call--

Sheng Xiyan was breathing heavily. This set of acupuncture techniques was extremely mentally taxing, and her attention was too focused, causing a dull pain in her forehead.

In her previous life, she had only learned medical theories and acupuncture points from her grandfather before she was eight years old. Later, although she read through all the medical books and medical notes left by her grandfather, they were just theory on paper. She had no chance to use them while trapped in the Yongning Marquis Mansion.

If Chu Yuanchen was not really dying and was not wanted by the Jinyi Guards all over the city, she would not have gone to find a doctor for him, and she really didn't dare to take action directly.

She tried her best. If he could be saved, it would be his good luck.

If they can't be saved, it's probably just that they are unlucky.

Sheng Xiyan couldn't move him, so she simply moved the chair to the side to give him more room to lie down.

Chu Yuanchen's face was still pale, but there was a hint of life on his lifeless face, and his breathing was stronger than before, which made Sheng Xiyan feel relieved.

For the next half hour, she was in no mood to read the storybook. She checked his breath from time to time. After waiting for a long time, she finally pulled out the seven silver needles one by one.

When acupuncture is performed, Baihui acupoint is the first needle, and when the needles are removed, Baihui acupoint is the last needle. The pulled out silver needles are all clean and dry without a speck of blood.

After removing the needle, Sheng Xiyan placed her hand on his pulse and kept it there for a long time.

Fortunately, my heart pulse has become much stronger now. It doesn't seem like it could disappear at any time like before. In all likelihood, I won't die.

Sheng Xiyan's brows relaxed and she showed a look of joy: It seemed, it seemed, that she was probably quite powerful!

While feeling relieved, she was also overwhelmed by the exhaustion of energy. She leaned one hand on the desk and dozed off for a while until Xigui knocked on the door and said, "Miss, do you want to eat?"

Sheng Xiyan glanced at the clepsydra. It was almost the evening hour. The sun had set outside and the sky was filled with rosy clouds.

She stretched her stiff shoulders, rubbed her forehead, and said, "Serve the meal," then went out.

After dinner, she planned to go over to see if he was awake and ask if she wanted to get him something to eat. But he was gone, and he had taken his jujube flower cake with him. Only the letter remained on the desk, with a black jade pendant with flowing clouds and a hundred blessings on it.

Sheng Xiyan: “…”

This guy is looking for death!

Sheng Xiyan glanced at the half-open window and walked over to close it.

She guessed that Chu Yuanchen should not have left the Sheng Mansion yet, otherwise, there would be no need for her to deliver the letter, especially since he was so badly injured and he definitely couldn't go far.

Sheng Xiyan took the letter and jade pendant and left the small study.

This letter was of great importance, so Sheng Xiyan specially sewed a secret pocket in her purse with rags, folded the letter into a small size and stuffed it in, and carefully put the jade pendant into her sleeve pocket. Sheng Xiyan guessed that this should be a token of love for her.

The glow of the sunset faded and the sky became completely dark.

The letter was like a hot potato in Sheng Xiyan's hand. She had planned to go out the next day after greeting Mrs. Liu. However, just as she was about to leave, Mrs. Liu's maid Amber came over and said that Zhao Yuanrou had arrived.

Amber said again: "Madam asked you to go over there." She smiled generously and respectfully.

"Zhao Yuanrou is here?" Sheng Xiyan raised his eyebrows, with a hint of impatience in his eyes.

She was too lazy to attend social events, especially as she was in a hurry to go out, so she was about to refuse the invitation when suddenly something struck her mind.

Sheng Xiyan changed her mind and agreed, then asked, "Is my aunt here too?"

"Yes." Amber replied with a smile, "My aunt came here with my cousin."

The great aunt that Amber mentioned is Sheng Xiyan's aunt, Sheng, and Sheng Xing'an's half-sister.

Sheng was promised to the third master of the Zhao family, and they were a perfect match. However, not long after Sheng gave birth to Zhao Yuanrou, the third master of the Zhao family suddenly caught a cold and fell ill. His illness came suddenly and seriously, and he died within a few days. From then on, Sheng and Zhao Yuanrou were left as orphans and widows.

When they arrived at the main courtyard, Liuli went to pass the message first and then led Sheng Xiyan in.

The moment the door curtain was lifted, Zhao Yuanrou, who was sitting at the bottom, leaned forward and called out, "Cousin Yan."

Zhao Yuanrou is Sheng Xiyan's cousin, and the two of them are somewhat similar in their features. Zhao Yuanrou has a beautiful complexion, and her skin is so soft, white, and delicate that it seems as if it could be blown away. The green lotus skirt makes her look quite innocent.

"Cousin Yan."

Zhao Yuanrou stood up, took two steps towards her, then stopped abruptly, her pair of sharp eyes seeming to want to say something but hesitated.

Sheng Xiyan bowed to Liu and Sheng Shifu, then smiled at Zhao Yuanrou, "Cousin Rou." There was no emotion in her eyes.

"Sister Yan." Liu waved to her, smiling and saying gently, "Yesterday evening, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree to arrange a marriage between your cousin Rou and the Prince of Ninghou Mansion."

Liu raised her willow-shaped eyebrows, with a hint of provocation and gloating over misfortune.

What a good marriage it was to be the son of the Marquis of Yongning. Now that it was given to Zhao Yuanrou for nothing, she didn't believe that Sheng Xiyan would not be jealous! If her daughter was not still young, she would be reluctant to let her go.

Liu's tone became even more excited, and she said to Sheng, "I told you that our sister Rou has been blessed since she was a child. You were worried at that time, but now, blessing has come. This is the future marquis' wife, a super-rank imperial decree, which is simply a great blessing from heaven."

In fact, Sheng was only over thirty years old, and already had several deep nasolabial lines on her face, and a lot of white hair at her temples. Her appearance was far from being as bright and youthful as Liu's.

Hearing this, she laughed heartily, and her face, which had looked a little bitter due to being a widow for many years, was now filled with a rare smile.

Zhao Yuanrou's pretty face froze slightly, as if she was a little helpless. She took a few steps forward, grabbed Sheng Xiyan's sleeve, and said indignantly: "Cousin Yan, I heard that the Queen Mother arranged for you to be married to the Prince of Zhenbei? This is too unfair to you!"

That day, Zhao Yuanrou didn't even attend the banquet. Later, she learned from Zhou Jingxun that the Queen Mother had arranged a marriage for Sheng Xiyan. She was shocked at the time.

How could the Queen Mother marry Sheng Xiyan to a dead man? No matter how noble the Zhenbei Palace is, the Zhenbei Prince is already dead. How could Sheng Xiyan's lifelong happiness be ruined for a dead man?

Sheng Xiyan pulled her sleeve out of her hand and said righteously, "Cousin Rou, please be careful with your words. The Queen Mother's will is not something you or I can comment on."

She openly used the Queen Mother.

Zhao Yuanrou sighed. Her cousin Yan was a gentle beauty, but she was too old-fashioned. Even though she and Zhou Jingxun had only met a few times in the past, she did not dare to violate the engagement. But now that the empress dowager had issued an imperial decree, she would take the dead man as her husband and abide by the virtues of a woman.

Don't you feel tired living like this?

Zhao Yuanrou looked at her straight in the eyes and said, "Cousin Yan, whether you believe it or not, I don't want this to happen."

When Zhao Yuanrou met Zhou Jingxun, she didn't know that he was the prince of Yongning Marquis. Later, she made it clear to him and repeatedly stated that she would not be a concubine. She thought Zhou Jingxun would let her go, but...

Perhaps matters of the heart really cannot be forced by any external force.

Sheng Xiyan: “…”

She couldn't help but sneer. What did what Zhao Yuanrou said now have to do with her?

Zhao Yuanrou, who didn't get any response, pinched her handkerchief and said, "Cousin Yan, I know you are blaming me."

It was her fault that she had kept the affair between her and Zhou Jingxun a secret from Sheng Xiyan, but she also didn't want to make Sheng Xiyan sad. Anyone would be unable to accept knowing that their fiancé liked someone other than themselves.

As soon as what happened in the garden came out, she knew that Sheng Xiyan would definitely hear about it. She wanted to explain it to Sheng Xiyan at that time, but she never had the chance. Later, the Queen Mother summoned her again and reprimanded and scolded her, leaving her almost confused.

She didn't think she was wrong. She had never had any feelings for King Zhao. It was obviously King Zhao who had been pestering her that caused things to get to this point.

Zhao Yuanrou bit her red lips, suppressed the depression in her eyes, took a half step forward, and said sincerely: "Cousin Yan, let me go with you to see the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother must have misunderstood something, so she issued such an imperial decree. I can explain it."

She is willing to make amends and put everything back on track!

At least we can't let Sheng Xiyan be like her mother and remain a widow for the rest of her life.

"Sister Rou." Sheng interrupted her quickly and winked at her anxiously.

That’s the prince of Yongning!

Even though in Sheng's eyes, her daughter was good in every way, she had to admit that this marriage was too high for her daughter.

If she missed the chance, her daughter could at best be married to a poor scholar, and live a life of homelessness and worrying about daily necessities.

Zhao Yuanrou frowned and tried to pull Sheng Xiyan again, but this time she failed to even pull the corner of her sleeve.

Zhao Yuanrou clenched her fists in her sleeves. Sheng Xiyan's neither salty nor indifferent attitude made her very uncomfortable.

Even if Sheng Xiyan and Zhou Jingxun had an engagement, so what? They had barely met each other a few times, so why should she be the one to give in in the end?! She had acknowledged the injustice of the world, and she had given in, but now the Queen Mother had suddenly intervened, so how could she blame herself?

She has already apologized and is willing to make amends, what else does Sheng Xiyan want her to do? !

Zhao Yuanrou held her breath in her heart, and made up her mind, saying: "Cousin Yan, are you unwilling to forgive me? Fine! Then I will give you this life, and it will be ok to die as an atonement for your sins!"

Sheng Xiyan was a little dazed, the scene before her seemed to overlap with her previous life.

In the previous life, after the Queen Mother issued the imperial decree to merge the heir, Zhao Yuanrou also came to the Sheng family. She said that she was innocent, that she had been wronged, and that she was willing to explain to the Queen Mother and ask her to withdraw the imperial decree. I was still a little confused at the time, and I really couldn't understand her so-called hardship and innocence.

Zhao Yuanrou wanted to die as an atonement, claiming that he refused to forgive her.

Of course he didn't die.

Later, she was severely scolded by Sheng Xingan, who said that she was intolerant and had brought shame to the Sheng family.

Later, when the Yongning Marquis's Mansion came to propose marriage, Zhou Jingxun used a pair of dead geese as a gift to support Zhao Yuanrou...