Chapter 29: Rumors
“Sick?”
Hearing this, Madam of Dongyang pushed away the tea that Mama Huang handed her.
Xueliu lowered her head beside her and hummed in agreement, “The medicine was brewed before dawn, Madam, do you want…”
Madam of Dongyang’s expression shifted, cutting off Xueliu, “She asked you to call for a doctor?”
Xueliu hurriedly shook her head, “No, no, Madam Zhuang didn’t tell anyone, she only brewed some Chaihu Tang herself, perhaps she doesn’t dare…”
Her expression turned somewhat melancholy as she spoke.
“If you’re sick, you should see a doctor. Don’t delay it, illness can strike like a landslide, it’ll be worse if it’s too late. Back then, our Third Miss…”
Madam of Dongyang’s face changed for a moment, then she gritted her teeth, “What kind of intentions does she have, making people think I’m a wicked mother-in-law mistreating my daughter-in-law?”
Xueliu quickly said, “No one would dare say that about Madam, please be at ease. Everyone knows Madam’s character. There is gossip about her, saying that her health is poor, wondering if she has some kind of weakness…”
Hearing this, how could Madam of Dongyang be at ease? She almost stood up.
That’s right, this daughter-in-law was married by Zhou Jingyun himself, there wasn’t even a proper matchmaker, no way to inquire about her family background, she knew nothing about her.
This Zhuang Li was very frail.
And both her parents had passed away.
Could there be some hidden illness?
She couldn’t sit still any longer.
“She even dared to enter our family, how could she not dare to take medicine, instead having to do it secretly? Who is she putting on airs for!” Madam of Dongyang snapped, calling for Mama Huang, “Go to the Imperial Medical Academy and invite an imperial physician to examine Madam Zhuang. Tell her not to worry, our Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence is not the kind of place that mistreats daughters-in-law.”
Mama Huang glanced at Xueliu, wanting to say something but swallowed it and replied, “Yes.”
Madam of Dongyang thought of something else and asked Hongxing to bring out the Lord Marquis’ invitation card.
“Invite Imperial Physician Sun here,” she said.
That was the grand medical director who treated the nobles in the palace, even Madam and the Lord Marquis rarely invited him. To actually humble themselves for Madam Zhuang, Xueliu didn’t feel any jealousy at all, instead, she laughed triumphantly in her heart…
Madam was suspicious of Madam Zhuang’s health and wanted to find an imperial physician to thoroughly examine her.
This was truly embarrassing.
Since they were inviting the grand medical director, Mama Huang had to go personally and hurriedly took the invitation card with great care.
But she returned after half an hour, without bringing Imperial Physician Sun.
Madam of Dongyang’s face turned somewhat unpleasant, “What, our family can’t even invite him now?”
Mama Huang waved her hand, her expression a little grave.
“It seems something happened in the city, Imperial Physician Sun was invited away before dawn,” she said.
Madam of Dongyang immediately sat up, “What happened?”
✿✿✿
✿✿✿
“Madam Zhuang is sick?”
Concubine Mei asked softly outside, glancing inside.
Chunhong frowned, “Where did Concubine hear this from?”
Concubine Mei whispered, “Everyone’s talking about it…”
Chun Yue lifted the curtain from inside and walked out, interrupting her, “Madam Zhuang just didn’t sleep well last night.”
Concubine Mei acted relieved, “It’s just getting used to a new bed.” Although she said this, her eyes flickered as she continued to look inside.
It was all her fault for being impulsive and making the medicine. Who would have thought it would lead to such gossip, spreading so quickly? Chun Yue was about to immediately investigate when Zhuang Li stopped her and even asked her to invite Concubine Mei in.
Perhaps it was to let her see with her own eyes, to quell the rumors. Chun Yue suppressed her annoyance and said, “Concubine, please come in.”
Concubine Mei hurriedly replied, “Yes,” and followed Chun Yue inside. She sniffed first, there was no smell of medicine in the room, it was also fresh and without fragrance. Then she saw Zhuang Li sitting on a rocking chair, her eyes slightly closed, looking a bit listless and weak.
“Thank you for your concern, Concubine, I’m fine, just didn’t sleep well,” she said softly.
Concubine Mei relaxed and sat on a small stool, “It’s good that Madam Zhuang is fine. I heard Madam was going to invite an imperial physician, I was startled.”
Chun Yue was surprised, “Madam knows?” She immediately became nervous and subconsciously looked around, gritting her teeth in hatred, Xueliu!
“Why didn’t I see the imperial physician come?” Zhuang Li asked.
Her words were merely to inform Zhuang Li that someone had snitched to Madam, and Madam was angry. Why was Madam Zhuang actually asking about the imperial physician? Concubine Mei was stunned, did she really want to see an imperial physician?
As a daughter-in-law, having the mother-in-law send an imperial physician wasn’t a glorious thing.
“The imperial physician… the imperial physician seems to be busy.” Concubine Mei could only answer, her eyes lit up as she said this, “Madam Zhuang, something happened outside.”
Zhuang Li opened her eyes and asked, “What happened outside?”
“Do you remember the incident where Li Shilang bought a concubine, then lost her in gambling, and in the end, she jumped into the water unwillingly?” Concubine Mei said with relish.
To avoid trouble, she often went to her mother’s, especially this morning, her mother, who had just returned from shopping, told her a big piece of news.
Concubine Mei clapped her hands.
“That concubine turned into a water ghost and came back for revenge!”
Chun Yue, who was standing to the side, was startled.
✿✿✿
Water ghost? Revenge? Real or fake?
✿✿✿
✿✿✿
The sun was high in the sky, Imperial Physician Sun stood in the hall, yawning and stretching his back.
It was truly exhausting, it had been years since he had woken up so early. Having reached the position of medical director in the Imperial Medical Academy, why should he suffer like this?
He looked up and glanced around, the hall was extremely luxurious.
Alas, Li Chengyuan’s imperial favor was profound, even when his grandson had an issue, he had to be dragged out of the Imperial Medical Academy to diagnose and prescribe medicine.
Imperial Physician Sun was grumbling to himself when he heard rustling behind him. He turned to see his apprentice tiptoeing to the side of the wide bed.
Li Shilang was lying on the bed, eyes tightly shut, his face pale. If it weren’t for the rising and falling of his chest, he would look as if he were dead.
The apprentice didn’t bother with looking, smelling, asking, or feeling the pulse. Instead, he reached out and lifted the blanket to look at Li Shilang’s bare legs and feet.
Sure enough, he saw a circle of blue and purple around his left ankle.
“It really is the ghost hand—” he couldn’t help but exclaim.
Imperial Physician Sun slapped him from behind, “You fool, what nonsense are you talking about!”
Earlier, the room was crowded, full of imperial physicians, Li family members, men and women, a constant commotion.
The discussion about the illness went back and forth, the apprentice had forgotten most of it, only remembering some strange phrases clearly.
Li Shilang had fainted from drowning.
Li Shilang was actually a good swimmer.
And at the time, several servants who were equally good swimmers were with him.
But Li Shilang had drowned. Such a large man, after sinking into the water, four or five people couldn’t pull him up with all their might, as if he were tied to a heavy stone.
Finally, they pulled him up, but too much time had passed, he was unconscious and wouldn’t wake.
“…It was a water ghost, holding onto Li Shilang…” The apprentice had been itching to see it, and now he finally had. He grabbed Imperial Physician Sun’s sleeve and whispered, “It’s not nonsense, Master, look…”
Imperial Physician Sun scolded in a low voice, “That’s from being entangled and strangled by waterweeds, reins, and other debris. What’s so strange about that? There are plenty of people who drown like this, don’t embarrass yourself by saying s*upid things!” He kicked his apprentice, “Get out and brew the medicine.”
The apprentice covered his backside and walked out, muttering, “Even after brewing so much medicine, not much can be poured in.”
Just as he reached the door, he suddenly jumped back as if he had seen a ghost, hiding behind Imperial Physician Sun.
“Grand General Li is here,” the apprentice whispered.
As he spoke, several people entered the room, the man at the front was extremely tall, blocking the sunlight and dimming the room.
Imperial Physician Sun looked at the man in the purple robe and bowed, “Grand General.”
Grand General Li Chengyuan was sixty years old this year, with a reddish-black complexion and sharp features. He had a neatly trimmed beard, and although wrinkles covered his aged face, his imposing aura remained.
He went straight to Li Shilang in the inner room, leaned down, and called out a few times. Li Shilang didn’t respond. He checked his breathing and pulse again, then turned around with anger on his face.
“Imperial Physician Sun, how is my grandson’s condition?” he asked.
Imperial Physician Sun replied, “His life is not in danger…”
Li Chengyuan interrupted him, “I’m asking when he will wake up?”
Imperial Physician Sun’s expression faltered slightly.
“He hasn’t taken today’s medicine yet,” he said, “We’ll see after he takes it…”
Li Chengyuan interrupted again, “Don’t give me these evasive words about today or tomorrow. Just tell me directly, will my grandson wake up?”
Hearing him say this, Imperial Physician Sun sighed and said, “General, perhaps soon, perhaps in ten or eight years. He was suffocated for too long, it injured his brain. And even if he wakes up, it’s uncertain whether his mental faculties will be fully restored…”
Li Chengyuan’s chest heaved for a moment, “Then my grandson is as good as dead even if he’s alive.” With that, he slammed his hand down on the table beside him.
The rosewood table instantly cracked and fell to the ground.
The apprentice, hiding behind Imperial Physician Sun, trembled in fear.
Li Chengyuan was the fierce man who dared to k*ll Empress Jiang with a single slash in front of the late Emperor.
Wouldn’t he k*ll them too?
However, Li Chengyuan didn’t say anything more. After breaking the table, he strode out.
“Bring me all those on the pleasure boat who harmed my grandson! I don’t care if they’re from the W*ng clan or the Shangguan clan, they all must pay for my grandson’s life!”
Imperial Physician Sun stood in the room, watching him leave. His apprentice peeked out from behind him and said with trepidation, “Master, is the capital going to be bathed in blood?”
Imperial Physician Sun chuckled, “They’re all scions of prestigious families and powerful clans, not lowly slaves or concubines you can buy and play with at will. How can they be beaten and killed so easily?”
I’m saying that Jiao Niang’s style is slow-paced, so everyone should save up chapters according to their preference.
