Chapter 576: With Child

From his tone, one would have thought the crowd outside had been blocking the gate of Hao Yunsheng's own home.

Wuxin said, “Those are your words. I haven't forced you. If you fail to do it, you may not keep all four of your limbs.”

A chill ran through Hao Yunsheng. He hurriedly replied, “A man's word must be honored. I'll do it, definitely. Sir may rest assured.”

He was no stranger to the legends surrounding Ghost Doctor. Ghost Doctor seemed to possess no organization or visible power of his own, yet when a man's medical skill reached that level, what he possessed was an invisible influence far more frightening than any power one could see with the eyes or hear with the ears.

Someone like that truly had no need to place a mere prince in his eyes.

Wuxin said nothing more. After washing his hands, he entered the pavilion for his meal and had Guo Man bring over brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

He personally wrote out a prescription and handed it to Hao Yunsheng. “Your leg is an old injury. It isn't suitable to begin treatment directly. Prepare the medicinal decoction according to this prescription and soak the crippled leg in it for three days, two hours each morning and evening. First loosen and open the meridians and blood vessels around the old injury. Come back after three days. I'll examine the condition then and decide how to treat it.”

Hao Yunsheng received the prescription in both hands as though he had been granted a treasure. He nodded repeatedly. “I will follow Sir's instructions exactly.”

His reverence exceeded even what he might have shown while receiving an imperial edict.

“See the guest out.” Wuxin picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

Guo Man extended a hand toward the gate.

Hao Yunsheng glanced at the simple food on the table and eagerly tried to ingratiate himself. “Food from this restaurant is beneath Sir. From now on, this prince will have your meals carefully prepared and delivered at the proper times.”

“No need.”

Hao Yunsheng had no choice but to give up.

Still, he signaled his attendant, who immediately took out a stack of gold notes and placed them on the table. One hundred thousand in gold notes lay there. “A small token of sincerity. Sir, please don't disdain it.”

Wuxin did not refuse the money. He simply continued eating at his unhurried pace.

“Please.” Guo Man once again gestured toward the gate.

“Very well, very well. Sir, enjoy your meal. This prince will not disturb you further.” Hao Yunsheng backed away while bowing. After leaving the courtyard, he even remembered to cup his hands and thank Guo Man.

When Guo Man returned, she sat opposite Wuxin and ate with him.

Wuxin pointed at the gold notes on the table. “Keep those. Use them for our daily expenses.”

Guo Man's purse was nearly empty. By now she had also learned something of Wuxin's habits: once he said something, you simply did it. There was no need for polite refusal.

She picked up the notes and counted them, clicking her tongue twice.

He had barely done anything, had not even confirmed whether the leg could truly be cured, and had never named a price. Yet the other party had volunteered one hundred thousand gold coins on his own.

Money truly came far more easily this way than it ever had when she was an independent cultivator.

...

At Prince Ying's residence, after the evening meal, Hao Zhen took the initiative to invite Shao Liuer for a walk through the gardens.

Shao Liuer knew he probably had something to discuss. She accompanied him and waited.

Sure enough, after they had walked half a circuit, Hao Zhen asked, “How has contact with your elder brother gone?”

“We've made contact. He didn't say much, only told me to take good care of myself.”

“Mm.” Hao Zhen nodded. “Liuer, you're an intelligent woman. Some things don't need to be explained at length. Keep in contact with your brother more often in the future.”

“I understand.”

The two had little in the way of common conversation. After that, the walk truly became nothing more than a walk.

Another half circuit later, Shao Liuer raised a subject herself. “Your Highness, I hear Ghost Doctor's disciple has come to the Qi capital.”

“His name is Wuxin. Strange sort of name. It doesn't sound real.”

“I hear many high officials and nobles have sent calling cards asking to see him. They've nearly blocked the gate of his residence.”

“Understandable. Some may genuinely want treatment, but even more are probably trying to establish a connection.”

“There are illnesses even cultivators cannot cure with spiritual power. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are unavoidable. With such a famous physician present, what wealthy or powerful family wouldn't want him to examine them, whether they're ill or not? Everyone wants to form some relationship with him.” Shao Liuer continued, “I hear he even neutralized the strange poison afflicting the Grand Princess in Jinzhou. Why doesn't Your Highness send a calling card? Knowing a man like this can hardly hurt. If Your Highness finds it inconvenient, would it be all right if I sent one in my own name?”

“This man's temperament appears rather strange. He isn't easy to deal with. The palace still hasn't reacted and is observing him for now, so there's no reason for us to join the commotion.” Hao Zhen said, “I just heard that the imperial uncle from the Western Court went to see him. After returning, he sent a troop of men to clear everyone out of the alley and forbade anyone from disturbing Ghost Doctor's disciple. He offended quite a number of people over it. Let's watch the situation first.”

Shao Liuer nodded. “Your Highness is right. I understand. Ugh...”

She suddenly covered her chest and dry-heaved.

Hao Zhen looked startled. “What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Embarrassment appeared on Shao Liuer's face. “Your Highness, I'm fine. A cultivator has already examined me. He says... I'm with child.”

Hao Zhen froze. Suspicion appeared on his face. “For something this important, why did no one tell me?”

Shao Liuer bit her lip lightly. “I asked them not to.”

Part of the reason she had wanted to see Ghost Doctor's disciple was that she hoped he might examine her as well.

There were cultivators in the household, but this was her first time experiencing such a thing as a woman, and she could not help feeling uneasy. Having a better physician take a look would put her more at ease.

Seeing her expression, Hao Zhen quickly understood.

She had wanted to surprise him. Otherwise, the cultivators in the residence would never have helped conceal it.

He smiled faintly, reached out, and took her soft hand in his. “There will be no other business tonight. I'll stay with you properly. Tomorrow, come into the palace with me and we'll report the good news to Father Emperor.”

“Mm.” Shao Liuer nodded softly.

Husband and wife, both dressed in splendid robes, walked side by side through the gardens beneath the lingering glow of sunset.

...

The imperial city towered grandly.

Bu Xun stood atop the city wall with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward the fading light on the horizon.

Bu Fang came up the wall and stopped beside him. “After the Prince of the Western Court returned to his residence, his servants immediately began searching everywhere for certain medicinal ingredients. From the look of things, Ghost Doctor's disciple probably examined and treated him.”

“That leg is missing part of what it ought to have. So many years have passed that everything has long since settled into place. Can Ghost Doctor's disciple somehow make it grow back?” Bu Xun found that difficult to believe.

“Hard to say. We'll need to see what happens afterward before making a judgment. If we need to know urgently, perhaps we can simply ask the Prince of the Western Court directly.”

“Leave him alone for now.” Bu Xun said, “Have you investigated the background of that Ghost Doctor disciple?”

“It is exceedingly difficult. Ghost Doctor himself has always been someone whose head you glimpse but whose tail you never see, mysterious in everything he does. We cannot even track Ghost Doctor's whereabouts. This disciple beside him appeared suddenly, and we know nothing about his origins or background. The Office of Investigation has not found even the smallest thread to follow.”

“The only clue we know is that he once appeared beside Ghost Doctor outside the gates of the Provincial Inspector's Residence in Jinzhou. That proves he truly belongs to Ghost Doctor's side, but it gives us nothing useful for tracing his origins.”

Bu Xun looked toward the distance. “What about the woman beside him?”

“We have managed to learn somewhat more about her. Her name is Guo Man. She's merely an independent cultivator in the cultivation world, only at the Qi Refinement Realm. They say she was the disciple of an independent cultivator who has since died. At present, we've confirmed that she has two sworn elder brothers.”

“She is hardly anyone of consequence. We have no idea how she ended up beside Ghost Doctor's disciple. The Office of Investigation has already sent men to find those two sworn brothers. Perhaps locating them will give us some clue. I imagine we won't be the only people looking for them.”

“His Majesty admires Ghost Doctor's reputation and wishes to meet this disciple.” Bu Xun said, “We cannot simply allow an unknown person close to His Majesty. If anything happened, none of us could bear the responsibility. Find out his background as quickly as possible.”

“Yes!” Bu Fang cupped his hands and accepted the order.

...

In Yanjing, Gao Shaoming stepped down from a carriage and looked up at the imposing gates of his family residence. He slowly let out a long breath.

After an incident like that, Yanjing naturally needed to clarify exactly what had happened. He had been urgently summoned back. Upon arriving in the capital, he had not even been allowed to return home first. He had been taken directly to the government offices for questioning.

He climbed the steps and entered.

The old steward waiting at the gate came forward personally. “Eldest Young Master has returned. Master is waiting for you in the study.”

In the study, Yan's Grand Minister of the Masses, Gao Jiancheng, wore casual robes and sat behind his desk writing.

He was thin as dry firewood and possessed only a few strands of beard, yet his energy and vitality were excellent. He did not appear old.

Gao Shaoming entered and bowed. “Father.”

Gao Jiancheng gave a quiet acknowledgment and asked, “How did the questioning go?”

“I told them again and again that I didn't do it. I'm not stupid enough to act against Song's envoy at a time like this. How could I possibly do something like that? But they kept asking the same questions over and over until my mouth was dry and I was exhausted.”

Gao Jiancheng stopped writing, rested both hands over his abdomen, and leaned back in his chair. “What? You feel you've been wronged?”

Gao Shaoming fell silent briefly, then shook his head. “Xu Gao was one of my men after all. It was indeed my negligence that gave someone an opening. Xu Gao cannot possibly still be alive. He's probably already vanished from this world. So the matter is now a muddled account, and the truth may never be uncovered. Even if I didn't do it, I cannot escape responsibility.”

Gao Jiancheng nodded. “Those years in the Intelligence Directorate weren't wasted. It's good that you understand. The court isn't stupid either. At a moment like this, anyone with a brain can guess that someone is manipulating things. But His Majesty is furious. Since responsibility has fallen on your head, accept it honestly. Don't voice any resentment. I have already discussed certain matters with Tong Mo.”

Gao Shaoming nodded. “I understand. Father has gone to great trouble for me.”

Gao Jiancheng rose from behind the desk. “This lapse of yours has made the affair enormous. Song has condemned us repeatedly and demands that we hand over the murderer. Xu Gao has disappeared, and now a man named Chao Shenghuai has emerged in Song, insisting that Xu Gao was one of the assassins.”

“More importantly, Chao Shenghuai is the grandson of Chao Jing, an Elder of Myriad Beasts Sect. Myriad Beasts Sect has always remained outside the disputes among the states. Testimony from someone with that background carries considerable weight. Song also cannot possibly hand Chao Shenghuai over to us for interrogation.”

“Song holds the moral advantage now. It isn't merely refusing to yield verbally; moves have begun behind the scenes as well. According to reports from the Intelligence Directorate, Song is mobilizing troops, and Han is secretly reinforcing its southern border.”

“If the court continues moving against Nanzhou and gives outside powers an opening, one of those two states is certain to strike, and the other will inevitably loot the burning house. They intend to take advantage of the disorder and divide our Great Yan between them.”

“The matter alarmed Xiaoyao Palace, Zijin Cave, and Lingjian Mountain. The three Sect Leaders personally entered the inner palace and pressured His Majesty face-to-face. His Majesty had no choice. The military orders aimed at Nanzhou have already been rescinded, and troops are now being mobilized north and south for defensive measures.”

“A fine opportunity to recover Nanzhou has been destroyed in a single stroke. All that effort and preparation have gone to waste. How could His Majesty not be furious?”

“If your father did not still possess some influence at court, and if the ministers had not stopped His Majesty by arguing that killing you now would only confirm Song's accusations, do you think your head would still be attached to your neck?”

“Simply for diminishing the imperial court's prestige while bolstering Shang Chaozong's momentum, His Majesty would never have spared you!”

[End of Chapter 576]