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Upon hearing that the guest needed to diagnose an illness first, Song Mo swiftly turned around to face the east wing. Due to the abrupt movement, he skewed his body slightly, then quickly corrected himself, bowing and gesturing with his right hand in invitation.
Despite his young age, he acted maturely, which was quite amusing. Unlike Jiang Zhankui, who was genuinely mature but dull, this child was entirely pretending.
With a smile, Lu Man entered the bedroom. Lu Ying and several imperial physicians were by the bedside, with Prince Song Ming seated at the head.
Seeing Lu Man, Prince Song Ming anxiously said, “Third Lady, my mother’s complexion has worsened again.”
Lu Man examined the Princess, checked her pulse, and listened to Lu Ying’s report. She stated, “The Princess has been poisoned by Angel’s Trumpet again. In another three hours, we will administer the detoxifying medicine and acupuncture.”
A nurse led Mama Wang and others to the East Courtyard, where Lu Man and her attendants would stay for the night. Dinner had been prepared for the servants, and Lu Ying was also invited to dine.
Invited by Song Mo to the West Wing, Lu Man found a table adorned with a spread of dishes and her favorite blue-and-white wine.
Although tempted to drink, Lu Man refrained, knowing she had work to do later.
She leisurely enjoyed her meal, chatting with the young boy.
Usually, Song Mo would play with his food during meals, mainly feeding by his nurse. However, as the host for the day, he insisted on feeding himself and even provided a small stool for the occasion.
As she enjoyed being around children and had cared for Jiang Jiu and Zhankui for some time, Lu Man knew how to interact with children and encourage them to eat healthily.
As Song Mo grew more familiar with Lu Man, his true nature began to show. He would have his favorite dishes served to him and would politely offer some to Lu Man with a small spoon, happily accepting the food she offered. He even invited her to dinner at his home on the twelfth day of the first lunar month, his fourth birthday.
Lu Man gladly accepted the invitation and mentioned bringing along Jiu and Zhankui for the occasion.
As their bond grew stronger, Song Mo began to quietly implore Lu Man to save his grandmother.
“…I can’t bear to lose my grandmother. I don’t want her to join my mother in heaven. If that happens, I’ll never see her again.” After speaking, Song Mo suppressed his tears, revealing a hint of sadness on his face.
An orphaned child always evoked sympathy. Despite his tender age, he already understood the pain of separation and feared losing another loved one. Softly, Lu Man reassured him, “Don’t worry, Mo, I will do my best.”
Song Mo brightened up. Having heard from his father that Third Sister-in-law was skilled at healing, he believed that his grandmother would recover if she did her best. He had his nursemaid put him down, then bowed to Lu Man respectfully, expressing, “Thank you, Third Sister-in-law.”
Drawing him close, Lu Man embraced him and said with a smile, “We’re family, no need to be formal.”
While touching Song Mo ear, Lu Man noticed it was unusually warm. She then felt his face, finding the temperature normal, but upon examining his eyes and lips, she felt a sense of concern. His lips were bright red, and the whites of his eyes had a yellowish tinge.
After releasing his face, she casually held his hand, noticing its heat. Engaging in light conversation, she discreetly checked his pulse.
Upon completing the examination, Lu Man was taken aback. If not for a coincidence, the child likely had symptoms of chronic poisoning.
In the “Collection of Cautious Illnesses”, it was recorded that prolonged consumption of a combination of six foods including black chicken, carp, and longan, followed by drinking water boiled with shanhu, could lead to a mild toxin.
Shanhu was a medicine unfamiliar to Lu Man in her past life, indicating either her limited knowledge, its insignificance, or it not existing in that world.
This type of toxin was subtle, undetectable by ordinary physicians. Symptoms included burning ears and palms, red lips, yellowish sclera, and a thready pulse resembling damp-heat Yin deficiency. Due to the child’s young age, physicians often prescribed Mai Dong to moisten the lungs and clear the heart, and Qing Hao acted as a catalyst, intensifying the toxin while allowing it to linger in the body.
Over time, as these foods and ingredients were consumed continuously, and the toxins accumulated within the body, it could lead to a sudden decline in physical health, where even a minor illness like a mild cold could prove fatal. In such cases, physicians might wrongly diagnose it as a natural death.
If the child had indeed been poisoned, his situation would be dire.
Lu Man pondered the possibility of coincidence, acknowledging that some individuals might exhibit clinical signs without actual poisoning. Moreover, considering the child’s young age, it seemed unlikely for him to consume such complex foods.
Despite the turbulent thoughts in her mind, Lu Man maintained a composed demeanor, concealing any hint of her inner turmoil.
Regardless of whether Song Mo was truly poisoned, Lu Man felt even more compassion for him. An orphaned child, despite his noble lineage as the Prince’s only son, evoked a strong sense of protectiveness.
She gently placed Song Mo on the small stool, giving him a hug and kissing his handsome little face. She reassured him, “You are such a filial and good child. Rest assured, I will do my best to heal your grandmother.”
Having lost his mother before reaching the age of one, while his grandmother had always been kind to him, the young widow had immersed herself in religious practices early on, resulting in a distant relationship with him. Therefore, this close interaction with Lu Man was a first for him.
Song Mo was overwhelmed with emotion, his ears turning redder. He stammered, “You’re so kind. If my mother were still here, she would be as good as you.”
Tears welled up in his eyes as he spoke.
Lu Man’s heart softened even more, and she replied, “If your mother were here, she would be even better than me.” She then offered him a piece of mushroom, knowing its benefits in counteracting toxins.
Observing the dishes on the table, including fish balls with vegetables and black chicken soup, Lu Man noted that these were common dishes, nothing out of the ordinary.
However, Song Mo seemed particularly fond of the fish balls, requesting them three times and even using a spoon to offer one to Lu Man, saying, “Sister-in-law, fish balls are delicious.”
As they neared the end of the meal, Song Mo’s nursemaid came over to feed him a bit more, as he had been playing and not eaten much. Lu Man observed that the nursemaid fed him half a bowl of black chicken soup and a piece of black chicken meat.
After dinner, Lu Man proceeded to the Princess’s bedroom. Although Song Mo wanted to accompany her, his nursemaid intervened, reminding him to return for his milk and visit the Princess the next day, speaking in a soft, indulgent tone.
Seemingly obedient to his nursemaid’s guidance, Song Mo didn’t insist on going and instead held his nursemaid’s hand, pleading with Lu Man, “Third Sister-in-law, please take good care of my grandmother.”
Lu Man nodded in agreement, taking a moment to observe the young and attractive nursemaid, noting her prominent figure even under the thick cotton robe.
With just a month left until Song Mo turned four, was he still nursing?