Chapter 303: The Same Poison

Lu Man couldn’t help but find Princess Changting amusing, the elderly lady was like a child, basking in the admiration of her family members, visibly pleased and wearing a constant smile.

The Princess Consort pulled Lu Man aside and briefly discussed her symptoms. Lu Man examined her pulse and concluded that she might be experiencing symptoms of menopause, a concept not explicitly defined in ancient times.

Lu Man then gave a general explanation regarding gynecology, attributing the changes in bodily functions to the cessation of menstruation, a phase all women go through. She prescribed some herbal remedies, offered advice on maintenance and care, and encouraged the Consort to embrace this unique period with joy.

The middle-aged and elderly women present were either going through or had experienced this phase, so they listened intently, exchanging their own experiences.

Delighted, the Princess Consort grasped Lu Man’s hand, praising her, “Oh my, you are truly a divine physician. Listening to your words has expanded my knowledge.”

In the presence of the Prince’s family, Lu Man was wary of being labeled a “divine physician”.

She modestly responded, “I dare not accept such praise from the Consort. Each craft has its specialization, and my medical expertise lies in gynecology and heart ailments. In other areas,” she shook her head, smiling, “I truly lack expertise. The credit for my proficiency in those areas goes to some medical books left by my maternal grandfather, which allowed me to take shortcuts. Additionally, I was fortunate to discover Night Yellor Flower and create several effective medicines based on my grandfather’s prescriptions. The title of ‘divine physician’ is a gracious but undeserved honor.”

The Princess Consort’s demeanor softened even further as she exclaimed, “For a young woman like you to have such accomplishments in these fields is truly remarkable.”

Before the meal, the Princess Consort discreetly mentioned to Princess Changting and Lu Man, “My grandson, Ji recently fell ill with a cold, experiencing fever, headache, cough, and overall weakness. Despite taking the miraculous medicines Huang Ke Lai and Willow Bark Pills from Tongren Hall and consulting numerous imperial physicians, there hasn’t been much improvement. He has become so thin… I would like to ask Third Daughter-in-law to help.”

After speaking, she wiped away a tear with her handkerchief, followed by Second Madam Song, who also dabbed at her eyes.

Song Ji was the Consort’s eldest grandson to Second Madam Song, Lady Min’s eldest son.

Princess Changting instructed Lu Man, “We’re relatives, and Ji is a lovable child. Please do your best to treat him.” She then turned to Mama Qian and said, “Accompany Zhanwei’s wife outside, I fear she might not understand the etiquette and could become a source of amusement. Offer her some guidance if needed.”

After the meal, many proceeded to the Yaoxuan Pavilion to witness the poetry readings and talent performances by the young men and women. Princess Changting and the Princess Consort intended to attend, while Lu Man accompanied Second Madam Song to treat her son, Ji.

During the journey, Second Madam Song tearfully implored Lu Man to assist, promising great gratitude if her son’s illness could be cured.

Lu Man responded, “A physician is like a parent, especially when we are relatives. If I can cure him, it’s my duty.”

After walking for about fifteen minutes, they entered a courtyard blooming with colorful flowers.

Inside the east wing, a maid approached and whispered respectfully, “Madam, the master is inside watching over Young Master Ji.”

Second Madam Song nodded and led Lu Man into the bedroom.

On the bed lay a child, with a man seated beside him. The man, nearing thirty, was tall and handsome, bearing a resemblance to Song Ming.

Upon seeing a stranger, he quickly stood up.

Second Madam Song first introduced Lu Man, saying, “This is Second Master.”

She then whispered to Second Master Song, “Second Master, this is Third Lady Jiang. Mother-in-law invited her to treat Ji.”

Second Master Song courteously greeted, “So, you are the renowned ‘divine physician’ Third Lady Jiang. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Lu Man humbly replied, “Second Master Song, your praise is too kind. I am unworthy of the title ‘divine physician’.”

Approaching the bed, Lu Man observed the child with eyes half-closed, flushed cheeks, and a wheezing sound in his throat. The child, around six or seven years old, appeared severely emaciated from the illness, evoking sympathy.

Since becoming a mother, Lu Man found herself even more tender and compassionate towards children than before.

In a soft murmur, she couldn’t help but express, “Poor child.”

Seating herself by the bedside, Lu Man gently examined the child, opening his eyelids, feeling his forehead, cheeks, and accidentally brushing his earlobe with her pinky finger. She then took his small hand to check his pulse.

While focused on treating Ji, Lu Man could sense Second Master Song’s attentive gaze. At that moment, she wished Second Master Song’s interest was merely in her beauty rather than for other reasons.

She wasn’t truly seventeen, in her past life, she had lived for thirty-two years, experiencing the vicissitudes of life across two lifetimes that had given her insight into the world. Her two years in this foreign world had subjected her to numerous trials, honing her ability to remain composed in any situation.

Frowning slightly, she appeared to be carefully assessing the child’s condition. In reality, she was struggling to contain her astonishment, pondering how to address the child’s “illness”.

Song Ji did indeed have a cold, but it was accompanied by poisoning, the same poison as Song Mo. The poison had progressed to an advanced stage, leading to a cold. If the poison wasn’t swiftly neutralized, the child’s life would be in grave danger.

However, she dared not disclose the truth. She feared that the Prince Shuo’s Mansion might be testing her skills in dealing with “poison” using this child as a pawn.

Thanks to the “Collection of Cautious Illnesses” book, she was adept in handling poisons, but her knowledge was limited to the contents of that book. She was unaware of poisons beyond what was detailed in the book, including the fetal poison in the Crown Prince and Liu Xirui.

Her mind raced. To speak or not to speak posed a serious dilemma.

As a physician, she should speak up and save the child’s life before her. However, she was more than just a physician now, she was the granddaughter-in-law of Princess Changting, the niece-in-law of the Crown Prince, privy to the Crown Prince’s fetal poison secret, and even aware that the Crown Prince was not born to the Empress. Revealing the secret could endanger her life, akin to what happened to her grandfather, He Huang, many years ago, and might even implicate her loved ones.

If the Prince Shuo’s Mansion was truly testing her knowledge of this poison, having saved Song Mo, not speaking up would be suspicious. Yet, revealing her extensive knowledge of rare poisons could raise doubts about her awareness of the Crown Prince’s poisoning.

After much deliberation, she chose to trust Song Ming and the old Princess He. She had emphasized to Song Ming not to disclose that she discovered this poison or that she had cured Song Mo. Song Ming, being trustworthy, didn’t want his family’s secrets to be exposed and, therefore, implored the Princess and Lu Man to keep quiet about Song Mo’s poisoning.

At that time, when Song Mo was being treated at her place, it was conveyed to the staff that he had excessive inner heat and needed cooling… Song Ming was a man of his word and wouldn’t betray her.

Song Ji suffering from the same poison as Song Mo was most likely just a coincidence.