Chapter 21 : Taking Action
21: Taking Action
"Old Madam! A terrible thing has happened!"
The carriage had just come to a halt when the servant waiting outside the Qin household’s gates rushed forward!
The curtain was lifted. Caihe frowned. "What matter can’t wait until we’re inside to discuss? Making such a commotion at the estate gates, what sort of behavior is this?"
"Miss Caihe, we can’t wait!"
The servant’s voice was panicked. "The Eldest Young Master has brought the Young Mistress back. But the moment they entered the estate, the Young Mistress took a turn for the worse. Just now there was even bleeding. The servants went to invite Divine Physician Huang, but Physician Huang isn’t in the estate today, couldn’t find him…"
Hearing this, Jiang-shi immediately leaned out. "Divine Physician Huang is at the Anyang Marquis’s estate today. Who knows where he is now. Go immediately and invite Physician Yang from the Ren Shou Hall."
The servant’s face twisted with distress. "We invited him, we invited him. Physician Yang is already in the estate. It’s just… Physician Yang says the Young Mistress is in danger. He says if the bleeding can’t be stopped, I’m afraid both the child and the mother will be lost…"
"Quick! Go see quickly!"
Lin-shi’s voice was frantic as she hurriedly helped Jiang-shi into the estate.
Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang, hearing this, descended from their carriages, worry in their eyes.
Qin Wan, standing at the rear, also frowned slightly.
The Qin household’s Eldest Young Master, Qin Chen, had married Yao Xinlan, the second daughter of the Jianzhou Prefect, a year ago. Yao Xinlan was now seven months pregnant. A month ago, for her father’s birthday, Yao Xinlan had been taken back to Jianzhou to visit her family. Qin Chen had gone to fetch her home over ten days ago.
Had something happened to Yao Xinlan on the road, disturbing the fetus?
Jiang-shi and Lin-shi walked swiftly ahead. Behind them, Qin Xiang pulled Qin Shuang. "Sister, let’s go see Sister-in-law too."
Qin Shuang quickly nodded. Even Qin Li followed them toward Qin Chen’s Linfeng Courtyard.
Qin Wan and Fuling were the last to enter the estate. After a moment’s hesitation, Qin Wan also followed.
The child in Yao Xinlan’s womb was the Qin household’s first great-grandchild. Jiang-shi and Lin-shi were extremely concerned. But as they reached the entrance of Linfeng Courtyard, they saw a gray-robed old man walking out.
Jiang-shi frowned. "Physician Yang, you are…"
The physician, Yang Renlin, though not comparable to Divine Physician Huang’s status as a former imperial physician, was still a highly reputable doctor in Jinzhou City. Yet now, he shook his head with a somber expression. "Madam Jiang, you should have invited me earlier. Now… I regret that I am powerless. Go quickly and invite Divine Physician Huang."
Hearing this, Lin-shi’s legs nearly gave way. Only Jiang-shi remained steady. "Physician Yang, if you don’t try, how…"
Yang Renlin waved his hand. "It’s not that I won’t try. The moment I saw her, I knew the Young Mistress was beyond help. Don’t waste any more time. If there’s anyone in Jinzhou who can save the Young Mistress, it’s Divine Physician Huang. My apologies."
After speaking, Yang Renlin walked out. Lin-shi wanted to go after him, but Jiang-shi grabbed her arm.
She turned and sharply ordered Qin Li behind her. "Go! You go immediately and find Divine Physician Huang. He’s either at the Anyang Marquis’s estate, at his own pharmacy, or at the theater garden in the south. Go, take people and search!"
Jiang-shi’s voice was cold and stern. Qin Li’s expression turned serious, and he hurriedly turned to call people.
However, the Anyang Marquis’s estate was in the east of the city, the theater garden in the south, and Huang Jinyuan’s pharmacy was in the northeast. Just going to the Anyang Marquis’s estate would take nearly half an hour. Traveling back and forth between these places, even if they could find Huang Jinyuan, it would be at least an hour later.
Jiang-shi knew the hope was slim. But she steadied herself and strode firmly into Linfeng Courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, an oppressive atmosphere of sorrow washed over them.
Jiang-shi and Lin-shi hurried into the main room, just as Qin Chen was coming out. Qin Chen had refined features, a tall, handsome frame, dressed in a blue robe embroidered with bamboo. His brows and eyes were gentle, scholarly and elegant. Yet, due to Yao Xinlan’s condition, his brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes filled with worry.
"Grandmother, Mother, you’re back!"
"Where’s Xinlan? How is Xinlan?"
Jiang-shi didn’t waste words with him, heading straight for the inner chamber. As soon as she reached the doorway, Yao Xinlan’s pained moans reached them. Jiang-shi’s eyes darkened as she hurried to the bedside. "Xinlan?"
"Grand… mother… Mother…"
On the bed, Yao Xinlan lay under brocade quilts wearing only her undergarments. Her belly was slightly swollen, her face deathly pale, lips parched and cracked, cold sweat pouring down like rain. Seeing Jiang-shi and Lin-shi, Yao Xinlan’s eyes reddened.
Jiang-shi took Yao Xinlan’s hand firmly. "Good child, don’t be afraid. Divine Physician Huang will be here soon. Don’t be afraid."
Turning her gaze to Qin Chen, she asked, "What exactly happened? She was fine when she left. How could there be trouble on the way back with you there?"
Pain flashed in Qin Chen’s eyes. "It’s my fault. It’s all my fault for not taking good care of her…"
"Grandmother, it’s not his fault…"
Yao Xinlan’s face was the size of a palm, with almond-shaped eyes and cherry lips, a delicate nose, utterly lovable. But now, her pallid face was covered in sweat from the pain, fragile as a porcelain doll that might shatter at a touch.
"It was me… I kept urging him, wanting to return quickly. That’s why…"
A rare trace of pity appeared on Jiang-shi’s stern face. She stroked Yao Xinlan’s forehead. "Silly child, don’t be afraid. Once Divine Physician Huang arrives, all will be well. You are blessed. For Chen’er and the child, you must hold on…"
Yao Xinlan shook her head, tears immediately rolling down.
"Grandmother, I… I might die. The child might not be saved either. Grandmother, I’ve failed the Qin family. After I die, please find a suitable match for Brother Chen. Only then can I rest in peace…"
Lin-shi’s eyes reddened. Even Jiang-shi felt her own eyes moisten. Qin Chen immediately half-knelt by the bedside. He grasped Yao Xinlan’s hand. "Lan’er, you won’t die. Our child will be saved too. Hold on. Divine Physician Huang will be here soon."
Qin Chen’s voice trembled. Behind him, Qin Xiang and Qin Shuang could no longer hold back their sobs.
Yao Xinlan gasped urgently twice, her voice growing even more lifeless. "Brother Chen, I… I can’t hold on anymore… I… being able to marry you was enough for me. It’s just… just that I couldn’t bear your child…"
The room was filled with the sound of suppressed weeping. Yao Xinlan’s personal maids also knelt on the floor, sobbing.
Qin Chen shuffled forward on his knees, clasping Yao Xinlan’s hand with both of his, his throat tight. "Lan’er, Lan’er, you can hold on. Wait for Divine Physician Huang. Divine Physician Huang will certainly!"
"In her current condition, even if Divine Physician Huang arrives, it will be beyond his power to save her."
A clear, steady voice suddenly rang out. Jiang-shi frowned; the others also turned their heads as one. Only then did everyone realize that Qin Wan had entered at some point.
She stood at the doorway, her face backlit, expression indiscernible. Yet even standing there quietly and seemingly fragile, she possessed a kind of intimidating power stronger than anyone else’s.
Qin Chen was stunned, surprise and grief intertwining on his face. After a long moment, he whispered, "Is this… Ninth Sister?"
Before Qin Chen finished speaking, Qin Xiang had already stepped forward with a deep frown. "How did you get in? Sister-in-law is on the brink of death, and you’re here making cold remarks?! Get out!"
No one remembered Qin Wan’s reputation as a "medical immortal." Or perhaps, from the beginning, no one had believed it.
Qin Wan’s brow furrowed slightly. Instead of retreating, she advanced. She didn’t look at the others, only at Qin Chen.
"Find a set of silver needles. I can save her."
Qin Chen was taken aback. The others also began to hesitate belatedly.
Qin Wan’s lips thinned. "What are you standing there for? Do you want to watch her die?"
Qin Chen’s eyes trembled. He shouldn’t believe Qin Wan. But he was struck by the calm steadiness in Qin Wan’s gaze. Desperate, he rose and rushed out the door. "Go! Quickly! Go to the estate’s medicine storeroom and find a set of silver needles! Hurry!"
Qin Chen’s roar was hoarse. After giving the order, he turned back inside, looking at Qin Wan with disbelief.
Qin Wan lowered her gaze, her eyes falling on the equally stunned Yao Xinlan. "All of you, withdraw."
Her command included even Jiang-shi and Lin-shi.
Qin Xiang gritted her teeth. "Why should we leave?! What trick are you playing? You say you can save Sister-in-law. We don’t believe you! We need to watch to feel at ease! What right do you have to order us around?!"
Qin Wan walked straight to the bedside, placing her hand on Yao Xinlan’s pulse point.
Her face wore the gentle, focused expression of every benevolent physician taking a pulse. Yet the words that left her mouth inexplicably carried a chilling, solemn lethality.
"Her life is in my hands. Whether you listen or not, you will listen."