Chapter 531 Kneeling to Beg

Chapter 531 Begging on One's Knees

After Wei Shuangyan woke up and was out of danger, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery sent word to the Duke of Xinguo's residence. However, none of the masters from the Duke of Xinguo's household came over. Jiao Shi merely sent some tonics like ginseng and deer antlers, along with some polite formalities.

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery understood perfectly well the Duke of Xinguo's intentions from this.

This sent her into a rage!

In contrast, the Jiping Commandery Prince took it more calmly and even tried to comfort his wife: "Enough. After all, they've waited for our Yanyan for nearly five years. Given what happened, we can't really blame them. If Yanyan's fate hadn't been properly changed and something terrible happened after she married into their family, what then?"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery understood this, but she still couldn't bring herself to accept it. She said bitterly, "Yanyan has just woken up! And they're already so eager to wash their hands of us—how cruel!"

But though she vented her anger, both households were prominent noble families in the capital, and the Duke of Xinguo's residence was especially trusted by the emperor. They couldn't afford to make an open break.

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery had no choice but to bite her tongue and accept it.

Thinking of this, the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery grew even more furious at those who had schemed to harm her daughter. Her eyes reddened as she cursed them vehemently, wishing she could skin them alive!

But Wei Shuangyan couldn't accept this. She had just washed off the chicken blood covering her, her hair still damp, revealing her slightly pale face. "I won't believe Second Brother Yu would do this to me!"

A maid was using a towel to squeeze out Wei Shuangyan's hair when she struggled to rush outside. The maid exclaimed, "Second Miss!"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery quickly held her daughter back. "Just where do you think you're going?!"

Wei Shuangyan's eyes were red as she stubbornly declared, "I want to ask Second Brother Yu—has he changed his mind about marrying me?"

The Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery couldn't allow her daughter to make such a scene! She gripped Wei Shuangyan's shoulders firmly and scolded sternly, "That's enough! If they don't want to marry you, then we're certainly not going to beg them! Are you saying the daughter of our commandery prince's household has to beg the Yu family to marry her?!"

Wei Shuangyan broke down in tears.

Everything had been fine—she hadn't done anything to anyone. Yet suddenly, the Fate-Changing Tower was destroyed, she nearly lost her life, and now she couldn't marry the boy she loved.

What had she ever done to deserve this?!

Wei Zihang stood beneath the corridor, listening to his second sister's heartbroken sobs and his mother's attempts to comfort her through her own pain. He hesitated, recalling the words Xingxing had left for him before departing.

He thought that if his second sister truly ended up with Yu Chongen without proper standing, wouldn't their commandery prince's household become the laughingstock of the entire capital?

But... his second sister seemed genuinely devastated.

Wei Zihang wavered, unsure how to voice his thoughts.

After all, even if his father and mother were willing to compromise for his second sister's happiness, what about the Duke of Xinguo's household?

He didn't believe that the Duke of Xinguo's second son from the main branch would leave the position of principal wife vacant—even if they couldn't marry, could they at least give Wei Shuangyan the proper respect due to her?

If not, where would that leave his second sister?

Lost in these thoughts, Wei Zihang hesitated, deciding to wait and observe the situation further before speaking to his second sister and mother.

That night, many in the capital found it hard to sleep.

Yet, by dawn, the gates of the General of the Western Garrison's residence were urgently knocked upon.

It was a servant from the Duke of Xinguo's household!

The servant was gasping for breath, his eyes red from running. He gasped, "Is Miracle Doctor Da Xi... is Miracle Doctor Da Xi here?"

The doorkeeper of the General of the Western Garrison's residence had no idea about the disparaging remarks Jiao Shi had made about Daxisipo to Xingxing the day before.

He replied truthfully, "Yes, Granny Da Xi is currently a guest at our residence."

The Duke of Xinguo's servant immediately showed an urgent smile: "Please ask Granny Da Xi to come with me to the Duke of Xinguo's residence!"

Upon hearing this, Granny Da Xi frowned and refused outright: "No!"

Those highborn families are nothing but trouble—she couldn't be bothered to deal with them.

Thus, the servants of General of the Western Garrison's household relayed the refusal back to Duke of Xinguo's people.

The Duke of Xinguo's servant grew increasingly frantic, even kneeling at the gate: "Please, steward, help plead our case once more! Our Dowager Duchess has suddenly collapsed and is in critical condition. We beg the Miracle Doctor to come and examine her!"

The steward of General of the Western Garrison's household was taken aback but hurried to convey the message again.

Granny Da Xi, however, grew furious: "I already said no! Who does he think he's performing for? Trying to coerce me with kneeling—does he think I must go just because he kneels? No!"

She shut them down hard.

Xingxing, who was having breakfast with Granny Da Xi, frowned upon hearing about Dowager Duchess of Xin's sudden collapse and said seriously, "This is strange. If the Dowager Duchess has collapsed, why not summon imperial physicians from the palace instead of coming here to plead with Granny Da Xi?"

The steward thought it was fishy too and, following Granny Da Xi's stance, declined the request once more.

The Duke of Xinguo's servant looked like his world was ending. With no other options, he could only return to report the failure.

Then Yu Mingzhu showed up.

Eyes red from crying, Yu Mingzhu, as a noble lady of Duke of Xinguo's household, stood outside General of the Western Garrison's residence and called out loudly, "We implore the Miracle Doctor to spare some time to diagnose our grandmother's illness!"

Granny Da Xi was livid: "This whole damn family’s nuts! If they're sick, why not call imperial physicians instead of making a scene on our doorstep!"

This time, Granny Da Xi stormed out of the residence. Yu Mingzhu's face had just lit up with hope, her lips parting to cry "Miracle Doctor—" when she was met with Granny Da Xi's merciless scolding: "If you're sick, go see a doctor! I've refused once, twice—are you deaf? What, does Duke of Xinguo's household think they're so mighty they can force others to treat them?!"

Yu Mingzhu went white, then red with shame under the verbal assault.

Granny Da Xi was clearly furious!

First thing in the morning, and they’d already wrecked her mood twice. Had it been her younger days, she would have already poisoned the pests and let the hopeless croak!

Yu Mingzhu bit her lip. Seeing that many neighbors had come out to watch the commotion in Wuyi Alley, she steeled herself and knelt before Granny Da Xi, bawling her eyes out: "Miracle Doctor Da Xi, my grandmother's illness is bizarre. Imperial physicians were summoned earlier—three in a row, all helpless. They even dragged in every big-name doctor in the capital, yet none could help. Out of options, it hit me... This resembles Second Miss Wei's condition yesterday... Please, show mercy and save my grandmother's life!"

She poured on the tears, laying it thick. Her pretty peony face made the scene all the more moving.

Bystanders started chiming in, "A healer's duty is to save lives. Miracle Doctor, why not go take a look?"

Da Xi Sipo’s eyes practically rolled into the stratosphere!

"Save lives," like it’s nothing!

Then why don't they go do it themselves!

If they won’t, what, they suddenly don’t care?

Nah—they’re just useless!

Since they’re incompetent, they should keep quiet instead of ganging up to pressure those who can!

Da Xi Sipo coldly watched Yu Mingzhu bawling her eyes out, just wanting to call bullshit.

At her age, she had seen enough people to recognize the act—this whole act stank to high heaven, of someone milking this for her own gain!

This Yu girl may be young, but she's downright devious!

Daxisipo swore under her breath but still mercilessly rejected Yu Mingzhu outright: "Scram! Even if you kneel here till you die or cry yourself to death, I won’t soften my heart!"

Yesterday, the kneeling and tearful pleas of the Princess Consort of Jiping Commandery did move her, but that was because she saw a mother’s selfless love for her child.

As for this Yu girl, forget love—all she has is a heart full of schemes for personal gain!

Yu Mingzhu lowered her head, tears the size of peas rolling down her cheeks and splashing onto the ground, a tragically beautiful sight.

"Has this one offended the Miracle Doctor in some way?" Yu Mingzhu sobbed. "I don’t know how I’ve offended you. Yesterday, you suddenly declared I wasn’t my mother’s child, and today you treat me with such hostility. Has someone spoken ill of me in your presence?... If so, I beg you to tell me those slanders to my face so I may refute them one by one and explain myself to you."

As she spoke, Yu Mingzhu’s gaze lingered pointedly on Xingxing, her implication unmistakable.

Daxisipo was now utterly enraged!

"You scheming little witch have a heart black as pitch! My refusal is my own doing. How dare you blame others for my refusal right in front of me? Bah!" Daxisipo spat contemptuously in her direction!

Though the spit didn’t reach Yu Mingzhu from that distance, the blatant insult made her face pale, and she could no longer keep up her act.

Biting her lip, she rose with an air of wounded dignity. "Fine. Since the Miracle Doctor dislikes me, I’ll leave."

Yu Mingzhu fled to her carriage and departed.

But after Yu Mingzhu left, Daxisipo swore under her breath, then coldly returned to fetch her medical kit—apparently intending to visit the Duke of Xin's estate after all.

Xingxing was surprised. "Grandma Da Xi, didn’t you refuse the Duke of Xin's household?"

Daxisipo grumbled, "Yes, I refused them. But did you see how that scheming little witch glanced at you? If I reject her now, she’ll surely spin tales against you!... If nothing happens to the Dowager Duchess, fine. But if something does, and the Duke of Xin's household bears you ill will, what then?"

Every word was spoken with Xingxing’s well-being in mind.

Xingxing’s eyes reddened. "Grandma Da Xi, I’ll be fine..."

Daxisipo waved her off coldly. "I know. My Xingxing has heaven's favor, and most troubles turn out alright for her. But this old bones can't abide seeing others scheme against you or bully you!"

Xingxing was too moved to speak, wiping her tears. "Grandma Da Xi, let me go with you."

Daxisipo studied Xingxing carefully, then nodded. "Fine. Come with me."

The odd pair took a carriage to the Duke of Xin's estate, where tension hung thick in the air.

The doorkeeper, seeing the strange combination of an old woman and a little girl, stopped them. "Have you been summoned?"

Xingxing stepped forward. "This is my grandmother, Doctor Da Xi. Your lady sought her counsel earlier. Please announce us."

The doorkeeper did recall the matter. Earlier, the young mistress had returned weeping, and her maids had indignantly mentioned she’d been insulted while trying to invite some so-called Miracle Doctor for the Dowager Duchess.

Frowning, the doorkeeper gave Doctor Da Xi the once-over but didn’t dare delay, quickly sending a companion to inform the household.

While waiting, the doorkeeper muttered, "Weren’t they adamant about not coming? Why are they here now?"

Doctor Da Xi shot him a cold glare, and the doorkeeper shivered, falling silent.

Soon, one of Madam Jiao's women hurried out. At the sight of Doctor Da Xi, she looked ready to weep with relief. "It really is Doctor Da Xi! Please, come in quickly!"

The doorkeeper thanked his lucky stars he hadn’t dared say anything disrespectful!

Daxisipo and Xingxing were formally escorted in by the matron serving Jiao Shi.

They first went not to the Dowager Duchess of Xin's courtyard, but to that of Jiao Shi, the wife of the heir apparent.

Jiao Shi was pacing anxiously in the room. When she saw Daxisipo being ushered in, she burst out in agitation: "Miracle Doctor Da Xi..."

Ever since she learned yesterday that Wei Shuangyan had awakened, her heart had been uneasy, suspecting that this Daxisipo might truly be the real deal.

Whether it was smoke and mirrors or the real thing that revived Wei Shuangyan, it only proved that she had her own extraordinary skills!

The thought that she had dismissed her as a fraud yesterday made her face burn with shame.

Before dawn today, her mother-in-law suddenly fainted, and not a single royal physician could do a thing. It was then that Jiao Shi recalled the incident with Wei Shuangyan.

After discussing with her husband, they decided to send someone to the palace to request the royal family’s resident expert while also dispatching servants to invite Daxisipo.

However, the servants came back with their tails between their legs, and her Zhu Zhu stepped up to go. Yet she came back in tears, had just been weeping in her arms, insisting that someone must have turned Daxisipo against her. She had even knelt and begged, only to be scolded.

It broke Jiao Shi’s heart!

Before she could even react, the servants announced that Daxisipo had arrived.

This threw Jiao Shi for a loop!

Didn’t Zhu Zhu say Daxisipo despised her and refused to come?

But here she was!

Not only Jiao Shi, but even Yu Mingzhu was stunned.

What was that Da Xi hag up to?!

Jiao Shi, however, didn’t overthink it, assuming her Zhu Zhu must have been too distraught and misunderstood something.

Her face still streaked with tears, Yu Mingzhu whimpered, "Miracle Doctor Da Xi, I knelt and begged you, didn’t you say you wouldn’t come?"

Daxisipo sneered, "That’s right. I hate being strong-armed. The more you pushed, the less I wanted to come. But my Xingxing is kind-hearted and persuaded me gently—that’s why I’m here now!"

Yu Mingzhu’s face fell!