The more a man throws his weight around at home, the more of a coward he is outside.
The Earl of Pingning exemplified this perfectly. Before Situ Yan’s blade could be used again, he handed over the information.
“Yun Lan Twin Dragons, Han Ya Fo Cao, Wu Gou Ling Hua…”
Situ Yan immediately found it ridiculous. “Are you trying to fool an idiot? These herb names are more bizarre than the romance novels my maids read.”
“If anyone could understand this prescription, would you still need to come here to snatch it? Without me, even if you got the prescription, it would be useless.” The Earl of Pingning started to gloat again before his wound had even stopped bleeding, as if he hadn’t been the one nearly scared incontinent moments before. He boasted, “Imperial Physician Ji, you might as well consider cooperating with me. Otherwise, just deciphering this prescription could take you decades.”
“Isn’t it just the Zi Mu Gu and a few common herbs from the Western Regions? Look at you, so capable. Brother, you can handle him now.” Ji Jin, holding the prescription, dashed off at high speed, leaving Situ Yan to clean up the mess himself.
The Earl of Pingning’s confident expression froze, then turned to horror.
This was because Situ Yan took out a pill from his pocket. It was a tiny, jet-black pill that looked and smelled like no good medicine.
He wanted to shout, but his jaw was forced open. By the time it closed, the pill had already been swallowed.
“What did you give me?”
“Tsk, you can still talk. This medicine takes effect too slowly.”
The autumn rain had fallen all night, and the sun was nowhere to be seen the next day. The steps, soaked by the rain, were wet and looked prone to slipping. As Lu Nianfu lifted the curtain of the carriage, Qingya quickly reached out to help her. “Miss, please be careful.”
“Is it that exaggerated?” It’s just pregnancy, can I not even walk properly?
However, seeing Qingya’s anxious expression, she still extended her hand.
At the entrance, Ji Jin had already been waiting for some time. “Your subordinate greets Your Highness the Princess Consort.”
Lu Nianfu quickly said, “Please rise, sir. How is my father?”
“His body is immobile, and his speech is gone. The Earl shows signs of a stroke. Although there is no threat to his life, he will likely be unable to care for himself in the future.”
Lu Nianfu, seeing a hint of pity on his face, couldn't help but praise him inwardly for his dedicated performance. Unlike her, who should have shed a few tears to show filial piety, she couldn’t produce a single drop.
She feigned sadness and hurried inside. “I’ll go and see him.”
Qingya quickly followed. “Miss, please go slowly.”
The Earl of Pingning had been ill for a long time, and the news of his stroke did not raise any suspicion. With the pillar of the household fallen, the Countess of Pingning, who had been out of touch with affairs for a while, had to step forward to take charge.
She sat by the Earl of Pingning’s bed, her expression a mixture of joy and sorrow.
Upon seeing Lu Nianfu enter, her expression became agitated. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. She merely turned away and wiped her moist eyes.
Lu Nianfu didn’t know how to face her.
Logically, upon learning of her difficult circumstances that led her to abandon her, she should have accepted her again. However, how could a decade of lost maternal love be compensated by mere hardship?
She pointed at the Earl of Pingning on the bed and asked Ji Jin, “How long will he be like this?”
“He will likely be like this for the rest of his life. You can rest assured about my medicine.”
Lu Nianfu was indeed reassured.
It was a great joy for the people of this mansion that the wicked could no longer do evil. She looked at the Countess of Pingning. “In that case, you can rest easy. He will never be able to hit you again.”
The Countess of Pingning’s lips moved. “Thank, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If you have any difficulties in the future, you can directly ask Uncle Yan to find me.”