This blood-stained, seriously injured young man was none other than Xiao Chengâs personal shadow guard, Shen Huaishi.
Taking a closer look, Lin Qingyu found that Shen Huaishiâs injury was more serious than he expected: a knife wound on his chest that cut deep enough to see the flesh was the most deadly. The wound was even faintly black. Aside from this, there were various other large and small sword wounds. If an ordinary person were to be injured like this, they would have long passed out from excessive blood loss. That Shen Huaishi could still stand in front of him as if nothing had happened, he had truly proven himself to have come from the Imperial familyâs secret guards, the Tianyi Camp.
Lin Qingyu and this person have only met once; that was during Lu Wanchengâs funeral when Shen Huaishi placed the edge of his sword against his neck. Had anyone else treated him like this, they would have probably made it on top of his grudge list. But Jiang had told him that the plain-looking shadow guard in front of him would be Xiao Chengâs only weakness in the future.
For Shen Huaishi to be injured like this, he must have gone to do work for his master. After getting injured, he must have come to the Imperial Medical Office to get Jinchuang medicine to stop the bleeding. His eyes stayed on Lin Qingyuâs face for a long time. Without saying a word, he covered the stab wound on his chest with his hands. He made to go around Lin Qingyuâs side and leave.
Lin Qingyu said, âOne or two applications of Jinchuang medicine might not be enough to fix Imperial Bodyguard Shenâs injury.â
Shen Huaishi pursed his lips and said, âI wonât trouble Imperial Physician Lin to trouble himself over this matter.â
âTo heal to wounded and to rescue the dying is the duty of every doctor. It is best that you get rid of the poison now while it still hasnât penetrated too deep. Otherwise, the poison will enter your heart and wonât be able to practice your martial arts. How can you continue to serve the Crown Prince then?â
Hearing his last statement, Shen Huaishiâs expression softened. Lin Qingyu added, âYouâve been poisoned with the Five Evils Powder from the Western Regions. I happen to know how to dispel it. Would you like me to give it a try?â
Shen Huaishi knew that no matter how powerful his martial arts, he was still just a man. Holding on for this long , he was an arrow at the end of its flight. If he were to reject Lin Qingyuâs offer, he might not be able to return to the Eastern Palace with a clear mind. After weighing his options again and again, he finally said, âThank you, Imperial Physician Lin.â
Lamps lit up a corner of the Thousand Herb Hall. Shen Huaishi took off his shirt, revealing his hole-riddled chest and back. The entire surface was covered in new wounds and old scars. It was a sight too horrible to endure.
During his study travels, Lin Qingyu had also treated injuries for people of the Jianghu. Most martial arts practitioners had a bunch of large and small injuries. But compared to those martial artists, Shen Huaishiâs condition was far worse. It could be assumed that heâd been working himself to the bone for his master.
If Xiao Cheng was going to fall in love with him, how could he be so willing to let him suffer so much? Perhaps it is as Jiang had said, scumbags always disdain those who go through fire and water for them, but long for those who regard them as beneath their notice.
Lin Qingyu cleaned up Shen Huaishiâs wounds and applied the antidote. âIt will hurt a little.â
Shen Huaishi shook his head; this pain was nothing to him at all. Lin Qingyuâs jade-like face was right in front of his eyes. The teardrop mole at the corner of his eye looked particularly moving under the candlelight.
Noticing of his gaze, Lin Qingyu raised his eyes. âWhat are you looking at me for?â
âImperial Physician Lin is as graceful as the moon, a person of matchless beauty. No wonderâŚâ Shen Huaizhiâs voice was very soft, showing a look of envy and inferiority, âNo wonder His Highness keeps thinking of you.â
Lin Qingyu stopped the movements of his hands and looked at him. âThen, with you face, why does the Crown Prince favor you?â
That Xiao Cheng was dissolute was quite true but he either liked people who looked like Jingchun or he bestowed favor among those with real beauty. Shen Huaishiâs appearance at first glace looked very ordinary. After scrutinizing it for a long time, it still looked ordinary. The most that could be said was that he looked very heroic.
Shen Huaishi was momentarily stunned. âHow did youâŚâ
âHow do I know?â Lin Qingyu glanced at the ambiguous marks on Shen Huaishiâs collarbone, âWounds and scars arenât the only marks on your body.â
Shen Huaishi suddenly stood up, the look in his eyes turning vigilant. âImperial Physician Lin and I are not at all acquainted. How was it that Imperial Physician Lin was able to call out my name last time in the Nanâan Houâs Mansion?â
Lin Qingyu sidestepped the question. âI havenât finished applying the medicine yet.â
Knowing that Lin Qingyu didnât want to answer him, Shen Huaishi said indifferently, âIâll do it myself.â
Lin Qingyu no longer forced himself to do it. He got up and stepped aside. Shen Huaishi had some injuries on his back, and it would be extremely inconvenient for him to apply the medicine himself. Seeing that Shen Huaishi was finding it difficult to move, Lin Qingyu sneered and said, âYou have suffered quite a lot. And the Crown Prince? Maybe heâs out there enjoying yourself with someone else in his arms.â
When Shen Huaishi heard the words, he froze. After a while, he said quietly, âHe is the Crown Prince. He can bestow favor on whom he so ever wishes â including you, Imperial Physician Lin. You can hide for now but not forever. â
Lin Qingyu smiled. âThatâs true.â
Shen Huaishi only felt that Imperial Physician Linâs smile was very confusing. It seemed to bemoan the state of the universe and pity the fate of mankind; it had an indescribable charm. It is probably this kind of beauty that could make the Crown Prince turn serious.
Shen Huaishi hastily finished applying the medicine. He thanked Lin Qingyu again: âItâs late and the road is dark. Imperial Physician Lin, please take care on your way home. I shall be taking my leave.â
Lin Qingyu said, âOnce the medicine loses its effect, come to the Imperial Hospital to find me. Iâll change the medicine for you.â
âNo.â Shen Huaishi knew, âThe fewer people who know about a shadow guard being injured, the better.â
âThen Iâll go to the Eastern Palace to find you.â After Lin Qingyu finished speaking, he leaned over and blew out the candle. The Thousand Herb Hall fell back into darkness.
For the next succeeding days, Lin Qingyu did not see Chu Zhengde at the Imperial Hospital. The Emperorâs headache had gotten worse and it has reached the point where it wasnât even possible for him to attend court. Chu Zhengde personally attended to the Emperor and remained on call in Qinzheng Hall.
When Hu Ji was talking about this, Lin Qingyu was pouding medicine in a mortar. He was currently only a seventh-rank medical officer. Rather than making patient visits, he spent most of his time making medicine in the Imperial Hospital.
Lin Qingyu asked, âDoes the Emperor often get headaches?â
Hu Ji said, âWhen the Emperor is hard at work handling state affairs, itâs not rare for him to get headaches. This time his headache is quite severe. He canât even look after the governmentâs affairs. So he can only have the Crown Prince supervise the country.â
The Emperor was getting old and he now suffered from chronic illnesses like headaches. In the days to come, Xiao Cheng will be supervising the country more and more.
Lin Qingyu put the pounded medicine into the medical box. âIâll be going out.â
Xiao Cheng was suspicious by nature and the Eastern Palace was heavily guarded. Even though Lin Qingyu was wearing an official uniform and carrying a medicine box, showing at a glance that he was an imperial physician, he was still stopped by the guards of the Eastern Palace. âWe have not received any notice from His Highness regarding the arrival of an imperial physician. Imperial Physician Lin, please turn back.â
Lin Qingyu said, âI didnât come here to diagnose or treat His Highness.â
âNo matter who you are here for, you are not allowed to step even half a foot into the Eastern Palace without His Highnessâ express permission.â
Sure enough, Xiao Chengâs defenses couldnât be compared to those idiots in the Nanâan Houâs mansion. Lin Qingyu was thinking about what to do next when he heard someone call him. âImperial Physician Lin.â
With a few days of rest, Shen Huaishiâs complexion looked much better than last time. When the two guards saw him, they cupped their hands in salute and said, âShen Daren.â
âImperial Physician Lin is here for me.â Shen Huaishi said, âI will take him to my room.â
âWith Shen Daren here, we can rest assured.â The guard said, making way for Lin Qingyu.
It could be seen that Xiao Cheng did indeed treat Shen Huai differently from others. Maybe he has yet to reach the point of âlikeâ, but at the very least, he was trusted.
Lin Qingyu followed Shen Huaishi to a room in the back hall. Shen Huaishi pushed open the door and said, âLin Shaojun, please.â
The interior of the room is simple and clean, with no unnecessary objects, indicating that the owner of the house was of a serene disposition and rarely returns home. Shen Huaishi poured Lin Qingyu cup of crude tea. âI didnât expect that you would actually come.â
âWhy?â
Shen Huaishi hesitated for a moment and said, âNo one cares about the injuries of a shadow guard.â
Lin Qingyu didnât care either. He approached Shen Huaishi simply because he wanted his masterâs life. âIn that case, you can care about yourself.â Lin Qingyu opened the medicine box, âDonât always think about the Crown Prince and be kind to yourself as well.â
Shen Huaishi lowered his eyes and said, âBut my life was given by the Crown Prince.â His eyes happened to fall on the corner of the back of Lin Qingyuâs medicine box. His expression suddenly changed and he grabbed Lin Qingyuâs wrist in front of him, âWhy do you know the secret code of the Shen family?â
Lin Qingyu frowned and said, âSecret code?â
âThis.â Shen Huaishi pointed to the strange pattern carved in the corner of the medicine box. His voice trembling slightly, âHow do you knowâŚâ
Lin Qingyu was silent. He didnât know. The one who knew was that person.
So, this ws the reason why that man gave him this medicine box? For Shen Huaishi to recognize it?
Lin Qingyu said calmly, âLet go first.â
The two of them were immersed in their own thoughts and they didnât notice the sound of footsteps outside the door getting closer and closer. They only heard the âbangâ as the door was pushed open from the outside. Seeing their two hands, the manâs eyes narrowed dangerously. âIt seems that I have come at an inopportune time.â
Shen Huai came back to his senses, knelt down and saluted, âYour Highness.â
Xiao Cheng ignored him and let him stay kneeling. âWhy is Little Qingyu here? I leave you alone and you send yourself to my door. But, have you perhaps taken a wrong turn? Guâs bedchamber isnât here. .â
Lin Qingyu said, âSince this official is an imperial physician, naturally, I came to Imperial Guard Shenâs room to treat his injuries.â
âInjuries?â Xiao Cheng finally looked directly at Shen Huaishi, âAre you injured?â
Shen Huaishi lowered his head and said, âItâs but some minor injuriesâŚit is dur to the incompetence of this subordinate.â
âYou really are incompetent.â Xiao Cheng turned the jade thumb ring on his hand, âSuch a little thing can actually injure you. What use does Gu have of you â and you still havenât withdrawn.â
Shen Huaishi glanced at Lin Qingyu. Lips trembling, he said, âYour Highness, this is my roomâŚâ
Xiao Cheng stared at Lin Qingyuâs eyes and said with a smile, âAnd Gu wishes to use your room to have Little Qingyu help me⌠diagnose my pulse.â
Lin Qingyuâs hands hidden in the sleeves of his official uniform clenched into fists. He said lightly, âSeeing Your Highness so leisurely, I presume there has been another great victory in the Northwest?â
Mentioning the Northwest, Xiao Cheng naturally thought of Gu Fuzhou. He also remembered that the beauty in front of him was Gu Fuzhouâs adopted brother. A trace of unwillingness appeared in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, a eunuch hurriedly came to report: âYour Highness, an urgent report has arrived from Yongliang. All the ministers are waiting for you in Qinzheng Palace.â
State affairs were important and Xiao Cheng could tell which was more important. He finally glanced at Shen Huaishi and said, âYouâre on duty today. Come.â After that, he walked away with a flick of his sleeve.
Shen Huaishi staggered to a stand. He gave Lin Qingyu a complicated look and followed. The eunuch said, âImperial Physician Lin, please go back, as well.â
Shen Huaishi was right. He could escape for now but not forever. Only once Xiao Cheng disappears forever could he feel completely relieved.
Xiao Cheng walked into Qinzheng Palace and waved his hand to do away with the ministersâ courtesies. âWhat? Did Gu Fuzhou send another resignation letter?â
âTo answer His Highness, since His Majesty told him he can came back once he is âdefeatedâ, General Gu has not sent a resignation letter.â The Minister of War said, âThis time, he said in his report that he has intercepted a secret letter sent by the army to the Xixia capital. Inside is a coded message. He suspects that it conceals Xixia military secrets. But no one in the Zhengxi Army can understand it. General Gu wishes for His Majesty to publicize the message, to look for people of skill and ability within the capital to decipher this coded message for him.â
âNow, thereâs this thing.â Xiao Cheng was suspicious, âWhat is this coded message? Letâs hear it.â
The Minister of War cleared his throat and said solemnly, âIf odd, change; if even, remain the same.â