Dingbei Hou's doctor brother

"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Princess Xining, the eldest daughter of the Prince of Jin, possesses a virtuous character and is prudent and prudent. She is now in her prime. Marquis Dingbei, Xiao Yan, is distinguished in appearance and character, renowned for his meritorious deeds, and awe-inspiring to all. The Empress Dowager and I have heard of their deeds with great success. We believe they are destined for marriage. I hereby decree that Princess Xining shall be the wife of Marquis Dingbei. All ceremonial arrangements shall be jointly handled by the Imperial Observatory and the Marquis Dingbei's residence. An auspicious date shall be chosen for the wedding. I decree this."

Xiao Yan respectfully accepted the decree and stood up. Eunuch Feng Qi congratulated him with a smile, "Congratulations, Marquis Dingbei."

Xiao Yan nodded politely while holding the imperial edict. After Eunuch Feng Qi left, he glanced sideways at Lu Ziqing and heard Chen Ji talking happily.

"The Marquis is getting married? That's great! It's sure to be a lively and fun time, with delicious food."

Su Chengyi teased him, "Kids can't stop talking about eating, drinking and having fun."

"Hey, you..." Chen Ji pulled his sleeve and was about to grab Su Chengyi, "You're done today, don't run away."

The two of them were jumping up and down in the yard, laughing, but the two people in the main hall looked at each other in silence, and an indescribable emotion lingered in the hall.

A moment.

Lu Ziqing lowered his eyes and glanced outside the house. When he turned back, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth and he spoke softly.

"Congratulations, Lord Marquis, on finding your ideal partner. Your wedding is imminent, and it's no longer appropriate for me to continue living in your mansion. I will be moving out soon."

Xiao Yan felt depressed and uncomfortable. When he saw him about to turn around and leave, he suddenly grabbed his wrist. Lu Ziqing looked back.

"My Lord...what else?"

Xiao Yan stared into those clear eyes, and time seemed to stop at this moment. He just looked at her quietly, and an uncontrollable impulse surged into his heart like a tide.

He almost wanted to hug this person tightly in his arms again, but he didn't dare to move because of the imperial edict in his hand that was like a sharp thorn.

After a moment, he calmed down and said softly, "I have a house in Chongbeifang. You can live there."

Lu Ziqing really wanted to blurt out "No need", but he held the words back when they came to his lips. He knew that Xiao Yan didn't like him being polite.

So, he smiled and replied, "Thank you, my Lord."

At night, Lu Ziqing moved back to Chongcuixuan. Chen Ji was much more sensible than before. He was afraid that Lu Ziqing was not living well, so he returned to Prince Su's Mansion. He would only come to Dingbei Marquis Mansion to look for him when Lu Ziqing was on leave.

On the third day, the good news of Marquis Dingbei's wedding spread throughout the court, and civil and military officials congratulated him one after another.

When the court meeting ended, Emperor Shengzhi glanced at the first seat on the left side of the hall and asked, "It's been more than half a month, and Fang Zhaobo's illness hasn't healed yet?"

The courtiers below looked around and murmured quietly, but no one responded. Emperor Shengzhi saw this and asked again, "What are you discussing, my dear ministers? Come forward and explain."

Shen Wenlan, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, stepped forward and reported, "Your Majesty, Elder Fang has been ill ever since the court debate half a month ago. He appeared... appeared..."

"Hmm? Why don't you say anything?" Emperor Shengzhi thought for a moment, "I pardon you. Speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Wenlan said, "Lord Fang has been talking nonsense and behaving strangely for the past few days. He is no longer recognizable. I went to see him at his residence two days ago. He was emaciated and bedridden. There have been rumors for some time that he is possessed by a ghost. I'm afraid it is..."

"Nonsense!" Emperor Shengzhi shouted angrily. "In the world of our Great Ning Dynasty, the legend of ghosts is pure nonsense. Who is spreading these rumors and causing panic?"

The emperor was angry, and all the ministers below knelt down, lowered their heads and dared not say another word. Then, Emperor Shengzhi asked again.

"Where's the Imperial Hospital? Have they sent anyone to check?"

Gao Jian squeaked from the side, "Your Majesty, Xu Yuanpan and the other imperial physicians have already gone to see him, but... they are helpless."

"Helpless? This is outrageous." Emperor Shengzhi suddenly stood up, with his hands behind his back, staring at the ministers below.

"My great Daning Dynasty, with its Imperial Hospital gathering the world's most renowned doctors, is unable to save the current cabinet minister? Isn't this a joke?"

At this time, the Minister of Revenue Lin Chang stepped out to report.

"Your Majesty, since the Imperial Hospital's Lu Yuanpan was able to cure Duke Wei's leg disease, I wonder if he has ever visited the doctor?"

Emperor Shengzhi stopped walking when he heard this. Seeing no one responded, he looked down at Xiao Yan, "My dear Xiao."

Xiao Yan said, "President Lu has been on leave for the past two days, so he might not know about this."

Emperor Shengzhi was about to speak when Eunuch Feng Qi hurried in from outside the hall and Gao Jian scolded him.

"How can you be so flustered in the court?"

Eunuch Feng Qi knelt on the ground and didn't dare to speak. Emperor Sheng Zhi saw his anxious face and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty, something bad has happened. Someone has come from Lord Fang's residence to report that Lord Fang is dying. I'm afraid..."

As soon as these words were spoken, there was a commotion in the court. Emperor Shengzhi hurried down a few steps and questioned in disbelief.

"What did you say? Say it again?"

"Your Majesty, Lord Fang is critically ill and will soon pass away. Everyone in the mansion is already preparing for his funeral." Eunuch Feng Qi said anxiously.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Shengzhi frowned and became anxious.

"How could he suddenly become so seriously ill? Quick, Lord Xiao, have Lu Ziqing go to the Lord Fang's residence immediately. Lord Fang is a veteran of three dynasties and a pillar of our dynasty. We must do our utmost to treat him."

Xiao Yan understood the message and hurried out of the hall with Eunuch Feng Qi.

The ministers dismissed the court and walked out of the Qianqing Gate. Minister of War Pei Xiangming followed Yan Mengjiang's pace, sighing as he walked.

"Lord Fang is eighty-eight now, right? He's very old, and this illness is so severe, it's quite serious. The Imperial Hospital has sent wave after wave of people to treat him, and I'm afraid there's no hope of saving him."

Yan Mengjiang also sighed, "Mr. Fang has worked hard for the country and the people all his life, and now he is suffering from illness. It is really a pity."

Pei Xiangming said: "If the elder really leaves this time, the court cannot be without a chief minister for a day, and the emperor will definitely look for a new candidate."

He looked at Yan Mengjiang and said in a low voice, "With Lord Yan's qualifications and talents, he is the perfect choice."

Yan Mengjiang said humbly, "Minister Pei, don't you dare say that? How can I be considered the Prime Minister? I will obey His Majesty's orders. We will do our best to assist the new Prime Minister and protect the country together."

Pei Xiangming smiled in a reserved manner, "Lord Yan is still so cautious in his words and actions."

The two smiled at each other and left.

In the courtyard of Chongcuixuan, Lu Ziqing was still listening to Chen Ji's report on his lessons when he saw Xiao Yan hurried in and said.

"Ziqing, quickly grab your things and follow me to Lord Fang's residence."

Seeing his expression, Lu Ziqing didn't ask any more questions. He left the Marquis' Mansion and rode his horse towards the West City.

White silk was hung high in front of the Prime Minister's mansion, and funeral banners were fluttering. The maids and servants in the mansion were crying as they came in and out. The mourning hall in the main hall had been properly arranged.

Outside the bedroom door in the main courtyard, a group of family members and servants were crying. The Prime Minister's wife was sitting at the table in the room and could no longer cry. The next moment, she fainted and fell on the table.

The anxious imperial physician squatting beside the bed had to take time off to treat the Prime Minister's wife, and the room was in chaos.

Elder Fang was emaciated, his eye sockets were deeply sunken, his eyes were half-closed and motionless, his lips were dry and slightly opening and closing, and there were silver needles inserted into several acupuncture points on his face and head.

Xu Shizhang knelt in front of the bed, concentrating on giving acupuncture to Elder Fang. Chi Musheng and other imperial doctors stood by his side, nervous but not daring to be anxious.

After a while, perhaps because Xu Shizhang's acupuncture was effective, Lord Fang's mouth seemed to open a little and he began to speak.

But the sound was extremely soft, intermittent like a candle in the wind.

"Judge Xu, I am about to die. Please do not bother me any more. I thank you."

His fingertips trembled slightly, and Xu Shizhang immediately held them, leaned over and whispered comforting words.

"Don't say that, Lord. You are blessed by heaven and will definitely overcome this difficulty. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will never give up on your treatment."

Fang Ge Lao's eyes were as still as death, and he said slowly: "...Your Majesty, I...can no longer serve Da Ning...with all my loyalty. Please take care...I will go to see...to see the late emperor..."

"Master, please take a rest first and don't talk." Xu Shizhang said softly.

Chi Musheng stood up with red eyes, and the imperial doctors behind him also stood up, staring at the bed in silence. The crying outside the room became louder and louder.

At this moment, the servant who had come to the palace to report rushed into the room and said urgently, "Lu, Judge Lu is here."