She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 43: Elder Sister’s Illness, The Old Master Can’t Cure It

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Elder Sister’s Illness, The Old Master Can’t Cure It

The night was boundless, and candlelight flickered. Yan Wanqing, wrapped in a blanket, leaned against the Imperial Consort’s couch, the unapologetically arrogant gaze of that person vaguely surfacing before her eyes, prompting her to shake her head.

"Arrogant."

Nowadays, the world was in turmoil—with Dawei at the forefront, the other Six Kingdoms all eyed each other like tigers waiting to pounce. Any disturbance in one country could cause a chain reaction, quickly drawing the attention of others. To unify the world under one ruler was an utmost challenge.

She simply thought he was gracefully backing out.

After all, "the world as a dowry" was something that only existed in stories.

Yan Wanqing rubbed her forehead, tired from a day’s wanderings. Cong Ge came in from outside with a hot pot of tea, pouring it into a cup and, as she did so, used both hands to massage Yan Wanqing’s temples.

"When will my lady rest?"

Yan Wanqing held the hot tea to her lips and blew on it, "I’ll sleep after I drink."

"Today, the servants must have been exhausted from the outing. To actually leave my lady and fall asleep on their own, this truly lacks decorum," Cong Ge reflected on her own awakening in the carriage, feeling somewhat ashamed.

"I’ve already told Cong Huan to rest first; miss need not worry," Cong Ge added, "The Young Marquis from the Northern Border has also come to the residence. He should have put out the lights and gone to rest by now."

Yan Wanqing nodded; silence once again filled the room. Perhaps it was Cong Ge’s skillful hands, or maybe it was the fatigue from the day’s exertions, but she soon felt sleep overtaken her.

That night she dreamed not; her sleep was deep. In her dream, she smelled the tranquil fragrance of sandalwood, unlike the one in her mother’s buddhist hall—this one carried a unique and serene bitterness. It wasn’t unpleasant and made her oddly comfortable.

When morning came, a Hidden Guard brought news that Lin Pingzhi and his family had been convicted of corruption, with irrefutable evidence. The Emperor was furious upon hearing this, and now the entire Lin Family had been exiled to the borderlands.

Yan Wanqing was practicing her martial arts when she received the news, her body covered in sweat. She wiped her forehead with a cloth.

"What about Lin Yanran?"

"She should have just set off for the desolate cold lands," Hong Wu reported.

Yan Wanqing pondered for a moment: "Find a suitable opportunity, save her, and send her to Fireworks Lane."

Hong Wu thought of Lin Yanran’s face: "She is indeed very beautiful, but I fear her temperament will hardly be tractable."

Yan Wanqing unconsciously licked her canine tooth and chuckled lightly, "That’s exactly what I want—someone defiant. She is my sharp blade for dealing with Xiao Hongshen."

"Also, the item that lady left us previously can now be used. Within half a month, I need you to make contact with all the rich merchants in South of the River. If we lack funds, we won’t be able to do anything afterward."

Hong Wu’s expression became serious: "Understood! I will not fail the mission."

Yan Wanqing snuffed out the wick on the candle holder.

Gazing at the rising wisps of smoke, her gaze grew steady, "We don’t have much time left."

As the time to travel to South of the River drew near, her pressure mounted. Although she had managed to win over Empress Zhang Lanyi, Yan Wanqing still felt it wasn’t secure enough.

She needed to do more, to drive the roots of the Yan Family even deeper.

In this way, if the Emperor ever wanted to move against the Yan Family, he would have to well consider whether he had the means to do so.

If she could secure all of South of the River, and then retrace her steps to North of the Pass, she, Yan Wanqing, would hold half the world’s economy in her grasp.

With Hong Wu departed, Yan Wanqing called for her maids to draw hot water. As she watched the steam fill her bedroom, she couldn’t help but feel an itch in her throat and began to cough violently, startling Cong Ge, who quickly set down her ladle and rushed over.

Yan Wanqing was seen covering her lips while her body shook violently, coughing sharply several times before she finally caught her breath.

Cong Huan’s pupils contracted in alarm, exclaiming, "Miss!"

Between those pale and delicate fingers, thick crimson blood slowly dripped down.

Yan Wanqing slowly straightened up, her lips smeared with scarlet, accentuating the paleness of her face.

She forced a smile and said, "It’s nothing."

"Cong Huan, go call the doctor!" Cong Ge cried out towards the door, and this time Cong Huan heard her. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Yan Wanqing coughing up blood and ran out to fetch the doctor in a hurry.

Cong Ge, with a handkerchief, wiped all the blood off Yan Wanqing’s hands, her eyes brimming with tears, "Miss..."

"Why are you crying?" Yan Wanqing pretended to be angry, "I, your miss, am still alive and well, am I not?"

"But you’ve been coughing up blood more and more frequently, it’s been several days in a row..." Cong Ge couldn’t help saying.

Yan Wanqing took off her clothes and stepped into the tub. Only when the hot water enveloped her did she start to feel a bit more comfortable, so she said, "Don’t panic, Xiao Cong Ge, haven’t you heard the saying ’a scourge lasts a thousand years’? Your miss won’t die that easily."

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Cong Ge used a ladle to pour hot water over her shoulders, "Don’t jinx it with such talk, Miss."

...

This time the doctor was sent away by both Aunt Song and Madam Sun. Feeling the room was suffocating, Yan Wanqing chased everyone out.

She sat on the couch, peeling the sugar-fried chestnuts she had brought back the day before, one after another.

There was still the taste of blood in her throat, and the medicine, too hot to drink, was set aside to cool, leaving the room in deep silence.

A small head peeked around the window ledge.

Yan Wanqing found it amusing, "If you want to come in, just come in. What are you doing, Xiaoliu?"

Yan Lingzhen stuck out her tongue at the door, not entering through it, but flipping in through the window. These days she had grown paler and there was gradually more flesh on her cheeks.

But her little face was always serious, making her look like a miniature adult.

"Do you want to eat?" Yan Wanqing offered her a full plate of chestnuts.

Yan Lingzhen wasn’t shy, grabbing a handful in her hand and began to eat her fill.

She stuffed her cheeks like a little squirrel, her speech garbled, "Sister, that old man can’t cure your illness."

Yan Wanqing didn’t catch it clearly, "Hmm?"

Yan Lingzhen repeated herself.

This time Yan Wanqing heard clearly, "I know."

"Sister knows and still lets him treat you? Every day they just use all those precious herbs to keep you hanging on, to no avail, and his consultation fee is ridiculously expensive." Yan Lingzhen saw Aunt Song take out a purse and hand it to the white-bearded doctor, and her eyes nearly popped.

Yan Wanqing’s lips curved in a light smile, "There’s no helping it, not doing this would worry everyone even more."

People always need a place to deposit their emotions and hopes.

The doctors come and go, and taking some medicine every day makes everyone believe she’s indeed getting better, that reassures them.

After all, humans can be quite strange.

Yan Lingzhen appeared to understand, letting out a deep sigh.

Jumping down from the chair, she walked over to Yan Wanqing like a little adult, very seriously, "Sister, have you been having someone investigate me these past days? That guy with the deadpan face, following me around all the time."

Yan Wanqing was startled, "Deadpan face? Investigating you?"

But she quickly thought of Piji.

However, Hong Wu had told her that Piji went out to find the Red Buddha’s Hand, so how could he be following her little sister the whole time?

As she pondered, Yan Lingzhen already adeptly took Yan Wanqing’s wrist and began to take her pulse with half-closed eyes.

Yan Wanqing was shocked inside, "...Could it be, Xiaoliu, you are?!"

Yan Lingzhen stroked an imaginary beard in the air, mysterious and profound, "How would I be fit to be your sister if I possessed not a single skill?"