Chapter Eighteen: Rescue

  Hu Zhongren untied his cloak and wrapped Liu Qingqing in it, then helped her onto the horseback and galloped away. Before long, they entered the Hong Cuishan Villa. The servants saw Hu Zhongren rushing about and hastily took down Liu Qingqing. "Be careful, take her to the Nourishing Life Hall. Hu Zhong, bring me my medicine box."

  Hu Zhong ran quickly to get the medicine box, while Hu Zhongren followed the servants into the Nourishing Life Hall and placed Liu Qingqing on a soft couch. Hu Zhong handed over the medicine box, and Hu Zhongren took out a cloth to gently wipe away the blood, seeing that her forehead was cracked open with fresh blood still flowing out. Looking elsewhere, apart from some abrasions on her arm, there were no other injuries. It seemed that the horse had been tripped up by its reins, and she hadn't been prepared when it suddenly rushed forward, causing such injuries. After being jostled around for a while, she had come to. He felt her pulse, which was very weak. Holding onto her wrist, he found that her pulse was extremely weak. Feeling anxious, he ordered Hu Zhong, "Go to the Green Garden and ask the Ren brothers to come up the mountain quickly. Tell them that Madame's injuries are severe and they must hurry." Hu Zhong responded with a sound and left. At this time, the horse carriage also entered the gate, and Xiaolian and Yinger rushed in hastily, "How is Madame...?"

  No one made a sound. Everyone immediately understood that the one who was injured was Ninth Madame. Xiaolian and Yinger walked up to Liu Qingqing, softly calling out: "Miss, miss." "Ninth Madame, Ninth Madame!" Liu Qingqing's face was pale, her eyes tightly closed, the bruised area showing purple and black, the bandaged area still seeping blood, without a hint of life.

  Hu Zhongren kicked over several cases with one foot and shouted loudly: "Hu Dong, you two go down and investigate for me, see who set up the ambush halfway, catch him, I want to flay him alive!" Hu Dong and Xiaozi repeatedly responded and left.

  "What are you looking at? Get out! Get out!" Hu Zhongren shouted loudly. Everyone hastily retreated from the room, and Xiaolian and Yingying exchanged a glance, but ultimately said nothing and walked out.

  Hu Zhongren sat beside the bed, staring blankly at Liu Qingqing. Was this still the same fierce and untamed girl who had been chatting and laughing with him just a moment ago? Now she was as quiet as a sleeping baby, but unfortunately, she wasn't asleep. Her face was paler than paper, and her breathing was almost imperceptible.

  Is it that my own fate is bad, really destined to be widowed? How could I have just had a little excitement and she's gone like this? Heaven, won't you let me smile for once? Not even a smile is allowed, must I lower my head at every smile?

  Heaven, please bless her to be safe and sound. I'd rather give up my own life for hers, as long as she can come back to life, even if it means being ugly and poor like a beggar, being able to scold me and hit me, having greedy eyes that covet all the silver in the world, making seductive sounds that drive people mad... As long as I can trade my entire fortune, my very own life for her life, I'm willing to do so.

  Tears flowed down the high and straight bridge of his nose, leaving behind a string of crystal-like pearls. Had he been cursed or something? Why did all the women he loved have to leave him?

  It was unknown how much time had passed, but Hu Zhongren was immersed in his own sorrow. He didn't even notice when Ren Zhongjie arrived by his side. It wasn't until Ren Zhongjie patted him on the shoulder that he looked up at Ren with a dull gaze.

  "Zhong Jie, Zhong Jie, hurry and save her." Hu Zhong Ren's voice was hoarse.

  Facing Hu Zhongren's pleading, Ren Zhongjie sat on a low stool, his calm face without any ripples. He listened to the pulse, examined the ears and eyes, and observed the complexion. Indifferently, he said: "The external injury is not serious, it should be a head injury caused by impact, we can use acupuncture to stimulate him awake. The main acupoint is Fengfu Yamen, with Renzhong, Baihui, Naokang as auxiliary points to stimulate the head; Neiguan and Xuehai to stimulate the heart and tongue; Sanyinjiao and Yinlingquan to promote his consciousness; Feifeng and Lianquan to promote swallowing; local acupoints to promote hands and feet. It will take at least three days, or up to seven days, he can wake up. If it exceeds the deadline and doesn't recover, I also have no way." He was indeed cold-blooded to the end.

  "Xiao Lian!" he shouted loudly towards the outside.

  Xiao Lian and Yingying walked in, "You take the medicine according to the prescription I gave you, besides taking the medicine every day, you also need to use the medicinal water to give Ninth Lady a medicinal bath. Remember to keep her dry after washing, and pay attention to talking with Ninth Lady to help her wake up. Today, I'll administer the needle, tomorrow when Hu Zhong returns, please ask him to do these things." After finishing speaking, he looked at Hu Zhongren with deep meaning, then wrote down the prescription and handed it to Xiao Lian. Xiao Lian took the prescription and left. Afterwards, he opened his needle case, felt for the acupoints and started needling.

  About half an hour later, the injection was finished.

  Ren Zhongjie took the medicine box and said, "Tomorrow, come to see me for a diagnosis, you can remember that." Without waiting for Hu Zhongren's response, he left the Nourishing Life Hall by himself, floating away.

  It's strange to say, but as soon as Ren Zhongjie left, Hu Zhongren was like a different person, transforming from his original depression and lethargy to being spirited and energetic, as if he had been injected with chicken blood. He instructed Yingying: "You stay here and take care of your young mistress, I'll go find the scoundrel who framed her." Yingying nodded hastily, she and the mistress having grown up together like sisters, so taking care of her was a given. Hu Zhongren left the Nourishing Life Hall and climbed to the top of the Phoenix Perch Pavilion. First, he checked to see who had been entering and leaving the mountain villa these past few days, but there were no suspicious individuals. Mostly it was just his own medicine delivery team and the medicinal farmers who came up the mountain to deliver goods. He himself had only decided to come to the mountain villa that morning, so who could have received the news and set a trap in such a short amount of time? It definitely wasn't one person acting alone. Who could it be? The more he thought about it, the more he eliminated various possibilities, and he felt that someone was indeed trying to harm him. Unless there was a traitor within his own ranks... He had always treated them well, so who could it be? Only Yang Liuqing came to mind, who still held a grudge against him for snatching Xiaolian away. It must have been him who set the trap, knowing that putting red flowers here would attract Qing's attention. The more he thought about it, the more he felt certain, and immediately rode his horse back to the Hu family estate.

  The dusk was deep, and only the west wing of the Yangliuqing's house had a red lantern hanging in front of it. It wasn't until then that Hu Zhongren remembered that tonight was the night of Yangliuqing and Yanyan's union. He didn't think he could do this thing, and quietly retreated back. However, since he had already suspected something, he couldn't help but ask around. He found a few people to inquire about it, and they all said that Young Master Biao hadn't gone out, not even the servants had gone out because they were too tired from last night. Hu Zhongren thought of Yangliuqing's behavior last night again, and his heart was once more in pain. He came to the old lady's east wing house to ask about the situation.

  "Do you suspect Qing'er did this? Impossible. He's been at home all day, not even his servant went out." The old lady thought it was impossible, "Your wife is injured so badly, and you still have the time to come here?"

  "I found Ren's brothers to see a doctor, I myself was in a state of confusion, and couldn't calm down." Hu Zhongren sighed.

  "Worrying is chaotic. It means you care about your wife, that's a good thing. Don't worry, your wife has a lucky face, she'll definitely get better, just don't investigate who did it."

  "Alright, I'll be off then." Just as Hu Zhongren was about to leave, Yang Liuqing burst in noisily, "I heard that Brother-in-law is back, are you making a scene at my wedding?" Looking at Hu Zhongren's worried expression, "So it's because Little Sister-in-law got hurt and you're here to interrogate me? Do you think I did it? I didn't do anything! I love Little Sister-in-law so much, how could I let her get hurt even a little bit? You know that's true, Brother-in-law!"

  "Qing'er, don't be rude! Your brother is worried, you shouldn't add fuel to the fire and gloat over his misfortune instead of helping him out!" The old lady scolded.

  "I'm just rejoicing at his misfortune, how about that? Who let him always snatch away the things I love, this time let him taste the flavor of loss! The flavor of suffering!"

  "You," Hu Zhongren sat in the chair, his hands gripping the armrests, barely controlling his urge to give him a good beating. Yang Liuqing looked at Hu Zhongren with eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, still provoking him relentlessly. Yang's mother saw that things were taking a turn for the worse and hastily intervened, "Young Master, Young Master, just say a few less words!" She pulled him away as they walked out. Yang Liuqing shouted as he was being dragged away, "Let's go to the bridal chamber!"

  Hu Zhong's face turned iron-green, and he calmed down his emotions after a while. He bowed to his mother and bid farewell, "Mother, rest well, I'm going back to the mountain villa." It seemed like it took him great effort to say those words.

  "Go back, go back, take good care of your wife." The old lady nodded repeatedly, how terrifying, her son was killed in front of her own eyes.

  To Wen Rou, today I almost couldn't hold it in, Qing Er was too much this time.

  When Hu Zhongren returned to the Hong Cuishan Villa, it was already late at night. Entering the Nourishing Hall, he saw Liu Qingqing still lying on the soft couch, while Xiangxiang and Yixi were sleeping in bed. Xiaolian, however, was not asleep, humming an unknown tune with her mouth closed. Seeing Hu Zhongren enter, she hastily stood up from her chair.

  "It's nothing." Hu Zhongren waved his hand and asked in a low voice, "Has Ninth Lady woken up?"

  Xiao Lian shook her head. Tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

  "What were you humming just now?" Hu Zhongren asked, his voice filled with doubt. Xiaolian and Jiu Furen were as close as sisters, but Jiu Furen had been asleep for a long time, and he still had the heart to hum a tune - could it be her doing? Now Hu Zhongren suspected everyone.

  Xiao Lian was frightened and hastily knelt down, saying: "I saw that the Ninth Lady was not awake, so I thought of using emotions to move her and wake her up. The slave girl hummed and sang all the songs taught by the Ninth Lady."

  Hú Zhōngrén's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "Great, you just hum like that, let's see if she'll have any reaction."

  Like this, Hu Zhongren sat on one side, and Xiaolian also sat on the other side humming a tune. Gradually, Xiaolian's voice became lower and softer, and she fell asleep in a daze. Hu Zhongren reached out to splash some water from the basin onto the cold towel, stimulating himself, then wiped it for Liu Qingqing again.

  At dawn, the swallow woke up and saw that Jiufu's hands, feet, and face were all cleaned. She looked at Xiaolian with gratitude and said: "Young lady, you are too good to our family's young lady."

  Xiao Lian looked puzzled. Yingying said, "I fell asleep carelessly last night, luckily you took care of the young lady, look at how clean you got her to answer."

  Xiao Lian suddenly realized. Hurriedly said: "It wasn't me who did it, it must have been Hu Shao who did it. He was here all night yesterday, and later I fell asleep too."

  Just as they were talking, someone outside reported that Ren Zhonghu had arrived. The two men hastily stood up to welcome him.