Chapter 33: Fearing Difficulties in Bearing Offspring

The doctor treating Zhan Xuerou was an elderly man around sixty years old. Doctor Li spoke in a hushed tone:

"Madam, the majority of the young miss's injuries are external. However, there is always risk in a scuffle; she has been wounded in the abdomen. She must be carefully nurtured back to health. If not, it may be difficult for her to conceive and bear children after she marries."

Upon hearing these words, Qin Shuang felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her Rou'er, so kind and gentle, wouldn't even harm an ant on normal days.

Yet now, she has suffered such calamity!

"Doctor, when will Rou'er wake up?" Qin Shuang asked with a choked voice.

Compared to bearing children, she feared more that her daughter would never wake up.

"There is nothing wrong with Miss Zhan's mental state, she just fainted due to extreme agitation and anger."

"If you follow the prescription I left and brew the medicine for her to take, she will likely wake up tomorrow morning. Madam, you have caught a cold and need to pay attention to balancing work and rest. Do not overexert or worry too much. Please take good care."

Qin Shuang nodded and thanked Doctor Li.

She turned to the maid Chunhua and snapped, "Kneel down. Tell me, what happened?"

Startled, Chunhua trembled and knelt down, kowtowing, "This servant does not know, ah. This servant went with the young miss to pay respects, and we were ambushed by bandits on the road. Then Miss Zhan Lan grabbed the young miss and ran. I do not know why Miss Zhan Lan exchanged clothes with the young miss, which led to the young miss being beaten!"

Chunhua thought to herself: As Zhan Lan's fate is uncertain, let's push all the blame onto her!

"So you mean to say: those bandits were targeting Miss Zhan Lan!" Qin Shuang frowned.

"Indeed, they even said that they had hit the wrong person; they were looking for Miss Zhan Lan. Who knows if Miss Zhan Lan has offended someone outside!" exclaimed Chunhua indignantly.

Qin Shuang's gaze turned colder. Was it really so?

Judging by Zhan Lan's actions, her intention in swapping clothes with Xuerou was to protect her.

But good intentions led to a bad outcome.

Qin Shuang's expression turned icy as she coldly said, "Wait until the Old General returns. We'll clarify the truth of the matter before we discuss further. Order all the maidservants and old women in the mansion that whoever dares to speak too much of today's events, execute by beating!"

Chunhua was very nervous, she had never seen Madam wield such authority.

It made sense: The legitimate daughter of the General Mansion was beaten by bandits, and might even be infertile. If this were to spread, what face would the General Mansion have, and how would Zhan Xuerou stand in the circle of noble ladies!

Qin Shuang, concerned, walked to the bedside, her eyes filled with heartache as she held Zhan Xuerou's hand.

Her Rou'er, frail since childhood, even when she made little mistakes, they never had the heart to punish her.

And now, how could someone be so cruel as if trying to take a life!

Who could it be with such a ruthless heart, treating human life as grass!

She wiped away her tears and carefully tucked in the blanket for Zhan Xuerou.

Qin Shuang's heart was pounding with worry. She was concerned for Zhan Lan; that child was alone in the mountains, those bandits were so vicious, she did not know how she was faring.

It was as if something was gripping her heart, making her restless.

Not long after Zhan Lan was brought to the rear court, the invited Doctor Tian Heng arrived.

Qin Shuang, together with Doctor Li, rushed over and was shocked to see Zhan Lan covered in blood, breaking out in a cold sweat.

There was a piece of a broken arrow still inside her left arm.

Seeing that a doctor was treating her, Doctor Li waited outside.

Doctor Tian Heng pulled the arrowhead out of Zhan Lan, who let out a scream of pain and became lucid for a moment; she glanced at Qin Shuang in a daze and then passed out again.

"Quick, the gauze!" Qin Shuang commanded, her voice startling the already terrified Xiao Tao.

Xiao Tao hurried forward, while Gu Yan snatched the gauze from her hands, pressing it against the bleeding wound.

Qin Shuang anxiously twisted her handkerchief, asking, "Doctor, why is she still unconscious?"

While assisting Zhan Lan with stopping the bleed, Doctor Tian Heng said, "Madam, this young lady has sustained a heavy blow to the head. It's estimated that she won't regain consciousness for quite some time."

Qin Shuang clenched the handkerchief in her hand, gently wiping the sweat beads from Zhan Lan's forehead.

Her complexion was deathly pale, and it seemed her condition was even more severe than Zhan Xuerou's.

Before long, the backyard was filled with noise as Mrs. Li was carried back.

Having heard that Mrs. Li had been knocked unconscious while trying to protect Zhan Xuerou, Qin Shuang said, "Doctor Li, come with me and let's examine Mrs. Li's injuries."

She led Doctor Li to Mrs. Li's room to treat her.

After checking the injuries, Doctor Li shook his head and said, "Although this lady's external injuries seem minor, the internal trauma is quite severe. This injury could shorten her lifespan by at least ten years."

Qin Shuang felt a deep sense of guilt; Mrs. Li was so severely hurt because she protected Zhan Xuerou, adding to the General Mansion's debt to Xue Wei's family.

"Doctor Li, prescribe her the best herbs for the medicine; we must take good care of her health."

Doctor Li nodded, saying with difficulty, "I'll do my best."

"Xuerou, run! Run!" In her comatose state, Mrs. Li clutched Qin Shuang's clothes, babbling incoherently as if she were experiencing a nightmare.

Qin Shuang was puzzled about why Mrs. Li would risk her life to protect Xuerou, while her daughter Zhan Lan was also in an unconscious state, having bled so much, and never once did she hear her call out Zhan Lan's name in her dreams.

Chunhua said, "Madam Xue's family are truly good people. Even at this time, they're still concerned about the legitimate daughter, showing unwavering loyalty to General Zhan."

Qin Shuang's suspicions were dispelled, and she couldn't help but feel moved: Indeed, Xue Wei had protected her husband in the same way!

After Qin Shuang left with the maids and servants.

Zhan Lan opened her eyes in another room; Doctor Tian Heng said, "Miss Zhan, as per your instruction, I've told them you've suffered a head injury. Your arrow wound appears grave, but your muscles and bones are intact. It's not too deep, due to your quick evasion. With proper rest and medication, you should recover well."

"Thank you, I'll make sure to take good care of Liu Xi here at the mansion," Zhan Lan said, sitting up on the bed.

Gratitude filled Doctor Tian Heng's eyes, "Thank you, Miss Zhan. If there's anything I can help with in the future, do not hesitate to ask."

The doctor before her was Liu Xi's uncle, who had been approached by Liu Xi a few days ago and was informed of the recent events.

Doctor Tian Heng was grateful to Zhan Lan for helping his sister and brother-in-law avenge their enemy Li Kang and had been waiting to enter the mansion to treat Zhan Lan today.

"This is the consultation fee, thank you for your effort, Doctor Tian!" said Zhan Lan, as Dugu Yan retrieved a small gray cloth bag from the cupboard filled with a hundred Silver.

Doctor Tian Heng quickly waved his hands, "No need for that, and even then, this consultation fee is far too generous!"

Zhan Lan said with a smile, "Each matter is separate; you have been a great help to me. Liu Xi's servitude contract is still in the mansion, and one day, I will ensure her release."

Doctor Tian Heng bowed deeply to Zhan Lan, "Thank you, Miss Zhan; if that happens, I will be forever grateful!"

Dugu Yan handed the Silver back to Doctor Tian Heng.

"This consultation fee is too much!" Doctor Tian Heng still hesitated to accept.

Zhan Lan, leaning against the bed's headboard, smiled and said, "Doctor Tian, don't rush to refuse just yet—I still need one more favor from you!"