"The Wei family is the preeminent clan in the prefectural city, but they are more than just a mere family within the county government."
"In fact, the Wei family's influence is not only spread throughout the entire prefecture, but it is even rumored that they possess connections that reach the very heavens within the Royal Capital."
"Young Master Lu, with such a great family and a powerful clan, how could I not be in awe?"
Hearing Ma Gu's account, Lu Qing finally understood why he held such reverence and fear toward the Wei family.
However, he still had some doubts. "Since the Wei family is so powerful, why are they residing in such a small county government?"
"I am not sure about that," Ma Gu shook his head. "Perhaps it is because our Cang County is the place where the Wei family first rose to prominence."
"Furthermore, as far as I know, most of the Wei family's industries and influence have actually been transferred to the prefecture and the Royal Capital. What remains in the county is only the ancestral residence and a few unimportant assets."
"However, the head of the Wei family has always resided in the ancestral home, though I do not know why."
"Of course, even if most of the Wei family's industries have been moved elsewhere, their status in the county remains unshakable by any other family."
*It seems this Wei family holds a secret,* Lu Qing thought pensively.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain such peculiar behavior.
A dignified head of a family would rather stay in a small county than move to a more prosperous prefecture or the Royal Capital.
However, whatever the secret was, it was not something he could pry into at his current level.
Thus, Lu Qing simply moved past the matter.
On the other hand, hearing that the Wei family was so powerful made him feel somewhat relieved.
With the Wei family's foundation, they surely would not lack precious medicinal herbs.
As long as those two guards were fast enough and Young Master Wei could make it through the night, his life should be saved.
In fact, the speed of those two guards was much faster than Lu Qing had anticipated.
Because there was a critically ill patient, and he did not know when his master would need help decocting medicine, Lu Qing did not go home that night. Instead, he stayed at the courtyard on the mountainside.
At night, Lu Qing sat in a chair, half-asleep while holding Xiao Yan, who was sleeping soundly in his arms.
Suddenly, a commotion from outside startled him awake.
Seeing that Xiao Yan had not woken up, he carried her into his master's room to let her sleep before walking outside.
Stepping out, he saw that the courtyard was brightly lit and crowded with people.
On both sides of the courtyard, more than ten burly men stood in two rows, holding lanterns that illuminated the area brightly.
Lu Qing saw that Guard Li was bowing his head, whispering something to a dignified middle-aged man.
"Are you saying that the Young Master's injuries are too severe to allow for any movement?"
After listening to Guard Li's report, the dignified middle-aged man asked.
"Yes, Chief Steward. Old Doctor Chen says that the Young Master's current condition is not very good. It is best for him to rest quietly here for the time being. Once he wakes up and his body is stronger, it would be best to return to the manor," Guard Li replied.
"I want to go in and see the Young Master."
The dignified man addressed as the Chief Steward did not agree immediately, but instead made a request.
Guard Li immediately looked toward Old Doctor Chen.
The old doctor nodded. "Only one or two people can enter. If there are too many people, it will be bad for the Young Master; there is a risk of evil qi entering his body."
Hearing this, the dignified man immediately said, "All of you wait outside. Only the Old Doctor and I will go in."
"Yes, Chief Steward."
Watching the two disappear into the room, Lu Qing's eyes were filled with shock.
He murmured to himself, "Internal Organ Realm..."
Inside the sickroom, as soon as he reached the bedside and saw the pale Young Master with closed eyes and cracked lips, the Wei family Chief Steward's heart tightened.
After inspecting the wound on the Young Master's abdomen, his brow furrowed even deeper.
Before coming here, he had thought those two bastards were exaggerating the severity of the injuries to avoid responsibility.
Now it seemed those two bastards had not only told the truth but had actually downplayed the injuries.
What "life is saved" and "condition is stable"?
The Chief Steward, who also understood some medical principles, could clearly see that the Young Master's current state was truly on the brink of death, liable to expire at any moment.
This was even after being treated by a doctor; one could not imagine what the Young Master's state had been like before that.
Recalling the instructions from the Family Head, the Wei family Chief Steward turned around and gave a deep bow to the old doctor.
"Thank you, Old Doctor Chen, for saving my Young Master's life. The Wei family will surely remember this kindness."
"There is no need for that. I was merely doing my duty as a physician," the old doctor waved his hand. "Besides, the Young Master has not completely escaped danger. It is too early to say such things."
The Wei family Chief Steward hurriedly said, "I heard that Old Doctor Chen requires ginseng, panax notoginseng, and other items? Before coming, the Family Head specifically ordered me to bring a large amount of medicinal herbs. Please follow me out to select the medicine."
"Oh, the ginseng has been brought?"
The old doctor's spirit lifted.
Although his medical skills were profound, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice. Without good medicinal herbs, no matter how good his skills were, it would be difficult to exert them.
The two returned to the courtyard.
"Bring the chests up."
At the Chief Steward's command, two men immediately carried up several chests.
Upon opening the chests, long rectangular boxes were revealed inside.
The Wei family Chief Steward stepped forward and opened those boxes.
Inside were nothing but high-quality, air-dried and sun-dried medicinal herbs.
There were more than ten stalks of ginseng alone.
Lu Qing noticed that several of them were even larger than the two stalks brought by the little black beast.
Lu Qing could not help but marvel.
As expected of a great clan, their foundation was deep; they could casually produce so many century-old ginseng plants.
"Old Doctor Chen, please use these herbs as you wish. If they are not enough, I will send someone back to the manor to fetch more," the Wei family Chief Steward said respectfully.
"I won't need this much."
The old doctor chuckled lightly and merely took a few boxes from the chests—one box each of ginseng, fo-ti, and panax notoginseng.
"I will go to the pharmacy to prepare the medicine now. You have traveled far and worked hard, so please rest for a while. If anything happens, just instruct my disciple," the old doctor pointed toward Lu Qing.
The Wei family Chief Steward immediately bowed to Lu Qing again. "I shall trouble you, Young Master."
"It is no trouble. Just call for me if you need anything," Lu Qing replied quickly.
At the same time, he marveled once more in his heart.
As expected of someone from a great clan, this Chief Steward was clearly a high-ranking and powerful figure within the Wei family, possessing great authority.
One could tell from the attitude of Guard Li and the others that their respect was born from the very depths of their bones.
Furthermore, his special ability had previously detected that this Chief Steward was actually a martial arts expert of the Internal Organ Realm.
Yet, even a person of such stature, when in need of help, could set aside his pride and show proper respect to others, without being overbearing or using his power to bully.
If a mere steward possessed such character, it was no wonder the Wei family could develop from a county clan into a powerful, far-reaching great clan.
Old Doctor Chen prepared the medicine very quickly, and by that night, he had decocted it.
Then, in front of the Wei family Chief Steward, he fed the life-saving soup to the Young Master.
After the soup was consumed and the old doctor used acupuncture to stimulate the medicinal effects, it wasn't long before the Chief Steward saw a trace of color finally return to the Young Master's pale face.
His breathing also became steadier, no longer in that thread-like state.
This change not only greatly boosted the Chief Steward's spirits but also increased his confidence in the old doctor.
What surprised the Chief Steward even more was that early the next morning, just as the sun began to rise, he saw his Young Master's eyelids twitch.