Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 646: Sudden Illness (Part 1)

Chief Historian Feng’s heart raced uncontrollably, and he instinctively looked at Doctor Sun.

Doctor Sun, his expression grave, administered acupuncture to Lu Xuan and then wrote out a prescription, instructing the attendant to prepare the medicine.

After administering two bowls of the dark concoction, Lu Xuan finally stopped convulsing, and his limbs gradually settled.

Chief Historian Feng hadn’t even had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief when Doctor Sun’s deep voice said, "Lu Junma has taken ill suddenly. I have never seen such symptoms. The medicine can only temporarily alleviate them, but cannot address the root cause."

Chief Historian Feng furrowed his brow tightly: "Lu Junma was fine in the day, why did he suddenly take ill at night?"

Aunt Mei, who had been wiping away tears, responded softly with red eyes: "The master was very happy upon hearing the news that the Commandery Princess will soon ascend as Empress and drank quite a bit. In the middle of the night, he suddenly began to convulse."

Cases of people dying from drinking too much are, of course, not uncommon.

However, Doctor Sun, being a great physician of the time, knew at a single pulse check that Lu Junma’s sudden illness was unrelated to alcohol. It seemed more like...

Doctor Sun glanced subtly at Aunt Mei, then turned to Chief Historian Feng and said, "Lu Junma’s sudden illness requires him to recover properly, so traveling to the Capital City is certainly out of the question. I ask Chief Historian Feng to write to the Capital City reporting this matter to the Commandery Princess."

Indeed! With him in such a condition, how could he set off to the Capital City and cause trouble for the Commandery Princess?

In this light, Lu Xuan’s sudden illness seems to have occurred at just the right time, sparing the Prince Mansion and the Commandery Princess from much trouble.

Chief Historian Feng had a flash of insight and nodded in response: "I will go write the letter now."

"I will keep watch here tonight," Doctor Sun added, "Aunt Mei, you may go rest and return in the day to attend to the Prince Consort."

Aunt Mei, however, refused to leave, choking with emotion: "I must remain by the bedside. Doctor Sun, you may go rest, and if anything is amiss with the Prince Consort, I will immediately send for you."

Very well then!

Doctor Sun, quite amenable, rose and went to rest in the guest room without further ado.

As for Chief Historian Feng, he stayed up through the night to write the letter, delivering it swiftly to the Capital City. The very next morning, at the break of dawn, he returned to check on the patient.

Having stayed up through the night with a worried heart, Aunt Mei was now haggard, and under Doctor Sun’s persuasion, she finally went to rest. After Aunt Mei left, Doctor Sun lightly coughed and gave Chief Historian Feng a signal.

Chief Historian Feng caught on, following Doctor Sun outside to a secluded spot for a whispered conversation.

Doctor Sun whispered a few sentences.

Chief Historian Feng gasped, his expression changing repeatedly: "Is what you’re saying true? That Lu Junma didn’t suffer from a sudden illness but was poisoned?"

Doctor Sun stroked his sparse beard and whispered, "This rare and peculiar poison is something I’ve never encountered before. However, I am eighty percent sure."

"Why didn’t you say anything last night?" Chief Historian Feng stared at Doctor Sun.

Doctor Sun met his gaze: "There are only so many people serving around the Prince Consort, and only a few who could tamper with his food or tea. Who does Chief Historian Feng think it could be?"

Chief Historian Feng: "..."

Several faces flashed through Chief Historian Feng’s mind, finally settling on the face of a beautiful and fragile woman. He was shocked and incredulous: "Are you suggesting the person who poisoned him is Aunt Mei?"

"How could that be?"

Doctor Sun smirked; "Why not." Then, he said meaningfully, "Our Sun Family has practiced medicine for generations with exceptional skill and discretion, which is why we were allowed into the palace. The most important thing in being an Imperial Physician is not skill, but never saying what shouldn’t be said."

"The same applies when practicing medicine in high-ranking household interiors; one must observe and listen more, speak less."

"Aunt Mei has served the Prince Consort for over ten years, bearing him a son and a daughter. But whether the life she lived was good, only Aunt Mei herself knows. Regardless of whatever reason Aunt Mei had for poisoning, in any case, she has solved a big problem for the Commandery Princess."

The Commandery Princess ascending as Empress is unprecedented. Lu Xuan not attending the enthronement ceremony would indeed be easy for people to criticize. If he went to the Capital City, he would surely cause many unnecessary troubles for the Commandery Princess.

Now, being "suddenly ill" and unable to move, no one can blame anyone.

From this perspective, Aunt Mei has indeed done a great service.

Chief Historian Feng slowly came back to his senses from the shock, realizing some implications: "According to you, Aunt Mei is not only not guilty but has performed a meritorious deed. However, this matter is too indecent and must not be publicized, lest it tarnish the reputation of our Prince Mansion and implicate the Commandery Princess."

Doctor Sun coughed: "Before the Commandery Princess went to the Capital City, she entrusted all affairs of the Prince Mansion to Chief Historian Feng. How this matter should be handled is for you to decide."

Chief Historian Feng, being quite responsible, did not shirk the duty, and after pondering for a moment, made a decision: "Let’s not make this public for now, continue to treat the Prince Consort. I will write a private letter to be sent to Chief Historian Chen."

Discussing this matter directly with Chief Historian Chen without letting the Commandery Princess know the details. Even if the matter eventually comes to light, the officials of the Prince Mansion will bear the brunt to protect the Commandery Princess’s reputation.

...

Aunt Mei, who had been anxiously worrying through the night, lay in bed, unable to sleep.

She knew that what she did could not be hidden from Doctor Sun’s keen senses.

Doctor Sun was exceptionally skilled, even among the Imperial Physicians. Though she used an extremely rare poison in Lu Xuan’s tea, as a physician, how could he not distinguish between poisoning and "sudden illness"?

From the moment Doctor Sun arrived last night, she had prepared herself for exposure or a secret execution.

In exchange for Lu Xuan’s life, for the peace of mind of the Commandery Princess, she had risked her own. Her son and daughter, with the Commandery Princess’s care in the future, would surely have a bright future...

Never did she expect Doctor Sun not to expose her, even going so far as to reinforce the notion of Lu Junma’s "sudden illness."

What will Doctor Sun do next?

How will Chief Historian Feng decide?

This taste of awaiting the judgment of fate is truly hard to endure. Aunt Mei tossed and turned in bed for half the day and, by the afternoon, mustered the strength to attend to the "suddenly sick" Lu Xuan.

The attendant was feeding medicine to Lu Xuan. Aunt Mei dared not look at Doctor Sun, stepping forward to take the medicine bowl and carefully feed Lu Xuan.

Lu Xuan was still unconscious, with stiff body muscles, necessitating prying his mouth open to half-feed, half-administer the medicine. About half would go in, but much of the concoction spilled from the corners of his mouth. The brown medicinal liquid trickled onto his lapels and bedding, reminiscent of the color of dried blood.

Doctor Sun was quite polite: "Aunt, you stay here and watch, I will rest for a while. I will come back in the evening."

Aunt Mei’s hand trembled slightly, wanting to look up at Doctor Sun’s expression but holding back, quietly agreeing instead.

After Doctor Sun left, Aunt Mei let out a heavy sigh.

Doctor Sun had said nothing, and for this reason, she might still have a few more days to live. To live another day was a good thing. If she could hold on until her children returned to the Prince Mansion, to be reunited with them before the "farewell", she would have no regrets in death.