Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine

Chapter 153.2: Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 153 Pt. 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

Sun Mang’s heart sank. He waved his hand and all the irrelevant people retreated.

Including Qiao Xiuli.

She didn’t want to leave, but since Sun Mang gave the order, people naturally ensured that it was followed through.

Besides Sun Mang, Doctor Liu and Qiao-shi, only two maids were remaining in the room. The reason why these two maids didn’t need to leave wasn’t only because they were Qiao-shi’s confidants. It was mainly because they were the only people who stayed by Qiao-shi’s side this entire time.

Every time Sun Mang thought about how all the servants in the courtyard ran away upon learning about Qiao-shi’s illness, he would be furious. But now was not the time to deal with them. Once this was over, he would settle accounts one by one.

Then there was also Qiao Xiuli’s behaviour. It was somewhat unexpected to Sun Mang, and whenever he thought of what she said to Qiao-shi, he would feel disgusted. This was why he automatically excluded her from the people he trusted.

“Doctor Liu, if you have something to say, please say it. Now is not the time to hide anything.” Sun Mang smiled bitterly.

Doctor Liu pondered for a while and stroked his beard. “If this old man is not mistaken, Madam Qiao is indeed suffering from tuberculosis. Judging from her pulse, it has not been long.”

Suddenly, a sound came from the direction of the bed. It was Qiao-shi who couldn’t support herself and bumped into the bedpost.

With a look of grief on his face, Sun Mang first helped Madam Qiao sit up. Then he took a deep breath and said, “Is there a cure for this disease?

Asking this was the same as not asking at all. Tuberculosis was a terminal illness. Those whose families had more money would be able to live a longer life. Those from poor families could do nothing but wait and die.

“This…”

The two maids burst into tears. Ru Meng collapsed onto the floor and muttered absentmindedly, “How can it be tuberculosis? Madam was fine. All she had was a cough and it had only been for a few days. In July, Shizi invited an imperial physician over to see her, and everything was fine. There wasn’t anything wrong, so how come she has tuberculosis now?”

Hearing this, Doctor Liu’s eyes flashed and he asked, “You said that an imperial physician visited in July?”

Doctor Liu’s expression shifted. Ru Meng thought that there was a chance for a turnaround, and said, “Although Madam’s cough is a chronic illness, it’s not that serious. Countless doctors have been invited to see her and they all said that we just need to keep it under watch. When the season changes and the weather turns cold, she just needs to keep warm. How could she be infected with tuberculosis all of a sudden?”

Sun Mang nodded along and said, “She already had this chronic illness for a long while. When the weather was still warm, she coughed a few times, so I simply invited Imperial Physician Hu from the palace to take a look at her. I wanted to see if there was a treatment that could alleviate her suffering, and I also wanted to see if the root of the illness could be removed.”

Doctor Liu nodded. “I wonder if the notes from that checkup are still there. Would it be possible for this old man to take a look at it?”

The imperial physicians from the imperial hospital differed from the average doctor. When an ordinary doctor goes to see a patient, once the visit is over, it’s done and over with. But the imperial hospital was not any ordinary place. As physicians who served the imperial family, private affairs must not interfere with their duties. This was why extremely strict rules and routines were put in place.

If the emperor needed a physician, the rules and checks were extremely stringent and cumbersome. Even if the physician were to see any other master or mistress that lived in the imperial palace, the process was not simple. Plus, the imperial physicians did not only serve the people in the palace but also noble ministers and imperial relatives. But only those with a high enough status would have the opportunity to see an imperial physician.

And Sun Mang happened to be one of those with a high enough status.

As a part of the routine, imperial physicians write notes for all their diagnoses and visits, which may be used for future verification.

Doctor Liu was interested in seeing these notes. When he was about to leave the manor, Jin Wang specially explained that someone may be behind Qiao-shi’s illness. If it had been a normal doctor or even an imperial physician, this kind of thing wouldn’t be said. Those doctors only cared about seeing the patient and cared less about the results and implications of their diagnosis. But since Jin Wang took the initiative to mention it, and Doctor Liu shared a close relationship with the Sun Family, things couldn’t be glossed over so easily.

Sun Mang certainly knew what notes Doctor Liu was referring to. “The imperial hospital should have it. I’ll order someone to go to the hospital to find Imperial Physician Hu for a copy of it.”

Qiao-shi’s medical notes were retrieved very quickly. Meanwhile, Duchess Zhenguo received news of her son’s return. She learned that Sun Mang went directly to Lanruo Pavilion as soon as he came back, without even making a trip first to the main courtyard.

Naturally, she was furious. But she also had a guilty conscience, so she simply ordered someone to summon Sun Mang. Sun Mang ignored it, and she didn’t order anyone to try again.

After reading the notes, Doctor Liu rechecked Qiao-shi’s pulse. He also asked some more questions, such as when her symptoms started to reoccur.

Not only did he ask Qiao-shi, but also Ru Meng and Ru Hua.

Doctor Liu listened to their replies and then reread the notes. He began to have an idea of what really happened. It was indeed as Jin Wang suspected, that there was a snake out to harm others.

He glanced at Sun Mang with a complicated look on his face. “There is indeed something, this old man is just wondering whether to say it or not.”

“Doctor Liu, speak whatever is on your mind.”

“Madam’s illness is a little strange.”

As soon as he said this, the people in the room locked their eyes on him.

“Why do you say that?”

“This old man has read the notes written by Imperial Physician Hu. At the time, it was indeed as the maid said. Madam did not have any symptoms of that disease at all. One must know that if she has that illness, there would definitely be symptoms, but madam showed no symptoms at all. Madam’s chronic cough is also unlikely to turn into tuberculosis on its own.”

“What does Imperial Physician Liu mean?”

“Shizi should be aware that tuberculosis is not a common illness? Madam must have been infected with this disease.”

Sun Mang was not an ordinary person, so he naturally understood the hidden layer of meaning in Doctor Liu’s words.

“You mean someone is deliberately harming her?” His pupils shrank to the size of needle points, and he balled his hands into fists.

Doctor Liu smiled slightly. “If you were someone else, I’d say I don’t know. But since you’re not someone else, this old man will say it is indeed as you suspect.”

Doctor Liu had good reason to suspect something was wrong. Qiao-shi rarely left the manor and when she did, it was either to enter the palace or visit another noble family. All the people she interacted with were members of the nobility or imperial family. It was extremely rare for people of such status to contract such a disease, and when they did, they would naturally avoid interacting with others. Besides, although tuberculosis is a serious illness, it’s not something that could be passed on with only one or two interactions. Prolonged contact is needed for someone to be infected.

Doctor Liu was afraid that Sun Mang and the others would not understand, so he explained everything in detail. Sun Mang’s face immediately turned gloomy, as if a storm was brewing within him. He looked like he would tear the culprit to pieces if that person was standing in front of him.

He looked at Ru Meng and Ru Hua. “According to you, who spends the most time with Madam?”

“It can also be an object,” interjected Doctor Liu.

Ru Meng and Ru Hua listed a few names with tremors in their voice. The people they mentioned were also Qiao-shi’s dowry maids like them. They usually served at Qiao-shi’s side but the ones who spent the most time with Qiao-shi were still Ru Meng and Ru Hua themselves.

Without saying anything else, Sun Mang ordered for them to be brought over. He arranged for Doctor Liu to take a look at them immediately.

Once Doctor Liu finished the diagnosis, the panicking maids were all taken away and locked up.

Ru Meng and Ru Hua were also diagnosed. None of the maids had this disease.

Once they ruled out that it wasn’t a person who infected Qiao-shi, things started to make more sense. No one would carry something harmful to their health with them unless they had a death wish.

Since the infection wasn’t caused by a person, it could only mean it was by an object.