Chapter 51 Crisis! Is Marshall Coming?
Upon hearing this, Rose quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Clio had already confided in her, saying she was very familiar with Dr. Brian Scott and could help them cover up the truth.
Cressida's sharp gaze swept over Clio: "Since Mother had already made arrangements, why didn't you mention it earlier?"
"If you were willing to walk through a mountain of knives to show your filial piety, and then have the doctor verify the medicine's effectiveness, with both approaches working together, why would your father's leg ailment not be cured?" Clio spoke with complete confidence, as if everything was for Patrick's benefit.
Hearing this, Cressida understood clearly in her heart—this so-called doctor was obviously one of their own people.
Sure enough, moments later, Clio's personal head maid Tatum led in Brian, who was carrying a leather medicine bag.
"This humble one greets Mr. Hamilton." Brian bowed slightly in salute, his manner humble yet measured.
"No need for formalities, come examine the injury quickly! And check these prescriptions and medicine dregs—see if there's something wrong with them!" Patrick's face was so dark it could drip water.
Brian was about forty years old, with a neatly trimmed brown beard and tidy clothing. While taking the pulse, Patrick suddenly stared at his face and asked thoughtfully: "Aren't you the herbalist who treated my leg injury years ago?"
"Sir has a good memory." Brian answered calmly. "This humble one was an apprentice in earlier years. After completing my training, I've been practicing at the clinic for over twenty years. Ten years ago, it was indeed this humble one who was sent to the estate to treat your leg ailment."
Patrick nodded: "No wonder you look familiar."
Clio secretly breathed a sigh of relief and showed a perfectly timed smile.
Brian first carefully took the pulse, then examined the wound on Patrick's leg. Stroking his beard, he showed a puzzled expression: "The injury itself isn't serious. Normally, after taking medicine for several days, there should be improvement. Why hasn't it gotten any better?"
Brian's words made Patrick's heart sink: "Then quickly check these prescriptions—see if there's a problem!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Rose immediately stepped forward and handed over the prescriptions she had prepared. Brian took them and examined them carefully. After a moment, he shook his head: "The prescriptions themselves are fine, but these medicine dregs on the table seem somewhat different from the herbs listed in the prescriptions."
Michael immediately stepped forward and pointed at the two piles of dregs on the table: "Look carefully and tell us which pile doesn't match the prescription?"
Brian bent down and squatted, examining both piles of dregs separately, then sniffed them lightly. Finally, he pointed confidently at the pile on the left: "This pile of dregs has a problem. Several blood-activating herbs were mixed in, which are completely unhelpful for treating leg injuries and would actually delay healing."
Patrick's gaze instantly became sharp as a knife. Seeing this, Michael immediately pointed at Cressida and roared: "Father! It was her! She had someone switch your medicine, that's why you've been in pain for so long! There's nothing wrong with Rose's prescription!"
Rose showed a perfectly timed expression of shock and grievance: "Cressida, even if you don't like me preparing medicine, you shouldn't do something like this. Do you know how much Father suffers from his leg ailment every day?"
"Cressida!" Patrick slammed his hand on the bed and shouted angrily, "Explain yourself clearly—what is going on here!"
But Cressida remained calm and composed: "Father, please calm down. The royal physician I invited will arrive soon. When he re-examines the prescriptions and medicine dregs, right and wrong will naturally become clear."
Clio immediately sneered in rebuttal: "This is a family matter! If word gets out, what will outsiders think of the Hamilton family? Do you care so little about the family's reputation?"
Her words precisely hit Patrick's weak spot—this lord valued aristocratic dignity above all else.
Patrick's expression indeed changed, and he immediately ordered the butler: "Go close the gates of The Hamilton Mansion! No matter who comes to visit, tell them I'm unwell and decline all visitors!" Then he turned to Cressida with a stern tone, "Kneel down! Apologize for what you've done!"
"Mr. Patrick Hamilton, Ms. Cressida Hamilton absolutely did not switch your medicine!" Emma hurried forward to defend her, but was sharply interrupted by Clio.
"Is it a servant's place to speak here?" Clio's eyes were cold as she signaled to Tatum, "Slap her! Let her know what proper behavior is!"
Tatum immediately raised her hand. Just as the slap was about to land on Emma's face, a strong hand gripped her wrist tightly. Cressida looked down at Tatum expressionlessly, and the fierce killing aura that had settled on her from the battlefield made Tatum tremble all over.
"Rebellious daughter! How dare you act so brazenly before me?!" Patrick was so angry he tried to get up, grabbing the cane beside him and throwing it at Cressida.
The cane came whistling through the air, but Cressida didn't even turn her head. Her other hand shot up like lightning and caught the cane firmly. Everyone present was stunned—no one had expected that Cressida, who seemed so delicate, could move so swiftly.
Cressida's fingers gradually tightened, and Tatum's screams immediately echoed through the room: "Ms. Hamilton! This humble one was wrong! Please spare me!"
"Until the matter is investigated clearly, no one can touch my people." Cressida's voice was cold as ice. "Father and Mother had better remember this clearly. I don't want to say it a second time."
With that, Cressida pushed hard, and Tatum staggered backward, falling heavily to the ground very close to the mountain of knives, so frightened that she wet herself on the spot.
"Get out of here now!" Clio, both angry and anxious, quickly ordered Tatum to leave.
Cressida turned to look at Patrick and threw the cane back. Patrick hastily dodged, and the cane lodged in the gap of the bed rail, just inches from his robe.
"Are you trying to anger me to death?" Patrick trembled with rage.
"I invited the royal physician with genuine concern for Father's leg ailment." Cressida's tone was calm, without any sign of backing down.
Just then, the butler Noah rushed in frantically: "Mr. Patrick Hamilton! Mrs. Clio Patrick Hamilton! The royal physician has arrived! And, and Prince Marshall has personally accompanied him!"
"Prince Marshall?" Patrick was completely stunned. Cressida was also somewhat surprised—she had clearly asked Miguel to help invite the physician, so how did it alarm Marshall?
She wasn't familiar with this Prince Marshall, only having heard that he was refined and cultured, yet the most capable person in the royal family. Ten years ago during his southern tour, he had cleaned up canal transport corruption in just half a month, executing six ringleaders on the spot with decisive and ruthless methods. Now that Marshall had just returned to Emerald City and personally come here, it was definitely not by chance. Cressida guessed it was most likely out of consideration for Cameron.
Patrick instantly forgot about the pain in his leg and ordered with flattery: "Quick! Help me up and dress me properly! I must personally go greet His Highness!"
"Mr. Hamilton need not trouble yourself, I've already let myself in." A gentle male voice came from the doorway. Everyone looked up to see Marshall standing there in a silver-white formal outfit, exuding an air of noble elegance.
Seeing this, Brian, whom Clio had invited, immediately tried to slip away, but Emma grabbed his sleeve tightly: "Doctor, don't leave! When the royal physician arrives, we can have him judge whether what you said is right or not!"
"With the Prince here, this humble one shouldn't intrude." Brian was sweating profusely but couldn't break free from Emma's grip.
The room instantly descended into chaos. Cressida quietly retreated to a corner—when the situation was unclear, standing outside could give a clearer view of the whole picture. Michael tripped over the mountain of knives on the floor, and Rose hurried forward to move it away, but was stopped by Clio: "If we move it out now, won't His Highness see it? Quick, hide it behind the curtain!"
Rose hastily dragged the mountain of knives behind the hanging curtain to hide it. By this time, Patrick had been helped up by servants and was limping forward: "This subject, this subject greets Your Highness the Prince."