Chapter Fifty: If She Could Save Him Back Then, She Surely Can This Time Too!

“Madam, the imperial physician has arrived.”

Madam Jiang withdrew her thoughts and allowed the physician in. After he examined her son, she pressed, “How long will it take for Xiuyuan to recover this time?”

The physician sighed. “Forgive my lack of expertise, but I recall that when I last examined the eldest young master’s pulse a year ago, his health had improved considerably. He must have been carefully tended to. So why… why has his condition deteriorated so much in just one year?”

Madam Jiang was taken aback, her emotions tangled. “Then, what do you mean?”

The physician shook his head. “I am powerless. Since the eldest young master has neglected his care and been careless in his habits, this illness was inevitable. No one could have prevented it. I fear this time, he will be left with a chronic condition, unable to engage in prolonged activity in the future.”

Madam Jiang’s face paled instantly. Unable to be active for long—how could he possibly inherit the title of heir?

After dismissing the physician, she gazed at Jiang Xiuyuan, suddenly covering her face with both hands, letting out a bitter laugh.

Is this retribution?

Raising her head again, her look toward Jiang Xiuyuan was no longer filled with the tenderness it once held; there was now a faint, almost imperceptible chill.

“You all attend to him, and if the eldest young master wakes, inform me immediately.”

…

When Jiang Xiuyuan awoke, his throat felt as if it had been cut, the pain making it difficult to breathe. After a long moment, he hoarsely called, “Someone.”

Wen Lu, who was attending outside the door, startled and quickly entered with a cup of water. “Master, you’re finally awake!”

Jiang Xiuyuan instinctively asked, “Where is Jiang Lingyao?”

This time, he had been gravely ill; Jiang Lingyao must have been terrified.

Though he was angry she hadn’t spoken up for him before his grandmother, he also understood he had erred last time and did not intend to hold it against her.

As he pondered, he realized Wen Lu had remained silent and looked at him sharply.

“Master! The young lady only came once. She quarreled with Madam and told her not to force her to see you, then left.”

Jiang Xiuyuan’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

Wen Lu, frightened by the fierce look in his eyes, suddenly went weak at the knees and knelt, trembling. “How could your servant dare lie?”

Jiang Xiuyuan tried to sit up in disbelief, but as soon as he did, his vision darkened, and he collapsed back onto the bed.

Jiang Lingyao—how dare she?

He hadn’t even confronted her about this time’s matter, and she already refused to see him! Why couldn’t she be even half as kind as Lian’er? Why must she be so petty? Such behavior was unbefitting of a noble lady!

Wen Lu hurried to support him, his face drawn and stammering, “Master… the imperial physician also said…”

He repeated the physician’s words exactly, his voice growing softer and his body trembling.

The entire Jiang household knew that the master was most sensitive when it came to his health.

Jiang Xiuyuan felt as if struck by lightning, staring fixedly at Wen Lu. “Last year, didn’t the physician say I was almost well? How dare you lie to me!”

“Master, your servant would never lie! How could I have the nerve? The physician said that last year you neglected your care and often disregarded your health, which led to this.”

Jiang Xiuyuan trembled violently, his gaze losing focus.

Last year! Because of last year!

He had personally left Jiang Lingyao at Qingshan Temple, so no one had tended to his health!

Yet the physician said last year he had recovered very well and only needed to be careful going forward.

A crushing wave of regret overwhelmed him. Clutching his head tightly, he broke down in tears, his entire being gnawed by invisible worms, the pain suffocating.

A hoarse roar escaped his throat, followed by relentless coughing. The pain in his throat felt like it was being sliced by a knife. Before long, he coughed up blood.

His position as heir! If the physician’s words were true, he had no chance of inheriting the title for the rest of his life!

He collapsed on the bed, nearly broken, his mind blank.

After a long while, a sudden thought struck him—

No, Jiang Lingyao saved him once before. What about this time?