Chapter 232: Sickness, substitution (2/2)

Everyone knew that Tianning’s crown prince had been sickly for a long time, but there were conflicting stories on the precise nature of his illness. Nobody knew the truth. This time, Luo Zuishan’s appeal at the justice courts had spread far and wide, but all the public knew was that the crown prince’s “chronic ailment” had flared up again. Jun Yixie knew about the upcoming consultation at the medical academy, but he wasn’t clear on Long Tianmo’s exact illness. Nor did he care.

“Ascites?” That was Jun Yixie’s first guess. Medicine and poison were of one family, so while he was an expert at poisons, he was no slouch in the medical department either. Still, after some careful examination, Jun Yixie’s serious expression gradually changed. A complicated look came over his chilly eyes. Seeing this, the attendant dared not ask too many questions. But Jun Yixie actually started speaking to himself. “It’s not ascites, but actually…”

Jun Yixie seemed like he didn’t dare to continue. Once again, he examined the patient carefully. This time, his eyebrows furrowed even further before he was absolutely sure. This wasn’t “ascites,” but…Gu1!

Long Tianmo wasn’t sick, nor had he come down with his old ailment. Someone had given him a Gu, one of the poison arts’ most terrifying skills. Gu was a class of poison studies created by the Poison Sect back when they were still part of Cloud Realm Medical Academy. But as poisons became forbidden at the academy, the art of Gu vanished from Cloud Realm Continent years ago. Even former members of the Poison Sect at medical academy were unlikely to know of its existence. Gu was classified into three levels from high to low. One type lived off plants, another off insects, and the last off humans. Gu that relied on humans was the ultimate goal of Jun Yixie when he started cultivating poison nurturers–a Poison Gu2.

Jun Yixie was knowledgeable about Gu.

“Xi Yubo knows the Gu arts? Luo Zuishan does as well?” he was bewildered. Long Tianmo’s illness had come about from Emperor Tianhui using Xi Yubo in order to frame Han Yunxi. Thus, it had to have been Xi Yubo who set the Gu in him. Meanwhile, Luo Zuishan had appealed to the Council of Elders and vowed solemnly to overthrow Xi Yubo’s diagnosis. He asked for a public consultation, which indicated that he knew about Gu as well. These two directors both had the qualification to study the Gu arts if they wanted, but Jun Yixie didn’t understand why Luo Zuishan would publicize the matter if Gu was at stake. How did he dare? Gu was a huge taboo in today’s medical academy. It was even forbidden to speak about it in private, much less expose it in a public consultation.

Had Luo Zuishan mistook this for another disease entirely? But he’d made such a big deal, so how could he have misdiagnosed it?

There were fishy parts to the entire situation. Jun Yixie caught the whiff of a conspiracy, but he wasn’t at leisure to care so much about the medical academy. His motive in the end was still Han Yunxi. Thus, Jun Yixie removed the Gu from Long Tianmo and poisoned him with Hundred Leaf Purple Jade Grass. Overnight, Long Tianmo’s swollen stomach disappeared, only to be replaced with pain plaguing all of his joints.

Early next morning, Jun Yixie gave his orders without even glancing at the man. “Send him to the medical academy before he wakes up.” This time’s consultation should be an exhilarating event, now that he stuck his foot in too.

Han Yunxi, if you can cure the poison this time, your lordship will be convinced of your skills! Otherwise, just wait for Emperor Tianhui to pin a crime on you. Your lordship would like to see whether Long Feiye can protect you then!

While Long Tianmo was on his way to the medical academy, Qinwang Rong was still searching for traces of him. Luo Zuishan, Xi Yubo and Gu Beiyue had already arrived at their destination, while Gu Qishao’s status was still missing. It was impossible to proceed with the consultation with both Long Tianmo and Han Yunxi missing. Emperor Tianhui gave orders that the medical academy had to send back Gu Beiyue within five days. Meanwhile, they’d need to offer an explanation for Long Tianmo and Han Yunxi’s disappearance. The elders of the medical academy didn’t declare anything, but sent out countless men and horses to search for the missing people.

Everyone was waiting for updates when Han Yunxi arrived at Medical City. Instead of going to the academy, Long Feiye took her to an inn instead.The number one room in Medical City’s most prestigious Auspicious Cloud Inn had a window that overlooked Cloud Realm Medical Academy’s front door. Right now, Han Yunxi and Long Feiye were standing shoulder-to-shoulder by that window.

“There’s no news at all from Jun Yixie’s side?” Han Yunxi was rather worried. Though no news meant that Long Tianmo wasn’t dead, who knew if Jun Yixie would let him go?

“One more day with no news about Long Tianmo means one more day of rest for you. Why the rush?” Long Feiye asked mildly.

They had been hurrying on the road for the entire time, while the words they exchanged during the trip could be counted on one hand. It seemed that nothing more nor nothing less had passed between them. The only difference now was that he seemed to hold her and grip her hand tighter than before. Meanwhile, she was more at ease and less awkward.

“Didn’t the emperor only give Medical City five days’ time?” Han Yunxi asked again.

Long Feiye arched an eyebrow as he looked over with a cold laugh. “Aren’t you overestimating Tianhui a bit too much?”

The medical academy stood for Medical City. Emperor Tianhui wasn’t stupid enough to make enemies with the city over a waste of a crown prince. Han Yunxi wasn’t too clear on the power plays of Cloud Realm Continent, but she was concerned over Long Tianmo’s condition. Would the state of his illness change over the course of five days?

After some hesitation, she spoke up. “I shouldn’t rest. Let’s go to the medical academy, I need to see Gu Beiyue.” If she couldn’t get any answers out of Luo Zuishan, she could at least talk things over with Gu Beiyue.

Hearing this, Long Feiye’s eyes flashed with unhappiness as he replied coldly, “I have business today, so we’re not going.”

“What business?” Han Yunxi was puzzled. Besides the consultation, was there any business more important in Medical City?

But instead of answering her, Long Feiye called for dinner instead.