Chapter 78: 078 Breaking the Appointment

 Chapter 78: 078 Breaking the Appointment

The people of Southern Hao have a deep devotion to Buddhism, particularly among the royal family and nobility. Before marrying, the royal and noble youths must spend one to three years in a temple for religious cultivation.

Jialou entered the temple for cultivation when he was twelve, and unlike others, he has yet to return to secular life at the age of nineteen. This has led to confusion among the court officials of the Southern Hao Dynasty, as the heir to the throne has still not been appointed. It is said that the delay in choosing the crown prince is due to waiting for Jialou’s return to the secular world.

Gu Jue’s gaze flickered slightly before he spoke, “I’ve heard that when Jialou was born, the sky above the capital was filled with radiant light, and the people of Southern Hao said that the Zi Wei Star had descended to earth.”

“When I was fourteen, I was sent to Southern Hao as an envoy on behalf of my father. I met him once. This man is extraordinarily intelligent, with an incredible photographic memory. He is highly respected among the common people of Southern Hao, who speak of his kind heart and virtuous character.”

Gu Jue continued to watch Jialou’s retreating figure from the window, his narrow eyes narrowing even further.

Yun Zhan spoke up again, “The people of Southern Hao have come to Great Qi at this time, and I’m sure they are not here just to ‘celebrate His Majesty’s birthday’.”

Southern Hao and Great Qi were once equally powerful, but over the years, Great Qi had suffered greatly from the ongoing wars with the Chi Di people, depleting both manpower and resources. On the other hand, Southern Hao’s national strength has been growing steadily.

Yun Zhan clenched his fist, understanding the situation: The emperor of Great Qi wanted to recover the Tiger Tally but was afraid to act against Prince Gu Jue for another reason—because of Southern Hao.

With the looming threat of Southern Hao’s military, if the emperor were to order Gu Jue’s execution, there would be a risk of an internal power struggle. Even if Gu Jue didn’t retaliate, it would still destabilize the military. If Southern Hao then moved their army north, the emperor would be left without capable generals to defend the empire.

Even if the emperor could no longer tolerate Gu Jue, he would be too afraid to give such an order.

Gu Jue lifted his teacup and took a slow sip. “They are here to observe the strength of Great Qi.”

Just as his father had once sent him to Southern Hao for the same purpose.

By the time Gu Jue had finished speaking, Jialou and his group had already walked far, disappearing around the corner at the end of the street.

Gu Jue withdrew his gaze and took another sip of his tea.

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from outside the private booth. A young man in a dark blue robe entered quickly, his movements urgent.

“Your Highness,” the young man clasped his fists and reported to Gu Jue, “I’ve just received word that something has happened in Nanyang County.”

“Lord Nanyang has suddenly passed away, and his heir, Prince Qin Yao, is missing. According to the princess, Prince Qin Yao had an argument with Lord Nanyang, accidenseal killed him, and then fled in fear of punishment.”

Yun Zhan, aware that Qin Yao and Gu Jue were friends, looked nervously at Gu Jue.

Gu Jue’s pupils contracted slightly. He immediately stood up and quickly exited the restaurant. “Prepare the horses. I need to go to Nanyang.”

Gu Jue returned briefly to the Prince’s residence before setting off that very day, traveling light, leaving the capital secretly.

Thus, when Chu Qianchen arrived at Yuanqing Temple on May 12th, there was only a grey figure waiting for her outside the peach grove.

Mo Chen, dressed in grey, appeared as usual, like a shadow hidden in the darkness. He exuded a cold and eerie aura, distant and without warmth, as still as death.

But the moment Chu Qianchen saw Mo Chen, she had an uneasy feeling—something was definitely wrong.

She shifted her gaze and noticed that the pavilion inside the peach grove was empty.

Where is the prince?!

Chu Qianchen’s shoulders slumped slightly in disappointment.

“Miss Chu,” Mo Chen awkwardly cupped his hands in a stiff manner. “The prince cannot come today.”

Chu Qianchen: “...”

Her lips, hidden behind the veil, also drooped. She had deliberately left early today to buy walnut pastries from Longsuji for the prince, knowing he liked them.

Although Chu Qianchen wore a veil, her dejection was obvious, despite the thin layer of fabric.

Mo Chen’s usually cold and emotionless eyes flickered slightly.

For Mo Chen, Gu Jue was the only person to whom he owed loyalty; everyone else didn’t matter. He was like a sword, a sword that only Gu Jue could wield.

But today, facing Chu Qianchen, Mo Chen seemed a little uneasy, even tense.

He wasn’t afraid of Chu Qianchen; he was afraid that she would be angry.

People with exceptional talents were often somewhat proud, and the prince was no exception. Mo Chen was just worried that Chu Qianchen might think the prince was not cooperating with her treatment and that she would refuse to treat him in the future.

However, Mo Chen could not explain where the prince had gone. After thinking for a moment, he simply added, “The prince had something urgent to attend to, and it came up suddenly.”

Mo Chen was not good with words. Saying even these few sentences was more difficult for him than going into battle.

Others may not have known this, but at least to Hu Po’s ears, Mo Chen’s words sounded dry and almost stern, and she was thinking that since Prince of Chen wasn’t around, she and Miss Chu could return to the Marquis’ residence earlier.

But Chu Qianchen did not feel the same.

She had known Mo Chen in her past life. He was always silent, and the most words he had ever spoken to her were about Yun Zhan. Most of the time, Mo Chen never said a word.

He had probably spoken more in these few sentences than he had in half a month.

Chu Qianchen certainly couldn't be angry with Gu Jue; she was simply worried. The prince was not someone who would casually break an appointment, so something more important must have happened—important enough that he neglected his own health.

What exactly had happened?

While pondering this, Chu Qianchen opened a box of walnut pastries she had just bought and offered one to Mo Chen. "I bought an extra box of walnut pastries. You should try one."

Mo Chen hadn’t planned on accepting, but when his gaze fell on the box with the Longsuji label, he froze for a moment, then instinctively took it.

There were many well-known snack shops in the capital, but not many of them had the same reputation. Each time Chu Qianchen bought snacks, they were always from the same few places the prince frequented.

Was this just a coincidence, or…?

Was he overthinking it? Mo Chen looked at the box of walnut pastries in his hand.

Chu Qianchen furrowed her brow, feeling frustrated with herself for not thinking ahead. She should have made some pills so that even if the prince had urgent matters and couldn’t drink the herbal soup, it wouldn’t affect his treatment.

When Mo Chen looked back at Chu Qianchen, he saw her furrowing her brows, thinking she was unhappy. He cautiously asked, "Does it matter if the prince stops taking his medicine for a few days?"

Chu Qianchen’s gaze tightened.

Of course, Gu Jue couldn’t stop his medication; otherwise, everything would be in vain. He would need more courses of treatment before she could safely remove the hidden danger from his body.

After a moment’s contemplation, Chu Qianchen made up her mind. "The day after tomorrow, at the hour of Chen, wait for me at Qingming Tea House. I’ll bring you a bottle of medicine, and... you can find a way to send it to the prince."

Mo Chen’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at her medical compassion.

Having decided to make the pills, Chu Qianchen didn’t linger and immediately left with Hu Po.

Hu Po, who had been tense like a drawn bow, finally relaxed.

Every time she faced Mo Chen, she felt uneasy, as if she were dealing with someone who had climbed out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

After leaving Yuanqing Temple, Chu Qianchen went to Jishi Hall to purchase herbal medicine.

For the staff at Jishi Hall, Chu Qianchen was a distinguished guest. The attendant, Shi, who was familiar with her, immediately handed his work over to another attendant, Yu, and warmly assisted Chu Qianchen in preparing the herbs.

Chu Qianchen sat by the window to wait.

Hu Po didn’t hesitate to make tea for her.

Just as the tea was served, a shrill male voice came from the direction of the main entrance: "Give me two bottles of Zixue Dan."

The man’s voice carried an air of entitlement.

Chu Qianchen couldn’t help but glance in the direction of the voice.

A middle-aged man in a deep blue brocade robe entered. His face was pale, without a beard, and he wore luxurious clothing and accessories. His chin tilted arrogantly.

Behind him, a respectful attendant in green followed closely.

Yu, the attendant, smiled and said to the middle-aged man, "Sir, we have Zixue Dan in stock. Each bottle contains twenty pills, which is more than enough."

The attendant kindly reminded him, but the green-clad servant interjected in a sharp voice, "I told you, two bottles!" His tone suggested, “I have more than enough money.”

The attendant, who was used to dealing with all kinds of people in Jishi Hall, wasn’t bothered by the tone. He quickly went to fetch the two bottles of Zixue Dan.

The middle-aged man took one of the bottles, opened it, and poured out two pills. He examined them carefully, sniffed them, and looked left and right.

Aside from the slightly darker purple color of the pills, they resembled the Zixue San in form and had a similar smell.

"Is your Zixue Dan really this effective?" the middle-aged man asked, his brow furrowing in doubt. His expression and tone made no attempt to hide his skepticism.

The green-clad servant spoke up, trying to assert authority: "If this harms someone, can you bear the consequences?!"

Such doubts were nothing new to the staff at Jishi Hall. Yu smiled and raised his chin confidently, replying, "Sirs, Zixue Dan is a medicine used to clear heat and detoxify, calm spasms, open the orifices, and stop convulsions. It should not be taken indiscriminately. If you bring the patient to us, we can have the physician diagnose them first. Once we understand the condition, the right medicine will definitely cure them."

"Our Zixue Dan has been improved; its effect far exceeds that of other Zixue San. It’s in high demand."

"If you don’t believe us, feel free to inquire elsewhere. Or, if you wish, you can try other stores and come back to us."

The attendant’s confidence made it clear that he believed the customer would return eventually.

The middle-aged man scrutinized the pills again, hesitating.

He didn’t need to inquire further; he had already done so beforehand, which was why he came to Jishi Hall.

Finally, the middle-aged man asked, "How much are these two bottles?"

As he spoke, he slipped the Zixue Dan into his sleeve pocket, thinking to himself: His young master had been sick for three days, and the imperial physicians had been of no use. If things continued like this, it might be... he could only buy two bottles for now and let the imperial physician take a look.

After the green-clad servant paid, they left.

At this moment, Shi, the attendant, handed over the medicinal herbs for Chu Qianchen, wrapped up, and gave them to Hu Po.

As Chu Qianchen left Jishi Hall, she glanced back at the middle-aged man before heading toward Songhe Street.

It was now almost noon, and the sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow on the early summer day.

Hu Po couldn’t help but comment, "Miss, working in a medical hall sure is tough. Luckily, Brother Yu and the others have good temperaments."

If it were her, she would have said, "Buy it or not!"

Hu Po had encountered many distinguished individuals, but even someone as esteemed as His Highness Prince Chen had never looked at her the way that person did, using his chin to direct his gaze. It made her think of the phrase: "A dog that relies on its master’s power."

Chu Qianchen smiled faintly. "He should be an eunuch from the palace."

Her phoenix eyes sparkled with a brilliance that resembled countless shattered gemstones.

Hu Po: "…"

She almost stumbled, then recalled the young eunuch serving the Second Prince, suddenly realizing the truth.

At the same time, a question arose in her mind: The palace has imperial physicians, and there are many of them in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Why would the eunuch specially leave the palace to buy medicine for the young girl?

Chu Qianchen didn’t say anything further and turned a corner ahead. Her mind was occupied with thoughts about the Zixue Dan, a medicinal pill used to treat closed or fainting conditions. It could cure toxic heat, colic, wind-heat invading the lungs, measles, seizures, and other similar ailments.

However, Jishi Hall’s Zixue Dan had earned its reputation for curing acute infantile convulsions, which is why most of the people who came seeking it were dealing with similar conditions.

So, who was the child suffering from the illness?

Which young prince or princess could it be?

Chu Qianchen was halfway right. The middle-aged man who bought the Zixue Dan was indeed an eunuch from the palace, and he was the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace.

But the patient wasn’t a prince or princess; it was the Crown Prince’s eldest son, the three-year-old Crown Grandson.

Since the Crown Grandson fell ill, the atmosphere in the Eastern Palace had been heavy, as if the air itself had thickened. The mood was somber and grim.

The Crown Grandson had been ill for three days. At first, it seemed like a minor sickness, so Imperial Physician Lian, who specialized in pediatrics, prescribed some medicine. However, after an entire day and night, the child showed no signs of improvement. Later, after a collective consultation of physicians, they prescribed more medicine, but the condition worsened.

It was Imperial Physician Lian who mentioned the new Zixue Dan from Jishi Hall, which had a better effect than the usual Zixue San. Thus, Crown Prince Gu Nanjin gave the order for the eunuch Du Gonggong to go to Jishi Hall and buy the medicine.

After Du Gonggong presented the Zixue Dan to Gu Nanjin, the Crown Prince ordered a few imperial physicians to research the medicine.

Lian and the other physicians took a pill each and began examining it with their medical skills.

Du Gonggong continued his report. "Your Highness, I’ve inquired around Jishi Hall. Recently, the Zixue Dan has cured many children suffering from convulsions. Just yesterday, a girl with a high fever for several days seemed to be at death's door. After taking the Zixue Dan, she survived."

To be honest, Du Gonggong still had doubts about whether Zixue Dan was truly that miraculous.

After all, the Crown Grandson was the only child of the Crown Prince and a legitimate son. He was the emperor’s only grandchild and absolutely couldn’t afford to fall ill.

Some of the physicians overheard Du Gonggong and began discussing among themselves. Some expressed approval, others appeared thoughtful, while others dismissed the idea, such as Imperial Physician Wang.

When Imperial Physician Wang heard about Jishi Hall, his temper flared.

In March, General Ming Xiyang had asked him to diagnose his blood-spitting condition. He had given a prescription, but to his surprise, Ming Xiyang had only taken one dose before turning to the so-called miracle physician at Jishi Hall. Later, Ming Xiyang went to the Imperial Medical Bureau and caused a scene, claiming that Wang was a quack, which led to Wang losing face.

Wang truly couldn't explain himself, even though his prescription had been effective. But because it took longer to show results, Ming Xiyang credited the so-called "miracle physician" instead.

Wang had also heard about how the miracle physician saved Yun Zhan’s life. To him, it seemed impossible for someone with a severed neck to survive. He suspected Yun Zhan’s neck was only scratched.

The common folk exaggerated everything, turning a street physician into a "second Hua Tuo."

Thinking of this, Wang suddenly stood up and walked over to Du Gonggong, respectfully bowing to Gu Nanjin. "Your Highness, I have just analyzed the Zixue Dan. From its ingredients, it doesn’t differ much from the usual Zixue San."

At this, the other physicians nodded in agreement.

They had all tasted the Zixue Dan but couldn’t distinguish any extra ingredients.

Wang’s lips curled in disdain as he continued, "I’m not sure what other herbs Jishi Hall has added to this Zixue Dan to change its color from that of the usual Zixue San. But I believe the Crown Grandson, being of royal blood, should not take such a mysterious pill. What if…"

What if something goes wrong with the Crown Grandson?

Gu Nanjin, having initially considered giving the Zixue Dan a try, now hesitated upon hearing Wang’s words.

He glanced at the other physicians. "Lian, Xu, Fu… what do you think?"

The physicians exchanged glances, and Lian spoke up first. "Your Highness, I believe it’s worth a try."

The other three or four physicians each gave their opinions:

"Your Highness, I think it’s unwise. We should be cautious."

"Your Highness, how about we find another child with convulsions and try the medicine on them before giving it to the Crown Grandson?"

"…"

The physicians couldn’t reach a consensus.

Du Gonggong furrowed his brows, feeling that these imperial physicians were utterly useless. If they could have cured the Crown Grandson, the Crown Prince would never have resorted to entrusting a folk medicine physician.

All the physicians lowered their heads, sneaking glances at Crown Prince Gu Nanjin from the corners of their eyes.

Whether or not to use the Zixue Dan ultimately depended on the Crown Prince’s decision.

The main hall fell into a heavy silence.

After a moment, Gu Nanjin made up his mind. "Imperial Physician Lian, you go ahead and give the Crown Grandson the medicine!"

Imperial Physician Lian immediately accepted the order.

Imperial Physician Wang, though unconvinced, didn’t dare to challenge the Crown Prince’s decision. After all, they were helpless with the Crown Grandson's illness and couldn’t stop the Crown Prince from trying anything in desperation.

Imperial Physician Lian took the bottle of Zixue Dan and proceeded to the Crown Grandson's chamber.

Inside the chamber, the atmosphere was thick with sorrow.

A boy, about three years old, lay motionless on the bed, his face as pale as gold leaf, his lips dry and white, barely breathing.

The Crown Princess sat by the bedside, clutching the boy's hand that was exposed from beneath the quilt. Her face was filled with worry, her appearance haggard. She hadn’t slept properly for three nights due to her concern over the Crown Grandson’s illness, causing her to look much older.

Imperial Physician Lian respectfully greeted the Crown Princess before administering three pills of Zixue Dan to the Crown Grandson.

After taking the medicine, the Crown Grandson still didn’t wake up.

Nearby, a palace maid carefully applied a cold compress to the boy's forehead and used a cotton ball soaked in water to moisten his lips.

No one knew how much time passed before the Crown Princess suddenly called out in joy, "Imperial Physician Lian, look! The Crown Grandson’s fever seems to be subsiding! Quickly check, is his forehead and hand cooler?"

"Please wait, Your Highness, let me check the Crown Grandson." Imperial Physician Lian responded.

At the same time, Gu Nanjin, who was in the main hall, heard the commotion from the chamber and hurriedly stood up to check. But just then, someone arrived from outside.

A middle-aged eunuch in his forties, holding a silver-white whisk, slowly walked toward the main hall with two younger eunuchs in tow.

This was the emperor’s chief eunuch, Nie Gonggong.

Nie Gonggong’s sudden arrival meant he was carrying out an imperial order.

"Your Highness, the emperor heard that the Crown Grandson is ill and has specially sent a pill." Nie Gonggong politely addressed Gu Nanjin.

One of the younger eunuchs behind him was carrying a tray with a small black wooden box about three inches in size.

The royal family of the Great Qi Dynasty was deeply influenced by Taoism, and the emperor was no exception. He frequently visited Taoist temples, offered incense, listened to Taoist teachings, and even had the habit of taking medicinal pills.

After a pause, Nie Gonggong added, "Your Highness, this is the Jiuhuan Jindan, refined by Master Xuanjing."

"The emperor said that after the Crown Grandson takes this pill, he will quickly recover, and he’s waiting to hear good news from us!"

The emperor's gift of the pill showed his deep concern for the Crown Grandson. Gu Nanjin smiled and said, "My father’s kindness is truly heartfelt. I will have Jia’er take the Jiuhuan Jindan right away."

The physicians in the room exchanged awkward glances, sensing something odd. They wanted to say something but couldn’t bring themselves to speak.

The atmosphere became strangely tense.

Gu Nanjin led Nie Gonggong into the chamber, where the Crown Princess personally administered the Jiuhuan Jindan dissolved in water to the Crown Grandson.

Everyone stood by the Crown Grandson’s bed, the Crown Princess still holding his small hand. Imperial Physician Lian’s expression was complex as he silently observed.

After some time, a palace maid, wiping sweat from the Crown Grandson’s brow, hesitated and said, "Your Highness, the Crown Grandson’s temperature… seems to have risen again."

The Crown Princess nervously pressed her palm to the boy's forehead, and her expression changed.

"Imperial Physician Lian!" Gu Nanjin hurriedly ordered. "Quickly examine the Crown Grandson!"

The atmosphere in the chamber, which had finally lightened, immediately turned grave again.

Imperial Physician Lian, already overwhelmed, quickly stepped to the bedside, checking the Crown Grandson’s pulse. His expression darkened.

The pulse he felt made his heart sink.

Other physicians also approached and checked the pulse, their faces becoming as grim as the sky before a storm.

Originally, after the Crown Grandson had taken the Zixue Dan, there had been a noticeable improvement in his condition. He shouldn’t have been given the Jiuhuan Jindan, as pills like this were generally heat-based. The Crown Grandson’s convulsions were caused by a hot illness, so taking the Jiuhuan Jindan now could worsen the situation, adding fuel to the fire. Furthermore, if any ingredients in the Jiuhuan Jindan clashed with the Zixue Dan, it could be poison instead of medicine for the Crown Grandson.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Jiuhuan Jindan was a gift from the emperor, they would have already stopped the Crown Prince from allowing the Crown Grandson to take this pill.

The physicians were panicking, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.

However, although they all knew that the issue was most likely the Jiuhuan Jindan, none of them dared to say so. An elderly physician with graying hair, forcing himself to speak, said, "Your Highness, Your Highness the Crown Princess, it might be the Zixue Dan that caused this."

From the shifting expressions of the physicians, Gu Nanjin could sense something was wrong and vaguely guessed that it was the Jiuhuan Jindan’s fault.

He regretted his decision, but at this point, regret was useless.

Moreover, the Jiuhuan Jindan was a gift from the emperor.

He quickly urged, "Hurry, hurry and save the Crown Grandson!"

Imperial Physician Lian and the other physicians surrounded Guo Yuanjia, some checking his pulse again, others trying acupuncture, massaging acupoints, or checking his tongue coating...

The Crown Princess’s eyes were filled with tears, her face deathly pale, looking as if she had been stabbed, on the verge of collapsing.

A palace maid hurriedly supported the Crown Princess and brought smelling salts to revive her.

Nie Gonggong, too, grew anxious. Though he wasn’t a physician, he could see that the situation with the Crown Grandson was dire. His complexion had turned visibly paler, with a haunting, deathly pallor spreading over him.

Originally, Nie Gonggong had been tasked with simply delivering the Jiuhuan Jindan, thinking that once the Crown Grandson took it and improved, he could report back to the emperor, who would surely be pleased.

But now, less than a single incense stick’s worth of time had passed since the pill was administered, and the Crown Grandson’s life was in imminent danger, on the brink of death.

Nie Gonggong felt a deep sense of regret, like losing more than he gained. After inquiring about the Zixue Dan, he hurriedly returned to the emperor’s study.

"Your Majesty, it’s bad! The Crown Grandson is in critical condition!"

Nie Gonggong, normally composed, was now visibly flustered.

"What?!" The emperor’s face immediately darkened, and his first reaction was to sternly ask, "What happened? Did Jia'er take the Jiuhuan Jindan?"

Nie Gonggong, a shrewd man, knew better than to point fingers at the emperor’s gift, so he wisely avoided blaming the Jiuhuan Jindan directly. He instead shifted the focus.

"The Crown Grandson did take it, and it was the Crown Princess who personally administered it. But... the Crown Grandson had also taken Zixue Dan from Jishi Tang. The physicians said that it might be the Zixue Dan that caused the problem."

(The chapter ends here.)