Chapter 92: Help Me Up

Lu Songli wanted to keep the batch of medicinal herbs, but she also knew they were not cheap. It was impossible to simply accept them.

She quietly approached her sister-in-law, bringing up the medicinal herbs sent by the Tian family. “Sister-in-law, did Father and Brother spend a lot of money buying these medicinal herbs on this trip?”

Tian didn’t know how to respond and could only vaguely reply with two words, “oh.”

Tian knew that her father had sent this cart of medicinal herbs and local specialties to her husband’s family for her sake. She had heard from her mother that almost all of her father and brother’s profits from this trip were in this cart of medicinal herbs. She was uneasy, unsure what her sister-in-law meant by bringing this up.

Seeing her sister-in-law’s anxious expression, Lu Songli decided to speak frankly. “Sister-in-law, don’t think too much about it. The medicinal herbs Your Father brought this time are very good and useful to me. I want to keep them. But Mother was right, the Lu family and the Tian family are in-laws, and we should be understanding and tolerant of each other. There’s no need to dwell on things. So, I want to buy these medicinal herbs with money.”

She could have just estimated a price and included the silver notes when returning the gift to the Tian family. She had gained a general understanding of the quality and prices of medicinal herbs during this period and could roughly estimate the value of this batch. But she was afraid that her father-in-law would think too much.

Hearing these words, Tian’s eyes welled up a bit. They had indeed been inappropriate in their actions. When her father returned and mentioned it, she became even more anxious. She was afraid that her husband’s family would develop resentment and estrangement towards her. From the moment she returned from her parents’ home until now, her heart had been filled with unease. Her sister-in-law’s comforting words touched her heart.

She sniffed and said, “Little sister, since Father sent those medicinal herbs and they are useful to you, then accept them.”

Lu Songli sighed helplessly and patiently explained, “Sister-in-law, even brothers settle accounts clearly. Relationships between relatives can only last long if there is a back-and-forth.”

Finally, Tian gave Lu Songli a price.

After giving the price, Tian Shi wasn’t sure if she had done the right thing, so she resigned herself to fate. After all, she wasn’t very smart and would just follow her sister-in-law’s lead. Her father and husband both said that her sister-in-law had become very intelligent. Most importantly, she could tell from the words her sister-in-law had spoken that they were sincere and without malice or selfishness. She could also see that her sister-in-law liked her son, Xiaoxiao. So, she would do as she said.

The reason Lu Songli had taken the trouble to resolve this matter today was primarily because there were already enough enemies outside. As for family and relatives, they might have their quirks and flaws, but it wasn’t a big deal. She could fight tooth and nail against people outside, but at home, she hoped to be able to relax, not have to be so calculating, or else she would be too tired.

On Tian Qinglai’s side, Tian found him and told him about her sister-in-law Lu Songli’s thoughts, and she also brought the silver notes.

Tian Qinglai looked at the silver notes and found that the price was two-tenths higher than the original price of the medicinal herbs. He knew that Lu Songli now had a say in the Lu family, unlike before when she was just an ordinary young lady. Since she had spoken to her daughter in that way, it meant that the Lu family was really not bothered by what he had been worried about earlier. He had overthought things.

He couldn’t help but admire the Lu family’s generosity. The Lu family was truly a great family to be related to.

In the end, he didn’t take all the silver notes, instead, they compromised, and the Tian family only took the cost price.

Imperial Palace

Coincidentally, while Lu Desheng was ill, Emperor Kang Cheng also fell ill and even missed court for a day.

Seeing that the Emperor was tossing and turning in bed despite being unwell, Wei Zili thought for a moment and mentioned that Lu Desheng was also sick.

He had learned about the Lu family’s request for a court physician this morning and had casually inquired. He discovered that Lu Desheng was ill, but the Emperor was feeling so unwell at the time that he didn’t ask too much, only instructing his apprentice to follow up on the news.

Emperor Kang Cheng, who was feeling a bit listless, felt a surge of energy upon hearing that Lu Desheng was also sick. At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of shared suffering.

“What’s wrong with Lu Desheng? Did he call for a court physician?”

Wei Zili replied, “I heard that he’s been working too hard lately, plus he had a bad temper and caught a cold. The illness suddenly flared up.”

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kang Cheng laughed, “I didn’t expect Lu Desheng to have such a temper.” He got himself sick from anger, that’s fine?

Emperor Kang Cheng remembered that his beloved Lu Desheng had been quite busy lately, like a proud rooster with a sharp beak, pecking at anyone he came across, solving many problems for him. After all that activity, he was now wilted.

Wei Zili thought to himself, Your Majesty, you know better than anyone how much of a temper Lord Lu has.

“Help me up.”

Emperor Kang Cheng, who had just been secretly lamenting his old age and frail body, felt that he was back in action. Lu Desheng was ten years younger than him, and he was sick too? It seemed that getting sick in winter was common.

Seeing that the Emperor had perked up and was even more interested when talking about Lu Desheng, Wei Zili said, “Your Majesty, I heard that when Lord Lu was at his worst, he couldn’t even speak. It’s said that when Lord Lu realized this, his face turned snow white with fear.”

Emperor Kang Cheng burst into laughter. It was true that a patient’s face would turn pale when they were ill, but “snow white” was an exaggeration. However, Emperor Kang Cheng felt he could understand Lu Desheng’s fear when he discovered he couldn’t speak. He was a censor, after all. Without a voice, it was like being stripped of his weapon. Wouldn’t he be at the mercy of others in court?

“Send someone to Lu Mansion to check if he’s feeling better. Tell him that this won’t do. How can his health be worse than mine? Also, bring some medicinal herbs from the palace to the Lu family. Herbs from outside are never as good as those presented as tribute. Hmm, also take him a golden elixir.”

With such a generous gift, Wei Zili decided to send his most capable apprentice.

Emperor Kang Cheng actually wanted to give him a copy of the Diamond Sutra, to cultivate his mind and body and control his temper. But then he thought, if Lu Desheng truly cultivated his mind and body successfully, who would he use? So he suppressed that thought.

“This servant obeys.” Upon hearing the rewards, Wei Zili didn’t even blink. That was Lu Desheng’s ability. The only hope for those who served the Emperor was for him to be happy every day. Whoever made the Emperor happy, they would praise them, and their lives would be easier. As for those officials who easily angered the Emperor, they would hardly mention them, as it would be asking for trouble.

“Oh, right, when you send someone to check on Lu Desheng, tell him to rest peacefully and not trouble himself.” Emperor Kang Cheng casually bestowed another favor.

In other words, don’t let Lord Lu rise to pay his respects, got it.

When the person sent returned and reported that Lu Desheng’s condition had improved, Emperor Kang Cheng confided in Wei Zili in private, saying that they, the Emperor and his minister, truly had a connection. They even got sick at the same time.

Wei Zili was numb inside. Lord Lu’s luck was unparalleled. Even getting sick could sync with the Emperor, thus attracting the Emperor’s attention.

Lu Desheng looked at the golden elixir bestowed by the Emperor, feeling a bit wooden. The Emperor was good in every way, except that he loved to share his golden elixir with him.

His daughter had said that this stuff couldn’t be eaten.

Lu Desheng’s voice had returned somewhat, and he muttered,

“Father, you should be grateful that the Emperor didn’t want you to eat the golden elixir like an angel.”

Hearing this, Lu Desheng’s face turned pale in fear. Was the Emperor asking him to eat the golden elixir in front of him at this time, intending to take him away?

“Daughter, stop it, those words are too scary.”

Lu Songli replied, “Okay.”

“Dissolve this elixir, quietly.” Lu Desheng struggled to convey his meaning to his wife.

Madam Jiang nodded and gave him a reassuring look.

The previous elixir, bestowed along with the pardon, had already been disposed of.

News of Emperor Kang Cheng sending someone to visit Lu Desheng during his illness quickly spread throughout Chang’an City to those who needed to know. They knew that Emperor Kang Cheng had not only sent someone to the Lu family to visit but also bestowed some good medicinal herbs and granted him permission to not rise to thank him…

At that time, Tian Qinglai and his son had not yet left. Tian Qinglai witnessed it with his own eyes and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. His in-laws truly enjoyed exceptional favor from the emperor.

Lu Desheng’s illness had even required the imperial physician, so it could not be faked.

As a result, the ministers, upon hearing the news, privately cursed Lu Desheng, wondering if he was a reincarnation of a sycophant. They couldn’t help but feel a bit envious, questioning what kind of luck Lu Desheng had to be so fortunate. Even getting sick led to encountering the emperor, and now he would undoubtedly be showered with even more imperial favor. Some of the ministers’ wives were even trying to remember which temple Madam Lu had visited years ago to have such good fortune. Oh, it seemed to be the Taoist Temple of the Supreme Lord. Hmm, they would visit it this year too and switch their family’s belief to this one!