Chapter 8

"Second Young Master, this is already the fifth intelligence report. The rumors in Zhenhai City are rampant, and even in the Magic Stone City and all the fiefs of our Shen family, it is said that Lord Hou is seriously ill and on the brink of death." A middle-aged man bowed and said, "At this critical moment, are you sure you won't return to Zhenhai City?"

Shen Wuyu replied, "Father hasn't written to me to come back. Why should I return?"

The middle-aged advisor said, "But... what if Eldest Young Master abandons his duties and leads the troops back to Zhenhai City? If Lord Hou's illness is real, then... then we will be at a disadvantage."

He didn't dare to say it too clearly, but the meaning was obvious.

If Lord Shen Gongao doesn't recover, whoever is in Zhenhai City will have the upper hand and become the new Zhenhai Marquis.

Even if Lord Shen Gongao is not in mortal danger, whichever son is by his side at this time will have the advantage in succession.

Shen Wuyu said, "If I abandon this major task and return to Zhenhai City without a care, that would fall right into someone's trap. If Father really falls at this moment, the surrounding wolves would pounce and completely divide and devour the Shen family's foundation. What would be the point of the struggle between me and Eldest Brother then? If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?"

The middle-aged advisor said, "But what about Eldest Young Master? What if he really goes to Zhenhai City?"

"He won't go back," Shen Wuyu said. "If he really did, I would be delighted. He wouldn't be worthy of being my opponent."

...

At the front-line military camp.

With Lord Shen Gongao absent, Eldest Young Master Shen Wuzhuo was the supreme commander of the two ten-thousand-strong family private army.

Shen Wuyu resembles his mother, elegant and refined, with a noble air.

Eldest Young Master Shen Wuzhuo, on the other hand, looks very much like Shen Gongao, tall and imposing, as majestic as a mountain.

Sitting like a mountain, standing like a sword.

"Eldest Young Master, the rumors are getting worse. The army is spreading the word that Lord Hou is seriously ill, and Second Young Master has sealed the news, secretly left the Magic Stone City, and is heading to Zhenhai City to seize the Marquis title," said a subordinate.

Eldest Young Master Shen Wuzhuo, with a face as hard as iron, ignored it and continued to read the documents in his hand.

"Has the imperial team not finished the survey yet? A mere Red Earth Territory, does it really take so long to measure?" Shen Wuzhuo asked.

"Not yet. The imperial officials say they are suffering from water and soil incompatibility and have fallen ill, so the survey time has been delayed," the advisor said. "Eldest Young Master, you can leave this matter to General Wu Bing and secretly go to Zhenhai City to avoid being at a disadvantage."

"Fool, that would fall right into the enemy's trap," Shen Wuzhuo said. "Unless Father writes to me personally, I won't believe anything! Pass the order down, no more waiting! Our army will immediately set out to occupy the Red Earth Territory."

The advisor said, "But, that's not our Shen family's territory yet, and the survey is still ongoing. It's unreasonable for our army to enter, and it will give others a handle."

Shen Wuzhuo said, "Afraid of this, afraid of that, you won't accomplish anything. No reason to station troops? Can't you find one? Just say that the troops of the Great Li Kingdom are disguising themselves as bandits and occupying the Red Earth Territory, and our army is going to suppress the bandits. As for how those bandits got there, do I need to teach you?"

The advisor shook his head. "No need, I'll go and take care of it immediately."

...

The rumors about Lord Shen Gongao's critical illness in Zhenhai City were getting worse.

Strangely, Lord Shen Gongao hadn't appeared in public for several days, and the defenses of the Marquis Mansion were visibly much stricter.

Many important figures were visiting the Marquis Mansion one after another.

Including the Governor of Nanhai County, the Dean of Zhenhai Academy, and the vassals of the Mi family, all of whom were turned away when they visited Lord Shen Gongao.

Lady Mu Hongyu received them, saying that Lord Shen Gongao was in seclusion and not suitable to see guests.

All the signs pointed to the fact that the rumors were not just rumors.

So at this point, the rumors were not just about Lord Shen Gongao being seriously ill, but that he had already died.

As a result, the imperial survey team's work at the front line had come to a complete standstill, and the imperial army and the Shen family's army had already had friction and even conflicts.

If Lord Shen Gongao doesn't appear soon, the situation will become even more unfavorable.

It was at this critical moment.

The divine physician Lin Daomiao arrived!

The chief master of the Medical College of Tianshui Academy, the top physician in the South.

He wore a white cloak and secretly entered the Zhenhai Marquis Mansion to treat Lord Shen Gongao.

...

Lin Daomiao is already ninety-three years old, but he looks no more than sixty. His hair and beard are completely white, but his face is smooth and rosy, without a single wrinkle.

Looking at Lord Shen Gongao in bed, despite his illness, he still exuded a commanding presence, and Lin Daomiao's mind was filled with many images.

Images of Lord Shen Gongao's invincibility and countless killings, blood splattering, and heads rolling.

"Long time no see, Master Lin Daomiao," Lord Shen Gongao said. "I didn't expect to meet again under such circumstances."

Lady Mu Hongyu stepped forward and bowed. "Master Lin Daomiao, we have wronged you in the past. Please forgive us."

"I finally cured someone, and you just killed them all," Lin Daomiao said. "Although I don't like Lord Marquis, I will still do my best."

With that, Lin Daomiao approached to examine Lord Shen Gongao.

Everyone around held their breath, especially the three doctors, whose eyes were filled with anticipation and admiration.

In everyone's view, if anyone could cure Lord Shen Gongao, it would undoubtedly be Master Lin Daomiao.

Time ticked by.

A full quarter of an hour passed.

Master Lin Daomiao took out silver needles and inserted them into several acupoints on Lord Shen Gongao, then gently turned them.

Suddenly...

Lord Shen Gongao's right leg moved, twitching slightly, and his knee bent and straightened.

Everyone around was overjoyed. Lord Shen Gongao said, "My right leg actually has feeling. In the past few days, it was completely numb."

Truly a divine physician.

One of the doctors said, "Master, we examined Lord Hou's entire body and found that he was very healthy, yet his right leg is paralyzed. And every less than a day, he suddenly becomes dizzy and disoriented. It's truly strange, and I have no idea why. I don't even know what disease it is."

Lady Mu Hongyu said, "And each time it happens, the paralysis becomes more severe."

Lin Daomiao said, "The brain controls the entire body. Lord Marquis, this is a brain disease. Your right leg is paralyzed, which means there is a problem with the left side of your brain."

Lady Mu Hongyu said, "What disease is this?"

Lin Daomiao said, "Brain wind!"

Lady Mu Hongyu said, "Can this disease be cured?"

Lin Daomiao said, "In the Medical College of Tianshui Academy, there are five recorded cases of this disease, and none of them could be cured."

Lady Mu Hongyu said, "Master Lin, we are willing to pay any price."

Lin Daomiao said, "A physician's heart is like a parent's. If it can be cured, I will do my best. However, Lord Marquis's disease cannot be treated with medicine. Please forgive me, I am powerless. Goodbye!"

With that, he turned to leave.

Immediately, Lady Mu Hongyu and everyone present felt despair.

Lin Daomiao is the top physician in the South, the master of the Medical College of Tianshui Academy. If even he can't cure it, it truly is an incurable disease.

Lin Daomiao didn't hesitate and walked toward the door. He knew that if he didn't leave now, he might not be able to leave at all.

Lord Shen Gongao is ruthless and can kill anyone. Although Lin Daomiao is highly respected and no one in the South dares to kill him, given the gravity of the situation, Lord Shen Gongao might still take action.

Sure enough...

Lady Mu Hongyu said, "Wait!"

Then, she waved her hand.

Suddenly, several figures appeared, blocking Lin Daomiao's path.

Lin Daomiao said, "I will keep it a secret, but if you really don't trust me, then kill me."

He didn't utter a single threat.

Lord Shen Gongao looked at Lin Daomiao for a long time, then waved his hand. "I trust you. Let Master Lin leave."

Several black shadows moved aside, and Lin Daomiao left.

Lady Mu Hongyu felt a chill all over her body. If even Lin Daomiao can't cure it, there really is no hope.

After a long while, she trembled and said, "Husband, should... should we call the eldest and second sons back?"

Lord Shen Gongao's face was pale, and his breathing was rapid.

If it really can't be cured, each episode will worsen his condition. In that case, he really needs to make early preparations and recall his two sons to prevent any unforeseen events.

At least, how will the Shen family survive the upcoming crisis?

If he falls, the Shen family will face a catastrophic disaster.

And at that moment!

Lord Shen Gongao suddenly trembled, and his head throbbed with pain.

It's here, it's happening again!

Another episode.

Dizziness, disorientation, the world spinning.

He closed his eyes tightly, but it was completely useless.

A terrifying seizure.

His entire body convulsed wildly, twisting and contorting, completely out of control.

Lady Mu Hongyu rushed forward and hugged her husband, trying to maintain his dignity.

The doctors rushed over but were completely at a loss, not knowing how to treat him.

Lord Shen Gongao's mind screamed: "Heaven, if you think I have killed too much, just take me. Let me die suddenly. Why are you torturing me like this?"

And even more terrifying, in this painful convulsion, he felt his entire right side of the body become completely numb, losing all sensation.

Before, it was just his right leg, but now his entire right side of the body was paralyzed.

At that moment, Ab's voice came from outside.

"Master, Third Young Master Wuque is forcing his way in. Should we stop him?"

...