Chapter 46 Very Peculiar

The estate manager stamped his feet in anger as he watched Qingyin lead Physician Fu toward the Listening Warmth Pavilion.

Having slept soundly for two or three full days, Lu Zhaoling finally regained a bit of her vitality.

Qingbao was chatting with her.

"Who knows what madness came over Madam Lu last night? She sent two maidservants over, claiming they wanted to give the Eldest Young Lady a massage, and even brought along some fragrant flowers, insisting on serving the Eldest Young Lady a bath. They claimed those were bestowed by a princess in the past—palace items the Eldest Young Lady had never enjoyed before."

Both she and Qingyin had turned the people away twice.

Given how poorly Madam Lu had treated Lu Zhaoling previously, this sudden display of goodwill looked extremely suspicious no matter how one analyzed it.

Besides, Lu Zhaoling had been sleeping the whole time and certainly couldn't have gotten up specifically to bathe.

"Ill intent," Lu Zhaoling remarked casually.

"Exactly."

"Young Lady, Physician Fu has arrived."

Hearing that Physician Fu had come, Lu Zhaoling's eyes flickered slightly. "Please invite him in."

Upon entering and catching his first glimpse of Lu Zhaoling, Physician Fu let out a surprised gasp. "The Second Young Lady looks much more spirited today."

The change was unmistakable.

Lu Zhaoling's previously pale little face finally possessed some healthy color.

"Thank you for the tonics sent by Physician Fu's granddaughter-in-law."

Yao Lin had sent a large quantity of medicinal dishes, along with a century-old ginseng root, and had even dispatched someone yesterday with a bowl of soup. She claimed it had been simmered for ten hours using ten different medicinal herbs, requiring precise additions halfway through. Fearing that Qingyin and Qingbao wouldn't manage the heat properly, she had brewed it herself at home and sent it directly over.

That bowl of medicinal broth was truly powerful for nourishing vital energy and blood.

Lu Zhaoling appreciated the gesture.

"You saved her son, so this is merely a token of her gratitude. No need to thank us."

Physician Fu waved his hand dismissively, then looked at her with intense curiosity. "Second Young Lady, do you happen to know what is wrong with Miss Lin?"

The veteran doctor, widely rumored to have a terrible temper outside, was currently waiting eagerly for Lu Zhaoling's reply.

"Miss Lin?"

"The daughter of Madam Wu."

"Oh, I have no idea. I've never even met Miss Lin," Lu Zhaoling replied.

However, seeing Physician Fu's expression, a thought stirred in her mind. "Is Miss Lin's illness bizarre?"

"Bizarre to the extreme. I cannot cure it."

Lu Zhaoling rested her chin in one hand. "How bizarre is it?"

"Miss Lin is only fourteen years old, yet her body and pulse resemble those of a sixty-year-old crone. Her hands are as skinny as dead branches, resembling claws, with skin so wrinkled it looks as though age spots are about to sprout!"

Gasp.

Upon hearing this, Qingyin and Qingbao both widened their eyes in shock.

"There is such an illness?"

Physician Fu sighed. "What's even more bizarre is that I can't even diagnose what kind of illness she has contracted."

Lu Zhaoling frowned slightly.

"I can wake her up, but even after she regains consciousness, that body of hers will still require heavy medication just to maintain whatever life is left. Realistically speaking, she may not have many years to live."

After all, her physical condition genuinely looked like that of an elderly person approaching the end of their days.

"Is she still unconscious now? Aside from her hands, has her face aged as well?"

"Her face is passable, though her complexion is terribly poor. Oh, and her pupils have turned blood-red."

Lu Zhaoling abruptly lowered her hand and sat up straight.

Seeing her reaction, Physician Fu felt his heart beat faster for reasons unknown, stirring with an inexplicable sense of excitement.

"Second Young Lady, has she also come into contact with some kind of malignant death aura? Something is deeply wrong with her, isn't it?"

Observing the old doctor's excitement, Lu Zhaoling couldn't help but chuckle.

"Physician Fu, why are you so worked up?"

Physician Fu smoothed down the corners of his mouth. "It's not so much excitement as the thought that perhaps I might get to witness the Second Young Lady saving someone once more."

Lu Zhaoling asked, "Is the Lin family new to the capital?"

Physician Fu then began to tell her about the Lin family.

"The Lin family can be considered a distinguished clan. Lin Rong was the most outstanding descendant of the senior branch. In his youth, the Retired Emperor appointed him to the Capital Prefecture Office. When he served as the Prefect, he solved cases like a divine being, remaining completely impartial and iron-faced. Back then, he enjoyed a stellar reputation throughout the capital."

Qingyin interjected, "Lord Lin Rong—this servant remembers him as well."

Physician Fu nodded and continued, "Later on, because of a certain case that seemed to involve some high-ranking figures—the exact details remain unknown and forbidden to discuss—Lin Rong was demoted. He was banished to a poor county at the outer reaches to serve as the Prefect."

Demoted, huh?

"After Madam Wu, Lin Rong's wife, came to seek out the old man, Fushun went to make some inquiries. Apparently, Lin Rong performed many meritorious deeds out in the provinces over the past decade, even suppressing bandits. This time, he has returned to the capital for his official evaluation, and if all goes smoothly, he will likely remain stationed in the capital."

"As for Madam Wu, her maiden family is a wealthy merchant clan in the capital with plenty of money. However, back when Lin Rong ran into trouble, the Wu family apparently made no move to help."

Physician Fu paused. "The old man was thinking—didn't the Second Young Lady mention that she accepts consultation fees for house calls? The Lin family certainly doesn't lack silver."

Lu Zhaoling burst into laughter.

She finally understood. So Physician Fu was drumming up business for her.

"Did Lord Lin also ask me to come examine her?"

Physician Fu shook his head. "No, I haven't mentioned your extraordinary skills yet."

Naturally, he had to come and sound her out first.

After all, she was the savior of his grandfather-and-grandson duo.

"Did Physician Fu say Lin Ranran will wake up in three days?"

"Yes." On this point, he still possessed absolute confidence.

Lu Zhaoling considered the matter for a moment. "In that case, let's wait until she wakes up. If Physician Fu still cannot figure out the root of her affliction, then you may bring it up with Lord Lin."

Physician Fu agreed.

Since he was already here, he naturally proceeded to change Lu Zhaoling's bandages.

Just as he was about to leave, he remembered the estate manager's issue. "The Lu estate manager was just begging the old man to examine his son's hands earlier..."

"Physician Fu doesn't need to concern himself with that."

Indeed, it was her doing!

Hearing Lu Zhaoling say this, Physician Fu understood immediately.

On his way back, he couldn't help but slap his thigh in amazement. Lu Zhaoling possessed such terrifying abilities! She not only knew how to treat bizarre ailments, but she also knew how to inflict them on people!

It seemed the Second Young Lady was hardly someone who could be bullied at will.

Yet, this left Elder Physician Fu perplexed: if Lu Zhaoling was so formidable, how had she ended up with that head injury in the first place?

Meanwhile, Madam Lu was fuming with frustration because she still hadn't found an opportunity over the past two days to inspect the birthmark on Lu Zhaoling's right ankle.

It was all the fault of those two maidservants Prince Jin had sent to Lu Zhaoling—truly loyal lapdogs!

"Madam, didn't Princess Changning issue an invitation to the Eldest Young Lady? Why not bring the Second Young Lady along?" Her personal maid's eyes rolled as she hatched a scheme.

Princess Changning and Lu Zhaoqing were close friends.

Since Lu Zhaoqing was betrothed to the Second Prince, Princess Changning was one of the very few people privy to the secret.

Normally, given Lu Zhaoqing's family background, she would never have breached Princess Changning's inner circle, but it was precisely because of her engagement to the Second Prince that the princess deigned to associate with her.

Naturally, this gathering was not meant for mere leisure and merrymaking. Princess Changning intended to assemble a circle of close friends to copy scriptures together for the Retired Emperor, hoping that the Emperor might eventually take note of their loyalty and filial piety.

Such an opportunity was, of course, something Lu Zhaoqing could not refuse.

"Bring her along? Wouldn't that simply allow her to show her face in front of Princess Changning and other noble young ladies?" Madam Lu frowned, deeming it a terrible idea.

"Madam, Miss Shen will definitely be attending as well."