Dr. Li was nearly sixty years old and had witnessed many of the tricks used in the power struggles within the inner quarters of the household, such as feigning madness or pretending to be insane.
Words and actions can be faked, but the pulse cannot lie.
Doctor Li took Zhou's pulse, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. He then gave Zhou a deep look before returning to the outer hall to write a prescription.
"What's wrong, Doctor? Is there a problem?" Granny Wu asked hurriedly. "Is she faking illness?"
"The lady's expression is incoherent, her tongue is reddish-purple, and her pulse is rapid and slippery—it's the sign of madness," Doctor Li shook his head and sighed. "She must have suffered a severe shock outside, which caused her liver qi to stagnate, her qi and blood to become stagnant, and she has gone mad."
"Has she really gone mad?" the matriarch asked.
"I've practiced medicine for many years, I can't be wrong," said Doctor Li. "Go and get the medicine according to this prescription."
The matriarch took the prescription, which was filled with medicines to calm the nerves and relieve dryness.
She had known Dr. Li for many years and trusted him.
The matriarch glanced back at the inner room, where Zhou was shouting and yelling. Several maids stepped forward and held her down. She struggled desperately, and the spilled soup soaked her, but she was completely unaware. She even used her tongue to lick the liquid that had splashed onto the wall.
The matriarch turned her head and lowered her voice, saying, "In your opinion, is there any hope for her to recover?"
"We can only try medication to treat it." Doctor Li's voice also lowered. "If we stop the medication, I'm afraid even a miracle won't be able to save him."
The old lady understood and gave her a reward of silver. Granny Wu personally escorted the person to the courtyard gate.
"Madam's condition is unstable. The old lady wishes to trouble you to come and take her pulse again in three days."
Dr. Li knew that this was an attempt to monitor Zhou's situation, and he nodded.
Granny Wu added, "Perfect timing. I don't have many Heart-Protecting Pills left. I'll bring some more over when I come."
The matriarch was a cautious person, and the heart-protecting pills she took every year were personally delivered by Doctor Li; she didn't trust anyone else to handle them.
After seeing the person off, Granny Wu turned around and saw Song Lin standing behind a lacquered pillar under the corridor. She didn't know when he had arrived.
"Granny, I heard that Grandmother has returned, so I came here to pay my respects to her," Song Lin said with a smile.
“Madam needs to rest.” Granny Wu stopped him, forcing a smile. “The old lady asked the young master to handle the affairs of the front courtyard. You don’t need to worry about the affairs of the back courtyard. You should go back and not disappoint the old lady’s high regard.”
Song Lin was kicked out, and the smile on his face vanished instantly.
"Lu Hetang is really something else, daring to boss me around even an old woman!" he muttered to himself.
Recalling the conversation he had just overheard, he summoned a servant and whispered something in his ear.
News of Zhou's return quickly spread throughout the General's Mansion, including the Xingzhi Courtyard.
"Madam asked Lord Ji to send Zhou back, and as expected, the old lady did not suspect anything," Biluo said. "Your medicine also fooled that old doctor, and now everyone in the manor says that Zhou has gone mad."
Jiang Wan sat at the table and took a sip of tea.
Last night, she arranged for Zhou to meet with Song Ziyu, and then asked her uncle to fabricate a story to explain why Zhou had not returned home for many days, which would dispel some of the suspicions of the old lady.
As long as Zhou is alive, he is still of use.
"She met with Song Ziyu last night. What did they talk about?" Jiang Wan asked.
"Nothing special, but Song Tingyue and Zhou Shi chatted for a long time. The jailer was afraid of being discovered, so he didn't dare to get too close. He only heard Song Tingyue ask Zhou Shi to find someone to ask for help."
"A cry for help?" Jiang Wan looked up. "Song Tingyue has no other confidants. Now, the only person who can save her is probably Pei Jin."
Biluo immediately said, "Really? The Second Prince and she have long been estranged. His Majesty is furious about this. He's not stupid, why would he want to get involved in this mess?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Jiang Wan chuckled softly.
"No one understands Pei Jin's cold-heartedness better than Song Tingyue. At this point, she naturally won't play the emotional card anymore."
Seeing Biluo's questioning gaze, Jiang Wan explained, "The two of them have been working together for many years. Song Tingyue must have evidence of Pei Jin's dealings with the Donglai people. Using this as leverage, Pei Jin had no choice but to consider helping her."
Biluo was surprised.
"This is just my guess. Whether it is true or not depends on what the Zhou family does."
Jiang Wan tilted her head and pondered for a moment before giving the order.
"Judging by the days, Shixu should have returned from Hanshan Temple by now. I should have him come to see me as soon as possible."
On that day, Emperor Jingyuan believed the rumors circulating in the palace and ordered that the tiger tally be sent to Hanshan Temple for worship in order to comfort the spirit of General Song.
No one knew better than her that the tiger tally was problematic.
It was a skilled craftsman from Linglong Pavilion named Zhuque who was adept at creating machinery. He tampered with the Crimson Jade. When the Yin and Yang Jade were combined, it would trigger a mechanism, causing the red pigment hidden within to seep out from the surface, like blood spreading out.
Before the tiger tally is returned to the palace, it needs to be restored by the Vermilion Bird.
If Emperor Jingyuan were to discover that the tiger tally was unusual, then things would be terrible.
Therefore, a few days ago, she sent Shi Xu and another person to Hanshan Temple to find an opportunity to contact the Tiger Tally.
I don't know if their timing is going smoothly.
Jiang Wan was preoccupied with the matter of Hanshan Temple, but before the appointed time could arrive, Biluo brought news of the Zhou family.
"The Zhou family said that you should find a way to send this letter into the palace."
Jiang Wan glanced at the envelope and knew without even reading the contents that the letter was for Pei Jin.
Now that Zhou is unable to move around freely and cannot leave the mansion, she can only place her hopes on Jiang Wan.
"Madam Zhou actually gave you something so important?" Biluo exclaimed in surprise.
“She was also desperate,” Jiang Wan said calmly. “Besides, in her mind, she and I were partners.”
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