Chapter 254: Sowing Discord

Su Wan noticed Gu Huaizhi’s lack of reaction and leaned in closer. “What’s wrong?”

When she saw the man opposite them, she exclaimed in surprise, “Prince Changxing?”

“Prince Changxing?” Gu Huaizhi repeated, his eyes dark and unreadable.

“That’s right.” Su Wan smiled and said, “What a coincidence. He’s from Guangling Prefecture and goes by the name Gu Qingsong. I wonder if you know him.”

Gu Huaizhi’s brows furrowed coldly. A resemblance in appearance could be dismissed as coincidence, but if the name matched as well, it was hard to deny they might be the same person.

In Xiliang, Prince Changxing had married a woman from the Liu family, and they had a son. The child was frail from birth. To prolong his son’s life, the prince climbed the hundred-step staircase at the foot of Baima Temple, bowing his head in prayer at every step. His devotion moved Master Mingjue, who came out of seclusion ahead of schedule to treat the prince’s son.

The man her mother had waited for her entire life had achieved success and renown elsewhere, married another woman, and had children.

“Divine Doctor Su.” Prince Changxing urged his horse to the side of the carriage, his gaze brushing past Gu Huaizhi before settling on Su Wan. “Where are you headed?”

“The young heir’s condition is critical. I’m going to treat him,” Su Wan replied with a frown. “You didn’t know?”

Prince Changxing paused, his expression unreadable, and said calmly, “I just returned from the military camp and am unaware of the situation at the residence. Since we’re headed in the same direction, let’s travel together.”

Su Wan’s gaze fell on Prince Changxing’s right arm. Despite the biting winter cold, he wore very little, seemingly unbothered by the chill. He was dressed in a plain black robe with a cloak draped over his shoulders. His arm was exposed, and the dark fabric of his sleeve was stained even darker with fresh blood.

“Your Highness, has the wound on your arm reopened? Come onto the carriage quickly, and I’ll bandage it for you,” Su Wan said.

Prince Changxing considered her words for a moment before replying, “I’ll trouble you, then.”

He tossed the reins to a nearby guard and strode onto the carriage. Removing his cloak and then his robe, he revealed a vicious wound.

Su Wan’s hand paused as she applied the medicine. This wound was clearly a fresh injury, with no trace of her previous stitches.

“Divine Doctor Su, where in Great Zhou are you from?” Prince Changxing asked.

Hearing the familiar question, Su Wan replied while continuing to treat and bandage his wound, “I’m from the capital, though my husband’s ancestral home is Xinghua Village in Xihe Town, Guangling Prefecture.”

“What a coincidence. My ancestral home is also Xihe Town,” Prince Changxing remarked.

“Then how did Your Highness end up in Xiliang?” Su Wan asked.

Prince Changxing’s tone was casual. “My wife is from Xiliang. Back then, I was just a poor farmer who made a living hunting. The game I caught would be sold to the wealthy families in Xihe Town. It so happened that my wife was staying at her maternal grandfather’s home at the time. Her grandfather was one of my regular customers. Over time, we became acquainted, and I followed her to Xiliang.”

Su Wan sensed the atmosphere shift abruptly and couldn’t help but glance at Gu Huaizhi.

His face was turned toward the window, the veins on the back of his hand bulging as if he were struggling to suppress something.

Suddenly, Su Wan realized what was going on and quickly finished bandaging the wound.

Prince Changxing put on his clothes and said, “Stop the carriage here. I still have some matters to attend to.”

Su Wan knocked on the carriage wall, and the carriage came to a stop. Prince Changxing thanked her and disembarked.

“What’s wrong?” Su Wan asked. “Do you know Prince Changxing?”

Gu Huaizhi let out a cold laugh. “My father’s name is Gu Qingsong.”

Su Wan’s expression shifted drastically. “Are you saying…”

Thoughts raced through Su Wan’s mind. Prince Changxing claimed to be from Xihe Town and called himself Gu Qingsong. It was unlikely he would forget his own name or have memory issues like Qi Min. He had also clearly explained how he came to be with Lady Liu.

Something didn’t add up—

Su Wan immediately pinpointed the discrepancy. “No, no, something’s wrong. When I previously rode in Prince Changxing’s carriage on the way back to the capital, his arm wound was so deep I had to stitch it up. After so many days, the wound should have almost healed. But this new injury—there’s no trace of the old scar. I suspect this person is an impostor pretending to be Prince Changxing.”

“Deliberately running into us and purposely saying those things, doesn’t that suggest that someone knows your identity and doesn’t want you to acknowledge Prince Changxing? They’re trying to sow discord between the two of you,” Su Wan speculated.