Chapter 29: Relying on your warmth (2/2)
Although Gu Beiyue belonged to the younger generation after Han Congan’s, he was also the Head Imperial Physician. Before that title, a commoner like Han Congan had to pay his respects. Han Congan’s medical skills were consummate. He’d studied at Cloud Realm Continent’s[2] medical academy and became one of its directors last year. Originally, the seat of honor amongst the imperial physicians should have gone to him. Unfortunately, he had failed to cure the crown prince’s strange illness for multiple years. In the end, he couldn’t even enter the court of imperial physicians and became the emperor’s most unfavored medical director in history.
As for Gu Beiyue, his grandfather had raised him ever since his parents died. Grandfather Gu was the previous Head Imperial Physician as well as one of Cloud Realm Medical Academy’s directors. Gu Beiyue had been endowed with innate talent since childhood. Add that to his grandfather’s devoted instruction, and he truly deserved the position of Head Imperial Physician.
“Uncle Han[3] is being overly formal,” Gu Beiyue returned the gesture of respect with his hands, always the modest gentleman. He was neither haughty nor humble, but refined and cultivated.
Han Congan gave up the formalities and sat back down. “You came at just the right time. Tell me about his general condition.”
“Why doesn’t Uncle Han speak his thoughts first, in order to avoid my influence on your judgment?” Gu Beiyue seemed modest and gentle, but his words always carried the effect of multiple meanings. Since he’d said things this way, Han Congan didn’t press the issue, but tugged on his beard as he replied.
“I have a rough idea from General Mu. Only, I think the matter of his poisoning is open for debate.”
Gu Beiyue didn’t express his opinion, but asked, “What kind of debate?”
Han Congan looked doubtful as he sounded out his thoughts. “I heard…that Han Yunxi diagnosed his poison?”
Actually, before Princess Changping even came with her invitation, the empress dowager already sent out people to notify him. Though they didn’t tell him what to do, he was clear in his heart. Han Yunxi was already in prison. As long as Mu Qingwu was unconscious, then Han Yunxi would live one more day in suspicion in jail. This was exactly what the empress dowager wanted. Moreover, Mu Qingwu possessed military leadership and was a close ally and friend to the second imperial prince. He was completely on the second imperial prince’s side, but that man was the crown prince’s strongest adversary.
If Mu Qingwu remained unconscious or even died, no one would be happier than the crown prince. Since this situation concerned his daughter’s life and his family’s position, Han Congan didn’t mind using the opportunity to help out the empress dowager and the crown prince to frame his daughter.
He examined the patient’s pulse for a very long time but couldn’t find any signs of sickness, nor traces of poison. Yet, since Han Yunxi was the one who treated him, she’d take responsibility no matter how he died!
“Then what does Uncle Han think?” Gu Beiyue asked again without expressing any opinion.
As a mere servant of the emperor, Han Congan held the powerful connections of court in his heart. He knew that the more connections he had with Han Yunxi, the more he’d be at a disadvantage. Han Congan was an old fox who didn’t say what he thought, but only reproached the other. “Aye, this girl never studied and has no skills. What would she understand? I heard she was the one who made this cut to treat his poison?”
Han Congan had examined the cut on Mu Qingwu’s stomach before and discovered that it had healed superbly. It wasn’t someone just anyone could accomplish. If it wasn’t for Princess Changping’s claims, he wouldn’t believe this was Han Yunxi’s work at all. How could she manage this? She was a good-for-nothing who couldn’t even tell medicines apart!
“Since Uncle Han examined the wound, you should know that the young general’s sickness has no relation with this injury, right?” Gu Beiyue asked in reply.
Han Congan smoothed out his beard with his fingers. “This…might not necessarily be true. As of now, there’s no way to pinpoint his illness.”
In an instant, Gu Beiyue’s mild-mannered gaze flashed with caution. Mu Qingwu’s incision was a critical point since it was treated by Han Yunxi. If there was proof that the cut and his current state were unrelated, then Han Yunxi would be guilt-free. But if this wound created any more problems or caused a death, Han Yunxi would have to stay in jail.
Really, many ‘thanks’ to Han Yunxi’s father Han Congan, who latched onto all his daughter’s weak points.
“Since Uncle Han says this way, then the matter of Qin Wangfei’s guilt will have to wait…” Gu Beiyue’s tone was still very warm, but these words were like a needle that drew blood to expose Han Congan’s true face. Gu Beiyue checked Mu Qingwu’s injury, measured his pulse, and made sure Han Congan hadn’t fooled around with the patient before speaking. “General Mu, it looks like Han Congan’s medical skills aren’t only lacking, but incapable of curing the young general. Fortunately, the young general’s condition is still within my grasp. Within these two days, he’ll wake up. I’ll keep watch over him until then!”
When the broody General Mu heard these words, he unexpectedly rose to his feet to yell. “Get out! All of you, scram! You’re all useless trash!” The general’s irritable temper was famous throughout the kingdom. There was even once a civil official who’d been beaten with injuries by him!
Han Congan feared death and quickly jumped to his feet to escape the room. However, Gu Beiyue stood up to directly face the raging General Mu. He handed over a sheet of folded white paper covered with black words–a life or death waiver!
“General Mu, I’m willing to pledge with my life that the young general will wake up within two days and that I can save him. If that’s not the case, use a death to pay back a death!” Gu Beiyue looked gentle and frail, but his words rang out clearly in defiance.
General Mu’s fist was half-raised in the air for a long, long time. Finally, he lowered his arm to grit his teeth. “Fine! This general will give you another chance!”
By now, Han Congan had fled far away. He puzzled over Gu Beiyue’s words, wondering if the other suspected something. It’d be harder to try anything against Mu Qingwu with Gu Beiyue there, but if Mu Qingwu really woke up, then everything was over. Han Congan mused as he walked out into the courtyard, just in time to have Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue come over. Princess Changping had been fine this morning, but why was she wearing a veil now?
“Esteemed princess, you…this is…” Han Congan asked doubtfully.
“It’s fine. Why did you come out, how’s Qingwu gege?” Princess Changping asked anxiously. She didn’t know what kind of dirty thing she’d contracted last night in the prisons, but her feet and face had been itching ever since she woke up. Just recently, she’d grown red spots on her skin that looked a bit like a rash.
Her face was her most precious treasure, so she went to see an imperial physician in secret. The physician said it was just a rash and would go away in one or two days. Only then did she feel at ease enough to apply some medicine and hurry over here.
-o-
[1] Han Congan (韩从安) – Han is the surname, Cong is “follow, comply with, open,” or “join”, An is “peace, safety.”
[2] Cloud Realm Continent (云空大陆) – yunkong dalu, literally ‘Cloud Sky’ or ‘Cloud Space’ Continent. Follows the same naming theme as Tianning Country (Peaceful Skies Country).
[3] Uncle Han (韩伯伯) – Han bobo, Han is the surname. 伯伯 is a term of address for a man of one’s father’s generation who is older than one’s father. English equivalent is ‘uncle.’