, they can reverse the cycle of reincarnation and defy fate itself, bringing someone on the brink of death back to life for a time, cleverly seizing the opportunity for survival. Of course, Your Highness’s condition is not that severe, but the principle is the same. With the nine needles adjusting Yin and Yang, expelling the cold poison. After three cycles of treatment, you will feel the remarkable changes in your body."

Amazed, the Old Princess Consort said, "Hearing you describe it that way, I’m quite eager to start."

"Then you’ll have to endure a bit of pain," Qin Liuxi responded as she took out a stick of incense from a long box and handed it to Nanny Zhao. "Nanny, please light this calming incense."

Nanny Zhao quickly took it, lit it with flint as instructed by Qin Liuxi, and placed it in the incense holder on the bedside table.