Chapter 40: Applying Acupuncture to Detoxify

Ji Yucang’s eyebrows arched slightly, looking at her with a hint of surprise: “Have you studied medicine?”

“When I had nothing to do in the inner residence, I would read medical books.” Shen Ning looked down at the black pill in the brocade box, “This antidote contains an addictive component, but the dosage is not large, making it hard to detect. If taken more than six to eight times, one will become dependent on this drug.”

“Reading medical books allows you to understand the components of the medicine?” Ji Yucang chuckled, “You have quite a high aptitude.”

Shen Ning remained silent, also finding this explanation rather laughable.

It was unlikely that a noble lady from a prestigious family could discern the components of an antidote just by reading medical books for a few days.

But apart from that, she had no better explanation.

Fortunately, Ji Yucang did not continue to press the issue and simply said: “The poison I was afflicted with is not lethal within two years, but if there’s no antidote after two years, it’s likely to be a dead end.”

“It won’t come to that. I can make an antidote for you.” Shen Ning shook her head, “You’ve been so good to me, I’m willing to do something for you.”

Ji Yucang walked over and reached out to caress her face: “Can you not make our relationship sound like a transaction?”

Shen Ning frowned. If not a transaction, then what?

Repaying kindness with kindness, and avenging grievances.

In this world, no one is obligated to be good to others. Even relatives cannot be relied upon, so why expect anything from a man with no blood relation?

“If you can make an antidote, then go ahead.” Ji Yucang sighed, “If you need any medicinal herbs, you can have someone buy them. If you need money, just go to the accountant’s office to withdraw it.”

“Yes.”

Ji Yucang asked: “Did the Empress Dowager give you a hard time?”

Shen Ning shook her head: “She couldn’t give me a hard time.”

Ji Yucang was about to say something when the familiar pain swept over him again. He suddenly grabbed the bedpost, the veins on the back of his pale hand bulging.

Shen Ning frowned, watching his suffering, and reached out to grab his arm: “How much longer will you be in pain?”

Ji Yucang gritted his teeth: “You should leave first.”

“How much longer will you be in pain?”

“This is only the first day.” Ji Yucang’s face was deathly pale, his voice squeezed out from between his teeth, “You… you should leave first.”

Shen Ning put the antidote down and turned to walk out, opening the door: “Ling Feng.”

“Princess Consort.”

“Can you find me a set of silver needles used by physicians as quickly as possible?”

Ling Feng was taken aback: “Princess?”

Shen Ning impatiently asked: “Can you do it?”

“Yes.” Ling Feng turned and dashed away.

Shen Ning had nothing in her hands and could not be of any help, so she could only wait in front of the door for now.

The sound of suppressed gasps from the room exuded an aura of suffering. This was a man with an incredibly strong will, who could endure the pain of poisoning that was akin to being sliced by a thousand knives. During the most excruciating torments, he watched the antidote within reach but did not take it, stubbornly saving eight antidotes.

At this moment, Shen Ning’s admiration for Ji Yucang had nothing to do with any identity, status, or relationship, she only felt a deep respect for this person.

Any man with such unyielding pride was worthy of admiration.

Ling Feng quickly returned, not only bringing a set of silver needles but also a dagger and a jar of strong liquor.

Shen Ning was satisfied with his thoughtfulness, but the dagger was unnecessary.

She took the silver needles without asking where he had obtained them and turned to enter the inner hall. She looked at Ji Yucang, who was almost curled up into a ball, and reached out to lift him up and throw him onto the bed.

A man of seven feet, the esteemed Regent, a god of war who was decisive and merciless on the battlefield, was now like a weak and powerless chick as Shen Ning lifted and threw him onto the bed.

She took a bowl and poured a bowl of strong liquor.

She dipped the silver needles in the liquor and then reached out to undress Ji Yucang. In just a short time, his robe was already soaked through, and the cold sweat on his forehead had dampened his hair, making him look truly…

For a moment, Shen Ning felt a softness in her heart, and even rarely, a hint of pity arose.

She quickly shook her head to dispel this frightening emotional fluctuation and stripped Ji Yucang bare in no time, leaving only his undergarment.

The silver needles, which had been dipped in liquor, found the acupoints she wanted and were accurately inserted. This was followed by the second, third, fourth…

The look of pain on Ji Yucang’s face gradually faded, and his emotions calmed down. He opened his eyes and just quietly watched Shen Ning, not asking how she was skilled in acupuncture, not asking what technique this was, as if it were only natural that she knew this, and there was nothing to ask about.

A stream of heat flowed continuously upward from his lungs.

Ji Yucang was thinking about this when he suddenly got up and leaned over the edge of the bed, spitting out a mouthful of black blood with a “puff.”

Shen Ning pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth for him.

Ji Yucang coughed a few times and slowly lay back on the bed, feeling a sense of cleansing comfort and ease in his entire body’s meridians.

Shen Ning silently removed the silver needles from him.

“Over the past year, I’ve secretly sought out many skilled physicians, but they were all helpless against this potent poison. I never expected that you could solve the problem with just a few silver needles.”

“It hasn’t been completely solved.” Shen Ning said truthfully, “The poison in your body is continuous. Spitting out the black blood only expels this month’s toxin, there will still be more next month.”

Ji Yucang closed his eyes and made an almost imperceptible sound of acknowledgment.

“Moreover, using acupuncture to detoxify is not the best solution, it only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.” Shen Ning frowned, pondering the situation, “And if done too many times, it will deplete your vital energy and shorten your lifespan.”

“At least it should allow me to live longer than if I were to die directly from the poison in two years.”

Shen Ning said: “I will make an antidote for you, so you can live longer.”

“Shen Ning.” Ji Yucang turned his head slightly, looking at her without blinking, “If I can only live for two years, I will transfer the power I hold to you within these two years. After I die, you will have the ability to protect yourself.”

Shen Ning shook her head: “There’s no need.”

“I’m saying ‘if.'” Ji Yucang said indifferently, “I will find time to teach you military strategies and tactics, giving you the ability to go to the battlefield. In this way, with a heavy military force in your hands, guarding the Yong Kingdom’s border, you will no longer need to heed the court’s prohibitions or the Emperor’s edicts. The Emperor won’t be able to do anything to you.”

Shen Ning looked at him: “With the army guarding the border, the military pay and provisions still need to be provided by the court. If you don’t listen to the Emperor’s edicts, will the Emperor willingly provide the military pay and provisions?”

“When you have enough military strength and power, money is not a problem.” Ji Yucang said indifferently, “The border cities have taxes, and under the threat of a heavy military force, the Emperor wouldn’t dare to deduct… You should know that the most dull and loyal officials who are most likely to be schemed against by villains. On the other hand, those who don’t follow the rules often gain greater advantages.”

Shen Ning remained silent.

At this moment, she inexplicably felt an illusion, as if Ji Yucang knew where she came from, knew that she had led troops before, and even knew that she was skilled in detoxifying… Otherwise, it couldn’t be explained why he didn’t resist or question her acupuncture earlier, nor could it be explained why he suggested the idea of her leading troops to the battlefield.

The Yong Kingdom had never had a woman lead an army. No matter how unruly the daughter of the Duke of the State might be, she was only a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. How could she have the ability to lead troops into battle?

Why would he think she could wield the power of hundreds of thousands of troops?

Shen Ning suppressed the sudden suspicion in her heart and spoke slowly: “You will be fine, so those ‘ifs’ don’t exist.”