Chapter 48
Lin Qingyu asked Xiao Songzi to help him pay more attention to the situation in Qinzheng Hall, but Xiao Songzi was just a eunuch who delivered meals. He stayed in Qinzheng Hall for a very short time every day, and the information he could get was limited.
Lin Qingyu pieced together these scattered clues, and the only thing that could be confirmed was that the phrase "odd things change, even things remain the same" came from Western Xia or Yongliang. Xiao Cheng summoned the scholars of the Hanlin Academy to the Qinzheng Hall in order to decipher this code.
He thought about going to Yongliang to look for someone, but when he thought about it calmly, this was obviously not a wise move. Not to mention that Yongliang is far away from the capital, it takes at least a month to go back and forth. Even if he really went there, without any clues it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. It would be better for him to stay in the palace, where he could more or less find some clues.
At this time, Lin Qingyu was not in a hurry anymore. As long as that person is alive, no matter how difficult the situation is, as long as he is alive, they will meet again. What's more, he had already figured out that man's character. Although he was lazy, he might not be his opponent when it came to conspiracy and tricks.
He believed that person would do everything possible to come back to him. He doesn't have to go anywhere, just wait for him where he is.
I don’t know...what that person looks like now. Old or young, male or female, beautiful or ugly. Mr. Jiang likes to look at beautiful women and once ranked the handsome men in Beijing. Lu Wancheng is considered a rare handsome nobleman in the world, but his appearance is not as good as his own. The fact that Jiang's soul had to emphasize this point in front of him on the seventh day of his return showed that he was very satisfied with his appearance. If I turn out to be an ugly monster this time, Jiang will probably be so angry that he will vomit blood, and I will not be able to face him.
If she turned out to be a woman, given his personality, he would probably calmly accept it after a period of confusion and pain, and might even find a man who could give him food and drink to marry him. Then...it's better to marry him.
Thinking of this, Lin Qingyu smiled for the first time in a long time, her eyes were full of water, and her cheeks were brighter than the blooming peony, which made Hu Ji, who was standing beside her, absent-minded for a moment.
Hu Ji couldn't help but ask, "Doctor Lin, what are you so happy about?"
Lin Qingyu raised the corner of her mouth slightly: "My late husband has passed away for a hundred days. Isn't it worth it for me to be happy?"
"This..." Hu Ji quickly retracted his gaze, not daring to look at him again. Although the beauty is beautiful, most people are not lucky enough to enjoy her. He is sure that he does not have such blessing and dare not even think about it.
As the two were talking, a sarcastic voice came from behind them: "Is it time for you to chat while on duty?!"
The speaker was naturally Chu Zhengde. Ever since Lin Qingyu was called to Fengyi Palace last time, Chu Zhengde disliked him more and more, and he also had a bad face towards Hu Ji, who was close to him.
The Imperial Medical Bureau was a place where seniority was the key to promotion, and they were lower officials, so they naturally could not openly disobey Chu Zhengde. Hu Ji shut his mouth awkwardly. Lin Qingyu was in a good mood and was too lazy to argue with the old man.
Not long after, a eunuch from the Eastern Palace came to the Imperial Hospital and said that the Crown Prince was feeling unwell, and sent for Imperial Physician Lin Qingyulin to go to the Eastern Palace to treat him.
The first time was bearable, but the second time was unbearable. Chu Zhengde became angry and said, "I have always been in charge of the East Palace. No matter how bad the situation is, it is still Hu Ji. Lin Qingyu is not talented and well-educated. Why would Your Highness specifically ask him to go for treatment?" The Queen and the Crown Prince went past him to find Lin Qingyu. Were they slapping him in the face?
Lin Qingyu said calmly: "Doctor Chu seems to want to treat the prince. If Doctor Chu wants this blessing, I will give it to you."
The eunuch of the Eastern Palace said coldly: "Your Highness's intentions are not something that others can guess. We just have to obey your orders. Are you going to disobey your orders?"
Chu Zhengde stamped his feet: "This is simply outrageous!"
Hu Ji vaguely knew the prince's feelings for Lin Qingyu, and said worriedly: "Doctor Lin, you must be careful."
"It's okay." Lin Qingyu put a porcelain bottle into his sleeve. "The prince is concerned about General Gu, so he shouldn't do anything to me."
He and Gu Fuzhou had never met before, and Gu Fuzhou only acknowledged this godfather because his father saved his life. Gu Fuzhou was far away in Yongliang, but he was able to protect him because of his great military achievements, so Xiao Cheng could not touch him for the time being. Even if Gu Fuzhou's act was unintentional, it was still worth his personal gratitude.
Just in case, Lin Qingyu asked again: "Are you going to Changle Palace to check Concubine Chen's pulse later?"
Arriving at the Eastern Palace, Lin Qingyu followed the eunuch to the side hall where the crown prince rested: "Doctor Lin, please."
Lin Qingyu walked into the hall and saw that it was like a storm. In the mess, there was a wine table filled with empty wine jugs. Xiao Cheng lay on his side behind the wine table, tilting his neck back to pour wine into his mouth, looking greasy and forlorn.
Lin Qingyu knelt down and saluted according to the rules: "Your Highness."
Xiao Cheng threw away the wine jug, staggered to his feet, and looked down at him: "Here you are, you made me wait so long."
"I dare not."
"Why don't you dare? I think you are very brave." Xiao Cheng looked at him for a while, his eyes gradually became confused, and he raised his hand to touch his face, "Your eyes... are so beautiful."
Lin Qingyu felt nauseous and turned his head away from Xiao Cheng's hand. Xiao Cheng was struck hard, as if he had seen clearly that the person in front of him was not the one in his heart: "Jingchun would never look at me with such eyes," Xiao Cheng's mouth curled up with a cruel arc, "If you were blind, would you be like Jingchun, with only innocence and purity in your eyes?"
Lin Qingyu looked at him quietly, but in his mind he was thinking of countless ways to humiliate him. Xiao Cheng gave him an inspiration. It seemed interesting to blind a person or even just take out his eyeballs.
"Your Highness has drunk too much." Lin Qingyu said, "I will prescribe a prescription for you to sober up."
Xiao Cheng roared: "Look at me!"
"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
Xiao Cheng suddenly grabbed his arm, his eyes wide open, and said fiercely: "I am the prince, even if I force you, what can you do! Yes, you are Gu Fuzhou's sworn brother. But can Gu Fuzhou dare to make things difficult for me just for a sworn brother he recognized halfway?!"
Lin Qingyu's eyes darkened, and he actually laughed out loud: "Then you try it."
He might not be able to escape this disaster, but Xiao Cheng would never be able to leave the Eastern Palace alive. What a pity, he has to die together with this bastard.
He suddenly remembered what Jiang had said on their wedding night: "Lin Qingyu... the beautiful imperial physician who died in the East Palace?"
I see.
So this is his ending?
Xiao Cheng kept his eyes fixed on his face, neither letting go nor taking any further action. Just then, a figure walked in.
It was Shen Huaishi.
Unless the master is in trouble, the shadow guards are not allowed to show up easily. Xiao Cheng narrowed his eyes and asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"
Shen Huaishi knelt on the ground with a thud and knocked his head heavily: "Your Highness, please...let Doctor Lin go."
Xiao Cheng observed the expressions of the two people and suddenly laughed strangely: "Say it again."
Shen Huaishi said: "Your Highness lost control after drinking. If he was sober, he would never be like this."
"You plead for him? You actually plead for him!" Xiao Cheng's laughter was getting louder and louder. It was unclear which one of them he was jealous of. "I finally understand why Xiao Qingyu was so kind to bandage you and apply medicine to you. Hahaha——"
Shen Huaishi's voice trembled: "Your subordinate knows that today is Princess Jingchun's birthday. Your Highness always does this at this time every year..."
"Shut up." Xiao Cheng's expression was ferocious, "Since you are protecting him so much, why don't you come and take his place!" As he said that, he pulled Shen Huaishi up and reached his hand into Shen Huaishi's chest.
Shen Huaishi’s eyes widened: “Your Highness?!”
"Why, are you shy? I thought you were flirting with other men right under my nose because I didn't satisfy you!"
Shen Huaishi shook his head helplessly: "I don't have any..."
Lin Qingyu tightly grasped the medicine bottle in his sleeve, forcing himself to think calmly about countermeasures in this situation. Shen Huaishi is a skilled martial artist, and he has medicine in his hand. If Shen Huaishi is willing to cooperate, they may be able to...
At this time, a voice came from outside: "The Imperial Concubine has arrived——"
Xiao Cheng paused and asked sternly, "Why did mother come here suddenly?"
"When the Imperial Concubine heard that Your Highness was ill, she went to the Imperial Hospital to invite the Imperial Physician and came to visit Your Highness."
"How could my mother make such a fuss?" Xiao Cheng looked at Lin Qingyu with a fierce look in his eyes, "But someone exaggerated it in front of her?"
Lin Qingyu stuffed the medicine bottle back into his sleeve and said calmly, "I don't know."
After getting drunk, Xiao Cheng regained some sobriety. He looked at Shen Huaishi who was lying on the ground, with a strange look in his eyes: "Put on your clothes and ask someone to make a cup of sobering soup."
Shen Huaishi gathered his clothes and climbed up from the ground, lowering his head and said, "...Yes."
Lin Qingyu walked out of the East Palace unharmed and slowly took a breath in an empty corner.
He couldn't help but wonder, if Gu Fuzhou hadn't recognized his father as his godfather, and he and Shen Huaishi hadn't met, would he still be so lucky today.
Without Gu Fuzhou, Xiao Cheng would not have hesitated for that moment; without his deliberate approach, Shen Huaishi would not only not plead for him, but would also show up when he attacked Xiao Cheng and put the knife to his neck.
He might die in the East Palace, at the hands of Shen Huaishi.
It was as if... as if there was a pair of hands that pulled him out of his destined ending.
Lin Qingyu looked up at the sky in the northwest and said softly, "Is that you?"
Even though they are far apart and cannot meet, that person is still protecting him in his own way.
After surviving the catastrophe, Lin Qingyu seemed to have lost all his strength. He leaned against the palace wall and slowly squatted down: "When will you come back..."
That night, the Qinzheng Hall was brightly lit, and the cabinet ministers gathered around a newly arrived urgent letter from the northwest, all with solemn expressions on their faces.
Xiao Cheng drummed on the table with his fingertips, feeling restless and irritable, and his forehead ached slightly from drinking.
Soon, Chu Zhengde walked in, led by Xiao Songzi: "Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Xiao Cheng didn't waste any more words: "Let me ask you, do you know a poison called 'Sky Spider'?"
"Your Highness, this is a strange poison from the North. If the poisoned person does not have an antidote, his internal organs will be attacked by the poison and he will eventually die of slow exhaustion."
"Does the spider have a solution?"
"Yes, but the solution is extremely complicated." Chu Zhengde said everything he knew. "You need to use the thousand-year-old snow lotus from the northern border as the medicine, and then use the warm jade mortar unique to the Qiancao Hall of the Imperial Medical Bureau to pound it into powder. After the medicine is ready, give it to the poisoned person immediately to detoxify."
Xiao Cheng asked, "You mean, this poison can only be cured in the Imperial Medical Bureau?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, you can leave now."
After Chu Zhengde left, Xiao Cheng said in a deep voice: "People in Yongliang were poisoned by the North Territory. Don't you find it strange?"
The Prime Minister said, "Your Highness, the Tianji Camp has confirmed that he was poisoned. No matter how he was poisoned, the most urgent task is to cure the poison first."
Xiao Cheng's face was ugly. He was unwilling but had to compromise. He gritted his teeth and said, "Pass on my order. Gu Fuzhou is allowed to return to the capital immediately."
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