This time, Serena Feng's blade was aimed directly at Liam Li's throat. Sun Zhengdao was startled—Serena Feng was actually about to kill someone inside the imperial palace, a crime severe enough to implicate nine generations of her clan.
Sun Zhengdao hurried forward to block Serena Feng. "Serena Feng, you mustn't! If you kill him, you'll be in serious trouble." He didn't care about Liam Li's life or death, but if Liam died at Serena's hands, she would suffer grave consequences.
The Emperor was about to promote Liam Li; acting now would be extremely unwise.
"Imperial Physician Sun, you're overthinking it. I never intended to kill him." Serena Feng smiled, but showed no sign of lowering her blade. Her gaze was resolute as she looked at Sun Zhengdao—she was determined to make this cut. Seeing Sun's disapproval, Serena added:
"Imperial Physician Sun, you should know just how well I understand every part of the human body. If I wanted him dead, that last cut would have spilled far more blood than this." Serena pointed at Liam Li's wounded right wrist, where the bleeding was already slowing, showing just how controlled her actions were.
Seeing Sun Zhengdao still confused, Serena Feng patiently explained, "Imperial Physician Sun, this cut may look dangerous, but it won't take his life. At most, he'll suffer a bit—consider it a lesson, so he understands how foolish it is to monopolize doctors' time when real lives need saving."
"Why are you doing this?" Sun Zhengdao couldn't believe Serena Feng would go so far just for this reason—it wasn't her usual style.
"Imperial Physician Sun, to be honest, I don't want that murderous thing to appear again. You know how deadly the thunder-blast grenade is. When emperors wield such weapons, it's the common people who suffer. Leaving someone like him alive only brings disaster to the masses." Serena's words were half-truth, half-lie, leaving Sun Zhengdao uncertain.
But recalling Serena Feng's words and the tragedy at the city gate today, Sun Zhengdao fell silent.
He had witnessed the devastation in broad daylight—so many civilians dead, so many families shattered. Yet the one responsible for all this was being honored and lavished by the Emperor, enjoying luxury in the palace. It was truly heartbreaking.
Sun Zhengdao released Serena Feng's hand. "Be quick—don't leave any traces." He knew Serena's real reason for acting wasn't what she claimed, and he didn't intend to ask further. He could help Serena, but that didn't mean other imperial physicians would.
Serena Feng nodded immediately. "Don't worry, Imperial Physician Sun. I know what I'm doing—I won't kill him. I'll make sure he lives, and lives well."
Whether saving or killing, Serena Feng's technique was always practiced and precise, without a hint of anxiety or guilt. As her blade struck, Liam Li's body twitched, then went still again.
A wicked smile curled at Serena Feng's lips. "Imperial Physician Sun, please remove the silver needle so I can bandage his wounds." With so much blood loss, it would take at least ten days to recover, and the injuries to his throat and wrist wouldn't heal in less than half a year.
Half a year was more than enough time to change many things.
Serena Feng bandaged Liam Li's wounds with leisurely grace, showing no urgency as if saving a life—her relaxed manner was almost like embroidery.
Sun Zhengdao couldn't help but laugh, but he had to admit—Serena Feng was truly unfathomable.
Righteous yet ruthless—once she decided something was necessary, she ignored both ethics and imperial law.
After cleaning away the blood and finishing the bandaging, Serena Feng borrowed Sun Zhengdao's silver needles again.
"What, you know acupuncture?" Sun Zhengdao asked, clearly skeptical.
"No, I only use it for bad things." Serena Feng had already done enough; she saw no need to pretend in front of Sun Zhengdao. Picking up the silver needle, Serena grabbed Liam Li's left hand and carefully pierced his tendons, twisting just enough so that, though invisible to the naked eye, every tendon was shredded—a fact only detectable with modern instruments.
"What are you doing?" Both hands crippled, unable to speak—Serena Feng was truly ruthless.
Serena Feng kept working, then looked up with a smile. "What if he can write with his left hand? That would be trouble for me. Since I've already gone this far, a little more won't matter."
Now Liam Li's hands were ruined and he couldn't make a sound. Serena Feng nodded in satisfaction. "Imperial Physician Sun, can you use acupuncture to wake him quickly? That way we can report success."
"I can, but this needle will shorten his life by several years." Despite his words, Sun Zhengdao worked without hesitation—such a man didn't deserve a long life anyway.
"In that case, I'll go call the other physicians and inform the Emperor that he's awake." Ever since learning of Liam Li's existence, Serena Feng had been tense, as if weighed down by a stone. Only now did she finally relax.
She knew exactly what she'd done—Liam Li was finished. Not even a deity could save him now. Hopefully the Emperor would have enough patience; otherwise, Liam's fate would be miserable.
Serena Feng clapped her hands and strolled away, utterly at ease.
Watching Serena Feng's retreating figure, Sun Zhengdao silently reminded himself: never offend a physician—especially one named Serena Feng. To harm so openly under the guise of healing, only Serena could pull that off.
When the Emperor, Crown Prince, and others entered, Liam Li woke up at that exact moment. Realizing his condition, his first instinct was to cry out, but he couldn't make a sound. Terrified, he stared at those before him, unable to comprehend what had happened.
The Emperor assumed Liam Li's panic was just the shock of returning from the brink of death. He comforted him: "Beloved subject, don't worry. Focus on your recovery—I'm still counting on you to serve the nation."
With Liam Li alive, the Emperor breathed a huge sigh of relief—he could still use this man. As for the severity of Liam's injuries, the Emperor wasn't concerned. He turned to instruct Sun Zhengdao: "Imperial Physician Sun, make sure to treat Young Master Li well and ensure his speedy recovery."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. As long as Young Master Li is awake, he'll be fine. With some rest, his injuries will heal." Sun Zhengdao replied, and the other physicians echoed him. Thanks to Serena Feng's skillful incisions, Liam Li appeared to have only superficial wounds—no one knew the true extent of the damage beneath.
"Your Majesty, Miss Feng is extremely skilled with external injuries. Though Young Master Li lost a lot of blood, it's only flesh wounds—nothing serious." The white-bearded physician who had previously ordered Serena Feng spoke up in her defense.
Not knowing medicine himself, the Emperor believed the physicians and looked for Serena Feng—only to find she wasn't present. "Where is Serena Feng?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, Miss Feng fainted as soon as she heard Young Master Li had awakened. The physicians say she exhausted herself and needs rest." A palace maid in lake-green robes stepped forward and answered respectfully.
This made the Emperor even more satisfied. "Excellent, excellent. Serena has worked hard. Pass my decree: it's late, let Miss Feng rest in Everpeace Hall and leave the palace at dawn."
Serena Feng was to stay overnight in the palace—a tremendous honor. Sun Zhengdao secretly smirked.
That little fox Serena Feng—she'd done something ruthless, yet everyone praised her for it. Her methods were truly masterful.
But the Emperor didn't know that whenever Serena Feng's name was mentioned, Liam Li's eyes burned with venom.
Just a little thought, and Liam Li understood—his half-ruined state was entirely Serena Feng's doing...
Trying to harm others only ends up harming oneself!