CHAPTER 463: CHAPTER 411 FATHER AND SON

After Lu Yuan asked this question, he didn’t give Lu Zhaoyan a chance to respond before his vision went black, and he collapsed toward Lu Zhaoyan.

The Imperial Guard stationed at the main entrance twitched his ears, pushed open the door in a single motion, and raised his palm to strike Lu Yuan.

Clearly, he mistook Lu Yuan’s sudden collapse as an attack on the Crown Prince.

"Do not harm him!"

Lu Zhaoyan commanded.

The Imperial Guard twisted his wrist, pressing the back of his hand against Lu Yuan’s chest, redirecting most of his strength back into his own body.

Simultaneously, he extended his other hand to catch the falling Lu Yuan.

Gazing at Lu Yuan with a complex expression, Lu Zhaoyan asked, "What happened to him?"

The Imperial Guard checked Lu Yuan’s breath, listened to his heartbeat, and examined his bones before replying, "He isn’t hurt. It seems like he just fainted."

Lu Zhaoyan pressed further, "Could he have been poisoned?"

The Imperial Guard examined Lu Yuan’s fingernails, "It doesn’t look like it, but I am not well-versed in medicine or poisons. I cannot rule it out entirely."

"Your Highness! Your Highness! What happened?"

Steward Jia rushed over after witnessing the Imperial Guard burst into the room, only to find Lu Yuan collapsed in the guard’s arms.

Bewildered, he asked, "This is..."

Did His Highness order the killing of this boy?

Good. Serve him right.

Lu Zhaoyan gave a calm command, "Summon the household physician."

"Eh, I’ll just throw this person out—huh?" Steward Jia suddenly froze mid-sentence, staring at Lu Zhaoyan in shock, "Summon... summon the household physician? Your Highness, are you injured?"

Lu Zhaoyan’s commanding aura silenced him, "Steward Jia, you’re speaking too much today."

Steward Jia’s face turned pale, "I’ve misspoken! I’ll go summon the physician immediately!"

It was strange—having served the Crown Prince for years, he had never seen His Highness lose his temper at anyone. Even when the servants acted with apparent defiance, His Highness would pass over it lightly without much fuss.

Yet, despite his mild temperament, the Crown Prince always exuded a sort of unspoken authority.

Steward Jia hurriedly left.

Lu Zhaoyan instructed the Imperial Guard to place Lu Yuan on the rattan chair he usually used for naps.

"Stand guard outside."

"Understood."

The Imperial Guard exited the study.

When Steward Jia returned with the household physician, the Imperial Guard raised a hand to stop him, "His Highness has only summoned the physician."

Steward Jia shot him a glare but begrudgingly retreated down the steps.

The household physician entered the study and first bowed to Lu Zhaoyan, "Your Highness."

Lu Zhaoyan gestured toward Lu Yuan with his eyes.

The physician understood, set down his medical kit, and stepped forward to feel Lu Yuan’s pulse.

After checking the pulse, the physician furrowed his brow and turned to report to Lu Zhaoyan, "Your Highness, I’ll need to loosen this young man’s clothing for a more thorough examination."

Lu Zhaoyan nodded.

The physician undid Lu Yuan’s garments to check for external injuries or signs of hidden poisoning.

The physician didn’t recognize Lu Yuan, but considering he was in the Crown Prince’s study and even lying in the chair the Crown Prince used for rest, his identity must be anything but ordinary.

After conducting a meticulous examination that lasted over fifteen minutes, the physician wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

It was evident that he had exerted considerable effort.

"Well?"

Lu Zhaoyan inquired.

The physician clasped his hands and replied, slightly out of breath, "Your Highness, this young man isn’t in any serious condition; he appears to have fainted due to overexertion."

"You’re saying he collapsed before me solely because of exhaustion?"

"Well... though it may sound exaggerated, that is indeed the case. His pulse bears no indications of internal injuries, poisoning, or any acute illness. However..."

"Speak freely."

"This young man bears several old wounds on his body. His hand bones appear to have been fractured before."

The household physician, a seasoned veteran whose skills rivaled those of the Imperial Physicians, could discern even the faintest signs of bone calluses while palpating Lu Yuan’s skeleton.

Generally, calluses only form at sites of fractures and fade as healing progresses.

The calluses on this young man, however, were so persistent that only an extremely experienced physician like himself could detect them.

It so happened that the physician had spent years in military service, making him adept at treating external injuries.

"From my observations, this young man’s hand bones were broken... and more than once."

Repeated fractures, followed by repeated healing, even with subtle permanent misalignments—this was how the indelible calluses were formed.

Such cases were exceedingly rare.

Lu Zhaoyan’s gaze lingered on Lu Yuan’s face, laden with complexity.

Looking at his carefree and spirited demeanor, who would ever suspect that he had suffered such tribulations before?

Broken repeatedly—were these accidents, or intentional acts of cruelty?

"When were the fractures sustained?"

Lu Zhaoyan asked.

After some hesitation, the physician replied, "This... forgive my inadequate skills, Your Highness, but I cannot provide an accurate estimate. Based on my years of experience, however, the injuries likely occurred when this young man was very young."

Very young...? Lu Zhaoyan’s brows knitted together.

No matter who this person was, to face such repeated agony of broken bones at a young age—

"Additionally."

The physician hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to share what he had deduced, as the Crown Prince’s expression seemed somewhat grim.

Lu Zhaoyan gestured for him to continue.

The physician handed a medicine bottle retrieved from Lu Yuan’s belongings to Lu Zhaoyan, "If I am not mistaken, this contains Nine Flame Pills. These pills originated from Witch Mountain and are traditionally used to treat frostbite."

"He has frostbite?"

Lu Zhaoyan glanced at the sunlight streaming through the window, "It’s already March."

The physician explained, "This isn’t ordinary Nine Flame Pill but a variant infused with Red Ganoderma, specifically formulated to treat cold syndrome."

"So, you’re saying he has cold syndrome?"

Lu Zhaoyan’s frown deepened.

Not only was his body riddled with injuries, but he also suffered from cold syndrome. What kind of life had this boy lived to grow up like this?

The physician added, "However, due to his use of the Nine Flame Pill, his cold syndrome has nearly been cured."

"Nearly cured," Lu Zhaoyan echoed. "Which means it’s not fully resolved?"

The physician dared not make any definitive statements.

If it were truly cured, the Nine Flame Pill would no longer need to be carried. Yet, based on his pulse, diagnosing lingering cold syndrome didn’t seem plausible either.

Surely, he wasn’t feigning illness to gain the Crown Prince’s sympathy?

This Crown Prince, despite his outward benevolence, was no fool.

Could anyone succeed in deceiving him?

"Write him a prescription," Lu Zhaoyan ordered indifferently.

The physician, caught in his thoughts, instinctively blurted out, "A lethal one?"

Lu Zhaoyan shot him a speechless glance.

The physician cursed himself inwardly for his lapse—how could he let his thoughts wander in the Crown Prince’s presence? Unforgivable!

"Ahem."

Clearing his throat, he bowed deeply and said, "Your servant will prepare a prescription for nourishment and energy restoration. However, Your Highness, may I speak freely?"

Lu Zhaoyan replied, "Speak."

The physician, in a tone of profound sincerity, advised, "As the saying goes, ’A tranquil mind keeps few desires, a peaceful heart knows no fear, physical labor prevents exhaustion, and aligned energy ensures well-being.’ This young man must not overwork himself or overthink matters. Otherwise, the finest medicine in the world would be of no use."

"Overthink?"

Lu Zhaoyan couldn’t comprehend how someone who appeared to live a life of ease and comfort could carry wounds this deep, endure cold syndrome, and suffer from excessive toil and worry.

What sort of life had this boy led in the past?