The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!-Chapter 207: Incurable

The voice was from Xia Wenjin.

She had already gotten out of bed.

Huangfu Jingchen was quite surprised; he didn’t expect that Xia Wenjin would be unwilling. He turned his head and said, "Wenjin?"

Xia Wenjin said to the old woman, "If it’s an emergency, it’ll take almost half an hour to get to town from here, that’s too long a delay. I know medicine, let me take a look first!"

The old woman was overjoyed and said, "Thank you, young master!"

Zhuzi, who was outside calling for help, was initially delighted to hear that Xia Wenjin knew medicine. However, seeing her so young, he probably felt that she wasn’t as trustworthy as the town’s doctor and glanced at the elder, clearly still preferring to borrow a horse.

Xia Wenjin didn’t mind; life was at stake, and the man’s son didn’t trust her because she was unfamiliar to them. She said, "You ride to town to get the doctor, and I’ll go take a look first. Let’s do both, so we don’t delay the treatment!"

Zhuzi hesitated, "I don’t know how to ride a horse!"

Besides, going to town to get the doctor and bringing someone to the doctor would take half the time, wouldn’t it?

Huangfu Jingchen said, "Which doctor in town? You tell me. I can ride a horse, I’ll go fetch!"

Zhuzi, hearing this, looked at him as if he were a relative, but Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen’s demeanor was different from the villagers, so he could only show gratitude with folded hands and bows, not daring to approach.

After Huangfu Jingchen found out, he went to fetch the horse, and shortly after, the sound of hooves could be heard.

Zhuzi listened to the urgent and fast hoofbeats, and hope rose in his heart.

The elder said, "Lead the way quickly!" only then did he come back to his senses, repeatedly saying, "Yes, yes, yes, young master, follow me!"

The lantern light was dim, and the village was quiet at night, with tree shadows swaying, completely different from the lively atmosphere earlier in the evening.

The group walked hurriedly. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Zhuzi’s home was nearly a mile away from the elder’s place, with the elder’s home near the village’s entrance and Zhuzi’s home near the end.

The dim light from the lantern shone on the earthen house, looking ghostly in the dark night. A woman in her fifties lay on the bed, looking weak, and on the floor by the bed was a dark thing, with a faint smell of blood in the room – a half-dried pool of blood.

When Zhuzi’s mother saw someone enter, she tried to sit up, and Zhuzi quickly went to support her. The old woman also said, "Sister, just lie down, you’re still sick, don’t stand on ceremony!"

Since he was a man, the elder didn’t go inside.

Xia Wenjin wanted to go in and take a look. Zhuzi’s mother said, "Child, why are you making such a fuss? I told you, it’s just an old ailment. You even disturbed your third uncle and aunt!" At this moment, she saw Xia Wenjin and was startled, "And this young master is..."

The old woman said, "This is a guest lodging at my home, also a doctor, who came to see you after hearing about your illness!"

Zhuzi’s mother, feeling a bit uneasy, said, "I’m grateful to you, young master; there’s no need to trouble you. It’s nothing serious, the weather is so hot and dry, even minor ailments seem severe but will get better with time. I’m really fine!"

She looked for help from the old woman.

Her unease stemmed from the poverty stricken condition of the house, which wasn’t clean. In the late night, Xia Wenjin, with bright eyes and white teeth, dressed elegantly, clearly didn’t come from an ordinary background. Such a person, like a beautiful pearl, didn’t seem to belong in this dilapidated room.

The old woman patted her hand, "The young master is very kind, and he knows medicine. Since you’re sick, let him take a look!"

Zhuzi’s mother shook her head, "No need, I’m fine, I really am! Several people at the village end have this condition, and none of them thought of calling a doctor. Zhuzi, the child overreacted to a minor issue. I don’t need a doctor!"

Xia Wenjin said, "Auntie, don’t worry, I won’t charge you for the consultation, it’s free!"

She realized this was one of Zhuzi’s mother’s concerns.

But Zhuzi’s mother stubbornly refused.

Even if the doctor didn’t charge, there would be prescriptions and medicine to get, which meant a trip to town and spending money, and medicine was expensive now. She didn’t want to spend that money.

She shook her head like a rattle, "Young master, please don’t come in, I’m really fine, it’s a minor ailment. I’m not coughing up blood anymore. Moreover, this is a woman’s house, it wouldn’t be good for the young master to catch an illness. Zhuzi, please take the young master outside for a conversation!"

She was adamant.

Xia Wenjin understood she was in male attire, and Zhuzi’s mother brought up the woman’s issue.

Zhuzi obediently invited Xia Wenjin to the main hall.

Xia Wenjin had no choice but to leave the doorway.

The old woman sat quietly talking with Zhuzi’s mother. The elder, Zhuzi, and Xia Wenjin were in the main hall.

Zhuzi, looking dazed, seemed at a loss for what to do, perhaps too worried about his mother’s condition.

The elder brought over a chair, asking Xia Wenjin to sit first.

The chair only had three legs and was the only one in the room. There was also a bench, which the elder sat on.

Xia Wenjin took the initiative to ask, "How long has your mother been sick?"

Zhuzi said blankly, "My mother has always been frail, occasionally catching colds or dampness, but she only started coughing up blood in the past few days. Yes, four days ago, just four days ago, my mother went up the mountain to dig wild vegetables and felt unwell that night after returning. I thought she was just tired and would recover with rest, but it got worse. Tonight, she couldn’t speak and suddenly started coughing up blood!"

He raised his eyes to Xia Wenjin, worried and a bit skeptical, "Young master, have you figured it out? What illness does my mother have?"

Xia Wenjin said, "I’m not sure yet."

The uncertainty in her response made Zhuzi look at her with even more doubt.

The elder, seeing his expression, laughed and said, "You silly boy, your mother didn’t let the young master feel her pulse or examine her, nor did she say anything. Have you ever seen anyone who could diagnose an illness like that? They’re not an immortal!"

Zhuzi thought it over and agreed, apologizing with his eyes.

Xia Wenjin didn’t mind and said, "Your mother has been ill for days, haven’t you called a doctor?"

Zhuzi’s face fell as he said, "I... I didn’t think it would get this serious. My mother kept saying it’s nothing, and she’d get better in a couple of days..."

The elder sighed: "Zhuzi, your mother is a strong-willed person, likely not wanting to spend money, but health is important and can’t be delayed. Her body is already weak, how can it withstand this?"

Zhuzi looked crestfallen, lowering his head and saying, "Mother said to save the money for my marriage and not to waste a single penny!"

Xia Wenjin understood now, that while this village might seem idyllic, the villagers weren’t very well off, making illnesses troublesome to deal with.