FRGNM -Chapter 52 Danger

“Huangfu Xuan, you’ve almost finished your course of medicine. Now it’s time to properly nurture your body.” Ling Ruoxi stopped walking and looked at him.

Huangfu Xuan halted as well, nodding faintly, though a puzzled expression lingered on his face. “Nurture my body? Isn’t my body already restored?”

“Idiot. When I say your life is sustained by medicine, that’s no exaggeration. As a doctor, if I don’t even understand your condition, then what kind of healer would I be?” Ling Ruoxi raised an eyebrow and continued. “From the first day I took your pulse, I knew your strength was remarkable, but there’s a deadly toxin in your body. That’s why you’ve been relying on medicine to suppress it for so long.”

“However, you overlooked this—toxins evolve. Over time, they grow stronger in the body. Most of the medicine you’ve taken has been absorbed by the poison itself. Ordinary medicine cannot suppress it. Your repeated weakness and bleeding are just signs of the toxin spreading.” She stopped and pressed a hand to Huangfu Xuan’s shoulder. “You… were once a Blue Respect Dou Qi Master, weren’t you?”

Hearing the words Blue Respect, Huangfu Xuan’s body trembled slightly. He turned away indifferently, letting out a helpless sigh. “Even if I was a Blue Respect Master, what does it matter? Now I’m a waste, barely able to survive, let alone become the ruler of Eastern Ling.”

“Since I can suppress the poison in your body, I can also help remove it.” Ling Ruoxi rubbed her temples, eyes scanning the street ahead. “I called you out not only to get your medicine but also to ask: are you willing to take a gamble?”

“Take a gamble?” Huangfu Xuan frowned. He had long given up, tried everything, yet the poison in his body only worsened. Without Ling Ruoxi, he felt he would have died in the heavy snow long ago.

“All bets carry risks. Healing is no different. I can completely cure you, but there’s only a fifty percent chance. You must choose. If successful, you’ll regain your former strength in a week. If not… it will mean certain death.” Ling Ruoxi’s gaze was calm. She knew Huangfu Xuan had suffered enough. Every time he saw Dou Qi masters, pain flashed across his face. If she could help him, she would.

Fifty percent? Huangfu Xuan laughed bitterly. “I should’ve died long ago. Only the power of a Blue Respect Master kept me alive. Instead of fearing death, I’ll take your gamble. Fifty percent is fifty percent. As long as it removes the poison, I’ll do anything!”

“Heh, good. But the process is painful. I’ll use sixty-four silver needles to pierce acupoints, controlling your qi and blood. Thirty-six needles will pierce your internal channels to prevent Dou Qi leakage. The final eighteen needles will target your major points, forcing out stagnated blood. You must be prepared to feel like a hedgehog.” Ling Ruoxi’s lips curved faintly.

Hearing this, Huangfu Xuan wasn’t nervous. He laughed. “Hedgehog? I was once wrapped like a zongzi and thrown into a river. This pain I can endure.”

“Relax. The silver needles only prick lightly, like an ant bite. Only the last sixty-four needles, to prevent qi from surging, will be slightly painful. I’ll reverse your meridians, stabilizing your qi with them. If even one fails, you’ll die during the reversal…” Ling Ruoxi drew in a sharp breath. Such bold treatment could only come from her.

Anyone else hearing this would have called her crazy. But without new experiments, how could one know right from wrong? With such a willing test subject, how could she pass it up?

As they walked side by side, she explained the procedure, the precautions during acupoint piercing, and the importance of remaining calm.

“Ling Ruoxi!” A screeching voice cut through the streets, sharp as a saw. People around turned to look. Even Ling Ruoxi frowned, turning her head.

A figure in red, Ling Huiru, stormed forward, eyes blazing with anger.

Ling Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, smiling lightly. “Miss Ling, what…”

“Smack!” Before she could finish, a solid slap landed on Ling Ruoxi’s cheek, leaving five finger marks.

Everyone gasped in shock. No need to guess—the woman in red was the Crown Prince’s newlywed, Ling Huiru. The other woman was Ling Ruoxi.

Ling Ruoxi froze, instinctively touching her cheek. “You hit me?” In this world, no one dared slap her, yet this unreasonable woman just did. Even her patience reached its limit.

“You vile woman! Do you think you’re something? Seducing the Crown Prince, causing the entire city to gossip, and now with the Grand Prince of Eastern Ling? How many men have you been with? I heard the young master of Qiongyu Island was also tempted by you. I don’t understand why men like shameless women like you. Living by seducing men—you’re disgusting!” Ling Huiru’s harsh words drew frowns from the crowd, lowering their opinion of the Crown Prince for marrying such a woman.

Ling Ruoxi coldly looked at her, covering her cheek, and smiled. “I, Ling Ruoxi, sit upright and walk honorably. I don’t fear your slander. From start to finish, I’ve only had one man—my child’s father! The Grand Prince of Eastern Ling and the Grand Preceptor of Beining are just my friends. Only paranoid old women like you smear your own husband! You’re so insecure you even despise me. Do you think the Crown Prince respects you?”

“You—!” Ling Huiru, furious, had no way to match Ling Ruoxi. She stomped angrily, reaching for another slap.

This time, Ling Ruoxi was faster. Her right hand shot out, slapping Ling Huiru’s face, then clutching her own hand. Coldly, she said, “You don’t believe me when I say you lack confidence? You can place your face on my hand for confidence? I’m too lazy to hit you—my hand hurts.”

The onlookers laughed uncontrollably. Ling Ruoxi’s humor was sudden and sharp—though she had struck Ling Huiru, she claimed it was the latter’s face that pressed against her hand.

Only Huangfu Xuan frowned, coldly glancing at Ling Huiru. “Apologize!” His voice was icy, yet the woman ignored him.

“Ling Ruoxi, you vile woman!” Ling Huiru trembled, pointing at her. She had nothing more to say.

Ling Ruoxi scratched her ear, laughing. “If you can’t speak properly, don’t make a fool of yourself. You may not care about your shame, but I care about mine.”

“I am the Crown Princess, and you dare insult me! Do you even acknowledge me?” Ling Huiru’s face was red with rage. Her eyes widened, wishing she could swallow Ling Ruoxi whole.

But Ling Ruoxi remained calm, scratching her head. “Crown Princess? I do respect your status. But tell me, given your conduct, how are you fit for this title? I don’t understand why the Crown Prince chose you. Even Rou Dan is a hundred times better than you.”

“How dare you! I am the Crown Princess! I won’t tolerate your nonsense! I’ll have your head!” Ling Huiru stomped furiously.

The crowd watched with disdain, their contempt crushing her anger.

“I heard the Crown Prince escaped on his wedding night, apparently for Ling Ruoxi.”

“Yes! Did he really turn back and fall for her?”

“Nonsense! Ruoxi has a child—there’s no way the Crown Prince would wear a green hat.”

Rumors spread. People whispered, scrutinizing Ling Huiru.

Her face darkened as she clenched her fists, body tense. Hearing that the Crown Prince left the palace on the wedding night was an insult. He didn’t consummate the marriage but ran to another woman. This humiliation made her the laughingstock of the harem.

Fury flared. Orange Dou Qi ignited around her. She stepped forward, the energy forming a meteor-like strike aimed at Ling Ruoxi.