Chapter 29: Must Take a Few Breaths

Lu Zhaoling glanced at Lu Zhaohua, but her gaze quickly shifted to Physician Fu, who had hurried in after them. Upon seeing the expression on his face, her own composure faltered slightly.

"Miss Lu, I have an urgent matter to beg of you!" Physician Fu exclaimed the moment he saw her.

"Do not rush," Lu Zhaoling said softly.

For some reason, even though Physician Fu had been truly frantic, the calmness in her voice caused his heart to steady. Although Lu Zhaoling was a young girl, no older than his own grandson, she possessed a tranquil stability that made her seem remarkably reliable.

Lu Zhaohua was stunned. Even her mother had to beg for an audience with the esteemed Physician Fu, yet here he was, acting with such humility before Lu Zhaoling! Furthermore, he was actually asking for her help. Aside from the imperial betrothal, what could a sixteen-year-old girl like Lu Zhaoling possibly offer that would make such a venerable doctor come seeking her?

With this in mind, Lu Zhaohua smiled sweetly at Lu Zhaoling. "Second Sister, I am your Fourth Sister, Zhaohua. I was just coming to see you when I happened upon Physician Fu. Seeing that the old gentleman seemed to be in a hurry, I brought him along. I hope you will not blame me."

Lu Ming and Madam Lu had never intended for Lu Zhaoling to have any formal introductions to the rest of the household upon her return.

Physician Fu couldn't help but glance at Lu Zhaohua. He recalled that when she appeared earlier, she hadn't been heading toward the back of the estate. Hadn't she just come from the back courtyard? If she had intended to visit the Tingnuan Pavilion all along, why would he have encountered her in the front courtyard? However, he didn't dwell on it; his mind was entirely on his suffering grandson.

"Qingbao, show her out," Lu Zhaoling commanded.

"Yes, Miss."

Lu Zhaohua was ushered out of the Tingnuan Pavilion, feeling somewhat bewildered. What had she done wrong? Which word had been incorrect? Lu Zhaoling hadn't even deigned to acknowledge her before having her thrown out!

"Fourth Miss, please return," Qingbao said at the gate, gesturing for her to leave.

Lu Zhaohua took a deep breath, her expression stiffening, before forcing out, "Then I shall visit Second Sister another day." She turned and left.

Qingbao rolled her eyes at her retreating figure. Trying to fool the mistress when she couldn't even fool a maid? If she truly wanted to visit, why come empty-handed? And why wait until now, just before lunchtime? It was clearly just to see what business Physician Fu had with the mistress.

Qingbao hummed to herself and guarded the gate. With Lu Zhaohua present, Physician Fu had found it difficult to speak, mostly because he felt the matter was somewhat alarming. Moreover, he wasn't sure if Lu Zhaoling wanted the Lu family to know about her abilities. Seeing her dismiss Lu Zhaohua so decisively, he sighed in relief and bowed to her.

Qinging and Qingbao were both surprised by the physician's deference.

"Just say it, Physician Fu. These two are my own people," Lu Zhaoling said, her gaze falling on the object he held in his arms. "However, place that item down first." She pointed to the stone table in front of her.

Physician Fu hurriedly set it down. Carrying it all the way here had made him anxious; several times he had been tempted to cast it aside.

"Miss Lu, I must put aside my pride and beg you to save my grandson!"

Lu Zhaoling examined his face and then the object wrapped in black cloth. "Is your grandson suffering from a headache as well?"

She had guessed it immediately!

"Yes!" Physician Fu felt a surge of hope. He excitedly and nervously recounted his grandson's condition. When he reached the part where his son had knocked his grandson unconscious with a ceramic pillow, the corner of Lu Zhaoling's mouth twitched. They were lucky they hadn't killed him.

"I have pondered this over and over. The only external object we have both been in contact with recently is this root carving!" He was a famous physician, but this kind of "illness" was truly beyond his expertise.

Qinging and Qingbao leaned over to look. They were confused by the physician's story; they wondered if their mistress could really do anything about such a strange matter.

Lu Zhaoling reached out and pulled back the black cloth.

"Miss Lu..." Physician Fu was nervous. "If this carving is truly evil, will you be in danger if you touch it?" He looked at the slender girl with a bandage on her head and felt a pang of guilt. What if he brought harm to her?

"I will not," Lu Zhaoling replied, having already uncovered it.

To her eyes, the carving was enveloped in black vapor, resembling a rotting, ancient skeleton. However, this was visible only to her. To Qinging, it appeared as a vase-sized wooden carving of a fierce-looking, bearded old man. The figure had bulging eyes, messy whiskers, and was depicted in a crouching, leaping stance with one hand pointing to the sky and the other pressing against the earth. Because it was a root carving, the limbs and beard were formed from the natural twisted roots of a tree.

The wood was black, with only the old man's bulging eyeballs painted in a jarring, vermilion red. It looked exceptionally malevolent. In terms of craftsmanship, it was superb, with vivid expression and form. Yet, the sight of it made Qinging feel deeply uncomfortable.

"You say your grandson picked this up by the riverbank in the mountains? What kind of people would go there to discard such things?" Lu Zhaoling withdrew her gaze. With such intense malevolent energy, she wondered why he had ever thought to bring it home. Was it a matter of unique taste?

"I have not heard of any," Physician Fu shook his head. "Hardly anyone goes there, except for some reckless youths from the capital who go there to play when they get bored."

"Did the others who went with your grandson pick up anything else?" Lu Zhaoling asked.

"I haven't asked yet; I must wait for him to wake up," Physician Fu replied, his heart pounding. "Miss Lu, is this object the source of the problem?"

"Yes," Lu Zhaoling answered firmly.

Physician Fu swayed, his eyes reddening. "Miss Lu, can you save my grandson?"

So it was indeed this object!

Lu Zhaoling touched the bandage on her head and sighed. She was low on energy and felt quite weak. "I can, but I need to see the Prince of Jin." She needed to replenish her strength.

Physician Fu looked lost. "Do you need me to invite the Prince of Jin here?"

"No, no. He doesn't need to come; I just need to see him." Lu Zhaoling glanced at him. "Go back, boil a pot of mugwort water, and wipe your grandson’s forehead, chest, palms, and soles of his feet. I will come by later."

"And this... this carving?" He dared not carry it back the way he came.

"Leave it here. I will deal with it."

"Thank you, Miss Lu!" Physician Fu sighed in relief and hurried away.

Lu Zhaoling beckoned to Qinging. "Go and invite the Prince of Jin to come over?"

"Miss, the Prince may have already entered the palace by now," Qinging noted. He would be keeping vigil for the late Emperor for the next few nights and might not be able to leave.