Hearing Xiao Zheng’s trembling voice, Lu Chao quickly opened his eyes.
“Ahem, I… I’m fine.”
Liu Yao noticed Prince Kang’s piercing gaze, which seemed sharp enough to split him in half on the spot. He shuddered, tightened his arms around the young master in his embrace, and didn’t dare to breathe too loudly.
Prince Kang strode forward, slightly bowing with a face full of remorse.
“My apologies for startling you, Sister-in-law. As you now carry the imperial heir, your health is of utmost importance. Please do not let this sudden incident distress you or disturb the little one in your womb. The night wind is chilly—it would be best for you to return indoors and rest, rather than trouble yourself with such trivial matters.”
The Crown Prince’s concubine, dressed in simple yet elegant attire that accentuated her gentle grace, lightly cradled her rounded belly with delicate hands, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.
“Prince Kang, there’s no need for such formalities. Lord Lu has suffered misfortune—it’s hardly his fault. He seems severely injured. Since we have a royal physician on hand, why not let him examine Lord Lu first? That way, everyone can rest assured.”
Prince Kang clasped his hands in gratitude.
“Thank you for your kindness, Sister-in-law. I am deeply moved. However, Lu Chao has always been frail, and only a physician familiar with his constitution can properly treat him. The medicines and adjustments must be precise. I shall take him back to my residence for treatment. Once he recovers, I will personally bring him to express our gratitude for your generosity.”
With that, the group took their leave.
Xiao Zheng, disregarding propriety, snatched Lu Chao from Liu Yao’s arms, swiftly mounted his horse, and cracked his whip. The thundering hooves kicked up dust as they raced forward like the wind.
“To Prince Kang’s residence! Mr. Shang is there!”
Prince Kang watched Xiao Zheng’s retreating figure, shouting after him before leaping onto his own steed and giving chase.
“Lu Chao! Hang in there! You mustn’t let anything happen to you!”
Xiao Zheng stared at the bloodstained Lu Chao in his arms, his heart gripped by sheer terror.
Lu Chao felt a pang of guilt—he had overdone the act. Suddenly, a warm droplet fell onto his cheek.
He looked up at Xiao Zheng’s panicked expression, his heart skipping a beat. Softly, he asked,
“You… care for me too, don’t you?”
His pulse quickened as he awaited an answer, his gaze locked onto Xiao Zheng’s eyes.
Before Xiao Zheng could respond, Lu Chao heard the booming voice of the old man.
“They’re back! They’re back!! Hurry, hurry!!”
Damn it! Why was the distance so short?! Lu Chao gritted his teeth in frustration.
Xiao Zheng reined in his horse and dismounted steadily with Lu Chao in his arms.
Already feeling unwell earlier, and after a day of exhaustion and a bumpy ride, Lu Chao’s stomach churned the moment his feet touched the ground. He retched violently, vomiting onto the ground.
“Aah!! Oh no, no! Chao’er is foaming at the mouth!! Old Shang!! Come quick!!”
Liu Yao, who had just caught up, stumbled and nearly face-planted.
The young master never mentioned this part of the act!!
After a chaotic flurry, Lu Chao was treated with acupuncture and fell into a deep slumber.
Mr. Shang carefully checked his pulse, his expression grave.
“Cold stagnation has accumulated in his body, compounded by excessive worry, disrupting the flow of qi and blood in his organs. That’s what triggered this episode. He must be closely watched tonight—I suspect the fever will flare up again. Take this prescription, prepare the medicine, and administer it. If the fever breaks, he should recover.”
“Amitabha! The Bodhisattva has blessed us. Thank you, Mr. Shang!”
Lady Lu pressed her palms together in prayer and bowed deeply to Mr. Shang.
When she first glimpsed the blood on Lu Chao’s face, she nearly collapsed—only to later realize it was a false alarm.
The courtyard was thick with tension, as if the air itself could condense into water.
Liu Yao knelt in the yard, his face crestfallen as he faced the inquisition.
Prince Kang sat sternly at the center, flanked by a worried Lord Lu on his left and a fierce General Xiao on his right. The three men pinned Liu Yao under their scrutiny, as if a single wrong word would lead to his demise.
“Report everything that happened today—omit nothing!”
Liu Yao swallowed hard, his throat parched. He stole a glance at the three imposing figures before him, inwardly lamenting his misfortune, and spilled every detail of the encounter with Heir Xiao like beans from a sack.
Prince Kang listened impassively, only raising an eyebrow at key moments, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes before vanishing.
“And the blood on the young master’s face?”
“Your Highness, it… it was chicken blood smeared from the kitchen. With me around, how could those amateurs possibly harm the young master!”
“And the foaming at the mouth?”
“Well… that was the stolen bird’s nest with milk from the Marquis’s kitchen, meant to nourish the young master. Knowing his delicate constitution, I didn’t dare let him touch the greasy roasted lamb leg—only gave him some tonics. Probably the jostling on horseback upset his stomach… so he… threw up…”
His voice trailed off as he peeked at their expressions.
Prince Kang let out a humorless laugh.
“Hah! So you’re saying I should praise you for taking such good care of him?”
“This lowly one wouldn’t dare!”
As the saying goes, like master, like servant.
Prince Kang studied the mischievous Liu Yao. He had half a mind to punish him, but the words died in his throat. After all, he had already given Liu Yao to Lu Chao. If he disciplined the servant without Lu Chao’s consent, the young master would throw a fit upon waking.
“What are you dawdling for? Go brew the medicine!”
Prince Kang snapped impatiently.
“Yes, sir!”
Liu Yao scrambled up as if pardoned from execution. He had expected to lose a layer of skin today, but Prince Kang had let him off lightly. Afraid the prince might change his mind, he bolted toward the rear courtyard without delay.
Lord Lu slammed the table in fury!
“The Prince of Nanchang goes too far, allowing his son to run amok! How can the Lu family swallow this insult? Tomorrow, I will submit a memorial to the throne, denouncing the Prince of Nanchang and demanding justice for my son!”
His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, clearly beside himself with rage.
Speak of the devil—no sooner had he spoken than a servant rushed in to report.
“Your Highness, the Prince of Nanchang has arrived with his heir. Heir Xiao is kneeling at the palace gates.”
Lord Lu’s fury reignited. He rolled up his sleeves, ready to storm out.
“How dare he show his face here?! I’ll give him a piece of my mind! Such audacity—does he think the laws of the court mean nothing?!”
Lu Yuanzhao swiftly stepped forward, blocking his father’s path.
“Father, Chao’er hasn’t even regained consciousness yet. Our hearts are heavy with grief—why waste energy on them? Right now, Chao’er is our priority. Besides, Prince Kang is here. Let him handle this. We should remain calm.”
Prince Kang glanced at Lu Yuanzhao, whom Lu Chao had often praised as upright and kind, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips.
If Lord Lu charged out now, it would only weaken their position. Should the Prince of Nanchang theatrically disown his son in front of him, what then? Forgiveness would make the Lu family seem weak; refusal would paint them as merciless.
A lose-lose situation—a masterstroke by the Prince of Nanchang.
"Lord Lu makes a valid point. For now, taking care of Lu Chao should be our priority. I notice that Lord Lu and Lady Lu have been greatly shaken by today’s events and seem unwell. It would be best to arrange a sedan chair to escort them back to their residence for rest."
With Prince Kang’s endorsement, Lu Yuanzhao felt reassured.
As night fell, news spread like wildfire that the Prince of Nanchang had arrived with Heir Xiao to make a formal apology, drawing curious glances from onlookers. The vivid red handprint on Heir Xiao’s cheek was particularly striking, prompting murmurs of amazement—finally, this troublemaker had met his match.
The moment the gates of Prince Kang’s residence opened, the Prince of Nanchang raised his whip and struck his son mercilessly.
"Spare my family, I beg of you, my lord!"
Lu Yuanzhao dropped to his knees with a thud.
Meanwhile, the Lu family servants carefully assisted the half-conscious Lord Lu and Lady Lu into the sedan chair.
