285: Chapter 283 A Last Glimmer of Light

The Ning Mansion was already in a state of complete chaos.

Maidservants bustled in and out carrying water basins; towels were swapped one after another as the water in the basins turned from clear to pale red, and then to dark crimson. In the kitchen, the medicine-brewing stove burned intensely, the pot bubbling and frothing, but no one knew if there would even be anyone left to drink the medicine once it was ready. The family servants gathered in the front courtyard, whispering and murmuring amongst themselves.

Ning Yuanzhou stood in the outer room of his mother's bedroom, his expression terrifyingly dark.

His fists clenched so hard they creaked, his nails digging into his palms until blood seeped out. Imperial Physician Zhao Ke had fled. Taking advantage of the chaos, he had slipped out of the Ning Mansion with his medicine box, not even asking for a consultation fee. It wasn't that he didn't want it, but that he didn't dare. His prescription had brought the Old Madam to such a state; how could he possibly stay and ask for payment? Ning Yuanzhou's teeth itched with hatred, but he could do nothing to Imperial Physician Zhao Ke for now. Imperial Physician Zhao Ke was part of the Imperial Medical Academy, and he couldn't touch him yet. However, he etched this grudge into his heart. One day, he would make Imperial Physician Zhao Ke pay the price.

Ning Wanqing knelt before her mother's bed, holding her mother's ice-cold hand, her eyes red from crying. Her tears had already run dry, and her eyes felt parched and painful. She no longer cried, but simply knelt there, staring at her mother's ashen face, her lips twitching slightly as if she were muttering something or perhaps praying.

She kept looking toward the door, time and time again. She was waiting. Waiting for that Itinerant Doctor they had driven away. She didn't know why she trusted him so much. Perhaps it was because he had seen through Imperial Physician Zhao's prescription at a glance, perhaps because every word he said had come true, or perhaps simply because—he was the only hope left.

Rapid footsteps sounded outside. A servant ran in, his voice cracking: "He's here! Mr. Yun is here!"

Ning Yuanzhou spun around abruptly and strode outside. He walked in a great hurry, the hem of his official robes fluttering in the wind, the jade pendant hanging at his waist clinking.

He hurried to meet him, coming to a halt before Yun Ming, and then bowed low. He lowered his posture significantly: "Mr. Yun, regarding what happened earlier today, I was blind. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my offensive words." His voice was not loud, but it was very sincere. "If you can cure my mother, I am willing to kneel and kowtow to apologize to you."

Yun Ming glanced at him and waved his hand. "I don't care for such formalities. There's no need for kowtowing." He paused, his tone indifferent. "But I'll give you fair warning first. If I take action, the consultation fee will be very expensive."

Ning Yuanzhou straightened up and said without hesitation, "As long as you can cure my mother, I am willing to offer everything I own in Linan City."

Yun Ming swept his gaze over him, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly into a faint, ambiguous smile. He thought to himself, "This Lord Ning has a very interesting way of speaking; he always likes to preface things with 'if you cure her, then such-and-such'."

He didn't say it out loud, but instead walked straight toward the back courtyard.

Ning Yuanzhou was stunned for a moment before following behind him. He felt a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn't worry about that now. As long as he could save his mother, let alone offering his fortune, he would be willing even if it cost him his life.

When Yun Ming entered the Old Madam's bedroom, Ning Wanqing was still kneeling by the bed. Hearing the footsteps, she whipped her head around, and the moment she saw Yun Ming, tears welled up again. She stood up, but her legs went weak, and she nearly fell. A maidservant quickly supported her. She pushed the maid away, stumbled toward Yun Ming, and collapsed to her knees with a thud.

"Mr. Yun, I beg you to save my mother." Her voice was hoarse, her throat already rasped from crying. "You could tell at a glance that Imperial Physician Zhao's prescription was flawed; you must have a way to save her. I beg of you..."

Yun Ming leaned over and reached out to support her arm. "Get up."

Ning Wanqing refused to rise. Yun Ming applied a bit of force and pulled her up from the floor. He casually grasped her wrist, placing his fingers on her pulse point.

"You are also suffering from overexertion. You haven't eaten or slept for days, have you? If you keep pushing yourself, you'll be the next to collapse."

He glanced at the maid nearby. "Help your Young Miss go rest. Get her something to eat and let her sleep."

Ning Wanqing shook her head. "I'm not leaving; I want to stay by my mother's side."

"You can stay, just don't cause any trouble." Ning Wanqing nodded vigorously and retreated to the bedside, tightly clutching her mother's hand, not daring to make another sound.

Yun Ming sat by the bed and placed his fingers on the Old Madam's wrist. His movements were slow, his brow slightly furrowed as if he were carefully examining her.

In reality, however, his Divine Sense had already scanned the Old Madam's entire body before he even entered the room.

The situation was even worse than he had anticipated.

That heavy blow from Imperial Physician Zhao Ke hadn't just failed to trigger Terminal Lucidity; instead, it had dissipated most of the Old Madam's already meager life force.

Her internal organs were on the verge of total failure, and the blood and Qi in her Meridians had almost come to a standstill.

Mortal methods—medicines, acupuncture, or decoctions—none could save her. The only thing that could be used now was a Medicinal Pill.

However, at this moment, Yun Ming channeled a wisp of Spiritual Qi from his fingertip into the Old Madam's Meridians.

The Spiritual Qi flowed slowly along her Channels, nourishing her depleted organs and clearing the stagnant blood and Qi. A faint touch of color appeared on the Old Madam's ashen face, her lips turned from purplish-black to dark red, and her breathing became steadier.

Ning Wanqing was the first to notice the change. "Mother! Mother's complexion seems... a bit better?" Ning Yuanzhou also leaned in to look, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "Mr. Yun, my mother..."

Yun Ming didn't answer. He withdrew his hand, opened his eyes, and looked at the Old Madam's face.

The Old Madam's eyelids moved. Her lashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened her eyes. Those clouded eyes gradually found focus, turning from blurry to clear. She saw Yun Ming by the bed, her son at the door, and her daughter at the foot of the bed. Her lips moved slightly, letting out a very faint sound, like a sigh.

"Yuanzhou..."

Ning Yuanzhou's tears instantly gushed out. He rushed to the bedside and grabbed his mother's hand. "Mother! Mother, you're awake! How do you feel?" The Old Madam's lips curled slightly, appearing to smile. "Hungry..." Ning Yuanzhou hurriedly turned and shouted, "Quickly, prepare some food! Congee, make it very soft!" The maidservants scrambled out in a flurry.

But Ning Yuanzhou's heart did not find peace. His hands were shaking. He was afraid. He feared this was Terminal Lucidity.

"Mr. Yun, my mother... is this..." He didn't dare finish the sentence.

Ning Wanqing also knelt by the bed, holding her mother's hand, her tears flowing silently. She was also afraid. Everyone was afraid. The room was terrifyingly quiet, with only the Old Madam's faint breathing and the flickering of the candlelight.

The Old Madam kept her eyes open, looking at her son and daughter, a light returning to her gaze. She applied a little pressure with her hand, grasping Ning Yuanzhou's finger. "Hungry... want some congee..." Though her voice was weak, it was much clearer than before. Ning Wanqing quickly stood up. "I'll go get the congee!" She ran out and soon returned with a bowl of hot congee. She scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to her mother's lips. The Old Madam opened her mouth and slowly swallowed it.

One spoonful, two, three. After drinking nearly half a bowl of congee, her complexion seemed to improve a bit more. Ning Yuanzhou watched his mother, his tears flowing uncontrollably. But his hands kept shaking. He looked up at Yun Ming, his gaze filled with dread. "Mr. Yun, tell me the truth, my mother... how much longer does she have?"