Chapter 112

Chapter 112: The Spirit-Awakening Powder

Li Borui was so terrified that he burst into wails, and the other girls stood frozen in place. They watched Li Qingdai turn around in a panic, her face deathly pale.

For a moment, the Falling Petals Courtyard was in utter chaos. Hearing the commotion, Dong Yuting came from the east wing. When she saw the scene inside, a chill crept up from the soles of her feet, along her spine, and finally reached the top of her head.

Suppressing her fear, she forced herself to remain calm: "Quickly, go fetch the physician!"

The setting sun was like blood, and the crimson evening glow stained the sky, spreading like a pool of blood, reflected in Dong Yuting's eyes. The old residence was deathly silent. Servants from various courtyards had heard the news, and the atmosphere infected their moods, making them anxious and uneasy.

Zhao Fuying, gathering her skirts, hurried over. She had rushed back to the residence immediately upon hearing the news, not daring to delay for a moment.

"How is Auntie?" Zhao Fuying observed Dong Yuting's expression, discerning from her look that the situation was not good.

"Did Auntie really cough up blood?" Zhao Fuying lowered her voice.

Dong Yuting sighed and nodded slightly. This time, it was more serious than previous fainting spells. Dong Yuting had also been greatly shocked by the scene. It had taken her a long time to calm down, and now, reminded by Zhao Fuying, the image resurfaced in her mind. Fear and terror enveloped her once more. In both lifetimes combined, she had never encountered such a situation.

Concubine Wang and Concubine Liu also arrived. The Old Mistress was still unconscious, so they felt obliged to come and see.

"How is Rui Ge'er?" Dong Yuting asked.

Concubine Wang said in a soft, delicate voice: "The young master has already fallen asleep."

"Thank you," Dong Yuting said. Li Borui had been frightened and cried incessantly, but Dong Yuting couldn't leave her post. Concubine Wang had volunteered to look after Li Borui.

She had children of her own, and with Qiu Rong's help, she finally managed to soothe Li Borui to sleep.

Concubine Wang hurriedly said: "This is what I ought to do."

Dong Yuting's gaze swept over her lowered eyes and brows, and she said softly: "How are Wei-jie'er and the others? They were there too; they must have been frightened."

"Madam need not worry; the young ladies are fine."

"I think before they go to bed tonight, have each of them drink a bowl of calming soup to prevent nightmares," Dong Yuting said. Li Nianwei and the others weren't much older than Li Borui, and they had been present at the time, likely frightened as well.

Concubine Wang acknowledged: "Yes."

Concubine Kang also learned of this and came together with Old Master Li's concubines. Everyone had noticed Concubine Kang's diligent care these past days, so her presence was not surprising.

"How is the Old Mistress?"

A sound came from the room. Several people turned around. A maid had opened the door, and the physician slowly walked out. Li Qingdai was still sitting in the room, looking towards the eastern annex, her face etched with unease.

Dong Yuting glanced at her, then turned her attention to the physician. Zhao Fuying urgently asked: "Physician, how is my aunt?"

"The Old Mistress suffered from a sudden surge of anger causing adverse Qi flow and an uprising of liver Qi, which led to vomiting blood. I administered acupuncture, stimulating the Renzhong and Shixuan points, as well as the Neiguan and Taichong points to reduce the rebellious liver fire. However..." The physician trailed off, prompting Zhao Fuying and Dong Yuting to anxiously press for details.

"However what?"

"Despite needling Renzhong and Shixuan, the Old Mistress has not regained consciousness. If she does not wake up before tonight, I fear the situation will be critical."

Dong Yuting's right eyelid twitched violently twice. The physician's words were euphemistic, but they understood: if she didn't wake up before nightfall, the chances of her ever waking up were very low. Zhao Fuying gasped sharply. Concubine Kang cried out sorrowfully: "Old Mistress..."

Zhao Fuying glanced back at her impatiently. "Concubine Kang, you must be tired. You should go back and rest first." The maids beside Concubine Kang stepped forward, supporting the weeping Concubine Kang on both sides, half-leading, half-dragging her away from Falling Petals Courtyard.

The remaining concubines, who had been wanting to express their grief, now dared not cry anymore. They lowered their heads and quickly wiped away their tears.

Servants in the courtyard were peeking in. That afternoon, while packing was underway in various rooms, many menservants had been called from the outer courtyard. They were still there, unsure whether they should leave or not.

"Tell them all to go back," Zhao Fuying instructed. Dong Yuting walked towards the room. Concubine Wang and Concubine Liu followed her. Even the usually boisterous Concubine Liu was now quiet as a mouse.

On the way to the annex, Dong Yuting glanced at Li Qingdai, who was sitting on a chair. Her eyes were vacant, her hands resting on her knees, her gaze fixed on a pot of orchids on a stand against the eastern wall.

When the Old Mistress lost consciousness, only Li Qingdai had been in the room with her. What they said to each other was unknown.

Entering the eastern annex, Yuan Xiang was standing by the bed, wiping tears with her head bowed. Seeing Dong Yuting enter, she wiped her face and quickly stepped to her side. "Madam." Even though she tried hard to suppress her sorrow, her voice trembled slightly, and after uttering these two words, she sniffled.

Dong Yuting pretended not to notice and went to the bedside to check on the Old Mistress. Yuan Xiang hastily used a handkerchief to wipe her face. Dong Zhi patted her arm comfortingly. The Old Mistress had her temper, but overall, she was quite good to the maids in her own courtyard, especially Yuan Xiang, who had served her for nearly ten years. How could she not be sad?

The blood at the corner of the Old Mistress's mouth had been cleaned. She lay on the bed with her eyes tightly closed, her face devoid of color, as if all vitality had been drained. Her cheeks were sunken and withered like a dried-up persimmon. How long had it been? When she saw her during the day, she wasn't like this.

Dong Yuting's breathing became rapid. She reached out and pulled the quilt up a bit. Glancing at the half-open window, she said to Chun Yue: "Mother cannot be left unattended. Go arrange for people to watch over her... Divide into two shifts for the night, two people per shift."

Chun Yue didn't dare say much at this point. Receiving the order, she hurried off to make arrangements.

Dong Yuting held onto Yuan Xiang and asked her in a low voice: "Think carefully again. These past days you've been by Mother's side all the time. What exactly could she and Aunt have been talking about in the room?"

Yuan Xiang thought carefully, then said with a tone of self-reproach: "Madam, at that time, only the Old Mistress and the Lady Aunt were in the room. I truly don't know what they might have said."

Dong Yuting didn't press her further. "Alright then. You keep careful watch over Mother. If she wakes up, inform me immediately."

Dong Zhi lifted the curtain. Dong Yuting walked straight out. Seeing Li Qingdai, who seemed petrified, she changed her course away from the door and sat down on a chair beside her.

Li Qingdai seemed distraught, as if she didn't see Dong Yuting, acting as if they weren't there. Dong Yuting sat down beside her, but Li Qingdai didn't turn her head, not even moving her eyeballs.

Dong Yuting had no choice but to speak: "Aunt, the maids said you were the only one with Mother when it happened. What exactly occurred?"

A flicker passed through Li Qingdai's eyes, but she still didn't speak. While asking, Dong Yuting watched her closely and noticed her brows furrow slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing her face. It was clear she knew something but was unwilling to speak.

Li Qingdai had a difficult personality, which was well-known in the old residence. Others might have shrunk back, but Dong Yuting wasn't afraid of her and asked the question again.

They weren't alone in the room; there were maids present as well. Dong Yuting was asking what everyone wanted to know. Under the collective gaze, and being pressed repeatedly by Dong Yuting, Li Qingdai's anger showed on her face. "I don't know," she said coldly, clearly answering deliberately.

Dong Yuting was also angered by her, but didn't show it on her face. Instead, she asked like an eager student: "Aunt, could you recount the conversation you and Mother had at that time?"

Li Qingdai seemed infuriated. She shot Dong Yuting a fierce glare and was about to speak when Li Xiuhong hurried in.

"How is my sister-in-law?"

Zhao Fuying came in from outside and said: "Father, please don't be anxious."

Li Xiuhong looked towards the eastern annex, obscured by the door curtain. He couldn't see the situation inside, but if his sister-in-law had woken up, why would the three of them be sitting here with worried, sad faces? He asked anxiously again, "How is my sister-in-law?"

Zhao Fuying remained silent. Li Qingdai said nothing. Only Dong Yuting spoke.

"Mother... she hasn't woken up yet."

Li Xiuhong closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Just as Dong Yuting thought he might also faint, Li Xiuhong opened his eyes. "The physician? What did the physician say?"

Dong Yuting repeated the physician's words. Li Xiuhong immediately called out to summon the physician. Zhao Fuying instructed a servant to bring the physician. "Father, please sit down first."

Li Xiuhong sat for less than a moment before standing up again, asking as he paced: "Hasn't the physician arrived yet?"

Zhao Fuying explained: "Father, don't worry. The physician will be here shortly."

"Ah, how can I not worry? What if... How will I explain this to Second Brother, to Ling Chuan?" Li Xiuhong sighed repeatedly, pacing back and forth in the room.

Li Qingdai sat in the chair, silent.

The physician had not left the old residence and had been put up in another room, but due to his advanced age, he moved somewhat slowly.

Li Xiuhong grabbed him: "Physician, is there any way to wake my sister-in-law?"

The physician pondered for a moment: "There is indeed one more method, but if handled carelessly, it could lead to accidents, with severe cases resulting in heart palpitations and death..."

Hearing this, Li Xiuhong hesitated again. If the consequences weren't so severe, he might have considered trying it, but upon learning the gravity of the situation, he immediately abandoned the idea.

"Physician, what is the method?" Everyone turned to look at Li Qingdai, who had spoken. She, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up, and about such a matter. Li Xiuhong showed a trace of disbelief: "Elder sister, you wouldn't..."

"I was just asking casually," Li Qingdai said.

The physician explained: "Using Asarum and powdered soapberry pod, made into a Spirit-Awakening Powder, placed under the lady's nose for her to inhale, to stimulate her to wake up." The physician patiently explained but was met with a glare from Li Xiuhong.

Asarum is toxic, and soapberry pod powder consists of coarse granules. These two substances are not life-saving miracle drugs but rather stimulants to rouse someone from unconsciousness. If handled improperly, they could worsen the patient's condition, with severe cases leading to death—as the physician had rightly pointed out. By stating this upfront, he feared that if the Old Mistress didn't wake up, he would be implicated. However, with his warning, no one was willing to try the method.

The room fell into silence.

"If my sister-in-law doesn't wake up tonight, I think we should let the physician try," Li Qingdai's words broke the dead silence.