Chapter 414: What’s there to talk about? (1/2)

Chapter 414: What’s there to talk about?

Han Yunxi and Gu Beiyue were both laughing over something when the frost-faced Long Feiye asked, “Gu Beiyue, I heard you asked for a sick leave and went back to your hometown recently?”

Gu Beiyue quickly turned with a bow. “Yes.”

“Where is your hometown?” Long Feiye asked coldly. Han Yunxi grew curious as well. From what she understood, Gu Beiyue had come along with his grandfather to Tianning’s capital city. He probably spend his childhood growing up in Cloud Realm Medical Academy. But he’d never mentioned the origins of his father before.

“In Longxi. This official lost both my parents in childhood, so my paternal grandfather raise me. My ancestral home is in Longxi County, a city adept in medicine. Afterwards, I left with my grandfather and stayed in Tianning from thereon. I returned to Longxi for two reasons this time: one to treat my illness, and then to pay respects to my ancestors.”

Gu Beiyue seemed to know what Long Feiye would ask next, so he simply gave an clear explanation along with his answer. Long Feiye had sent men to investigate these details in the medical academy’s records as well, before verifying the information in Longxi County itself. Although Long Feiye didn’t completely believe Gu Beiyue’s account, he hadn’t found any lies in his testimony so far. If not for that chance movement he caught back in Medical City, he would have abandoned suspicions of this man a long time ago.

Long Feiye nodded and forgo his other questions to asked, “Wangfei, you said that your lordship’s wound needed a re-examination?”

Wangfei? Is he calling for Han Yunxi? For a second, Han Yunxi didn’t react to the name. Long Feiye had always used her full name or nothing at all when he spoke to her in the past. She had been thinking over Gu Beiyue’s origins and how much he must have suffered as a chronic invalid who lost both his parents when young. That’s why she hadn’t even noticed when Long Feiye shot her a look on purpose.

Gu Beiyue was perfectly capable of replying in Han Yunxi’s stead, since the examination pertained to him, but he simply stood dutifully on one side and remained silent. Long Feiye stared at Han Yunxi for a long time before he called her again.

“Han Yunxi!”

Han Yunxi finally reacted. “Your Highness, you called?”

“Does your lordship’s injury require a re-examination?” Despite his unhappiness, he held himself back and asked her again. Gu Beiyue witnessed the entire exchange and only felt that the Duke of Qin’s patience for esteemed wangfei had improved yet again during their long absence. Moreover, esteemed wangfei seemed more easy and carefree in the Duke of Qin’s presence as well.

Re-examination?

After she took off the bandages last time, Han Yunxi was sure that he’d fully recovered. The re-examination part was simply an excuse she’d made up to win over Long Feiye.

“Yes, of course!” she nodded quickly before shooting Gu Beiyue a meaningful glance to play along. “Imperial Physician Gu, His Highness’s injury recovered faster than expected. It was basically fully healed by last month, so I think it’s best if you give a look just in case.”

Gu Beiyue was fully capable of calculating the exact day in which Long Feiye would recover, but in order to hide his medical skills, he’d extended the projected deadline for the recovery rate. He feigned surprise and said, “It was fully healed by last month?”

“Exactly, so you better examine him again,” Han Yunxi said seriously.

Long Feiye was expressionless as he walked to a side room for Gu Beiyue’s re-examination. He wasn’t a doctor, but he knew enough to understand when his wound had recovered. How could Han Yunxi’s little schemes escape his eyes? He had brought up the topic in the first place to change the subject. Now that Lil Thing was back in their hands again and his injury full healed, Gu Beiyue could bid farewell.

Each person in the trio was shrewder than the others. Today was just a small game between them all, but what kind of calculations would play out if they became enemies in the future?

Gu Beiyue studiously examined Long Feiye’s injury before sighing with emotion. “Your Highness has an extraordinary constitution. A recovery like this could be considered a miracle!”

“Didn’t such a miracle come from Imperial Physician Gu’s hands?” Long Feiye retorted.

Gu Beiyue remained unmoved, his expression unchanged as he said modestly, “I dare not accept the honor.”

Long Feiye had always disliked pointless conversation, so he simply stopped talking. As Gu Beiyue withdrew, he did exactly as Long Feiye wished by saying, “Your Highness Duke of Qin, esteemed wangfei, this official shall bid farewell now.”

Before Han Yunxi could speak up, Long Feiye simply waved a hand to show that he could leave. Han Yunxi cradled Lil Thing in her arms and called after him, “Much thanks!”

“Esteemed wangfei is being over polite. This official shall take his leave.”

Gu Beiyue was about to leave when Lil Thing suddenly woke up in Han Yunxi’s arms. Still groggy from sleep, the first thing it saw was Gu Beiyue backing away with his head bowed. The quiet, skinny form of the doctor looked like it was going to disappear forever, leaving Lil Thing with a keen sense of fear. Alarmed, it gave a shrill squeak and threw itself into Gu Beiyue’s arms. The sudden action startled everyone present.

“Lil Thing!” Han Yunxi blurted out. When the sleepy Lil Thing heard the familiar voice, it woke up completely. The sight of Han Yunxi gave it another fright as it began cheeping in earnest. It was a grating, screeching noise that cause Long Feiye to furrow his eyebrows, but unfortunately…nobody was paying him any attention anymore.

Lil Thing looked at Gu Beiyue, then at Han Yunxi, and finally understood what was going on! His Mama Yunxi was back! The gentleman had delivered him home.

Han Yunxi narrowed her eyes and beckoned Lil Thing with her corner. “Come here”!

Lil Thing immediately leaped onto her shoulder and began to nuzzled her face. Mama Yunxi’s finally back. I’ve missed you so much! Han Yunxi took Lil Thing into her hands and pinched its ears, poked its cheeks, and scratched its neck before grabbing its tail. It wasn’t clear whether she was spoiling it or roughing it up, but she was filled with joy.

“Did you miss me?”