Xie Yunhuai had stayed away from the capital these years simply because he didn’t want to see Xie Ji, fearing he might be unable to suppress thoughts of patricide.

Not for a single day had he forgotten his hatred, and he maintained his connections in the capital. Over the years, he had sought out the finest medical practitioners. For the sake of learning medicine, he could endure any hardship. His acquired medical skills had helped him build relationships and gather favors.

If he wanted to investigate something, even if it involved the palace, it wasn’t difficult.

When he returned to the Princess’s mansion, it was almost exactly two hours later. He went straight to Shen Xihe’s chambers, where Biyu and Hongyu were keeping watch inside.

“Has the Princess shown any signs of waking?” Xie Yunhuai asked as he walked past the screen.

Biyu’s eyes were red, her brows knitted with worry as she slowly shook her head: “None.”

Before leaving, Xie Yunhuai had told them what signs would indicate consciousness. They had watched without blinking, but there had been no trace of these signs. Dawn was approaching in another hour.

Xie Yunhuai sat on the edge of the bed and checked Shen Xihe’s pulse again. Finding that her pulse hadn’t changed at all, his gaze grew heavy.

His reaction made Biyu and the others even more anxious.

After a moment of silence, Xie Yunhuai said: “Let’s wait longer.”

Waiting was all they could do now. Biyu and the others only regretted not having studied medicine themselves—then they wouldn’t have to feel so helplessly anxious.

“Doctor Qi, please forgive this servant’s presumption,” Biyu hesitated but couldn’t hold back. “Perhaps we should report to the palace and request physicians to come. This servant doesn’t doubt Doctor Qi, but two minds are better than one…”

More people might mean more ideas.

Xie Yunhuai showed no blame or anger, instead responding patiently: “I know you’re desperate to save your mistress. I’m not being arrogant or looking down on the Imperial physicians. The fact is, with the Crown Prince unconscious, all palace physicians are attending to him in the Eastern Palace. Even if you went to request them, you couldn’t get the Chief Imperial Physician or his deputy.

Moreover, even if you managed to bring them here, once they check her pulse, they’ll surely ask how the Princess came to be in this state. Would you tell them about the Bone-Shedding Pills?”

If the Bone-Shedding Pills became known, Shen Xihe would likely never know peace again. Who wouldn’t want such a miraculous medicine, especially with Shen Xihe’s gradually improving health as proof?

“Finally, those who plotted against the Princess have palace connections. The Princess’s mansion is heavily guarded, and so far no news has leaked. I’ve ensured my investigation won’t alert them. Once we involve Imperial physicians, the variables will increase.”

They had no one in the Imperial Medical Office, and it would be extremely difficult to prevent any leaks. Worse still, the physician might have been planted by the conspirators, coming to deliver Shen Xihe’s final death warrant.

Cold sweat broke out on Biyu’s back as she knelt in a curtsey: “This servant was rash earlier. Please forgive me, Doctor Qi.”

Xie Yunhuai had high praise for all of Shen Xihe’s servants: “Despite your anxiety, you didn’t go to the palace for help while I was away. That’s truly commendable.”

This showed great trust and respect for him.

Seeing Xie Yunhuai’s amenable manner, Biyu boldly asked another question: “Doctor Qi, can the Princess wake up?”

Xie Yunhuai looked up, scanning the extremely anxious faces before him, and gave them a firm one-word answer: “Yes.”

Fortunately, Shen Xihe’s health had improved considerably over the past month, building up some foundation. He had also figured out the Bone-Shedding Pills and had prepared for all possible emergencies and responses, allowing him to provide appropriate treatment.

However, over a month’s worth of careful treatment had been wasted. Who knew how weak her constitution would be when she woke up, or whether she could continue taking the Bone-Shedding Pills with snow water?

At this thought, a flash of anger crossed Xie Yunhuai’s eyes.

Setting aside his friendship with Shen Xihe, as a physician, patients were precious to him. Especially when he had carefully nursed someone back to health, only to have it destroyed in an instant—how could he not be furious?

Dawn broke, and the morning sun’s rays pierced through the gauze curtains.

Warm sunlight filled the elegant room, but Shen Xihe remained unconscious, her face ashen.

“Brew these herbs in water for the Princess to soak in, and take some Bone-Shedding Pills, the amount…” After handing the prepared herbs to Hongyu, Xie Yunhuai considered for a moment before telling Biyu, “Take half the usual dose.”

Xie Yunhuai was now their pillar of support.

As Shen Xihe soaked in the medicinal bath, Xie Yunhuai dissolved some Bone-Shedding Pills in snow water and had Biyu and the others find a way to make her take it. Soon after, Shen Xihe’s face turned red, and her exposed neck and shoulders became alarmingly crimson as if on fire.

Xie Yunhuai immediately began acupuncture, inserting over a dozen needles. The redness faded from Shen Xihe’s body, replaced by an increasingly cold pallor. When Biyu accidentally touched Shen Xihe’s fingertips, their ice-cold feeling nearly frightened her soul out of her body.

Sweat gradually appeared on Xie Yunhuai’s forehead, but he didn’t stop for a moment: “Add more water.”

Bucket after bucket of boiling water was poured into the tub, overflowing and being refilled repeatedly. This continued until nightfall when Shen Xihe’s body temperature finally began to normalize, and everyone saw her eyelids twitch.

They held their breath and waited, perhaps for a long time, just for an instant, until Shen Xihe finally mumbled: “Cold…”

“Change the tub,” Xie Yunhuai ordered before stepping out for propriety’s sake.

Another tub had been prepared nearby, freshly filled with a different medicinal decoction. Moyu carried Shen Xihe into it, and Xie Yunhuai returned to perform acupuncture again, this time inserting only five needles.

After about another half hour, as the water cooled, Xie Yunhuai, who had been monitoring Shen Xihe’s pulse constantly, finally relaxed. He stepped back wearily, leaning against a pillar: “It’s alright now. The Princess will wake naturally after she’s had enough sleep.”

For a full day and night, everyone had been on tenterhooks, exhausted, but they had finally managed to save Shen Xihe’s life.

Although Xie Yunhuai was certain Shen Xihe would wake up, no one, including himself, dared be careless. They continued their vigil through another night. When the first ray of morning light broke through the clouds, Shen Xihe finally stirred awake.

“Princess, please have some porridge first.” Hongyu brought over perfectly warmed porridge—the Princess hadn’t eaten for two days and nights.

To ensure Shen Xihe could have porridge at the right temperature whenever she woke, Hongyu had kept watch over more than a dozen clay pots, not knowing when the Princess would wake, but ensuring one would be ready at the right time.

Though completely exhausted, Shen Xihe still turned away from the porridge. Biyu quickly brought medicinal water for her to rinse her mouth. Only after rinsing did Shen Xihe accept the porridge. After finishing a bowl, though more alert, she remained completely drained.

“Don’t rush, Princess. You’ve damaged your vital energy this time. You’ll need at least three to five days of bed rest,” Xie Yunhuai said after checking her pulse again.

Shen Xihe’s expression didn’t change, but she weakly uttered three words: “Bone-Shedding Pills…”

Understanding her meaning, Xie Yunhuai sighed softly: “The Bone-Shedding Pills cannot be taken for now.”