Zhang Mama promptly took the detoxifying medicine that Physician Yue had rushed over, and after a short rest, she was much better. The two carefully discussed and planned everything, and then each began to act separately.
As soon as Physician Yue got up, he did not immediately return to Xinglin Pavilion. In order to avoid arousing Lu Tianjiao's suspicion, he deliberately took a detour and strolled towards the gate of Prince Qin's mansion.
Meanwhile, Granny Zhang, carrying the medicine in one hand and clutching her chest with the other, pretended to be struggling to breathe and quite uncomfortable as she continued along the same path toward Lin Yuexuan.
At this moment, Zhang Mama became more and more certain that the fire in the City God Temple eight years ago and the death of the Dowager Princess were definitely not such a simple accident. There must be more to it than meets the eye, and it must be inextricably linked to the young lady of Xiqin Academy.
Tonight, she will reveal all the unknown secrets that happened back then.
Unfortunately, the only surviving member of the Dowager Consort, the only master of this Prince's Mansion, remains unconscious and will never see the truth of the horrific disaster that occurred back then, which will finally come to light tonight.
As she thought about it, Zhang Mama couldn't help but feel so moved that tears welled up in her eyes...
Just then, Lu Tianjiao, who had been carefully dressed and hiding in the shadows of Lin Yuexuan, anxiously waited. As soon as he saw Zhang Mama appear in his sight, he rushed forward and took her arm, pretending to be worried and asking with concern, "Zhang Mama, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Granny Zhang quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, lowered her head, and continued walking, pretending to breathe heavily as she said, "Alas... time really does catch up with everyone. It seems this old woman is truly getting old and useless. I've only taken a few steps from the backyard, and I haven't even reached Lin Yuexuan's bedroom yet, but I already feel like my heart is about to jump out of my chest and I can't breathe. My head not only hurts but I'm also very dizzy, and it feels like my whole body is still burning up. I feel extremely weak, and I feel like I'm about to pass out."
Lu Tianjiao knew perfectly well that what Zhang Mama was describing were the very typical symptoms of being poisoned by datura. So, he secretly rejoiced and exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, what's going on? How can it be so serious?"
"Ah, perhaps this old body's time has come? It's good that it's dead, so this old woman can go down and continue serving the Empress Dowager." Zhang Mama said deliberately, secretly glancing at the expression on Lu Tianjiao's face.
Upon hearing this, Lu Tianjiao's eyes flashed with surprise, though only for a fleeting moment. Zhang Mama clearly saw the hesitation and fear in her eyes. An ordinary person, if not guilty, would never have looked at such a person upon hearing this.
"Granny Zhang is talking nonsense. How about... Tianjiao accompanies you to the Apricot Grove Pavilion to have Physician Yue examine you?" It must be said, Lu Tianjiao was indeed bold, daring to say such a thing even at this moment. Or perhaps Granny Zhang's pretense was too convincing; Lu Tianjiao genuinely believed she was so deeply poisoned that she would faint before even stepping into the Apricot Grove Pavilion. Little did she know, these were symptoms and words that Physician Yue had instructed Granny Zhang to feign beforehand.
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhang was truly stunned. How could Lu Tianjiao not know that when Physician Le wasn't summoned, he always stayed alone in that courtyard, researching medicine and never venturing outside? If she returned at this hour, Physician Le would certainly not be in Xinglin Pavilion, nor in Lin Yuexuan, and she would inevitably become suspicious. Thinking of this, Granny Zhang looked at the medicine in her hand and said, "This old woman's life is worthless; how could I dare trouble Physician Le? Besides, Miss Lu has shown me kindness by bestowing upon me a miraculous medicine; I am truly grateful."
Lu Tianjiao smiled and said, "Granny Zhang is too kind. I hope it will be of some help to your illness."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the entrance of Lin Yuexuan. Suddenly, Granny Zhang stopped, raised a hand to her forehead, and staggered as if about to fall. Lu Tianjiao quickly stepped forward to support her. Granny Zhang breathed weakly, saying intermittently, "It seems...it seems...this old woman has no strength left to serve His Highness this bowl of medicine..."
"What should we do then? His Highness's condition is critical, and we absolutely cannot stop his medication," Lu Tianjiao asked.
“Yes… His Highness’s medicine cannot be stopped… It seems… I can only trouble Miss Lu… Go ahead.” Zhang Mama said, leaning on Lu Tianjiao’s shoulder.
"What? But... Lin Yuexuan's guards absolutely forbid anyone from stepping inside." Lu Tianjiao said helplessly.
“Come on, I’ll personally take you in. They won’t dare to stop you. Once inside, I’ll rest in the side hall for a while, and you can take care of His Highness.” As soon as Zhang Mama finished speaking, she seemed to have made up her mind, gritted her teeth, and stumbled towards Lin Yuexuan.
Holding the medicine soup in one hand, Lu Tianjiao followed closely behind with a smug look on his face and quickly supported his arm.
"Granny Zhang, General Cheng has ordered that no one except you and Physician Yue is allowed to enter Lin Yuexuan." Unexpectedly, the two were stopped by guards as soon as they stepped onto the steps of Lin Yuexuan.
Granny Zhang explained, "This old woman is feeling extremely unwell right now. This Miss Lu is His Highness's junior sister from the Xiqin Academy, so she's practically an outsider. Let her accompany me inside to give His Highness his medicine. His Highness is very ill, so we absolutely cannot delay the time for him to take his medicine."
“But General Cheng’s orders are absolute, and I really dare not let anyone other than the two of you in. Perhaps… you…”
Just as the guard was about to continue speaking, he suddenly saw a familiar figure appear by the archway opposite. The person nodded at him with a serious expression. The guard immediately understood, pretended to think for a moment, and then slowly lowered his hand that was blocking Zhang Mama and Lu Tianjiao. He then changed his words and said, "Alright, Zhang Mama, Miss Lu, please."
As he spoke, the door of Lin Yuexuan was pushed open wide, and Lu Tianjiao quickly helped Zhang Mama step over the threshold and go inside.
After the two entered, the guards quickly closed the door again and continued to stand on both sides of the door, guarding the gate of Lin Yuexuan like two door gods.
At this moment, the tall figure who had appeared at the archway and was giving orders seemed to feel relieved as he strode towards the direction of Xinglin Pavilion.
"General, look, this is the jar we found at Granny Zhang's residence. It is the evidence of Lu Tianjiao's crimes. Sure enough, there are still dregs of datura medicine left at the bottom of the jar." In Xinglin Pavilion, Physician Le said indignantly as soon as Cheng Liang entered.
After carefully explaining everything to Zhang Mama in the backyard, Physician Yue took a detour and arrived at the main gate of the Prince's Mansion. There he saw Cheng Liang, dressed in an official robe, returning to the mansion from the palace, looking travel-worn.
The two walked through the corridor toward the rear hall, exchanging a few words along the way. Fearing that Granny Zhang would delay too long and Lu Tianjiao would become suspicious of the medicine's effectiveness, Cheng Liang hurriedly went to Lin Yuexuan to secretly issue orders, feigning indifference, and had the guards at the gate let Lu Tianjiao, this "turtle," in first.
Meanwhile, Physician Yue went alone to Granny Zhang's residence and retrieved the jar that Lu Tianjiao used to hold the medicine. The two agreed that after finishing their respective tasks, they would immediately return to Xinglin Pavilion to discuss the funeral arrangements.
“I knew that Miss Lu was up to no good by staying in the Prince’s mansion. She was bound to cause some trouble. Sure enough…” Cheng Liang stepped forward and glared at her angrily. As he spoke, he slowly sat down and slammed his fist heavily on the table in front of him.
After a brief moment, Cheng Liang calmed himself down. His gaze slowly shifted from the medicine pot to Physician Le's face, and he asked with a grave expression, "Are you sure that doing this tonight will really get Miss Lu to reveal the truth behind the accidental fire that killed the Dowager Consort? That fire... wasn't it an accident? His Highness has always considered that fire an accident. If he finds out it was Lu Xian's precious daughter who caused it, then... how will His Highness face that? And how will Lu Xian feel?"
"General," Physician Le said tearfully, "For the past eight years, Zhang Mama has been deeply troubled by the death of the Dowager Consort. She has always felt guilty, believing she should have stayed by the Dowager Consort's side at the City God Temple and not given the opportunity to harm her. Zhang Mama served the Dowager Consort her entire life, faithfully following the late Emperor's orders. Her relationship with the Dowager Consort far exceeded that of a typical master and servant. No one in the world understands the situation better than her, and I believe her words are not unfounded. After the Dowager Consort's passing, she diligently managed all the servants in the residence for His Highness's sake. Recently, His Highness has been seriously ill and bedridden. If she weren't afraid that she might suddenly pass away, she certainly wouldn't have been so eager to administer such a large dose of medicine. She is an elderly woman; such a large dose of datura would have been fatal to her."
"I know, but, alas..." After a thousand words, Cheng Liang finally turned them into a long sigh as he looked up at the sky.
Physician Yue slowly sat down and said softly, "Granny Zhang said that she only wanted to find out the truth about the fire back then, to have Miss Lu tell the truth herself. The Dowager Empress must have died with her eyes wide open in anger. She said she couldn't die with her eyes wide open in anger, that she couldn't explain to the Dowager Empress, and even less could she explain to the late Emperor. She had no face to face the Emperor. As for... as for Miss Lu, what punishment she should receive, she said... 'The hatred of killing one's mother is irreconcilable.' It's all up to Your Highness to decide. And because Your Highness is still unconscious, but 'opportunity knocks but once,' that's why we specially invited the General to be a witness."
Cheng Liang hesitated for a moment, then said, "If Lu Tianjiao is truly such a wicked and vicious woman, even if Your Highness spares her, given Lu Xian's strict family rules, they certainly won't tolerate her. I'm afraid... I'm afraid that she's so young and has been manipulated, then we really don't know what to do..."
Upon hearing this, Physician Yue hesitated, then said, "General, you mean..."
The two then gazed into each other's eyes for a long time, as if they were in perfect harmony, tacitly agreeing without needing to speak.
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