The Martial Doctor-Chapter 125 - 117: The Secret of Marquis Lingyang

Lin Miao unrolled the scroll, which recorded everything about Marquis Lingyang.

This was indeed a timely help for Lin Miao.

Marquis Lingyang, Xue Chunlai, was once a ruffian in Dongshan City. In his youth, he learned martial arts for a few days from a master.

His skills were mediocre, yet he loved causing trouble and often played and drank with a group of disreputable friends, neglecting his proper duties.

He was somewhat famous in Dongshan City, and due to trivial matters, he offended another bully of the time, Lei Laohu, who ordered his pursuit, leaving him unable to survive there.

Thus, he left Dongshan City with his sister.

His sister was a beauty since childhood, and somehow, she was introduced to the palace as a court lady. Before long, the current emperor favored her, she stayed overnight in the emperor’s quarters, was titled a noble lady, and after bearing a prince, she was made a consort.

With this, Xue Chunlai rose to prosperity through his sister, first being titled an Earl, and later, when Consort Xue gave birth to the fifth prince, she became more valued due to her son, and he secured a Marquis title as her brother.

Of course, the titles gained through such maternal connections did not include hereditary privileges but were solely political titles and benefits.

However, with a prince as a nephew, he was the classic imperial uncle. At that time, the emperor had few offspring. The eldest prince was the legitimate son, hence the crown prince. The second prince died young, next was the third prince, and the fourth prince, unfortunately, died of smallpox, leaving only the fifth prince.

Currently, the emperor had only three living sons. The third prince’s mother, Consort Yi, was imprisoned in the cold palace for the crime of "plotting to cut off the crown prince’s lineage."

The third prince himself was confined, with no hope of freedom for the foreseeable future.

Now, openly, it’s only the crown prince and fifth prince. Unless the emperor, with great vigor, produces another prince, the royal bloodline is thin, as is traditionally the case; after the age of forty, the emperor’s health and vitality diminished, and no offspring were produced in recent years even though he favored the women of the harem.

With the princes reaching adulthood, the future ruler of the Da Li Dynasty will undoubtedly emerge from one of these two.

The eldest prince is nearly thirty, the crown princess and concubines have been titled for many years but have not borne children, rumored to be due to Consort Yi arranging to poison the crown prince’s and crown princess’s food to sever their lineage.

The emperor places great importance on bloodline heritage. With the royal progeny already difficult, if the crown prince cannot have children, even being the crown prince and legitimate son, he may not inherit the throne.

The third prince, known for his tolerance and wisdom, is well known within and outside the court. He had royal grandchildren early on, so if the crown prince remains childless, the throne will definitely be his.

Consort Yi, in her ambition for her son to rise, resorted to plotting against the crown prince and his consort by poisoning their food.

The motive and evidence of the crime were conclusive.

Consort Yi’s scheme failed largely due to Consort Xue’s efforts.

Consort Xue, originating from humble roots and without strong ties in the palace, was initially pulled in by Consort Yi to align with her. However, it turned into a classic tale of the "farmer and the snake," as she was betrayed by her so-called good sister.

This reminded Lin Miao of the story from the Tang Dynasty of Empress Wang being ousted, Consort Xiao being thwarted, and Empress Wu ascending, although the end might be different as Consort Xue was not the ambitious Empress Wu.

Yet, it is just a similar story; the ending may differ since Consort Xue isn’t the ambitious Empress Wu.

Continuing down the scroll.

Consort Xue rose in status by reporting on conflicts within the palace, becoming the second most influential consort next to the empress. The fifth prince was not yet of age, and once he comes of age, Consort Xue is likely to be made noble consort, replacing the former Consort Yi.

These matters are surely unknown to ordinary people.

But the Moon Worship Sect, a thousand-year-old underground secret religious organization, surely has its own intelligence network.

Inserting a person or two in Da Li’s palace, gathering a bit of information, wouldn’t be difficult at all.

The core message of this report for Lin Miao was: Consort Xue is on the rise, and her brother, Marquis Lingyang, is likely growing in power as well. No one can touch him now, so it’s best not to impulsively do something foolish.

Killing Ye Xizhao wouldn’t be a big issue, confined within Dongshan City, at most affecting only Dongshan Prefecture and Lanzhou. But if you trouble Mr. Xue, angering Marquis Lingyang, then the problem will be troublesome.

"Miaoxue, is Marquis Lingyang, Xue Chunlai, in Dongshan City?"

"Of course not. If he were in Dongshan City, Mr. Xue wouldn’t be so arrogant and lawless," Si Miaoxue replied.

"If Consort Xue dared to betray Consort Yi, she is surely an ambitious woman. If Consort Yi dared to plot against the crown prince’s lineage, doesn’t she want her own son to ascend to the throne?" Lin Miao said.

"Yes."

"What is the crown prince’s temperament?" Lin Miao asked.

"The crown prince has had respiratory issues since childhood, and his health isn’t good. He is seldom seen in court, but it’s said he treats the Eastern Palace staff well," Si Miaoxue replied.

"Respiratory issues; if congenital, it’s troublesome, but if acquired, it should be treatable." Lin Miao contemplated for a moment.

"It’s said that it began after being rescued from drowning in childhood, so it likely isn’t congenital."

"Miaoxue, do you think, all I want is to quietly be a physician, to live a loving life with my senior sister, why is it so difficult?" Lin Miao sighed.

"Do you only have eyes for your senior sister and no one else?" Si Miaoxue blurted in embarrassment.

"Do you want to enter the Lin Family too?" Lin Miao’s mouth slightly curved into an amused smile.

"Oh, Lin Sanshui, you dare to tease me!" Si Miaoxue realized she was being teased, her feigned anger fully exposing her true feelings.