Chapter 156: The Right General

"Lord!"

"Lord!"

Steward Zheng, who was waiting outside the hall, heard the commotion inside and, in a panic, rushed in.

Seeing Shangguan Jun and Liang Qi lying on the ground, his pupils narrowed; he turned to the servant who had followed behind him and barked, "Quick, go fetch the house physician!"

"You all, don't just stand there—hurry and lift the Lord and Lord Liang onto the bed!"

"Yes."

The young, strong servants responded at once and each began their duties.

After a short while.

"Lord!"

"Lord, are you all right?"

Shangguan Jun's wife, Wu Xiqing, came hurriedly with a maid, rushed to the bed, gently stroked the unconscious Shangguan Jun's face, and shouted, "Wake up quickly, open your eyes, look at me!"

After a long struggle with no response, she finally turned to Steward Zheng standing nearby and demanded sharply, "Steward Zheng, what on earth is happening?"

"The Lord and Lord Liang were drinking; why did they both collapse?"

Her words were full of anger and blame.

It wasn't his first time drinking with friends in the manor; why did something happen suddenly?

"Madam, I have no idea either!"

Steward Zheng lowered his head, trembling, and said, "They were drinking just fine, chatting happily, and then it suddenly turned like this…"

Steward Zheng felt bitter inside.

You come here and blurt the question at me; who else should I ask?

I also want to know which part went wrong!

"The house physician is here!"

"The house physician is here!"

At that moment, a sharp shout came from outside the room.

Immediately after, an old man with white hair and beard, surrounded by several servants, carrying a medicine box, hurried into the room.

Seeing the newcomer, Wu Xiqing seemed to have found a savior and said, "Physician Tang, please examine the Lord right away; what's happening?"

"Yes."

Physician Tang replied, "Madam, please remain calm; let me first take his pulse to understand the situation…"

"Hurry up!" Wu Xiqing, displeased, urged.

She had no patience for those useless words; she just wanted to treat her husband immediately.

Physician Tang did not hesitate further, set the medicine box down, knelt at the bedside, placed his hand on Shangguan Jun's right pulse, felt it carefully for a moment, then lifted his hand to pry open the tightly shut eyelids; his pale eyebrows furrowed tightly as he stammered, "This… this…"

"What is this?"

"Lord, what exactly has happened to him?"

Wu Xiqing, irritated by Physician Tang's hesitant speech, grew increasingly frantic, disregarding decorum, and suddenly raised her voice to demand.

Physician Tang released Shangguan Jun's wrist, then took Liang Qi's wrist, repeatedly confirming, before saying, "It is a case of poisoning!"

"What?!"

"Poisoned?!"

Wu Xiqing was startled, her face full of disbelief, and she exclaimed without voice.

After a pause, she steadied herself slightly and continued, "How could poisoning happen in our own manor?"

If it had occurred in an outside tavern or restaurant, it would still be somewhat understandable…

But it happened right here in our own manor, eating our own food…

With that thought, Wu Xiqing's gaze turned cold as she scanned the servants present in the room from left to right.

"Madam, it has nothing to do with us!"

The servants, whose hair stood on end under her stare, knelt and defended themselves.

Wu Xiqing withdrew her gaze, took a deep breath, and ordered, "Physician Tang, now that you know it's poisoning, hurry and treat the Lord and Lord Liang!"

"Lest we waste time…"

As the matriarch of the household, Wu Xiqing remained rational, discerning the priorities clearly.

There was no time to hunt the poisoner; saving lives was the utmost priority.

First revive them; there will be time to investigate later!

Physician Tang, however, showed a troubled expression: "The symptoms are rather strange; even I cannot discern what poison it is at the moment…"

In other words, he cannot prescribe the right remedy…

More bluntly, he is at a loss!

"You…"

Wu Xiqing, seething with anger, could not contain her fury and raised her hand, pointing straight at Physician Tang, shouting, "We spent silver to keep you in the manor, and what good is that?"

You train a soldier for a thousand days, but use him only once.

And when the time comes, you tell me you can't save them…???

Wu Xiqing took several deep breaths, forced herself to calm, and asked, "So what should we do now?"

She knew clearly that now was not the time to lose her temper…

The house physician is the only one versed in pharmacology; even if he cannot save them, he can offer useful advice.

"I can draft a prescription to temporarily alleviate the symptoms…" Physician Tang, a bit hesitant, glanced at the two on the bed and said cautiously.

After a pause, he continued, "Madam, go to the palace and request the imperial physician, gather wisdom, and seek a detoxification method!"

Wu Xiqing gently stroked her fair forehead, approved Physician Tang's expedient plan, and said, "If we can stabilize him first, that's fine; we'll do as you say!"

"Write the prescription quickly, and brew the medicine right away!"

This is already a method with no other options.

"Yes." Physician Tang and the others replied, then began writing the formula and preparing the medicine.

A few servants, bearing the seal of the Right General's Mansion, rushed toward the Imperial Palace to request the imperial physician.

After a single incense stick burned.

"The medicine has arrived!"

"The medicine has arrived!"

Two maidservants carrying bowls of hot broth hurried over, shouting.

"Quickly give it to the Lord and Lord Liang to take!" Wu Xiqing waved her hand, signaling others to step aside, and ordered.

The family must not suffer any mishap.

Liang Qi must also not encounter any trouble in their residence.

At this moment, Wu Xiqing was truly frantic, having prayed countless times to the heavens and all deities…

"Um…"

"Um…"

"Ah!"

"Aah!"

The medicine was just poured by the maidservant into Shangguan Jun's mouth, and he immediately reacted.

But it was not an instant recovery; instead, he began foaming at the mouth…

His whole body convulsed more violently, as if about to contort.

Then, all movement ceased, and he lay still on the couch.

"Lord, don't frighten me!"

Wu Xiqing, witnessing the scene, was extremely panicked, stepped forward and grabbed Shangguan Jun's hand.

She shouted for a long while with no response, turned to Physician Tang, and asked, "What is happening?"

Physician Tang hurried forward, took Shangguan Jun's pulse, and his heart suddenly lurched, trembling, "Madam, the Lord… he…"

He stopped short of speaking.

Physician Tang dared not continue.

"What happened to the Lord?"

"Then say it!"

Wu Xiqing, extremely agitated, clenched her teeth and shouted loudly.

Her intuition told her the situation might be dire…

"Madam, please restrain your grief!"

"The Lord is gone!"

Physician Tang fell to his knees, bowed his head to the ground, gathered his courage, and said in a deep voice.

"What?!"

"What did you say?!"

"Say it again!"

Wu Xiqing almost shouted it.

She staggered at her feet, nearly falling, but a nearby maid quickly steadied her.

"The Lord… he is gone!"

"There is no pulse or breath left…"

Physician Tang curled on the ground and repeated again.

Wu Xiqing, as if struck by lightning, fell backward.

"Madam!"

"Madam!"

The servants around wore worried expressions.

"Lord… Lord…" Wu Xiqing's eyes dimmed as she murmured.

"Madam, the Lord is gone, Lord Liang is also gone…" Steward Zheng deliberated for a long time before asking, "What should we do now?"

"What should we do?"

"What should we do?"

Wu Xiqing, a bit stunned, murmured the phrase repeatedly, then suddenly realized and blurted, "Report to the officials… yes, report to the officials!"

"Steward Zheng, send someone to report to the officials, and seal off our residence; no one may leave!"

Despite the sudden disaster and heavy blow, Wu Xiqing's reason remained intact.

She knew they could not let the murderer escape!

Steward Zheng, having received the order, went immediately to carry it out.

Outside the Right General's Mansion.

"My Li Mirror Keeper Lord, this night of fine weather and beautiful scenery, why not go to Jiaofang Si for pleasure…"

"Why are you dragging this official out to patrol the streets?"

Metropolitan Inspector Liu Bingzhong, bewildered, looked at the Keeper of the Black Tortoise Mirror Li Tan beside him and asked.

This perfect moment should be spent cuddling with a Flower Courtesan in bed…

Who's the good soul that ran out onto the street to freeze?

"Come out for a stroll, sobering up!"

"Let's see if there's any adultery offender… haha!"

Li Tan replied casually, brushing it off.

"Hey, look over there!"

"It's this hour already—why is anyone sprinting down the street?"

Just as Liu Bingzhong was at a loss, he suddenly noticed something odd at the far end of the street, became alert, pointed behind Li Tan, and to the officials behind him ordered, "You few, go stop him and question him!"

Li Tan also saw from afar that person who had come out of the Right General's residence.

It wasn't for nothing that he stayed up late, summoned by his elder brother to patrol the streets, finally "happened upon" someone from Shangguan Jun's household…