Qi Yutai survived.
His fleeting compassion resulted in an outco that was far from good. Over the years, expensive Spirit Rhinoceros Fragrance was burned daily in the mansion to soothe Qi Yutai’s emotions and delay the progression of his illness. However, this child, once clever and bright in his youth, beca increasingly diocre and even dissolute as he grew up. He was impatient, irritable, and sotis lancholic and unpredictable; Qi Qing suspected this also to be a symptom of his epileptic disorder.
Qi Yutai was also unable to father any children; the concubines arranged by the household yielded no issue. When Qi Qing learned of this, he felt both disappointed and relieved.
What if any child born also had epilepsy?
But without an heir, who would inherit the Qi family’s legacy in the future?
He was already too old to have another son.
Qi Qing wiped his son’s face over and over again, the cold and stiff skin brushing against his fingers as if the chill was seeping into the crevices of his bones.
Over these years, he was unwilling to accept the situation, yet he lacked the ruthlessness to truly hate his son. He thought he detested him, but when Qi Yutai truly died, Qi Qing seed to age ten years overnight.
A husband who killed his wife, a father who lost his son.
In the vast hall, with the ornate coffin, he sat hunched over; a murky tear fell on the coffin and was quickly wiped away.
The steward walked in from outside, his voice filled with sorrow, "My lord, the young miss is grieving excessively; the dical officer has seen her, she has taken her dicine and gone to sleep."
Qi Huaying had a deep bond with her brother Qi Yutai. On the day of the ceremonial rites, Qi Qing specifically instructed Qi Huaying to keep a close eye on her brother. Ultimately, Qi Yutai died in full view of everyone, leaving Qi Huaying in unbearable pain.
After a long silence, Qi Qing said, "Take good care of the young miss."
She was the only daughter he had left.
The steward bowed and asked, "My lord, what shall we do next?"
Although Qi Yutai died during the exorcism ceremony, Cold Food Powder was also found on him. The Third Prince would not let go of this opportunity. Now, allowing him to take the body back for burial was already Emperor Liang Ming’s concession in rembrance of past favor.
Everything seed accidental.
But it was definitely not accidental.
In these days, Qi Yutai had been confined in the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, never leaving the main door or stepping outside the secondary gate, with the servants keeping a close watch. How could he have gotten hold of the Cold Food Powder?
Since the Fengle Building incident, all rchants in Shengjing were deeply cautious.
No one dared to take risks at this ti.
In recent days, Qi Yutai had been well-behaved, just waiting for Lu Tong to co and administer treatnt.
Qi Qing’s wiping action paused.
Lu Tong.
In the past two months at the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, Lu Tong was the only outsider who ca and went.
Co to think of it, since Lu Tong’s visits, Qi Yutai indeed had been much more settled.
The guards inside the house noticed nothing wrong; they thought it was just Qi Yutai’s condition stabilizing.
But if it were sothing else...
Qi Qing looked up, his grip tightening on the handkerchief in his hand.
"Where is Lu Tong?"
...
When Lu Tong returned to the dical Officer Institute, it was already evening.
Du Changqing and Miao Liangfang had both gone ho, and Yin Zheng was standing at the doorway about to close the door when she was taken by surprise at the sight of Lu Tong appearing at the entrance, imdiately becoming overjoyed, "Miss, why have you co back so suddenly?"
Lu Tong smiled, "The grand ceremony at the palace yesterday allowed for a day off at the dical Officer Institute today; I will go back tomorrow."
Yin Zheng was both happy and regretful, "Why didn’t you tell us earlier? There are no als left in the kitchen... what do you want to eat? I’ll go make it."
Lu Tong took her hand, "I’m not hungry yet, let’s go inside and talk first."
Yin Zheng agreed.
The door was closed.
The two of them entered the room, and Yin Zheng lit a lamp on the table. Seeing Lu Tong standing in the courtyard lost in thought, she asked, "Miss, what are you looking at?"
"The flowers."
Lu Tong said, "When you and I first moved here last year, there wasn’t a single flower."
The chrysanthemums planted under the window had blood a few flowers, a gust of autumn wind swept by, bringing a cold fragrant scent, modest and pure.
Yin Zheng loved to grow flowers and clean the yard. Ever since they moved into this courtyard, there were always fresh, beautiful flowers blooming in every season.
"The courtyard is soone else’s, but our days are our own. A few flowers aren’t expensive, but they can make one’s heart feel at ease," Yin Zheng said with a smile. "If you like, we can also raise so fish in the yard. Next ti let’s pick a few pretty ones at Official Lane, the kind with red tails. I see many wealthy families do that."
Lu Tong laughed.
Yin Zheng teased her, "You seem to be in a good mood today, miss. Is there sothing good happening?"
"Sort of," Lu Tong turned and went into the room. "Oh, Yin Zheng, I have an important banquet to attend tomorrow, help pick a nice-looking dress, will you?"
Yin Zheng, hearing this, was imdiately overjoyed and without another word, she quickly went into the room and brought out several dresses from a camphor wood chest.
"We had so new clothes made for you at Taylor Ge’s recently, miss, but you haven’t had the chance to wear them because of your daily treatnts. They are just right for the cooler weather," she said as she spread the dresses out on the couch. "But miss, what is this important event? If you need to be formally dressed, these materials might still be a bit coarse. Should we make a new one? Is it soone from inside the Palace? Or is it Marshal Pei?" Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
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