Serena Feng kept her thoughts entirely hidden behind a composed expression and answered seriously, "Your Majesty, when Second Young Master Su feigned death that day, it was because a bead had blocked his throat, preventing him from breathing. I struck him, and finally managed to force the bead out of his body, saving his life. "
But Young Master Li’s case is different. According to my diagnosis, although he wasn’t injured by the blast itself, the shockwave from the explosion blocked his blood vessels." This explanation was hard to understand, but Serena Feng spoke with absolute seriousness.
"What do you mean by that?" The Emperor was also skeptical, but in the absence of a better explanation, he chose to trust Serena Feng.
"Your Majesty, I experienced that explosion myself earlier today. The blast was instantaneous, and I suspect that it was that very momentary force which struck a certain blood vessel in Young Master Li, blocking it and causing his pseudo-death.
Earlier today, there were quite a few commoners who weren’t physically injured but fainted because of the explosion. I suspect Young Master Li’s situation is very similar to theirs, only his case seems more severe."
Of everyone present, only the Crown Prince and Serena Feng had experienced the explosion earlier that day. The Crown Prince knew nothing of medicine, so only Serena Feng had the authority to speak on the matter.
"Father, Serena Feng is right. There really were many people who fainted because of the explosion earlier. When the blast went off, I myself felt my vision go black for a moment. Fortunately, I was far enough from the center and wasn’t much affected." The Crown Prince’s words were clearly meant to support Serena Feng.
With the Crown Prince as witness, the Emperor was now mostly convinced. "Since you’ve found the cause, Serena Feng, do you have a solution?"
"I do," Serena Feng replied, nodding firmly.
"What solution?"
"Bloodletting!"
The Emperor hesitated, "Will it endanger his life?"
"It won’t. But he’ll need some time to recover after he wakes." As a physician, she only treats the sick, not the healthy. Since Liam Li wanted her to treat him, she would first make him a patient—the kind she excelled at treating.
"Serena Feng, remember—I want him alive." The Emperor could never fully trust Serena Feng.
Because of his concern for General Feng and Lady Feng, he felt a bit of pity for Serena Feng, but also a good measure of wariness. He could never uncover the true identities of those two, no matter how hard he tried.
Serena Feng dropped to one knee. "I will not fail Your Majesty’s trust." Alive—even if crippled, that’s still alive.
Serena Feng and Imperial Physician Sun led the group back to Liam Li’s bedchamber. "Imperial Physician Sun, too many people will interfere with the treatment. May I boldly ask the others to wait outside? Please stay with me, Imperial Physician Sun. If anything happens to Liam Li, I alone will bear the responsibility."
On the other hand, if Liam Li wakes up, everyone can share the credit. Serena Feng didn’t need to say this—the other imperial physicians understood perfectly well.
Such a good arrangement—of course, no one refused. All the imperial physicians nodded and agreed.
"Serena, what are you planning?" Sun Zhengdao was puzzled to see Serena Feng sending everyone away.
Sun Zhengdao nodded. He trusted this much—Serena Feng might be a bit selfish, but she was loyal to those she cared about.
"Imperial Physician Sun, do me a favor—use a silver needle to pierce Young Master Li’s fainting acupoint and knock him out. I’ll explain everything afterward." With layers of gauze and Serena Feng deliberately lowering her voice, even if Liam Li strained to listen, he wouldn’t hear a thing.
Honestly, Liam Li wasn’t just any ordinary fool—faking illness in the imperial palace? Did he really think that with so many eyes watching, she couldn’t make a move? Physicians could kill without a trace; they could harm without leaving any evidence.
Since you’re pretending to be sick, I’ll treat you under the guise of medicine—let’s see who ends up worse off.
Sun Zhengdao didn’t quite understand, but still nodded and took out a silver needle from his medicine box.
"Imperial Physician Sun, you must be quick—don’t give him any chance to speak." Serena reminded him again, then stepped forward and lifted the bed curtain, pretending to be nervous and uneasy. "Imperial Physician Sun, if I press Young Master Li’s philtrum acupoint, will he really wake up? What if he doesn’t—how will I explain myself to the Emperor?"
Sun Zhengdao had no idea what Serena Feng was up to, but still nodded in cooperation. "It should work. Try it and see."
"But… which spot is the philtrum acupoint?" Serena acted anxious and clueless, and Liam Li found her performance dull.
She’d sounded like a real physician before, but as soon as the others left, she seemed completely incompetent. Was it all just an act?
"Honestly, I’ve told you to study properly so many times, but you never listen. Now you can’t keep up the act, can you? The philtrum acupoint is right here." Sun Zhengdao said as he stepped forward.
Liam Li sneered inwardly, thinking that as soon as Sun Zhengdao made his move, he would 'come back to life' and expose Serena Feng, avenging Miss Rong.
Hahaha... Serena Feng obviously had no idea he was faking 'pseudo-death.' These ignorant ancients—going against his woman was courting death. With a little trick, he’d already fooled Serena Feng into revealing her hand.
So pleased with himself, Liam Li forgot to control his breathing and heartbeat, even moved a little in his excitement. Sun Zhengdao quickly glanced at Serena Feng, asking with his eyes: Is he faking?
Serena Feng nodded with a smile. Sun Zhengdao grew less polite—giving Liam Li no chance, he jabbed the needle down. Liam’s eyes flew open in pain, but he couldn’t make a sound. He tried to jump up, but Sun Zhengdao struck again. Liam’s eyelids grew heavy, and this time he really lost consciousness.
"That brat—he was playing all us imperial physicians for fools!" Sun Zhengdao was so angry his beard stood on end.
The explosion at Serene Hall had killed a slew of guards, eunuchs, and palace maids, but even more were injured. Those victims were still waiting for treatment at the Imperial Medical Directorate. Yet because of Liam Li’s supposed injury, the Emperor kept the best doctors here—never guessing Liam Li wasn’t hurt at all.
"Does that bastard even realize how many people he’s killed?" If Sun Zhengdao had a knife, he’d have stabbed the guy—this was outrageous!
Seeing Sun Zhengdao’s reaction, Serena Feng was sure her guess was right—Sun was one of those good doctors who couldn’t stand healthy people wasting medical resources. For someone like him to stay at the Imperial Medical Directorate was a real waste.
"Let’s teach him a lesson. Doctors only treat the sick—if he wants a doctor, let’s make him sick first. No doctor treats the healthy." Serena Feng rummaged through her medicine kit, but couldn’t find anything suitable, so she opened Sun Zhengdao’s kit and found a small knife.
"Serena Feng, what are you planning?" Sun Zhengdao still hadn’t figured it out.
Serena Feng raised the knife in her hand and smiled innocently. "Didn’t I tell the Emperor I’d treat him with bloodletting?"
With that, Serena Feng lifted the knife and pressed it against Liam Li’s right wrist, slicing forcefully. She paused halfway, then finished the cut, leaving only a shallow wound—but blood spurted out instantly, pooling on the floor…
Was this murder?
Sun Zhengdao stared at Serena Feng in disbelief, but she wasn’t finished yet. The blood-stained knife gleamed wickedly in the candlelight as Serena Feng raised it again…