Chapter 61
Lin Qingyu stayed at home for the entire day. There was still no news from the palace. He had even asked Huan Tong to go to Hu Ji’s house to inquire but Hu Ji had yet to return home. Most probably, he was still in the Eastern Palace.
On the evening of the second day since the incident in the Eastern Palace, Lin Qingyu returned to his shift at the Imperial Hospital. Some of the Imperial Physicians who had gone to the Eastern Palace that day had already returned. Every one of them was in a hurry and they were very tight-lipped about the crown prince’s situation. Lin Qingyu asked several times but they all only answered that the crown prince had come down with a sudden illness and needed to rest for a while.
They must be taking him for an idiot. Although Lin Qingyu couldn’t see their prescriptions, based from what was missing from the medicine cabinets, he knew that Xiao Cheng had suffered serious trauma and was bleeding profusely, most likely he had taken damage to the chest and lungs.
On the third day after the incident, Hu Ji finally returned to the Imperial Hospital. He was wearing the same uniform, now washed for three days. The sleeves were stained with blood and he was exhausted to the point of falling into a trance.
Lin Qingyu offered to send him back home. In the carriage, Hu Ji told Lin Qingyu that His Highness was not ill, but was injured by a sword.
“That day, when I arrived at the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had already been carried to the bed. He was wearing only his sleeping robe, with a bloody hole in his chest. His whole body was body was drenched in blood but his eyes were wide open and his mind was still clear though he uttered not a word.” Recalling the scene at that time, Hu Ji felt his heart fill with lingering fears. “I rushed forward to try to stop the bleeding, but he suddenly grabbed my clothes and I heard him say ‘come back’… he then passed out and even until I left, he has yet to wake.”
Lin Qingyu couldn’t care less what Xiao Cheng said before he fell into a coma. He just wanted to know when Xiao Cheng would die. “How certain are you of waking the Crown Prince?”
Hu Ji shook his head with a wry smile. “Less than thirty percent.”
Thirty percent…still too much.
Hu Ji added, “However, the Crown Prince’s left lung has been injured. Even if he is able to escape with his life this time, I am afraid that in the future, medicine shall never be parted from his mouth. He will live on as a medicine pot.”
Lin Qingyu still felt unreconciled. What was a mere left lung? If Shen Huaizhi’s sword had moved just a tiny bit more, it would have penetrated Xiao Cheng’s heart. This was what he wanted to hear.
Lin Qingyu hesitated for a moment and said, “Hu Ji, would you always do you best to treat a patient no matter who the patient is?”
Hu Ji said without hesitation, “Of course, this is my way of medicine.”
Lin Qingyu didn’t say any more. Hu Ji studied medicine in order to save the dying and the wounded. Even if the patient were a heinous person, he would probably save the person first before turning him over to the authorities. On the other hand, he studied medicine, poisons, and gu simply because he liked it. He would even use these to harm people. He respected Hu Ji’s ideas and did not want to ruin Hu Ji’s way of medicine.
Besides, the crux of the matter was that even if Hu Ji had the heart to do something, the other Imperial Physicians weren’t blind. Every bowl of medicine in the Eastern Palace would be tested for poison. Murdering the Crown Prince was a capital offense. Even if it were for the sake of his family, he couldn’t do it rashly.
Could it be that this could only be left to fate?
Hu Ji was so tired that he couldn’t keep his eyes open. And yet, he did not forget to warn Lin Qingyu, “By the way, the Emperor has issued a death order. News of the attempted assassination on the Crown Prince must not be leaked. Imperial Physician Lin must not tell this matter to others. ”
Lin Qingyu nodded and said, “Don’t worry, I won’t breathe a single word.”
Having said that, Lin Qingyu immediately told Gu Fuzhou the news.
For the past few days, Gu Fuzhou has been running to his house whenever he had nothing to do. By this point, to say that there were merely adoptive brothers was simply impossible. However, he wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be thinking about it.
When Gu Fuzhou learned that Xiao Cheng had a 30% chance of surviving, he was not optimistic. “If Hu Ji says it’s thirty percent, then it’s at least ninety percent.”
“How so?”
“Xiao Cheng is the protagonist of the original book and protagonists always have a halo around them. If I were to explain it to you, hmm, even if a wave of arrows were shot at Xiao Cheng, he may emerge unscathed.”
Lin Qingyu said, “In short, he’s very lucky?”
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “You could put it that way.”
“Shen Huaishi is also a protagonist. Won’t he also have a halo?”
Yeah. Don’t look at how miserable he might be now. He definitely won’t die. If anyone else were to try to assassinate the Crown Prince, the best they could hope for is to emerge equally injured. He stabbed Xiao Cheng in the chest and still managed to escape unscathed. Wouldn’t you call that a halo?
Lin Qingyu was suspicious. “That Shen Huaishi could escape from the palace, wasn’t it because of his skills?”
As the two were talking, Huan Tong came to tell them that an unknown child had came knocking on their door. When he opened the gate, the little boy stuffed a note into his hand without saying a word. By the time he came back to his senses, the child had already disappeared.
“Where’s the note?” Lin Qingyu said, “Bring it to me to see.”
Only a few words were written on the note. After Lin Qingyu saw it, he immediately ordered: “Prepare the carriage. I’m heading to Changsheng Temple.”
Lin Qingyu changed into his everyday clothes and together with Gu Fuzhou, went to Changsheng Temple. Before getting off the carriage, Lin Qingyu said, “It might be better that you wait for me in the carriage.”
“Huh? Why?”
“There are a lot of people here. Are you willing to let other see you going out with a ‘widow’?”
Gu Fuzhou pretended to consider it for a while, “It seems that I’m somewhat willing.”
Lin Qingyu couldn’t help laughing. “Let’s go together then.”
The autumn rain was falling outside, fluttering, sprinkling, dampening clothes and moistening desires. Gu Fuzhou got out of the carriage first. He opened the umbrella, helping Lin Qingyu down. Lin Qingyu put his hand on his palm and borrowing his support, alighted from the carraige. As soon as he stood firm on the ground, he let go of the other’s hand. He then heard a cold snort come from behind him, “Such indecent behavior!”
Lin Qingyu looked back and saw an old man, glaring at them with righteous indignation, as though he’d been made to bear witness to something filthy.
Gu Fuzhou asked in a low voice, “Who is that?”
“Deputy Censor, Yang Geng.”
Gu Fuzhou said leisurely, “He’s already so old but he’s still a fifth-rank civil servant like you. If I were him, I would write the word ‘miserable’ down the length of my trousers in blood.”
Yang Geng saw them sheltering under an umbrella together, even huddling close together to whisper to each other. He couldn’t make out what they were saying and they covered their faces with their sleeves as though wanting to be invisible.
Gu Fuzhou called him to a stop. “Yang Daren.”
All censors were of a somewhat surly nature and Yang Geng was no exception. With a ‘stinky’ expression on his face, he walked up to Gu Fuzhou and saluted, “This official offers his greetings to the general.”
Gu Fuzhou asked, “Just who were you calling indecent just now?”
“Naturally, this official was not pertaining to the general.” Yang Geng looked sternly at Lin Qingyu and said, “Imperial Physician Lin, if I remember correctly, it has not yet been a year since Young Master Hou departed from this world. You should still be well within the period of mourning. How can you be so intimate with other men?”
Gu Fuzhou said, “Imperial Physician Lin is this general’s adopted brother.”
“An adopted brother is still a male outsider.”
“According to what you said, the Emperor is also a male outsider. Imperial Physician Lin goes to examine His Majesty’s pulse every day. Are you calling the Emperor indecent?”
Yang Geng glared straight at him. Flustered and exasperated, he said, “The general is twisting my words and forcing logic. How could this be the same—”
“How is it different?” Gu Fuzhou said indifferently, “Imperial Physician Lin’s position was bestowed by the Emperor and the Emperor did so heedless of his identity as a male wife. Since Yang Daren feels so strongly about this matter, might it not be better to tell the Emperor and have His Majesty relieve Imperial Physician Lin of his post?”
“This…” Yang Geng was struck speechless. There was no one in the palace who didn’t know that it was thanks to Lin Qingyu that the Emperor managed to awaken. Asking His Majesty to dismiss Lin Qingyu was akin to threatening the Emperor’s well-being. Although the Dayu wouldn’t kill an imperial censor for offering advice to the emperor, no one would dare say this to His Majesty at this time.
Lin Qingyu said: “General, we have urgent business to attend to. Let us go.”
The two walked towards the main hall. Just as Gu Fuzhou was about to curse out that Yang Geng, he heard Lin Qingyu snort coldly, “Stupid c*nt.”
Gu Fuzhou was momentarily taken aback, thinking he had heard it wrong. “What did you just call him?”
“Stupid c*nt?”
Gu Fuzhou was shocked into incoherency. “How can you talk like that?!”
“I learned it from you.” Lin Qingyu narrowed his eyes at him, “What? You can say it, but I can’t?”
“Of course, beauties mustn’t use such foul language.”
Lin Qingyu said disdainfully, “I’m going to burst.”
Gu Fuzhou blamed himself bitterly, “I have led you astray.”
On such a rainy day, the number of pilgrims in Changsheng Temple was much less than usual. There were only a few people burning incense and praying in front of the golden Buddha statue. Lin Qingyu looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
The person who wrote the note invited him to meet him at Changsheng Temple. It was unlikely that he meant in the main hall. At this time, a little monk stepped forward and asked if they would like to offer incense. Lin Qingyu asked for three sticks of incense.
Gu Fuzhou asked, “What blessing would you like to pray for?”
Even in front of the Buddha, Lin Qingyu made no attempt to hide his malice. “I pray that Xiao Cheng will die soon.”
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “How are you so cute? However, praying at Changsheng Temple doesn’t seem very fitting.”
Lin Qingyu lit the incense and asked casually, “Have you tried it?”
“Yes.” Gu Fuzhou said absent-mindedly, “If prayers here came true, you wouldn’t have sad moments.”
Lin Qingyu bumped his chest and looked up at the person beside him. Gu Fuzhou didn’t seem to realize what he’d said, so he looked at Lin Qingyu and asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…It’s nothing.” Lin Qingyu lowered his eyes, “I’ll go have a look in the side hall. The last time I met him at Changsheng Temple, it was in the side hall.”
Gu Fuzhou nodded: “You go.” As he was not familiar with Shen Huaishi, it was not appropriate to meet at this time. “I’ll go to the back hall to see if Xu Junyuan is there.”
“The National Teacher?” Lin Qingyu frowned, “Are you going to tell him… about you?”
“I’m not going to go that far. At most, I’ll ask him for a divination.”
Lin Qingyu and Gu Fuzhou separated and went to the side hall alone. The side hall was even more deserted than the main hall. There wasn’t even a single monk standing in attendance. Lu Wancheng’s tablet and ever-burning lamp were enshrined here. As Lin Qingyu was adding lamp oil to the ever-burning lamp, he caught sight from out the corner of his eyes, a figure hiding behind a stone pillar.
Lin Qingyu turned around and said, “I’m the only one here.”
Shen Huaishi walked out from behind the stone pillar and said with a numb expression, “Imperial Physician Lin.”
Shen Huaishi was wearing the rough sewn clothes of an ordinary citizen. His face was covered with a layer of dust, stubble covered his chin and his eyes were bloodshot. He looked extremely down and depressed. Who knows how long he has last slept.
Lin Qingyu asked, “Where have you been these past few days?”
Shen Huaishi didn’t seem to hear Lin Qingyu’s question. He said as though speaking to himself, “Thank you, Imperial Physician Lin, for telling me about the Heavenly Prison Sect.”
Lin Qingyu asked, “Does Xiao Cheng’s injury have something to do with you?”
Hearing the word “Xiao Cheng”, Shen Huaishi’s eyes moved, but he still didn’t answer the question. “I ask Imperial Physician Lin to take care of Zhu Dage. Please let him return to Xuzhou, return him to a peaceful life.”
“What about you? Where are you going?” Lin Qingyu said, “Can you escape the pursuit of the Tianji Camp?”
The corner of Shen Huaishi’s lips twitched, revealing an ugly smile. “Are you… are you concerned about me?” He slowly lowered his head, “No one has ever been concerned about me except my family. Imperial Physician Lin, if I stop holding myself cheap, will you treat me as a friend?”
Lin Qingyu softly spoke one word, “Maybe.”
A gleam of light flashed in Shen Huaishi’s eyes but he quickly returned to numbness. “Unfortunately, it’s too late.”
Lin Qingyu made no comment. He took out from his sleeve, a medicine box he had prepared earlier that morning. “This, please accept it.”
“…what is it?”
“A medicine that fakes death. You can use it to get away if necessary.”
Shen Huaishi put away the medicine box. “Thank you. Then…” He stared intently at Lin Qingyu, “I’m leaving.”
Lin Qingyu watched him leave. Suddenly, he said, “Did you miss that night, or did your heart go soft?”
Shen Huaishi paused. He shook his head in silence and step by step, he walked out of the side hall. Until the end, he didn’t tell Lin Qingyu the answer.
For a while, Lin Qingyu remained there by himself. When he went out, he saw Gu Fuzhou standing under the eaves, looking at the hazy curtain of rain, seemingly lost in thought.
Raindrops dripped from the eaves and splattered against the mossy stone steps, startling Gu Fuzhou out of his thoughts. “It’s over? Did you see him?”
Lin Qingyu nodded, “He said some useless nonsense.” He paused, then said, “Well, not completely nonsense. In short, Shen Huaishi has to leave the capital.”
Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “Xiao Cheng will definitely go and look for him when he wakes up. He runs, he chases. Even with wings, they would never fly.”
Lin Qingyu said, displeased, “Do you still think Xiao Cheng will wake up?”
“Whether Xiao Cheng lives or dies, we have to prepare for the worst.”
“The worst is that he lives and remains crown prince. In that case, we can’t touch the Emperor.”
But the emperor has obviously begun to have thoughts about him. Maybe one day, he would be asked to remain and serve him in bed. It wasn’t only Gu Fuzhou who needed a second marriage; he needed it too.
“Then, the matter of our second marriage will be put on the agenda.” Gu Fuzhou confirmed again, “Qingyu, do you really not want to take me as your wife?”
Lin Qingyu weighed the matter over and over. “No, I don’t.”
Not to mention the fact that he didn’t want to, even if he did, a first-rank general being a wife to a fifth-rank imperial physician, this would be a direct provocation to the censorate of the entire Dayu.
Gu Fuzhou didn’t give up. “You really don’t to? Would you rather die than take me as your wife?”
“……En.”
Gu Fuzhou couldn’t figure out Lin Qingyu’s thoughts. “Could it be that you’re willing to be my wife? That can’t be, right? Didn’t you always think that it’s a humiliation for a man to wear bridal attire?”
Lin Qingyu said indifferently, “Humiliating or not, I’ve already gone through it twice.”
“Twice?” Gu Fuzhou said in surprise, “How did it become twice?”
Lin Qingyu was momentarily dazed. He then chuckled, “I remembered it wrong.”
“Qingyu…?” Lin Qingyu’s smile hadn’t been a sneer. Rather, it carried a bit of gentleness and calmness. But for some reason, Gu Fuzhou felt that his smile was a little sad.
The author has something to say:
The atmosphere is a little sad, so let’s talk about something amusing to lighten the mood.
Where our Salted Fish Gong from? (Purely for entertainment question, but the answer will be revealed later)
Liaoning Sichuan Guangdong Jiangsu
