Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Disaster or Human Calamity? Three days later, thanks to the efforts of Ling Jiayue and Doctor Lin, they had finally worked out the prescription for the antidote. Ling Jiayue handed it to Lingxue to prepare. As usual, Lingxue went to Xinglin Pharmacy to purchase the ingredients, then returned and boiled the medicine before bringing it over. Madam Luo took the bowl and fed the medicine to General Luo one spoonful at a time, afraid of wasting even a drop. At last, she finished giving him the medicine. She handed the empty bowl to the maid beside her, then carefully helped General Luo lie down. “Miss Ling, when will my father wake up?” Luo Zhen asked anxiously. Over the past few days, Luo Zhen had been consumed with worry over his father’s condition. The once clean-cut young man now had dark circles under his eyes, and even a beard had begun to grow. “Young Master Luo, please rest assured. General Luo will wake up soon. You should get some rest as well,” Ling Jiayue consoled him. “Zhen’er, you’ve suffered these past few days. Miss Ling is right; go get some rest. It’s all because I’m useless that I’ve left you looking so haggard.” Seeing Luo Zhen’s condition, Madam Luo was heartbroken. “Mother, I’m fine. I’ll stay here and keep you and Father company.” “In that case, I’ll go boil another bowl of medicine with Doctor Lin. First, it will help eliminate the poison sooner. Second, this medicine can strengthen his constitution and nourish his vitality, which will aid General Luo’s recovery.” With that, Ling Jiayue left with Ling Jiaxuan and Doctor Lin to prepare the medicine, leaving the space to Madam Luo and the others. “Water… I want some water…” General Luo’s weak voice came from the bed. Madam Luo, who had been standing guard beside the bed, was too exhausted and had fallen asleep against it. The moment she heard General Luo’s voice, she woke with a start. Opening her eyes, she saw that he had awakened and was asking for water. Overcome with excitement, she could barely speak coherently. “I’ll go get some water right away,” she said as she hurriedly rose to her feet. Madam Luo had been leaning against the bed for too long. When she suddenly stood, her legs went numb. In her haste to fetch General Luo some water, she accidentally fell to the floor. At that moment, Luo Zhen had just arrived at the door carrying a meal. He had been about to persuade Madam Luo to eat something, but upon hearing the sound of her fall, he hurried into the room and helped her up. He failed to notice that General Luo had already awakened. Madam Luo, however, was too excited to speak coherently. “Your father’s awake! He’s awake. He wants water.” Luo Zhen trembled when he heard this. Turning around, he saw that General Luo had indeed awakened. He quickly helped Madam Luo to her feet, poured a cup of water, and brought it to the bedside. Supporting General Luo, he slowly fed him the water. After drinking the cup, General Luo felt his parched body suddenly revive. He spoke up and asked, “Zhen’er, what happened to me?” Luo Zhen did not dare delay and immediately told General Luo everything that had happened over the past few days. “You said the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister’s Residence, Ling Jiayue, saved me?” General Luo asked doubtfully. “Yes, Father. We originally invited Doctor Lin, but he said that you could only be cured with acupuncture, so he recommended Miss Ling. That was why I went to the Prime Minister’s Residence and brought Miss Ling here. Later, when you were poisoned, she was also the one who found the poison with Concubine Wang and saved you,” Luo Zhen explained. “Looks like we owe the Prime Minister’s Residence a great debt of gratitude. Forget it—our two families have always been close, so it’s nothing to worry about. Bring me the jade pendant found with Concubine Wang. I want to have a look.” “Yes, Father.” Luo Zhen had kept the jade pendant close to him ever since he obtained it. He now took it from his robes and handed it to General Luo. “It’s him!” General Luo cried out. “Father, is it the Third Prince?” Luo Zhen asked cautiously. General Luo nodded, his expression grim. “Father, then Concubine Wang was also someone the Third Prince planted in our General’s Residence. The Third Prince’s reach is far too long!” Luo Zhen said, realizing the gravity of the matter. “Enough. Go rest tonight. We’ll discuss this tomorrow, once I’ve recovered a little,” General Luo ordered. The following morning, when Ling Jiayue, Ling Jiaxuan, and Doctor Lin heard that General Luo had awakened, they went together to visit him. “Miss Ling, I owe my life to you. Thank you for all the effort you and Doctor Lin have expended on my behalf,” General Luo said from the bed. Although his body remained weak, his voice was powerful and carried considerable authority. As expected of a general who had fought on the battlefield, Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan marveled inwardly. “General Luo, you’re too courteous. Our two families have always been close, so there’s no need to speak so formally. Besides, as a junior, being able to help ease your troubles is my good fortune. You’re far too polite,” Ling Jiayue replied. “Zhen’er, take all the maids and attendants outside. I have something to say to Young Master Ling and Miss Ling.” After a pause, General Luo added, “You stay as well. You should know what has happened in the family.” Before long, only General Luo, Ling Jiayue, Ling Jiaxuan, and Luo Zhen remained in the room. General Luo began, “Young Master Ling, Miss Ling, I heard that after I suffered a stroke, I was poisoned and then recovered, and that you stayed here throughout it all. I would like to ask—do you believe that my poisoning this time was a natural disaster or a human calamity?” As soon as General Luo finished speaking, Luo Zhen hurriedly said, “Father, this was nothing more than Concubine Wang deliberately trying to harm you.” General Luo waved his hand and looked toward Ling Jiayue and Ling Jiaxuan. After a moment, Ling Jiayue said, “General Luo, I’m afraid this was a human calamity.” “Oh?” “General Luo, Concubine Wang tampered with your food to cause your stroke, and she was also the one who poisoned you. How could this have been a natural disaster? Please forgive my boldness, but there was also a jade pendant in Concubine Wang’s room. Moreover, this entire chain of events seems to have been aimed at more than just you,” Ling Jiayue said. “Mm. Continue.” “Acupuncture is the best treatment for a stroke. Yet once you recovered from the stroke, you were poisoned again. If Young Master Luo had not trusted me, I’m afraid the relationship between our two families would have fallen apart. On the surface, it seems that Concubine Wang harmed only you, but in reality, it was a brilliant scheme that killed two birds with one stone,” Ling Jiayue said. General Luo stroked his beard and smiled. “Ling Taian has raised a fine daughter.” When Ling Jiaxuan heard General Luo praising his younger sister, he proudly said, “Of course. My little sister is the best.” Hearing her Older Brother praise her so openly, Ling Jiayue could not help blushing. “Yue’er, girl, your analysis is exactly right. I’m afraid the person behind this intended to use my General’s Residence to bring down your Prime Minister’s Residence. We must not let him have his way,” General Luo said. “General Luo, do you know who is behind this?” General Luo did not answer. He merely raised a hand and gestured the number three. “That bastard just refuses to leave my sister alone!” Ling Jiaxuan said angrily. “Enough. You two should return for now. Once my health improves, I’ll personally visit the Prime Minister’s Residence again.” “In that case, my sister and I will take our leave.” After Ling Jiaxuan finished speaking, he led his younger sister home. Close.