Chapter 212: How Confident Are You

Su Wan and the Empress’s expressions changed simultaneously.

“Back then, Benefactor Qi was afflicted by a poison gu. He came to Xiliang, seeking my help to remove it. The poison gu was extremely aggressive, and his life was hanging by a thread. The only option was the pair of mother-child gu I possessed, offering him a slim chance of survival.

However, it required someone willing to have the mother gu implanted in themselves, binding their life to his. Finding such a person was not easy, but Benefactor Qi insisted that I implant it in her.”

“This is a dubious method, and initially, I was unwilling to proceed. But Benefactor Qi said that saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda.”

As Master Mingjue spoke, he couldn’t help but shake his head. “I thought that with the poison gu suppressed, if nothing unexpected occurred, they could live out their natural lifespans without the gu turning against them. But I did not anticipate that there would be complications on Benefactor Qi’s side.”

“Benefactor, you have considerable knowledge in medicine. I wonder if you have studied poison gu as well.” Master Mingjue found the prescription to be quite ingenious and picked it up again for another look.

Su Wan returned to the inner hall, retrieved a medical book, and turned to the section about poison gu, handing it to Master Mingjue. “I made some annotations. Please see if my understanding is correct.”

Master Mingjue took the book, carefully reading the original text and then Su Wan’s notes. He was suddenly startled. “Is this your first time studying poison gu?”

“Yes, it is.”

The more Master Mingjue read, the more he couldn’t hide his admiration. Su Wan showed exceptional insight into medicine and a profound understanding of poison gu. When he finished reading the section on poison gu, he found himself wanting more. “Share your thoughts on the mother-child gu.”

Su Wan considered carefully and said, “We should first use acupuncture, then apply herbal steam baths, followed by bloodletting.”

She leaned closer, turning to a specific page and pointing it out for Master Mingjue to examine in detail. “Look here, there’s a prescription that includes a herb called asafoetida, which can expel evil spirits and poison gu. Acupuncture can protect the heart meridian to prevent the poison gu from reaching the heart and lungs. With this prescription, we can administer the steam baths and use bloodletting to force out the poison gu.”

Master Mingjue furrowed his brows as he analyzed the prescription and Su Wan’s method, realizing that it indeed had some feasibility.

“This prescription may not be able to kill the poison gu, but it can agitate it, causing it to move erratically. It will be unable to enter the heart and lungs and will instead flow out with the blood.”

However—

“How confident are you?” Master Mingjue asked.

“About fifty percent,” Su Wan replied.

The Empress pondered for a moment. “It’s worth a try. There’s nothing worse than the current situation.”

Master Mingjue thought for a long while before speaking. “I will return in three days.”

“Very well.” Su Wan put away the medical book and prescription, personally escorting him out of the palace.

Outside, the sky was dark, and the Empress arranged for someone to escort Master Mingjue back to Baima Temple.

The cold wind howled, biting against their faces like the cut of a blade.

“It’s cold outside, hurry back inside,” the Empress said gently, her gaze kind. “You’ve been working hard these days, and you look quite pale. No matter what, make sure to have your three meals a day. Don’t let yourself go hungry and weaken your body. There are still two people who need your care.”

Su Wan blushed and replied shyly, “I’m not hungry.”

“Even if you’re not hungry, eat a little,” the Empress said with a wave of her hand. “Go and eat.”

Su Wan nodded but remained standing, watching as the Empress departed.

The Empress couldn’t help but chuckle before heading back to the Mingxin Hall with her attendants, intending to finish reviewing the remaining memorials.

As she approached the entrance, the palace maid stationed there quickly lowered her voice and said, “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has returned to the palace and is waiting for you inside.”

The Empress let out a bitter laugh—she had, after all, caused a disturbance.

Pushing the door open, she saw the Empress Dowager seated on the dragon throne, looking through the memorials she had been reviewing.

“Mother Empress…”

Smack—

A stack of memorials was thrown directly at her, hitting her head painfully. The Empress clenched her fists, enduring the pain without making a sound.