Chapter 378: The Marvelous Kitchen Chapter 379: Evil Wind

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

On the table, six food boxes were lined up in a row, containing rice, dishes, soup, cakes, and so on—everything was complete.

From the Imperial Palace to Lu Wang Fu, the journey was not short, but with charcoal to keep them warm, and styles specially selected, with rich varieties and top-grade ingredients, they were worthy of the title "Empress Dowager's Bestowal."

A table of food that looked delicious by any measure instead caused the cold sweat Lu Wang had just wiped away to break out again.

He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, stood there motionless, and did nothing.

If the one bestowing the meal was Zhao Yu, he would naturally not be afraid—if he ate what the Emperor bestowed and felt even slightly unwell, the reputation of harming his elders would be impossible to shake off.

The current court cares most about face.

But the one who came this time was Empress Dowager Yang!

Back when his elder brother died, he had merely helped urge them to ask once, saying the Imperial Guards' rewards had been delayed too long and when they would be issued; she had heard some old story about the Yue Wang from somewhere, and in front of many ministers, actually came out with a line like "Wait until you do it yourself."

Afterwards, he had only made a bigger scene outside, but she had not a shred of tolerance, and even imitated the story of Cao Mengde and Xun Yu, sending him an empty food box.

Although she immediately sent another portion, claiming it was a mistake—how could such a thing be a mistake?

The old shrew had always been fierce; it was said that when the late Emperor was still a prince, the two had a quarrel, and her husband's beard, still with flesh and blood attached, was pulled out by her, and in the end he had to help cover it up.

A person who never cared about face—if she really put down poison and ate him to death, she would play dumb, and who could hold her accountable??

Furthermore, the palace gates had been sealed for two days, and now they suddenly opened, and as soon as they opened, food was sent from inside...

Could it be that Zhao Yu truly had less than two days to live, and she was afraid that after she took the throne...

Thinking of this, Lu Wang was even more unwilling to gamble.

The eunuch who delivered the edict saw him not move, and politely said: "This subordinate received the Empress Dowager's order and must still serve Wang Ye his meal."

This person said while turning back to make a gesture.

Several little yellow gates immediately came forward, some moving tables and chairs, others taking out various dishes from the food boxes one by one to arrange them, and preparing bowls and chopsticks.

Lu Wang's scalp went numb.

He turned to look at the retainers behind him.

The crowd caught sight of his movement from the corner of their eyes, each desperately making eye signals, or hurriedly closing their eyes, or half-leaning to one side, putting on a show.

Lu Wang understood, stepped forward two paces, and just as he was about to sit down, with his buttocks barely touching half the chair, his whole body slid to one side.

Several retainers behind rushed forward in a swarm and caught him.

"Wang Ye!"

"Not good! Wang Ye has fainted—quickly call a doctor!"

Lu Wang fainted, and the front hall was in utter chaos.

But that eunuch looked even more anxious than the other retainers, immediately sent someone to report to the palace, urged the doctor, and ordered someone to fetch ice water, saying that at such a time, it was best to use ice water to stimulate the head and face.

Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching and the weather had already turned cool; who dared to bring ice water to splash on Lu Wang?

Some retainers had already slipped out to make explanations, and naturally everyone in Lu Wang Fu pretended to be ignorant.

There was no cold water, but a doctor arrived very quickly.

Old Doctor took the pulse and had not yet spoken when the eunuch urgently asked: "Wang Ye won't have been invaded by evil wind, will he?"

"Wang Ye's body is weak, and indeed some evil wind has entered his body..."

"Last time this official heard Peng Yuan Shi report to the Empress Dowager, saying that the older one gets, once evil wind enters the body, the longer it is delayed the worse; waking slowly, one fears the brain... At such a time, acupuncture on the philtrum is most effective—Doctor, is this the correct method?"

The words of the Taiyi Jian Yuan Shi—how could the doctor invited by Lu Wang Fu dare to deny them? He could only vaguely agree.

The eunuch then said: "Then hurry—quickly use the needles!"

Stared at covetously by a group of retainers, Old Doctor first glanced behind, made eye signals to the apprentice who was about to take the needle case from the medicine box, then hurriedly shook his head: "Ai ya! I came in a hurry and actually forgot to bring needles—apprentice, you quickly go back, go get my needles!"

But the eunuch said: "What is to be done! We can wait, but how can Wang Ye's condition wait?"

He lifted his sleeve, with a gritting-teeth expression, and said: "There's no choice; this official must do it himself—Peng Yuan Shi specially taught that when it is urgent, one cannot hesitate; without acupuncture, pinching by hand will do, but one must use force, use strength!"

Speaking, this eunuch stepped forward several paces, truly fearless of death, and was about to rush at Lu Wang.

Seeing his posture, it was as if he wanted to pinch Lu Wang's philtrum through with one hand; a group of people were terrified and almost dragged him back.

"The day before yesterday Wang Ye heard that His Majesty was ill, day and night he neither drank tea nor ate rice, could not swallow a drop of water, and was very worried in his heart; he also heard some rumors outside, and was both angry and resentful. Now receiving the Empress Dowager's concern, suddenly his heart was stirred, and he fainted all at once!"

"Right! Right! It should not be a serious illness, there is no evil wind, he will be fine in a moment!"

"The philtrum cannot be pinched carelessly... it would be better to wait for the needles!"

"Doctor! Doctor, quickly see if there is any other method!"

Amidst the clamor, Old Doctor himself stepped in; not knowing where he pressed, Lu Wang finally woke up slowly, gasping for breath and thanking him.

He said his head was dizzy and painful, a pity about the Empress Dowager's good meal, and also paid respects and asked after the Emperor; he said there was no serious problem, just rest and rest, and he would naturally be fine, no need to fuss, and asked that eunuch to return and report duty, and so on.

The eunuch refused to leave, and with utmost attentiveness said: "Wang Ye has a sudden illness; this subordinate happens to look after him—this subordinate previously served at the Taiyi Jian, understands a bit of medical theory and pharmacology, and studied medicine for two years under Peng Yuan Shi. Now Wang Fei is not here, and there is no one in the Fu to make decisions; if I just leave, and His Majesty finds out, he will definitely demand punishment!"

Speaking, he actually overstepped his bounds, summoned the Changshi, had bedding laid out in the outer room, and said: "Tonight this subordinate will stand guard here! Evil wind entering the body is most dangerous!"

This time, Lu Wang only felt the back of his head twitching again and again, as if he had truly been invaded by evil wind.

In the afternoon, the medical officers and little yellow gates sent from the palace arrived in a swarm.

Even though Lu Wang repeatedly said he was fine, the medical officers still concocted a prescription.

The eunuch who delivered the edict brought several little yellow gates to serve Lu Wang his medicine.

Although the prescription had been reviewed by a trustworthy doctor and the medicine was personally gathered and decocted by confidants, looking at the medicine bowl before him, Lu Wang's heart was still in turmoil.

While decocting the medicine, palace eunuchs and little yellow gates were also at the side; subordinates could make mistakes—would they tamper with something?

All day long, previously unprepared, now recalling it all, he felt that what had happened was simply absurd and strange.

What are Lu Wang and the several eunuchs and yellow-gate officials sent by the Empress Dowager doing here, wrangling back and forth?

There's no time to delay the great matter!

He lifted the medicine bowl, made a clumsy move, and spilled the medicine all over himself, then looked up and said: "I spilled it by accident—however, this prince has already shown some recovery, so there's no need to take more medicine. You gentlemen may return to the palace and report."

Unexpectedly, neither the medical officer nor the eunuchs insisted; they returned to the palace quite readily.

Lu Wang let out a sigh of relief at once, and after the men left, he hurriedly arranged his subordinates to make various plans and preparations.

He had originally worried that the palace might take some action, but after waiting half a day with no sign of movement, he finally felt somewhat relieved.

The next morning, before he had even gotten up, someone came rushing back with news.

Early in the morning, though autumn days are cold and cool at dawn and dusk, that man was still sweating all over his head and face.

"Your Highness, Your Highness! News from the palace: the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager is taking Her Majesty the Empress... to mourn the late emperor!"

?? Hello everyone, I'm truly sorry, please don't wait for updates; I currently can't guarantee updates.