Chapter 43

At dawn, Yan Donghuang finally fell asleep. Before sleeping, she instructed Feng Yaoguang and Xie Yunjian to rest as well. The guards at the Grand Princess’s mansion would take turns on duty, and no one was to be seen before noon.

After making the arrangements, Feng Yaoguang sat silently by the lakeside pavilion with Xie Yunjian and Gu Chiran for a while.

“After interrogating Shen Yun last night, we learned that she has the antidote formula for the Seven-Day Poison,” Feng Yaoguang said, staring at the lake. His handsome features tinged with coldness and lingering worry. “But we can’t be sure if the formula is genuine, so we urgently need to find a highly skilled physician.”

The Emperor’s poison was meant to kill the Grand Princess, so the likelihood of an antidote was slim. Feng Yaoguang suspected the antidote formula was a lie to lure Shen Yun into the trap. But regardless of its authenticity, they had to try.

“Time is too short,” Gu Chiran said, frowning with concern. “Most highly skilled physicians are eccentric and rarely come out of seclusion. They usually live in remote mountains or quiet countryside. Even if we post notices across the country and find a physician quickly, it’s uncertain if they can reach the capital before the poison takes effect.”

Xie Yunjian’s lips tightened, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the chair’s armrest, seemingly making a difficult decision. After a long silence, he calmed his emotions and spoke calmly, “I know a physician who might make it in time.”

Feng Yaoguang and Gu Chiran were both surprised and delighted, then looked at him in astonishment. “When did you meet this physician? Why don’t we know about it?”

Xie Yunjian looked at the tranquil lake in the morning, his expression relaxed. “Since I joined the Qingluan Army, I’ve left my past behind. Besides, I’m in good health, and the army has its own doctors. I rarely need a physician, so I didn’t think of him.”

Feng Yaoguang nodded slowly. “Where is the physician?”

“Qingmang Mountain,” Xie Yunjian said, standing up. “You two take turns patrolling the Grand Princess’s mansion to prevent any unexpected situations. I’ll take a nap and leave in the evening to fetch the physician.”

With that, he walked out of the flower hall, hands behind his back.

Feng Yaoguang and Gu Chiran watched his departing figure in silence, deep in thought.

At twenty-two, Xie Yunjian had a tall, slender figure, a gentle and refined demeanor, and an extraordinary aura. Even his back exuded an innate nobility.

“Yunjian has secrets he’s hiding from us, right?” Gu Chiran frowned. “From the first day I met him, I felt he wasn’t an ordinary martial artist. His noble demeanor is unmistakable.”

Feng Yaoguang remained silent.

“And you too,” Gu Chiran said, turning to Feng Yaoguang, looking at him with an appreciative gaze. “With your rare beauty, if some high-ranking official hadn’t taken you in before you were sixteen, it must mean you have exceptional skills and an extraordinary background.”

Feng Yaoguang frowned, his gaze unfriendly. “Are you saying that all beautiful boys without a background would be taken in as concubines by high-ranking officials?”

“In this way, wouldn’t the world be filled with men who love other men?”

“Not necessarily,” Gu Chiran shook his head. “But for a young man with your stunning beauty, few can escape this fate.”

Feng Yaoguang sneered, “Thank you for thinking so highly of me.”

Gu Chiran turned to look at the lake, his profile sharp and handsome—a completely different type of man from Feng Yaoguang. However, both couldn’t hide their deep worry and resentment beneath their relaxed expressions.

Seven days, one day and two nights had already passed.

Less than six days remained.

“General Feng, General Gu,” a guard hurried over, clasping his fists in salute. “The palace steward has sent an order. The Empress Dowager is about to arrive at the Grand Princess’s residence and asks the Princess to prepare for her arrival.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Yaoguang abruptly turned to look at him, his voice icy, “That old witch dares to come to the Grand Princess’s residence?”

“She has no choice but to come,” Gu Chiran’s voice was cold. “The Chu family’s father and son were sent to the military camp. It’s obvious what their fate will be. Can the Empress Dowager still sit?”

The Empress Dowager and the Emperor, this mother and son pair, are selfish, ruthless, and ungrateful. Even if all the civil and military officials died, they wouldn’t be too saddened. But the Chu family is different. The Chu family is the Empress Dowager’s blood relatives, her closest family besides the Emperor, and her support. If the Chu family is truly finished, the Empress Dowager will be left alone, living the rest of her life in pain and regret.

Gu Chiran stood up, leisurely tidying his robe, “I’ll go patrol outside. You handle the reception.”

Feng Yaoguang said nothing, just drank the tea on the table in one gulp, then got up and walked out of the flower hall, heading towards the front yard of the Grand Princess’s residence.

The Empress Dowager’s grand entourage arrived outside the Grand Princess’s residence, only to find there was no place for them to settle.

The heavily guarded main gate, now crowded with the Empress Dowager’s entourage, suddenly resembled a bustling market, packed tightly.

Outside the Grand Princess’s main gate, inside and outside the front yard, and along the long street outside the dismounting stone, armored guards were everywhere, stationed every five steps, with sentries every ten steps, creating a solemn and murderous atmosphere. They stood like door gods and road gods, motionless, their eyes fixed ahead, loyal and silent, performing their duties meticulously.

“How dare you!” The chief eunuch Yang Debao, beside the Empress Dowager, walked over, pointing at the straight-standing guards and angrily shouting, “The Empress Dowager has arrived, and you still don’t kneel to receive her? Where is the Grand Princess? Didn’t I tell you to inform her? Where is she?!”

“Whose dog is this, barking in front of the Grand Princess’s residence?” A cold, mocking voice rang out, filled with icy ruthlessness, “Do you want to have your hand chopped off like Chu Yuanzheng or be sent to a brothel to be deflowered?”

As these words were spoken, it felt like a cold wind swept through the air.
Yang Debao looked up in disbelief. He saw Feng Yaoguang, dressed in a red general’s robe, walking out of the main gate. His body was tall and athletic, his appearance strikingly handsome. His peach blossom eyes, which should have been gentle and affectionate, now shot out cold, sharp glances like icy swords, making people feel inexplicably terrified.

Yang Debao, regaining his senses, first turned red and then alternated between blue and white. He was both embarrassed and fearful, clearly frightened by Feng Yaoguang’s mention of “chopping off hands.”

Because Chu Yuanzheng’s hand was indeed chopped off, so there was no need to doubt the danger of this statement. As for the humiliating words about being sent to a brothel, in the face of having one’s hand chopped off, they seemed insignificant, not even worth feeling ashamed or angry about.

Yang Debao’s bluster instantly vanished, replaced by a fawning smile, “This must be General Feng? The Empress Dowager has arrived at the Grand Princess’s residence. Please inform the Grand Princess to come out and greet the Empress Dowager.”