The Duke's Pampered Darling is So Scheming-Chapter 70: Sudden Illness

A cool breeze swept by, and Ye Shixian’s mind finally cleared.

Her mind raced, desperately searching for a way out of her current predicament.

"Wh-where did Cousin find this? Was it—was it right where I fell?" Ye Shixian asked, her voice suddenly laced with urgency.

’She had thrown it with her back to everyone, taking advantage of a moment when Ye Chutang wasn’t looking. There was no way Ye Chutang could have found it anywhere else!’

Just as she expected, Ye Chutang gave a slight nod. "Yes."

Ye Shixian let out a long, inward sigh of relief. She bit her lip, her face filled with guilt. "Then I must have misunderstood you, Cousin! I went back to look for this just now and wasn’t paying attention. I felt my foot slip, and then I fell into the lake. I suppose I must have accidentally stepped on it, and that’s why—"

She hastily wiped away her tears, appearing overwhelmed with guilt.

"As I was falling, I felt a tug on my sleeve, so I thought it was you who pushed me, Cousin. But you were actually trying to save me! I... I’m so sorry for misunderstanding your kindness!"

Shaoyao rushed forward, crying.

"My lady! How can this be your fault? It’s all because this servant was too careless and didn’t grab you in time, which is why you fell into the lake. You were just frightened and misunderstood Second Miss Ye, weren’t you?"

From the sound of it, one might think Ye Shixian’s mind had become muddled from the shock, leading her to falsely accuse Ye Chutang.

Ye Shixian shook her head, still crying. "But I did wrong my cousin in the end. If everyone weren’t here, this misunderstanding might never have been cleared up. How could I ever face her then?"

The crowd exchanged furtive glances, noncommittal about her explanation.

A cold sneer touched the corners of Princess Qingyang’s lips.

She knew exactly what kind of person Ye Shixian was. Her acting skills, however, seemed to have matured.

She turned to look at Ye Chutang, about to offer a word of warning, but saw that Ye Chutang’s expression was serene. She gave a small nod, the corners of her lips even curving into a faint smile.

"As long as you’re all right."

Princess Qingyang frowned.

’This Ye Chutang... she’s such a pushover. Getting bullied like this and still acting so—’

"A lot has happened at home recently. If something else had happened to you, Second Uncle and the others would surely be even more worried." Ye Chutang smiled faintly and patted Ye Shixian’s hand, her expression sincere. "It’s good that the misunderstanding is cleared up. The important thing is that you’re safe." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ye Shixian’s expression froze.

’Why does Ye Chutang always have to bring up the most sensitive subjects! There were already all sorts of rumors in the capital about her mother and Mingze. Now with this incident involving her, doesn’t it just make things seem even more—’

People had already started whispering amongst themselves.

"The Ye Family has been really unlucky lately, haven’t it? One incident after another."

"Who knows? First, Madam Ye fell ill at the banquet. Then Ye Mingze claimed he saw a ghost in the middle of the night and was so scared he lost half his soul, refusing to leave his room for days. And now Ye Shixian has inexplicably fallen into the water..."

Whether ghosts and gods existed was anyone’s guess, but with so many accidents happening one after another, it was hard not to let one’s imagination run wild.

As a result, their gazes toward Ye Shixian were now tinged with much more disdain.

’The Ye Family is just so jinxed!’

Princess Qingyang blinked. Looking at Ye Chutang again, she found her much more pleasing to the eye.

The Eldest Princess finally spoke. "Alright, since Miss Ye is unharmed, there is no need to mention this matter again. Zhuxin, take Miss Ye to change her clothes."

Zhuxin accepted the order. "Yes."

...

Ye Shixian couldn’t wait to leave. She was sick and tired of looking so pathetic!

She turned and hurried away with Zhuxin, overhearing Lan Yi speaking to Ye Chutang.

"Second Miss Ye, shouldn’t you have your injury treated?"

Her tone was very respectful and polite.

Ye Shixian gritted her teeth and quickened her pace.

...

The Eldest Princess was walking toward the lakeside pavilion when she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and swayed.

Princess Qingyang was right behind her and immediately rushed forward to support her. "Eldest Princess, what’s wrong?"

The Eldest Princess steadied herself and waved a hand. "It’s nothing. Just a little dizzy."

Princess Qingyang saw that her complexion didn’t look good and advised, "Perhaps you should go back and rest?"

Leaning on her cane, the Eldest Princess said, "Don’t worry, my old bones are still strong!"

She had charged across battlefields in her youth and had never admitted defeat. Why make such a fuss over a little dizziness?

Ye Chutang turned her head and glanced in the Eldest Princess’s direction, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Since the Eldest Princess insisted, Princess Qingyang couldn’t press the matter further.

But unexpectedly, after taking just two more steps, the Eldest Princess suddenly pitched forward and collapsed!

Princess Qingyang panicked. "Eldest Princess!"

She barely managed to catch the Eldest Princess, only to find the woman’s eyes tightly shut. She had fainted!

"Someone, help!" Princess Qingyang had never been so frantic. "Quick, summon the Imperial Physician!"

With the sudden crisis, Lan Yi and Zhuxin both rushed back, and the surrounding servants swarmed forward.

The other noble ladies looked on, bewildered and alarmed.

’Who could have expected the Eldest Princess to suddenly collapse!’

Princess Qingyang was beside herself with worry.

’The Eldest Princess I remember has always been robust. Nothing like this has ever happened. How... how could this—’

Looking at the Eldest Princess’s deathly pale face, she couldn’t help but scan the surroundings and shout, "Where is the Imperial Physician!"

Everyone looked at each other, too afraid to step forward.

Despair washed over Princess Qingyang. ’If... if—’

"Excuse me, please make way."

A clear and calm female voice cut through the noisy chaos, sounding remarkably distinct.

Princess Qingyang snapped her head up and saw that the speaker was, of all people, Ye Chutang.

’That’s right!’

’She used to run a medical clinic. She’s a doctor!’

Princess Qingyang said quickly, "Quick, come and take a look! What on earth is wrong with the Eldest Princess!?"

Ye Chutang examined the Eldest Princess’s condition, and her suspicions were confirmed.

’It really is a cerebral hemorrhage.’

"Take the Eldest Princess to the nearest room. It must be done quickly," Ye Chutang said in a low voice.

"The elderly are most vulnerable to sudden illnesses. The golden window for treating a cerebral hemorrhage is incredibly short. Once it passes, not even the gods can help."

Princess Qingyang had no time for anything else and immediately ordered the servants, "What are you standing around for!"

...

The Eldest Princess was carried to a nearby side room. Ye Chutang walked in and said, "Only two people need to stay here to assist. Everyone else, stay outside. Do not come in and disturb us."

Princess Qingyang guessed what she was implying. "You... you really have a way to treat the Eldest Princess?"

Ye Chutang walked to the bedside, took something out from her sleeve, and unrolled it.

Princess Qingyang’s brow twitched. It was a neat row of silver needles!

’Wait, why would Ye Chutang carry something like that with her!?’

"Go get wine and a flame."

Ye Chutang ordered without looking up.

Lan Yi was stunned for a moment, but Zhuxin acted with extreme decisiveness. "There’s some in the cabinet!"

She quickly opened the cabinet and took out a candle and wine.

PSSHT—!

Ye Chutang lit the candle, broke open the wine seal, and poured the alcohol directly onto her hands without flinching.

The liquor streamed over the large, bloody scrape that covered her arm from elbow to wrist.

Princess Qingyang’s eyes widened in disbelief, her eyelid twitching violently.

As if she hadn’t noticed, Ye Chutang simply said, "Come and help."

As if she were no longer in control of her own body, Princess Qingyang rushed over.

"Unfasten the Eldest Princess’s clothes and take off her shoes and socks."

As Ye Chutang spoke, she was already holding a needle in her slender, pale fingers, its cold glint flashing in the light.

Just then, Ye Shixian’s voice suddenly came from outside: "Princess Qingyang! The Eldest Princess is of noble birth; we cannot risk any mistakes! It’s better to wait for the Imperial Physician! If something goes wrong, who will bear the responsibility!?"

Princess Qingyang froze.