Divine Physician Yu rose at once and went to the table, where he wrote out a prescription with swift strokes. “As quickly as possible.”

With that, he wrote out a second one. “This prescription is for a medicinal bath — simmer it in a large pot for two quarters of an hour.”

There was no need to speak of how bad things were — everyone already knew it must be very bad. Divine Physician Yu had never been this taut before, nor had his brow ever been furrowed this deeply.

Nian Qiu took the prescription and ran at a speed she had never reached before. Hua Pingyang immediately dispatched a servant to go with her.

Zhu Shi lost all composure entirely, trembling so badly she could not string two words together. “Divine — Divine — Divine…”

Hua Pingyu tightened his arm around his wife, his voice gone hoarse. He finished the thought for her. “Divine Physician Yu — what exactly is Zhi’er’s condition?”

Divine Physician Yu had seen life and death countless times, and yet even he felt his throat tighten now. He offered a comparison. “The eldest young miss’s situation is like the tide — one wave crashes to shore, draws back for a moment, and then the next wave may strike with even greater force. Who has the power to stop the waves from rolling in? No one. All we can do is find every possible way to keep the eldest young miss from being swallowed under.”

What this implied — did it mean that what was to come would be even worse than what had just passed? Zhu Shi’s legs gave way and she nearly sank to her knees. Her daughter had done so much — she had protected the realm, she had protected so many lives — how could Heaven not spare just a little more tenderness for her?

Hua Pingyu moved to guide her out. Zhu Shi shook her head fiercely and refused to budge, pushing her husband away. She staggered to the table and sat down. She was staying here, not going anywhere — not going anywhere.

No one urged her further — there was no attention to spare for it.

Fu Dong arrived with the freshly decocted medicine. Gu Yanxi took it from her and fed it patiently, mouthful by mouthful. More than half spilled out once again — but at least a small amount was forced in.

One quarter-hour passed. Two. Half an hour went by in complete calm — and everyone inwardly began to hope that perhaps there had been some improvement. Only Divine Physician Yu and the keenly perceptive Gu Yanxi knew that things were likely about to take a turn for the worse — yet neither of them had a single thing they could do.

When everyone’s waiting had grown weary, the blow arrived without warning of any kind.

Gu Yanxi watched helplessly as red patches bloomed across Hua Zhi’s body. He felt the scalding heat of her breath with each exhale — and could do nothing.

Divine Physician Yu turned. “Is everything ready?”

Fu Dong nodded rapidly.

“Prepare the medicinal bath.” Elder Yu took out silver needles and walked to the bedside. “Extend her feet.”

Just as he had done with the fingertips before, he now let blood from the tips of her toes. After that he placed seven silver needles in each foot, then after a moment withdrew them and said, “Now go and soak her. Take your time, add the water gradually — do not let her catch a chill.”

Gu Yanxi dared not delay a moment. He gathered her up and strode toward the side room. In this moment, the only person in his eyes was the one in his arms. He did not see the emperor — he was not mindful of any of the Hua family within or without. It was only because of Hua Zhi that they mattered at all.

He removed every stitch from Hua Zhi once more and shed every article of his own clothing as well. Skin against skin — more intimate than any time before. Yet this time, not a single improper thought arose in Gu Yanxi’s mind. He pressed his forehead to hers from time to time to check, hoping the temperature would fall just a little more, and then a little more still. But…

“Bao Xia, come and feel.”

Bao Xia reached out a trembling hand and pressed it to the young miss’s forehead — and then went cold with dread. “How — how does it feel even hotter?”

Ying Chun pressed forward to check. It was true — truly hotter than before. What were they to do, what were they to do…

“This servant is going to ask Divine Physician Yu!”

Divine Physician Yu paced back and forth. If it were an ordinary fever, he would have ways of treating it — but the eldest young miss was not an ordinary patient. Her body had been worn down severely; medicines had to be chosen with the utmost caution. He could not use drastic remedies — even medicines that were only moderately harsh would be more than she could withstand.

“I am going to administer a needling — along her back. The medicinal bath must continue. Make the necessary preparations.”

Ying Chun bit her lip and looked toward the elderly patriarch of the Hua family. It concerned the young miss’s reputation…

Hua Yizheng’s expression became grave. “Go and make the preparations. Keeping her alive is what matters above all else.”

If the Regent cared about such things, this granddaughter of his would be raised by the Hua family — she would live however she wished, however it pleased her!

Ying Chun wept as she prostrated herself before Hua Yizheng, and before anyone could react, she was already on her feet and flying back to the room — the door banged shut behind her.

Hua Yizheng bowed deeply to Divine Physician Yu. “Divine Physician, please act freely and do what must be done. Pay no mind to anything else.”

“That the Hua family has the eldest young miss is the Hua family’s great fortune — and that she was born into the Hua family is her great fortune as well.” Divine Physician Yu returned the bow with clasped hands. Because of the propriety between men and women, countless women had been carried off by small ailments that could have been treated — and young unmarried women faced even greater peril. In such cases, dying while preserving one’s chastity was considered the proper course.

The eldest young miss had not wasted her two years of labor and sacrifice after all.

The exchange had taken place nearby and was clearly audible from within. Under the anxious watch of Zhu Shi and Bao Xia, Gu Yanxi instructed, “Ladle some of the water out.”

Bao Xia immediately did so, until he told her to stop.

When she saw the Regent carefully turn the young miss face-down, cradling her so that only her back was exposed, she understood at once. The Regent was afraid that if the water level was too high, the young miss might take in water. From that alone it was clear — he was not indifferent to these things at all!

Bao Xia and Ying Chun were nearly moved to tears of relief, and Zhu Shi, whose eyes were already prone to overflowing, long since had tears streaming down her face.

“Bring a cloak — not too thick.”

“Yes.”

Ying Chun, still hovering near the door, ran out again, quickly found a light cloak used in early autumn, and handed it over. Gu Yanxi took it, draped it over Hua Zhi’s back — then with one firm pull tore an opening through it. With another pull it split further, and the pale expanse of her back was fully exposed while everything else was covered completely.

Bao Xia suddenly understood, and precisely because she understood, she could not stop her tears. The Regent was not indifferent — he cared very much, even knowing it would be Elder Yu who would see. But set beside that — he cared more about whether the young miss would be all right.

“Go and invite Elder Yu.”

“Yes.”

Upon receiving word, Elder Yu glanced toward the women present. “This old physician would borrow a handkerchief.”

Hua Ling reached out without a second thought and offered her own — Xia Shi moved to stop her but was too late, and her expression shifted uncomfortably. A young maiden’s handkerchief could not simply be given to…

Yet Elder Yu did not take it. He pointed to the one in Nanny Su’s hands. “That one will do perfectly.”

Nanny Su started, then immediately offered it with both hands.

Elder Yu took it and tied it over his own eyes. “In decades of practicing medicine, in identifying acupoints by touch alone, this old physician yields to no one — come, give me your arm.”

Ying Chun silently prostrated herself before Elder Yu three times, then with great reverence guided him inside by the arm.

Everyone present visibly exhaled in relief. Although they had prepared themselves for the worst, it was naturally far better if Zhi’er’s reputation could still be preserved.

Seeing Elder Yu arrive in this manner, even Gu Yanxi did not draw the cloak back. Let people call it petty if they wished, let them think him small-minded — he would admit to it all. But the moment Elder Yu took her pulse and then brought out the golden needles, his expression changed, and his hold on Hua Zhi tightened. “Do you need to use the golden needles?”

“The time has come. Guide my hand to the eldest young miss’s head.”

Following the line of her head down to the nape of her neck, Elder Yu confirmed the young miss’s position, then raised his right hand, needle in grip, and pressed it in without hesitation. Nine needles in total — the last one placed at the crown of her head. He could only hope that this skill he had held in reserve for his most desperate moment would lend this young woman its strength.