Chapter 236 The Truth
It turned out that ever since Li's father, Li's second brother, and Li's third sister-in-law started to detoxify Fang Chengxian, Fang Chengxian, together with his servant, pretended to eat the herbal medicine that Doctor Liang had prescribed for him when he visited the Fang family.
But in reality, he buried it in a hole dug deep in his own yard, in a place that was not easily noticed.
There was just a lingering medicinal smell in the courtyard.
In reality, what Fang Chengxian actually ate was a medicinal soup he had obtained from the Li family's prescription, which was hidden in his wardrobe.
After the initial three medicinal baths, the poison was gradually removed from the medicine prescribed by Physician Liang that Fang Chengxian was taking, along with the non-toxic substance that someone in the Fang household had put in his food.
For each different stage, Li's father had different prescriptions for the corresponding symptoms.
As time drew closer, the prescription given by Li's father gradually took effect.
Not only could Fang Chengxian himself clearly feel the difference in his body compared to the past, but even Fang Chengxian's servant could sense the difference in his master's diet recently.
Because they found out that someone in the family had poisoned Fang Chengxian's food, Fang Chengxian's daily meals, if they were to be inside the mansion, were all bought by Duoshou and served to Fang Chengxian through the back door.
Fang Chengxian dared not eat another bite at the Fang residence. Even the things sent by his father and mother-in-law were not eaten by him after he learned that he had been poisoned.
After his body became strong, the amount of food a grown man ate was no longer like that of a kitten, which was quite astonishing.
So, as scheduled, Dr. Liang, who was invited by Mr. and Mrs. Fang to examine Fang Chengxian's pulse again, naturally discovered the difference in Fang Chengxian.
Furthermore, the significant difference in these pulse patterns is quite obvious.
Dr. Liang not only took Fang Chengxian's pulse, but also wanted to take a closer look at his diet.
Fang Chengxian initially wanted to keep it a secret, but after this person became physically strong, his appetite increased, and his diet became very different from before, making it really difficult to pretend.
Although Dr. Liang had already noticed during the last consultation that Fang Chengxian had secretly consulted another doctor and changed the prescription, he did not expect that the prescription would be so effective, actually able to regulate the body of someone like Fang Chengxian who was born weak.
Therefore, having exposed his true physical condition, Fang Chengxian had no choice but to tell the truth to Doctor Liang.
However, it was only after Dr. Liang spoke that Fang Chengxian actually revealed the names of Li's father, second brother, and third sister-in-law who had given him the antidote.
Previously, Fang Chengxian insisted that he "just randomly found a passing doctor to take a look, it was just a last resort" to evade Dr. Liang's question about who prescribed the medicine for him.
Dr. Liang sat on a stool and looked at Fang Chengxian, saying, "When I first entered the Imperial Medical Academy, I made a mistake because of my youthful impetuosity."
At the time, your father was in the Ministry of Personnel, and it just so happened that he encountered this situation. He was the one who put in a good word for me, which is why I was able to continue working in the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
Fang Chengxian was somewhat surprised by Dr. Liang's words. He had always thought that he was able to get Dr. Liang to come for a consultation because his father, Li, who was now working in the Ministry of Works, had spent a lot of money and connections to invite him.
The old doctor sighed and continued, "The doctor you went to must have been a well-known person, right? Otherwise, how could he have strengthened your pulse in less than two months?"
You were born weak, and all these years you've been kept alive by good medicine and have to do this and that. That's how you've managed to live for so many years.
You should know that your eldest brother, who died young, also died at a young age because his mother was weak and had a disease in the womb.
You're really lucky to have lived this long.
Fang Chengxian knew that if it weren't for the fact that the Fang family was extremely wealthy, his father was an official, and his deceased mother's side was also rich, he would never have been alive today.
In an ordinary family, such a child would probably die shortly after birth, just like his elder brother, whom he had never met, who died before the age of three.
“Three months ago, your father personally visited my residence and asked me whether you were truly unable to have sexual relations and whether you could leave behind a family heir after marriage.”
Fang Chengxian didn't react at all to these words, staring blankly at the teacup on the table without saying a word.
“I told your father that if he wanted to replenish your kidney energy, it would damage your other organs, especially your heart and lungs, which might hinder your already short lifespan and cause you to die even sooner.”
Fang Chengxian still did not look up, showing neither anger nor sadness.
After all, nearly two months ago, when he first heard from Li San Niang that he had been poisoned, the resentment, anger, sadness, and panic in his heart had long since faded with the passage of time.
Now, that is to say, Fang Chengxian believed that his father tacitly approved of his concubine conspiring with the steward and cook to poison him.
"Don't worry, your father understood that this would affect your lifespan, so he was relieved. After all, you still have a half-brother, so the Fang family bloodline won't be cut off."
"I wasn't born weak; I was poisoned."
...
After reading the note written by Fang Chengxian, Li Sanniang understood why Doctor Liang had sent an invitation to visit her.
It was because Li San Niang was the first to discover that Fang Chengxian had been poisoned!
After putting down the note, Li San Niang picked up a red fruit, took a bite, swallowed it, and then said to Li Er Xiong, "It's alright, Er Xiong. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. If you want to see me, then go ahead."
"Then I'll call you back and have someone come over next time you have a day off?"
Li San Niang nodded and turned to listen attentively as her mother explained to her eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law that the whole family would be going to Xuandu Temple to pray the next morning.
Li San Niang, a person who has always been materialistic but occasionally goes against her conscience, also felt that a lot had happened to her recently, so it would be good to have an opportunity to pray.
Furthermore, Li Sanniang also wanted to go to Xuandu Temple to ask how the tortoise shells used by the believers were obtained.
Although Li San Niang had no feelings for Xu Jingzhen, Xu Jingzhen's previous act of saving her was ultimately out of kindness and sincerity.
Out of genuine concern, Li San Niang felt she should indeed return a brand new tortoise shell to Xu Jingzhen.
"Let's go to bed early tonight and get up early tomorrow so we can hurry to Xuandu Temple. I'm afraid if we go too late, we won't even be able to get in."
When it came to taking a carriage to Xuandu Temple the next morning, Li San Niang remembered Shi Jiu's suggestion and told Li Er Xiong about changing the donkey for a horse.
Li Erxiong thought the suggestion was acceptable. He nodded and looked at his parents, who were sitting at the head of the main hall.
Mother Li nodded: "Alright, let's switch to a horse-drawn carriage. It'll be more stable, and it'll be faster with more power."
Mr. Li remained silent, which meant he agreed with Mrs. Li.
Because of the incident last time when they drove the donkey cart home, the donkey couldn't pull so many people and Li Dalang and the others had to trot around the cart, Li's mother felt it would be better to change the donkey and buy a horse.
"What about the donkey?"
After hearing what Li Erxiong said, Li Sanniang also felt that if they bought a horse, what would happen to the donkey? They couldn't just keep it in the backyard, could they?
Although the donkey eats quite a lot, and the Li family can afford to raise it now, it would be really too smelly if they kept both horses and donkeys in their backyard.
Li Erxiong and Sixiaozhi already had to clean frequently, so if they had two large livestock at home, they would really have to assign someone to take care of Ma Dalang and Lu Dalang every day.
At this point, Li's father spoke up: "Next time our in-laws come, we can give it to them to take home and raise. This donkey is more useful in the village."
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