Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Ling Taian “Lingxin, take this prescription to Xinglin Pharmacy and have Shopkeeper Hao prepare the medicine. Remember, only you and Shopkeeper Hao may handle it. No one else is allowed anywhere near it. Bring it back as soon as it’s ready—don’t delay for even a moment.” Ling Jiayue instructed Lingxin. “Yes, Miss.” Lingxin took the prescription and left. Xinglin Pharmacy was one of Mu Yuheng’s properties. Ling Jiayue herself did not know why she trusted Mu Yuheng so much now, but with Ling Taian deeply poisoned, that faint trace of feeling quickly vanished. She did not dare waste another moment and immediately went to Ling Taian’s courtyard. Madam Liu was still keeping watch over Ling Taian. Finding the room too crowded, she had sent Madam Wan and the others home with their children first, lest they disturb Ling Taian’s rest. After hearing that Ling Taian was gravely ill, Ling Jiaxuan had also hurriedly ordered the servants to carry him over to see his father. “Mother, Older Brother, is Father feeling any better? Has he woken up?” Ling Jiayue asked. “Yue’er, your father still hasn’t woken up. I don’t know if he’s simply exhausted. He probably hasn’t eaten much these past few days, so how could he have ended up like this?” Madam Liu said anxiously. “Mother, please send the servants away. There’s something I need to discuss with you and Older Brother.” Ling Jiayue spoke solemnly. Although Madam Liu did not understand what Ling Jiayue meant, she still did as instructed and dismissed the servants. The steward matron led them outside and closed the door behind them. After making sure there was no one else in the room, Ling Jiayue said to Madam Liu and Ling Jiaxuan: “Father has been poisoned.” Her words shocked both Madam Liu and Ling Jiaxuan. Madam Liu said incredulously, “How could he have been poisoned? I’ve taken excellent care of your father’s daily needs and meals. He hasn’t missed a single day of the medicinal cuisine you prepared for him.” “Yes, little sister. Could you have made a mistake? Didn’t Doctor Lin say that Father fainted because he was mentally exhausted?” Ling Jiaxuan asked, unwilling to believe it either. “It’s all right. Mother, you’ve taken excellent care of Father, and Doctor Lin did say that he fainted from exhaustion. But Father really has been poisoned.” Ling Jiayue continued, “The poison was put into the medicinal cuisine I prepared for him.” “What do you mean?” Ling Jiaxuan asked. “The medicinal cuisine I prepared for Father was specially tailored to his physical condition, and I added many ingredients that replenish his qi and blood. The person who poisoned him added another ingredient to the medicinal cuisine—one that conflicts with Father’s constitution. As a result, food meant to nourish his qi and strengthen his body has slowly been hollowing it out instead.” Ling Jiayue explained it to Madam Liu and Ling Jiaxuan. “The culprit’s intentions are truly vicious. They even used your kind intentions against you. With such careful planning devoted to harming Father, how could they possibly fail?” Ling Jiaxuan said furiously. “Mother, I’ve already sent Lingxue to fetch the medicine. We’ll restore Father’s health first. I examined the medicinal cuisine prepared these past few days, and nothing had been added to it, so he can continue eating it for now. From this point on, I’ll personally handle all of Father’s food while he’s ill. I’ll make certain there’s nothing wrong with it before giving it to him.” Ling Jiayue paused, then continued, “The person who poisoned him probably won’t dare show themselves over the next few days. We shouldn’t alert the culprit yet. We’ll wait until they reveal their mistake, then catch them.” “That’s all we can do for now.” Madam Liu looked at Ling Taian lying on the bed with his eyes tightly shut, and tears of heartache slipped down her face. Before long, Lingxue returned with the medicine. When she went to fetch it, Shopkeeper Hao had heard that Ling Jiayue needed medicine. Not only had he prepared everything listed on the prescription, he had also opened the storeroom and given Lingxue many medicinal ingredients for replenishing qi and nourishing the body. Ling Jiayue was grateful for Shopkeeper Hao’s kindness, but she first went to decoct the medicine for Ling Taian. Several days passed. Under the meticulous care of Ling Jiayue and the others, Ling Taian finally woke up. By then, Ling Jiaxuan was also able to walk again and was attending to Ling Taian at his bedside. When Ling Taian woke and saw him, he spoke weakly: “Xuan’er, why are you here? What happened to me? My head feels terribly dizzy.” Seeing that Ling Taian had awakened, Ling Jiaxuan instructed a servant to bring over a cup of hot water. He took the cup in one hand and supported Ling Taian with the other. “Father, have a drink first to soothe your throat.” With Ling Jiaxuan’s help, Ling Taian slowly finished the entire cup of water. When he was done, he asked, “Xuan’er, what happened to me?” Ling Jiaxuan was afraid that learning he had been poisoned would hinder Ling Taian’s recovery, so he coaxed him, “Father, you were simply too tired and slept for several days. Now that you’ve woken up, everything is fine.” “Oh? I also feel that it’s nothing serious. Help me sit up. I’ve been lying down for several days, and I keep feeling dizzy and short of breath. It’s very uncomfortable,” Ling Taian said. “Yes, Father.” Ling Jiaxuan helped Ling Taian sit up, then picked up several soft pillows from the side and tucked them behind his lower back so that he could sit more comfortably. Just then, Ling Jiayue and Madam Liu returned with the freshly decocted medicine. When Madam Liu saw that Ling Taian had awakened, she was overjoyed. “Master, you’ve finally woken up! If you hadn’t woken soon, I fear I would have followed you to the grave.” Ling Jiaxuan rose from the bedside and silently moved aside. Madam Liu stepped forward, took Ling Taian’s hand, and wept bitterly. Ling Taian squeezed her hand in return and gently consoled her: “Madam, I’m fine now, aren’t I? Stop crying. The children are watching.” Only then did Madam Liu stop crying. “Father, it’s wonderful that you’ve awakened. You gave Mother and all of us such a fright.” Ling Jiayue stepped forward with the medicine. “Yue’er, you’ve all worked hard. Father knows,” Ling Taian said. “Now that you’re awake, Father, drink your medicine first. You need to focus on recovering your health.” Ling Jiayue said. “All right.” Ling Taian took the bowl and drank the medicine in one go. The steward knocked on the door from outside and said, “Reporting to Master and Madam, the Seventh Prince, General Luo, and Xu Hongjun heard that Master was unwell and have sent servants bearing tonics and supplements.” “Understood. You may leave,” Madam Liu replied. “Yue’er, tell Father honestly. Was I really only exhausted?” Ling Taian asked, staring intently at Ling Jiayue. Ling Jiayue knew she could not hide it from Ling Taian, so she answered truthfully, “Father, you were poisoned.” “Oh? Madam has managed all my meals and daily needs. How could I have been poisoned? Where did the poison come from?” Ling Taian asked. “Someone tampered with the medicinal cuisine I prepared for you. They turned food that was meant to nourish your body into a poison that slowly hollowed it out, gradually eroding your health.” As Ling Jiayue spoke, a sharp glint flashed through her eyes. She was clearly furious. “Father, I do have some thoughts on the matter,” Ling Jiaxuan said. “Let’s hear them.” “During this period, little sister was endangered several times, while Uncle Luo and Father were poisoned one after another. These incidents all happened after little sister broke off her engagement with the Third Prince and Ling Ziqi became Madam Ru to the Third Prince.” “What are you implying?”