Chapter 257: Chapter 257

A moment of extreme silence.

At that instant, Li Jirou suddenly understood that everything she had experienced over those days had mattered to no one but herself.

Everyone has their own tasks to attend to, each believing their matters to be of utmost importance, while others are just others. What others do, what they go through, what has it got to do with them?

She thought her life was very difficult, yet outside, how many people couldn’t have enough to eat or warm clothes to wear?

Having gone through the downfall of the Li Family, reduced to a slave, it was only today that she fully understood she no longer had the right to be wilful.

So Li Jirou took a small breath and then spoke slowly and calmly, "No, I respect Auntie very much and am happy to serve her. Perhaps there is something I didn’t do well enough, which is why I wrote to you asking for advice. Have you forgotten?"

There was even a hint of distress in her tone.

He froze for a moment, then frowned, "What letter? You wrote to me?"

Li Jirou raised a smile and nodded slightly, "Yes, but it was all trivial matters; perhaps you were too busy to see it."

Compared to her calmness, Xiao Shiqing finally realized he had overreacted and shouldn’t have confronted her the moment he returned, so he stepped forward to embrace her, "I’m sorry, I was too worried and lost my head."

He was overly concerned she had done something wrong, causing his mother to dislike her and thereafter disapprove of their engagement.

Li Jirou silently nodded in his embrace, seemingly accepting his explanation.

Yet the last glimmer in her eyes slowly faded away.

By the time Xiao Shiqing and others discovered Qu Fulan had coughed up blood and fallen unconscious, her complexion was ashen as if she was already gone.

The man’s outstretched hand was trembling.

"How did this happen? Didn’t you say dispelling evil spirits would wake her up? How is she now coughing up blood and unconscious?!"

Elder Zeng had never encountered such a situation before and couldn’t give a reasonable explanation.

All the procedures were correct, and none of the steps were wrong. He had performed such exorcisms on many people before without a single failure. Faced with this, he was at a loss for words.

At this point, nothing more could be said. When someone is unconscious and vomiting blood, a doctor must be called.

Mrs. Xiao, who was already concerned about the matter, was promptly informed of the situation.

"Could it be an act? It’s just an exorcism; how does it lead to vomiting blood and fainting?" Check latest chapters at NoveI[F]ire.net

Though Mrs. Xiao harbored deep suspicions, she would not go against her son at this moment and instructed a maid to check on the situation first.

The Xiao Mansion had its own physician, who was quickly summoned.

Under normal circumstances, when the doctor was to see the young ladies of the mansion, it wouldn’t be easy to see them in person; it would typically be through a curtain or by feeling the pulse from a string.

Now, due to the urgent situation, the doctor directly saw the patient’s condition, with that bloody state making the doctor’s heart tremble. Without hesitation, he reached out to feel the pulse.

Xiao Shiqing walked back and forth anxiously, and those who knew him would be surprised; the usually composed Prince Xiao seemed uncharacteristically restless.

"How is she? Why did she vomit blood and faint?" Xiao Shiqing couldn’t help but ask.

After taking the pulse, the doctor immediately stood up and knelt before the Princely Heir, "This old man has never encountered such symptoms and is truly powerless. The Young Master must seek another expert."

Xiao Shiqing instinctively took two steps back, his face full of disbelief.

On the other side, upon hearing that an expert was needed, Mrs. Xiao frowned, "Is it really a serious matter?"

Ji Nishang looked at her aunt’s expression, poured her a cup of tea, and tentatively said, "Aunt, shall we also go and have a look?"

To be honest, Ji Nishang was quite curious to see what was going on. Up until now, it had been all hearsay, and she didn’t know what was true or false.

Why did cousin suddenly want to perform an exorcism on Li Jirou?

If it was just an exorcism, why did she end up vomiting blood and fainting?

The last time Lv Daopo had schemed against Qu Fulan was unsuccessful, yet now the exorcism caused such an incident.

If it turned out to be something serious, it would save a lot of trouble.

"Let’s wait and see what the famous doctor says." As an elder, Mrs. Xiao wasn’t very keen on visiting juniors, considering it too much regard for the other party.

Moreover, since the person was brought back by her son, if anything went wrong, it wouldn’t be blamed on her. Mrs. Xiao was unwilling to get involved in such a mess of her own accord at this moment.

However, when the renowned physician proved to be equally powerless, Mrs. Xiao could no longer sit idly. Upon arriving, she saw that Li Jirou was barely breathing, and even the renowned physician frowned.

"I’ll prescribe a life-sustaining remedy first and give it a try. If it still doesn’t work, we may have to conduct the last rites as a form of breakthrough."

If even the medicine couldn’t save her, there were no other ways left. Conducting the rites might be the only solution; if the person indeed passed away, it wouldn’t be too hurried when the time came.

However, if the rites revived her, it would be a cause for celebration.

Ji Nishang supported her aunt, and upon hearing the renowned physician’s words, she simply lowered her gaze, her expression calm.

Mrs. Xiao, however, looked very displeased. Wasn’t this considered bad luck? She wasn’t even from the Pei Mansion, yet they were to conduct the rites here?

If the person really died, it would be even more inauspicious.

However, at this point, if she ordered Li Jirou to be sent away, it would instead smear the Pei Mansion’s reputation, suggesting they couldn’t even accommodate a dying person.

What bad luck, bringing misfortune the moment of arrival at the Xiao Mansion.

Xiao Shiqing paid no mind to his mother’s thoughts; he hurriedly called for someone to decoct the medicine. Meanwhile, the renowned physician continued to take pulses. The pulse was indeed peculiar; from the patient’s complexion, it seemed as if she was already gone, yet the pulse was erratic, making it impossible to discern the cause.

After inquiring further, it was discovered that the situation had been triggered by an exorcism.

No strange talismans or unusual medicines had been given; a perfectly fine person was made to vomit blood by a spell.

Such circumstances sounded utterly baffling.

"If medicine is powerless, why not seek someone deeply skilled in Taoist abilities? Often only the one who ties the bell can untie it."

Where could such a deeply skilled Taoist be found? It’s not like they’re everywhere.

Elder Zeng had intended well today, helping with the exorcism with no malicious intent. Now that things turned out this way, he felt uneasy. After pondering, he thought of someone.

At this point, the medicine was ready, and it was brought over. Xiao Shiqing took it, semi-supporting the unconscious person and personally feeding her the medicine.

However, the medicine trickled down Qu Fulan’s lips, soaking her clothing, and the fabric at the front quickly turned inky, gradually covering those blood stains.

"This is a life-sustaining prescription; we must find a way to get her to drink it."

Seeing that feeding her with a spoon didn’t work and pouring it directly was ineffective, Xiao Shiqing thought of a method. Though it would affect her reputation, at such a moment, nothing else mattered.

Moreover, he had long decided to marry her, and at this moment, feeding her with his mouth was no issue.

With his mind made up, he ordered others to leave. Regardless, it couldn’t be done in front of outsiders.

"Young Master, something’s wrong! Heir Pei has charged in!"