The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!-Chapter 212: At Death’s Door

"I..." Xia Wenjin was momentarily stunned.

She had lived two lives and viewed life and death with indifference.

Moreover, in her previous life, she had fought countless battles on the battlefield, aiding villains like Huangfu Yuxuan. The poisons she developed had harmed countless people because of him.

That was committing evil.

If in this life she could save some people through her medical skills, it could be considered atonement for the sins of her past life!

Huangfu Jingchen could tell her decision just by looking at her expression. He said casually, "I know what you’re trying to say, and I know you’re looking out for me. But I’m not a child; I will take responsibility for my own decisions. I’m not staying for you. If things really get that serious, having one more person here can help."

Xia Wenjin wanted to say something but opened her mouth without uttering a single word.

Things weren’t that bad yet, perhaps not at all?

She said, "Fine, I won’t interfere. Stay if you wish."

"If there’s anything I can do, just let me know!"

Xia Wenjin nodded, "I will. I know."

She mounted her horse.

Huangfu Jingchen asked, "Where are you going now?"

Xia Wenjin turned back, "Just having a look around, and also seeing if there are any herbs I can use." She smiled, "I’ll be back soon, a bit hungry. Could you ask Auntie Kang to prepare some food for me to eat when I return?"

Huangfu Jingchen wanted to go with her but hearing she was hungry, he hurried into the house to ask Auntie Kang to prepare food.

Xia Wenjin smiled. She wasn’t going to look for herbs or just wandering around. Earlier at Doctor Zhang’s, she received a list of those who had visited the medical hall days ago due to the illness. It was an uncle living at the village’s end. It had been five days since he sought treatment.

After he initially sought medical attention and received medication from Doctor Zhang, he never returned.

Xia Wenjin wanted to check on his situation. If he had recovered, it would prove it was the poison from miasma.

But it was just one case; it didn’t mean everyone was the same. Further investigation was needed!

She had already inquired about the route. The uncle surnamed Liu lived not far from Zhuzi’s house.

The village was composed of mud-brick houses with trees or bamboo before them. The homes weren’t densely packed, but they weren’t far apart either. You could hear the sounds of chickens and dogs while each household preserved its own space.

Standing at Uncle Liu’s door, Xia Wenjin called out, "Excuse me, is Uncle Liu here?"

A sturdy man came out from inside. Seeing a stranger, his tone was unfriendly, "Who are you looking for?"

Xia Wenjin replied, "I’m from Doctor Zhang’s medical hall, here to check on Uncle Liu’s recovery!"

It didn’t help to mention Doctor Zhang’s medical hall. The moment she did, the man flared up in anger, "Oh, you dare come back. My father’s illness wasn’t this severe initially, but under that Doctor Zhang’s care, it worsened. Charging so much money — heartless! Get out..."

Xia Wenjin scratched her nose. Wasn’t she directly leading into the topic? But Doctor Zhang indeed deserved criticism, being both ruthless and exorbitantly priced while arrogant. Every patient visiting had to put on a smiling face, and he would be indifferent, speaking harshly. Those patients could only endure it. Xia Wenjin eventually couldn’t stand it, dragged him into a room, and gave him a beating before he behaved.

If she had known earlier, she would have beaten him more.

At the moment, she had no choice but to take on a humble attitude and say, "You misunderstand. I wasn’t sent by Doctor Zhang. I work at Doctor Zhang’s medical hall. After Uncle Liu visited the hall, he never returned. I was worried, so I came during my day off to check."

Upon hearing this, the man’s fiery demeanor instantly changed. He scratched his head, "I see. Little brother, I’m sorry. I lost my temper without asking questions first. Sorry, truly sorry!"

At that moment, a woman emerged from the door, worry etched on her face, "Brother Hai, father coughed up blood again."

The sturdy man rushed indoors hurriedly, not caring about Xia Wenjin. Xia Wenjin followed urgently.

In the east room, an elderly man looked withered, his eyes listless yet wide open and bloodshot, breathing heavily like a wind box was in his throat, making a wheezy sound. Perhaps due to difficulty in breathing, his mouth was agape. His emaciated hands clutched the bedspread tightly, gnarled and blackened like a chicken claw.

The sturdy man pushed open the door, called out "Father," and immediately rushed to the bedside.

Xia Wenjin’s heart skipped a beat at these symptoms...

She stepped forward, "Let me take a look."

The man was about to say something, but Xia Wenjin interjected, "I work at the medical hall. I know a bit!"

Upon hearing this, the man and the woman retreated to the foot of the bed. Xia Wenjin stopped them, "Stand by the door for now and let me check first."

They obediently stepped back, leaving the space for Xia Wenjin to examine.

Xia Wenjin went over, checking the withered old man’s eyelids, taking his pulse, then rolled up his sleeve to look...

She examined with seriousness and detail. Throughout the process, the sturdy man watched her closely, fearful she might not know what she was doing and make his father worse.

The woman occasionally glanced at the man but knew it wasn’t the time to ask questions, just clutching the man’s shirt anxiously.

Yet, Xia Wenjin’s brows furrowed slightly. Though the weather wasn’t extremely hot now, it was oppressively humid. However, the old man was cold while his forehead was hot to touch; his breathing was labored, and yellowish saliva, tinged with slight blood, trickled from his mouth, speech impossible.

Doctor Zhang had mentioned Uncle Liu was in his forties or fifties, with a sturdy build. He came to the hall on his own with his son’s company.

She called the husband and wife outside, washed her hands with clean water, then turned to ask, "Is the person on the bed... Uncle Liu?"

The man replied unhappily, "You already know. Why ask?"

A man in his forties or fifties, now resembling a sixty or seventy-year-old nearing the end of life?

How many days had passed?

Xia Wenjin said, "Uncle Liu’s condition is this serious. Why didn’t you invite the doctor back for a check-up?"

Mentioning the doctor, the man angrily retorted, "I would love to, but that Zhang character won’t even look at my shabby house. I even knelt and said I’m willing to be an ox or a horse this lifetime, and I was still chased out."

That damned Doctor Zhang, worthy of a thousand cuts, treating human lives like they’re just about money.

The man probably realized this shouldn’t be said in Xia Wenjin’s presence, partly because she looked frail and was merely a worker.

He didn’t doubt Xia Wenjin’s identity much, knowing Doctor Zhang was one of the best-dressed in town, just thinking this young man looked too good-looking, speaking with cautious concern even while saddened and angry.

He asked in a softened tone, "Little brother, can my father still be saved from this illness?"