Chapter 960 - 962 Can’t Find the Cause_1
"Diao Bin, my second brother was shot in the Heart Meridian, and that pill saved his life," Bai Ruozhu said, unwilling to let Princess Diao Bin be disappointed, but also unable to keep it from her. It was better to just say it outright.
Diao Bin’s body wavered. She almost didn’t sit steady and after a long while, she said, "Let it be, let it be, this is fate, if it’s gone then so be it."
Bai Ruozhu grabbed her wrist and said, "It can’t just be so, there’s still hope, I will definitely find a way to cure you!"
Diao Bin’s face was filled with despair, "It’s no use, I secretly sought out the most famous Imperial Doctor in the palace, but even he was at a loss."
Bai Ruozhu didn’t let go, but her expression became more and more solemn — Diao Bin wasn’t poisoned, it seemed like her organs were failing and as to the reason, she couldn’t see at all!
"You take a look," Bai Ruozhu said to Jiang Yichun.
Jiang Yichun reluctantly reached out to take Diao Bin’s wrist, but soon his expression also turned grim.
Observing the expressions of the two, Diao Bin sighed and said, "There’s no cure for this strange illness. Along the way, I sought many Divine Doctors among the common folk, and they all said there was no way. Some even said my organs were necrotizing and that I wouldn’t live past a year."
After exchanging a glance, Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun realized that the one who spoke indeed was a Divine Doctor, who recognized the root issue.
"But I don’t believe it. I was fine before, how could my organs suddenly start necrotizing? People say that doing too many bad things will cause the insides to rot, but what have I done for heaven to punish me like this?" Diao Bin became agitated, her voice rising, and ultimately, she broke down in tears.
She had held onto a glimmer of hope, but the medicine was gone, and from Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun’s demeanors, she knew that they couldn’t save her either; her heart had completely despaired.
Anxiety welled up inside Bai Ruozhu — poisonous insect poison? It didn’t seem like it; a disease brought from the womb? It shouldn’t strike after growing so big; a slow-acting poison? It probably wasn’t, otherwise, with her knowledge of the Poison Scripture, she would have noticed something.
What in the world was it, then? Who gets a terminal illness without any reason, with their organs failing all of a sudden?
Bai Ruozhu’s mind was in turmoil. What did she owe Princess Diao Bin? If she hadn’t used up Diao Bin’s pill, Diao Bin could have recovered; her second brother’s life was saved by Princess Diao Bin!
Unwilling to accept this, she checked Diao Bin’s pulse again, her lips quivering as she said, "Don’t panic, we will certainly find a way. If I had known how important that medicine was for you, I truly shouldn’t have..."
Shouldn’t have taken it? Then her second brother’s life might not have been saved. Bai Ruozhu didn’t voice her regrets, as saving her second brother was something she didn’t regret at all. She could only put in all her effort to compensate Princess Diao Bin.
"My father said that medicine could save lives but it was useless for him, and I felt I was in very good health and thought my father was over-worried. That’s why I thought that medicine might be more useful for you — indeed, it did save a life, so I suppose I have accumulated some good karma," Princess Diao Bin said, wiping her tears away, her emotions stabilizing.
Her kindness made Bai Ruozhu feel even more apologetic, and she resolved firmly to find a way to save Princess Diao Bin’s life.
At most, there was only one year left...
"You stay at my family’s second yard first; there are many guards here to properly protect you. Achun and I will definitely find a way to cure you," Bai Ruozhu said seriously.
Princess Diao Bin hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she nodded her head in agreement, for she truly wished to live a normal life.
After arranging for Princess Diao Bin to stay in the neighboring yard, Bai Ruozhu specifically instructed Cui Fan and Jianqi to keep a close watch on the people below, making sure no information was leaked. She also went to inform Diao Yao and Chu Hai in the neighboring yard, but did not reveal that Diao Bin was a princess, simply stating that she was an honored guest of her family seeking treatment and asked them not to offend or disturb her.
Diao Yao was a very obedient little girl, and Chu Hai was a man of few words, so they generally wouldn’t bother Princess Diao Bin.
When Bai Ruozhu returned to the yard, her second brother stood in the way and said, "I heard everything."
Bai Ruozhu was taken aback, hadn’t they all gone back to their rooms by then?
"Just now you were too excited, and your voices were a bit loud. I just happened to come out," Bai Zepei explained, making clear he hadn’t been eavesdropping at the wall root.
"Oh, it’s nothing, we’ll think of a solution," Bai Ruozhu forced a smile.
"It’s all my fault that you owe such a big favor," Bai Zepei could see her unease. If there was a solution, she wouldn’t seem so dejected.
Bai Ruozhu quickly looked up, "Second brother, what are you talking about? Wang Miaoshuang is my problem. If we really get down to it, it’s me who has caused trouble for you."
Bai Zepei didn’t want to argue with his sister. He knew it wasn’t Bai Ruozhu who had antagonized Wang Miaoshuang. In fact, it was Bai Ruozhu who had secretly carried out the Imperial Court’s arrangement to teach the Suturing Technique, which led to Wang Miaoshuang’s misunderstanding and subsequent hatred. Bai Ruozhu had originally offered her skills to the Imperial Court to save him and the Bai Clan from being implicated by Bai Yibo’s scandal and to prevent the cancellation of his Imperial Examination eligibility.
Lin Ping’er came out from Wan Caiyue’s room, took Bai Ruozhu by her hand, and asked a few questions. Bai Ruozhu briefly explained the situation, including Diao Bin’s identity, but told her mother that they must keep it a secret and pretend not to know that Diao Bin was a princess.
Lin Ping’er remembered every word. Although she felt it could bring trouble, she still sympathized with Princess Diao Bin, and she was also grateful for her medicine that saved Bai Zepei’s life.
In the following days, Bai Ruozhu pored over numerous medical books and had even transcribed the Poison Scripture onto the ground of the Space. She repeatedly studied it, having never been so serious about studying the Poison Scripture since her transmigration. Regrettably, no matter how she looked, she could not find any clues, and Princess Diao Bin’s condition didn’t seem like poisoning at all.
For this, Jiang Yichun comforted Bai Ruozhu several times, telling her not to blame herself too much, as this was not her fault.
Gradually, Bai Ruozhu also calmed down. She realized that not having a solution now didn’t mean there would never be one; she couldn’t let herself fall into disarray.
Several days later, the day arrived to expel the poison from Chu Hai. Bai Ruozhu went to the adjacent yard to treat him. Princess Diao Bin, curious, sneaked over to watch and ended up chatting with Diao Yao. Both of their names contained the character for "jade," and they quickly became very close, soon referring to each other as sisters.
"Sister Diao Yao, what kind of poison did your senior brother get? Is it very serious?" asked Princess Diao Bin curiously.
"It’s very serious. No one in my sect could cure it. It’s only because Ruozhu Sister has an ancient method and her unique needlework that the poison could be driven out, but it can’t be detoxified in one go. I don’t know how many times it will take to completely cleanse the poison, and every time it’s extremely painful. Brother Chu is really pitiful," Diao Yao said, with her eyes reddening as she spoke.
Princess Diao Bin’s eyes drifted towards the door, and she said somewhat distractedly, "As long as he can be cured, that’s good. It doesn’t matter how much suffering one must endure, as long as one can stay alive, how wonderful that would be."