Chapter 59: Forced Consultation

“Both of you, step aside. The doctor personally invited by the Third Prince—how dare you block him?” The Second Madam of the royal residence was furious when the two servants stood in front of the bed, refusing to let them pass.

“Your Highness, the Third Prince, we have never heard of this doctor. Whether he is truly a miracle healer, no one knows. We cannot lightly allow him to examine the eldest young master,” Yuanshan said fearlessly, looking at the Third Prince earnestly.

The Third Prince had not expected the two servants to dare to block both the Second Madam and himself in the manor. It was completely unexpected. He had thought that personally bringing the doctor would meet no resistance. Even if the Prince's uncle was home, he would show some respect. After all, he meant well—he cared about his eldest cousin.

What he didn’t know was that these two servants were personally trained by the Prince himself as undercover guards, not ordinary errand boys.

“Will you two move aside or not?” The Second Madam raised her cane. If they didn’t move, she would strike them herself—that was her usual way and temper.

“Second Madam, even if you beat us to death today, we will wait until the Princess returns and follow her decision,” the two servants said resolutely.

True to her word, the Second Madam began to strike with her cane. The two servants dodged left and right. Nurse Ye anxiously replaced their positions, standing in front of the bed.

Unable to reach the two servants, the Second Madam turned on Nurse Ye, striking her twice with the cane. The two servants then shielded Nurse Ye, taking several blows themselves.

Though the Second Madam was in her fifties, her strength was considerable. Wearing light clothing in early summer, two or three strikes left bloodstains on the servants' backs.

The Third Prince watched the farce unfold but did not intervene. He was surprised by the servants’ loyalty—they truly protected their master. He wondered if his own guards could be this devoted.

“What are you doing?” The Princess’s breathless voice sounded behind them.

Urged on by Mingyue, the Princess had finally rushed back, the carriage driver having brought the carriage directly to the inner courtyard gate. The short distance had nearly exhausted her; she was not accustomed to running this way, showing no concern for her image.

Upon her arrival, the Second Madam dared no longer act so recklessly.

“Great Aunt, your timing is perfect. Mother and I have been deeply concerned about Elder Cousin’s health. A few days ago, we heard of a miracle doctor and specially brought him from the capital to examine Elder Cousin. But two servants blocked him from seeing the patient,” the Third Prince exaggerated his efforts and good intentions.

The Princess glanced around the room. The two servants were bleeding, and Nurse Ye looked pained. The Second Madam was truly arrogant, daring to cause trouble in the eldest young master’s quarters.

“Sister-in-law, the Third Prince meant well, but the two servants were ungrateful and deserved to be taught a lesson by the Second Madam,” Consort Luo quickly explained as she noticed the Princess’s gaze.

“Yes, Mother, the Third Prince specially brought the doctor from afar. We cannot disappoint his goodwill,” Yu Chaoyang also supported.

Though she did not know why the Second Madam was so proactive, she understood that it must be for the heir’s sake and trusted that supporting her was the right choice.

“Thank you, Third Prince and Consort Shu, for your concern. However, the Prince has already decreed that no doctor is to be summoned for the eldest young master at this time. We must observe his condition for a while longer,” the Princess explained coldly.

“The Prince is confused, and you follow his confusion? That is your own son, and you let him suffer? As his step-grandmother, I cannot allow this. Let the doctor examine him,” the Second Madam asserted her seniority and directly instructed Doctor Yao.

Doctor Yao glanced at the Third Prince, who nodded, then bowed slightly to the Princess and moved toward the bed.

The Princess could find no reason to stop him. A single examination should be harmless as long as they did not use any medicine prescribed by the doctor. They could later have the Prince investigate the doctor’s background carefully.

Meanwhile, the eldest young master, Shangguan Ziqi, lying on the bed, heard the commotion clearly. His heart leapt, but he could not move. He wanted to stop it but couldn’t control himself. He only breathed a sigh of relief when his mother returned—but she seemed unsure how to stop the doctor. His heart tightened once more.

Doctor Yao first took the pulse, then palpated the patient’s body, finally examining his head and eyes.

“Princess, Third Prince, Second Madam, the eldest young master has brain damage and requires acupuncture to possibly regain consciousness,” Doctor Yao concluded after his diagnosis.

“How confident are you?” the Third Prince asked.

“Your Highness, the eldest young master’s condition is very special. This illness can only be treated to the best of our ability and left to fate. No one can guarantee a full recovery. I believe that the many imperial doctors who saw him previously must have reached similar conclusions,” Doctor Yao replied confidently.

The Princess heard this matched what Imperial Doctor Gu had said before and knew Doctor Yao was indeed a capable physician.

“How skilled is Doctor Yao’s acupuncture?” the Princess asked, unable to restrain her curiosity.

Though she and the Prince agreed that the previous over-treatment had some merit, she still hoped a true miracle healer could cure her son. She was unsure if Doctor Yao was genuine—he looked to be in his fifties or sixties and must have years of experience. But as a stranger, she dared not trust him fully.

“Princess, I have cured countless patients with acupuncture. I once treated five paralytics; four of them eventually regained the ability to walk normally,” Doctor Yao bowed and recounted his achievements.

“Then proceed with the acupuncture,” the Second Madam ordered without waiting for the Princess’s decision.

The Princess hesitated. Imperial Doctor Gu’s acupuncture had been ineffective after three months. This Doctor Yao was unlikely to fare better, yet she still held onto a glimmer of hope.

As she hesitated, Doctor Yao had already taken out silver needles and begun heating them over the fire.

“Princess, no!” Yuanshan could no longer hold back. He knew all too well that previous treatments had only worsened the eldest young master’s condition. Now to trust a doctor they knew nothing about, simply because the Third Prince had brought him, was reckless.

“Yes, Princess, perhaps we should wait for the eldest madam to return. Qingfeng has already gone to fetch her,” Jingshui also advised.

The Princess looked at the two servants, both wearing disapproving expressions.

“Third Prince, wait until the Prince has investigated Doctor Yao’s character before proceeding,” the Princess urged.

“Great Aunt, Doctor Yao is very busy; there is another family in the capital waiting for him. If I hadn’t personally requested him, he wouldn’t have come to the manor so promptly,” the Third Prince pleaded, presenting himself as a caring cousin.

Shangguan Ziqi’s heart, once relaxed, tightened again: [Mother, please don’t agree to this. Zheng’er, hurry back.]

He silently begged.

Just as the Princess hesitated and Doctor Yao prepared to insert the needles—

“Wait!” The Princess called out, unable to overcome her inner doubts.

At that moment, Yu Yuanzheng burst in, escorted by Qingfeng’s guards.

“Wait!” Yu Yuanzheng shouted, gasping for breath. She had run all out, faster than she ever had in any life before.