Chapter 1186: Little Qi, don’t go (1/2)

Where was His Highness?

Nobody knew where Long Feiye went. Seeing the shadow guards’ lost expressions, Chu Xifeng felt angry enough to kick them.

“Where’s His Highness? Speak!” Chu Xifeng hollered. He had picked today of all days to get some tasks done in the army camp. Who expected this to happen as soon as he got back?

How did the princess find out about Gu Qishao? Why does His Highness just happen to be missing right now?

“His Highness vanished last night, but I’m not sure where,” a shadow guard said timidly.

Another, braver shadow guard complained, “Chief, you know His Highness’s temper. If he doesn’t want anyone to follow him, we can’t find him even if we try.”

Chu Xifeng gave a start before racing for the back mountains, leaving everyone else in the dark. He could slap himself for being so stupid! The princess was still in confinement, so His Highness would never leave Rear Camp unless there were mandatory military matters. Even if he did, at most he’d go to Yunning’s army camp. Having just come from there himself without seeing His Highness, Chu Xifeng knew he must have gone to the other place!

The back mountains!

His Highness must have gone there alone to find Gu Beiyue and Gu Qishao!

Chu Xifeng was in such a rush that he didn’t even bring a torch. In the absolute darkness, he flew above the forest in hopes of finding His Highness as soon as possible. If the princess lost her temper and decided to run off to Medical City, no one would be able to stop her! As he ran up the hill, Han Yunxi returned to the large tent and sat spacing out. Her grief and impatience were all buried in her heart. Even though she’d cried, she didn’t feel any better.

What’s Gu Qishao’s condition now?

Just...is he alive or not!?

According to Ning Jing, Mu Linger had left Medical City about a month ago. Gu Beiyue’s diagnosis then had stated that Qishao could only live two months maximum. So what about now?

If Gu Beiyue found Mu Linger, that means they hadn’t found any of the necessary ingredients or poisonous medicines in the past few months. They were supposed to have pinpointed the prescription while I was still in Medical City and only needed to gather ingredients. They were supposed to move on to experimentation and testing. They shouldn’t need Mu Linger’s prescriptions at all.

Han Yunxi could clearly remember the prescription she read. The poisonous medicine from plague patients she’d worried about over the last four months--Gu Beiyue said they’d found them all! The storehouse in the medical academy had them! The rest were easy enough to find with Gu Qishao’s skills.

Han Yunxi could only sit blankly as she thought back to the details. All of the letters from Medical City passed through her mind, making her feel stifled. The people around her watched carefully, afraid that she’d dash outside again.

But she wouldn’t!

She would wait!

Wait for Long Feiye to see her and give an explanation! She also wanted to know the conclusion: how was Gu Qishao doing now? She couldn’t even be bothered with asking why they’d lied to her in the first place. She just wanted to know if Gu Qishao had any hope of living!

While Han Yunxi was waiting for Long Feiye’s return, Chu Xifeng had finally found the little house by its lantern light in the darkness. He flew to the source and didn’t even notice Gu Qishao sitting on the doorstep’s shadows. While he was still far away, he shouted, “Your Highness! Bad news, the princess knows about Gu Qishao!”

Long Feiye and Gu Beiyue stood up at the same time. Gu Beiyue’s voice was cold. “Who told her?”

Chu Xifeng froze. He never expected to see Gu Beiyue so cold and didn’t know what to say. He only felt like the other man had suddenly turned into a stranger. Long Feiye walked out of the house without a word, aiming to get down the mountain. But he’d just reached the doo when a familiar voice spoke up beside him.

“Long Feiye, I don’t want to see her.”

It was Gu Qishao speaking! Long Feiye looked down at the source of the icy voice that seemed to rise from the depths of Hell itself.

“And also,” Gu Qishao added, “Her confinement period hasn’t ended yet. If you dare let her take half a step out the door, this old man won’t forgive you even if I die!”

Chu Xifeng finally noticed Gu Qishao there. He looked at the man and felt a weight on his chest. This...Gu Qishao doesn’t even look human anymore.

Long Feiye stopped, his voice equally frosty. “Gu Qishao, since when have any of your threats succeeded against this crown prince?”

Gu Qishao slowly raised his head. His beautiful face were filled with fine lines that crisscrossed beneath the pale skin. They were none other than the tendrils of thorny thistle vines waiting to sprout and burst into life on his face. Currently, Gu Qishao looked hideous and even horrific! Still, none of the men present were frightened. Gu Beiyue, Long Feiye, and Chu Xifeng all looked at him, staring and staring until…

Gu Qishao chuckled and spoke. “What are you looking at? This old man knows I’m ugly!” His voice was beautiful, his laugh mesmerizing. But his face…

Long Feiye knew without asking that Gu Qishao couldn’t hold out more than past a few days. The thorny thistles had already taken over his entire body except for his brain. Once those vines sprouts, Gu Qishao’s life...would be over!

Long Feiye turned away in silence. Gu Qishao quickly shouted after him, “Long Feiye, can’t you take it as this old man begging you?”

“I can’t!” Long Feiye said without looking back. “Han Yunxi will choose herself! You don’t have the right to pick for her!”

“These are this old man’s personal matters!” Gu Qishao shouted.

But Long Feiye ignored him. It wasn’t until his figure disappeared into the night with Chu Xifeng that Gu Qishao turned to grin at Gu Beiyue. His slender eyes had curved into a pleasant arc like the crescent moon, charming and radiant like an innocent child.