Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 648: Sudden Illness (Part 3)

"Mother!"

Lu Ying opened her mouth to stop Aunt Mei: "Let’s wait on this matter for a moment."

"If Doctor Sun were to reveal this matter, he wouldn’t have concealed it for you from the start. Since he hasn’t mentioned it, it shows that Doctor Sun has other intentions. Maybe Chief Historian Feng also knew about it long ago."

"They are the confidants of the Commandery Princess, speaking and acting with her interests in mind. Father’s ’sudden illness’ makes it impossible for him to go to the Capital City or appear in public, which is a good thing for the Commandery Princess. From this perspective, you’ve done a great job, and they should be grateful."

Aunt Mei froze again and murmured: "You mean, they won’t expose this secret?"

Lu Ying nodded: "If I guessed right, not only will they not reveal it but they will go to great lengths to cover up, making this matter a perpetual secret."

"Mother, you don’t need to do anything now. Wait a while, and everything will become clear."

Living a few more days is also good.

A flash of relief passed in Aunt Mei’s eyes as she nodded repeatedly. Then, worriedly, she looked up at her son: "Ying’er, you really don’t blame me?"

Lu Xuan was indifferent to his daughter Lu Ruohua but very fond of his son Lu Ying. He even dreamed of having Lu Ying succeed the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Although the dream shattered quickly, it showed Lu Xuan’s emphasis on his offspring. It can be said that father and son were generally harmonious, with Aunt Mei having a hard time all along.

Lu Ying steadily looked at Aunt Mei and spoke in a way that made Aunt Mei burst into tears: "Mother did all this for me. How could I blame you."

"The Commandery Princess is about to ascend the throne as Empress. If Father is even the slightest bit restless, the first to be affected will be me, your son. If the Commandery Princess is angered, there will be no prospects to speak of. Perhaps, I might not even be able to preserve my life."

"Mother risked her life to solve the Commandery Princess’s problem, and the Commandery Princess will remember this kindness and treat my sister and me well. I understand all of Mother’s painstaking efforts."

Aunt Mei was full of tears, crying as she held her son’s hand.

Lu Ying’s eyes were also red, yet his voice remained calm: "Since it’s done, think positively. As long as Chief Historian Feng and Doctor Sun don’t speak, no one will know where Father’s sudden illness comes from."

These days, people dying from illnesses is quite a normal occurrence. Both emperors of Da Liang died from illnesses; Emperor Taikang barely made it to his thirties, while Emperor Taihe didn’t even live to see his twentieth year before passing away.

Lu Xuan isn’t any significant figure; the only ones likely to pay extra attention are the Lu Family.

Aunt Mei cried for a while, wiped her tears, and spoke softly: "I’m worried the Lu Family might become suspicious."

Having studied at the Prefecture School for two years, Lu Ying’s perspective and understanding have made considerable progress. Comforting her, he said: "Father has been the live-in son-in-law at the Nanyang Prince Mansion for twenty years, maintaining the relationship between the Lu Family and the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Now, Uncle has become the Pingzhou Governor; the relationship between the Lu Family and Nanyang Prince Mansion is unbreakable. Regarding Father’s sudden illness, where would the Lu Family dare to raise any suspicion?"

"Mother should ease her mind and live well."

Aunt Mei listened to her son the most, and her brows quietly relaxed.

Lu Ying pondered for a moment and asked the most critical question: "How long can Father live after being poisoned by such chronic toxins?"

Aunt Mei replied softly: "Quickly, ten days to half a month; slowly, a few months."

Lu Ying nodded slightly: "It’s better if it happens quickly."

Messages travel normally, and once the Lu Family hears the news and sends someone over, it’ll take a month. If the Lu Family arrives after the Nanyang Prince Mansion has already held the funeral, it would be ideal.

...

With Lu Ying’s reassurance, Aunt Mei quickly calmed down. Following Lu Ying’s instructions, she attended to Lu Xuan by the bedside daily, fully embodying a virtuous demeanor.

Doctor Sun came daily to check Lu Junma’s pulse, his face growing increasingly grave, occasionally shaking his head and sighing.

Chief Historian Feng also visited daily to see the patient, while sending someone to inform the Lu Family, preparing them to quickly come for the funeral.

No one came to ask Aunt Mei what Lu Xuan had eaten or drunk before the sudden illness.

The entire Nanyang Prince Mansion was immersed in the joyful news that the Commandery Princess was about to ascend the throne as emperor, with no one truly concerned about the fate of Lu Junma.

Aunt Mei, initially feeling "I am doomed" to later thinking "living another day is good," had now become "living peacefully without the people who get in our way." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Lying on the bed, Lu Xuan initially could gesturally open his mouth, but was ignored by everyone. His two confidant followers, the clever and capable Fang Tong, was dispatched to the Lu Family with the message, while Bian Dong was sent away to do errands. The rest were people from the Prince Mansion.

Lu Xuan, unable to move or speak, watched powerlessly as Aunt Mei and her two children wandered before him, his resentment growing stronger, and his periods of unconsciousness increasing.

Chief Historian Feng, an upright person who most detests pretense, had no choice as Chief Historian Chen had followed the Commandery Princess to the Capital City, leaving him as the only one in charge at the Prince Mansion. He was busy with internal affairs daily, and still found time to visit Lu Junma, putting on an endlessly mournful appearance before others.

"The Commandery Princess’s great enterprise is about to be accomplished; counting the days, there are only ten days left before the ascension. Alas, Lu Junma has contracted an unusual illness; Doctor Sun is also powerless, just prescribing some decoctions to barely extend Lu Junma’s life."

"I hope Lu Junma can endure through more days to at least witness the Commandery Princess’s enthronement."

Saying this, he reddened his eyes and wiped the corners.

His acting skills had already transcended Chief Historian Feng’s limits.

Shen Mu Wen An and others sighed: "Lu Junma is indeed unfortunate, making one lament."

"Doctor Sun has tried his best, and Chief Historian Feng has fulfilled his duties as a subject, no need to grieve too much. The Commandery Princess fulfills her great work; if Lu Junma closed his eyes immediately, he should be at peace."

...

Lu Junma was absolutely not at peace, unable to rest even in death.

His entire body’s muscles rigid, unable to eat, relying on being fed some liquid food every day to survive. During feeding, he was in dire straits.

Aunt Mei showed gentleness and care without the least distaste, personally feeding him each time and carefully wiping his mouth and ears, whispering in his ears meanwhile.

"You won’t live for many days; rest at ease and close your eyes."

"I will take good care of Ying’er and Ruohua; the Commandery Princess will also take care of them as siblings. When they grow up, they’ll work for the Commandery Princess. The Commandery Princess is broad-minded and won’t mind them being illegitimate siblings. When they’re grown and successful, I’ll take them to burn offerings at your grave, so you can rest easy beneath nine springs."

Lu Xuan glared fiercely at Aunt Mei, eyes wide open.

If he had the slightest strength now, he would definitely leap from the bed and squeeze Aunt Mei’s throat with his hands to strangle her to vent his hatred.

Aunt Mei flinched habitually, soon lightened: "I don’t need to be afraid of you anymore; you have no strength to curse or beat me now. You’re about to die."

Lu Xuan’s eyes almost bulged out of the sockets, his forehead veins protruding, his face bright red.

Then, he just exhaled his last breath.