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According to Miss Liu, when her nursemaid was still alive, she had quietly disclosed her origins. Her mother, Third Madam Liu, and the Emperor’s concubine Li at that time were siblings, and their relationship was very good, and they were pregnant at the same time. The Emperor favored Concubine Li more, and occasionally her mother could enter the palace to meet Concubine Li.
Because the two sisters’ father, Master Li, had a good relationship with Imperial Physician He, when they were five months pregnant, Imperial Physician He quietly checked their pulse. said that Concubine Li was pregnant with a male fetus, and her mother was pregnant with a female fetus. This news made the two sisters very happy, because at that time, Concubine Wang at that time (Current Empress), was also pregnant, and the Emperor said that whoever gave birth to a boy would be the Empress. If both are boys, whoever is born early will be the Empress. So, even though her mother knew that she was pregnant with a girl, she was happy for her sister.
He Cheng shrugged sadly and said, “In the end, it seemed like fate played a cruel joke on Miss Liu’s mother and aunt. The two sisters gave birth just two days apart. Miss Liu’s aunt birthed a monster, while her mother delivered a deformed child. Those in the know whispered that the Li family had incurred divine retribution, as both daughters bore such unusual offspring.”
“What monster? What deformity?” Lu Man exclaimed.
He Cheng continued, “I don’t know what the monster from Concubine Li looked like, neither does Miss Liu. It was said that the monster boy was buried shortly after birth. Miss Liu was born with purplish skin all over, with a large lump on the left side of her jaw, earning her the label ‘monstrous child’. Overwhelmed with grief, her mother passed away a few days later. Originally, the Liu family intended to drown Miss Liu, but her grandmother, old lady Liu, couldn’t bear it and insisted on sending her to the temple. If she survived, it was meant to be, if not, it was her fate…”
Lu Man was speechless. How could He Huang have dared to determine the genders of the Emperor’s Concubine’s unborn children? The news of Concubine Li’s demise must have reached him, and if so, Grandfather He’s life would also be at risk. At that time, the powerful figure in the imperial harem was the Empress Dowager, who was Concubine Wang’s aunt.
She wondered if his death was related to this incident. To Lu Man, with over twenty years of experience in the Hospital and serving as a judge, Grandfather He should have been more cautious. He shouldn’t have made such a grave mistake.
Moreover, both sisters had problematic pregnancies. Was it due to a hereditary disease in the family?
Lu Man inquired further, “Is Miss Liu’s skin still purplish? And what about that lump?”
He Cheng replied, “Her skin now is fair and delicate, though slightly pale due to limited exposure to sunlight. The lump remains, located here, about this size, and only the color of the lump leans towards purple.” Pointing to the left side of his jaw, he indicated the size, slightly larger than a walnut, and added, “She mentioned that when she was born, the lump was only as big as a lychee, but it has grown to this size since then.”
Lu Man asked, “Her skin whitened on its own?”
He Cheng shook his head and explained, “No. According to her, when she was five years old, her nursemaid went down the mountain to buy food and accidentally saved an elderly woman with a broken leg. She helped the woman to the temple to rest. This woman happened to be a midwife who examined Miss Liu and suggested that her skin and the lump were likely caused by a rare fetal poison. The lump was where the toxins gathered, and if it grew to the size of an infant’s fist, the toxins would spread, proving fatal.
The midwife claimed she could detoxify her. After the detoxification process, Miss Liu’s skin would improve, but the lump could not be eradicated, only halted from growing. She prescribed herbal remedies to drink and bathe in. After half a year, her skin indeed transitioned from purple to white. However, the nuns and wet nurses at the temple dared not reveal the fetal poison and skin whitening incident. They insisted that if Miss Liu wanted to survive, the matter of the fetal poison must remain a secret. Because I am Grandfather He’s grandson and treated her, she confided in me.” He emphasized, “She only shared this about the fetal poison with me, not even the maid Little Xi knew.”
It’s amazing how skilled individuals are found among ordinary folks, that midwife was truly remarkable.
Upon further reflection, Lu Man was alarmed. Third Madam Liu was affected by fetal poison, resulting in the birth of a “monstrous child”. Could Concubine Li also have been afflicted by the fetal poison, leading to the birth of a “monster”?
She had heard about Concubine Li’s death, occurring on the second day after giving birth because she delivered a “monster”. Lu Man also knew that He Huang had been punished that day. Two months later, the Li family faced consequences, her father was executed for corruption, and the rest were exiled.
It seemed that Third Madam Liu was likely poisoned in the palace, possibly contracting it while visiting Concubine Li. Moreover, He Huang’s death was likely connected to Concubine Li…
Lu Man inquired, “When Miss Liu returned to the residence with her skin whitened, did anyone express doubts? Also, after treating her for so long, what happened to the lump?”
He Cheng explained, “The nun and nursemaid were very cautious, fearing harm to Miss Liu in the mansion. Even though her skin had lightened, they found ways to darken her face and hands. When Miss Liu was twelve, both her nursemaid and the nun passed away. At that time, old lady Liu was still alive, unwilling to let her young grandchild wander alone or be sent far to her biological father for fear of mistreatment by a stepmother. Hence, they brought her back to Duke Pingguo Liu’s residence. Upon her return, her face and hands were darkened, and she wore a veil. Only the old master, old Lady Liu, Duke Pingguo, and Madam Liu saw her briefly without close inspection before she was sent to a secluded courtyard, forbidden to leave. Little Xi, the maid purchased while Miss Liu was at the temple, handled all her affairs. Miss Liu lived in silence there, unknown even to many in the mansion…”
He further mentioned that the lump on Miss Liu’s jaw hadn’t diminished and caused excruciating pain, often keeping her awake and suffering. Despite taking his herbal remedies and occasional acupuncture treatments, there was no significant improvement. To avoid suspicion, Little Xi sought permission from the Madam beforehand, explaining that Miss Liu was unwell, experiencing skin and jaw pain, and had been on medication at the temple.
The mansion residents did not question this, aware of Miss Liu’s unique condition and the necessity of her medication. They publicly displayed the medicines while secretly using the remedies provided by He Cheng. Miss Liu, intelligent as she was, never gave up on her treatment. She learned to read and write, basic medical skills, and even performed moxibustion on herself following instructions from the nun and nursemaid at the temple…
He Cheng added, “It was only after she took our miraculous Bai Hezi Pill and Willow Bark Pill that her pain significantly subsided, allowing her to sleep at night…”