Chapter 29: Relying on your warmth (1/2)

Gu Beiyue’s smile was as warm as an April breeze. Suddenly, Han Yunxi realized that he had very beautiful eyes that looked especially enchanting when he smiled. He was just like a neighborly big brother from next door, soft and kind.

“Imperial Physician Gu, you’ve done much.”

Han Yunxi accepted the warm soup, drinking it nonstop. It really was effective, heating up her body very quickly. Gu Beiyue watched Han Yunxi gobble down the offering like a wolf or tiger, then glanced at her ashen face. He could more or less guess at the illegal punishment that had happened last night. Instead of asking her, a hint of compassion flashed through his eyes as he lightly sucked in a breath.

There was a limit to visiting hours. Gu Beiyue didn’t have time to wait until Han Yunxi finished, but spoke in a low voice. “Esteemed wangfei, this servant personally went to the Duke of Qin’s estate yesterday. I didn’t see Grand Concubine Yi but had Miss Murong report to her. I think it won’t be long until they release you on bail. This servant will arrange for people to visit regularly so that…”

He trailed off, lowering his voice even more. “So that they won’t dare to try illegal punishment again.”

Han Yunxi looked at Gu Beiyue and asked abruptly, “Why?”

Why was this man making all this effort? He could completely ignore the situation. Didn’t he understand that getting mixed up in this might place him under suspicion as her accomplice?

Gu Beiyue didn’t explain himself. “What do you mean, why?”

“Why help me? We’re not that familiar,” Han Yunxi said simply.

But Gu Beiyue’s reply was very earnest. “Esteemed wangfei, a doctor doesn’t stop at using medical skills to save others. The young general’s life is in your hands…” His tone grew much softer as he added, “But it goes without saying that esteemed wangfei is a human life as well.”

Han Yunxi’s head shifted slightly, her heart filled with praise for this man. She even felt a bit inferior to him. Murong Wanru wouldn’t report to Grand Concubine Yi, right? Han Yunxi didn’t want Gu Beiyu to lose confidence, so she didn’t explain much. Instead she asked, “What’s the situation at the general’s estate?”

“Last night, Princess Changping invited a few miracle doctors over, but none of them were able to help. This morning General Mu invited me over again, but the young general’s the same as ever. I tried to persuade General Mu, yet…”

“How is the young general?” Han Yunxi was most concerned about that.

“The same as before. I’m afraid…if by chance, the poison is suppressed indefinitely, then won’t esteemed wangfei…” Gu Beiyue didn’t finish, but Han Yunxi knew what he was worried about. Suppose Mu Qingwu’s hidden poison never revealed itself? When the time came, even if Long Feiye appeared, there would be no way to clear her name.

She thought for awhile before asking, “You don’t believe me either right, Imperial Physician Gu?”

It wasn’t that Gu Beiyue didn’t believe her. It was that out of 10,000 possibilities, he feared the one exception.

“One day has already passed. Within two days, the young general’s poison will definitely show up. As long as it’s expelled, he’ll wake up! Help me look after him and tell me when the poison reacts.” Han Yunxi’s eyes shone with determination as she grabbed Gu Beiyue’s hand, serious and earnest. “I wouldn’t joke around with my own life at stake. Right now, you’re the only one who can help me!”

Gu Beiyue unconsciously lowered his head to gaze at her, feeling things were rather unexpected. Yet Han Yunxi’s bright eyes gradually caused him to smile. His large, warm hands covered Han Yunxi’s small, icy ones as he replied with equal sincerity, “All right, I’ll do my best.”

Han Yunxi was thrilled. She would have worried if he was replaced with anyone else. Only now did she let him go as naturally as she’d grabbed him.

“Remember, check on him often. As soon as the poison shows up, bring me a blood sample.”

“Blood sample?” Gu Beiyue didn’t quite understand.

Han Yunxi took out an acupuncture needle. “Here, just take it with this needle. I want the blood around his navel, near the knife cut.”

Gu Beiyue understood the principle of testing blood for poisons, but with no tools or ingredients, how was Han Yunxi to check for toxins? Seeing his hesitation, Han Yunxi only smiled. “Imperial Physician Gu, there’s only two days left. If I’m cleared of all my charges, I’ll explain things to you.”

Gu Beiyue didn’t expect Han Yunxi to still be grinning in this situation and admired her from the bottom of his heart. He grinned as well, extending his pinky in offering. Han Yunxi was surprised. Did this person still do pinky promises?

“I really am very curious,” Gu Beiyue smiled slightly, looking wonderful as he did.

Han Yunxi hooked her pinky around his. “All right, then it’s settled!”

Looking at Han Yunxi, Gu Beiyue could only think that she was an enigma. This woman’s medical skills might not be as formidable as old master Han, but she far surpassed her father’s skills in treating poisons. Did the Han Family know this?

When he’d left this morning, he heard the servants say the Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue had went to invite the master of the Han house.

—

Gu Beiyue rushed back to General Mu’s house the same day to see that Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue had already returned with the Han Family head: Han Yunxi’s father, Divine Doctor Han Congan[1]. When Gu Beiyue entered the room, Han Congan was taking Mu Qingwu’s pulse, but stood up to make a slight bow with his hands before him.

“Imperial Physician Gu.”