Chapter 325 — Vomiting Blood

And with his own hands he had delivered a mountain of gold into Song Zhi's grasp!

He himself had handed silver to Song Yan, let him raise retainers, let him buy men's loyalty, let him have silver to breed informants when he himself had none—all to be turned against him in the end... He had bared his own neck and invited that ungrateful son to cut it!

Was there a greater fool in all the world?

A sweetness rose in Song Cen's chest; his vision went black. He crumpled, strength draining from his limbs.

"Lord Zhenguo! Lord Zhenguo!" Tao Jun and Zeng Zi rushed to him in terror.

The guards posted at the gate burst in at the commotion.

Song Yan stood where he was and did not move.

Lu Shi, however, frowned.

Later that day, back at the Princess's residence, he said in a low voice to Princess Ningde, who had been waiting for his return, "It seems the rumors are not without foundation. Who ever heard of a father receiving his son with guards posted covertly at the gate? That child Tianci is in a precarious position!"

Princess Ningde sighed. "This is a family matter. It's not our place to interfere. Tianci is a clever child. From the way he has conducted himself these days, one can tell he knows what he is about." She paused, then asked her son, "What have Han's wife and Qin's wife been doing lately? They should visit Yizhi Hall from time to time. The Yingzhenguo Estate has only Tianci's wife as its mistress, and she is a new bride just brought through the gate—she is bound to feel at a loss. As her elder sisters-in-law, the two of them ought to look after her well.

Tianci's wife most of all."

Lu Han and Lu Qin were Lu Shi's two sons.

The Emperor had always been wary of factions, and Princess Ninghuai, to avoid suspicion, had long kept her household in check. The Lu family rarely paid calls.

Lu Shi stared at his mother in astonishment.

Princess Ninghuai could not help sighing.

She had raised her son to be too honest and dutiful. Once she was gone, how would this great household manage?

Wearily she leaned back against the large bolster. "Just do as I have arranged. Since Tianci has asked for your help this time, help him well." Then she asked about the Duke of Yingguo. "...How is he now?"

Lu Shi indeed asked no more, and answered respectfully, "The imperial physician has already taken his pulse. He says it is stagnation of the heart; a few doses of medicine and some time of quiet rest should set him right."

"I fear this heart ailment needs a heart's cure," said Princess Ninghuai, not entirely agreeing with the physician. "His mind is narrow, and he is advanced in years. We must not let this leave a lasting root of illness."

Lu Shi thought of Song Cen, who had been so enraged to learn of his daughter-in-law's rich dowry that he had spat blood, and truly did not know what to say. He could only murmur, "Yes."

Princess Ninghuai asked next about Dou Yan. "How much did the Dou family actually add to her dowry? Did you see clearly—was it that the ledger-keepers were too slow in their reckoning, or are there truly that many accounts to be checked?"

Lu Shi smiled bitterly. "Those ledger-keepers worked through the night for days. From what I saw, just the properties they have tallied so far already exceed our own family's holdings..."

"Oh!" Princess Ninghuai sat up straight at once, her expression turning grave. "How can that be?"

Lu Shi did not know either.

Princess Ninghuai fell into deep thought.

Afraid to disturb her, Lu Shi held his breath and kept still.

After a long while, Princess Ninghuai turned to him and said, "The hour is late, and you must go to Yizhi Hall tomorrow. Rest early."

Lu Shi withdrew quietly.

Beneath the covered walkway, the great red lanterns swayed in the wind, and the layered shadows of trees clawed and flailed in the howling north wind, thrashing wildly as if to devour a man whole.

He gazed at the bright North Star in the azure sky, somewhat dazed.

With Song Cen fallen ill, who knew when he would recover.

Tianci and Tianci's wife would no doubt have to attend him in his sickness.

He wondered whether the old man would make things hard for the two young people.

Tianci's wife would be the easier case—after all, she had no mother-in-law to serve, and at most she would only have a few extra bowls of medicine to brew. It was Tianci who would likely have to suffer.

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Sisters and brothers, here is today's update for you all first. Early Worm will catch the typos in a bit.

ps: Wishing everyone a happy weekend, and asking for pink votes!

Tomorrow's bonus chapter will come around five in the afternoon, with the regular update around midnight, so I am setting a fairly safe schedule.

o(n_n)o~