Wen Zhao was dead.
His shoes and socks had fallen off, his feet exposed. Even the most timid guests could see the purplish discoloration at the ends of his limbs.
The physician Qian had already declared—there was no pulse, no breathing.
"Has she gone mad?"
"My heavens… what is she doing? This is terrifying…"
Nearby, Zheng Yutan stood wrapped in an outer robe that Third Young Master Zheng Hao had brought her, watching the scene quietly with a faint sneer on her lips. Zheng Hao looked on with disdain as well.
Only Zheng Chi and Zheng Run knew—she was trying to save him.
Can she really bring the dead back to life?
He's truly dead this time… can she still revive him?
Others had different thoughts—some admired her devotion, some were shocked by her boldness, others scorned her stubbornness.
At last, Wen Jin gathered her courage and stepped forward. When she touched her brother's cold arm and shoulder, she broke into sobs and tried to pull Zheng Qian away.
"Sister-in-law… let it go!"
That single "sister-in-law" made many people's hearts ache.
Madam Wen collapsed forward, crawling to her son. Feeling the lifelessness of his body, she burst into anguished tears once more.
Seeing Zheng Qian still pressing and breathing for him, Madam Wen was deeply moved.
"Qian'er, I'll take you as my goddaughter—we, the Wen family, accept you! Let him go… let him go…"
Zheng Qian: "…"
What nonsense is this?!
As Madam Wen and Wen Jin tried to pull her away, Zheng Qian shook them off.
"Stop it—I'm saving him!"
Physician Qian also spoke sorrowfully from the side:
"Miss, he's been dead too long. There's no saving him—not even divine beings could help…"
Xiao Mingyu (the Prince of Ancheng) watched quietly, his brows slightly furrowed.
Truthfully, he didn't understand what Zheng Qian was doing.
From what little he knew, she was not the type to lose herself in grief over a corpse. She was cold and rational—nothing like a mad fiancée kissing a dead man.
So what was she doing?
Wen Zhao was dead. Even the physician had confirmed it. He showed no signs of life.
Xiao Mingyu scanned the crowd.
There were about fifty people present. Once word spread of Zheng Qian's "madness," her reputation would be ruined. Marriage prospects would become nearly impossible.
She was not especially beautiful. Her family was poor. Their reputation was already shaky.
He wanted to pull her away.
But Xiao Mingyu was, at his core, a calculating businessman—he would not act without benefit, especially if it risked gossip.
Zheng Qian wasn't worth that to him.
They owed each other nothing anymore.
Meanwhile, Zheng Qian continued compressions and rescue breathing, secretly administering a second dose of cardiac stimulant.
Madam Wen collapsed, supported by maids. Wen Jin sat nearby, weeping endlessly.
Time seemed both slow and fast.
Zheng Qian's arms ached terribly. Her lips were numb. Sweat drenched her body, dripping onto Wen Zhao's face.
Was it devotion—or madness? That depended on how others judged her.
From the crowd, Zheng Yutan spoke mournfully:
"My elder sister has gone mad."
Many began to believe it.
Even Zheng Chi and Zheng Run could no longer be certain.
Xiao Mingyu watched with deepening confusion. She clearly wanted to break off the engagement—why act with such desperation?
Seeing her nearly collapse from exhaustion, Zheng Chi finally stepped forward.
Kneeling was difficult with his prosthetic leg, but he forced himself down and reached for her.
"Qian'er…"
"Don't interfere!" she snapped sharply.
His hand froze midair.
She pressed down again, counting silently.
Seven to eight minutes of CPR. Two stimulant injections.
If he didn't wake now—he was truly gone.
She had done all she could.
She was exhausted.
With one final compression—
Wen Zhao's body suddenly jerked.
He coughed violently, choking out water, then began to breathe.
He was alive.
The entire scene fell into stunned silence.
Only his ragged breathing and coughing could be heard.
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
Xiao Mingyu felt something strike his heart as he turned sharply toward Zheng Qian.
Zheng Chi narrowed his eyes—both expecting it and not.
Zheng Hao and Zheng Yutan looked as though they had seen a ghost.
Madam Wen and Wen Jin stared blankly, their minds unable to process what they were seeing.
Physician Qian suddenly collapsed to his knees, kowtowing frantically.
"A miracle! A divine being—no, a divine physician! You… you must be a disciple of the Ghost Doctor—you can bring the dead back to life!"
His voice rang sharply, breaking the silence.
"He's really alive!"
"He had no breath before!"
"How is this possible?!"
Madam Wen rushed forward and embraced her son.
"My child—!"
Zheng Qian quickly pulled her back.
"No—don't! Let him breathe! Don't crowd him!"
Madam Wen immediately released him.
Zheng Qian was utterly exhausted. Even in her training, she had only performed such intense resuscitation on mannequins—never like this in real life.
Combined with her weak body, she tried to stand—but staggered.
Zheng Chi caught her steadily.
Her younger brother rushed over as well, supporting both her and Zheng Chi.
She nodded to him.
The scene descended into chaos again.
Physician Qian still knelt, calling her a divine healer.
Zheng Qian had no strength to respond. She needed rest.
Someone brave stepped forward and touched Wen Zhao—his body was warm again.
Before their eyes, someone who had drowned and died… had come back to life.
Unbelievable.
Zheng Qian was helped to sit on a cushion. Zheng Chi draped his outer robe over her.
"Bring me some tea," she said.
Zheng Run immediately went.
Soon, he returned with hot tea. She sipped it slowly.
Many people glanced at her, wanting to approach but hesitating. Zheng Chi and Zheng Run stood guard, keeping others away.
After she recovered a bit, Zheng Chi said,
"Let's go home."
Her clothes were soaked with sweat, now chilled by the river breeze. Even with the robe, she felt cold.
She needed to bathe and change—or she would fall ill.
"Alright," she said.
Zheng Chi lifted her into his arms.
She blinked, then smiled faintly.
"Are you sure you can manage?"
He didn't answer.
Zheng Run hurried alongside.
"Big brother, let me carry her—your leg—"
Still no response. Zheng Chi strode toward the carriage.
Zheng Qian told Zheng Run,
"Go tell that physician to prescribe lung-clearing medicine for Wen Zhao. And for the others who swallowed water—keep them warm, watch for pneumonia."
Zheng Run nodded and ran off.