The brown medicinal decoction was served in a white porcelain bowl, cooled in cold water, emitting only faint wisps of steam.

Pei Yunshu sat leaning against the headboard, gazing at her swollen belly for a long while before finally gathering her resolve and reaching for the medicine bowl on the silver tray.

Qiong Ying couldn’t help but intervene, “Your Highness, perhaps reconsider?”

“Why not consult more physicians? There might be a way without inducing labor,” Fang Zi softly advised from the side.

Lu Teng sat quietly at the table, as if deaf to the room’s conversation.

Pei Yunshu was of noble birth, her status exalted, and the child in her womb carried the bloodline of a Prince. Lu Teng was merely a physician from an ordinary medical hall – before this, she and Pei Yunshu had never even met. To ask Pei Yunshu to entrust both her life and that of her unborn child to a stranger seemed rather unreasonable.

As Lu Teng pondered this with lowered eyes, she heard Pei Yunshu speak gently: “I trust Doctor Lu.”

Her tone was exceptionally firm.

Lu Teng started, instinctively looking up to see the woman leaning against the cushions, smiling at her.

“I trust Doctor Lu,” Pei Yunshu repeated, “Many physicians from the Imperial Medical Office have come, yet not one noticed anything amiss. If they couldn’t even detect signs of poisoning, how could we expect them to cure it?”

“But,” Fang Zi choked up, “This is too risky for you…”

If successful, all would be well, but should it fail, Pei Yunshu would shoulder all the blame herself. The price of making decisions alone was bearing unforeseen consequences.

Pei Yunshu spoke flatly, “I am taking a risk, but isn’t Doctor Lu taking one as well? Do you think helping me induce labor comes without difficulty for Doctor Lu?”

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying fell silent.

This was true – if anything went wrong with the induced labor, Lu Teng would certainly be implicated. Even if successful in curing the young master’s poisoning, Prince Wen, knowing the truth, might not thank her. Prince Wen was a man who couldn’t distinguish right from wrong, selfish and cruel. He might even turn things around and accuse Lu Teng of attempting to harm the prince’s heir.

Helping Pei Yunshu induce labor was no profitable venture for Lu Teng.

Realizing this, the wariness in the two maids’ eyes towards Lu Teng diminished somewhat.

Pei Yunshu said no more, raising her hand to take the medicine bowl from the silver tray and drinking it down in one go.

Afterward, placing the empty bowl back on the tray, she smiled at Lu Teng: “I leave everything in Doctor Lu’s hands now.”

Lu Teng rose and sat in the chair by the couch. Yin Zheng handed over the medical box before leaving to prepare hot water. The labor-inducing medicine would take some time to take effect. The room fell quiet. Perhaps to break this awkwardness, or maybe to ease her tension, Pei Yunshu initiated a conversation with Lu Teng.

She asked Lu Teng: “Doctor Lu’s medical skills far surpass those of the Imperial physicians. May I ask who your teacher was?”

Lu Teng took out gold needles from the velvet cloth and carefully wiped them while answering: “Just an unknown country doctor.”

Pei Yunshu nodded, hearing Lu Teng’s reluctance to discuss this, and changed the subject: “Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Doctor Lu helping with my labor might prevent you from reuniting with your family. Should I have someone send a message to your family to prevent them from worrying?”

Lu Teng’s movements in wiping the needles paused.

She said: “No need. My family is no longer here.”

Pei Yunshu froze for a moment, then spoke apologetically: “I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s nothing,” Lu Teng’s expression remained calm, “That’s in the past now, Your Highness need not concern yourself.”

The room fell silent again.

After a while, Pei Yunshu looked down at her swollen belly and asked softly: “Doctor Lu, if we induce labor, can the child be saved?”

Pei Yunshu only now thought to ask this after taking the medicine – Lu Teng wasn’t sure whether to consider the princess naive or merely optimistic. Not wanting to deceive Pei Yunshu, she spoke plainly: “The induction is to deliver the child before the poison takes full effect. If left in Your Highness’s womb, the poisoning will only worsen.”

“A woman in childbirth has one foot in the netherworld. I cannot guarantee I can remove the poison from the child, nor even ensure Your Highness’s safety. I can only strive to fight for a chance at survival for Your Highness’s unborn child.”

She looked up: “Does Your Highness understand?”

These words were very direct, without a trace of comfort. Hearing this, Pei Yunshu’s face grew even paler.

Qiong Ying couldn’t help but frown: “How can Doctor Lu speak like this?”

Those physicians, to keep patients in good spirits and dispel worries, always found ways to speak words of comfort, fearing Pei Yunshu might become frightened and affect the child. Yet this doctor before them seemed to think the princess wasn’t anxious enough, each word piercing the heart.

“I am Your Highness’s physician, not an entertainer meant to amuse.”

Lu Teng answered coldly, “Moreover, I believe letting Your Highness understand the true current situation will help with the upcoming delivery.”

Qiong Ying: “You…”

Pei Yunshu stopped Qiong Ying’s next words, forcing a smile: “Doctor Lu is right. Even without poisoning, no one can guarantee there won’t be complications in childbirth.” She secretly gripped the bedding beneath her, trying hard to appear relaxed, “I, Pei Yunshu, have never done anything wrong in this life. I believe Heaven won’t treat me harshly, today will surely go smoothly.”

These were words Pei Yunshu used to comfort herself, but they sounded somewhat jarring to Lu Teng’s ears.

Never having done anything wrong in this life meant Heaven wouldn’t treat one harshly.

Her Lu family – parents honest and upright, sister kind, brother righteous – didn’t they still meet the fate of family extinction?

While those who committed countless evil deeds flourished in this imperial city, rising high, and becoming the respected elite.

Good is rewarded and evil punished – it was merely failed people’s futile self-comfort against unfair fate, a fallacy. Rather than placing all hope in the vague concepts of “Heaven” and “karma,” better to rely on oneself.

The room’s atmosphere gradually stiffened. In this silence, Pei Yunshu’s newly changed clothes gradually became soaked with sweat again. She frowned, trying hard to endure while anxiously touching her belly: “Doctor Lu, I- I feel somewhat unwell.”

Lu Teng’s expression changed.

The labor-inducing medicine had taken effect.

She stood up to fetch the hot water Yin Zheng had prepared. Fang Zi and Qiong Ying’s bodies tensed, both looking at her somewhat helplessly.

But Pei Yunshu, seeing their expressions, smiled calmly: “Doctor Lu, just do what needs to be done. Even if… even if something goes wrong, I will protect you, prove this had nothing to do with you, it was all my own decision.”

Even at this moment, the princess still thought of others’ safety. Lu Teng saw her sweat-dampened hands, the bedding beneath crumpled, and in those beautiful eyes, the panic and helplessness she tried so hard to conceal.

Pei Yunshu was afraid. No matter how calm and composed she appeared, she was still deeply afraid.

The bedding beneath was soaked through. Perhaps due to the “child’s affliction,” the labor-inducing medicine took effect faster than usual. Pei Yunshu’s face drained of color as she gradually began to emit painful moans. The fresh osmanthus fragrance in the room could no longer mask the other thick, fishy odors.

In the deep autumn afternoon, behind tightly closed doors, without refreshing long winds, like a stagnant mud pit trapping everyone within.

“Don’t be afraid.” After hesitating, Lu Teng held the hand of the woman on the couch.

Pei Yunshu started.

After a pause, she leaned close to Pei Yunshu’s ear, her tone still calm.

“I know Pei Yunying.”

In an instant, Pei Yunshu froze.

Hot tears immediately welled up in Pei Yunshu’s eyes. With strength from unknown sources, she grabbed Lu Teng’s hand and asked urgently: “Ah Ying? You’re Ah Ying’s person?”

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying also looked at Lu Teng in surprise. After all, in their memory, Pei Yunying had never mentioned arranging such a female physician.

But Pei Yunshu was like someone who had suddenly found solid support in a desperate, endless drift of fate, her gaze sweeping away the previous endurance and fear, becoming trusting and relieved. She caught her breath, sweat trailing down her cheeks, yet still smiled at Lu Teng.

“Doctor Lu, so you’re Ah Ying’s person. That’s wonderful,” she suppressed her pain, eyes tear-filled, “I trust you, truly.”

Though she had been trembling with fear just moments ago, just hearing Pei Yunying’s name immediately filled her with boundless strength.

Lu Teng remained silent. In desperate situations, one could only rely on oneself, but besides self-reliance, thoughts of loved ones could always somewhat ease the process’s pain.

The medicine’s effects grew increasingly intense, and Pei Yunshu gradually unable to suppress her painful moans, her breathing rapid. Lu Teng spoke with her while having Fang Zi feed her some sweet soup.

If this went on too long, Pei Yunshu would lose her strength.

Just as the room’s atmosphere was tense, suddenly there came violent knocking from outside, accompanied by a matron’s loud scolding: “Princess, Princess open the door, thieves have infiltrated the manor, someone is poisoning the prince’s heir!”

Lu Teng’s expression changed drastically.

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying also jerked their heads up.

The next moment, the knocking grew faster, and Meng Xian Yan’s voice sounded from outside: “Why isn’t the Princess responding? Could something have happened?”

Pei Yunshu opened her sweat-soaked eyes from her pain, gritting her teeth: “This is bad. Meng Xian Yan must have grown suspicious.”

Outside the door, Meng Xian Yan stood behind the matron, her face so dark it could drip water.

Pei Yunshu had dismissed the examining physicians, keeping only that female doctor in the room, which left her uneasy. So she had servants go to the pharmacy where the doctor’s maid had gotten medicine, to ask the shopkeeper what exactly they had bought.

The shopkeeper, hearing they were from the Prince’s manor, was startled and, without waiting to be questioned, carefully recalled the prescription the maid had filled.

“Angelica, bitter orange, ligusticum, motherwort, astragalus…” The shopkeeper’s face changed in horror, “This is the Fu Tai Yin formula, it’s labor-inducing medicine!”

Labor-inducing medicine!

Meng Xian Yan’s vermillion-painted nails nearly dug into her palms.

No one would take labor-inducing medicine without reason, especially since Pei Yunshu still had more than a month until her due date. Yet they were secretly obtaining and taking such medicine – there could only be one possibility.

That female doctor called Lu Teng had discovered the truth about Pei Yunshu’s poisoning.

Meng Xian Yan’s body tensed her gaze at the door undisguisedly cold.

Her cousin’s words echoed in her ears again—

“Those poisoned carry their pregnancy peacefully, only to deliver a stillborn after ten months, while the mother remains unharmed.”

‘Child’s Affliction’ was meant to take effect silently within the mother’s womb, waiting until the full ten months when the child would have no chance at life. But whether a child delivered before the full ten months could survive, even her cousin wasn’t certain. After all, this forbidden drug had officially been lost to history for many years, and in recent years, those who had used it had never been discovered.

If it were just this matter alone, that would be one thing. More importantly, since Lu Teng had discovered the truth about ‘Child’s Affliction,’ once the truth came to light, if the crime of poisoning the prince’s heir were traced back to her, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Meng Xian Yan bit her lip, a flash of fear crossing her heart.

Today Prince Wen was at Ming Lin Garden, and the imperial banquet would end at night. Even if news from the manor reached him and he rushed back, it would still take some time. She had to pin all crimes on that female doctor before Prince Wen returned.

Prince Wen had always indulged her every whim. As long as she eliminated all evidence, between Pei Yunshu and her, Meng Xian Yan, Prince Wen would always inexplicably favor her.

She just needed to eliminate all witnesses. That female doctor deserved it – who told her to discover secrets she shouldn’t have, and still wholeheartedly help Pei Yunshu? It was her fault for not reading the situation, seeking her death!

Meng Xian Yan raised her head expressionlessly, beckoning the servants and matrons behind her.

“The Princess has been taken hostage by villains, break down the door!”

The servants and matrons obeyed, rushing forward. With a “bang,” the carved yellow wooden door was suddenly broken open from outside, and a crowd of matrons rushed in.

Inside, Lu Teng frowned.

The prince’s manor was indeed not peaceful. If before there had only been suspicion, Meng Xian Yan’s obvious actions now almost confirmed in Lu Teng’s mind that Pei Yunshu’s ‘Child’s Affliction’ was inextricably linked to this consort of the prince’s manor.

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying stood guard before Pei Yunshu. Pei Yunshu had already started bleeding and was in extreme pain, only managing to raise her head slightly with effort as she angrily said: “Meng Xian Yan, what are you trying to do!”

Meng Xian Yan stood in the doorway. The broken door let in a sliver of light from behind her, yet it only made the woman appear darker, even her delicate features showing some gloom.

But her voice was soft, carrying a particularly discordant concern.

“Princess, the pharmacist from the nearby street just sent word that this Doctor Lu’s maid obtained Fu Tai Yin, a labor-inducing medicine. The pharmacist was worried something might go wrong and especially sent someone to inform us. When this younger sister learned of this, I rushed over immediately.”

She looked at Lu Teng, coldly saying: “How dare you attempt to harm the prince’s heir!”

“I did not attempt to harm your manor’s heir,” Lu Teng had no intention of bearing Meng Xian Yan’s anger alone, “The labor-inducing medicine was the Princess’s idea.”

Pei Yunshu was covered in sweat, holding her belly, and with Fang Zi’s support glared at Meng Xian Yan, “It was my idea. Meng Xian Yan, my pregnancy is unstable, showing signs of poisoning, so I asked Doctor Lu to induce labor to save the child. Get out—”

A vicious glint flashed in Meng Xian Yan’s eyes, and then she widened them in surprise: “Princess surely jests. The Imperial physicians visit every few days and have never detected any poisoning. How could a doctor from a small medical hall diagnose poison in the Princess’s pregnancy?”

She raised her eyes to look at Lu Teng, her tone ominous: “I think this woman is speaking nonsense to deceive people!”

Accusations without evidence, clear framing of another – if this consort wasn’t arrogant to the point of stupidity, then there was only one possibility: she planned to silence them permanently.

For a dead person, naturally, there was no need to show any mercy.

A moan came from beside her. Lu Teng looked down – the wetness beneath Pei Yunshu was increasing. When Meng Xian Yan had led people to break down the door earlier, it made Pei Yunshu even more nervous. She had already started bleeding; the situation would only become more critical.

She certainly knew how to pick her timing.

Meng Xian Yan also saw Pei Yunshu’s pained expression, and couldn’t help but feel delighted inside.

Childbirth was already a matter of life and death. Today Lu Teng would certainly die, but if Pei Yunshu had a difficult labor due to shock and worry, dying along with her child, wouldn’t that suit her purposes perfectly? As for the blame…

Her gaze turned to the two maids protecting Pei Yunshu by the couch. These two maids, who knew where Pei Yunshu had found them, were desperately loyal to her. Meng Xian Yan had tried to buy them off several times without success. Since that was the case… let these two become the scapegoats. It would complete the fate of these three masters and servants.

Meng Xian Yan pointed at Lu Teng: “Seize this woman!”

Pei Yunshu was shocked beyond words: “Meng Xian Yan, how dare you!”

Meng Xian Yan frowned: “The Princess has been deceived by this woman and is now confused. And these two—” she looked at Fang Zi and Qiong Ying, her smile becoming sinister, “As the Princess’s maids, they conspired with outsiders to harm the Princess. Seize them all and wait for the Prince’s return to decide their fate!”

The servants behind her had been waiting for these words. Hearing this, they rushed in to grab Lu Teng.

Seeing this, Qiong Ying and Fang Zi kicked away a matron in front of them, drew daggers from their waists, and stood guard before Pei Yunshu’s couch.

Do they know martial arts?

Lu Teng’s expression shifted slightly.

It seemed the Prince’s wife wasn’t entirely without backup.

Seeing this, Meng Xian Yan’s face darkened at the doorway. No wonder these two maids never left Pei Yunshu’s side – they had this ability to rely on. These ordinary servants and matrons couldn’t be counted on. Meng Xian Yan shouted: “Lu Han—”

With her shout, synchronized footsteps suddenly sounded from the courtyard as a group of armed guards arrived at the door – the manor’s guards.

Meng Xian Yan stepped back, pointing at the people in the room and saying harshly: “Arrest them!”

“Yes!”

The blue-robed guards were like a wolf pack, ferociously pouncing on their prey like sheep. Meng Xian Yan smiled coldly.

Prince Wen’s love for her meant he allowed her to command the manor’s guards. These guards were truly skilled people. Even if Pei Yunshu’s two maids were skilled, they couldn’t fight against such numbers, especially with… that useless burden in the room.

In the room, as the guards rushed in menacingly, Fang Zi and Qiong Ying had to divide their attention between protecting Pei Yunshu on the couch and Lu Teng while dealing with these guards, making things quite difficult.

A sturdy guard avoided Fang Zi’s dagger and suddenly grabbed Yin Zheng’s arm to drag her away. Yin Zheng had never seen such a situation and instinctively cried out.

Lu Teng turned just in time to see this scene, grabbed a vase from the small table, and swung it violently at the guard’s head.

“Bang—”

The guard’s body swayed and slowly fell.

Yin Zheng looked at her, still shaken, while others in the room couldn’t help but pause at this sight.

This seemingly gentle and weak woman had struck without any hesitation.

The fine white porcelain vase shattered on the ground, mixed with bright red blood. Lu Teng quickly stepped forward and pulled down the gauze curtains from the couch.

The moonlit gauze curtains were like a pale crescent moon, or like cloud silk, floating down gently from above, separating the inside and outside into two worlds.

Along with it came her calm voice.

“Protect me.”

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying suddenly came to their senses. Now at this life-or-death moment when all plans were revealed, their only task was to protect Lu Teng so she could successfully deliver the Princess’s child.

A woman’s low moan came from behind the curtain. Meng Xian Yan’s face grew darker – that female doctor was more troublesome than she had expected. She suddenly narrowed her eyes, her voice becoming shrill.

“Take them down, dead or alive—”

In an instant, the guards in the room no longer held back, drawing their swords and rushing at the group. Lu Teng, hidden behind the cloud gauze curtain, remained expressionless as if she hadn’t heard the sounds of fighting outside, calmly helping Pei Yunshu control her breathing.

With a “swoosh,” a cold light stabbed directly from the side, grazing Lu Teng’s cheek. The next moment it was blocked by Qiong Ying’s dagger.

“Doctor Lu, you’re hurt…” Pei Yunshu looked at the blood on Lu Teng’s face, speaking between gasps.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m fine.” Lu Teng pressed her down, her tone flat.

The fighting outside grew more intense. Because Fang Zi and Qiong Ying had to mind Pei Yunshu and the others behind them, they were inevitably distracted. Meng Xian Yan’s eyes flickered as she called out loudly: “Who sent you people? How dare you attempt to harm the Princess in broad daylight!”

“Lu Han, kill them—”

Hearing this, the guard leader suddenly abandoned Fang Zi in front of him, turned his sword, and suddenly thrust it toward Lu Teng’s back, the silver sword tip aimed at her heart in a flash!

A loud “bang—”

There was a sharp whistling sound through the air.

A cold light shot through the air, fiercely cutting through the crowd, violently piercing through the guard’s skull.

Warm blood sprayed onto the moonlit gauze curtain, creating a mottled pattern of red and white.

The arrow fell to the ground, along with the guard and his sword.

The sounds of fighting in the room had stopped at some point. In the deathly silence, Lu Teng heard Meng Xian Yan speak, her voice seeming to tremble.

She said: “Pei- Pei Yunying… how are you here?”

Pei Yunying? Lu Teng started slightly.

Pei Yunshu also heard the commotion outside, her face showing joy: “Ah Ying is here?”

Lu Teng had no time to be distracted, only hearing footsteps from outside approaching step by step, as if someone had entered the room and walked to Pei Yunshu’s couch.

The gauze curtain divided the inside and outside into two worlds, like day and night separated by clear moonlight. However, when Fang Zi had been fighting with the guard earlier, their swords had torn the gauze, creating gaps in the moonlight.

Through the torn gap, Lu Teng looked outside.

A crimson figure stood before the couch.

In the chaos, he had his back to Lu Teng, his expression unseen, only his fully drawn silver blade visible at his waist.

Lu Teng had seen Pei Yunying draw his blade before, but it seemed each time it was only half-drawn before being sheathed. This was the first time she had seen this snow-bright silver blade fully drawn, its edge sharp and fierce as if the person before her had shed that gentle mask, revealing the ruthlessness and brutality beneath.

No longer concealing his surging killing intent.

He turned his head slightly, his whole body emanating coldness, yet his voice was gentle and reassuring as he spoke to Lu Teng.

“Continue.”