Physician Fu had been pondering the question Lu Zhaoling asked him since he left her place last time.
Had she been to some strange place or encountered some strange things during this period?
But he still hadn't figured it out.
Now that his grandson suddenly had a severe headache, Physician Fu suddenly remembered.
A few days ago, Fu Cheng and a few other youths went to play in the suburbs. In a ditch, they picked up a root carving. No one knew who carved it or who left it there, but Fu Cheng thought the carving was quite good, so he brought it back.
Only old Physician Fu in the family might appreciate such things, so Fu Cheng showed it to him after bringing it back.
Old Physician Fu took it and examined it carefully for a while. After ruling out any issues like attracting mosquitoes or having a smell harmful to the human body, he returned it to Fu Cheng.
If the child liked it, then let him keep it to play with.
This was the strange object he and Fu Cheng had both come into contact with during this period.
Remembering this, Physician Fu suddenly turned his head and saw the root carving sitting on a wooden shelf against the opposite wall.
Under the wooden shelf was a soft couch, where Fu Cheng often leaned to read and eat snacks.
"It hurts so much, Grandfather, Father, I can't take it anymore..."
Fu Cheng cried out non-stop.
He was already fifteen this year, usually a lively and sensible child. He had never cried from illness since he was little, but now he was screaming and crying in such pain.
"Father, can we knock him out?" Fu Shun held his son, covered in sweat, his expression also pained.
His son was struggling so violently that even he could barely hold him down. How much pain must it be!
"Knock... knock him out," Physician Fu agreed with a trembling voice.
Fu Shun steeled his heart, grabbed a porcelain pillow, and hit him, "Thud!"
"You, you couldn't use your hand?" Physician Fu almost choked.
Hitting him with a porcelain pillow!
What if something bad happened to his grandson?
"Are you crazy!" Madam Fu rushed over.
Fu Shun was a bit exhausted and stopped her. He reached out to feel his son's breath, and Madam Fu almost fainted seeing his action.
"I'm not a martial artist. How could I knock Cheng'er out with my bare hands?" Fu Shun himself was a little scared after the fact.
His mind had just been focused on making his son stop hurting for a while, and he also thought that with his father watching, he wouldn't accidentally make him stupid.
But after hitting him, he suddenly remembered that his father was helpless even against Cheng'er's headache.
Fortunately, Fu Cheng was still breathing.
"He's alive, Cheng'er is alive," he said.
"Bodhisattva ah..." Madam Fu staggered, unable to stand steady, but a maid nearby quickly supported her.
"Father, what should we do now?" Madam Fu cried as she looked at her father-in-law.
Physician Fu walked towards the wooden shelf and looked at the root carving.
"Get a black cloth."
Madam Fu slapped her leg, both angry and anxious, "Old man, what time is it now? What are you looking at that thing for? Quickly think of a way to save Cheng'er!"
"I am trying to save Cheng'er!"
A servant brought a black cloth, and Physician Fu covered the root carving, wrapping it tightly.
None of the Fu family knew what he was doing.
"You all watch Cheng'er first. I'm going to find someone, she might be able to save Cheng'er!" Physician Fu said.
"Father, are you going to ask the Emperor to send an imperial physician?" Fu Shun hurriedly stopped him, "It's not appropriate now!"
The Retired Emperor had just passed away, and the Emperor was busy with the funeral. Moreover, at such a time, who knew if anyone in the palace would take the opportunity to cause trouble.
During such a special period, how could the Emperor have the time to see a former imperial physician who had already left the palace?
He probably wouldn't even be able to enter the palace gates.
"No, I'll tell you when I get back anyway." Physician Fu left in a hurry with the object.
The Lu Residence's gatekeeper saw Physician Fu and quickly welcomed him in.
"Our master has gone into the palace."
At this time, all officials were entering the palace to discuss the Retired Emperor's funeral arrangements. Although Lu Ming was only a Supernumerary Official in the Ministry of Rites, Director of Guest Reception, the tasks would eventually be assigned by the Minister of Rites.
It was precisely because of this matter that Lu Ming temporarily couldn't spare time for Lu Zhaoling.
"I'm not here for Lord Lu; I'm looking for Miss Lu." Physician Fu, fearing the servants might think he meant the other Misses of the Lu family, added, "Lu Zhaoling, the Second Miss Lu."
Fourth Miss Lu happened to come out and saw Physician Fu, greeting him with a pleasant surprise.
She hadn't been home the last time Physician Fu visited and regretted it afterward, wishing she hadn't gone out, as she had always wanted to see Physician Fu.
"Physician Fu, are you here to see my second sister?"
Physician Fu was very anxious. Seeing the elegant young lady of about fifteen years old approach him, he had to suppress his impatience.
"My name is Zhaohua, greetings, Physician Fu."
A servant next to her said, "This is our Fourth Miss."
She was originally the Third Miss, but the ranks were all shifted down after Lu Zhaoling returned.
Physician Fu didn't care about Third Miss or Fourth Miss. "Mm, please trouble you to inform the Second Miss for me."
He didn't even look at Lu Zhaohua.
Lu Zhaohua's mother was Lu Ming's second concubine. She was a daughter of a concubine, but she usually paid close attention to the words and actions of the noble young ladies from prominent families, and thus earned a reputation outside as being gentle, sensible, and as calm as a chrysanthemum.
She noticed Physician Fu's urgency and felt very curious.
Physician Fu held a very high position in the capital city, after all, his medical skills were superb. Which family would dare offend a famous doctor?
Yet now he was so earnestly coming to see Lu Zhaoling.
"Physician Fu, may I escort you? Isn't second sister still injured? It would probably be troublesome for her to come to the front courtyard."
"Is that appropriate?"
Physician Fu was still mindful of etiquette.
"I heard you were also present when second sister moved into Tingnuan Building. You must know that Tingnuan Building used to be a place where we often gathered, and many guests have visited it."
Lu Zhaohua tried to phrase it nicely, "Besides, you are my second sister's doctor, so it's normal for you to visit a patient."
It wouldn't be considered entering the back courtyard without reason.
Moreover, given the old doctor's age, no one would think too much of it.
Normally, Physician Fu wouldn't have gone in, but today he was truly anxious. Seeing the Lu family servants looking rather dull-witted, he knew waiting for them to relay a message would waste too much time, so he followed Lu Zhaohua inside.
Upon reaching Tingnuan Building, Lu Zhaoling had just returned from a half-circle stroll.
Mainly, her injuries hadn't healed yet, and her body was still weak.
But after walking half a circle, she picked up some more silver.
One was a real silver ingot, five taels, dropped outside the winding corridor.
There was also a small purse, no idea how long it had been dropped, the cloth of the purse had faded from wind and sun, and inside were a few pieces of broken silver.
Qingyin didn't know who dropped them, but her young lady said they were ownerless, so she accepted them with a clear conscience.
"Young Lady, if you walk around the capital city in the future, will you pick up a lot of silver?" Qingbao was astonished.
Lu Zhaoling took a drink of water and smiled at the remark.
"The wealth found outside is probably mostly owned by someone."
If she were to get entangled in karma again, she would have to exert herself to find the owners, which would be too much trouble.
"Second Sister." Lu Zhaohua brought Physician Fu over.
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