Before she could recover her senses, her neck was seized by his iron fingers. She stared with wide eyes at King Chu's face, twisted in furious, fire-breathing anger. The air was forcibly squeezed from her chest and her vision went dark as she nearly fainted.
"Just a ten-year-old child," he ground out through clenched teeth. "Yet you dared to inflict such vicious harm. Guards, drag the queen out and give her thirty lashes!"
Yuan Qingling had not slept for several days straight and barely had any strength left. After being slapped once, she was too weak to even stand. As his grip loosened, her body softly collapsed to the ground. Air rushed back in and she gasped for breath, only to be forcibly dragged up again and out of the room.
In the gloomy darkness, all she could see was King Chu's face, so cold it seemed to radiate frost, and the contempt in his eyes as his luxurious brocade sleeve brushed past...
She was dragged directly down the stone steps, her head knocking against the hard, sharp edges. A piercing pain shot through her and her vision went black as she finally lost consciousness.
She did not remain unconscious for long. Waves of agony coursed through her body with each blow that landed on her waist and thighs. She had never experienced such pain in her past life. Each stroke seared down to the bone. She felt certain her waist and legs would snap off.
The taste of blood filled her mouth. She had bitten through her lip and tongue. Though her vision flickered with darkness, she could not pass out again.
The pain kept her awake.
After thirty lashes, she felt as though an entire lifetime had crawled by.
She was Yuan Qingling, a 22nd century genius, with long lines of admirers singing her praises wherever she went, the star of every gathering.
So many patients desperately hoped she could develop life-saving medicines for them.
Yet here, trying to save one small boy had brought her to the brink of paying with her life.
She was dragged back and tossed onto the marble floor of Phoenix Palace, the medicine box slammed heavily onto her back.
Unable to roll over, she could imagine her back was a mangled, bloody mess. She fumbled to pull the medicine box over, opened it, swallowed a pill and gave herself an injection, praying it would help her survive this ordeal.
Slowly, she lost consciousness.
In the annex, King Chu had sentenced Yuan Qingling to a vicious beating. Still consumed by wrath, he calmed the old wet nurse with a few words before departing.
Tang Yang hurried to catch up. "Your Highness, shall I summon a doctor for the queen?"
A sinister light flickered in King Chu's eyes. "No need. If she dies, report it as death by abuse!"
"How shall I explain this to the princess?" Tang Yang inquired.
"Is there a need for explanation?" King Chu's voice was icy.
"Understood," Tang Yang acknowledged.
King Chu strode away.
Returning to the annex, Tang Yang instructed Green Bud to fetch medicine for Little Fire.
Inside, he found Little Fire had fallen asleep.
Wiping her tearful eyes, the old wet nurse tidied away the bloodied cotton swabs. "It's good he can sleep. The pain kept him awake."
Glancing at Little Fire's eyes, Tang Yang murmured in surprise, "The swelling seems reduced."
The old wet nurse quickly looked up and saw the inflammation had subsided somewhat, with no more oozing.
Noticing her tidying, Tang Yang picked up an empty syringe. "What is this?"
"I don't know. That woman left it behind." The old wet nurse refused to call Yuan Qingling by name.
Unfamiliar with the object, Tang Yang wondered, "Could she have poisoned him again?"
"Did the doctor leave already?" the old wet nurse asked urgently.
"He's gone. But he left a prescription." Tang Yang glanced at Little Fire. "Don't worry, just guessing. No sign of poisoning."
The old wet nurse's swollen eyes showed some relief. "Sir, I wish to keep watch over him. May I have your permission?"
"No need to ask. Stay with Little Fire," Tang Yang consented.
"Thank you, sir!"
Tang Yang sighed softly. "The doctor said it would likely happen tonight. Keep a close eye."
The old wet nurse's tears flowed again.
