When Imperial Physician Jin arrived at the main courtyard, he was told by the servants that Ji Rong was exhausted and had already fallen asleep.
Just moments ago Ji Rong was full of energy, but her behavior made Physician Jin even more puzzled.
He used the excuse of taking his pulse to enter the inner room.
Ji Rong lay on the bed, breathing steadily and deeply, looking as if he were fast asleep.
Physician Jin placed his hand on his wrist, and after a moment, his brows furrowed more and more tightly.
Then, he suddenly stood up.
"How...how could this happen!"
The servant beside him hurriedly asked, "What's wrong, sir?"
Physician Jin seemed to realize something, and he glanced around warily, his expression growing increasingly grim.
The pulse of someone afflicted by Gu cannot be generalized, as different Gu worms will present different symptoms and pulse patterns.
He wasn't from Miao territory after all, and he hadn't seen many Gu people in person. Most of his understanding of Miao Gu poison came from books.
Ji Rong's pulse was very similar to that described in the book.
Especially now, his pulse is even more rapid and erratic.
There was only one reason that could be thought of for this sudden situation.
The Gu Master who controls Ji Rong is about to make a move.
Ji Rong's high spirits today also prove this point.
Physician Jin said, "Let's go, quickly back to our room."
The Ji family mansion had been quiet for many days. He thought that the person behind it had already given up and would not make any more moves, and was just waiting for Emperor Jingyuan's order to withdraw from the Ji family.
Unexpectedly, that person reappeared.
He wanted to report this matter to Emperor Jingyuan.
Last time, that person manipulated Ji Rong to disrupt Pei Tang's birthday banquet; who knows what their plans are this time?
With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, we should report this to the palace as soon as possible so that His Majesty can take precautions.
Physician Jin left in a hurry.
After he left, the inner room returned to silence. A moment later, a person tiptoed out from behind the landscape screen.
It was Ji Huaichuan.
Ji Huaichuan walked to the door, made sure no one was around, and then returned to the bedside and called out, "Father."
Ji Rong slowly opened his eyes on the bed.
"Imperial Physician Jin already has some suspicions," Ji Huaichuan said in a low voice. "I'll tell my cousin right away."
Ji Rong nodded, picked up the tea on the table, and took a sip.
“A-Wan hasn’t finished what she needs to do yet. We can’t let her leave the Ji residence now.”
His eyes were clear and bright, showing no sign of being dazed.
Having performed for so long, we can't give up halfway.
For several days in a row, Jiang Wan would personally go to Xiangmingju to buy pastries for the matriarch of the elder family.
Many people witnessed it firsthand and praised her for her filial piety.
Upon hearing this, the elder lady felt contempt.
"Let her be smug for a while."
As night fell, Madam Yuan glanced at the sky outside the window and frowned, asking, "Hasn't Granny Wu returned yet?"
The maid at the door said, "No."
Recently, Granny Wu has been leaving early and returning late every day, sometimes staying out all day long. It seems she has been instructed by the old lady to be very busy.
Half an hour later, Granny Wu returned to Luhe Hall.
She dismissed the servants and went to the old man's room.
"How's it going?" the matriarch asked. "Is everything set up at the teahouse?"
Granny Wu nodded: "Everything is arranged, we're just waiting for Meixiang to lead the way."
“Jiang has been frequently visiting Xiangmingju recently. She acts in a high-profile manner, which many people have noticed. Once this is exposed, even if she has a lot of words to say, she will not be able to escape punishment.”
The elder lady looked satisfied: "Thank you for your hard work."
Granny Wu added, "I returned late today because of another matter."
She took a package out of her sleeve and carefully handed it to the matriarch.
The matriarch recognized it at a glance, her eyes trembling slightly: "Cold Food Powder?"
“That’s right,” said Granny Wu. “I knew you needed this medicine, and I’ve been inquiring about it privately. But it’s a banned drug, and it’s not easy to find someone to sell it. Today, I got this small packet by sheer luck.”
The matriarch was very cautious: "Is there anything wrong with how it came about?"
"Don't worry, there's absolutely no problem," said Granny Wu. "Because this thing was brought from Xiangmingju by this old servant."
The elder's wife was puzzled.
"Besides its medicinal uses, this Cold Food Powder also has the effect of warming the uterus and strengthening yang. Many prostitutes in the capital would secretly keep it for their customers' amusement."
"It was Wu Mama who said in a low voice."
"It's quite a coincidence. There's a group of singers and dancers living in that bluestone alley, just a wall away from our teahouse. Those who do prostitution have plenty of connections. Today, a man from their courtyard was trading this item with someone behind the teahouse when this old servant caught them red-handed. They fled in panic, and this old servant brought the item back with them."
The matriarch rubbed the powdered medicine between her fingertips and took a gentle sniff.
"It's the best Hanshi San (a traditional Chinese medicine formula)."
Granny Wu advised, "Because of Ji Rong's matter, your body has suffered greatly. You have finally had a period of rest and recuperation, so you should use this medicine with caution."
When Ji Rong was mentioned, the matriarch of the family frowned.
"Will Ji Rong be among those attending the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?"
Granny Wu: "Last time on the princess's birthday, he caused such a mess, how could His Majesty allow him to attend the banquet again?"
"That's good." The matriarch breathed a sigh of relief. "I always felt that Ji Rong... was a bit strange."
Although she used Ji Rong to successfully exonerate Song Ziyu while she was in the Ministry of Justice.
However, Ji Rong's two subsequent lapses in composure before the emperor were both beyond her control.
She almost had her identity exposed in front of Emperor Jingyuan.
Moreover, lately, she has felt that the connection between her and Ji Rong is becoming weaker and weaker.
I don't know if it's because she's getting older, but she always feels like she's losing her strength.
The matriarch sighed and put the Cold Food Powder back into her bag: "Don't worry, this medicine isn't for me, it's for Ziyu."
Granny Wu asked in surprise, "Are you going to give the general Cold Food Powder?"
After taking Hanshisan (a traditional Chinese medicine), the pulse became disordered, and there was a clash between cold and heat, resulting in severe side effects.
The elder lady's voice deepened: "His body is weakened and he can't tolerate strong tonics. Only a potent medicine can restore his former vigor."
The Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was of paramount importance to the Song family.
The members of the Illusion Moon Cult are all desperate criminals, each possessing unique skills.
Given Song Ziyu's current martial arts skills, he is probably no match for them. In the end, he will not only fail to achieve any merit, but he will also lose his own life.
Hanshisan is a highly nourishing medicine that can invigorate the body and enhance male virility, making one incredibly powerful and vigorous in a short period of time.
Now, she has no other choice but to take this risky approach.
The matriarch narrowed her eyes.
Once the Mid-Autumn Festival is over, it will be time for the General's Mansion to regain its former glory.
"What's going on at Xingzhi Temple?" she asked.
Granny Wu said, "Aside from going to Xiangmingju once a day, Madam Jiang has hardly ever left the house, but she has acquired quite a few clothes and jewelry."
The elder's wife had a mocking expression.
"She's still dreaming of becoming a first-rank imperial consort."
That's ridiculous.
"Now that Xiangmingju is all set up, while Physician Jin is still at the Ji residence, tell Meixiang that we can get started."
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