Chapter 721: Forced to Take the Pill

Chapter 721: Forcing the Medicine

Upon seeing Yu Chongting, the maids all bowed together: "Third Young Master."

Yu Chongting nodded and escorted Sun Qiyi into the courtyard.

One of the maids hurried inside to announce that the Third Young Master had arrived.

Jiao Shi emerged by herself. At first, a smile appeared on her face when she saw Yu Chongting, but the moment she noticed Sun Qiyi was also present, her face fell instantly.

Yu Chongting had originally been trying to figure out how to bring up the subject of Xingxing with Jiao Shi.

But now, seeing the obvious change in his mother’s demeanor, his own expression cooled.

Yu Chongting got right to the point: "Mother, Grandfather has instructed Zhu Zhu to go to Shuntian Prefecture. Did you know?"

Jiao Shi immediately became annoyed, with a touch of guilt: "Your sister isn’t feeling well. Your grandfather wouldn't possibly blame her..."

"Mother!" Yu Chongting frowned, raising his voice slightly. "Grandfather has always been meticulous in his actions. If it weren’t urgent, why would he specifically send word summoning Zhu Zhu to Shuntian Prefecture?"

Jiao Shi stopped short, realizing the logic in his words.

Moreover, she felt a strange uneasiness.

She had always known her father-in-law’s temperament—why had she suddenly changed her mind earlier?

...Oh, she remembered now. At the time, Zhu Zhu had run out of the room in tears, clinging to her, trembling all over as she sobbed about the terrifying nightmare she’d had. It had been truly pitiful.

As a mother, how could she bear it?

In that moment, she had been unable to think of anything else, only wanting her Zhu Zhu to rest properly.

Now, snapping out of it, Jiao Shi reflected on her father-in-law’s usual conduct and felt a twinge of regret, worried she might have interfered with some important matter of his.

Hesitantly, she said, "...But your sister really isn’t feeling well..."

Yu Chongting smiled humorlessly. "It’s fine, Mother. Qiyi is very knowledgeable about medicine, and as a woman, she’s perfect for this. Grandfather was also concerned Zhu Zhu might suddenly fall ill, so he specifically asked Qiyi to come."

Jiao Shi sensed something off about her third son’s words.

The meaning dawned on her a moment later.

The Duke of Xin’s implication was that he had anticipated Zhu Zhu would pretend to be sick?

Wasn’t that just saying Zhu Zhu’s discomfort was an act?

Jiao Shi bristled at this.

But she didn’t dare direct her displeasure at the Duke of Xin, so it landed squarely on Sun Qiyi before her:

"No need," she snapped. "Your sister’s health has always been checked by the palace doctors from the palace. I wouldn’t trust anyone else."

Her tone was downright rude.

Yu Chongting fired back: "Grandfather trusts Qiyi’s medical skills. Are you saying he’s wrong, Mother?"

Jiao Shi was too furious to speak!

"That rascal, after a few years of traveling for studies, has gotten too big for his britches, hasn't he?!"

"He even dares to use the old Duke of Xin to pressure me!"

Jiao Shi glared angrily at her third son, but after all, this was her own flesh and blood who had just returned from a long journey. She couldn't bring herself to truly be angry with him. Jiao Shi gritted her teeth and turned to enter the room.

This meant she was allowing Sun Qiyi to check on Yu Mingzhu.

Once Jiao Shi, Yu Chongting, and Sun Qiyi had all entered the room, they found Yu Mingzhu propped up in bed, her face pale, as if about to get up: "Mother, Third Brother..."

Jiao Shi hurriedly stopped her with concern: "You're still unwell."

Yu Mingzhu, however, gave a "brave" smile: "It's nothing—just a bad dream. I'll be fine after some rest."

Sun Qiyi studied Yu Mingzhu more carefully then.

Though she had suspected before arriving that the Duke of Xinguo's daughter was likely feigning illness, hearing Yu Mingzhu's words now made it clear to her. Wasn't this just setting up an excuse for any discrepancies in her pulse reading later?

—It wasn't that she was pretending to be ill, but rather that she had merely suffered a nightmare and would recover after resting, hence her pulse would naturally return to normal.

Yu Chongting said, "Qiyi is a skilled physician. Let her take your pulse."

Yu Mingzhu didn't refuse. She responded with a soft "Alright" and feebly offered her wrist.

As soon as Sun Qiyi placed her fingers on the pulse, her eyes flickered with suspicion.

The pulse was faint and thin, the rhythm slow—clear signs of exhaustion.

This pulse... Could she actually be sick?

No, that couldn't be.

Sun Qiyi furrowed her brow slightly.

There was something not quite right about Miss Yu's demeanor...

Sun Qiyi said courteously: "Miss Yu, please switch hands."

Yu Mingzhu complied and changed hands.

Sun Qiyi checked the pulse again.

She couldn't help but look up at Yu Mingzhu.

Yu Mingzhu asked with concern, "Why do you look at me that way, Miss Sun? Is there something wrong with my pulse?"

At these words, Jiao Shi's expression darkened, her gaze turned razor-sharp as it suddenly turned on Sun Qiyi.

"It's too soon to tell," Sun Qiyi remained composed and calmly addressed Yu Mingzhu: "Miss Yu, please switch to the other hand again."

Yu Mingzhu paused, shooting Sun Qiyi a searching glance: "Miss Sun, please just tell me straight. If there's truly something wrong with my health, it's alright. I'll just have to rest and recuperate."

Sun Qiyi smiled slightly but insisted once more: "Please, Miss Yu, switch hands."

A flash of unease crossed Yu Mingzhu's eyes, but she still complied, switching hands.

Sun Qiyi placed her fingers on the pulse once more.

Exactly as she'd guessed.

Sun Qiyi smiled faintly.

Jiao Shi, however, grew impatient: "You call yourself a skilled physician, yet this is all? What exactly is wrong with my daughter's health?"

"Mother!" Yu Chongting spoke coldly, stopping his mother from uttering further harsh words.

Yu Chongting then turned to Sun Qiyi with an apologetic expression: "Qiyi, my mother is just overly concerned about my sister's health. She doesn’t mean anything by it."

Sun Qiyi shook her head slightly with a smile, indicating it was fine.

Sun Qiyi continued: "Miss Yu's pulse, upon initial examination, is faint and thin, with a slow rhythm—indeed a sign of deficiency in both qi and blood."

Jiao Shi immediately grew anxious: "Really? What should we do?" She even cast a doubtful glance at Sun Qiyi. "Are you even a real doctor?... How could Zhu Zhu suddenly have a deficiency in both qi and blood when she was perfectly fine?"

Yu Chongting frowned, about to speak again.

But Sun Qiyi smiled and said: "Don’t worry, Duchess, my medical skill is not in question. However, what you should be concerned about is another issue."

"That is..." Sun Qiyi looked at Yu Mingzhu and asked solemnly, "Why is Miss Yu taking medicine to fake her pulse?"

At these words, Yu Mingzhu nearly lost her composure:

"How dare you make up such lies!"

Jiao Shi was stunned, her first reaction also being that this Sun woman was talking nonsense.

"Mother, I really haven't..." Yu Mingzhu began to complain, but Sun Qiyi suddenly moved lightning-fast, pinching a pill between her fingers and forcing it down Yu Mingzhu’s throat.

No one expected Sun Qiyi to do such a thing, and everyone was shocked.

Yu Mingzhu went deathly pale as she doubled over, hacking and coughing.

Jiao Shi freaked out, rushing forward to try and make Yu Mingzhu vomit the pill.

However, the pill dissolved instantly upon entering her throat. Despite Jiao Shi's desperate clawing, nothing came out, only making Yu Mingzhu more uncomfortable.

Yu Mingzhu coughed until her cheeks flushed red, tears streaming down her face.

Jiao Shi looked ready to attack Sun Qiyi, her eyes blazing: "You witch! What did you give Zhu Zhu?!"

Yu Chongting, however, stepped in front of Sun Qiyi.

Jiao Shi was even more furious, her eyes red as she glared at Yu Chongting: "She tried to poison your sister, and you still defend her?!"

Yu Chongting said: "Mother, Qiyi is not that kind of person. She wouldn’t do this without cause."

Jiao Shi was fuming with rage, ignoring her son's words as she shouted: "Guards! Arrest this poisoner!"

Sun Qiyi said leisurely: "Go ahead, have me arrested. And while you're at it, bring the victim, Miss Yu, along—let’s go to the Shuntian Prefecture Magistrate."

At the mention of the Shuntian Magistrate, Yu Mingzhu’s eye twitched.

She could only hurriedly soothe Jiao Shi: "Mother... I'm fine. Maybe Miss Sun was just teasing..."

But Jiao Shi only grew more distressed: "Zhu Zhu, you’re too soft-hearted... This is beyond unacceptable! Shoving some mystery pill into you—who knows what that even was?!"

Jiao Shi paced frantically, on the verge of tears, and immediately ordered a maid to fetch the Duke of Xinguo's token to fetch the royal physician.

Yu Mingzhu’s stomach dropped. Though she believed her plan was foolproof, Sun Qiyi's sudden act of forcing a pill into her mouth was hard to comprehend. A bad feeling settled in her gut: "I'm fine... Really, Mother, I'm fine."

But Jiao Shi wouldn't listen and kept insisting on sending for the imperial physician.

Yu Chongting then spoke up, "Actually, send the imperial physician straight to Shuntian Prefecture."

Jiao Shi glared at Yu Chongting angrily, "You!"

Yu Chongting responded, "Mother, Grandfather and Grandmother are both attending the hearing at Shuntian Prefecture. They are advanced in years, and if they get upset while listening to the case... wouldn't that be bad? It would be perfect to have the imperial physician go directly to Shuntian Prefecture. I'll arrange for a sedan chair to carry Pearl there as well. That way we solve both problems at once."

Sun Qiyi added from the side, "If the imperial physician finds out that I really did poison Miss Yu, then I can surrender myself right there at Shuntian Prefecture."

This was clearly a joke, but even so, Yu Chongting gave Sun Qiyi a helpless look.

But Jiao Shi took it seriously and immediately said, "Fine, we'll do as you say!"

Jiao Shi was fuming. She was determined to show just how awful Sun Qiyi was in front of her parents-in-law!

This Sun Qiyi would never step foot in their Duke of Xinguo's household!

Jiao Shi was furious, while Yu Mingzhu went pale.

She threw a resentful look at Yu Chongting.

How could her third brother keep taking the outsider's side!

Yu Mingzhu gritted her teeth and started to protest, "Mother, it's fine, I—"

But Jiao Shi was absolutely furious! In her eyes, her Pearl was just too kind, covering for her third brother's friend!

She wouldn't allow Yu Mingzhu to refuse. She tightly grasped Yu Mingzhu's hand and said firmly, "Pearl, don't worry, Mother is here!"

Yu Mingzhu was trapped with no way out!

She was about to lose it!

Jiao Shi personally escorted Yu Mingzhu to Shuntian Prefecture by carriage.

Sun Qiyi shared their carriage. Jiao Shi glared at her with hatred, her face like stone the whole way.

Upon arriving at Shuntian Prefecture, Jiao Shi held Yu Mingzhu's hand and pulled her along inside.

However, Jiao Shi stopped dead the moment she walked in Shuntian Prefecture.

Inside the hall, though court was in recess, the Duke of Xin and the Dowager Duchess of Xin were seated, drinking tea.

Beside them was another chair, occupied by Xingxing!

It had been a while since Jiao Shi last saw Xingxing, and the sudden sight made her freeze for a second.

But this daze was quickly interrupted—

Yu Mingzhu suddenly stumbled forward.

Jiao Shi immediately steadied Yu Mingzhu, her heart breaking!

Pearl must've been poisoned by that vile woman!

Jiao Shi bowed to the elderly couple, "Father, Mother, I've brought Pearl. I hope this isn't a bad time? Would you mind if I let the imperial physician examine Pearl first?"

The Dowager Duchess of Xin raised an eyebrow, "No rush. Let the imperial physician see to Ming Zhu first."

Zou Wan Shi and the others had already been temporarily cleared from the hall, leaving the space below the dais empty.

Yu Mingzhu's tension eased slightly. She fought to keep her composure, deliberately avoiding looking at Xingxing. After performing a proper bow to the old Duke of Xinguo and his wife, she allowed the royal physician to check her pulse.

The physician took her pulse from both wrists, a flicker of confusion crossing his face.

Yu Mingzhu felt a twinge of relief—it seemed the medicine Qi Huang had given her earlier was still effective.

But when the physician spoke, he said, "...Duke, Madam, Miss Yu is slightly nervous, with a slightly accelerated pulse. She simply needs to calm herself. Other than that, her pulse is strong, her vital energy and blood flow are strong, and she is healthier than most people, with no other discomfort."

At these words, Jiao Shi doubted her own ears.

Yu Mingzhu felt like she'd been struck by lightning.

How could this be?!

The medicine was supposed to make her pulse appear weak, as if she had severe qi and blood deficiency!

Sun Qiyi, observing Yu Mingzhu's expression from the side, arched an eyebrow.

When she had taken Yu Mingzhu's pulse earlier, she'd noticed something wasn't quite right.

The qi and blood deficiency pulse was too textbook-correct.

Moreover, beyond the pulse reading, there seemed to be something else hidden.

After switching hands a few times, Sun Qiyi confirmed her suspicions through subtle variations—this Miss Yu had taken some kind of medicine that affected her pulse.

Furthermore, the medicine resembled the Winter Hibernation Pill from the previous dynasty's palace.

Sun Qiyi took a gamble and directly slipped Yu Mingzhu a detoxifying pill with a truth-revealing effect.

After all, her antidote also served as a tonic—even if she was wrong, it wouldn’t harm Yu Mingzhu’s health.

Now, it seemed her gamble had paid off!

Old Madam Jiao still couldn't process this. "But... but..."

Suddenly remembering something, she pointed at Sun Qiyi. "She claimed Zhu Zhu’s pulse showed signs of qi and blood deficiency! Then she forced a pill into Zhu Zhu’s mouth—could it be because of that pill?!"

Hearing this, the royal physician, out of caution, took Yu Mingzhu’s pulse again.

Yu Mingzhu’s face was deathly pale, her mind in chaos. She couldn’t speak, standing rigidly as the physician examined her.

The physician took her pulse from both wrists before finally withdrawing his hand carefully. He bowed slightly to the old Duke, his wife, and Jiao Shi, speaking tactfully, "The young miss's constitution is sound. She simply needs to relax and calm her mind."

Jiao Shi felt as if struck by lightning!

Meanwhile, Sun Qiyi had already offered a pill to the physician. "Doctor, this is the pill I gave Miss Yu earlier."

The physician scrutinized it carefully, even scraping off a bit of the powder to taste.

At once, his entire body trembled. Holding the pill reverently, he exclaimed, "This... this is the Snow-Dissolving Pellet?!... What is your relation to the elder Sun Zhuyou?!"