Adrian Dongling (Prince Rowan) also said nothing, simply staring at Serena Feng.
The two confronted each other in silence, neither willing to back down.
"Ignorant woman, arrogant because of her talent—she won't come to a good end."
"Reckless to the extreme. Prince Rowan is kind-hearted and doesn't hold it against her—otherwise, she'd have died hundreds of times by now."
"No upbringing. Just as the rumors say—ignorant and vulgar."
"Doesn't know her place. Lost her chastity before marriage and still doesn't restrain herself. No wonder no one wants her."
[...]
The imperial physicians whispered among themselves, all saying Serena Feng didn't know what's good for her, arrogant because of her talent. Each one wished they could drag her out and cut her down.
They forgot—if not for Serena Feng, they'd have already died under the Emperor and Empress's wrath.
Seeing Adrian Dongling remain silent, the imperial physicians grew even more brazen, their voices louder and words more vicious.
Serena Feng didn't even bother to glance at the imperial physicians. She kept her eyes on Adrian Dongling. After a long moment, she finally looked up and said, "Fine. But when I dress the wound, I don't want any outsiders present—I don't like being disturbed."
It wasn't worth clashing head-on with Adrian Dongling. Besides, Serena couldn't just leave the wound untreated.
The knife used to cut the stitches clearly hadn't been sterilized. If the wound became inflamed and rotten, Adrian Dongling's leg would most likely be ruined.
"Serena Feng, how dare you make such an unreasonable demand! Do you still respect Prince Rowan?" Adrian Dongling hadn't spoken yet, but the imperial physicians started to berate her.
They had opened Adrian Dongling's wound because the Empress and Prince Rowan didn't trust Serena Feng, fearing she might tamper with it and harm him.
But they judged her with petty minds. Serena Feng had no intention of harming Adrian Dongling—the wound had been treated well.
After reopening it, they found they couldn't stitch it back together. The flesh was rotten, and Adrian Dongling suffered as they poked and prodded, his anger flaring.
With no other option, they suggested letting Serena Feng do the suturing so they could learn from her.
But from Serena Feng's words, it was clear she wouldn't let them watch.
That absolutely won't do...
The imperial physicians united to pressure Serena Feng.
Serena Feng turned, her gaze proud and cold, and stared back, enunciating each word:
"On this point, I, Serena Feng, will never yield. I absolutely will not teach the suturing technique to people who look down on me and plot against me."
"You—you're truly ignorant! Don't you know that medicine is vast and noble, meant to be shared and learned from each other? If you share your suturing method, it will benefit many!" The white-bearded imperial physician pointed at Serena, his face livid.
"Is that so? May I ask your name, Imperial Physician?" Serena Feng stepped forward politely.
"My surname is Hu." Imperial Physician Harold Hu thought Serena was intimidated and grew even prouder.
"So it's Imperial Physician Harold Hu—my apologies. What is your specialty?" Serena Feng smiled, but her eyes were frosty.
Imperial Physician Harold Hu stroked his goatee and said smugly, "I'm skilled in bone-setting. The Hu family's technique is second to none."
"So it's a family bone-setting technique. May I ask Imperial Physician Harold Hu to demonstrate, so I can learn and perhaps become a master myself someday?" Serena Feng stepped forward, appearing eager to learn.
Imperial Physician Harold Hu looked at Serena Feng as if she were an idiot. Just as he was about to speak, Serena added, "I'm truly eager to learn—please teach me everything, hold nothing back."
Imperial Physician Harold Hu grew angry and retorted, "Teach you everything? Who do you think you are? Not just anyone can learn the Hu family's bone-setting!"
Realizing his mistake, he tried to defend himself, but Serena Feng's penetrating gaze silenced him, his face turning pale.
"Imperial Physician Harold Hu, you'd better be careful not to have a stroke—unlike Imperial Physician Victor Yuan, you might not be so lucky." Serena Feng 'kindly' warned, then swept her cold gaze over the others, mocking:
"All of you have specialties and secret techniques you don't share. When you pressure a 'weak woman' like me, remember how you guard your own skills from being stolen."
"You... you..."
The imperial physicians blushed, unable to refute her, and could only mutter, "Women and petty men are hard to deal with."
Serena Feng ignored them and said to Adrian Dongling, "Prince Rowan, if you agree, please let me return to Feng Manor to prepare."
Could he refuse?
Adrian Dongling looked at his injured leg, closed his eyes, and said, "Go."
"Prince Rowan, we have needles and thread here—no need for Miss Feng to go back." The imperial physicians were deliberately opposing Serena Feng.
"Sorry, I don't care to use things others have handled." Serena Feng tossed out this remark and left gracefully as the imperial physicians watched.
"No respect for teachers or elders!" The imperial physicians trembled with anger. "Prince Rowan..."
They tried to complain, but Adrian Dongling impatiently waved them away: "Leave. I don't want to see you."
He closed his eyes, leaned back against the bed, endured the pain in his leg, and let a faint smile appear.
He'd clashed with Serena Feng many times, always with the advantage, yet never winning. Serena always managed to offend everyone.
His mother, his imperial sister, and now the imperial physicians.
Truly a troublesome woman.
Thinking about taking this troublesome woman as a consort, Adrian Dongling felt another headache.
The old Serena Feng was too weak to interest him; the current Serena is strong—too strong. She'd never settle for a quiet life.
Headaches, all kinds of headaches!
[Ellipsis—scene transition or time lapse.]
With the Smart Med-Pack, Serena Feng didn't actually need to return to Feng Manor; going back was just a cover, since she couldn't explain pulling out medical instruments from thin air.
On the way back to Feng Manor, she passed by a pharmacy and bought a medical kit and some traditional Chinese medicine supplies to make her cover story believable.
Arriving at Feng Manor, Serena greeted Evan Zhou, then went to her room, took out emergency medicine from the Smart Med-Pack, grabbed the medical kit, and headed back to Rowan Manor.
This time, no one stopped her, and the troublesome imperial physicians were gone—Adrian Dongling had sent everyone away.
Serena Feng wasn't surprised; this was her condition all along.
After a simple bow, Serena Feng rolled up her sleeves, pinned up her hair, washed her hands, and put on medical gloves.
Adrian Dongling watched in silence, eyes glinting with surprise.
This woman seemed like a different person.
Capable and sharp.
Unlike any woman he'd met before.
Serena Feng glanced back, pretending not to notice, while calculating how to anesthetize Adrian Dongling without arousing suspicion. Could his body handle full anesthesia? How would she explain it?
Serena Feng hesitated, opening the medical kit slowly. Adrian Dongling smiled knowingly: "Serena Feng, don't bother hiding it from me. I was awake yesterday and saw everything you did. But don't worry—I won't expose your secret."
No matter what, you risked your life to save me.
With that thought, Adrian Dongling decided to overlook Serena Feng's rudeness.
[Sound effect: slam.]
Serena Feng slammed the medical kit shut, looking at Adrian Dongling in shock: "What? What did you see?"
Serena Feng's heart pounded—she was extremely nervous.
"You care a lot?"
Of course she cared—her life depended on it.
Serena Feng was about to ask again when she realized something was off...
If Adrian Dongling had truly seen everything, he wouldn't let her go.
Calm down, Serena Feng, stay calm. You know Adrian Dongling's condition yesterday—he couldn't have been fully awake, and even if he was, he wouldn't have seen everything. He's just bluffing.
Yes, that must be it.
Don't fall for it.
Serena Feng took a deep breath, forced down her worry, and smiled: "If the imperial physicians saw, I'd care. But Prince Rowan? I don't mind—you won't steal my livelihood or study medicine."
"So you're worried about others stealing your livelihood." Adrian Dongling's disappointment was obvious.
Serena Feng refused to share her secret with him.
"Of course—I have to support my family." Serena Feng slowly calmed down.
Now Serena Feng was almost certain Adrian Dongling was bluffing.
Still, after what happened, she couldn't use full anesthesia on Adrian Dongling—it would look too suspicious.
Serena Feng considered: suturing the wound shouldn't reveal much, and the needles and thread had already been taken by the Emperor. She could suture in front of Prince Rowan without issue.
If he wanted to watch, she'd let him watch all he wanted today.
Some secrets can be kept for a lifetime; others cannot.
Since Prince Rowan was curious, she wouldn't hide this time.
Serena Feng ignored Adrian Dongling, opened the medical kit again, hesitated, then took out the anesthetic syringe.
As a doctor, she couldn't let personal feelings interfere; without local anesthesia, Adrian Dongling would suffer unbearable pain.
Holding the syringe, Serena Feng prepared to find an opportunity to inject Adrian Dongling's leg.
One day, Serena Feng, I'll learn all your secrets.
Adrian Dongling stopped asking, closed his eyes, recalling Serena Feng saving him with her own blood, and said, "Serena Feng, I'll take you as my consort. With me to support you, you won't need to worry about making a living."
Opportunities must be seized—they don't come twice.
Serena Feng took a cotton swab, disinfected the area, and injected Adrian Dongling's leg.
"What's that?" Adrian Dongling snapped his eyes open as Serena Feng pulled the strap on her sleeve, hiding the small syringe.
"What did you say, Prince Rowan?" Serena Feng injected the anesthetic while distracting Adrian Dongling.
"I'll take you as my consort," Adrian Dongling repeated.
Adrian Dongling was already numb from pain; the injection didn't hurt. He wanted to see what Serena Feng was doing, but she blocked his view.
Consort?
Serena Feng withdrew the syringe. Adrian Dongling tried to see what she was doing, but Serena turned away, facing her back to him.
"Prince Rowan, to marry is to take as wife; to take as consort is to make a concubine. So, Your Highness, you wish to make me a side consort?"
"Yes."
Was Serena Feng to become Prince Rowan's principal wife?
Ridiculous wishful thinking.
It wasn't possible before, and it's even less possible now...