Idiot, you don’t even know that a weak body can’t handle tonics. Is Bennett dissatisfied that her son isn’t sick enough yet?

“It’s just giving orders, not cooking herself.” William Carter stopped looking at her, turned a page of the medical book, and said, “Just serve it to the young master.”

Nanny Miller gritted her teeth, shot William Carter a sinister look, and carried the chicken soup away.

The study returned to calm, but William Carter found himself somewhat distracted.

Henry Clark’s digestive system is currently damaged; taking tonics will only make his already weak body worse. Henry Clark has been sick since childhood and has become something of a doctor himself. As his mother, does Bennett really not know this?

Once or twice is fine, but if this continues long-term, Henry Clark’s body will only grow weaker.

Forget it, just consider it an act of kindness. Henry Clark’s condition is truly rare, and he wants to study it a bit longer.

William Carter left the study and went to the dining hall, but didn’t see Henry Clark anywhere. He asked a passing maid, “Where is the young master?”

The maid replied, “Young master said he’s too lazy to get up and wants to eat in bed.”

For a bedridden patient, lying down more is only natural.

William Carter then went to the bedroom. Before even entering, he said, “Your mother sent over ginseng chicken soup, you’d better not…”

Sitting on the bed, eating plain porridge with some side dishes, Henry Clark looked up: “Hmm?”

A square table was set up in front of Henry Clark’s bed, mostly with light dishes, except for a large pot of chicken soup with ginseng slices floating on top. Judging by the clean soup ladle resting on the edge, Henry Clark hadn’t touched the soup at all.

Henry Clark chewed slowly, swallowed everything in his mouth, and then said, “Doctor Carter, what a rare guest. Have you eaten?”

William Carter asked, “This ginseng chicken soup was ‘personally ordered’ by your mother. Why aren’t you drinking it?”

Henry Clark wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and said carelessly, “I never eat anything she sends.”

William Carter was surprised: “Why not?”

“She said she wants me to live another six months. If I lose even a moment, it’s not six months. If they want to send me off sooner, then I’ll make a fuss.”

William Carter found it even stranger: “Why would they want to send you off sooner?”

Henry Clark blinked: “Why don’t you guess?”

William Carter was speechless: “Do you think you’re funny?”

Henry Clark suddenly burst out laughing. He laughed too hard and choked, coughing repeatedly until his handsome face turned slightly red.

William Carter had no idea what Henry Clark was laughing at. But it was clear that the relationship between Henry Clark and Bennett was not as harmonious as it appeared.

Seeing the maid beside him busy patting Henry Clark’s back to help him breathe, William Carter half reached out his hand, then pulled it back. “What’s so funny?”

Henry Clark stopped coughing, still smiling: “I’m only a little bit funny, but I’m quite charming.”

William Carter scoffed, “With that broken body of yours, even if you had all the charm in the world, you couldn’t use it.”

“You’re right.” Henry Clark sighed, “This body is really going to drive me crazy. If only I could have my own…”

“What do you mean by that?”

Henry Clark smiled, but didn’t answer the question: “Since you’re here, Doctor Carter, why not sit down and eat? I can’t have the chicken soup, but you can.”

William Carter said, “Where do you want me to sit?”

Henry Clark looked around: “How about sitting on the bed with me?”

William Carter was unmoved: “No need, you eat by yourself. I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait.” Henry Clark stopped him. “I have something I want to give you. I just looked over the list of gifts from the guests and found one that suits you very well.”

William Carter didn’t even look: “No need.”

Henry Clark clicked his tongue: “At least take a look. It won’t tire you out—Grace Reed.”

Grace Reed was another maid serving in the room besides Fengqin, lively and cute. She presented an item with a smile: “If Young Master hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known what this was.”

William Carter deigned to glance at it, and was taken aback.

Grace Reed handed him something like a cloth pouch, made of leather, easy to roll up, and when spread out, it was just a thin layer, not able to hold much.

An ordinary person might not recognize it, but a doctor would know at a glance—it was an acupuncture needle pouch. The inner compartments were for holding needles.

William Carter couldn’t help but reach out, gently stroking the fine leather pouch, his long lashes trembling slightly, his eyes deep and shadowed.

Henry Clark smiled and asked, “Do you like it?”

The Marquis of Nan’an’s residence was celebrating, and most of the congratulatory gifts were from the capital’s powerful families. William Carter glanced at the gift list on the table; most were gold, silver, jade, antiques, and paintings. A small acupuncture pouch was hardly worth mentioning.

But Henry Clark insisted on giving this to him.

William Carter looked at the golden thread embroidery on the pouch—“Great joy to the Lu and Lin families, a union forever”—and gave a self-mocking smile. “Thank you for your kindness, {Young Marquis}, but what’s the point of giving me this?”

Henry Clark pressed his fist to his lips and coughed: “Of course there’s a point. You’ll need it in the future.”

“Oh? Just for you alone?”