Yet Gong Jun had already seen through everything.
Mo Li entered the hall with a composed expression.
Although he saw Liu Dan and Gong Jun, he did not show any surprise. His gaze swept over them and moved on as if he did not recognize these two.
A shadow flashed by his feet, and watching the cat dash out, Mo Li thought that Meng Qi indeed did not deceive him.
The Imperial Teacher Meng claimed he could lure the crown prince’s cat out. Mo Li was initially skeptical and even stipulated that Meng Qi must not transform back to his original form. Yet, the fact lay before him, forcing Mo Li to ponder how many times Meng Qi had played hide and seek with the civet servants.
Had experience and countermeasures been chased out?
“Divine physician…oh no, Doctor, please this way,” Chief Steward Chen said respectfully. Last time Mo Li mentioned he did not like being called a Divine Physician, and though people in the Eastern Palace did not say it to his face, they still called him that behind his back.
After all, they were well aware of how serious the crown prince’s illness was.
Mo Li literally pulled people back from the brink of death.
Although this Divine Physician always came and went high above, not entering through the palace gate, Chief Steward Chen still instructed the eunuchs and palace maids early on. On the day of the scheduled follow-up visit, they almost wished to crane their necks in anticipation outside the hall.
Before Mo Li even entered the hall, the tea room upon receiving news hurriedly fetched the prepared top-grade tribute tea, boiling water to brew it.
Fetching the tea for the second time, it was served in a thin-walled lotus cup and placed on a carved red lacquer tray. From the tea room in the side hall to the main hall, it passed through the hands of three people. The actions were quick and silent, with the head palace maid Yu Lan finally bringing the tea tray forward to Mo Li’s side swiftly.
Just then, Mo Li had put down his medicine bag and washed his hands with the water brought by the palace staff.
He directly used his internal energy to dry the droplets, without taking the soft cloth next to the basin.
The eunuch had already placed a round stool next to the crown prince, a position that allowed Mo Li to take the crown prince’s pulse, and also moved over a small peach wood table, which besides the tea cup, had prepared ink and paper for writing.
This series of actions was quick and without any mistakes, astonishing Liu Dan and Gong Jun.
Gong Jun was fine, but Liu Dan, not being a person from the martial world, only knew that Mo Li’s medical skills were quite high, and the prescription he had given for internal injuries was good. However, Liu Dan had no concept of how high these medical skills actually were.
Ordinary people have an inertial thought that the person with the best medical skills in the world should be in the Imperial Medical Bureau. High officials and noble families in the capital also had the custom of inviting imperial physicians to treat illnesses at home.
Those of lower rank and lesser titles did not have the privilege to invite imperial physicians with a calling card, as by regulation, imperial physicians only treated the inner families of those with imperial commands and heirs of nobility. Only being born in such distinguished families could one ride on the coattails of their family members for a pulse diagnosis.
Liu Dan, due to certain reasons, was unwilling to interact with imperial physicians, so the doctors he had seen, aside from those in the civilian sector, were medical officers in the military camps of the northern frontier.
Seeing the preparations made by the people of the Eastern Palace, General Liu instantly understood.
So, in the matter of the crown prince’s conspiracy, the one who truly took part wasn’t Meng Qi, who beat the emperor, but Doctor Mo?
Mo Li could not be sure how long Meng Qi could hold the cat, and now with two acquaintances in the hall, he did not wish to explain further. Thus, he simply took the crown prince’s pulse without saying a word.
The crown prince did not speak, and the people also dared not make a sound.
The palace staff lit the prepared mugwort, filling the hall with the scent of herbs.
About half a quarter of an hour later, Mo Li finally released his hand.
“The ailment lies in the heart meridian, expending heart energy will aggravate the condition.”
Mo Li did not reprimand the patient for not properly recuperating and resting as usual doctors would. For the crown prince’s condition, as long as he is alive, there will be endless matters for him to worry about.
“Even if you have thousands of troops and talents under your command, and a vast empire, there are many issues that cannot be solved all at once. Not everything can be achieved in one step or once and for all. Your Highness should rest when it’s time to rest.”
As soon as Mo Li finished speaking, Chief Steward Chen nodded repeatedly, wishing he could immediately persuade the crown prince.
Yu Lan bowed her head and asked, “May I know… how long should His Highness rest each day? His Highness thinks too much and sleeps too little, almost waking up every hour. Once awake, it’s hard to fall asleep again. The imperial physicians previously prescribed some remedies, but now they have all been stopped.”
Mo Li slightly frowned, not speaking directly, but instead took up the brush to write the times for meals each day, what to eat and what foods to avoid, and also meticulously drew a diagram, instructing to massage certain acupoints to help the patient sleep peacefully.
“Aside from the thrice-daily medicine, do not take any other tonics or sleep-inducing decoctions.”
As Mo Li spoke and wrote, his penmanship was clear and distinct, and unlike ordinary people, he did not care for format and overall fluency of the characters. Some characters were deliberately enlarged to be easily understood at a glance.
Mo Li pondered the pulse he had just taken and suddenly asked, “Have you been overly worried these past two days? What is the reason?”
“…Ashamed,” the crown prince first paused, then gave a bitter smile.
He originally thought that although his sixth brother was young, he was very intelligent. Even if his temperament was unruly, compared to the rashness of the second prince and the indecisiveness of the third prince, it seemed just a child’s temper. He thought everything would be fine once Lu Zhang died, which is why he was prepared to leave the imperial seal to the sixth prince. But now, he was greatly disappointed.
It’s said that adversity reveals true character, but actually, crises can also reveal a person’s abilities.
The sixth prince lacked courage and did not have sufficient bravery, truly not a good candidate for succeeding the throne.
However, disappointed as he was, the crown prince did not speak of his brother’s flaws in front of others. He just gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
Chief Steward Chen misunderstood his meaning and hesitantly asked Mo Li, “Doctor, about the ascension ceremony…”
Lu Zhang had already died, and the crown prince should ascend to the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the court situation. However, the problem also lay here, whether it was the former emperor’s demise or the new emperor’s ascension, there was a set of extremely complicated rituals involved.
One must go to the Grand Temple, offer sacrifices to Heaven, and receive the kneeling worship of the civil and military officials.
That was manageable, but the main issue was the weight of the ceremonial robes and crown, which had to be worn all day. Even people with slightly poor physical condition could not endure this, let alone the crown prince, who was seriously ill.
In the palace, in such situations, they would force down tonics and ginseng slices, and even if the attendants had to support him, the entire process must be completed. The crown prince, however, could not do so.
—He did not have the physical strength for such an ordeal.
Initially unaware of what the coronation ceremony entailed and its steps, Mo Li immediately objected upon hearing Chief Steward Chen’s brief explanation, saying, “Absolutely not.”
The crown prince cannot even be exposed to the wind, yet he wants to go up to such a high altar to offer sacrifices to Heaven?
If he cannot go in person, then a substitute must be found.
Chief Steward Chen awkwardly looked at Liu Dan and Gong Jun, thinking they were people recently favored by the crown prince. Since the crown prince had not asked them to leave, it implied that aside from “not living long,” other matters could probably be discussed in front of them.
“Doctor, I have heard… that there is a unique skill called face-changing in the martial arts world?”
“Do you intend to find a substitute for the crown prince?”
Mo Li subconsciously glanced at Gong Jun, whose expression stiffened. He quickly stood up to help Mo Li out, also indicating that this was definitely not his own bad idea.
“Chief Steward Chen, the so-called face-changing is just some tricks. Since people often judge others by their appearance, those who wish to hide their whereabouts would change their attire, accent, and use charcoal or coal ash to slightly alter their eyebrows, eyes, and skin tone, and wear multiple layers of clothing to change their figure. Simple face-changing is about making oneself unrecognizable. Even though masters of face-changing can imitate anyone without being exposed, they would not impersonate a specific person, much less change their own face.”
Chief Steward Chen caught the meaning in Gong Jun’s words and hurriedly said, “During the sacrifice, only officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau are closest to His Highness, and even they would find it hard to see His Highness’s face clearly, with twelve ceremonial pendants blocking it!”
“Even so, in such a situation as the ascension, can the person replacing His Highness keep their composure and not panic?” Gong Jun still objected, proposing, “Why not wait until His Highness’s health improves?”
Chief Steward Chen’s expression changed slightly, and the eunuchs and palace maids stood with their hands down. Although no one spoke, Gong Jun sensed an ominous meaning. He suspiciously looked at everyone and then covertly observed the crown prince.
—Could it be that the crown prince’s illness is incurable?
But the crown prince’s current appearance did not seem like someone with little time left, making Gong Jun uncertain about his speculation.
Compared to Gong Jun, Liu Dan was in a more difficult position. As the emperor’s confidant and a member of the Jinyiwei, revealing some secrets to Gong Jun was a sign of trust from the crown prince, but it was different for him. For a general leading troops outside, knowing too much was not good, and at this moment, he could say nothing suitable, only feigning ignorance.
At the same time, Liu Dan was puzzled, not understanding what Lu Huan was thinking. How could there be an emperor who does not want to go to his own coronation ceremony and insists on finding a substitute?
“Since His Highness has decided, I will find a suitable candidate,” Gong Jun said helplessly, while also worrying in his mind that finding such a substitute would not be easy.
First, the substitute must have a similar stature to the crown prince, then be able to change accents and mimic the crown prince in speaking simple sentences. However, it didn’t need to be too similar, anyway, since the crown prince was not well.
Using this excuse, all ceremonies could be simplified, speaking as little as possible.
Even if someone suspected, as long as it was not exposed on the spot, it could be bluffed through—bah, what a mess of a task! Gong Jun could already foresee the fallout if the deception was uncovered, the future emperor might not do much, but the imperial censors would certainly place the hat of a pretender on his head.
Gong Jun managed his expression well, but the crown prince seemed to see through his thoughts, laughing and saying, “Vice Commander Gong need not worry, as long as we capture Prime Minister Zhang’s faction before the coronation ceremony, the rest are not a concern.”
Gong Jun’s spirit was lifted upon hearing this.
That’s right, Prime Minister Jiang has grown old and dim-sighted!
The other senior officials of the Six Ministries must be feeling insecure about Prime Minister Zhang’s downfall, fearing the new emperor. Even if they sense something amiss, they wouldn’t dare to make it known. Especially on the day of the ascension ceremony, with the imperial guards heavily guarding everything from the Imperial City to the Altar of Heaven, as long as arrangements are made properly, it could be done without anyone being the wiser. The crown prince only needs to appear in the Wanhe Hall at the end, ascend the Dan Chi, and accept the homage of the officials.
Thinking this, Gong Jun breathed a sigh of relief, but then he sensed something was off.
Collecting evidence to bring down Prime Minister Zhang was just a task the crown prince had given him, so how had it suddenly become beneficial to his career? Now he had no choice but to exert himself to the utmost.
Gong Jun looked at the crown prince with a complex gaze, bowed with folded hands, and said, “Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I take my leave.”
Saying this, he bowed and retreated, thinking if he didn’t leave now, even his family’s civet cat might be conned away by the crown prince.
As someone trained in martial arts with sharp senses, Gong Jun had just stepped out of the palace hall when he heard the crown prince ask a servant, “Go see where Ah Hu has gone. I originally wanted Vice Commander Gong to take it with him today. It seems it will have to wait for another day.”
What?
Gong Jun paused, doubting what he had just heard.
“Ah Hu is gentle and affectionate. Why would Your Highness want to send it away? Even if Your Highness… doesn’t have the time to take care of it, there are still servants.”
Coincidentally, the spotted cat returned at that moment, stopping in the corridor and staring at Gong Jun. The civet cat, well-cared for by the people of the Eastern Palace, had sleek fur and a robust figure, with deep, penetrating eyes that seemed both soft and dangerous.
“…”
The civet cat couldn’t understand human speech, but Gong Jun felt immensely guilty. He dared not listen any longer and hurried away with quick steps.
Ah Hu flicked its tail and slowly stepped into the hall, passing by Mo Li. When it sensed a smell similar to someone who had been on the beam earlier, it immediately started hissing discontentedly, while the latter silently gathered his internal energy, ready to retreat at the first sign of trouble.
“Ah Hu.”
Hearing the crown prince’s voice, Ah Hu turned its head and walked away.
Mo Li relaxed slightly. He was using mugwort to smoke silver needles, calmly reminding the crown prince that it was time for acupuncture.
Liu Dan also took the opportunity to request his leave, but the crown prince looked at him and said, “General Liu, there’s someone you’ve wanted to meet for a long time.” He then signaled a servant to take Liu Dan to a side hall.
Liu Dan paused, almost thinking Meng Qi was waiting for him there, then realizing that all of this had been calculated by others.
The crown prince had long harbored rebellious thoughts, even colluding with the former Imperial Teacher. They targeted Prime Minister Zhang and the gold mines of Si Lang Mountain, starting from the dark affiliations within the Jinyiwei. This led to the series of unexpected encounters between Liu Dan, Meng Qi, and Mo Li.
Impossible, right…
Liu Dan thought subconsciously, his mind in turmoil. Upon entering the side hall and seeing the person being guarded by several Jinyiwei behind the screen, he instinctively reached for the sword at his waist.
Of course, he found nothing, as it was impossible to carry weapons when meeting the crown prince.
“It’s you!”
This cringing person was none other than the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Li.
He had obviously had a rough few days, his clothes wrinkled and sticking to his body, with several spots of blood on his undergarment. He looked terrified, shivering every time he saw the blood on his clothes.
The blood was the emperor’s, who should now be referred to as the former emperor.
Imperial Physician Li watched in horror as the crown prince ordered the Jinyiwei to push him away from the emperor’s bedside, after which Lu Zhang was killed by a chaotic stabbing. Li fainted on the spot.
When he woke up, he was locked in an abandoned palace, along with his unlucky colleagues from the Imperial Medical Bureau and the close palace servants of the former emperor’s sleeping chambers.
In the following days, those palace servants were released one after another, leaving only a few imperial physicians.
The guards did not short them food or drink, nor did they interrogate them, but the fact that the crown prince was about to ascend to the throne still terrified them, leaving them anxious all day.
This morning, an imperial physician unable to bear the strain attempted suicide by hanging but was found early by the imperial guards and did not succeed.
As Li, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, was being taken away, he felt a sense of relief, thinking that whether he lived or died, at least there would be an end to his suffering.
Then, he found himself being taken to the Eastern Palace. Although the Jinyiwei guards ignored him, he began to feel a glimmer of hope. He was the most skilled physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau and had been highly valued by Lu Zhang. Now, that pride subtly returned. Li thought the crown prince might still have use for him, and as long as he begged tearfully and humbly, he should be able to escape his predicament.
Feeling anxious, he waited for a while, only to hear someone outside shout, “The divine doctor has arrived.”
Li nearly jumped off his chair, then was forced back down by the cold gaze of the Jinyiwei, his mind in turmoil and his survival instinct failing, plunging him into panic.
During this time, he also heard a noise from the beam above, but saw nothing when he looked up.
Li was already like a frightened bird, easily startled by any noise.
Thus, he remained jittery for an unknown amount of time until he finally heard footsteps approaching from outside. Li tried to muster a smile, scrambling to think of what to say, but the person who entered was Liu Dan.
“You…”
Li was stunned for a good while, unable to react to Liu Dan’s furious expression.
Seeing him like this, Liu Dan knew that Li hadn’t taken their past incident seriously, maybe not even considering it a big deal, which only fueled his anger.
Years ago, Liu Dan was injured while protecting the emperor, who then ordered the imperial physician to treat him.
At that time, Liu Dan had no troops under his command and lived off his official salary and the emperor’s rewards. Li wasn’t the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau back then and took on this assignment with disdain for the “hardship pay” Liu Dan offered, which wasn’t enough in his eyes. But since the emperor personally inquired about this matter, Li couldn’t just pass it off to a lower-ranked medical officer in the bureau. Dissatisfied, Li accepted gifts from certain court officials who wanted to suppress this rising military commander and negligently treated Liu Dan’s injuries.
The injuries healed on the surface, and any failure to return to his previous condition was blamed on the severity of the injuries.
Liu Dan’s injuries to his waist, abdomen, and arm hindered his ability to wield weapons and affected his riding, crucial for a warrior.
—What value does a warrior have if he can’t fight on the battlefield?
Fortunately, Liu Dan earned his military merits through hard-won battles in the northern frontier. Had it not been for his experience with recovering from injuries, he would have ended up honorably retired without actual service.
Although he realized Li was sabotaging him, it was difficult to accuse him before Lu Zhang, especially since Lu Zhang greatly trusted this physician. The prescriptions given to Liu Dan were just not effective enough, slow to heal but not poisoned, making it hard to explain in a few words.
Pointing out Li’s intentions and actions would require the testimony of a highly respected medical expert to be convincing. Where could Liu Dan find such a person? Knowing Li had backers, he endured.
As Liu Dan’s injuries healed and he became more prominent in court, attracting marriage proposals to align with his status, the subsequent events made him fully understand the intrigues of court politics. The issue with Li and the plotting against him was put aside as he faced too many challenges, overt and covert, to investigate them all.
But this did not mean General Liu had forgotten.
Seeing Li’s cringing demeanor, Liu Dan clenched his fists, restraining himself from striking him.
Chief Steward Chen followed in, smiling as he handed Liu Dan a document.
“General Liu, this is Jinyiwei’s investigation into the matter from that year. His Highness the Crown Prince has handed over Li along with this document to you for your disposition.”
Li finally remembered everything, his face turning ashen.
***
In the main hall, Mo Li put away the silver needles and solemnly said, “Although the crown prince has been overly burdened with worry recently, a certain pressure on his heart meridian has lifted, so his condition has not worsened. As long as he keeps the warm jade close, avoids extreme emotions, and continues proper care, his life should be without concern within three months.”
Yu Lan’s face lit up with joy.
The crown prince opened his eyes, looking at Mo Li and said, “Doctor, you have done me a great favor, only ever accepting a small fee for your services, which truly troubles me. If exotic treasures do not interest you, what about famous paintings and calligraphy, or unique books?”
Servants immediately brought in exquisite lacquer trays in succession, each carrying rolls of paintings and books.
Yu Lan specifically pointed out a tray, mentioning it contained a few medical books from the Chen dynasty’s royal collection.
Mo Li couldn’t help but flip through a few pages.
“If the doctor likes them, feel free to take them. The palace keeps handwritten copies of all the unique books,” the crown prince said gently.
Mo Li paused, then hesitated, “I travel around, with no fixed abode. Carrying such unique books with me might risk damaging them.”
The crown prince was about to order the handwritten copies to be brought out, but Mo Li said, “Could I stay in the palace for three days to read through these medical books?”
“Why not?”
The crown prince immediately agreed.
In fact, from the third prince to the servants and maids of the Eastern Palace, everyone was hoping that Mo Li would stay and not leave.
“Choose a quiet palace room, prepare good inkstone, ink, paper, and brush, and also…”
Before the crown prince could finish, Yu Lan interrupted him, apologizing first and then chiding, “Does Your Highness need to worry about this? Chief Steward Chen will surely supervise personally to ensure everything is perfectly arranged. Why bother Your Highness?”
Seeing Mo Li also frowning in disapproval, the crown prince laughed, “Alright, I will not interfere.”
As Mo Li was putting away the silver needles, ready to leave, he suddenly remembered something and paused to ask hesitantly, “Aside from these medical books, I would also like to see all the geographical records. I won’t take them, just want to look.”
The crown prince found Mo Li’s request odd but showed no sign of it on his face and agreed immediately.
Mo Li was very satisfied with this arrangement and, bypassing Ah Hu playing with a scented ball in the corner of the hall, left with the palace staff in a good mood.
Chief Steward Chen, having received the news, immediately made arrangements. Everything was so quickly prepared that by the time Mo Li stepped into the quiet courtyard in the Eastern Palace, all the furnishings and books had already been delivered. The palace maids were still arranging the newly hung plain curtains, and thick carpets had been laid on the floor.
After taking a round in the courtyard, everything was set. Knowing Mo Li preferred not to have people around, the eunuchs and palace maids bowed and then retreated outside the courtyard.
Mo Li quietly opened a crack in the window.
Soon, a gust of wind swept through, and the window opened and closed, leaving an additional person in the room.
“This place is much better than Moneybag Liu’s mansion.” Meng Qi comfortably leaned back in an armchair, reaching for the fragrant pastries on the table.
“Slap.”
Meng Qi’s hand was smacked away by the doctor.
“There’s hot water behind the screen. Go wash.” Mo Li leisurely picked up a piece of lotus seed pastry and began to eat.
Meng Qi opened his mouth but silently went behind the screen.
The palace staff had prepared two large warm kettles of water, one for washing and one for drinking.
When Meng Qi came out, only half a piece of lotus seed pastry was left on the plate, and he looked at Mo Li in shock.
The palace-style pastries were served three to a plate, specially small for aesthetic purposes. The half piece left was reluctantly spared by Mo Li, remembering Meng Qi.
“There’s more.” Mo Li felt inexplicably guilty under Meng Qi’s gaze.
Meng Qi took away the remaining walnut pastries and mung bean cakes, plate and all.
With food in hand, Meng Qi regained his composed and elegant demeanor of a reclusive scholar, teasingly saying, “Does the doctor know who the crown prince sent to Liu Dan?”
“Sent?” Mo Li recalled, puzzled, “Wasn’t General Liu supposed to meet someone?”
Meng Qi waved his hand and then recounted the grievance between Li, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and Liu Dan.
The heavy gift received by Physician Li came from the residence of the Marquis of Huaiping, a title conferred by the Chu Dynasty. There were many such noble families in the Qi Dynasty, which were left untouched as long as they did not openly resist Lu Zhang’s usurpation. Lu Zhang, in an effort to show his generosity towards his subjects and to distinguish his rule from that of the Chu Dynasty, did not act against them.
However, these families were living off their past glories and could hardly afford such a lavish gift.
The crown prince had been paying close attention to Liu Dan, the military commander who had saved the emperor, and had noticed Li’s actions. However, since Liu Dan himself discovered the irregularities without the crown prince having to intervene, the investigation shifted towards those instructing Physician Li.
The gift was not actually from the Marquis of Huaiping. The heir only acted as an intermediary to reap some benefits.
The wealth came from a local official coming to the capital for an assignment, who was also being used. He believed the gift was for a certain official in the Ministry of Personnel, which would help shift his position away from the harsh cold of the northern border. Indeed, this local official knew Liu Dan from before, and while they had some disputes, this matter was genuinely unrelated to him.
The person who used the Marquis of Huaiping’s name to give gifts to Li and kept adding layers of disguise for himself led the investigators on a chase through officials of the Sixth Ministries, eventually pointing to someone from the Ministry of War.
This individual did not know Liu Dan personally; his elaborate schemes were motivated by overhearing several superiors express dissatisfaction with Liu Dan at a banquet. Such situations could be casual conversation but also serve as a “hint” to subordinates, prompting the overly zealous to “solve problems” to gain favor.
The investigation stalled there because among those who engaged in “idle talk,” only one truly bore ill will towards Liu Dan, wishing to cause him trouble, while the others were merely speaking offhand.
Such unverifiable and unaccusable issues end up being unresolved accounts.
Mo Li frowned as he listened, finally asking, “How do you know all this so clearly? Did you sneak a peek at the document given to Liu Dan?”
“Uh, General Liu looked upset, and I got curious for a moment. Of course, I’ve already put the document back now,” Meng Qi defensively explained, quickly praising the taste of the mung bean cake he was holding as far superior to that of a famous shop in the eastern market.
Mo Li left him half a piece of lotus seed pastry, and Meng Qi, feeling he must be more considerate than the doctor, decided to leave one piece of each kind.
Much better than half a piece!
“Would the doctor like to try?”
The mung bean cake was small and crumbly. Meng Qi held one end, and Mo Li, without thinking much, ate it from Meng Qi’s hand.
The cake was soft, sweet, and very delicate.
Indeed, it tasted quite good.
Realizing the intimacy of their actions, Mo Li’s expression darkened, and he returned to flipping through the medical book.
Meng Qi didn’t seem too regretful and quietly took away the remaining half piece of lotus seed pastry.
“Is the doctor interested in Feihe Mountain when looking for geographical records?”
“Not particularly, but there might be records of anomalies in other places, traces of dragon veins.”
Meng Qi coughed lightly, his gaze shifting as he said, “Actually, I’ve looked through those books. The doctor could have just asked me.”
“That’s not the same. If you and I reach a mountain or river in the future, we can verify the landscapes described in the books. Having you tell me and me imagining it always leaves something to be desired.”
Mo Li thought for a moment, then added, “My teacher never taught me the travelogs of Shangyuan Mountain, which made me feel dizzy and mesmerized when I first arrived in Taijing.”
Meng Qi’s expression turned somewhat uncomfortable, responding dryly.
“Then you read. I’ll take a walk around.”
With that, his figure flashed, and he directly leaped out of the window.
Sitting on the eaves, Meng Qi thought that if one must read the geographical records, then the poetry and essays of scholars and poets from all dynasties, no matter how obscure, must not be overlooked.
The more ornate the language, the better. When the doctor sees the real landscapes, he’ll find them to be just as described. Yes, that’s the idea.
Meng Qi touched his purse, thinking that the palace-style pastries tasted good, albeit too few. Well, he decided to leave the palace for a while to buy osmanthus cakes and sugar-glazed chestnuts.
Using his superior lightness skill, Meng Qi easily approached the palace gate, where he happened to catch up with Gong Jun, the vice-commander of the Jinyiwei, whom he knew.
Seeing a familiar face, Meng Qi glanced over. He noticed Gong Jun with a furrowed brow, accompanied by a Jinyiwei officer, Cui Changxin, who had previously risked danger to escape from Taijing to Dragon Claw Peak to deliver news to Gong Jun.
“Why the troubled look, Commander?” Cui Changxin, thinking they were unobserved, asked softly.
“Ah!” Gong Jun sighed, worriedly saying, “The crown prince might not live much longer.”
Cui Changxin was taken aback and hurriedly asked, “Commander, why would you say that?”
“The crown prince wants to send away the palace-raised civet cat!” Gong Jun struck his left palm with his right fist, asserting, “That’s not a good sign!”
“…”
Author’s Note:
Gong Jun: Judging by myself, I think the crown prince is dying! 【adamant.jpg】
Subordinate: Sir, are you serious? 【cry-laughing.jpg】
Passing by Meng Qi: Hmph!
————
The Taijing side story is about to end OTZ
The Feihe Mountain side story is about to begin
Yet Gong Jun had already seen through everything.
Mo Li entered the hall with a composed expression.
Although he saw Liu Dan and Gong Jun, he did not show any surprise. His gaze swept over them and moved on as if he did not recognize these two.
A shadow flashed by his feet, and watching the cat dash out, Mo Li thought that Meng Qi indeed did not deceive him.
The Imperial Teacher Meng claimed he could lure the crown prince’s cat out. Mo Li was initially skeptical and even stipulated that Meng Qi must not transform back to his original form. Yet, the fact lay before him, forcing Mo Li to ponder how many times Meng Qi had played hide and seek with the civet servants.
Had experience and countermeasures been chased out?
“Divine physician…oh no, Doctor, please this way,” Chief Steward Chen said respectfully. Last time Mo Li mentioned he did not like being called a Divine Physician, and though people in the Eastern Palace did not say it to his face, they still called him that behind his back.
After all, they were well aware of how serious the crown prince’s illness was.
Mo Li literally pulled people back from the brink of death.
Although this Divine Physician always came and went high above, not entering through the palace gate, Chief Steward Chen still instructed the eunuchs and palace maids early on. On the day of the scheduled follow-up visit, they almost wished to crane their necks in anticipation outside the hall.
Before Mo Li even entered the hall, the tea room upon receiving news hurriedly fetched the prepared top-grade tribute tea, boiling water to brew it.
Fetching the tea for the second time, it was served in a thin-walled lotus cup and placed on a carved red lacquer tray. From the tea room in the side hall to the main hall, it passed through the hands of three people. The actions were quick and silent, with the head palace maid Yu Lan finally bringing the tea tray forward to Mo Li’s side swiftly.
Just then, Mo Li had put down his medicine bag and washed his hands with the water brought by the palace staff.
He directly used his internal energy to dry the droplets, without taking the soft cloth next to the basin.
The eunuch had already placed a round stool next to the crown prince, a position that allowed Mo Li to take the crown prince’s pulse, and also moved over a small peach wood table, which besides the tea cup, had prepared ink and paper for writing.
This series of actions was quick and without any mistakes, astonishing Liu Dan and Gong Jun.
Gong Jun was fine, but Liu Dan, not being a person from the martial world, only knew that Mo Li’s medical skills were quite high, and the prescription he had given for internal injuries was good. However, Liu Dan had no concept of how high these medical skills actually were.
Ordinary people have an inertial thought that the person with the best medical skills in the world should be in the Imperial Medical Bureau. High officials and noble families in the capital also had the custom of inviting imperial physicians to treat illnesses at home.
Those of lower rank and lesser titles did not have the privilege to invite imperial physicians with a calling card, as by regulation, imperial physicians only treated the inner families of those with imperial commands and heirs of nobility. Only being born in such distinguished families could one ride on the coattails of their family members for a pulse diagnosis.
Liu Dan, due to certain reasons, was unwilling to interact with imperial physicians, so the doctors he had seen, aside from those in the civilian sector, were medical officers in the military camps of the northern frontier.
Seeing the preparations made by the people of the Eastern Palace, General Liu instantly understood.
So, in the matter of the crown prince’s conspiracy, the one who truly took part wasn’t Meng Qi, who beat the emperor, but Doctor Mo?
Mo Li could not be sure how long Meng Qi could hold the cat, and now with two acquaintances in the hall, he did not wish to explain further. Thus, he simply took the crown prince’s pulse without saying a word.
The crown prince did not speak, and the people also dared not make a sound.
The palace staff lit the prepared mugwort, filling the hall with the scent of herbs.
About half a quarter of an hour later, Mo Li finally released his hand.
“The ailment lies in the heart meridian, expending heart energy will aggravate the condition.”
Mo Li did not reprimand the patient for not properly recuperating and resting as usual doctors would. For the crown prince’s condition, as long as he is alive, there will be endless matters for him to worry about.
“Even if you have thousands of troops and talents under your command, and a vast empire, there are many issues that cannot be solved all at once. Not everything can be achieved in one step or once and for all. Your Highness should rest when it’s time to rest.”
As soon as Mo Li finished speaking, Chief Steward Chen nodded repeatedly, wishing he could immediately persuade the crown prince.
Yu Lan bowed her head and asked, “May I know… how long should His Highness rest each day? His Highness thinks too much and sleeps too little, almost waking up every hour. Once awake, it’s hard to fall asleep again. The imperial physicians previously prescribed some remedies, but now they have all been stopped.”
Mo Li slightly frowned, not speaking directly, but instead took up the brush to write the times for meals each day, what to eat and what foods to avoid, and also meticulously drew a diagram, instructing to massage certain acupoints to help the patient sleep peacefully.
“Aside from the thrice-daily medicine, do not take any other tonics or sleep-inducing decoctions.”
As Mo Li spoke and wrote, his penmanship was clear and distinct, and unlike ordinary people, he did not care for format and overall fluency of the characters. Some characters were deliberately enlarged to be easily understood at a glance.
Mo Li pondered the pulse he had just taken and suddenly asked, “Have you been overly worried these past two days? What is the reason?”
“…Ashamed,” the crown prince first paused, then gave a bitter smile.
He originally thought that although his sixth brother was young, he was very intelligent. Even if his temperament was unruly, compared to the rashness of the second prince and the indecisiveness of the third prince, it seemed just a child’s temper. He thought everything would be fine once Lu Zhang died, which is why he was prepared to leave the imperial seal to the sixth prince. But now, he was greatly disappointed.
It’s said that adversity reveals true character, but actually, crises can also reveal a person’s abilities.
The sixth prince lacked courage and did not have sufficient bravery, truly not a good candidate for succeeding the throne.
However, disappointed as he was, the crown prince did not speak of his brother’s flaws in front of others. He just gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
Chief Steward Chen misunderstood his meaning and hesitantly asked Mo Li, “Doctor, about the ascension ceremony…”
Lu Zhang had already died, and the crown prince should ascend to the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the court situation. However, the problem also lay here, whether it was the former emperor’s demise or the new emperor’s ascension, there was a set of extremely complicated rituals involved.
One must go to the Grand Temple, offer sacrifices to Heaven, and receive the kneeling worship of the civil and military officials.
That was manageable, but the main issue was the weight of the ceremonial robes and crown, which had to be worn all day. Even people with slightly poor physical condition could not endure this, let alone the crown prince, who was seriously ill.
In the palace, in such situations, they would force down tonics and ginseng slices, and even if the attendants had to support him, the entire process must be completed. The crown prince, however, could not do so.
—He did not have the physical strength for such an ordeal.
Initially unaware of what the coronation ceremony entailed and its steps, Mo Li immediately objected upon hearing Chief Steward Chen’s brief explanation, saying, “Absolutely not.”
The crown prince cannot even be exposed to the wind, yet he wants to go up to such a high altar to offer sacrifices to Heaven?
If he cannot go in person, then a substitute must be found.
Chief Steward Chen awkwardly looked at Liu Dan and Gong Jun, thinking they were people recently favored by the crown prince. Since the crown prince had not asked them to leave, it implied that aside from “not living long,” other matters could probably be discussed in front of them.
“Doctor, I have heard… that there is a unique skill called face-changing in the martial arts world?”
“Do you intend to find a substitute for the crown prince?”
Mo Li subconsciously glanced at Gong Jun, whose expression stiffened. He quickly stood up to help Mo Li out, also indicating that this was definitely not his own bad idea.
“Chief Steward Chen, the so-called face-changing is just some tricks. Since people often judge others by their appearance, those who wish to hide their whereabouts would change their attire, accent, and use charcoal or coal ash to slightly alter their eyebrows, eyes, and skin tone, and wear multiple layers of clothing to change their figure. Simple face-changing is about making oneself unrecognizable. Even though masters of face-changing can imitate anyone without being exposed, they would not impersonate a specific person, much less change their own face.”
Chief Steward Chen caught the meaning in Gong Jun’s words and hurriedly said, “During the sacrifice, only officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau are closest to His Highness, and even they would find it hard to see His Highness’s face clearly, with twelve ceremonial pendants blocking it!”
“Even so, in such a situation as the ascension, can the person replacing His Highness keep their composure and not panic?” Gong Jun still objected, proposing, “Why not wait until His Highness’s health improves?”
Chief Steward Chen’s expression changed slightly, and the eunuchs and palace maids stood with their hands down. Although no one spoke, Gong Jun sensed an ominous meaning. He suspiciously looked at everyone and then covertly observed the crown prince.
—Could it be that the crown prince’s illness is incurable?
But the crown prince’s current appearance did not seem like someone with little time left, making Gong Jun uncertain about his speculation.
Compared to Gong Jun, Liu Dan was in a more difficult position. As the emperor’s confidant and a member of the Jinyiwei, revealing some secrets to Gong Jun was a sign of trust from the crown prince, but it was different for him. For a general leading troops outside, knowing too much was not good, and at this moment, he could say nothing suitable, only feigning ignorance.
At the same time, Liu Dan was puzzled, not understanding what Lu Huan was thinking. How could there be an emperor who does not want to go to his own coronation ceremony and insists on finding a substitute?
“Since His Highness has decided, I will find a suitable candidate,” Gong Jun said helplessly, while also worrying in his mind that finding such a substitute would not be easy.
First, the substitute must have a similar stature to the crown prince, then be able to change accents and mimic the crown prince in speaking simple sentences. However, it didn’t need to be too similar, anyway, since the crown prince was not well.
Using this excuse, all ceremonies could be simplified, speaking as little as possible.
Even if someone suspected, as long as it was not exposed on the spot, it could be bluffed through—bah, what a mess of a task! Gong Jun could already foresee the fallout if the deception was uncovered, the future emperor might not do much, but the imperial censors would certainly place the hat of a pretender on his head.
Gong Jun managed his expression well, but the crown prince seemed to see through his thoughts, laughing and saying, “Vice Commander Gong need not worry, as long as we capture Prime Minister Zhang’s faction before the coronation ceremony, the rest are not a concern.”
Gong Jun’s spirit was lifted upon hearing this.
That’s right, Prime Minister Jiang has grown old and dim-sighted!
The other senior officials of the Six Ministries must be feeling insecure about Prime Minister Zhang’s downfall, fearing the new emperor. Even if they sense something amiss, they wouldn’t dare to make it known. Especially on the day of the ascension ceremony, with the imperial guards heavily guarding everything from the Imperial City to the Altar of Heaven, as long as arrangements are made properly, it could be done without anyone being the wiser. The crown prince only needs to appear in the Wanhe Hall at the end, ascend the Dan Chi, and accept the homage of the officials.
Thinking this, Gong Jun breathed a sigh of relief, but then he sensed something was off.
Collecting evidence to bring down Prime Minister Zhang was just a task the crown prince had given him, so how had it suddenly become beneficial to his career? Now he had no choice but to exert himself to the utmost.
Gong Jun looked at the crown prince with a complex gaze, bowed with folded hands, and said, “Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I take my leave.”
Saying this, he bowed and retreated, thinking if he didn’t leave now, even his family’s civet cat might be conned away by the crown prince.
As someone trained in martial arts with sharp senses, Gong Jun had just stepped out of the palace hall when he heard the crown prince ask a servant, “Go see where Ah Hu has gone. I originally wanted Vice Commander Gong to take it with him today. It seems it will have to wait for another day.”
What?
Gong Jun paused, doubting what he had just heard.
“Ah Hu is gentle and affectionate. Why would Your Highness want to send it away? Even if Your Highness… doesn’t have the time to take care of it, there are still servants.”
Coincidentally, the spotted cat returned at that moment, stopping in the corridor and staring at Gong Jun. The civet cat, well-cared for by the people of the Eastern Palace, had sleek fur and a robust figure, with deep, penetrating eyes that seemed both soft and dangerous.
“…”
The civet cat couldn’t understand human speech, but Gong Jun felt immensely guilty. He dared not listen any longer and hurried away with quick steps.
Ah Hu flicked its tail and slowly stepped into the hall, passing by Mo Li. When it sensed a smell similar to someone who had been on the beam earlier, it immediately started hissing discontentedly, while the latter silently gathered his internal energy, ready to retreat at the first sign of trouble.
“Ah Hu.”
Hearing the crown prince’s voice, Ah Hu turned its head and walked away.
Mo Li relaxed slightly. He was using mugwort to smoke silver needles, calmly reminding the crown prince that it was time for acupuncture.
Liu Dan also took the opportunity to request his leave, but the crown prince looked at him and said, “General Liu, there’s someone you’ve wanted to meet for a long time.” He then signaled a servant to take Liu Dan to a side hall.
Liu Dan paused, almost thinking Meng Qi was waiting for him there, then realizing that all of this had been calculated by others.
The crown prince had long harbored rebellious thoughts, even colluding with the former Imperial Teacher. They targeted Prime Minister Zhang and the gold mines of Si Lang Mountain, starting from the dark affiliations within the Jinyiwei. This led to the series of unexpected encounters between Liu Dan, Meng Qi, and Mo Li.
Impossible, right…
Liu Dan thought subconsciously, his mind in turmoil. Upon entering the side hall and seeing the person being guarded by several Jinyiwei behind the screen, he instinctively reached for the sword at his waist.
Of course, he found nothing, as it was impossible to carry weapons when meeting the crown prince.
“It’s you!”
This cringing person was none other than the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Li.
He had obviously had a rough few days, his clothes wrinkled and sticking to his body, with several spots of blood on his undergarment. He looked terrified, shivering every time he saw the blood on his clothes.
The blood was the emperor’s, who should now be referred to as the former emperor.
Imperial Physician Li watched in horror as the crown prince ordered the Jinyiwei to push him away from the emperor’s bedside, after which Lu Zhang was killed by a chaotic stabbing. Li fainted on the spot.
When he woke up, he was locked in an abandoned palace, along with his unlucky colleagues from the Imperial Medical Bureau and the close palace servants of the former emperor’s sleeping chambers.
In the following days, those palace servants were released one after another, leaving only a few imperial physicians.
The guards did not short them food or drink, nor did they interrogate them, but the fact that the crown prince was about to ascend to the throne still terrified them, leaving them anxious all day.
This morning, an imperial physician unable to bear the strain attempted suicide by hanging but was found early by the imperial guards and did not succeed.
As Li, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, was being taken away, he felt a sense of relief, thinking that whether he lived or died, at least there would be an end to his suffering.
Then, he found himself being taken to the Eastern Palace. Although the Jinyiwei guards ignored him, he began to feel a glimmer of hope. He was the most skilled physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau and had been highly valued by Lu Zhang. Now, that pride subtly returned. Li thought the crown prince might still have use for him, and as long as he begged tearfully and humbly, he should be able to escape his predicament.
Feeling anxious, he waited for a while, only to hear someone outside shout, “The divine doctor has arrived.”
Li nearly jumped off his chair, then was forced back down by the cold gaze of the Jinyiwei, his mind in turmoil and his survival instinct failing, plunging him into panic.
During this time, he also heard a noise from the beam above, but saw nothing when he looked up.
Li was already like a frightened bird, easily startled by any noise.
Thus, he remained jittery for an unknown amount of time until he finally heard footsteps approaching from outside. Li tried to muster a smile, scrambling to think of what to say, but the person who entered was Liu Dan.
“You…”
Li was stunned for a good while, unable to react to Liu Dan’s furious expression.
Seeing him like this, Liu Dan knew that Li hadn’t taken their past incident seriously, maybe not even considering it a big deal, which only fueled his anger.
Years ago, Liu Dan was injured while protecting the emperor, who then ordered the imperial physician to treat him.
At that time, Liu Dan had no troops under his command and lived off his official salary and the emperor’s rewards. Li wasn’t the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau back then and took on this assignment with disdain for the “hardship pay” Liu Dan offered, which wasn’t enough in his eyes. But since the emperor personally inquired about this matter, Li couldn’t just pass it off to a lower-ranked medical officer in the bureau. Dissatisfied, Li accepted gifts from certain court officials who wanted to suppress this rising military commander and negligently treated Liu Dan’s injuries.
The injuries healed on the surface, and any failure to return to his previous condition was blamed on the severity of the injuries.
Liu Dan’s injuries to his waist, abdomen, and arm hindered his ability to wield weapons and affected his riding, crucial for a warrior.
—What value does a warrior have if he can’t fight on the battlefield?
Fortunately, Liu Dan earned his military merits through hard-won battles in the northern frontier. Had it not been for his experience with recovering from injuries, he would have ended up honorably retired without actual service.
Although he realized Li was sabotaging him, it was difficult to accuse him before Lu Zhang, especially since Lu Zhang greatly trusted this physician. The prescriptions given to Liu Dan were just not effective enough, slow to heal but not poisoned, making it hard to explain in a few words.
Pointing out Li’s intentions and actions would require the testimony of a highly respected medical expert to be convincing. Where could Liu Dan find such a person? Knowing Li had backers, he endured.
As Liu Dan’s injuries healed and he became more prominent in court, attracting marriage proposals to align with his status, the subsequent events made him fully understand the intrigues of court politics. The issue with Li and the plotting against him was put aside as he faced too many challenges, overt and covert, to investigate them all.
But this did not mean General Liu had forgotten.
Seeing Li’s cringing demeanor, Liu Dan clenched his fists, restraining himself from striking him.
Chief Steward Chen followed in, smiling as he handed Liu Dan a document.
“General Liu, this is Jinyiwei’s investigation into the matter from that year. His Highness the Crown Prince has handed over Li along with this document to you for your disposition.”
Li finally remembered everything, his face turning ashen.
***
In the main hall, Mo Li put away the silver needles and solemnly said, “Although the crown prince has been overly burdened with worry recently, a certain pressure on his heart meridian has lifted, so his condition has not worsened. As long as he keeps the warm jade close, avoids extreme emotions, and continues proper care, his life should be without concern within three months.”
Yu Lan’s face lit up with joy.
The crown prince opened his eyes, looking at Mo Li and said, “Doctor, you have done me a great favor, only ever accepting a small fee for your services, which truly troubles me. If exotic treasures do not interest you, what about famous paintings and calligraphy, or unique books?”
Servants immediately brought in exquisite lacquer trays in succession, each carrying rolls of paintings and books.
Yu Lan specifically pointed out a tray, mentioning it contained a few medical books from the Chen dynasty’s royal collection.
Mo Li couldn’t help but flip through a few pages.
“If the doctor likes them, feel free to take them. The palace keeps handwritten copies of all the unique books,” the crown prince said gently.
Mo Li paused, then hesitated, “I travel around, with no fixed abode. Carrying such unique books with me might risk damaging them.”
The crown prince was about to order the handwritten copies to be brought out, but Mo Li said, “Could I stay in the palace for three days to read through these medical books?”
“Why not?”
The crown prince immediately agreed.
In fact, from the third prince to the servants and maids of the Eastern Palace, everyone was hoping that Mo Li would stay and not leave.
“Choose a quiet palace room, prepare good inkstone, ink, paper, and brush, and also…”
Before the crown prince could finish, Yu Lan interrupted him, apologizing first and then chiding, “Does Your Highness need to worry about this? Chief Steward Chen will surely supervise personally to ensure everything is perfectly arranged. Why bother Your Highness?”
Seeing Mo Li also frowning in disapproval, the crown prince laughed, “Alright, I will not interfere.”
As Mo Li was putting away the silver needles, ready to leave, he suddenly remembered something and paused to ask hesitantly, “Aside from these medical books, I would also like to see all the geographical records. I won’t take them, just want to look.”
The crown prince found Mo Li’s request odd but showed no sign of it on his face and agreed immediately.
Mo Li was very satisfied with this arrangement and, bypassing Ah Hu playing with a scented ball in the corner of the hall, left with the palace staff in a good mood.
Chief Steward Chen, having received the news, immediately made arrangements. Everything was so quickly prepared that by the time Mo Li stepped into the quiet courtyard in the Eastern Palace, all the furnishings and books had already been delivered. The palace maids were still arranging the newly hung plain curtains, and thick carpets had been laid on the floor.
After taking a round in the courtyard, everything was set. Knowing Mo Li preferred not to have people around, the eunuchs and palace maids bowed and then retreated outside the courtyard.
Mo Li quietly opened a crack in the window.
Soon, a gust of wind swept through, and the window opened and closed, leaving an additional person in the room.
“This place is much better than Moneybag Liu’s mansion.” Meng Qi comfortably leaned back in an armchair, reaching for the fragrant pastries on the table.
“Slap.”
Meng Qi’s hand was smacked away by the doctor.
“There’s hot water behind the screen. Go wash.” Mo Li leisurely picked up a piece of lotus seed pastry and began to eat.
Meng Qi opened his mouth but silently went behind the screen.
The palace staff had prepared two large warm kettles of water, one for washing and one for drinking.
When Meng Qi came out, only half a piece of lotus seed pastry was left on the plate, and he looked at Mo Li in shock.
The palace-style pastries were served three to a plate, specially small for aesthetic purposes. The half piece left was reluctantly spared by Mo Li, remembering Meng Qi.
“There’s more.” Mo Li felt inexplicably guilty under Meng Qi’s gaze.
Meng Qi took away the remaining walnut pastries and mung bean cakes, plate and all.
With food in hand, Meng Qi regained his composed and elegant demeanor of a reclusive scholar, teasingly saying, “Does the doctor know who the crown prince sent to Liu Dan?”
“Sent?” Mo Li recalled, puzzled, “Wasn’t General Liu supposed to meet someone?”
Meng Qi waved his hand and then recounted the grievance between Li, the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, and Liu Dan.
The heavy gift received by Physician Li came from the residence of the Marquis of Huaiping, a title conferred by the Chu Dynasty. There were many such noble families in the Qi Dynasty, which were left untouched as long as they did not openly resist Lu Zhang’s usurpation. Lu Zhang, in an effort to show his generosity towards his subjects and to distinguish his rule from that of the Chu Dynasty, did not act against them.
However, these families were living off their past glories and could hardly afford such a lavish gift.
The crown prince had been paying close attention to Liu Dan, the military commander who had saved the emperor, and had noticed Li’s actions. However, since Liu Dan himself discovered the irregularities without the crown prince having to intervene, the investigation shifted towards those instructing Physician Li.
The gift was not actually from the Marquis of Huaiping. The heir only acted as an intermediary to reap some benefits.
The wealth came from a local official coming to the capital for an assignment, who was also being used. He believed the gift was for a certain official in the Ministry of Personnel, which would help shift his position away from the harsh cold of the northern border. Indeed, this local official knew Liu Dan from before, and while they had some disputes, this matter was genuinely unrelated to him.
The person who used the Marquis of Huaiping’s name to give gifts to Li and kept adding layers of disguise for himself led the investigators on a chase through officials of the Sixth Ministries, eventually pointing to someone from the Ministry of War.
This individual did not know Liu Dan personally; his elaborate schemes were motivated by overhearing several superiors express dissatisfaction with Liu Dan at a banquet. Such situations could be casual conversation but also serve as a “hint” to subordinates, prompting the overly zealous to “solve problems” to gain favor.
The investigation stalled there because among those who engaged in “idle talk,” only one truly bore ill will towards Liu Dan, wishing to cause him trouble, while the others were merely speaking offhand.
Such unverifiable and unaccusable issues end up being unresolved accounts.
Mo Li frowned as he listened, finally asking, “How do you know all this so clearly? Did you sneak a peek at the document given to Liu Dan?”
“Uh, General Liu looked upset, and I got curious for a moment. Of course, I’ve already put the document back now,” Meng Qi defensively explained, quickly praising the taste of the mung bean cake he was holding as far superior to that of a famous shop in the eastern market.
Mo Li left him half a piece of lotus seed pastry, and Meng Qi, feeling he must be more considerate than the doctor, decided to leave one piece of each kind.
Much better than half a piece!
“Would the doctor like to try?”
The mung bean cake was small and crumbly. Meng Qi held one end, and Mo Li, without thinking much, ate it from Meng Qi’s hand.
The cake was soft, sweet, and very delicate.
Indeed, it tasted quite good.
Realizing the intimacy of their actions, Mo Li’s expression darkened, and he returned to flipping through the medical book.
Meng Qi didn’t seem too regretful and quietly took away the remaining half piece of lotus seed pastry.
“Is the doctor interested in Feihe Mountain when looking for geographical records?”
“Not particularly, but there might be records of anomalies in other places, traces of dragon veins.”
Meng Qi coughed lightly, his gaze shifting as he said, “Actually, I’ve looked through those books. The doctor could have just asked me.”
“That’s not the same. If you and I reach a mountain or river in the future, we can verify the landscapes described in the books. Having you tell me and me imagining it always leaves something to be desired.”
Mo Li thought for a moment, then added, “My teacher never taught me the travelogs of Shangyuan Mountain, which made me feel dizzy and mesmerized when I first arrived in Taijing.”
Meng Qi’s expression turned somewhat uncomfortable, responding dryly.
“Then you read. I’ll take a walk around.”
With that, his figure flashed, and he directly leaped out of the window.
Sitting on the eaves, Meng Qi thought that if one must read the geographical records, then the poetry and essays of scholars and poets from all dynasties, no matter how obscure, must not be overlooked.
The more ornate the language, the better. When the doctor sees the real landscapes, he’ll find them to be just as described. Yes, that’s the idea.
Meng Qi touched his purse, thinking that the palace-style pastries tasted good, albeit too few. Well, he decided to leave the palace for a while to buy osmanthus cakes and sugar-glazed chestnuts.
Using his superior lightness skill, Meng Qi easily approached the palace gate, where he happened to catch up with Gong Jun, the vice-commander of the Jinyiwei, whom he knew.
Seeing a familiar face, Meng Qi glanced over. He noticed Gong Jun with a furrowed brow, accompanied by a Jinyiwei officer, Cui Changxin, who had previously risked danger to escape from Taijing to Dragon Claw Peak to deliver news to Gong Jun.
“Why the troubled look, Commander?” Cui Changxin, thinking they were unobserved, asked softly.
“Ah!” Gong Jun sighed, worriedly saying, “The crown prince might not live much longer.”
Cui Changxin was taken aback and hurriedly asked, “Commander, why would you say that?”
“The crown prince wants to send away the palace-raised civet cat!” Gong Jun struck his left palm with his right fist, asserting, “That’s not a good sign!”
“…”
Author’s Note:
Gong Jun: Judging by myself, I think the crown prince is dying! 【adamant.jpg】
Subordinate: Sir, are you serious? 【cry-laughing.jpg】
Passing by Meng Qi: Hmph!
————
The Taijing side story is about to end OTZ
The Feihe Mountain side story is about to begin
