18 Revenge
◎The Crown Prince's illness is absolutely incurable.
Everyone in Jinxi City knows that the Crown Prince suddenly fell seriously ill a month ago and has been in a coma. The Prince has been seeking medical help everywhere, even offering a reward of ten thousand taels of gold.
Cai Feng was one of the doctors who was attracted by the bounty.
He was from the neighboring city of Baiyu. After receiving a letter from his old friend, the magistrate of Jinxi City, he traveled for ten days at full speed to reach the Prince's residence. He had originally been full of ambition, but after seeing the Prince, he had only one thought in his mind.
Forget about having a fortune; saving your life is the most important thing.
He stepped back from the Crown Prince's bedside, and under the Prince of Chengduan's aggressive gaze, he said in a trembling voice, "Forgive my poor eyesight... I have never seen the Crown Prince with such a condition before."
After saying that, his knees went weak and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Prince Chengduan remained silent, seemingly exhausted. The steward gave a signal, and immediately servants stepped forward to drag Cai Feng away, only to be stopped halfway: "Wait."
"Let him see that prescription."
"Yes." Butler Zhang clutched his chest and limped as he handed over the prescription. Butler Wang saw his actions and cursed inwardly, thinking, "What a spineless bastard! Why didn't that kick kill him?"
Cai Feng held the prescription, his fingers trembling, and it took him a full quarter of an hour to finish reading it. He was held hostage and knelt down to reply, "Your Highness, this...this prescription is perfectly fine."
Steward Wang quickly replied, "It's clear that Steward Zhang is overthinking things. This Doctor Mo is truly a reclusive master, quite skilled indeed."
Prince Chengduan nodded slightly and gave the order: "Do as he says."
"Yes!" Butler Wang was overjoyed and took the prescription to go out and call for someone. When he passed Butler Zhang, he "accidentally" stepped on his shoe.
The prince began to moan in his sleep again, his pained appearance unbearable to watch. Prince Chengduan frowned, his breathing becoming heavier and heavier. After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "All of you, leave."
Cai Feng followed the others away, but as he crossed the courtyard gate, he couldn't help but secretly look back.
The Crown Prince's illness has absolutely no chance of being cured.
————
"This medicine should be taken three times a day, supplemented with acupuncture at dawn and dusk. The disease will be cured in less than three days."
Ying Jianhua put the silver needles back in their place, scooped up a handful of water handed to her by a servant, and carefully wiped her hands.
Prince Chengduan instructed someone to write it down, his eyes fixed on the unconscious Crown Prince on the bed.
"The medicine has been taken and acupuncture has been performed, so why is the young master still unresponsive?" Steward Zhang questioned, his eyes filled with vigilance.
Ying Jianhua glanced at him and let out a sneer that seemed to have no meaning.
Such rudeness before the prince! He frowned, about to rebuke him, "You!" "Steward Zhang is being too hasty. If you don't trust me, you can do it yourself."
After speaking, Ying Jianhua thoughtfully made way for him, gesturing for him to leave.
Seeing Steward Zhang's face turn pale with anger, Steward Wang felt a sense of relief and fanned the flames from the side: "Doctor Mo, you're joking. So many doctors have come and gone, but only you can make the young master open his eyes. Hey, young master, has the young master woken up!"
A sudden, earth-shattering cough came from the couch. All the maids rushed forward to check on him, and even Prince Chengduan took a few quick steps. Only Ying Jianhua remained unmoved.
"Water..." Upon hearing the Crown Prince's weak voice, Prince Chengduan turned around abruptly and shouted, "Where's the water? Quickly bring it to the Crown Prince!"
After the chaos of war, the crown prince was fed a few sips of water, and his face finally regained color: "Your son is unfilial...I have caused Father King worry."
Prince Chengduan: "My son has suffered."
The father and son were a picture of filial piety, and everyone in the room held their breath, afraid to make a sound and disturb them. Ying Jianhua, however, packed up her medicine box and was about to leave. Steward Wang wanted to stop her but dared not utter a sound, sweating profusely with anxiety.
The crown prince was also drawn to his actions, his gaze falling on Ying Jianhua: "And this is...?"
Seizing the opportunity, Butler Wang practically rushed forward half a step, his face beaming with smiles: "This must be the Divine Physician Mo! The young master's recovery from danger is all thanks to his miraculous skills!"
Seeing that Prince Chengduan did not refute him, the heir bowed to him and said, "Thank you, divine physician."
In the blink of an eye, he went from being called "Dr. Mo" to "Miracle Doctor Mo." Ying Jianhua said indifferently, "I dare not accept such praise," and continued walking outside.
"This..." The Crown Prince was taken aback, and Prince Chengduan also frowned, asking Steward Wang, "Where is he going?"
Steward Wang wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled bitterly: "Doctor Mo said he travels the world and never stays in one place for more than seven days. Today is his last day in Jinxi City, and tomorrow he will..." "Nonsense! The young master's illness has not yet been cured, and he must be kept here!" Prince Chengduan shouted, with an undeniable air of authority. "Tell him that whatever he wants, as long as it can cure the young master, I will grant it."
He refused to believe that a mere itinerant doctor could be so difficult to defeat.
Upon receiving the order from Prince Chengduan, Steward Wang immediately set off and spent a full half-hour selecting items from the storeroom.
Silks, satins, gold, silver and gemstones were delivered to the guest rooms like flowing water.
At first, Doctor Mo remained expressionless and unmoved. But as the entire room was filled with the glitter of luxury, he finally relented: "Saving lives is a doctor's duty. Since Your Highness trusts me, I will naturally share Your Highness's burdens."
After hearing the steward's account, Prince Chengduan's face showed a rare hint of amusement.
The prince, who was now able to sit up and talk to people, asked curiously, "Who exactly is this Physician Mo? Why is he worth so much effort from Father?"
Prince Chengduan glanced at him, his tone tinged with anger at his lack of ambition: "You are destined to inherit the throne, yet you indulge in pleasure all day long and know nothing about governing your subordinates! How can I entrust the throne to you with peace of mind?"
The crown prince repeatedly admitted his mistake, but in his heart he was thinking, "You only have me as your son, so who else will you pass the throne to if not me?" He was resentful but did not show it on his face, still maintaining a humble posture: "Please enlighten me, Father."
Prince Chengduan was satisfied and said, "A few days ago, a shop downstairs received a jade hairpin that was completely translucent. It was obviously no ordinary object. Afterwards, I sent people to investigate and found that he was buying and selling herbs in the city. So I sent people to test him and learned that he was taught by a master of immortals and had some strange abilities."
After that, they treated the young man with respect and invited him to their door. However, fearing that he might be up to something, they had not allowed him to have any personal contact with the young master in the first few visits, and had only allowed him to observe from afar.
Surprisingly, even someone like him could prescribe the right medicine. After several attempts, Prince Chengduan finally made up his mind and formally asked him to treat the Crown Prince.
“You can see the big picture from small details, and you can observe the clues. Father is wise.” The prince suddenly realized, and then flattered him without showing any emotion, “I see that this person is arrogant and proud. It must be that Father’s thunderous methods have intimidated him and made him willing to give his life.”
"Ha, if he were that kind of greedy scoundrel, I naturally wouldn't believe him. What I want is for him to have something to ask for, but not something vulgar." His words carried another light, suggestive remark. The Crown Prince repeatedly said, "I understand," and only then did Prince Chengduan leave.
If Ying Jianhua were here to hear the father and son's "way of managing subordinates," he would surely scoff at them.
What talk of seeing the big picture from small details, what talk of swift and decisive measures—it's utterly laughable.
That jade hairpin was the bait he deliberately used to lure people out. His so-called "learning from immortals" was nothing more than learning a few lines from storybooks and Du Zhijin.
The room was filled with rare treasures, but Ying Jianhua didn't even glance at them. His gaze remained fixed on the sky outside the window, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
He had a long-standing grudge against Prince Chengduan, and this time he disguised himself and infiltrated the palace to seek revenge.
"Dr. Mo, the Prince has prepared a banquet and invites you..." "I will not go," he replied. "If the Prince asks, I will say that I have already gone to bed."
"...Yes." The maid bowed and left the room, thinking to herself.
They really don't know what's good for them, daring to refuse even the prince's invitation.
But who told him to save the prince? Sigh, the most capable people in this world are all very eccentric.
————
That night, the lonely moon hung high in the sky, and all was quiet in the stillness of the night.
The guards patrolling the Prince's residence couldn't help but yawn, feeling increasingly sleepy. Behind them, where they were standing guard, was Prince Chengduan's study.
The Prince of Chengduan's family estate is vast and complex, with pavilions and towers of varying heights creating a labyrinthine effect that can easily be mistaken for a maze by mistaken visitors. Without a guide, any visitor is bound to get lost in this intricate complex.
But to ask a servant where the study is is tantamount to courting death.
Ying Jianhua, however, did not have this concern. Because Du Zhijin had taken him to "see" the Prince's Mansion a day earlier, he knew clearly which road had the fewest guards and was the safest.
As expected, everything went smoothly. He stopped in the shadow of the eaves, just a few steps away from the heavily guarded study.
There was a window on the side of the study that couldn't be closed; he had heard this from a gossipy servant. He had been planning this for years, so naturally he had considered every aspect carefully and wanted to find out everything about the Prince's mansion.
For example, the two stewards, Zhang and Wang, did not get along; Prince Chengduan was suspicious by nature; and both Yunji Pawnshop and Yuanji Pawnshop were properties of the Prince's Mansion.
Ten years is enough time for him to weave a net and strangle his enemy.
The princess kept a group of Western cats that roamed freely every night, and because they were so pampered, no one dared to stop them. He sprinkled some mustard on the road, and the cats, who couldn't stand the smell, swarmed at it like madmen.
"Meow!"
The guards quickly discovered the group of pampered young masters and were thrown into disarray. Ying Jianhua seized the opportunity, moving swiftly, slipping away, and leaping out of the window in one fluid motion.
His black clothes could change his shape, and because he was already thin, he landed without making a sound.
The commotion outside the study quickly ceased, and guards were immediately stationed outside, with tight security.
He listened intently for a moment, and after confirming that he hadn't given himself away, he breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
The night was thick and dark, seeping into the entire room. Ying Jianhua squinted, trying to make out the outlines of the furniture, but could only see pale spots of moonlight cast on the blue bricks.
How can he find that thing? Perhaps it's not in the study at all, but hidden somewhere else by Prince Chengduan?
Although he repeatedly told himself not to be impatient, and that there would be other opportunities if he failed the first time, Ying Jianhua couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that his long-cherished dream was right in front of him but he couldn't find it.
A sliver of moonlight shone through the half-closed window, gentle as water, like the frost of one's hometown.
He looked at the sliver of moonlight and remembered what Du Zhijin had said: the bond between people is unbreakable, and so is the bond between people and things.
So, Mother, do you want me to find it?
He murmured to himself. Suddenly, the moonlight grew wildly on the ground at an incomprehensible speed, pointing straight behind the screen.
Ying Jianhua's heart skipped a beat, and following the fleeting guidance, she arrived behind the screen.
Prince Chengduan was extremely extravagant, and his study was also vulgar, filled with all kinds of treasures. However, he immediately noticed a painting hanging on the wall.
Ying Jianhua, Ying, Jian, Hua... So that's his name.
He reached out his hand toward the painting, and a snow-white bead floated out of the painting and landed in his palm.
He was stunned when he saw this, not understanding what it was.
If Du Zhijin were here, he would definitely tell him—
This is a demon core.
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