Chapter 120: There Is No Room for You Anymore

A sudden, piercing agony caused Tan Yunges body to tremble violently, forcing her to crouch down. She could not utter a single word.

"My Lady, what is wrong?"
"My Lady, please, don't scare me like this."

Cold sweat beaded on Tan Yunge’s forehead. She gasped, and only after a long moment was she able to force out a sound: "I’m in pain. Go—go fetch the manor’s physician immediately, and bring the Heir here as well."

"Yes!"

The two maids scrambled to fetch help, while one rushed forward to support Tan Yunge. But as soon as the maid touched her, Tan Yunge felt as though thousands of tiny needles had been driven into the very point of contact.

"Ah!"

"Get away! Get away from me! Don't touch me!"

The maid was shoved aside, terrified by the savage, twisted look on Tan Yunge’s face. "Forgive me, My Lady! Please, have mercy!"

Tan Yunge remained crouched on the ground, teeth clenched tight. It was Tan Qingjiu. It had to be Tan Qingjiu. That little wretch had poisoned her. This must be the poison taking effect. Tan Yunge closed her eyes, biting her lip to keep from screaming.

From the main courtyard, Shen Xiao’s mocking laughter suddenly rang out: "Ill? How convenient. Every time I bring a woman home, or visit the courtyards of my other concubines, she suddenly falls ill."

"She was in high spirits just a moment ago while causing a scene, wasn't she? How is it that she’s suddenly sick now?"

"Her illness has certainly arrived at a very opportune moment."

Tan Yunge gritted her teeth, consumed by rage. Had her husband been bewitched by some vixen? How could he not believe her? Did he truly think she was faking it? Yes, she had used such tactics before, but this time, it was real. Why wouldn't he believe her?

"My Lord, the Heir’s Consort is truly in agony. She is just outside the door, in so much pain she can’t even walk. My Lord, please, go and see her."

"She has used the same trick so many times; does she think I’m still foolish enough to believe her? Does she take me for an idiot?"

As soon as Shen Xiao finished speaking, a sweet, seductive voice chimed in: "My Lord, the maid doesn't seem to be lying. Why don't we go and take a look?"

"The maid said she is just outside our door. It wouldn't take much effort to walk over. We can go and confirm it for ourselves, just to be sure."

Tan Yunge clenched her jaw. Who was this vixen? Did she really think Shen Xiao would listen to her?

Just as she was thinking this, she heard Shen Xiao’s voice again, though this time it was much gentler: "Very well, since my Yulan says we should go, we shall go."

Tan Yunge closed her eyes, wishing for a moment that Shen Xiao would not come out at all. Shen Xiao had clearly been drinking heavily; his steps were unsteady as he walked out with Lady Yulan in his arms.

"My Lord, my mistress is here! Please, come and see—she is in such pain she can’t even speak!"

"See?" Shen Xiao sneered, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. "I am not a physician. What am I supposed to see?"

As he spoke, the maid arrived with the doctor, panting and frantic. "My Lady! The doctor is here! The doctor is here!"

The physician rushed to Tan Yunge’s side. "My Lady, let me take your pulse."

Tan Yunge, her face deathly pale, extended her hand. But the moment the physician’s fingers brushed her skin, she nearly jumped. "Ah! It hurts, it hurts! Don't touch me! Don't touch me, it hurts!"

Shen Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Is this what you call being in so much pain you can't speak? She seems quite spirited to me; she still has the strength to shout."

The physician looked on, bewildered. After a moment of silence, he said, "But My Lady, if you do not allow me to take your pulse, there is no way for me to know what kind of illness you have."

Tan Yunge gritted her teeth, waiting for the pain to subside slightly before taking a deep breath. "You may only touch me with two fingers..."

"Very well."

Tan Yunge extended her hand again. When the physician’s fingers touched her, she couldn't help but shudder, forcing herself to stay still through sheer willpower.

"Hurry! Look and see what this illness is!" Tan Yunge’s teeth were chattering. "It must be that little wretch—that little wretch poisoned me."

The physician frowned. After checking her pulse, he looked at her cautiously. "My Lady, could you please describe your current symptoms?"

"Pain!" Tan Yunge snapped, her temper flaring. "My whole body feels like it’s being pricked by needles. Some places hurt more than others. Moving or walking makes it worse. Any time someone touches me, the pain intensifies at that spot." She glared at him. "You’re a doctor—can’t you tell what this is?"

The physician was silent for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh. "Forgive me, My Lady, but I truly do not know what this ailment is. Based on your pulse... everything appears perfectly normal."

Tan Yunge’s eyes widened. "Are you blind? I am in this much agony, and you tell me everything is normal?"

"Useless trash!"

Shen Xiao chuckled coldly from the side. "I told you, you’re just putting on an act."

"Every time I’m with another woman, you like to play these games. When have you ever been anything but fake?"

Tan Yunge was drenched in cold sweat, her rage boiling over. "I am not acting! I am not!"

"I am truly in pain! It was Tan Qingjiu—Tan Qingjiu poisoned me! She admitted it herself! She said the poison she used was undetectable, and that only she could cure it."

"Enough!" Shen Xiao’s expression darkened instantly. "Have you not caused enough trouble?"

"You pulled this stunt back at the Prince Duan’s manor. You claimed Tan Qingjiu poisoned you, but didn't the Prince’s manor invite the imperial physicians and every renowned doctor in the city to check your pulse?"

"Did they not all conclude that your pulse was normal and that you were not ill at all?"

"There is a limit to how unreasonable you can be."

"You say Tan Qingjiu poisoned you, that she claimed her poison was so potent no one could detect it. But don't forget, it has only been six years since Tan Qingjiu was thrown into the pond by your own family. Do you really believe that in six years, someone who knew nothing of medicine could transform into a peerless master physician?"

"Do you really think she could concoct a poison that even imperial physicians and every doctor in the city couldn't identify?"

Shen Xiao took a deep breath. "Look at yourself now. Do you know what people are saying about you? They call you vicious, narrow-minded, a scorpion in human skin."

"Tan Yunge, if you continue like this, I fear the Heir’s manor will no longer have a place for you."