Chapter 27: Need an acupuncture session? Guaranteed to feel great

"Just now, when the Princess gave her permission to take you all to the villa to enjoy yourselves, you were unwilling. Now that he's sick, you're desperately seeking any cure you can find."

Xiao Jia spoke with full mockery, sneering as he looked at Si Zhaotang.

"It truly makes me want to die laughing. Do you think a few ounces of herbs will do anything now? Even if we let you find the right medicinal herbs, would you even allow us to stay here for an hour or two to decoct them?? Just for the sake of one boy, you're delaying the itinerary for all of us?"

"Dream on!"

As the last words of the bailiff fell, Madam Si let out a wail, clutching her youngest son and crying out in agony, "My Lord, I beg you, for the sake of the gods and spirits, please give my son a way to live. I beg you, my Lord, I beg you!"

The old bailiff, Lao Zhang, stroked his chin, his lecherous eyes scanning Madam Si twice. He spoke lewdly, "Madam Si, this is no way to beg for help. Do you not know how to beg our Lord Liang?"

Though Madam Si was nearing forty, she had been well-maintained through a life of luxury. Not only was her face soft and beautiful, but her figure was also lush and graceful; she was truly a temptress.

Chief Liang had a taste for such women. If she could be tactful, perhaps he would be in a good mood and grant them some time to treat the ailing child.

Seeing the bailiff's disgusting gaze, Si Zhaotang quickly stepped forward to shield his wife and child. "Officer, we will find a way ourselves."

"Hmph," Lao Zhang muttered to himself. Truly a family of ungrateful wretches.

He waited to see how they would die.

Beside them, Imperial Physician Cheng sighed repeatedly. "Brother Zhaotang, your son has not been able to rest properly throughout this journey. If his breathing ailment flares up, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Madam Si was terrified, doing nothing but clutching the child and wailing.

Si Zhaotang's eyes were also bloodshot, looking as if he might collapse to the ground at any moment.

Xin Nian truly could not bear to watch; her "stupidity intolerance" was acting up.

She was a naturally lazy person; she tried to avoid manual labor whenever possible and preferred to mind her own business entirely.

Unless she couldn't hold back...

In a few quick strides, Xin Nian walked up to Madam Si and roughly pulled her aside. "You're going to strangle him to death!"

He was already struggling to breathe, and here she was, clutching him tightly while shaking and crying—was she hoping he would die even faster?

Madam Si froze on the spot, paused for a few seconds, and then fell back into grief.

Before she could open her mouth to wail, Xin Nian snapped irritably, "Shut up! Crying, crying, crying all day long—what good does crying do?"

Could crying pull someone back from the hands of Death, or could crying change the current situation?

Madam Si stood there, mouth agape, stunned.

Seeing Xin Nian pull a needle pouch from her bosom, Imperial Physician Cheng's eyes suddenly lit up. "Miss Xin, you know acupuncture?"

Xin Nian narrowed her eyes at him, a mischievous glint at the corner of her lips. "Do you want a needle too?"

Imperial Physician Cheng felt a sudden chill down his spine. Without thinking, he waved his hands repeatedly. "Oh, no, no, no, no. It is wonderful that Miss Xin knows acupuncture."

Both of his hands were tucked into the wooden stocks, swaying back and forth in a somewhat ridiculous manner.

Xin Nian had no desire to deal with him, but the physician wouldn't stop babbling.

"Acupuncture requires precise technique. If one can stimulate the correct acupoints to regulate the flow of Qi and blood, it would be extremely effective for the Second Young Master Si's current symptoms."

"Am I supposed to use you to teach me?" Xin Nian held the needle with her slender fingers, her aura fully unleashed.

When she was treating people, she hated it most when someone chattered in her ear.

If you can do it, then you do it; stop nagging from the sidelines.

The corner of Imperial Physician Cheng's mouth twitched. He shut his mouth helplessly, but in the next second, his eyes brightened so much they almost glowed green.

Though he had never seen Miss Xin's acupuncture technique, he had an inexplicable sense that it was incredibly powerful.

Three needles. Truly, after just three needles were inserted, the Second Young Master Si opened his eyes.

The sensation of airway obstruction eased significantly. The boy no longer gasped for breath, and no more wheezing came from his throat.

Xin Nian met those bright, sparkling eyes for a moment and raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself: *Oh my, Lord Si's genes are quite something; these two little cubs are even better than their parents.*

The elder was like a piece of broken jade, and the younger had those innocent, pitiful puppy eyes. *Tsk, tsk, tsk. It wasn't a waste to save him. Human continuity requires such superior breeds; looking at those ugly wretches makes my eyes ache.*

"Nanli!" Madam Si tried to lung forward to hug her son again, but Xin Nian caught her wrist and said impatiently, "Stop squeezing him. His breathing is obstructed; if you keep constricting him, are you hoping he dies sooner?"

Madam Si pulled her hand back in fright. "No, no, I... I will support him carefully."

Si Nanli blinked his large, watery eyes and suddenly said sweetly, "Sister, you saved me. From now on, I am yours."

Everyone: "..."

Xin Nian: *Young man! There is absolutely no need for that.*

Si Zhaotang was also extremely moved. Nodding repeatedly at his son's words, he said, "Miss Xin's kindness to my son is like granting him a new life. Please feel free to make any request in the future. Whatever we can do, we will serve you like dogs and horses."

"This is just relief. Once conditions permit, he still needs proper recuperation," Xin Nian said expressionlessly.

These few needles were purely to relieve the respiratory spasms; they couldn't be called a complete cure. For a "wealthy disease" like this in a youth, it essentially came down to proper rest and care.

The chatterbox Imperial Physician Cheng was right about one thing: the boy's issue was due to the lack of rest during the journey.

The bailiff Lao Zhang walked up behind Chief Liang, looking very surprised. "Sixth Lady, you really do know how to use needles?"

To cure an acute condition with just a few needles and allow the person to speak fluently—one had to admit, her skill was extraordinary.

Xin Nian turned to look at them, her smile radiant. "Do you want a needle too? Actually, my acupuncture skills are quite decent. Want one? I guarantee it'll feel wonderful."

Liang Guang and the others didn't know why, but they suddenly felt a chill down their spines...

Seeing them like this, Xin Nian couldn't help but burst into giggles, unable to stop her "hehehehe" laughter.

Meeting the young girl's eyes, which had curved into crescent moons from smiling, everyone felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

The girl was young, but her laughter carried a hint of something sinister, making it somewhat frightening to hear.

"Stop laughing!" Liang Guang felt extremely uncomfortable from her laughter and barked in anger, "Pack up and let's move. It's getting late; do you not want to eat lunch?"

After all the delays with the audience and the medical treatment, the upcoming journey would be nothing short of a forced march.

Everyone moved sluggishly, being driven forward like a flock of sheep.

Seeing her daughter return, Xie Ninglan hurried over and whispered, "Daughter, Mom has leveled up one stage."

"Look."

She pulled a tender shoot from her fingertip and shook it. "It's just a bit weak for now; I can't use it to whip people yet."

Xin Nian's eyes lit up. "Mom, I'll find some seeds for you later. See if you can make them grow rapidly like before."

"We haven't had any vegetables to eat these past few days. I feel like I'm about to stop being able to go to the bathroom."

Xie Ninglan nodded repeatedly, winking at the girl. "Right, right, right. When do you plan to make your move?"

"When the timing is right. Ideally tonight," Xin Nian narrowed her eyes, revealing a thoroughly sinister smile.

"We'll see if they behave. If they don't, I'll kill another person to add some excitement."