CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 383: PRESCRIPTION

The maid was speaking the truth without looking evasive.

However, the Duke’s brows furrowed tightly.

The maid was arranged by him to take care of the Old Duke, but now she has broken her leg to save his sister-in-law?

He recalled what the maid reported to him not long ago—

The sister-in-law was secretly feeding the Old Duke medicine, and the medicine was very effective.

The Duke waved his hand, "You may withdraw."

The maid hurriedly carried the copper basin and left.

The Old Duke Chong lay in bed, unable to move.

But his gaze at the Duke was cold enough to freeze a person.

The Duke carefully observed the Old Duke’s complexion; it indeed seemed a bit better than before.

Moreover, while observing, the Duke, with sharp eyes, noticed a drop of blood on the ground.

He sat by the bedside, holding the Old Duke’s hand as usual.

As a son facing his gravely ill father, this action was nothing out of the ordinary.

However, the Duke only wanted to take this opportunity to look at the Old Duke’s fingertips.

There was a small red mark on the Old Duke’s middle finger, clearly a needle prick.

The red mark had not yet faded, indicating it was done recently.

Someone had let the Old Duke’s blood.

The Duke’s eyes grew cold.

Upon hearing familiar footsteps approaching, the Duke released the Old Duke’s hand and discreetly wiped away the drop of blood on the floor with his foot.

Outside, the Duchess of Chong walked in and said, "Why has the Duke come?"

"I came to see my father," the Duke replied.

"I haven’t visited father in days; he seems much more spirited than when I last saw him?"

The Duchess of Chong stepped forward and said, "I see the Old Duke every day and haven’t noticed his complexion improving. Perhaps it’s because the Duke hasn’t seen the Old Duke in a while."

"With father gravely ill, it’s against filial duty for a son not to attend to him daily at his sickbed. I shall take father back to the mansion," the Duke said.

The Duchess of Chong naturally could not let him take the Old Duke away.

"It’s hard to be both loyal and filial. The Duke holds a high position and should prioritize court affairs. The Old Duke is in my care; what concern does the Duke have?" said the Duchess of Chong.

It’s not concern, it’s too much confidence.

Initially, to take back Duke Chong’s Mansion, he used the Old Duke as a pretext. Now that the Emperor has also sent people to protect the Old Duke, taking him back is easier said than done.

The Duke looked at the Old Duke and asked, "Which doctor has father seen recently? Has the medication been changed?"

"Doctors in the Capital have all been consulted, yet none can cure the Old Duke. Even the doctor specially brought by the Marquis Jibei was helpless. The Duke should quickly find the person poisoning the Old Duke and obtain the antidote. If this drags on, I fear..."

She choked and couldn’t continue.

The cold light in the Duke’s eyes gradually surfaced.

"Show me the prescription that father is taking," the Duke said.

The Duchess of Chong had a maid fetch the prescription.

The Duke had seen this prescription before; it had no effect.

For the Old Duke’s illness, detoxification was secondary; the fundamental balance was essential. Being bedridden, unable to move, has significantly damaged his internal organs. Without proper treatment, even if the poison is removed, he likely won’t live long.

That’s why the doctors’ prescriptions were mostly for bodily conditioning, which is not achieved in a short period; thus, it seemed ineffective.

The Duchess of Chong had not answered the previous question, and the Duke pursued it relentlessly, ultimately learning the Old Duke had seen a doctor a few days ago.

The maid had broken her leg and called a doctor to the mansion, who coincidentally also took a pulse for the Old Duke.

The Duchess of Chong did not know that the Duke had discovered the red mark on the Old Duke’s fingertip; she instinctively chose to conceal it.

But the more one conceals, the more it raises suspicions. Treating the Old Duke’s illness is not a shameful act, so why not let him know?!

For other matters, he could be a bit careless, but regarding the Old Duke, he had to be cautious.

After staying in the room for half a cup of tea’s time, the Duke withdrew.

Once outside the door, a man looked at the Duke and said, "Chunxiang has broken her leg and can no longer attend to the Old Duke. Should we send another maid?"

"Even if we send ten more, they’ll all end up with broken legs," the Duke’s voice was cold as frost.

"Find out which doctor was called to treat Chunxiang."

"Subordinate has already inquired; it was Doctor Li who treated Chunxiang," the man said.

"Which Doctor Li?" the Duke asked.

"Doctor Li from Li’s Pharmacy on Changping Street, who was also called into the mansion to treat the Old Duke," the man replied.

In the entire Capital, there isn’t a doctor better than the Imperial Physicians in the palace.

Doctor Li’s medical skills couldn’t possibly detoxify the Old Duke.

When the Old Duke was initially poisoned upon returning to the Capital, Duke Chong’s Mansion offered a reward of three thousand taels of gold to invite renowned doctors from all over to detoxify the Old Duke. Any doctor with some skill had entered Duke Chong’s Mansion.

With such a generous reward, Doctor Li couldn’t detoxify the Old Duke back then, let alone now?

Although that bounty’s notice has been removed, it remains effective.

The Duchess couldn’t possibly have spent thirty thousand taels of silver out of her own pocket to pay for the consultation fee, could she?

Hearing this, the Duke also suspected he might be overly tense, like a bow drawn at an imaginary snake.

But there is a saying that caution preserves life.

"Keep a close watch on anyone entering or leaving Duke Chong’s Mansion."

"After returning, remind Madam and our daughter to spend more time with the Old Duke," the Duke said.

While the Duke was riding past the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, Xie Jingchen and Su Jin came out.

Mrs. Tang saw off Su Jin, who said, "Mother, don’t worry. Yangyang is naturally clever, and with Eunuch Fu’s care in the palace, he’ll be all right."

Mrs. Tang forced a smile, but her heart hadn’t been at ease.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor was drinking tea.

Eunuch Fu walked in briskly.

The Emperor looked at him and said, "Have you found out who sent the Marquis Dongxiang’s son into the palace?"

Eunuch Fu shook his head, looking grave.

"I sent people to inquire at the Cleansing Room. Those two little eunuchs took leave from the palace two days ago and haven’t returned," Eunuch Fu said.

"Searching their lodgings, we found the money gone. They must have fled."

Recognizing the Emperor’s Jade Pendant, knowing Young Master Su’s identity, and sending him to the Ninth Prince’s residence clearly showed they feared those who sent Young Master Su into the palace, hence their escape.

Escaping from the palace isn’t easy, but those two eunuchs worked in the Cleansing Room, making it much easier to leave the palace.

"Emperor, should we send someone to capture them?" Eunuch Fu asked.

"Dispatch someone to secretly search; otherwise, they might silence them," the Emperor instructed.

...

Watching Su Jin’s carriage drive away, Mrs. Tang’s gaze lingered.

She still thought of Su Jin bandaging Uncle Li’s wound.

Clearly the same face, yet somehow unfamiliar.

The daughter lost her memory but gained medical skills, is that possible?

She asked Xingxing, but Xingxing didn’t know either, only said the girl suddenly learned medical skills.

After taking a fall at the doorstep, she acquired them.

Can anyone really fall and gain medical skills?

Yet it wasn’t an impersonation, as no one could so precisely replicate the subtle wounds on the fingertips.

Mrs. Tang was puzzled, as the servant came up and said, "Madam, Uncle Li has woken up."