Qiulin knelt there in a daze, even forgetting to beg for mercy. It was her… it really was her who had harmed Dalang, and the culprit was those bowls of tofu pudding mixed with honey. How was this possible? Thinking of this, she opened her swollen, bleeding mouth and said: “It can’t be. These two things are harmless, absolutely would not cause Dalang’s deafness!”

Her response was another slap. “I have studied medical texts since childhood, how could I not know whether something is harmful or harmless? I specifically instructed not to feed Dalang anything carelessly. Harmless? Do you know how many seemingly harmless things, when mixed together, can become poison or even take someone’s life? Why didn’t you listen to me? Why?” By the end, Jirong was nearly hysterical. Dalang was her heart and soul, the foundation for her to establish her position beside Li Jiancheng. Now that such a thing had happened, how could she not be angry?

This time, Qiulin finally realized the severity of her mistake. Her eyes vacant, she collapsed limply to the ground, not begging for Jirong’s forgiveness because she knew that Jirong would absolutely never forgive her!

Staring at that detestable face, Jirong suppressed her anger and said: “You said that person was called Ayue, a maid beside the First Young Madam, is that right?”

After the xiaosi behind Jirong kicked her, Qiulin finally came to her senses and said tremblingly: “That’s what she said, but later… this servant went to the First Young Madam’s side to look for her, and they all said there was no such person. I never saw her again after that.”

Jirong remained silent with a grave expression. At this moment, the nanny who had been slapped twice earlier approached carefully and said: “My lady, the physician has arrived and is examining Dalang.”

After ordering someone to watch Qiulin, Jirong hurried into the room. She indeed saw a white-haired, white-bearded elderly man taking Dalang’s pulse. Seeing her enter, Ruyi said: “This is the best physician in Chang’an City, Qiu Yiming, who once served as an imperial physician in the palace.” When Yunyi had asked her to fetch a physician earlier, the first person she thought of was Qiu Yiming. In the palace before, his medical skills were highly praised. Later, when Yang Guang moved the capital to Luoyang, he didn’t want to leave his homeland, and being advanced in age, he retired and remained in Chang’an City.

Jirong nodded and watched Qiu Yiming nervously. After he withdrew his hand, she hurriedly asked: “Imperial Physician Qiu, can Dalang’s ears still be saved?”

Qiu Yiming stroked his long beard beneath his chin and said: “This old man just examined Dalang’s ears and found no external injuries. Instead, his internal energy is irregular, which should be deafness caused by internal ingestion.”

“These past ten days or so, he has been eating tofu pudding mixed with honey.” Jirong’s words made Qiu Yiming’s eyes brighten, and he nodded: “I see, no wonder, no wonder.” Having practiced medicine for most of his life, he had naturally read in medical texts about how consuming honey and tofu pudding together could cause deafness.

His reaction made Jirong even more anxious, and she said again: “Imperial Physician Qiu, you must save Dalang. He is my only child.”

Qiu Yiming sighed: “If treatment had been given when the first signs appeared, Dalang’s hearing might still have been preserved, but now…” He cupped his hands and said: “Forgive this old man’s bluntness, but it’s too late!”

Jirong’s vision darkened and she nearly fell. The xiaosi quickly supported her, saying: “My lady, be careful. Let this humble one help you sit for a while.”

Jirong ignored him and stepped forward to grab Qiu Yiming’s sleeve, pleading: “Dalang cannot have problems. Imperial Physician Qiu, please think again. Perhaps… perhaps there might be a way.”

Qiu Yiming shook his head: “This old man understands my lady’s feelings. If there were a way, this old man would certainly save him, but unfortunately, it’s truly too late. The damage is irreversible. Fortunately, this old man sees that Dalang has already learned to speak, which is a blessing in misfortune. In the future, you can try teaching him lip reading, and the situation shouldn’t be too bad.” As he spoke, he was about to leave, but Jirong wouldn’t let him go, grasping him and saying: “No, it’s not like this. Ruyi said you are the best physician in Chang’an City. There must be a way to save him. I beg you, I beg you!”

“This old man is truly powerless.” After saying this, Qiu Yiming broke free from her hand and left, leaving behind Jirong who couldn’t stop crying. Li Chengzong looked at this one, then at that one, and suddenly got off the bed and ran to Jirong, pulling her hand and saying: “Mother, why are you crying?”

Looking at the innocent Li Chengzong, who had no idea of the fate he was about to face, Jirong felt overwhelming grief and wanted to cry loudly, but she didn’t cry because she knew that the most urgent matter now was to find that Ayue, to find the culprit hiding behind the scenes who had harmed Chengzong, and tear them to pieces!

Jirong wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, crouched down and said: “Mother isn’t crying. Sand accidentally fell into my eyes, so I’m tearing up.” Seeing Li Chengzong’s confused expression, she remembered that no matter what she said, the child wouldn’t hear it.

Suppressing the grief in her heart, she said to Yunyi: “Please trouble the Princess to watch over Chengzong for a while. I’ll go and return shortly.”

“Alright.” After Yunyi agreed, Jirong hurried away. Jixiang asked puzzledly: “With Dalang having such a serious problem, instead of staying here to care for him, where is Lady Ji going?”

Ruyi glanced at Qiulin who had been brought in and said quietly: “If I’m not mistaken, she should be going to ask the First Young Master to come. But speaking of which, it’s truly unexpected that consuming honey and tofu pudding together would cause deafness. Fortunately, I’ve never eaten it. It’s frightening just to think about.”

Jixiang nodded and said again: “Dalang… can he really not be cured?”

Yunyi sighed softly: “Imperial Physician Qiu can be said to be a giant in the medical field. Even he is helpless. Tell me, who else could save Dalang?”

“That’s true.” Jixiang responded and said with some regret: “It’s just that Dalang is so young and has lost his hearing. It’s truly pitiful.”

As for Jirong’s side, as Ruyi had guessed, she went to Li Jiancheng’s courtyard to request an audience. He had already changed clothes and was about to retire, but upon learning that Jirong was outside requesting to see him, he got up again.

When Jirong entered the room, before Li Jiancheng could speak, tears were already streaming down her face. Li Jiancheng had never seen her in such a state and asked: “What’s wrong?”

Jirong fell to her knees with a “thud” and said hoarsely: “Please, my lord, you must seek justice for Chengzong!”

“Chengzong?” Li Jiancheng’s heart sank as he helped her up and asked: “What happened to him?”

After learning that Li Chengzong had lost his hearing, Li Jiancheng was also greatly shocked. These days, he had to guard against Li Shimin while also helping Li Yuan capture Chang’an City. He hadn’t visited Chengzong for quite some time, never expecting such a thing to happen.

After hastily changing clothes and coming to Li Chengzong’s room with Jirong, and confirming that Li Chengzong couldn’t hear any sound, his face turned iron-blue as he swept his gaze across everyone in the room. His voice was cold as iron: “Speak! Who harmed Chengzong to this state?”