Chapter 104: The Skilled Physician

Under the night sky, a sedan chair came to a stop outside the Provincial Inspector’s Residence and was halted by the guards at the gate.

Fang Zhe stepped forward to negotiate with them. Inside the sedan, Niu Youdao sat quietly with his eyes closed, his expression calm...

The residence beyond was ablaze with lamps. One elegant vermilion pavilion was especially splendid.

Although the weather had already turned warm, a charcoal brazier still burned inside.

A table was covered with delicacies. The boy seated beside it wore thick layers of clothing. His skin was pale, his face bloodless, and dark bluish shadows ringed his eyes. He seemed to have little appetite.

The woman seated beside him presented a very different picture. She wore light, gauzy palace robes, and fine beads of sweat showed faintly on her fair skin.

There was no helping it. With a brazier burning at this time of year, how could the room not be hot?

The woman carried considerable authority in every movement. She was strikingly beautiful, her dark hair piled high, her brows and eyes as finely drawn as a painting. Her figure was graceful and alluring, a little full, with a mature voluptuousness.

The boy was Xiao Tianzhen, who had inherited his father’s office as Provincial Inspector of Jinzhou.

The woman was Hai Ruyue, the Grand Princess of the State of Zhao, the emperor’s own younger sister, and Xiao Tianzhen’s mother. Though she had reached forty, time had been kind to her and had left scarcely a trace upon her.

“I know you have no appetite, but you still have to eat something.” Hai Ruyue personally picked up her chopsticks and placed food in her son’s bowl.

Outside, the gray-haired steward Zhu Shun appeared at the doorway. He did not enter, but gave Hai Ruyue a small nod.

Hai Ruyue glanced up, set down her chopsticks, and rose. Even as she did, she did not forget to tell her son, “Eat something even if you don’t want to. This is for your own good, not to harm you.”

She left the table and walked gracefully to the doorway. A maid waiting outside immediately draped an outer robe over her shoulders; the air outside was nothing like the brazier-heated room within.

Once mistress and servant had moved a little farther away, Zhu Shun reported, “Madam, that Fang Zhe has come again.”

Hai Ruyue’s bright eyes shifted toward him. “Does he have something new to say?”

Everything that needed saying had already been made perfectly clear, and there was nothing more to discuss. She had already ordered that Fang Zhe not be received. Moreover, it was late. As a widow, she generally did not receive male guests at night. Ordinarily, the steward would have sent him away on his own. Since Zhu Shun had come to report the matter, there had to be a reason.

Zhu Shun said, “This time he brought someone with him. He says Commandery Prince Yongping of the State of Yan specially sent a skilled physician to treat the Young Master.”

“A skilled physician?” Hai Ruyue frowned. “They already know Zhen’er’s condition. What physician could possibly treat it?”

“This old servant finds it strange as well. By rights, there should be no such thing. But Shang Chaozong should not act recklessly over a matter like this, so I came to ask Madam whether you wish to see them.”

Hai Ruyue hesitated slightly. She shared the same view: Shang Chaozong should not make sport of something like this. At last she nodded. “Bring them over.”

“Yes.” Zhu Shun bowed slightly and quickly left.

Before long, he returned with Fang Zhe and Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao’s sword had been temporarily confiscated.

When they entered the inner residence, cultivators there also sealed their Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Niu Youdao could no longer call upon any of his spiritual power.

In that respect, Hai Ruyue was honoring her old ties to Prince Ning and showing consideration for Shang Chaozong. The matters they needed to discuss were secret, and it was better not to let too many outsiders know. If Niu Youdao’s spiritual power were not sealed, someone would inevitably have to remain nearby to watch him.

Beside a pavilion and waterside terrace, Hai Ruyue stood in a splendid long gown with one hand resting on the railing, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky. Her graceful silhouette looked solitary, the moon reflected in the water below.

Fang Zhe and Niu Youdao stopped a short distance away and saluted her back together. “Greetings, Grand Princess.”

Zhu Shun walked up to Hai Ruyue and murmured several words into her ear.

Hai Ruyue slowly turned around. In the lamplight, her beauty was arresting enough that even Niu Youdao had to praise her inwardly. What a beauty.

“Niu Youdao?” Hai Ruyue looked him up and down, then gave a cold snort. “Aren’t you that cast-off disciple of the State of Yan’s Shangqing Sect?”

Niu Youdao had not expected her to know even that, but on reflection it made sense. A neighboring enemy state would certainly have spies gathering information, and Shang Chaozong had been communicating with this side. How could Hai Ruyue fail to investigate what was going on? There was nothing strange about it after all. He nodded. “That is indeed me.”

Hai Ruyue said, “When I was in the State of Yan years ago, I had dealings with Prince Ning, and I also saw your master Dong Guo Haoran often enough. We could be considered old acquaintances. How did Dong Guo Haoran’s disciple turn into a skilled physician capable of treating difficult illnesses?”

Niu Youdao discovered once again that old Dong Guo had possessed quite a network of connections. He replied, “Grand Princess, your perception is keen. I am not the one who truly treats illnesses. I was merely ordered to escort the skilled physician here. But after we reached the prefectural capital, something went wrong. The physician was abducted.”

Hai Ruyue’s bright eyes narrowed slightly. Zhu Shun frowned. “What happened?”

“Grand Princess, there is something you may not know. I have a grievance in the State of Yan with the Song family of Commandant of Justice Song Jiuming. I had only just reached the prefectural capital today when, unexpectedly, I ran into Song Jiuming’s son. They hunted me down. I managed to escape by luck, but the skilled physician I brought fell into their hands. I don’t know where they have taken him, or even whether he is alive or dead. I hope the Grand Princess can act to find him. After all, this is your territory.”

Niu Youdao had neither connections nor manpower here. If he wanted to save Yuan Fang, he could only borrow this widow’s power.

Fang Zhe, standing to the side, looked thoughtful. What skilled physician had they brought? He could more or less guess that Niu Youdao meant Yuan Fang. Hearing this explanation, he also seemed to understand why Niu Youdao had been in such a hurry to leave Fulin Inn.

Hai Ruyue’s side had long since gathered intelligence on Shang Chaozong’s situation. Since she had recognized Niu Youdao’s name as that of the Shangqing Sect’s cast-off disciple, she naturally knew something of his feud with the Song family as well. Zhu Shun leaned close to Hai Ruyue and said quietly, “Song Jiuming’s second son, Song Long, has indeed arrived in the prefectural capital. He is staying at Liufang Guesthouse.”

Nothing showed on Hai Ruyue’s face. She stared at Niu Youdao. “Are you certain the skilled physician you brought can cure my son?”

Niu Youdao said, “Even if he cannot cure the illness with his own hands, he is the person most likely to obtain a Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit. Grand Princess, His Highness knows your son’s condition very well. Since His Highness sent us here for this matter, naturally he has some confidence in us. Grand Princess, if we delay any longer, the physician’s life may be in danger!”

At present, none of the rest mattered. To Niu Youdao, getting Yuan Fang out first was the urgent thing. As far as he was concerned, Shang Chaozong’s great cause was not necessarily more important than Yuan Fang’s life. On that point, his thinking was different from that of Shang Chaozong’s followers; their values and principles were not the same.

Hai Ruyue slowly turned toward Zhu Shun. Her face remained expressionless. “Take men there yourself. Tell Song Long to hand him over.” Her tone allowed no dispute.

“Yes.” Zhu Shun accepted the order, then turned to Niu Youdao. “Come with me.”

He did not know this so-called skilled physician by sight. Niu Youdao would need to identify the man, and if necessary confront Song Long face-to-face. Without a witness, what if Song Long simply refused to admit anything?

Niu Youdao immediately bowed farewell to Hai Ruyue and followed Zhu Shun away.

In moments, Zhu Shun assembled more than a dozen experts to accompany them. Fang Zhe, meanwhile, was temporarily detained at the Provincial Inspector’s Residence, very much in the manner of a hostage...

At Liufang Guesthouse, Xie Chun and the others had only recently returned. They stood before Song Long, who was in the hall with his hands clasped behind his back and a dark expression on his face.

Naturally, Xie Chun and the others had come back empty-handed. What they found did prove Yuan Fang’s statement: Niu Youdao had indeed been staying at Fulin Inn. All they had needed to do was ask the innkeeper and staff and verify his appearance.

There had not even been much need to search. By the time they found the guest room, it was already empty. The innkeeper also said the guests had checked out and left not long before.

Xie Chun was not surprised in the least. It was exactly what he had expected. If Niu Youdao had actually stayed there waiting for them, that would have been strange.

Since they had failed to capture Niu Youdao, they naturally dragged Yuan Fang out again and questioned him in detail: where Niu Youdao might go, why they had come here, and so on.

Yuan Fang remained as timid as a mouse. He answered everything they asked. It was simply that almost none of his answers were true.

Unable to get anything useful from him, they naturally made him suffer a little.

Just then, a disturbance erupted outside. A large force was pouring in, and the clatter of armor was unmistakable.

One of Song Long’s junior officials ran in, his face full of alarm. “My lord, Zhu Shun, the steward from the Provincial Inspector’s Residence, has arrived. He brought a large force and surrounded our entire courtyard!”

“What’s going on?” Song Long was startled and uncertain. There was no point asking anyone else; none of them knew either. He quickly strode out with his men.

When he hurried into the courtyard and saw Zhu Shun leading a group of people in through the main gate, he immediately understood everything, because Niu Youdao was standing beside Zhu Shun.

The sight made Song Long’s heart lurch. Could Niu Youdao have been telling the truth? Was he really connected to the Provincial Inspector’s Residence?

More alarming still, Niu Youdao had actually managed to bring Zhu Shun here in person.

Song Long could not help looking back at Xie Chun, as though demanding: What exactly did you people do? Didn’t I tell you to follow them first and confirm whether they were from the Provincial Inspector’s Residence before making a move?

At the sight of this scene, Chen Guishuo, standing among the crowd, felt his heart pounding with dread. He wailed inwardly. How had Niu Youdao gained influence in Jinzhou?

The commotion here was too great. Envoys from the various states staying at Liufang Guesthouse, each with their own designs on the State of Zhao, were soon alerted.

Jinzhou had actually mobilized troops to surround the quarters of envoy of the State of Yan. How could the representatives of the other states not come see what was happening? Jinzhou’s attitude toward the State of Yan was something every state had reason to watch closely. After all, Jinzhou had troops stationed right along the State of Yan’s border. If a conflict broke out, it would be no small matter.

People emerged from courtyards throughout Liufang Guesthouse, but heavy troops had sealed off this side of the compound, leaving them unable to approach and watch.

“Is that him?” Zhu Shun asked mildly, his eyes on Song Long.

Niu Youdao confirmed from beside him, “That’s him.”

Song Long was full of alarm and doubt. Surely Zhu Shun would not dare mistreat an envoy of the State of Yan merely for Niu Youdao’s sake?

His thoughts were unsettled, but he represented the dignity of Great Yan while serving as envoy to the State of Zhao. He straightened and rebuked them with full confidence. “Zhu Shun, what is the meaning of this? Is this how Jinzhou treats its guests?”

Zhu Shun looked at him. “Those who observe propriety are guests and naturally deserve to be treated as honored guests. Those who disregard propriety are despised by everyone... Lord Song, there is no need to circle around the matter. Hand him over.”

When Zhu Shun arrived at Liufang Guesthouse, he had already questioned the guards here and confirmed that Song Long’s people had indeed brought a captive into the compound earlier. The timing matched Niu Youdao’s account. Only then had he directly mobilized troops to surround the courtyard.

Song Long could hardly admit that he had casually seized someone inside another state’s territory. That was not something an envoy should be doing, and it violated diplomatic propriety anywhere. He argued, “Hand over whom? I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“Lord Song, it would be better if you cooperated,” Zhu Shun said. “Otherwise, don’t blame me for being discourteous.”

Song Long raised his head and squared his shoulders, his voice ringing with confidence. “I am an envoy of the State of Yan. I would like to see who dares lay a hand on me!”

[End of Chapter 104]