{"id":3370,"date":"2026-05-15T04:47:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T04:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/peach-blossom-overturning-the-country-the-princesss-gambit-15\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T04:47:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T04:47:44","slug":"peach-blossom-overturning-the-country-the-princesss-gambit-15","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/chapter\/peach-blossom-overturning-the-country-the-princesss-gambit-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Peach Blossom Overturning the Country (The Princess\u2018s Gambit) 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 15: A Terrifying Woman


Tao Hua was a bit nervous, feeling as if the atmosphere around them had suddenly turned ambiguous. However, Shen Zaiye seemed completely oblivious. His face, which had been slightly annoyed, had returned to its calm state, making it even harder to guess what was on his mind.

\u201cDoes Your Highness intend to hold me accountable?\u201d

After bandaging the wound, Shen Zaoye spoke calmly to Prince Nan.

Mu Wuxia stood straight-backed, his tone peculiar as he said, \u201cThis prince has no right to accuse you of a crime; perhaps what you did was right.\u201d

\u201cBut I have the right to choose which path I should take.\u201d

Hearing the first part, Shen Zaoye had felt somewhat relieved, but the latter part nearly made him choke with anger: \u201cYour Highness!\u201d

\u201cI have always maintained that there are many ways to move forward in this world. Some choose to ride in carriages, while others prefer to walk. It is unreasonable to assume that those who walk are necessarily wrong.\u201d

With unwavering resolve, Mu Wuxia stated, \u201cI have said before, I am not foolish enough to insist on walking only the path you have paved for me.\u201d

Was it truly unwise for someone who chose not to take the well-paved road and instead waded through mud to get themselves covered in grime? Peach Blossom felt doubtful. However, having lost a great deal of blood and having pushed herself for so long, she was already at her limit. For reasons unknown, the two people before her had veered off-topic, and she could hardly hold on any longer.

\u201cI am rather tired,\u201d Jiang Taohua said with firm determination, addressing Mu Wuxia just before losing consciousness. \u201cI beg of you, Your Highness, do not allow the Prime Minister to take me away before I regain consciousness. It would cost me my life!\u201d

After speaking, she immediately fainted.

Shen Zaiye\u2019s face darkened as he held her, the scorching temperature seeping through her clothes, making him both annoyed and amused.

She had already lost half her life, yet she could still say such things\u2014truly pushing herself to the limit!

Mu Wuxia nodded seriously. Even listening to Taohua\u2019s voice, he could sense how extremely weak she was. So he said, \u201cIf you want to talk, go to the study. Let the healer in to take a look at Lady Jiang. If she really dies here at the Southern Prince\u2019s estate, it won\u2019t be easy to explain to others.\u201d

\u201cAlright.\u201d Shen Zaiye nodded, placed Taohua back on the bed, stood up, and followed him out.

The medical maid outside the room had been waiting for a long time. Seeing that someone had finally left, Moss quickly brought her inside.

\u201cMaster?\u201d

The person on the bed was already unconscious. Moss\u2019s eyes turned red as she whispered to the medical maid, \u201cThe wound didn\u2019t reach the organs, only skin and flesh, but it is still extremely deep and needs stitching.\u201d

The medical maid nodded, opened the medicine chest, and took out some anesthetic powder. Just as she was about to pour hot water, she heard the maidservant before her say, \u201cDo not use any pain-relieving medicine.\u201d

Slightly taken aback, the medical maid frowned and said, \u201cSuturing a wound is excruciatingly painful. I\u2019m afraid this lady won\u2019t be able to bear it. How can it be done without painkillers?\u201d

Gritting her teeth, Qing Tai replied, \u201cI know suturing is extremely painful, but our lady has always refused any kind of painkiller.\u201d

Back when she broke her leg in the State of Zhao, even when setting the bone was so painful, Jiang Taohua insisted on not using any anesthetic. What were her exact words at the time?

\u201cPainkillers like Mafeisan harm the brain. Unless the pain is enough to kill me, don\u2019t use them! If my brain stops working, your lady here will die even faster!\u201d

Earlier she had thought it absurd, planning to forcibly use it when the master was in extreme pain. But who knew that from the start of setting the bone to the end, Jiang Taohua gritted her teeth without a single cry, giving no opportunity at all.

What could be done about her?

The medical woman gave Moss a peculiar look, pondered for a moment, then set aside the mafeisan anesthesia, opting instead to take catgut and heat the needle in preparation.

The unconscious peach blossom appears quite uneasy, likely because the situation she\u2019s in is not safe enough; her brow remains tightly furrowed.

The medical attendant had worried this person might wake when the stitching began, yet as the needle pierced the flesh, her brow relaxed a little. Still, cold sweat broke out in layers, and her hand clenched tightly.

\u201cThis\u2026\u201d The medic\u2019s own forehead was beaded with sweat as she glanced back at Moss. \u201cMy skills are still rather unrefined; perhaps we should send for another physician from the palace?\u201d

Moss scowled. \u201cShe\u2019s in this condition\u2014how do we have time to call for anyone else? Can\u2019t you even suture a wound?\u201d

\u201c\u2026I can, I can.\u201d But her hands were trembling!

The physician\u2019s assistant was on the verge of tears. After stitching the first needle, she could feel the patient\u2019s skin and muscles tensing beneath her hands. Glancing up at the woman\u2019s increasingly pale face, her heart began to drum with unease.

These delicate young ladies from boudoirs are usually so tender-skinned and easily hurt, shedding tears over a mere cold\u2014I\u2019ve never seen one get stitches without anesthetic!

She didn\u2019t utter a sound or cry out in pain, yet she was hurting all over!

Unable to calm her mind, the medical maid, seeing that the wound needed at least dozens of stitches, couldn\u2019t stay seated: \u201cMiss, this servant truly isn\u2019t suitable. I\u2019d better go and apologize to the prince. Quickly, find a more experienced medical maid to come!\u201d

With that, before Qing Tai could refuse, she knelt down and kowtowed three times!

Qingtai was furious, \u201cWhat does this mean? The needle has been inserted, yet you can\u2019t finish suturing it in one go?\u201d

The medical maid cried more miserably than Taohua on the bed, her face pale as death, her body trembling like a little chick. Without another word, she stood up and ran outside.

\u201cStop right there!\u201d Reaching out to grab her but missing her quick movement, Qingtai hastily covered Taohua with the blanket and chased after her.

Because the master of Nanwang Mansion was merciful, the servants were all quite bold. This medical maid didn\u2019t run anywhere else but directly toward the side study of the Prince of Nan.

\u201cYour Highness!\u201d

Mu Wuxia and Shen Zaixian were at a standstill when they were suddenly startled by this call. Mu Wuxia frowned and opened the door, asking, \u201cWhat is it?\u201d

The medical maid was kneeling in the courtyard, covered in sweat, and said with a tearful voice, \u201cI cannot suture the lady\u2019s wound. Please, Your Highness, quickly send someone to the palace to fetch an experienced medical maid before the palace gates are locked!\u201d

Shen Zaixian also stepped to the doorway, glancing at the medical maid and remarking, \u201cIf you can\u2019t even suture a small wound, does that mean the title of \u2018medical maid\u2019 is just something your prince bestows at will?\u201d

\u201cYou see, Prime Minister, the issue is not that I cannot perform the suture,\u201d the female physician hurriedly explained. \u201cIt is simply that\u2026 that lady\u2019s injury is severe, and she refuses to use anesthesia, so I dare not proceed recklessly.\u201d

Nowadays in these noble mansions, the trendiest phrase is, \u201cIf you can\u2019t cure so-and-so, you\u2019ll all be buried with them!\u201d But she\u2019s just a little medicine girl! She doesn\u2019t want to die that early! The situation in the room clearly didn\u2019t look good\u2014she isn\u2019t foolish, so why would she really wait around to pay with her life?

\u201cWhat do you mean she refused to use anaesthetic?\u201d Mu Wuxia frowned. \u201cIs she awake?\u201d

\u201cNo.\u201d Qingtai stood behind, lowering her head as she replied, \u201cMy mistress has always insisted before that she wouldn\u2019t take painkillers.\u201d

\u201cRidiculous!\u201d Shen Zaiye snorted coldly. \u201cShe isn\u2019t even conscious, yet you still follow her orders?\u201d

With that, he flicked his robe and strode out.

Mu Wuxia quickly followed, thinking to herself that Qingtai must have gone mad; why bother with so many orders when she wasn\u2019t even clear-headed? Surely her master\u2019s life was the most important thing.

However, upon returning to the main room and seeing the situation, he realized he had misjudged Qingtai.

Shen Zaive was holding a bowl of anesthetic, trying to pour it into Jiang Taohua\u2019s mouth, but her teeth were clenched so tightly that he couldn\u2019t pry them open no matter how hard he tried.

For a moment, Mu Wuxia thought Taohua might be awake, otherwise she wouldn\u2019t be so guarded all over while unconscious.

But when he lifted her eyelids to check, she was indeed in a coma and not conscious.

\u201cHow could this be?\u201d Shen Zaiju frowned and turned to Qingtai, \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with your master?\u201d

Qingtai shook her head helplessly, \u201cIt\u2019s been like this for a long time. When she\u2019s asleep or unconscious, no one can get her to relax her jaw. Even if you force it open to pour something in, even if it\u2019s just water, she\u2019ll spit it out.\u201d

She has only been by her master\u2019s side for two years, and what happened before, she truly doesn\u2019t know.

Shen Zaiji pressed his lips together, casting several glances at Taohua with a look of impatience. \u201cIf she won\u2019t take the medicine, then so be it. She brought this pain on herself. But the injury still counts as mine, and it wouldn\u2019t be good for her to bleed to death. Bring the needle for stitching the wound.\u201d

The medical maid was taken aback, cautiously pointing at Taohua\u2019s body.

Mu Wuxia was shocked, turning to glare at her. \u201cYou started stitching and then ran away halfway through?\u201d

\u201cYour Highness, please calm your anger!\u201d The medical maid trembled as she knelt down. \u201cI truly didn\u2019t have the courage to finish stitching\u2026\u201d

\u201cForget it, everyone leave. Your Highness, please wait for me in the study.\u201d Shen Zaiye frowned and waved his hand: \u201cOnly Qingtai needs to stay and help.\u201d

Mu Wuxia looked at him with some distrust: \u201cYou\u2019re going to stitch it?\u201d

\u201cStitching isn\u2019t difficult.\u201d Shen Zaiye said: \u201cShe herself isn\u2019t afraid of pain, so why should I worry about hurting her? If we delay any further and lose this life in vain, wouldn\u2019t you be even more determined to fight me to the death?\u201d

Pursing his lips, Mu Wuxia nodded and promptly led the female physician out.

A strange look flashed in Qing Tai\u2019s eyes as she stared at Shen Zaiye, momentarily unsure of what he meant.

\u201cWhat are you standing there for?\u201d

After lifting the blanket to take a look at the disastrous state of Jiang Taohua\u2019s wounds, Shen Zaiye was seething with anger. He turned his head and barked at Qing Tai, \u201cGo prepare hot water and cloths. With your master covered in this much blood, it\u2019s impossible to see the wounds clearly.\u201d

\u201c\u2026Yes.\u201d Qing Tai agreed verbally, but she didn\u2019t actually move. She was terrified that if she turned her back even for a moment, he might slap her master to death.

\u201cDo you think I\u2019ll harm her?\u201d Seeing the expression on this maidservant\u2019s face, Shen Zaiye was so angered that he laughed, squeezing Taohua\u2019s shoulder as he said, \u201cThis woman is shrewd enough to have secured her own talisman of protection long ago. I cannot touch her, so you may go without worry!\u201d

A talisman of protection? The Southern Prince? Qingtai froze for a moment, nodding blankly before walking away.

Her mistress had indeed said that as long as the Southern Prince promised to protect her, they would not die at Shen Zaiye\u2019s hands. Yet, up until now, she still could not grasp the current situation clearly.

Why, with the Southern Prince\u2019s shelter, would Minister Shen truly refrain from moving against them?

Unable to understand, Qingtai shook her head and hurried off to fetch hot water.

Looking at the half-bed covered in blood, Shen Zaiye truly didn\u2019t know what to say. In his twenty-five years of life, he had never encountered such a terrifying woman. If one were to say she wanted to live, this was clearly a life-threatening act. But if one were to say she didn\u2019t care for her life, she had gone to such great lengths to escape from him in order to preserve it.

What exactly was she thinking? Even a man would be in agony from such a wound, yet she refused to use anesthesia? No matter how fearless one is of pain, there has to be a limit, doesn\u2019t there?

Feeling a wave of irritation, Shen Zaiye reached out, picked up the dangling needle, aligned it with the wound, and began stitching without mercy.

\u201cHmm.\u201d

Perhaps he used too much force, Jiang Taohua groaned in pain, her eyes closed as a stream of tears flowed down, soaking half of his shoulder.<\/p>","protected":false},"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"novel":[],"class_list":["post-3370","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3370"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3370\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3371,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/3370\/revisions\/3371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3370"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"novel","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/velvetink.xyz\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/novel?post=3370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}