Chapter 780: Little Qis slight smile (2/2)
“Hehe, I never thought Academy Head Gu was such a romantic. I thought all people who studied medicine were like monks, pure of heart with few desires!”
“Tsk, tsk, Academy Head Gu couldn’t have secretly colluded with the Poison Sect to divide their spoils and kept most of it for himself, right? Is that why he doesn’t want to show his true face now? A father won’t even acknowledge his son?”
None of the speakers were prominent figures, so their words didn’t resonate uch. But when the commentary shifted from Gu Yuntian to the medical academy, their higher ranks grew restless. Department Head Lin immediately rose to his feet and declared, “Someone come, hurry and drag these Poison Sect remnants away! These people are spreading slanders and misleading the public to frame Medical City for false charges. That’s how they’re trying to exonerate themselves, can’t you tell? Ladies and gentlemen, you mustn’t fall for the Poison Sect’s lies! The south central region’s commander-in-chief’s estate is in league with the Poison Sect. This must all be part of their secret scheme!”
Department Head Lin was quite smart to drag the south central region’s commanding unit into the discussion. Many people with speaking clout would be able to rally behind that. As expected, Northern Li’s imperial physician stood up. “Preposterous! This is too absurd! Ling Guyi could even induce early labor, so what right does he have to testify!”
The officer from Tianning was quick to chime in. “This is obviously a plot cooked up by the Poison Sect and the south central region’s commander-in-chief’s estate! I bet that woman’s from their headquarters!”
“What now, the almighty Medical City is afraid of two people like us?” Han Yunxi smiled scornfully. “It’s obvious that someone’s feeling guilty!”
“Exactly! This is the medical academy. Are you guys afraid of those two people? Academy Head Gu, if you don’t explain things clearly today, who’ll know what’s the truth later?” Tang Li argued.
Luo Zuishan hesitated before he stood up. “Your Excellency Academy Head, the Vice Council, and the elders, from what this one understands, it’s better to resolve things clearly. The medical academy has conducted itself righteously, so we don’t fear them! Unless we figure out the truth, it’ll...it’ll make us look like the guilty ones!”
Gu Yuntian glared at him, while Department Head was about to retort, but Third Elder Shen was next to speak. “As this one sees it, let’s clarify things so the Poison Sect remnants can be sincerely convinced! Gu Qishao was from our Medical City as well. If he can’t explain himself today or provide any proof, Medical City will never let him leave!”
“This one agrees, “ Fourth Elder Li Xiuyuan spoke up in agreement.
With the insiders of Medical City speaking their piece, outsiders had no need to add their input. Department Head Lin might have been able to shut down Luo Zuishan, but two elders had chimed in as well, making it difficult for him to resist their decision. All sorts of representatives from various powers were here today. If the medical academy acted too aggressively, they would become a subject for ridicule. Department Head Lin looked towards Gu Yuntian for help, but it was then that Department Head Ouyang opened up to speak.
“Your Excellency Academy Head, as this one sees it, we need to make things clear beyond a doubt! It not only concerns you personal reputation, but the medical academy’s honor! Please return our good name, Your Excellency Academy Head!”
Department Head Lin had no idea what kind of things Gu Yuntian had done in the past. He was standing on his side now because Gu Yuntian thought highly of him and was training him to be the next academy head. Meanwhile, Department Head Ouyang held real power to inherit the academy head position by his own merits. The internal power struggles of the medical academy were just as complicated as the rest of Cloud Realm Continent. Despite his unassuming ways, Department Head Ouyang could win the hearts of the people. As soon as he spoke, multiple voices from the academy rose up in assent.
Hearing this, Han Yunxi felt that Gu Yuntian probably wasn’t all that popular within the academy. There were so many doctors in the huge institution that it seemed plenty of kind-hearted ones still existed. The outsiders watched the insiders urge Gu Yuntian on. What else could he do now?
Smiling coldly, he said, “Fine, this old man will give them a chance!”
Head Elder Ling walked over step by step. Gu Yuntian gave him a cold gaze that was half warning, half questioning. Head Elder Ling should be clearer than anyone how he played a part in everything too. There was no good in revealing the truth, because Gu Qishao couldn’t protect him afterwards, either!
“Head Elder Ling, go on and tell us what happened in the past. Don’t leave a single detail out!” Gu Qishao chuckled as he finished.
Silence fell upon the scene, leaving him the only one smiling. He was the main character of everything here, but only smiled as if he was a spectator watching the show. No one could past his determination to win to the pain hidden beneath!
Head Elder Ling sucked in a deep breath as he avoided Gu Yuntian’s gaze. He didn’t even know where to start, but eventually he lowered his head and started to talk. He followed Gu Qishao’s requirements to tell the crowd about every single incident than happened in the past.
There was the story of how Gu Yuntian found Gu Qishao’s birth mother and tricked her into getting pregnant, then threatened her into taking pills to cooperate with his research.
There was the birth of Little Qi on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month over twenty years ago, and how his mother had suffered a difficult labor that resulted in massive blood loss. Because they didn’t bother to save her, she died in the delivery room. Little Qi’s first meal wasn’t milk or even water, but medicine, the most bitter kind. Over the next few days, his little body grew exhausted from a diet of nothing but more medicine. Gu Yuntian would stop forcing the stuff into his body before Head Elder Ling finally coaxed him to find a wet nurse to feed the baby…
By now, it had gotten so silent that hardly a breeze blew through the crowd. A hush had descended upon the listeners. Everyone was listening dumbstruck, including Gu Yuntian, Department Head Lin, and the rest. Even the ever calm Gu Beiyue couldn’t stop standing up to clench his fists. Ning Jing had forgotten to settle accounts with Tang Li and simply stared with a stiff face, like her husband, at Gu Qishao.
Han Yunxi stood the closest to Gu Qishao, but seemed paralyzed to the spot. Her whole body remained immobile except for her shaking hands and eyes growing painfully red with tears.
But Little Qi…
Little Qi was smiling as always, his expression as pure and pretty as a child’s…