Su Xiaoqi, along with Madam Zhao, was slowly walking away, led by Zhang Yu.
Because their pace was too slow.
Before they could leave the garden, they encountered Prince Ning, Shen Zhongwen, again.
He and Ji Chengfeng had been standing there, pondering for a long time without reaching a conclusion.
By the time they could investigate, it would already be too late.
So, he adopted another suggestion from Ji Chengfeng.
He would find Madam Zhao and inquire about the events that transpired when they were together. Perhaps he could glean more useful information from her.
This might aid in the revival of his memories.
Thus, he had followed them, attempting to extract more details about their past from Madam Zhao.
Originally, Shen Zhongwen was not such a reckless and direct person.
However, ever since his father had informed him that besides the two daughters and one son within the household, there were also another pair of children.
His heart had been in turmoil for days.
He had long wished to meet the woman who had borne him children and raised them without complaint.
He had finally met her.
But Madam Zhao had given him far too little time.
He hadn't managed to say what he wanted to say or ask what he needed to inquire about.
Their interaction had been too brief, and coupled with Madam Zhao's passive non-cooperation, it was clearly insufficient for him to understand the events of that year.
Su Xiaoqi was somewhat annoyed by Shen Zhongwen's assertiveness and directness.
She said coldly,
"Your Highness, my mother has already stated that she has nothing to say to you."
Shen Zhongwen asked, "Are you Yun Ge'er's wife?"
Su Xiaoqi nodded, offering a perfunctory curtsy.
She felt as though she must not have burned enough incense when she left home today, to have encountered everyone from the Prince Ning's manor one by one.
First, it was Princess Fu'an, then Princess Qionghua and the Consort of Prince Ning.
And now, Prince Ning himself.
She couldn't help but wonder if she would encounter the renowned but unseen old Prince of Ning's manor next.
Shen Zhongwen said, "It seems you both know about it. Has Yun Ge'er mentioned when he will enter the manor and acknowledge his ancestry?"
Su Xiaoqi's heart trembled. She felt Shen Zhongwen was overthinking things.
In reality, their decision was to live their separate lives.
As for whether the Prince Ning's manor had an heir, what did that have to do with them?
However, she had no interest in discussing these matters in front of Shen Zhongwen.
She shook her head and said indifferently, "My husband makes the decisions for our family matters. If Your Highness has any questions, perhaps you should ask my husband directly."
Su Xiaoqi spoke, lowering her head.
As she lowered her head, she caught sight of a jade pendant that was all too familiar.
A round, white mutton-fat jade.
It was identical to the jade pendant she held in her hand.
Only the intricate carvings in the fine details were slightly different.
Su Xiaoqi's eyebrows rose slightly.
Could this also be a jade pendant with a spatial dimension?
Su Xiaoqi couldn't help but scrutinize Shen Zhongwen closely.
He didn't seem like someone who possessed a spatial dimension.
But this couldn't be certain either.
Perhaps he was better at concealing himself than others.
As the saying goes, fellow practitioners are rivals. Regardless of whether he possessed a spatial dimension or not, this was not a place to linger. It was best to leave quickly.
Su Xiaoqi grabbed Madam Zhao and hurriedly curtsied before pulling Zhang Yu to leave.
"Wait... Sanniang," Shen Zhongwen looked at Madam Zhao, his sense of familiarity deepening.
Images seemed to flicker in his mind.
Those images were filled with a graceful, slender figure.
The figure was with her back to him, doing something, and was about to turn around.
"Ah..." Shen Zhongwen suddenly cried out, clutching his head and collapsing in pain.
Ji Chengfeng was alarmed, "Your Highness, Your Highness, someone come! Doctor, quickly summon a doctor!"
Su Xiaoqi had not walked far. Hearing the shouts, she couldn't help but look back.
She initially thought it was Shen Zhongwen's ploy.
But seeing him covering his head, his handsome face contorted, with a hint of ferocity.
He must be in great pain.
As a doctor, Su Xiaoqi's steps faltered upon seeing someone suffering from illness.
She glanced at Madam Zhao, hesitating slightly.
Madam Zhao, however, was decisive, "Girl, if you want to go, then go."
No matter what, Xiaoqi was saving someone; she couldn't stop her!
Su Xiaoqi nodded, turned, and walked back.
She couldn't stand by and do nothing, especially since this person was Shen Yun's biological father.
Moreover, her spatial dimension seemed to wish for her to perform good deeds, accumulate spiritual power, and exchange it for spiritual medicine.
Ji Chengfeng, supporting Shen Zhongwen, rushed out with him like a madman, shouting for a doctor as he ran.
Su Xiaoqi stopped him, saying, "I am a doctor. Stop for a moment, let me take his pulse."
Ji Chengfeng hesitated, but Shen Zhongwen already spoke, "Let Yun Ge'er's wife treat him. Her medical skills are excellent."
He had been one of the esteemed old officials by the late emperor's side. He knew that Su Xiaoqi had once treated the emperor.
The imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital had been unable to help.
Her intervention had, in fact, extended his life by two months.
Otherwise, the situation might not be what it was now.
After taking his pulse, Su Xiaoqi said nothing. She took out silver needles and placed them before Shen Zhongwen, asking,
"Your Highness, do you trust me?"
Shen Zhongwen was in so much pain he was about to faint.
He gritted his teeth and endured. Hearing Su Xiaoqi's words, he managed a difficult smile, "I do. Why wouldn't I?"
Su Xiaoqi's movements were swift. Before Shen Zhongwen finished speaking, and before he was ready, her hand moved, and the needle pierced an acupoint at the back of his head.
"Hiss..." There was a slight sting as it went in, and Shen Zhongwen couldn't help but cry out.
But soon, he felt comfortable.
It was as if a blockage in a channel had been cleared. Su Xiaoqi's needle had instantly made it smooth.
He felt incredibly relaxed.
A quarter of an hour later, Su Xiaoqi withdrew the needles.
Shen Zhongwen let out a long sigh of relief.
The stabbing pain and congestion in his mind had completely vanished.
He now felt completely relaxed and at ease, as if he had become ten years younger.
He shook his head. There was no abnormality.
He thanked her gratefully.
"You're welcome. Your illness is a chronic condition. My acupuncture technique just now did not completely resolve Your Highness's old ailment.
It merely cleared your meridians.
To fully cure it, six more treatment courses are needed."
"Oh, this just cleared the meridians? That's wonderful! This King already feels much better!" Shen Zhongwen recalled that as long as he could remember, this headache had plagued him.
He had consulted many imperial physicians and itinerant folk doctors.
However, none of them could diagnose his problem.
Perhaps some skilled imperial physicians had indeed figured it out, but they simply didn't wish to tell him.
Shen Zhongwen thought that Su Xiaoqi would likely not deceive him.
So he asked the question that had troubled him for over a decade.
"This King's headaches have persisted for over ten years. Normally, when there is no pain, I feel nothing.
But when it does strike, it is excruciatingly painful. Do you know the cause of this illness?"
Su Xiaoqi had already diagnosed him through her pulse-taking and the symptoms he displayed. She raised an eyebrow, "Does Your Highness believe my words?"
Shen Zhongwen was somewhat puzzled, "You are a doctor, and this King is now a patient. It is only natural for a patient to trust a doctor."
Furthermore, Su Xiaoqi was completely different from ordinary doctors.
Those doctors had been helpless with his condition.
Only Su Xiaoqi could help him combat the illness and provide temporary relief.
Therefore, he trusted Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi then said meaningfully, "Your Highness's headache is not formed by the body itself. I believe it might be necessary to inquire with your elders or... someone else."
Shen Zhongwen's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.
Su Xiaoqi's subsequent words shattered his understanding of the past ten years and also resolved a great confusion for him.