"My lord!"
Everyone around him was instantly thrown into alarm. First, their faces turned ashen; then they snapped out of their stupor and scrambled to support the Marquis of Pacifying the South. Some held him up and called to him, others went looking for broth or water, while others stood helplessly staring, unsure what they could do.
The marquis's wife watched blankly, saying only, "My lord, you mustn't let anything happen to you..."
The steward, at least, kept his composure and called someone over. "His lordship has fainted from distress and pain overwhelming his senses. It's only temporary, nothing serious. Hurry and fetch Physician Zhang. Don't spread the news."
With someone giving orders, someone naturally rushed to carry them out. Noble households always retained one or two physicians precisely so that help would be immediately available in a medical emergency.
If an illness proved beyond their abilities, they could only seek a renowned physician outside, or simply request an imperial physician.
Although the Marquis of Pacifying the South had been stripped of his title, the household physician could hardly have left immediately. Once summoned, he came at once and stepped forward to examine him.
"Ah..." Just then, the Marquis of Pacifying the South gave a labored gasp and regained consciousness. His face was waxen yellow, and his hands trembled as he tried to rise, but he could not get up at all.
One examination revealed that things were bad!
"His lordship has suffered a stroke. The internal wind is quite severe..." Physician Zhang straightened with a sigh. At his words, everyone looked at the man who had been helped onto the bed, and a trace of despair appeared on their faces.
His lordship had been perfectly fine, only to be suddenly stripped of his title. It was a crushing blow