Chapter 225: The actual motive is to protect (2/2)
“The price is too high!” Tang Li wasn’t convinced.
“Your lordship can afford the loss,” Long Feiye said simply, unruffled.
“You!” Tang Li felt gloomy, but had no words to counter him. He sat down in a corner as he panted with rage, not in the mood to say anything else.
Chu Xifeng had been shocked as well, but if he really had to pick, he’d still end up trusting Han Yunxi. That woman was different from the rest, even superior to some men. She had her own principles and strength of character as well as convictions! Of course, he didn’t dare to talk too much, but reported, “Your Highness, there’s temporarily no news from Medical City. However, news from the palace said that Director Xi will need 10 days before he can cure the crown prince, so…esteemed wangfei and the rest should still have 10 days left.”
A complicated look flitted past Long Feiye’s eyes before he muttered, “Keep following developments from Medical City.”
Today’s high-profile visit wasn’t just done for Emperor Tianhui’s eyes, but for Gu Beiyue as well. He was very curious. Why did a genius Divine Doctor like him, who could thrive in Medical City as a fish thrived in water, condescend to stay in Tianning’s Imperial Physician Courtyard for so many years?
—
Three days passed with no news from Medical City. Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue were locked in opposite ends of the prisons and thus had no chance to contact each other at all. The treatment of death-row inmates made things hard for both of them. Gu Beiyue didn’t touch any of the spoiled rice and vegetables they brought him, but subsisted on water alone. It was only on the fourth day that an unfamiliar prison guard came to deliver water and took the chance to draw close to the prison bars. A calm Gu Beiyue walked over to meet him.
“How is it?” he asked in a low voice.
“Someone beat us to it. Luo Zuishan’s already gotten permission from the Council of Elders, he should arrive at Tianning’s capital city tonight.”
“Long Feiye?” Gu Beiyue asked doubtfully. While being imprisoned, he still had ways to contact people in Medical City. Naturally, he had his own misgivings that kept him from acting right away.
“Not the Duke of Qin. He hasn’t made any moves. It was Gu Qishao,” the guard replied.
Gu Beiyue’s eyes brightened as if he suddenly understood something. He smiled lightly and said, “He’s rather clever to know he should find Luo Zuishan1.
Who was Luo Zuishan?
Besides Gu Beiyue’s late grandfather, there were only two other sixth-ranked Primogenitor Doctors on the medical academy’s board of directors. One of them was Director Xi, while the other was Luo Zuishan, Director Luo.
It wasn’t easy to invite an elder from the Council of Elders. Moreover, those elders often made public appearances so they probably wouldn’t be as effective as someone like Luo Zuishan showing up. Director Xi and Luo Zuishan were irreconcilable enemies who couldn’t stand each other. As long as Luo Zuishan grabbed onto a weak point from Director Xi, he’d refused to yield an inch and fight to the death without giving face to anymore.
“Master, the origins of this fellow Gu Qishao…” Before the guard could finish, Gu Beiyue signaled him to be quiet. Despite being locked up for multiple days, his robes were still whiter than snow, making him look almost celestial. In the darkness, a simple movement such as placing a white, jade-like finger to his lips carried a noble air of mystery.
“Go on, keep watch silently.” His voice was as light as a spring breeze, but he had already concealed himself into the shadows.
Just who was Gu Qishao?
Speaking of the devil, he was currently in Han Yunxi’s prison cell. This was already his third trip here. Each time, he’d brought along a giant bag of things. Nobody knew where he’d gotten the keys from or how he could just saunter in after unlocking the door without alarming any of the guards. That was a marvel in itself.
Every time he came, he brought along clean cotton quilts, a pack of dry foods, and a pack of hot foods. Though everything was wrapped up in one giant bundle, it was all done methodically so that even the different scents wouldn’t affect each other. Every time Han Yunxi unwrapped the packages, she’d have the misconception that Gu Qishao wasn’t some n’er do well, but a stay-at-home husband essential for easing travel woes!
He said her quilt had to be changed every day so she could sleep well. The dry food was there to serve as her snacks between meals, while the hot foods were her proper meals. He said, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll definitely be out of here within 10 days.’ Every time he’d also ask her the same three questions, though Han Yunxi didn’t pay attention to them: ‘What’s your relation with the Tang Clan? Who taught you the poison arts? Who’s your real father?’
See here, he was asking her again while changing her bedsheets for her. Meanwhile, Han Yunxi was squatting in a corner while heartily eating a bowl of fragrant white rice. Ever since she’d been starved that one time by Grand Concubine Yi, she’d grown sensitive to hunger. Without Gu Qishao, she would’ve long fainted away from hunger.
1. Luo Zuishan (洛醉山) – Luo is the name of rivers in Shaanxi and Henan Province, Zui means “drunk,” and Shan means “mountain.”