Font Size:
After hearing about Liu Xirui’s story, Lu Man recognized her as a clever and resilient young woman. Surviving until now was not just due to luck in encountering the elderly woman who could detoxify her but also due to the careful planning of her nursemaid and herself.
Looking at He Mingzhu, Lu Man said, “Mother, everything He Cheng mentioned must remain a secret, never to be spoken of by anyone.”
He Mingzhu was taken aback and asked, “Manman, wasn’t it because my father offended a powerful figure rather than committing a crime?”
Lu Man replied, “Since you have your suspicions, we must be extremely cautious.” She then turned to He Cheng, emphasizing, “For the safety of Miss Liu, you, and us, you should refrain from entering the mansion to treat her for now. If news of your visits to the mansion gets out, it could lead to significant trouble.”
He Mingzhu readily agreed.
Lu Man both admired and sympathized with Miss Liu. Considering the fetal poison in her system and her mother’s occasional visits to the palace while pregnant, she could potentially become evidence in certain matters.
Whether out of sympathy for Miss Liu or to clear the name of He Huang, Lu Man hoped she would survive until the day when he could cure her illness.
After contemplating, Lu Man inquired further about Miss Liu’s condition, the medicines prescribed by He Cheng, and the acupuncture treatments.
She believed that the lump on Miss Liu resembled a subcutaneous cyst, something that herbal medicine and acupuncture couldn’t address. Surgery was the only solution, but it was currently unfeasible. The Bai Hezi Pill suppressed the toxicity in the lump, while the Willow Bark Pill alleviated inflammation and pain. Lu Man instructed, “Tomorrow evening, when you go to administer acupuncture, take Sweet Pea with you for safety. Inform her that you are unable to cure her yet, regardless of the method used. Encourage her not to lose hope, just because it can’t be cured now doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future. Advise her to take care of her health, maintain a low profile, and keep persevering… Also, tell her not to seek your help unless absolutely necessary. Provide her with more Bai Hezi Pills and Willow Bark Pills, as they are the only ones offering temporary relief. The rest of the medications and treatments will be ineffective… It would be best to obtain the prescription for the detoxification medicine she received in her childhood.”
Every physician is interested in a good prescription.
He Cheng agreed to Lu Man’s instructions one by one.
Lu Man, seeing He Cheng visibly relieved, perhaps felt that he had made the right decision. Not only had he helped Miss Liu unintentionally, but the significant secret he had stumbled upon might also be crucial for clearing He Huang’s name.
She then spoke sternly, “After returning to the Yuling Courtyard, kneel before Grandfather’s memorial tablet for two hours and reflect on the situation thoroughly.”
Perplexed by his sister’s punishment, He Cheng asked urgently, “Why, Sister?”
In a low voice, Lu Man admonished, “You were too audacious. Without knowing the full extent of the situation, you ventured alone into the other’s mansion’s backyard to treat the young lady and involved yourself in these matters. Let me tell you, you are not even a match for Miss Liu, let alone ten of you. Do you think she trusted you with such a confidential matter simply because your grandfather is He Huang? She kept this from her personal maid who served her for ten years—why would she trust you, whom she has known for a short time? Furthermore, even the woman skilled in detoxification couldn’t resolve her condition. Do you really believe a teenager like you could achieve that?”
“Have you considered that her maid could have bribed by the woman in secret and likely had a significant amount of money? After the deaths of her nursemaid and the nun, she could have disappeared with her maid to live freely. Why willingly return and be confined in Duke Pingguo Liu’s residence? Her return must have a purpose, most likely to seek justice for her mother and aunt. She approached you not for your medical skills but because your sister is the granddaughter-in-law of Princess Changting, hoping to relay these matters to Princess Changting to aid her in bringing the truth in her mother’s and Concubine Li’s demise. If this matter gets out and justice isn’t served, she might face death, but our whole family would suffer… From now on, be cautious and considerate in your actions, never act impulsively.”
He Cheng, after hearing Lu Man’s analysis, grew increasingly anxious. He had been pleased to assist a girl in distress but now realized he had been unwittingly manipulated.
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and anger, his handsome face flushed, and tears welled up in his eyes. He confessed, “Sister, I know I’ve made a mistake, I was foolish and lacked discernment. I will think more and never blindly trust others in the future.”
Lu Man remarked, “Acknowledging your mistake requires kneeling, Mother must oversee this, and there can be no leniency in this matter.”
He Mingzhu, listening nearby, was equally alarmed, nodding repeatedly, feeling that her son deserved some lesson.
Before He Cheng departed, Lu Man advised him, “Consider things from Miss Liu’s perspective, she didn’t do anything wrong. On the contrary, she displayed intelligence and courage. When you go tomorrow, don’t blame the young lady, it was your own misstep, falling into someone else’s trap. She has successfully linked our family to hers, protected herself, and perhaps there is a chance for clearing Grandfather’s name.”
He Cheng couldn’t contain his excitement, nodding in agreement.
That night, Lu Man tossed and turned, unable to sleep, pondering over Miss Liu and Concubine Li’s situation. What did the monstrosity born to Concubine Li look like? Could it be that the Empress Dowager and Concubine Wang didn’t want Concubine Li to bear a healthy son, so they poisoned her and Third Madam Liu while spreading rumors blaming the Li family? At that time, Concubine Wang and Concubine Li were pregnant simultaneously, giving birth on the same day…
Furthermore, why would He HUang predict Concubine Li was carrying a boy? Despite any perceived foolishness, he held a prominent position as the judge of the Imperial Hospital for so long, making such a basic mistake unlikely. There had to be a reason behind his actions.
Considering the timeline, He Huang might have started preparing for impending trouble around the time he abruptly closed Renhe Hall, possibly when Concubine Wang and Concubine Li were four months pregnant. It was only at five months that the gender could be determined… which meant he might have been aware of his own impending fate. One possibility could be a warning to Concubine Li to beware of certain individuals. Another could be that he intended to convey a message to others about Concubine Li’s expected male child.
In the end, Concubine Li fell victim to foul play, poisoned even more severely than Third Madam Liu. This resulted in the incomplete development of the child in her womb, leading to its demise and being labeled a monster.
How could He Huang have offended Concubine Wang? Lu Man suddenly recalled the tale of the “cat swapping the prince”. Perhaps he discovered Concubine Wang wasn’t pregnant, panicked upon seeing Concubine Li’s pregnancy, and claimed to be expecting too. With the Empress Dowager in control of the harem and Concubine Wang lacking the Emperor’s favor, faking a pregnancy for Concubine Wang would have been convenient. On the day Concubine Li gave birth, attributing the “monster” to her while Concubine Li’s son was actually Concubine Wang’s…