Chapter 1580: Thunderbolt on a Clear Day
Chapter 1580: Chapter 1580: Thunderbolt on a Clear Day
In Dongnuan Pavilion, the stench of blood was carried out by the wind, sickening to the core.
When Madam Lu rushed into Dongnuan Pavilion, she saw Song Zhiqing lying on the bed, his head and face drenched in blood, crudely wrapped in white cloth, no color in his face, his life or death unknown. Her body swayed involuntarily.
"Husband." She screamed and flung herself forward.
Song Zhiyuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back and said, "Hold her back."
Jiang Fula immediately shot a look at the servant women and they moved to block Madam Lu.
"Let go of me." Madam Lu struggled.
Jiang Fula said, "Third Madam, the Imperial Physician is about to tend to Third Master’s injuries. If you rush over, won’t you be delaying him?"
Madam Lu froze.
Song Zhicheng also came over to persuade her. "Yes, Third Sister-in-law, wait outside. If you stay here, the Imperial Physician will likely be distracted, and it won’t be good for Third Brother’s treatment."
"Is... is he still alive?" Madam Lu stared vacantly at Song Zhicheng.
Song Zhicheng nodded. "You can rest easy."
Madam Lu swallowed, looked toward the man on the bed, and tears rolled down.
Song Zhicheng shot a look at Jiang, who had hurried over. She cast a distant glance at Song Zhiqing, her own face turning pale, but she steadied herself, and supporting Madam Lu said, "Third Sister-in-law, let’s wait outside."
Madam Lu said nothing, letting Jiang half support, half drag her out of the inner room.
Once seated, she remained dazed, her eyes blank, but someone had shoved a hand warmer into her arms.
"Third Sister-in-law, drink a cup of tea to calm your nerves." Jiang handed her a cup of tea and said gently, "Third Brother will surely be blessed by Heaven."
Madam Lu took the tea, drank a sip, and had barely set it down before she burst into tears. "He was fine when he went out. How could he come back turned into a man of blood? Why is fate so cruel to our third branch? Is Heaven determined to force us down a dead end before it’s satisfied?"
Jiang and the Madam exchanged a look, sighed, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, patting lightly.
Leaning against her, Madam Lu sobbed, "If the children’s father has any mishap, I won’t live either."
"Don’t say such foolish things. He’ll surely recover."
Madam Lu cried herself beyond control.
In the inner room, Song Zhicheng walked to Song Zhiyuan’s side, lowering his voice to the barest whisper. "By the time we got there, the coachman was barely hanging on, but he did say where they were coming back from. Jiang Fula checked—this Madam Lian Yue of Wangyue Villa is Third Brother’s outside woman, and it seems she’s pregnant."
"Mm." Song Zhiyuan’s gaze was icy as he looked at the man on the bed, not a trace of compassion in his eyes.
Seeing that indifference in his eyes, Song Zhicheng’s heart lurched. He dared not say more, only stood beside him watching the Imperial Physician treat the injuries.
That fool of a Third Brother really had water in his brain. On New Year’s Eve he didn’t stay with his family, but went to keep a tryst with his mistress, and ended up with this calamity.
Utterly brainless.
Only after a full hour did the Imperial Physician, drenched in sweat, finish examining the many injuries all over Song Zhiqing’s body and come before Song Zhiyuan, bowing with cupped hands.
"Imperial Physician Chen, no need for ceremony. Speak freely."
This Imperial Physician Chen was the younger one who had often come to the Prime Minister’s Mansion in the past.
He said, "To answer you, Prime Minister: Lord Song’s forehead has been split open and wounded, the bones of his right arm and the talus bone of his lower leg were displaced. This servant has already set the bones. He has countless minor cuts, but those are not the main concern. Lord Song’s spine seems to be fractured. My medical skills are limited; I don’t dare make a definitive diagnosis. I’ve heard that Medical Director Cheng served as an army physician when he was young and has extensive experience in bone-setting. It might be best to invite him to examine Lord Song."
"What happens if the spine is fractured?" Song Zhicheng asked.
Imperial Physician Chen’s expression grew solemn. "The spinal column is extremely important. If the fracture is severe, it may result in paralysis of the lower limbs."
"What?"
Hearing the commotion, Madam Lu had come to the doorway. The words struck her like a bolt from the blue. Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed completely unconscious.