Gu Beiyueâs smile was as warm as an April breeze. Suddenly, Han Yunxi realized that he had very beautiful eyes that looked especially enchanting when he smiled. He was just like a neighborly big brother from next door, soft and kind.
âImperial Physician Gu, youâve done much.â
Han Yunxi accepted the warm soup, drinking it nonstop. It really was effective, heating up her body very quickly. Gu Beiyue watched Han Yunxi gobble down the offering like a wolf or tiger, then glanced at her ashen face. He could more or less guess at the illegal punishment that had happened last night. Instead of asking her, a hint of compassion flashed through his eyes as he lightly sucked in a breath.
There was a limit to visiting hours. Gu Beiyue didnât have time to wait until Han Yunxi finished, but spoke in a low voice. âEsteemed wangfei, this servant personally went to the Duke of Qinâs estate yesterday. I didnât see Grand Concubine Yi but had Miss Murong report to her. I think it wonât be long until they release you on bail. This servant will arrange for people to visit regularly so thatâŠâ
He trailed off, lowering his voice even more. âSo that they wonât dare to try illegal punishment again.â
Han Yunxi looked at Gu Beiyue and asked abruptly, âWhy?â
Why was this man making all this effort? He could completely ignore the situation. Didnât he understand that getting mixed up in this might place him under suspicion as her accomplice?
Gu Beiyue didnât explain himself. âWhat do you mean, why?â
âWhy help me? Weâre not that familiar,â Han Yunxi said simply.
But Gu Beiyueâs reply was very earnest. âEsteemed wangfei, a doctor doesnât stop at using medical skills to save others. The young generalâs life is in your handsâŠâ His tone grew much softer as he added, âBut it goes without saying that esteemed wangfei is a human life as well.â\nHan Yunxiâs head shifted slightly, her heart filled with praise for this man. She even felt a bit inferior to him. Murong Wanru wouldnât report to Grand Concubine Yi, right? Han Yunxi didnât want Gu Beiyu to lose confidence, so she didnât explain much. Instead she asked, âWhatâs the situation at the generalâs estate?â
âLast night, Princess Changping invited a few miracle doctors over, but none of them were able to help. This morning General Mu invited me over again, but the young generalâs the same as ever. I tried to persuade General Mu, yetâŠâ
âHow is the young general?â Han Yunxi was most concerned about that.
âThe same as before. Iâm afraidâŠif by chance, the poison is suppressed indefinitely, then wonât esteemed wangfeiâŠâ Gu Beiyue didnât finish, but Han Yunxi knew what he was worried about. Suppose Mu Qingwuâs hidden poison never revealed itself? When the time came, even if Long Feiye appeared, there would be no way to clear her name.
She thought for awhile before asking, âYou donât believe me either right, Imperial Physician Gu?â
It wasnât that Gu Beiyue didnât believe her. It was that out of 10,000 possibilities, he feared the one exception.
âOne day has already passed. Within two days, the young generalâs poison will definitely show up. As long as itâs expelled, heâll wake up! Help me look after him and tell me when the poison reacts.â Han Yunxiâs eyes shone with determination as she grabbed Gu Beiyueâs hand, serious and earnest. âI wouldnât joke around with my own life at stake. Right now, youâre the only one who can help me!â
Gu Beiyue unconsciously lowered his head to gaze at her, feeling things were rather unexpected. Yet Han Yunxiâs bright eyes gradually caused him to smile. His large, warm hands covered Han Yunxiâs small, icy ones as he replied with equal sincerity, âAll right, Iâll do my best.â\nHan Yunxi was thrilled. She would have worried if he was replaced with anyone else. Only now did she let him go as naturally as sheâd grabbed him.
âRemember, check on him often. As soon as the poison shows up, bring me a blood sample.â
Han Yunxi took out an acupuncture needle. âHere, just take it with this needle. I want the blood around his navel, near the knife cut.â
Gu Beiyue understood the principle of testing blood for poisons, but with no tools or ingredients, how was Han Yunxi to check for toxins? Seeing his hesitation, Han Yunxi only smiled. âImperial Physician Gu, thereâs only two days left. If Iâm cleared of all my charges, Iâll explain things to you.â
Gu Beiyue didnât expect Han Yunxi to still be grinning in this situation and admired her from the bottom of his heart. He grinned as well, extending his pinky in offering. Han Yunxi was surprised. Did this person still do pinky promises?
âI really am very curious,â Gu Beiyue smiled slightly, looking wonderful as he did.
Han Yunxi hooked her pinky around his. âAll right, then itâs settled!â
Looking at Han Yunxi, Gu Beiyue could only think that she was an enigma. This womanâs medical skills might not be as formidable as old master Han, but she far surpassed her fatherâs skills in treating poisons. Did the Han Family know this?
When heâd left this morning, he heard the servants say the Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue had went to invite the master of the Han house.
â
Gu Beiyue rushed back to General Muâs house the same day to see that Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue had already returned with the Han Family head: Han Yunxiâs father, Divine Doctor Han Congan[1]. When Gu Beiyue entered the room, Han Congan was taking Mu Qingwuâs pulse, but stood up to make a slight bow with his hands before him.\nâImperial Physician Gu.â
Although Gu Beiyue belonged to the younger generation after Han Conganâs, he was also the Head Imperial Physician. Before that title, a commoner like Han Congan had to pay his respects. Han Conganâs medical skills were consummate. Heâd studied at Cloud Realm Continentâs[2] medical academy and became one of its directors last year. Originally, the seat of honor amongst the imperial physicians should have gone to him. Unfortunately, he had failed to cure the crown princeâs strange illness for multiple years. In the end, he couldnât even enter the court of imperial physicians and became the emperorâs most unfavored medical director in history.
As for Gu Beiyue, his grandfather had raised him ever since his parents died. Grandfather Gu was the previous Head Imperial Physician as well as one of Cloud Realm Medical Academyâs directors. Gu Beiyue had been endowed with innate talent since childhood. Add that to his grandfatherâs devoted instruction, and he truly deserved the position of Head Imperial Physician.
âUncle Han[3] is being overly formal,â Gu Beiyue returned the gesture of respect with his hands, always the modest gentleman. He was neither haughty nor humble, but refined and cultivated.
Han Congan gave up the formalities and sat back down. âYou came at just the right time. Tell me about his general condition.â
âWhy doesnât Uncle Han speak his thoughts first, in order to avoid my influence on your judgment?â Gu Beiyue seemed modest and gentle, but his words always carried the effect of multiple meanings. Since heâd said things this way, Han Congan didnât press the issue, but tugged on his beard as he replied.
âI have a rough idea from General Mu. Only, I think the matter of his poisoning is open for debate.â
Gu Beiyue didnât express his opinion, but asked, âWhat kind of debate?â\nHan Congan looked doubtful as he sounded out his thoughts. âI heardâŠthat Han Yunxi diagnosed his poison?â
Actually, before Princess Changping even came with her invitation, the empress dowager already sent out people to notify him. Though they didnât tell him what to do, he was clear in his heart. Han Yunxi was already in prison. As long as Mu Qingwu was unconscious, then Han Yunxi would live one more day in suspicion in jail. This was exactly what the empress dowager wanted. Moreover, Mu Qingwu possessed military leadership and was a close ally and friend to the second imperial prince. He was completely on the second imperial princeâs side, but that man was the crown princeâs strongest adversary.
If Mu Qingwu remained unconscious or even died, no one would be happier than the crown prince. Since this situation concerned his daughterâs life and his familyâs position, Han Congan didnât mind using the opportunity to help out the empress dowager and the crown prince to frame his daughter.
He examined the patientâs pulse for a very long time but couldnât find any signs of sickness, nor traces of poison. Yet, since Han Yunxi was the one who treated him, sheâd take responsibility no matter how he died!
âThen what does Uncle Han think?â Gu Beiyue asked again without expressing any opinion.
As a mere servant of the emperor, Han Congan held the powerful connections of court in his heart. He knew that the more connections he had with Han Yunxi, the more heâd be at a disadvantage. Han Congan was an old fox who didnât say what he thought, but only reproached the other. âAye, this girl never studied and has no skills. What would she understand? I heard she was the one who made this cut to treat his poison?â\nHan Congan had examined the cut on Mu Qingwuâs stomach before and discovered that it had healed superbly. It wasnât someone just anyone could accomplish. If it wasnât for Princess Changpingâs claims, he wouldnât believe this was Han Yunxiâs work at all. How could she manage this? She was a good-for-nothing who couldnât even tell medicines apart!
âSince Uncle Han examined the wound, you should know that the young generalâs sickness has no relation with this injury, right?â Gu Beiyue asked in reply.
Han Congan smoothed out his beard with his fingers. âThisâŠmight not necessarily be true. As of now, thereâs no way to pinpoint his illness.â
In an instant, Gu Beiyueâs mild-mannered gaze flashed with caution. Mu Qingwuâs incision was a critical point since it was treated by Han Yunxi. If there was proof that the cut and his current state were unrelated, then Han Yunxi would be guilt-free. But if this wound created any more problems or caused a death, Han Yunxi would have to stay in jail.
Really, many âthanksâ to Han Yunxiâs father Han Congan, who latched onto all his daughterâs weak points.
âSince Uncle Han says this way, then the matter of Qin Wangfeiâs guilt will have to waitâŠâ Gu Beiyueâs tone was still very warm, but these words were like a needle that drew blood to expose Han Conganâs true face. Gu Beiyue checked Mu Qingwuâs injury, measured his pulse, and made sure Han Congan hadnât fooled around with the patient before speaking. âGeneral Mu, it looks like Han Conganâs medical skills arenât only lacking, but incapable of curing the young general. Fortunately, the young generalâs condition is still within my grasp. Within these two days, heâll wake up. Iâll keep watch over him until then!â
When the broody General Mu heard these words, he unexpectedly rose to his feet to yell. âGet out! All of you, scram! Youâre all useless trash!â The generalâs irritable temper was famous throughout the kingdom. There was even once a civil official whoâd been beaten with injuries by him!\nHan Congan feared death and quickly jumped to his feet to escape the room. However, Gu Beiyue stood up to directly face the raging General Mu. He handed over a sheet of folded white paper covered with black wordsâa life or death waiver!
âGeneral Mu, Iâm willing to pledge with my life that the young general will wake up within two days and that I can save him. If thatâs not the case, use a death to pay back a death!â Gu Beiyue looked gentle and frail, but his words rang out clearly in defiance.
General Muâs fist was half-raised in the air for a long, long time. Finally, he lowered his arm to grit his teeth. âFine! This general will give you another chance!â
By now, Han Congan had fled far away. He puzzled over Gu Beiyueâs words, wondering if the other suspected something. Itâd be harder to try anything against Mu Qingwu with Gu Beiyue there, but if Mu Qingwu really woke up, then everything was over. Han Congan mused as he walked out into the courtyard, just in time to have Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue come over. Princess Changping had been fine this morning, but why was she wearing a veil now?
âEsteemed princess, youâŠthis isâŠâ Han Congan asked doubtfully.
âItâs fine. Why did you come out, howâs Qingwu gege?â Princess Changping asked anxiously. She didnât know what kind of dirty thing sheâd contracted last night in the prisons, but her feet and face had been itching ever since she woke up. Just recently, sheâd grown red spots on her skin that looked a bit like a rash.
Her face was her most precious treasure, so she went to see an imperial physician in secret. The physician said it was just a rash and would go away in one or two days. Only then did she feel at ease enough to apply some medicine and hurry over here.\n-o-