Fifth Brother's injury was critical, and Zheng Qian could not stand by—she was a doctor, after all.
But she had never practiced medicine openly, and no one trusted her. Saving Fifth Brother would be difficult.
How could anyone believe in her abilities?
She couldn't conjure skills from nowhere.
Even if the doctor said Fifth Brother was beyond saving, she had no chance to act.
So she set her sights on Second Young Miss Zheng Yutan.
Zheng Yutan would definitely help her—partly because she was eager to find any chance to strike at Zheng Qian.
Rationally speaking, Zheng Yutan was a daughter of a concubine. In this era of upheaval, when commoners were rising and old hierarchies were being challenged, a concubine-born girl who had climbed into the elite circle with the full support of the marquis's household would never tolerate another girl her age—especially a legitimate daughter with her mother alive—competing for resources.
Emotionally, Zheng Qian had recently received twenty thousand taels of silver, making Zheng Yutan jealous and anxious that the Marquis and Grand Lady might favor Zheng Qian instead.
Thus, Zheng Yutan wanted to force Zheng Qian into a no-win situation: save Fifth Brother, or be blamed for his death.
Even though the doctor had declared Fifth Brother's injury nearly hopeless, the responsibility ultimately fell on whoever took charge. Zheng Yutan would make sure it was Zheng Qian.
Exactly what Zheng Qian wanted.
The two girls each had their own agendas. Zheng Yutan knew the Marquis well; with a few words, she persuaded him to act.
The Marquis, resigned to the situation, said: "Very well, Mei'er, give it a try."
Everyone was shocked.
The Grand Lady stared at the Marquis in disbelief: "What is she going to do? She's never learned medicine! Are you gambling with your son's life?"
Concubine Zhou, already crying, pleaded: "Marquis, no, please call another doctor!"
Third Young Lady, to show her own integrity and disinterest in the marquisate, added: "Marquis, why not call another doctor? Maybe Run'er can still be saved."
Doctor Lu snorted coldly from the side.
The senior doctor, weak at the sight of blood, hadn't gone all out. But hearing that they were going to fetch another physician, he said icily: "No one can save him. Marquis, fate has willed it so."
Fifth Young Master Zheng Run's cries grew louder, filling the room.
He still sounded strong, not like someone near death. Yet the doctor kept insisting he was doomed—Zheng Run nearly wanted to jump up and hit him.
"Silence!" the Marquis roared, cutting off everyone's words. He then apologized to the Grand Lady: "Mother, my son acted rashly. We cannot just let Run'er bleed to death. There is no better hemostatic medicine in all of the capital than Jinkui Hall."
In other words, even if they fetched another doctor, it might not help.
"Father Marquis, Grandmother, let Big Sister try first. Then we can send for a renowned physician. Nothing is lost, isn't that better?" Zheng Yutan suggested.
The Grand Lady finally nodded.
"Then what are you waiting for?" she said sharply to Zheng Qian.
She glanced at Third Young Lady: "Quick, go fetch a famous doctor."
Third Young Lady complied.
Zheng Qian thought: This damn marquisate—who wants to stay here? I don't plan to serve you; I need a way out.
Now on a planet of her own era, she wanted at least some semblance of a normal life. Though ancient times had many lacks, at least "doing as one pleases" was possible. She didn't want to endure life here.
She looked at Caiyuan and said: "Go get my medical kit."
Caiyuan looked confused.
Zheng Qian leaned closer: "Just grab a small box, about the same size as that doctor's kit. Hurry!"
Caiyuan: "…"
What kind of madness had possessed her young lady?
Seeing the hopelessness in their courtyard, Caiyuan dashed back.
Zheng Qian instructed the servants: "Fill a copper kettle with hot water, place it in the cold well water, keep it ready."
Servants obeyed.
Zheng Qian added: "Bring me a stick. A short branch, even a pair of chopsticks, will do."
A servant quickly handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Zheng Qian untied her belt.
The belt was wide, so she said: "Get scissors."
The two maids in Zheng Run's room reacted quickly. Whatever Zheng Qian asked for, they fetched immediately.
Scissors in hand, Zheng Qian cut her belt to use as a tourniquet, wrapping it around Zheng Run's ankle and foot—careful not to touch the wound.
Once secured, she slid the chopsticks under the belt and twisted it tightly.
"Ah!" Zheng Run cried out in pain.
Doctor Lu's eyes widened in alarm: "You've tied it over the wound! By avoiding the injury and tightening healthy tissue, aren't you making the bleeding worse?"
The Grand Lady panicked: "See, she can't do it—hurry!"
Zheng Qian ignored them.
Concubine Zhou, however, noticed: "It… seems the bleeding is slowing…"
Indeed, the blood flow began to lessen.
The Grand Lady blinked in surprise.
Everyone watched Zheng Run's wound.
Gradually, the bleeding stopped. The doctor had claimed the blood would not stop, yet Zheng Qian, using just her belt and chopsticks, had controlled it.
"What…?" Doctor Lu's face turned pale and then purple. "It's my powder that worked."
Everyone suddenly realized the truth.
No wonder this young lady had so cleverly used the doctor's medicine for herself.
Zheng Qian snorted: "Don't flatter yourself. If your powder worked, you wouldn't have claimed it was useless earlier."
Everyone froze again.
The Marquis' gaze fixed on Zheng Qian.
At that moment, Caiyuan returned with the small box from their courtyard.
Following her young lady's instructions, the box was similar in size to Doctor Lu's kit but empty.
Caiyuan had no idea what to do and looked pale, convinced her young lady had lost her mind.
Zheng Qian opened the box behind everyone's backs, rummaged briefly, and pulled out a thin, transparent object.
It was clear, like finely ground shell, rounded and delicate, with liquid inside. The tip had a silver metallic shine—a mysterious, precious item.
"What is that?" Doctor Lu asked, curious.
Zheng Qian ignored him, found a clean spot on Zheng Run's foot, wiped it with alcohol-soaked cotton, and injected the anesthetic.
No one knew what she was doing. They saw her poke at Zheng Run; Concubine Zhou gasped.
"What… what are you doing? What is that?" she shrieked.
Zheng Qian: "Something good. Fifth Brother won't feel pain soon."
Everyone: "…"
What nonsense was that? Fifth Young Master's foot had a deep wound just stopped from bleeding—how could he possibly not hurt for days?
Zheng Qian ignored them.
She returned the syringe to the box, and quietly retrieved her medical waste, putting it back into her space.