Chapter 42 Young People Are Thin-Skinned

Tang Chaoyang asked with a faint smile, “Young Master, how are you feeling today?”

“Qin Ruoming,” he replied, coughing a few times. His voice was gentle as he said, “Doctor Tang, that is my name. After taking your medicine, I can sleep very well, and when I cough, my chest feels less tight.”

Tang Chaoyang nodded. This illness could not possibly be cured overnight. She wasn’t a deity.

She asked him to extend his wrist, first taking his pulse, then had him lie down to begin the acupuncture treatment.

“Continue with the prescription I gave you last time. You may spend about a quarter of an hour each day walking around and moving a bit,” Tang Chaoyang added at the end. “Don’t be afraid. Your body can handle some light activity.”

Qin Ruoming nodded. “Thank you.”

Outside the courtyard, a rough servant girl responsible for sweeping quickly glanced over at Tang Chaoyang, who was personally escorted out of the side courtyard by Nanny Li.

She lowered her eyelids and went on sweeping.

So this was…the female physician who could save the Young Master.

Over at the Mei residence, they were already growing impatient, urging her to find an opportunity to slip that packet of medicine into the medicinal decoction.

**

Ling Gurong watched a commotion on the street before heading to the Prime Minister’s manor.

He visited Fei Yan, who had been injured in the assassination attempt, expressing concern for his subordinate.

When the sovereign and subject conversed, each could pretend better than the other.

Ling Gurong leaned against his chair, sitting idly. “Yuwen has already found out who sent those assassins. Just a desperate struggle before death.”

Fei Yan responded with a calm “Mm.” His handsome face was cold. “Your Majesty is wise.”

Ling Gurong clicked his tongue and personally poured a cup of tea, sliding it over to Fei Yan. “A Yan, don’t be so stern and serious.”

Don’t think that just because the Emperor was speaking mildly, he should let down his guard.

Fei Yan knew very well that this young Emperor was unfathomable.

He lifted his injured arm slightly. “Your Majesty, regarding the matter ahead, perhaps it can be entrusted to Yuwen Jie. This humble official really cannot ride out of the capital.”

Ling Gurong considered himself a thoughtful Emperor who cared for his subordinates. “Granted. These next two days, stay home and recover properly. Otherwise, your wife will have to come cry to the Empress Dowager.”

Just before he left, he mentioned meaningfully, “Beloved Minister, I hear that your manor recently received some visiting relatives.”

The Emperor would never mention something like this for no reason—it was clearly a reminder.

Fei Yan ordered the steward to be summoned.

“Prime Minister,” the steward saluted.

Fei Yan’s expression was calm as he asked, “What are Fei Jin and the others doing?”

The steward respectfully replied, “The two young masters returned just now from outside. Their faces didn’t look very good. It seems they encountered something.”

Fei Yan gave a bland command. “Without my permission, do not let them leave the manor by even half a step.”

This was essentially forbidding the Second Old Madam’s entire family from going out. Once they couldn’t stand it anymore, they would think of leaving the capital on their own.

Fei Yan didn’t intend to be truly ruthless toward that branch. The Emperor, seeing this display of ‘benevolence,’ would naturally feel all the more reassured.

The steward quickly answered, “Yes, this old servant will make arrangements at once.”

After the steward left, Fei Yan stood up, walked over to a landscape painting, and pressed his fingers against a hidden mechanism.

The painting slowly slid aside, revealing a doorway. He bent slightly to enter.

**

After leaving Prince Cheng’s manor, Tang Chaoyang went to Zhuque Alley.

She still remembered that she had another patient.

When she saw the door guards with their aura of secret bodyguards, she knew Gu Yuan was already inside the room.

Out of consideration for her patient, she first went to wash up and change into fresh clothes before checking on Gu Yuan’s condition.

This time, when Tang Chaoyang entered, she saw Ling Gurong with his hands bound, clutching his head, moaning in pain.

His opium craving was acting up again.

“Tang Chaoyang?” Ling Gurong squinted, staring dazedly at Tang Chaoyang standing in the doorway.

Tang Chaoyang was startled, thinking she had been recognized.

However, her expression was perfectly controlled, and she immediately showed a trace of confusion. “Who is Tang Chaoyang?”

Silently, she gave herself a thumbs up for her acting.

Also…why did Gu Yuan know the name “Tang Chaoyang”?

She was quite sure she had never met him.

Ling Gurong laughed inwardly. “…” This Tang-jiejie was not taking the bait.

The two of them immediately began acting at full force.

Ling Gurong was indeed in the throes of withdrawal, but his willpower was formidable. After this period of treatment, he still retained a sliver of clarity.

With that bit of clarity, he intended to seek an answer.

Was Tang Dahong truly Tang Chaoyang?

Tang Chaoyang saw that Gu Yuan’s expression looked genuinely pained. As he struggled, the ropes around his wrists had already chafed red marks into his skin.

She took out her silver needles, preparing to needle him.

She had carefully assessed Gu Yuan’s condition. Since he was tied up, approaching him was still relatively safe.

Tang Chaoyang walked over calmly, stood in front of Ling Gurong, extended her hand, and untied his sash. The acupuncture point was on his back; his outer garments had to come off.

Ling Gurong: “…”

Her fingertips occasionally brushed against his skin, bringing a faint, almost imperceptible warmth.

Ling Gurong’s breathing paused for a moment. His lowered eyes contained a few obscure emotions.

If she truly was Tang Chaoyang, he felt this situation was rather awkward.

After all, it was he himself who had issued the decree of divorce.

If he hadn’t issued that decree, she would still be a woman of Fei Yan’s household. Thinking of this, Ling Gurong frowned slightly. His heart felt oddly complicated.

Would she resent him for issuing that decree?

In fact, Ling Gurong was entirely overthinking it.

Tang Chaoyang was genuinely grateful he had issued that decree of amicable separation. Otherwise, Fei Yan would probably have given her a “repudiation” or simply demoted her to a lowly concubine.

Being repudiated would have made it even harder for a woman to survive in this world. “Amicable separation” at least left her some respect.

Just as Ling Gurong was pondering how to find a way to confirm whether Tang Dahong was Tang Chaoyang, he heard her earnest, admonishing voice.

“Gu Yuan, you…should drink less deer blood. With your current health, it’s best to cultivate your mind and nurture your body.”

Ling Gurong was shocked to realize the state of his reaction.

No—he was not that shameless!

Tang Chaoyang calmly withdrew a silver needle that stimulated circulation.

When she first entered the room, his shout of “Tang Chaoyang” had given her a fright.

This acupuncture point could help him quickly overcome his opium craving. She hadn’t wanted to needle it before because she was worried young men were thin-skinned.

She shook her head with a gentle smile, showing her understanding. “Young people—you’re not seventy or eighty years old yet. What are you drinking deer blood for?”

Ling Gurong, suppressing his mortification, used his outer garment to cover his thighs.

He had completely forgotten about probing whether Tang Dahong was Tang Chaoyang.

He clearly hadn’t drunk any deer blood… He absolutely didn’t need that sort of thing.