Chapter 15: Marital Dispute (Part One)

Lu Anrong received word from the servants and immediately feigned illness to take leave, returning to the Chancellor’s residence, while also sending someone to summon the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

The head of the Imperial Medical Bureau was Lu Anrong’s close confidant. As soon as he received Lu Anrong’s note, he found an excuse to leave and hurried out of the palace with his medicine chest.

Upon returning home, Lu Anrong rushed to the rear courtyard to check on his son’s injury. He had just learned that his younger son’s leg had been broken by someone, leaving him both anxious and furious. He cared deeply about the Lu family’s reputation, and precisely because of that, he had given villains the opportunity to cripple his son’s leg. He felt truly guilty, and this resentment was something he could not swallow.

No matter how dissatisfied he might be with this son, Lu Junfan was, after all, his own flesh and blood. He had exhausted his efforts to help the Emperor ascend the throne, and he had succeeded as he wished. However, over these years, his elder son Lu Junyi had become outstanding, gaining considerable renown in the army at a young age. Given his own high status as Chancellor, even if the Emperor trusted him, there would inevitably be wariness. At such a time, he could not afford any mistakes—otherwise, the entire Lu family could be wiped out just like the Leng family once was.

Lu Anrong entered the room to find Lady Leng sitting at the bedside, lost in thought, her face expressionless, as if pondering something deeply.

“Father!” When Lu Junfan saw his father had come to see him, his heart warmed, and his desire for revenge became even more urgent. The single word “Father” was laden with grievance and bitterness, making Lu Anrong’s nose sting with emotion.

“Husband, you must seek justice for Fan'er!” Lady Leng, upon hearing of Lu Anrong’s arrival, could no longer hold back her long-suppressed tears, which flowed uncontrollably, her voice brimming with endless grievance.

Lady Leng had always been beautiful, and her voice soft and frail. Now, with tears streaming down her face like dewdrops on pear blossoms, she was still charming, her mature allure undiminished despite age, and Lu Anrong’s heart ached to see her so.

“Don’t cry. Imperial Physician He will be here soon. I will see to justice for Fan’er,” Lu Anrong sighed, patting Lady Leng’s shoulder. “What did Physician Shen say?”

Lady Leng wiped her tears and replied gently, “Physician Shen said Fan’er’s leg is crippled, but today when I confronted that vicious girl, she claimed my son’s leg could still be healed. I don’t know if she was telling the truth…”

At this, Lady Leng fell silent. She always felt that the girl named Anran was odd, as if she knew everything. Yet, considering her age, that seemed impossible. Rather than let trouble brew, perhaps it would be best to deal with that wretched girl at once.

“Hmm.”

“Husband, Imperial Physician He has arrived!” As the couple spoke, the steward led Imperial Physician He into the room.

“Brother He, I apologize for the urgency, but could you please take a look at my son?” Lu Anrong greeted him with great courtesy.

“It’s no trouble,” He Deqing replied, quickly setting down his medicine chest and lifting the thin quilt from Lu Junfan to examine him carefully.

After a while, seeing the deep frown on He Deqing’s face, Lu Anrong couldn’t help but ask, “Well? Is it hopeless?”

Lady Leng trembled in fright—hadn’t that girl said the leg wasn’t crippled?

He Deqing’s expression was troubled, and at last he nodded. “The bone is completely severed. Even if I forcefully set it, your son will be… sigh. If by some miracle you can find a legendary physician, perhaps there’s hope. By the way, who claimed the leg wasn’t ruined?”

Lady Leng, holding back tears, glanced at her despairing son on the bed. “The one who broke his leg.”

“Chancellor, if my guess is correct, perhaps that person really does have a way,” He Deqing said.

But Lady Leng remained silent and quietly left the room. Lu Anrong, seeing her manner, felt an unexplainable anxiety and hurried after her.

Standing in the courtyard, Lady Leng gazed at the twinkling stars in the night sky—so beautiful. Even without what had happened earlier, she would hardly be willing to take action.

Lu Anrong stood beside her, and by the lantern’s glow, he noticed something unusual about her face—there were faint marks.

“My lady, your face…”

Lady Leng touched her cheek, hatred filling her features. “That wretched girl struck me!”

“Outrageous!”

“Husband, when I saw that girl today, I felt deeply uneasy, as though she somehow knew about that matter, always hinting at me!” Lady Leng looked up at Lu Anrong as she spoke.

“What matter?” Lu Anrong frowned, his eyes filled with confusion.