Chapter 65: Impure Motives
Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Impure Motives
The Guard Commander frowned, looking as though he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Liang Wan ignored him, lifting the curtain and stooping to enter the carriage.
The man slouched inside had a deathly pale face. His eyes were shut tight, his jaw was clenched, and his lips were blue. No matter how loudly they called to him, his rigid body remained unresponsive.
Two attendants were gathered around him, sweating with anxiety.
Startled to see Liang Wan, they were about to question her when she cut them off. "You two, help me lay the master flat. Then, open the curtains and wait outside. It’s too stuffy in here with so many people; he’s having trouble breathing!"
She spoke crisply, then immediately opened her Pouch and took out a set of silver needles.
Seeing her confident and practiced movements, the attendants could only fall silent and comply.
Liang Wan glanced at the window. ’Thankfully, today was the day I was scheduled to see the Empress. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be carrying these things with me.’
She picked up a needle and was about to insert it. When the tip was just an inch from his skin, she suddenly felt a cold sensation on her neck. The edge of a sword was practically grazing her throat.
The Guard Commander stared at her, his face grim. "Administer your needles. If your conscience is clear, just pretend the sword isn’t there."
Liang Wan indeed paid it no mind, deftly inserting the needle into an acupuncture point. "Five inches directly above the center of the hairline is the Baihui point on the Du meridian. A needle here can relieve fainting."
With every needle she placed, she explained the point. The Guard Commander initially assumed she was just talking to cover her guilt, believing she had only agreed to treat the patient out of desperation. But as he watched her experienced and efficient technique, and saw that she showed not a hint of panic or fear despite the sword at her throat, he couldn’t help but look at her in a new light.
When she finished with the needles, the Grandmaster was still unconscious, but his complexion had eased considerably, and his tense body had relaxed.
Liang Wan reached out to take his pulse again. ’Acupuncture like this is only a temporary solution. A complete cure will be difficult.’ She switched to his other wrist.
’In my past life, the Grandmaster died after the Summer Solstice, and that’s not far from now. But judging by his pulse, this isn’t an acute illness. It’s a chronic condition he’s had for years. As long as he avoids any agitation and takes his medicine on time, he shouldn’t pass away so quickly.’
Liang Wan let go of the Grandmaster’s wrist and lifted his eyelid. Without looking up, she asked, "Where is the medicine His Lordship usually takes?"
"Right here."
Liang Wan froze. She turned her head, a faint twinge of pain in her neck. Lu Xiu was standing behind the Guard Commander, dressed in a pearl-white brocade robe. Tall and statuesque, he watched her with an icy gaze.
The Guard Commander was startled and quickly withdrew his sword, stepping aside.
Lu Xiu walked in and held a white porcelain bottle out to her. Liang Wan reached out and took it.
She tipped a few pills out, sniffed them, and then administered them to the Grandmaster.
Liang Wan stood up. "The Grandmaster is out of immediate danger, but the dosage of these pills will need to be adjusted from now on."
Lu Xiu simply said "Go" to those outside. The curtain was lowered again, the street having already been cleared, and the long-eaved carriage set off once more.
"My lord—"
Liang Wan grew anxious. ’Qiuxi is still waiting by the road, and I still have to find Zhou Yun. Where am I going with him? The Master’s Mansion? Do I have to come all the way back afterward?’
Lu Xiu had already sat down beside Master Lu. Without raising his eyes, he said, "Don’t just stand there. I’ll have someone take you home later."
Liang Wan glanced at the unconscious man. She knew he was still worried, wanting to keep her around in case anything else happened. Understanding this, she didn’t refuse again and obediently sat down on the other side.
"The Grandmaster’s life is not in danger, my lord. You don’t need to worry too much. Just make sure he is never left alone and that his emergency pills are always on hand. There shouldn’t be any major problems," Liang Wan advised before averting her gaze and falling silent.
Lu Xiu watched the Grandmaster, remaining silent.
Liang Wan lifted her eyes to peek at him, only to meet his gaze. Her heart skipped a beat, as if she were a thief caught in the act.
’The way he’s looking at me... could he suspect I approached the Grandmaster on purpose?’
Her heart raced, and she stood up, about to explain herself. But he had already turned away, retracting his gaze, clearly having no intention of speaking with her.
Very well. Liang Wan lowered her head and continued to keep silent.
They traveled the rest of the way in silence.
Just as the long-eaved carriage turned the corner, they saw the household doctor and a crowd of people waiting at the gates.
The Master’s Mansion. This was Liang Wan’s first time here.
From the moment they stepped inside, the old household doctor peppered her with questions about the Grandmaster’s episode and the treatment she had administered, all of which Liang Wan answered.
Only after he had conducted a thorough examination of his own did his knitted brow slowly relax.
Lu Xiu stood by the entire time, his face somber, not uttering a single word.
By the time the Grandmaster awoke and was confirmed to be all right, the room had filled with people. When Liang Wan turned around, she saw them all, brows furrowed with worry. The oppressive atmosphere made one unconsciously hold their breath.
A quick scan of the room revealed two familiar faces, but she didn’t recognize anyone else. She discreetly retreated to the back of the crowd, waiting for an opportunity to ask for leave to depart.
"Was it you who saved me?"
The deep voice was laced with exhaustion. The already quiet room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Liang Wan looked up. The people who had been crowding around parted, creating a gap just large enough for her to be seen.
Master Lu’s kind eyes were filled with gratitude, instantly transforming her from an overlooked bystander into the center of the room’s attention.
Liang Wan advanced two steps with caution. "Yes. It was a chance encounter."
"Thank you for your timely rescue, my Lady. Might we know where you reside, so that we may send a gift to your home to express our gratitude?"
The speaker was a man in his forties, dressed in sapphire-blue robes. He had a scholarly air and a polite smile on his proper face, but even his softened tone couldn’t conceal an innate nobility and distance.
It was Master Lu’s eldest legitimate son, Lu Xu, who was also the current Minister.
Liang Wan glanced at Lu Xiu out of the corner of her eye, wondering what he was thinking. After all, rumors about the two of them had been rampant. Even if the Lu Family didn’t recognize her on sight, the name Liang Wan would surely be familiar to them.
But he wasn’t even looking in her direction. She looked around to see everyone in the room waiting with bated breath for her answer.
"Young lady, there’s no need to be afraid. It is only right that we thank you."
Perhaps sensing her hesitation, Master Lu spoke in a very gentle tone.
Lu Xiu’s gaze remained lowered, his thoughts unreadable. He was never a man of many words, but his silence today was even more profound than usual.
Liang Wan took a deep breath. "The Liang Family of the western city."
The breathing in the room seemed to stop for a moment. By now, everyone knew how terrible the Liang Family’s reputation in Jinye City was; there was no need to ask.
"Which Liang Family?"
Someone was still confused.
Liang Wan turned her gaze to the speaker. He was a man in his thirties with thick brows and large eyes, his hair combed back immaculately. His tall, straight posture immediately marked him as a military man. It was the General of Cavalry, Lu Huai.
"Liang Wan."
Liang Wan hadn’t even opened her mouth, but Lu Xiu’s voice suddenly cut through the silence.
The hall fell quiet. Every eye in the room focused on her, filled with scrutiny, surprise, and displeasure.
Lu Xiu stood where he was, lifted his gaze to glance at her, and said coldly, "Come here. Stand closer."
Although she didn’t know what he meant, he was the only one here she was familiar with, so she could only obey.
Liang Wan did as he said, shuffling a few steps closer to him. She had faced plenty of grand occasions before, but for some reason, she felt a little apprehensive today.
’After all, most of the old rumors were about me shamelessly pestering Lu Xiu. Have I just served myself up on a platter for them to criticize?’
Master Lu studied her for a moment, then mused, "So you’re the one from Liang Ao’s family?"
Liang Ao was her grandfather.
Liang Wan nodded. "Yes."
"Oh..." Master Lu looked at her thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled. "You’ve grown so much. I believe I met you when you were a child."