Chapter 321: Someone feels distress for her sake (1/2)

Chapter 321: Someone feels distress for her sake

Gu Beiyue went to see Emperor Tianhui first thing that morning. The reason for his visit was precisely Han Yunxi’s current treatment of Baili Mingxiang. As the Head Imperial Physician, he’d gotten advance notice from Emperor Tianhui that Han Yunxi was to be sent to the western mountains to treat the empress. Protocol dictated that he should have done that as soon as the empress dowager’s banquet ended.

Despite that, he didn’t do it. Neither did Emperor Tianhui pursue the issue over the past few days. Gu Beiyue was very clear that it didn’t mean the issue was over. Emperor Tianhui was still in fear of the strength that Long Feiye had displayed during the banquet. That was why he hadn’t forced Han Yunxi. Meanwhile, General Baili had come to ask him for medical assistance immediately after the banquet concluded. That was Long Feiye’s idea. As the Head Imperial Physician, Gu Beiyue had never involved himself in the struggles of the imperial court when possible. He had the wisdom to only mind his own business. Right now, he could clearly see that Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t press the issue of Han Yunxi going to the western mountains. Neither would Long Feiye bring it up, so the power to decide lay in his hands as the Head Imperial Physician. If he remained silent while stuck between the two of them, he’d be the one in trouble by the end!

“Your Majesty, here are Miss Mingxiang’s medical records. She’s been sick for a long time, but none of the previous imperial physicians could cure her. This one was left helpless as well. Thus, General Baili went to seek esteemed wangfei’s help. She’s diagnosed the girl as being poisoned, but it’ll take some time to expel it all,” Gu Beiyue explained as he offered up the report.

Emperor Tianhui tossed it on his table as soon as he accepted it. “Gu Beiyue, are you saying that the empress’s illness isn’t as important as Baili Mingxiang’s?”

“May Your Majesty show clear judgment. This subject would never dare to imply such a thing!” Gu Beiyue immediately kneeled on the floor, a flustered expression on his face. “Your Majesty, General Baili had no idea that esteemed wangfei was scheduled to head for the western mountains. He came to ask for a doctor the night of the empress dowager’s birthday banquet, and specifically requested esteemed wangfei to check whether the girl had been poisoned.”

“So you agreed to his request?” Emperor Tianhui said sternly.

“This subject never expected Miss Mingxiang’s poisons to be so severe. I assumed that esteemed wangfei would only need to prescribe the appropriate antidote and cure her. Unexpectedly, she needs a long time to finish the treatment.” With his head bowed, Gu Beiyue looked equal parts humble, petty, and nervous. Despite this, his clear eyes were perfectly calm.

“You never thought? Heheh, Gu Beiyue, then tell Zhen, what should be done now?” Emperor Tianhui said as he slammed his table in rage.

Gu Beiyue’s head hung even lower. “May Your Majesty calm your anger! Forgive this subject for being blunt, but esteemed wangfei is a doctor of poisons. She is good at treating toxins, not illnesses. Esteemed empress’s phoenix body is as precious as gold and cannot tolerate negligence in her treatment. This subject knows of a Divine Doctor who’s studied cases of insanity before. They are willing to work in the service of esteemed empress.”

Hear hear, how beautifully Gu Beiyue had spoken! He’d boosted the empress and allowed Emperor Tianhui to step down, all in the same breath. Long Feiye had already revealed his stance. If Emperor Tianhui tried to force Han Yunxi to the mountains, Heaven knows what Long Feiye would do in turn? The emperor had no mind to send away Han Yunxi now, but he needed a way to gracefully back out from his words. Of course he knew that Long Feiye had arranged the whole illness thing with Baili Mingxiang. Originally, he had planned to look into the matter and severely punish Gu Beiyue for his dereliction of duty, thus using the doctor as his means of retreat. But look at things now. Gu Beiyue had given him a chance to retreat and secured his own means of escaping punishment.

At Emperor Tianhui’s hesitance, Gu Beiyue added, “Esteemed empress’s phoenix body is most precious. No mishaps should be allowed to happen to her. May Your Majesty think thrice.”

See here, he’d given Emperor Tianhui another step to get off his platform. In the end, Emperor Tianhui would seem like he didn’t value the empress if he didn’t find a replacement to look after her care. Emperor Tianhui wasn’t very happy to release Gu Beiyue just like that, but the physician had set things up so well that he could only follow along with his words.

“Heheh, looks like Zhen overestimated Han Yunxi’s skills. Since that’s the case, Zhen won’t place any hopes on her. We’ll do this according to your suggestion!” Emperor Tianhui said respectably, looking every inch…a sham!

Gu Beiyue had long gotten used to such things. He lifted his head with a soft smile and said, “You Majesty is wise and brilliant!”

Very soon, news of the matter reached Long Feiye’s ears.

“Gu Beiyue’s rather intelligent,” Long Feiye said in a rare moment of praise. Neither he nor Baili Yuanlong had ever given the man any instructions. Of course, if Gu Beiyue hadn’t arranged things well enough and Emperor Tianhui investigated to their end, Long Feiye would definitely shift all the blame onto the doctor, then kick him out to be the scapegoat.

“Your Highness, when you went to the Gu Estate late time…” Chu Xifeng probed. His Highness had visited Gu Beiyue’s estate when the physician wasn’t home, but returned without saying a word. Long Feiye could still clearly remember how Gu Beiyue had nearly touched Han Yunxi in Medical City while he was following them both. Gu Beiyue was a man who knew martial arts, and his skill was quite considerable. But this man had never shown his skills. He had to have a motive for staying in Tianning! Even though he hadn’t found anything in the Gu Estate during his search, it didn’t mean the matter was over.

Long Feiye didn’t reply Chu Xifeng. At this moment, one of the guards from the Hidden Pavilion rushed over. “Your Highness, we’ve found out where to find the Serpent Fruit!”

“Where?” Long Feiye was clearly anxious to hear the answer. Serpent Fruit was one of the ingredients to Mute Nanny’s antidote. He had been searching for the goods ever since seeing her prescription.

“It’s at Pill Fiend Valley, in Pill Fiend Gu Qi Sha’s hands!” the guard reported.