Chapter 188
The three of them finished the medicinal meal in a subtly awkward atmosphere, each lost in their own thoughts. Xiao Qiyun and Sheng Xuan barely touched their chopsticks, their minds clearly elsewhere. Under their watchful eyes, Su Zhelan forced herself to finish the bowl of warm, nourishing soup, finding it delicious yet utterly tasteless.
After the meal, Xiao Qiyun was the first to rise. He walked to the window, lifted a corner of the gauze curtain, glanced down, and nodded slightly to Sheng Xuan. Sheng Xuan understood, immediately stood up, and whispered to Su Zhelan, "Come on, I'll see you downstairs."
Su Zhelan rose with Sheng Xuan, and Xiao Qiyun also approached. He stopped in front of Su Zhelan, raised his hand, and very naturally tucked a stray lock of hair behind Su Zhelan's ear. His fingertips brushed against Su Zhelan's earlobe, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable force: "Go back and rest well. If there are no urgent matters in the coming days, stay at home and recuperate. If anything unusual happens, immediately send someone to inform me or Sheng Xuan. Understand?"
Su Zhelan felt a pang of unease at his intimate gesture and serious tone, and nodded: "I'll remember."
Xiao Qiyun then smiled slightly and gently patted his shoulder: "Go ahead."
Sheng Xuan protected Su Zhelan, and the two went downstairs one after the other. Outside Zuixianlou, a seemingly ordinary but well-drawn carriage with a green canopy was waiting at the door. The driver was a capable man with a calm face and sharp eyes, who gave Sheng Xuan a barely perceptible nod.
Sheng Xuan personally helped Su Zhelan into the carriage and whispered to the driver, "Make sure you get her safely to the Su residence." The driver replied in a deep voice.
Shengxuan stood on the street and watched the carriage merge into the crowd until it disappeared around the corner before turning around and quickly returning to the private room on the second floor.
Inside the private room, the leftover food had been removed and replaced with two cups of tea. Xiao Qiyun stood with his hands behind his back by the window, looking at the street scene below, his expression now as deep and unfathomable as ever.
Hearing footsteps, Xiao Qiyun didn't turn around, but simply asked, "Did you send it back?"
“Yes, we have arranged for someone to escort her, so there will be no mistakes.” Sheng Xuan walked to his side, his voice low. “Your Highness, Prince Rui’s actions today are by no means accidental. The Second Prince… I’m afraid he has already set his sights on Su Zhelan.”
Xiao Qiyun slowly turned around, his eyes sharp as knives: "He certainly didn't come for a bowl of soup. Although Su Zhelan and I have tried our best to keep our relationship secret, it can't escape the eyes of those who are interested. Second Prince, you are trying to find fault with me, or you are trying to exploit my weakness."
Sheng Xuan frowned, his tone tinged with suppressed anger: "He dares to make a move on Su Zhelan?!"
Xiao Qiyun sneered: "What is there for him not to dare? In his eyes, Su Zhelan is insignificant, but she is the best pawn to test me and even provoke me."
He walked to the table and tapped the surface with his fingertips. "From today onwards, you will increase manpower to secretly protect the Su residence, especially Zhufeng Pavilion. Su Zhelan's safety must not be compromised in the slightest. If any suspicious persons approach, do not ask for instructions; deal with them directly."
Sheng Xuan immediately clasped his hands in obeisance, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "I understand! I will not allow the Second Prince's men to take advantage of this situation!"
Xiao Qiyun nodded slightly, but his expression did not relax; instead, it became even more solemn. He walked to the window, his back to Sheng Xuan, and spoke in a low, cold voice: "Some time ago, the Southern King's side unusually sent people to the capital frequently to secretly communicate with the Second Prince's residence, which I found suspicious. In the past few days, the secret agents have finally pieced together the truth... He still harbors suspicions about the charred corpse of that 'cult saint' from back then, believing that I used a substitute and secretly harbored the real saint. He dares not confront the Crown Prince directly, so he secretly sought out the Second Prince, with whom I am not on good terms, hoping to use him to find out the truth and demand an 'explanation'."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan's expression hardened: "The King of the Southern Border is suspicious? He commands a large army; if he were to join forces with the Second Prince because of this..."
Xiao Qiyun turned around, his gaze sharp as a hawk: "This is exactly what the Second Prince wants. By using the power of the Southern King, he can investigate my mistakes. Once it is confirmed that I 'deceived' my relatives and 'released' a wanted criminal, not only will my position as Crown Prince be shaken, but it will also give them an excuse to join forces and launch an attack."
Sheng Xuan's breath hitched: "They suspect Su Zhelan?! They want to confirm that Su Zhelan is... that holy son who should already be dead?!"
“This is the most effective way to strike me and drag Su Zhelan into the abyss.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice carried an almost cold calm. “If this matter is exposed and the fact that Su Zhelan is still alive is revealed, the crimes of deceiving the emperor and the stigma of colluding with the remnants of a cult will crush him in an instant. The King of the Southern Border will not let this go either.”
He took a deep breath, looked at Sheng Xuan, and said with a resolute tone: "I can give up the position of Crown Prince. But I must protect Su Zhelan. I must not let him get involved in this turmoil, and I must not let him suffer even the slightest harm."
Sheng Xuan slammed his fist into his palm, burning with anger, but forced himself to calm down: "What should we do now? The King of the Southern Border is suspicious, and the Second Prince will definitely do everything he can to investigate Su Zhelan's identity and background!"
Xiao Qiyun walked to the table and tapped his fingertips heavily on the surface, making a dull sound: "The most urgent matter right now is to arrange a flawless and verifiable new identity for Su Zhelan immediately. This is no small matter, and ordinary methods will not be able to cover it up. We must ask Mr. Su Yan and Sheng Chi to take action."
He looked at Sheng Xuan, quickened his pace, and spoke clearly: "Mr. Su Yan is a skilled physician with a wide circle of friends and deep connections in the martial arts world. It is most appropriate for him to arrange Su Zhelan's 'past.' Lord Sheng Chi is in charge of the defense of the capital region, and all household registration checks are handled by him. With his secret assistance, it can be done flawlessly."
"Go to the Su residence immediately and tell Mr. Su Yan everything that happened today and its implications. Make sure they help you devise a foolproof plan as soon as possible to create a plausible and innocent identity for Su Zhelan. Be quick! Before the Second Prince finds out anything more, erase all traces!"
"Alright, I'll get on it right away!" Sheng Xuan accepted the order without hesitation, clasped his hands in a fist and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Xiao Qiyun called out to him, adding, "Tell Mr. Su Yan and Sheng Chi that this matter concerns Su Zhelan's life or death, and ask them to be thorough. The Crown Prince will fully cooperate with all necessary resources, regardless of the cost."
"Understood!" Sheng Xuan nodded emphatically, his eyes flashing with determination. He then strode out of the private room, his footsteps quickly disappearing at the end of the stairs.
Inside the private room, Xiao Qiyun stood alone by the window, gazing at the bustling street below. His face was calm as still water, but his eyes were churning with an unprecedented storm.
He knew that a fierce battle, ignited by the suspicions of the vassal kings and seized upon by his younger brother, had begun. And this time, he could not afford to lose.
After leaving Zuixianlou, Sheng Xuan did not go directly to the Su residence. Instead, he circled the city a few times, changed into inconspicuous clothes, and after confirming that there were no "tails" following him, he quietly sneaked to a secluded corner behind the Su residence under the cover of dusk.
He nimbly scaled the wall like a cat, landing silently. Avoiding the servants, he headed straight for the "Hundred Herbs Courtyard" where Mr. Su Yan lived.
Inside the courtyard, Su Yan and Gu Linzhao were playing chess at a stone table. Su Yan, dressed in a plain long robe, had a handsome face and a calm demeanor tinged with a hint of aloofness. He held a black chess piece between his fingers, deep in thought. Gu Linzhao was tall and straight, with a spirited air between his brows and sharp, eagle-like eyes. Although he was playing chess, he still exuded a free and unrestrained air of a chivalrous hero.
Hearing the extremely faint sound of the chess piece hitting the ground, Gu Linzhao's hand holding the piece paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the corner of the courtyard wall like lightning. Su Yan, without even raising his head, spoke calmly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm: "Which thief are you? Your skills are quite good, managing to sneak up on my territory?"
Sheng Xuan strode out of the shadows, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting to the two men, and said in a very low voice, "Mr. Su Yan and Mr. Gu Linzhao, I apologize for disturbing you, but the situation is urgent."
Su Yan then glanced at him, noticing his simple clothes and solemn expression. He raised an eyebrow, his tone remaining indifferent: "What's wrong, General Sheng? What have you done? Are you being chased? Have you come here to hide?"
Without bothering to explain, Sheng Xuan stepped forward and quickly recounted the events at Zuixianlou, the Prince Rui's probing, and Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun's suspicions about the Southern King, the Second Prince's opportunistic attack, and Su Zhelan's possible exposure of her identity. He spoke in a concise and clear manner.
Finally, he bowed deeply, his tone earnest and anxious: "I implore you, sir, to lend a helping hand! You must create a flawless, verifiable new identity for Young Master Su Zhelan to deal with the impending storm! This matter concerns Young Master Su Zhelan's life or death, and the Crown Prince is willing to do everything in his power to cooperate!"
Upon hearing this, Su Yan's face instantly darkened, and he slammed the chess piece on the board with a "thud." He stood up abruptly, his handsome face filled with suppressed anger, and he scolded in a low voice, "I told you from the beginning! Don't let him come! Don't let him come! The capital is a place of trouble, and the Eastern Palace is even more of a dragon's den and a tiger's lair! But you wouldn't listen! You insisted on provoking him! Now look what happened?! You've brought trouble upon yourselves! And you've even been targeted by those villains! It's all your fault!!" His breathing was slightly rapid, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.
Sheng Xuan lowered his head and dared not utter a sound after being scolded by him, feeling extremely guilty.
Gu Linzhao, who had been silent all along, slowly put down his teacup and stood up. He was more robust and muscular than Su Yan, and his movements carried a steady sense of power. He gently patted Su Yan's shoulder, his voice calm but with an undeniable force: "Alright, saying these angry words now is useless. The most important thing is to protect Su Zhelan."
He turned to Sheng Xuan, his gaze sharp: "Your Highness's concerns are quite valid. Zhe Lan's identity is special, and if it is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable. Leave the matter of forging an identity to me."
Gu Linzhao pondered for a moment, then continued, speaking quickly and clearly: "The martial world is vast, teeming with extraordinary individuals. Finding a suitable 'background' is not difficult. I can arrange for Su Zhelan'er to impersonate a disciple of a reclusive medical sect in the south who unfortunately perished in a flash flood while traveling. This sect has few members and has been secluded for a long time, making it difficult for outsiders to investigate its background. I can arrange for people to properly handle its sect tokens and past experiences, ensuring they are kept perfectly confidential. As for official documents such as household registration and travel permits, Your Highness will need to use your influence to coordinate with my arrangements to ensure a seamless process."
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan was overjoyed and quickly bowed again: "Thank you! His Highness will definitely cooperate fully! Please give me any information you need!"
Although Su Yan still looked displeased, his tense expression eased slightly when he heard that Gu Linzhao had a well-thought-out plan. He snorted coldly, "...It had better be that way! If it goes wrong and implicates Su Zhelan, I'll never forgive you!" He said this to Gu Linzhao with a hint of familiar resentment.
Gu Linzhao nodded slightly to Sheng Xuan, his eyes steady: "There's no time to lose. I'll write a few letters immediately and make the arrangements. Go back and report to His Highness, and have his men prepare to take over the follow-up matters. Be quick and discreet."
"Alright!" Sheng Xuan clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, a great weight lifted from his heart. "I'll go back and report right away!"
After saying this, he bowed to the two of them again, and with a flash, he disappeared into the night as silently as he had come.
Inside the courtyard, Su Yan stared in the direction Sheng Xuan had disappeared, his brows furrowed, his handsome face still showing worry. Gu Linzhao, on the other hand, had already turned and headed towards the study, his steps steady and swift, his eyes sharp, already planning how to weave a convincing protective net for Su Zhelan.
As night deepened, candlelight flickered inside the "Bamboo Breeze Pavilion" of the mansion.
Su Zhelan had returned from Zuixianlou some time ago. He changed into his nightgown and sat on the low couch by the window, holding a medical book in his hands, but his gaze was somewhat unfocused.
Recalling the events at Zuixianlou earlier that day, he felt something was amiss. Crown Prince Xiao Qiyun remained gentle and concerned, but beneath that gentleness seemed to lie a subtle tension and... gravity? Especially after Prince Rui barged in, Xiao Qiyun and Sheng Xuan's reactions revealed an indescribable wariness.
And then there's General Shengxuan... Although he still approaches me in his usual carefree and uncompromising manner, the sharpness and vigilance in his eyes when he escorts me downstairs and arranges the carriage today is a seriousness that I've never seen beneath his usual playful banter.
He even insisted on sending someone to "escort" him back to his residence. Although his tone was still domineering, it was more like an unquestionable protection.
The strangest thing was that when he returned to the manor, his masters Su Yan and Gu Linzhao looked at him with complicated expressions, as if they wanted to say something but hesitated.
Su Zhelan frowned slightly, his fingertips unconsciously twirling the pages of the book. He wasn't completely oblivious; it was just that the information was fragmented and difficult to piece together the whole picture.
He could sense that something was happening, something that concerned him and that made those around him—whether they were usually calm, assertive, or carefree—on high alert.
But what exactly it was? He had no idea.
He put down his medical book, walked to the window, and opened it. The cool evening breeze brushed against his face, dispelling some of the gloom in his heart.
"Perhaps...it's something going on in the court?" he muttered to himself. His Highness the Crown Prince held a high position and wielded great power, while General Shengxuan commanded the army; they must be facing numerous open and covert attacks. Perhaps he had simply been unintentionally implicated?
Thinking of Xiao Qiyun and Sheng Xuan, he suddenly felt that the two of them... didn't seem so difficult to deal with today. Although they were still close, that closeness lacked the testing and teasing tone of the past, and was more of a pure, even slightly cautious, concern.
This subtle change strangely soothed the unease Su Zhelan felt due to the unknown.
He sighed softly and closed the window again. Since he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't dwell on it. He trusted Prince Xiao Qiyun, General Sheng Xuan, his master, and Lord Sheng Chi. Since they didn't want to explain themselves, they must have their reasons. He only needed to stay in the manor as His Highness had instructed and not cause them any trouble.
He blew out the candle, lay back on the bed, and pulled the quilt up. Before drifting off to sleep, the last thought that flashed through his mind was: Although there were some twists and turns... the jade marrow soup today was indeed delicious.
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