Chapter 588 Madam He is critically ill

Countless palace lanterns were lit at the palace gate.

He Ling held the painting in his hand, a smile playing on his lips, but his sharp gaze fell on Cheng Wanwan's face.

Ten days ago, he received a letter from someone arranged by a branch of the He family in Yunnan Province. The letter stated that traces of the second young master of the He family had been discovered in Dahe Village, Ping'an County, Huzhou City, Yunnan Province.

More than a year ago, in the autumn, the men he sent caught up with He Xiao in Huzhou and forced him to retreat off a cliff. At that time, He Xiao was nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead, and he had been uneasy ever since.

It turns out that He Xiao really didn't die.

It was because He Xiao died that his older brother pleaded for him everywhere, moving countless people in the capital. His father only had him as his son, so he devoted all his energy to him. He immediately rose from a nominal fourth-rank official to a high-ranking third-rank official. Throughout the entire Great Yu Dynasty, no one could hold such a high-ranking position at the age of thirty.

If He Xiao were to return, and return with hatred and murderous intent...

He Ling pursed his lips, a sharp glint in his eyes.

“This person… looks familiar.” Cheng Wanwan tilted her head, pondering for a moment. “He seems to resemble Lord He somewhat. Is he related to the He family?”

He Ling revealed a sorrowful expression: "It's...it's my younger brother. In the autumn of the year before last, he fled from the capital and disappeared. Everyone said he was dead, but I didn't believe it. I've been searching for him ever since. Alas, I don't know if I'll ever be able to find him in this lifetime..."

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Cheng Wanwan's eyes.

He Ling's acting skills are truly superb; it's a real shame he's not a movie star. If she hadn't known about the He family's messy affairs beforehand, she probably would have been fooled too.

She sighed and said, "Please accept my condolences, Lord He."

He Ling wiped his face, concealing his sorrowful expression: "I'm sorry to have made the people of Sui'an laugh at me. It's getting late, people of Sui'an should go back and rest early, and be careful on the road."

Cheng Wanwan helped Granny Qi into the carriage, which slowly started moving. She lifted the curtain a crack and saw He Ling still standing there looking at the portrait.

Upon returning to her residence, Cheng Wanwan asked Cheng Jia to go into the study alone. She needed to inform He Xiao about this matter so that he could make preparations in advance.

But He Ling is a very cunning person. Since she came to ask her about it, it must be because she deliberately "stirred things up." She must have already planted spies around her. Cheng Jia should find out He Xiao's current address by contacting his former colleagues and then going through several roundabout ways to find out from Shao Hua. Only then can the information be passed on without anyone noticing.

Cheng Wanwan gave Cheng Jia repeated instructions before finally letting him proceed with caution.

The next day, as soon as they woke up, Cheng Jia came to report that the matter had been settled. People who grew up in military camps had their own way of transmitting messages, and even if someone was watching them from behind, they could still send out messages without anyone noticing.

That afternoon, news spread from the He family that Madam He had suddenly coughed up blood during the night, and her condition was rapidly deteriorating. Lord He had even gone to the palace to invite the imperial physician to examine her pulse, who said she would not live more than seven days and that preparations should be made for her funeral.

Cheng Wanwan couldn't help but feel worried for He Xiao; this news was clearly meant to lure He Xiao out and into a trap.

At the same time, she couldn't understand why Madam He would conspire with her stepson to scheme against her own biological child who had been living away from home...

The news of Madam He's critical illness spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

When Cheng Wanwan was traveling by carriage to the palace to negotiate contracts with foreign envoys, she overheard many passersby talking about the He family.

"Madam He is a kind-hearted person. How could she suddenly fall ill and pass away at such a young age?"

"It is said that after the second young master of the He family had an accident two years ago, Madam He's health has not been very good. Madam He only had one son. Losing a son in middle age, what woman could bear it?"

"Speaking of this second young master, it is truly a sad story. Born into a prominent family, he went out to learn martial arts from a young age and became a third-rank general at a young age. He could have brought the He family to a higher level, but he couldn't understand why he colluded with traitors and ended up dying without a burial place."

"It's his own fault for colluding with the rebels; he deserves to have his fiancée remarry."

"Miss Luo was originally the fiancée of the second young master of the He family, but after the second young master died, she married the eldest young master of the He family as his second wife. It feels... very confusing."

"She can't really be called a fiancée. I heard they're not engaged. He's become a traitor, so why can't Miss Luo marry someone else? The eldest son of the He family has become a high-ranking official at such a young age. He has a bright future ahead of him."

"..."

As Cheng Wanwan entered the palace, she heard all sorts of rumors about the He family.

She seemed to vaguely understand why Madam He trusted her eldest son, who wasn't her biological son, so much. It was because He Ling was such a good actor; everyone in the capital thought he was a good son, a good brother, a good husband, and a good father...

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Cheng Wanwan helped Granny Qi out of the carriage. People from the Court of State Ceremonial were already waiting at the palace gate and led her inside.

Last night at the palace banquet, a basic cooperation agreement was reached with Asab, but both sides still need to further confirm the trade details and sign the contract. Since this involves two countries, it cannot be taken lightly, which is why her role as the translator is so important.

As soon as they entered the palace gates, they saw He Ling walking out of the palace, followed by two imperial physicians.

Seeing He Ling, Cheng Wanwan couldn't help but ask a few words: "Little Master He, I wonder how your mother is doing?"

He Ling looked worried: "I suddenly coughed up blood at midnight last night and have been coughing ever since. I don't know the cause yet. Thank you for your concern, Sui'an. I need to take the imperial physician back to examine my pulse again. I'll take my leave now."

Cheng Wanwan nodded and watched He Ling leave.

Two officials from the Court of State Ceremonial said to her, "Young Master He is truly filial. His filial piety is so touching that it should be able to help Madam He overcome this difficulty."

Another person said, "Madam He is not actually the biological mother of young Master He, but rather his aunt. Yet, they seem more like biological mother and son than biological mother and son."

Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Let's go in quickly, so we don't keep the envoys waiting too long."

As He Ling reached the palace gate, he turned around and his cold gaze fell on Cheng Wanwan.

According to the information he gathered, He Xiao had been hiding in Dahe Village for over a year and was likely a guard of the village.

Although there is no clear information indicating that the head of the guards in Dahe Village is He Xiao, the villagers are also unclear about his background. They only say that he is a distant cousin of Sui'an people, and that the head of the guards left Dahe Village last year, saying that he went home.

Going home... that means going back to the capital.

Therefore, he had to find a way to make He Xiao show himself.

Last night, he deliberately tested Sui Anren, hoping she would contact He Xiao, but he didn't expect the woman to be so calm and composed, and she didn't make any move.

He had no choice but to resort to the most extreme method to force He Xiao out.

He Ling returned to the He family with two imperial physicians. The main courtyard was filled with a strong smell of medicine, and the servants stood silently by, attending to him.

"Madam He's pulse is quite strange..." The imperial physician's expression was grave. "It seems like poisoning, but it doesn't quite seem like it. Does Madam He usually avoid any foods?"

He Ling shook his head: "No."

A woman in dark clothes standing to the side paused, her gaze falling on He Ling's face with disbelief.

She is He Ling's second wife and the eldest daughter-in-law of the He family. After Madam He fell ill, she has been taking care of her since midnight and hasn't closed her eyes.

Madam He rarely had her serve her. Although she didn't know much about her mother-in-law, when she was very young, she accidentally learned from a casual conversation with He Xiao that Madam He couldn't eat shrimp and would faint if she ate even one bite... Her husband was so filial and did everything personally, so it was impossible that he didn't know that his mother couldn't eat shrimp.

Why would a husband lie?