Chapter 261: Choice

Meng Hui slammed onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, and a Meng Family servant hurried forward to help him up.

Chi Nan Yi couldn't help but click her tongue.

Mo Junyan struck, and it was indeed a bit ruthless.

She turned back and glanced at him; the murderous intent in his eyes was almost solidified.

So the earlier claim that they would wipe out the Meng Family was not an exaggeration.

"Southern First Divine Doctor... cough cough..." Meng Hui coughed a few times, a hint of a fishy‑sweet taste spilling from his mouth.

"The Southern First Divine Doctor tolerates subordinates hurting people; that's... cough cough... a bit too much."

"Too much?" Chi Nan Yi smiled faintly. "Everyone has their own rules; Prime Minister Meng broke my rule, so a little punishment is only natural."

Hearing her say that, Meng Hui trembled with anger, his chest heaving violently; he could not hold back, spitting a mouthful of fresh blood as his body fell backward.

At that moment, the matriarch arrived with a group of household servants.

Seeing the scene, the matriarch was startled and shouted, "Servants! Hurry and lift Prime Minister up! What are you all standing around doing here?"

Meng Hui had internal injuries and a sudden surge of anger, lying on the ground unable to rise; the matriarch lifted her eyes to the two before her, brow furrowed.

"Who might you be..."

"I am the East owner of the World's First Manor; I have met you before, Madam." Chi Nan Yi deliberately lowered her voice; with the dusk dim and a mask on, the matriarch did not recognize her.

"So you are the Southern First Young Master," the matriarch nodded. "I have heard your medical skill is outstanding; I am deeply impressed. The younger members of my household have been mischievous and incurred many injuries; please treat them."

The matriarch spoke earnestly; without knowing her profoundly reserved nature, anyone would think she were a very learned and sensible elderly lady.

"It's not that I refuse to treat the lady of your household; it's truly Prime Minister Meng who broke my rule," Chi Nan Yi said calmly. "Even Prince Li would require me to follow protocol before I could treat him; Prime Minister Meng seems to think too highly of himself."

Mo Junyan, standing behind her, saw the smile in his eyes flicker and vanish.

Chi Nan Yi took out a pill and handed it to a Meng Family servant: "Give Prime Minister this; he'll recover shortly."

As the servant reached for it, Chi Nan Yi laughed and said, "One pill costs three hundred taels."

Three hundred taels...

The matriarch was displeased but could say nothing, so she merely nodded.

Indeed, as she said, Meng Hui awoke shortly after swallowing the pill.

He looked at Chi Nan Yi and the guard behind her, his eyes a mix of shock and fear.

"The men under your command are reckless; they struck too hard. Prime Minister, please be lenient."

Meng Hui forced a smile, the corner of his mouth still stained with dried blood.

He wanted to be lenient, but how could he dare?

"How must the Divine Doctor act to agree to save someone?" Meng Hui rasped, his eyes lowered, hiding the crimson hue beneath.

"It's not that I refuse to save; the remaining elixir can only cure one. I'm exhausted today and initially didn't want to save anyone, but Prime Minister's sincere invitation made me make an exception for the Meng Family. Now that I'm here, Prime Minister says he wants to save another—are you deceiving me? Do you think, because this is your territory, that a foreign surname like mine can be bullied?"

"Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare..."

"I've been clear: I will save only one. Please decide quickly, Prime Minister; I have important matters to attend to. Also, don't forget your promise—everything the Meng Family possesses is to be handed over to me."

Meng Hui's complexion turned a pallid greenish‑white.

As a prime minister, when had he ever been forced into such a predicament?

Both the palm and back of his hand are flesh; giving up any would feel like cutting his own flesh.

Meng Qinghe's face must be healed, and Er Lang cannot become crippled; the Meng Family has two sons, they cannot both be maimed.

Er Lang's injury is fundamental; if not cured, future heirs are hopeless. Meng Jue is an unlearned second‑generation heir; he never intended to pass the Meng Family to him. Fortunately, Meng Xiuqi is ambitious, but now that area is injured, with heirs scarce, how could the Meng Family end up in his hands?

Meng Hui wrestled internally; the matriarch narrowed her eyes, clearly understanding his thoughts.

"Southern First Young Master."

Hearing her voice, Chi Nan Yi's lips twitched slightly. "Madam, what do you need?"

"What must I do for you to agree to save two people?"

"I've been clear: I cannot."

"I have three private properties on the outskirts of the city."

"I have no interest in your private holdings, Madam." Chi Nan Yi turned her head, still watching Meng Hui struggle.

She wanted to watch Meng Hui torn between his loved ones, suffering unbearably—that was his debt to her.

In his previous life, under the guise of kinship, he made the original host a stepping stone for Meng Qinghe, ensuring she suffered even at death; this life, he would let himself truly taste that agony.

The matriarch, seeing her unmoved, darkened her expression and tone: "Southern First Young Master, always leave a margin, so we may meet again later. The Meng Family has treated you with due respect, yet you show no mercy, pressing constantly—do you think our family is easy to bully? If the fish dies and the net breaks, it will not look good."

Chi Nan Yi scoffed, "Fish die and the net breaks? Madam, you overestimate yourself; you have no right to claim such a fate with me."

As soon as the words fell, Mo Junyan stepped forward, a chilling murderous aura enveloping the courtyard: "Are you threatening her?"

Meng Hui heard his voice and felt a vague pain throughout his body.

"Even the court must respect her three points; what are the Meng Family then?"

Mo Junyan ceased restraining his pressure; his cold eyes radiated a powerful aura, crushing everyone in the courtyard so they could barely breathe.

Meng Hui wiped the sweat from his forehead, wondering what sort of person this was.

Just a single guard—how could he possess such a formidable aura?

"I will give Prime Minister Meng one incense stick's worth of time; decide whom to save, Prime Minister, you choose."

At that moment, the Jiang Clan and Liu Yiniang arrived one after another.

The Jiang Clan shouted, "Sir, you cannot ignore Qinghe! She is your own flesh and blood; her face determines the rise and fall of the Meng Family!"

Liu Yiniang would not yield; she clutched Meng Hui's hand, tears streaming down her face. "Sir, Er Lang is our family's most promising child; you cannot... cannot abandon him, I beg you."

Seeing Meng Hui still hesitating, Liu Yiniang turned to Chi Nan Yi and knelt, "Divine Doctor, I know you have a way; please, save him, will you?"

Knowing Liu Yiniang was clever, Chi Nan Yi lowered her gaze, her eyes showing no warmth.

"Who to save is not my decision; the choice lies with Prime Minister Meng." Chi Nan Yi glanced at the time, smiling, "Prime Minister, time's up."

Meng Hui looked at the Jiang Clan, then at Liu Yiniang, and said in a low voice: "Qinghe, save Qinghe."

The Jiang Clan's face lit up: "Thank you, sir."

Liu Yiniang, as if struck by lightning, slumped to the ground, her eyes filled with despair.