The arrival of a carriage broke the quiet contemplation of the Lu family's grandfather and grandson.
Both of them looked up to see their eldest grandson—Lu Shu, the famed "Young Divine Physician" of the Lu family—stepping down from the carriage.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he sucked in a sharp breath, clutching his abdomen.
The old master frowned and asked, "What happened?"
Lu Shu wore a pale gray long robe. On his abdomen were two distinct footprints—clear signs that he had been kicked.
The old master's expression darkened.
"Grandfather," Lu Shu said through gritted teeth, "on the road I encountered Princess Baoqing's carriage. The road was narrow, so I turned back—but the rear of my carriage startled the princess's horse. The horse panicked, frightened the princess, and she wouldn't let it go… Her guards kicked me twice."
He pressed his abdomen, his face twisted in pain.
The old master's expression changed drastically.
Princess Baoqing was the daughter of Consort Dantai—favored by both her mother and the emperor. She was notoriously arrogant. After marriage, she even established her own residence. It was said her husband often suffered her abuse, yet the emperor still protected his daughter.
Lu Shu, as the Lu family's "Young Divine Physician," was someone even the nobility treated with respect when he traveled.
But if Princess Baoqing was displeased—she could strike without hesitation.
Recently, Zheng Qian had also become famous for daring to refuse the princess's summons. That act alone had shocked everyone and further amplified her reputation.
"How do you feel?" the old master asked.
Guards from the princess's residence were trained in martial arts. If a kick had injured his internal organs, even divine intervention might not save him.
The Lu family were physicians—not immortals. They did not possess Zheng Qian's ability to bring the dead back to life.
"It hurts a bit," Lu Shu said. "I'll apply some medicated wine when I return—it should be fine."
But as he spoke, a flicker of malice passed through his eyes.
The old master noticed it—and suddenly felt that this grandson might be narrow-minded, unable to tolerate others.
He nodded. "Go back and rest. Be more careful in the future."
Lu Shu acknowledged the order.
As he walked away, resentment churned in his heart.
He was clearly more famous, more talented, more handsome—so why was that Zheng family girl deliberately suppressing him and elevating Lu instead?
Were those two useless people protecting each other?
Recently, Lu had been in the spotlight. Those who disliked Lu Shu often used Lu to mock him—saying he couldn't even compare to a fifth branch illegitimate son.
Lu Shu was furious.
And as his anger rose, the pain in his abdomen worsened.
He pressed his hand against it, a hint of unease creeping into his heart. If his internal organs were truly damaged—he might not survive.
That Princess Baoqing… truly ruthless. That venomous woman!
News of Zheng Qian's visit to the Lu household soon reached the Zheng family.
Zheng Yutan immediately knew that Zheng Qian had shown no respect for her—she had not allowed Lu Shu to guide her, instead choosing an obscure illegitimate son from the Lu family.
Her expression darkened.
"What is she so proud of? She's practically a dead woman already."
Her killing intent deepened.
Zheng Yutan composed herself and went to the old madam's courtyard.
At dinner, Zheng Run and Zheng Chi both came to Zheng Qian's courtyard to share the meal.
Zheng Chi was particular—he had his portion delivered separately.
This way, he did not inconvenience the people in Zheng Qian's courtyard or take advantage of her.
Thus, the unfortunate Fifth Young Master realized something devastating:
In this household, both the eldest brother and eldest sister ate better than he did.
The poor boy only now realized that as an illegitimate son of the marquis house, no one—especially Third Madam—gave him any special treatment in meals.
It hurt deeply.
So, in a fit of quiet frustration, the Fifth Young Master ate three large bowls of rice with tears in his eyes.
"...Are you truly a disciple of Lu Qi?" Zheng Chi asked Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian smiled lightly.
"Where in this world are there ghosts? Most things are simply human affairs that cannot be spoken of—so they borrow the name of spirits."
"Then your medical skills… can't be explained either?"
"How would I explain them?" Zheng Qian said with a faint smile. "Say that I died once, and a ghost with medical knowledge took over my body? Now I'm half human, half ghost—do you think anyone would believe that?"
Zheng Chi: "…"
The Fifth Young Master shuddered. "Elder sister, please don't talk about ghosts at night… it's unlucky."
Zheng Qian chuckled.
The three siblings continued eating happily.
Meanwhile, at the Lu residence, disaster struck.
All the physicians of the Lu family—masters and attending doctors alike—gathered around Lu Shu's bedside.
He lay there in agony, his face ashen, drenched in sweat, writhing in pain.
The old master's expression was pale, tinged with green.
Because his diagnosis had confirmed it—
His eldest grandson had suffered a blow to the viscera from the princess's guards.
Ruptured internal organs.
A condition that was almost always fatal.
The Lu family's medical expertise excelled in chronic and difficult conditions—but such acute internal rupture? They were powerless.
The old master, after a lifetime of healing, now dared not make a judgment. He had everyone examine him again.
After each pulse diagnosis, the doctors looked at Lu Shu's condition and were shocked.
"This…"
"Old Master… I cannot tell…"
"It seems… just some pain. Nothing serious…"
But their voices lacked confidence. None of them dared meet the old master's gaze.
They all knew—
This was dire.
Back when the imperial crown prince had suffered a similar injury—falling from a horse during a polo game and being struck in the abdomen—he had died within a day despite all treatments. Even the imperial physicians were powerless.
Now, Lu Shu's condition was nearly identical.
Yet the Lu family lacked the skill of the imperial physicians.
What could be done?
The eldest grandson of the Lu family—the one the old master had painstakingly trained for 24 years, even forbidding him to marry before thirty—was now going to be beaten to death by the nobles?
Everyone felt heavy-hearted.
Veins bulged on the old master's forehead.
"I will beg the Emperor! Summon the imperial physicians!" he said.
"Father, it's too late!" the eldest master hurriedly said. "The palace gates are already locked. If you go now, you may not only fail to summon a physician—you may lose your own life!"
"I cannot let him die," the old master said, word by word.
"Go inform Prince Ancheng," the eldest master suggested. "Ask him to help summon the physicians."
The Lu family had ties to the Empress Dowager—and Prince Ancheng was her grandson. He had connections with them.
He was also on friendly terms with Lu Shu.
"I'll go," said the seventh master.
The old master nodded.
Half an hour later, Prince Ancheng arrived.
After hearing the situation and seeing that all the Lu physicians were helpless, he knew—
Lu Shu was likely beyond saving.
Even calling imperial physicians now might be too late.
The Lu family's medical skill rivaled the entire imperial clinic—if even they were at a loss, the physicians would be too.
Still, the prince took out his token and sent guards to summon four off-duty imperial physicians.
When they arrived and examined Lu Shu, their expressions changed.
"Ruptured viscera."
A death sentence.
There was no cure—only slow, agonizing death.
One of them snapped angrily:
"Lu Shunyan, we were all present when the Crown Prince suffered a similar injury. Now your grandson is in the exact same condition—what do you expect us to do? Ruin our reputations?"
Accepting such a case meant that when the patient died—as they inevitably would—the physician's reputation would be destroyed.
Doctors would not take that risk.
Especially imperial physicians, who guarded their reputations even more fiercely.
Lu Shu was already barely alive, his breathing shallow.
The physicians left in anger.
Only one, Physician Sun, remained out of pity and friendship with the Lu family.
"Prepare for the worst," he said gently to the old master. "Give him some calming medicine and try acupuncture. At this point… what else can you do?"
This was essentially telling them to treat a dead horse as if it were alive.
There was no hope left.
But then—
From a corner of the room, someone suddenly spoke in a low voice:
"Earlier today, Miss Zheng said she specializes in acute conditions. If there's an emergency, we should go ask her."
The voice was soft—but in the silent room, it echoed clearly.
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
It was one of the Lu family members.
Under the weight of everyone's gaze, he froze in place.