Chapter 56: Forceful, go with your lordship (1/2)

Han Yunxi gave the prescription to Emperor Tianhui, making sure to emphasize the importance of the Life Blood Pill. She secretly mused that no matter how the Emperor Tianhui obtained the pill, it’d take around 10 days to half a month. During that time, she could return to the Duke of Qin’s residence and relax. With her bearing such a heavy responsibility, see how Grand Concubine Yi or Murong Wanru dare to treat her then! Moreover, she even had an excuse to find Imperial Physician Gu and freely enter the imperial physicians’ courtyard.

There were plenty of medical books there and a great many medicinal ingredients. To her, this was the perfect Taobao[1] warehouse! After delivering the prescription, Han Yunxi released a breath, but…

Emperor Tianhui placed the paper down and looked towards Long Feiye. “Duke of Qin, the Pill Fiend Valley isn’t an ordinary place. You should take a trip there personally.” Though his tone sounded conversational, anyone who heard could tell that it was an imperial edict.

Long Feiye still had his ice-cold poker face as he nodded. “Yes.”

Han Yunxi glanced at him and couldn’t help but gloat at his misfortune. Giant Ice Cube, ah, Giant Ice Cube, so much for looking on unconcernedly. Now the disaster’s been brought to the fish in the pond[2]. The Life Blood Pill wasn’t so easy to buy! If he couldn’t get it, then he’d take all the blame!

“Your majesty, the imperial physician courtyard has all the other ingredients needed for this prescription. Yunxi and Imperial Physician Gu can prepare them quickly. When the Life Blood Pill arrives, we’ll immediately start treatment,” Han Yunxi said sincerely.

Emperor Tianhui nodded his head. “Then we’ll wait for the Duke of Qin’s good news.” After this, everyone scattered. Han Yunxi used the excuse of finding Gu Beiyue to make up the prescription to stay behind, while Long Feiye left without paying her further attention.

The empress departed with the empress dowager, her heart laden with care. “Mufei, this…chenqie’s heart is in disorder. Can or can’t we trust Han Yunxi!?”

The empress dowager wasn’t confident either and remained silent before heaving a long sigh. “If this lass can really cure Tianmo, then I’ll definitely put her to heavy use!”

When Lady Tianxin saved the empress dowager’s life back in the day, the empress dowager gave Han Yunxi to the Duke of Qin. In actuality, she was leaving a chess piece by his side so Han Yunxi could act as her planted spy. Who knew that the girl would grow up ugly and talentless, or that Han Congan couldn’t heal the crown prince?

The empress nodded her head and said no more.

—

Han Yunxi arrived with an empty stomach back home only when it was very late. As soon as she entered the gates, she was summoned by Grand Concubine Yi. The grand imperial concubine and Murong Wanru had been restlessly waiting all day for news. What did it mean for Han Yunxi to return peacefully home?

“How is the crown prince’s situation? Treatable?” Grand Concubine Yi came straight to the point.

Han Yunxi was bewildered. Hadn’t Long Feiye returned first? Unless he didn’t go back home? She didn’t muse on it much and looked at Grand Concubine Yi and Murong Wanru’s expectant faces. A flash of disdain swept past her eyes before she pretended to sigh and hesitate.

“Sister-in-law, just what happened? Mufei and I have been worrying all day,” Murong Wanru asked in distress.

“Nothing much happened. It is what it is,” Han Yunxi replied mildly.

“What is what it is?” Grand Concubine Yi couldn’t bear it.

“It’s not a serious issue. I have a way to treat it,” Han Yunxi finally laid bare the facts. She didn’t miss the shock in Grand Concubine Yi’s eyes, much less the flash of jealousy in Murong Wanru’s face.

Those who wanted to laugh at her expense would always get laughed at instead!

“So you mean that you’ve cured the crown prince?” Murong Wanru couldn’t resist asking.

“I’m still missing one ingredient before the treatment’s less of a problem. It’s only that this item is very difficult to find, so it must be bought from the Pill Fiend Valley.” Han Yunxi was honest.

These words made Grand Concubine Yi release a breath while Murong Wanru curved her lips up mockingly. “I’ve heard of the Pill Fiend Valley. Its master is His Excellency Pill Fiend, a very unreasonable eccentric. He never shows anyone his face and eight to nine people out of ten come back from him empty-handed. Some people even have to offer up their lives before they can get medicine.”

The agitated Grand Concubine Yi calmed down at these words. “Is that so. Then it’ll be quite troublesome to treat the crown prince.”

Han Yunxi agreed immensely and nodded her head. “That’s exactly so, very troublesome!” Yet she soon changed the topic. “However, his majesty sent His Highness Duke of Qin to ask for it. As I see it, it shouldn’t be such a difficult task now, right?”

Her words left Grand Concubine Yi and Murong Wanru stunned.

Immediately, Grand Concubine Yi angrily struck the table. “What? He told the Duke of Qin go to Pill Fiend Valley?”

Han Yunxi’s expression was both innocent and earnest as she nodded. “If the Duke of Qin goes, he can definitely get the pill. His majesty’s decision can’t be wrong.”

Grand Concubine Yi’s stomach knotted itself up as her hands suddenly curled into fists, narrowly resisting the urge to slap Han Yunxi. Yet the words, ‘his majesty’s decision,’ forced her to swallow her anger. By her side, Murong Wanru had already lost all reason.

Everyone knew the Pill Fiend Valley was a bad place where purchasing medicine was difficult. What if the Duke of Qin came to an untimely end there? What if he didn’t manage to buy the medicine? Wouldn’t he have to bear the burden of this crime?

Why did something that was clearly Han Yunxi’s calamity ended up falling to him instead?

If she knew earlier that things would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have spread all those rumors to ruin Han Yunxi. Murong Wanru’s repentance was enough to turn her intestines green. Even her face had taken on a sickly pallor.

After being tired out for a whole day, Han Yunxi felt her spirits suddenly refreshed by the sight of mother and daughter mute with bitterness they couldn’t express. For a while, she forgot all her exhaustion.

“Mufei, the emperor commanded chenqie to rest well these few days in preparation for the crown prince’s treatment. It’s getting late, so chenqie will take her leave now.” So speaking, she made a respectful bow before carelessly turning to depart.

Grand Concubine Yi was angry enough to erupt at any time, her fists exposing blue veins against her skin. But she couldn’t do anything to Han Yunxi. The emperor wasn’t someone she dared to provoke.

“Just who was it that spread those lies! They deserve to die!” Grand Concubine Yi said in rage.

Murong Wanru jumped, not daring to utter a word.

—

Han Yunxi’s steps were quick and light. This was her first time living in an imperially ruled world where she thought the emperor’s power was a really good thing! Once back at the Hibiscus Courtyard, she halted when she noticed that Long Feiye’s rooms were dark.

That guy hadn’t returned, so where had he gone?

He couldn’t have hurried directly to Pill Fiend Valley? Wasn’t that too fast?