Chapter 46: A Man Spreading His Peacock Tail

Tang Chaoyang removed the silver needles for Ling Guyong.

Once he was dressed, the two of them went to see the corpse.

The body was placed in another room.

When Tang Chaoyang saw that the corpse was wearing a eunuch’s clothing, her brow twitched slightly.

This man had definitely done it on purpose to let her see the dead man dressed as a eunuch.

Ling Guyong’s smile deepened.

He explained lightly, “I am a Jinyiwei, a subordinate of Lord Yuwen.”

Tang Chaoyang’s scalp tingled instantly.

Who were the Jinyiwei? They were the Emperor’s sword—wherever he pointed, they struck.

Fortunately, these days she had only ever praised the new Emperor.

“Doctor Tang, are you afraid?” Ling Guyong stood right next to her.

He tilted his head slightly, lowering his gaze with an unreadable expression as he looked at her.

He was so tall, radiating a powerful aura that brought her considerable pressure.

Inside Tang Chaoyang’s heart, a storm was raging, but her expression remained calm.

She smiled faintly and said nonchalantly, “Afraid of what? I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?”

She looked puzzled and asked again, “Do the Jinyiwei also have secret guards?”

“……”

“……”

Ling Guyong answered unhurriedly, “Lord Yuwen is the eldest legitimate grandson of Prince Kang’s household. He has his own secret guards, while the secret guards by my side are specially arranged by His Majesty to…watch over me and protect me.”

The latter part—“watch over me and protect me”—he nearly whispered into her ear.

Tang Chaoyang rubbed her ear, feeling numb all over as goosebumps rose.

She didn’t want to know so much, so she forced a polite smile, quickly stepped aside, and pulled some distance between them. “All I know is that you are my patient. As for other matters, please don’t tell me.”

Ling Guyong’s lips lifted slightly.

He lazily let out an “ah” and an “oh,” then said, “You’re right. You also saved me. Don’t worry, I, Gu Yuan, owe you a life.”

“Doctor Tang, don’t be afraid.”

His gaze deepened as he looked at her, and it counted as a promise.

When this man spoke gently in a low voice, it sounded almost like lovers murmuring to each other while entangled in bed.

However, he was extremely dangerous.

Tang Chaoyang hadn’t expected that once he started calling her Doctor Tang, he would no longer pretend to be a sheep.

Still, she could hear the meaning in his words—he would guarantee her safety.

With this promise, she felt reassured.

Saving him wasn’t a loss after all.

At this moment, Tang Chaoyang didn’t realize that she had inadvertently clung to a very thick and powerful backer.

She shifted her attention to the dead eunuch.

As a physician, she had to understand human anatomy.

She took a mask from the pouch at her waist and put it on, then put on a pair of gloves and drew a small knife from its sheath.

Ling Guyong watched her slowly, one by one, taking out her things from the pouch.

Curious, he glanced at her pouch.

Tang Chaoyang looked back at him, then took out another mask and handed it to him.

“It’s a little small, but just make do.”

“Thank you.”

The two of them became serious.

Ling Guyong put on the mask and very considerately extended his dragon-like hand to help her open the dead eunuch’s clothing himself.

This eunuch, who had schemed to harm him, could be said to have died with some twisted honor.

Tang Chaoyang’s demeanor was solemn in front of the corpse.

She carefully examined the eunuch’s body. Only after a long time did she finally stop her inspection.

“He wasn’t poisoned, nor did he die of natural causes.”

She frowned. People could not die for no reason—there always had to be some trigger.

They left the room, each washed up and changed clothes before going to the study.

“Have you searched the place where he lived?” Tang Chaoyang asked as she took out a small scripture from her pouch.

“……It has been searched. Nothing suspicious was found.”

Ling Guyong looked at her flipping open the scripture with mixed feelings, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Tang Chaoyang explained calmly and reverently, “Reciting scripture helps me keep my mind at peace and can help the dead reincarnate quickly.”

“……”

Ling Guyong didn’t expose her. She clearly didn’t like dealing with corpses but still chose to become a doctor.

“Doctor Tang, you are indeed thorough. We’ve searched the eunuch’s residence and found no suspicious items. I’ve already ordered all his belongings to be brought here.”

Tang Chaoyang’s eyes widened as she froze mid-recitation. She paused and asked, “You…brought his things here to me?”

Was he the devil? The Jinyiwei were truly inhuman.

It was bad enough to bring the corpse, but even the deceased’s belongings were moved over.

Tang Chaoyang forced herself to finish reciting the scripture, then closed the book and put it back in the pouch.

The eunuch’s belongings were placed in the courtyard:

A large trunk, a chair, a table—only the bed hadn’t been brought over.

“Gu Yuan, you’re really…thoughtful,” Tang Chaoyang said, her expression caught between a smile and a grimace.

Coupled with her face covered in blisters and pustules, it was truly a sight no one could bear to look at.

Ling Guyong’s mental fortitude was unmatched. Even if a pig were flirting with him, he could stay calm.

“His Majesty has also praised my attentiveness,” Ling Guyong said with a faint smile as he gestured for her to proceed.

Their conversation today seemed relaxed, but in reality, the two of them were carefully feeling out each other’s depths.

Tang Chaoyang put on another pair of gloves and opened the trunk.

Inside were clothes, money pouches, quilts, and a wooden headrest—just daily items.

Tang Chaoyang picked up the wooden pillow and weighed it in her hand. The headrest was just a block of wood used as a pillow.

Ling Guyong asked, “Should we split this pillow open?”

“Did you check his bed? Did you split that open?” Tang Chaoyang asked.

“We searched it, but didn’t split it open.”

A secret guard suddenly appeared and knelt on one knee to report.

The secret guard immediately departed to split open the bed.

Tang Chaoyang wasn’t nitpicking on purpose—this eunuch’s manner of death was just too unnaturally calm.

She asked Ling Guyong to cut open the wooden pillow. She instructed him to slice it thinly, piece by piece.

The man being ordered around rolled up his sleeves and took the knife from the secret guard.

The blade was sharp, and he used considerable strength.

Tang Chaoyang watched the force he applied and felt both envious and admiring. “Gu Yuan, your strength makes me jealous.”

Ling Guyong let out a muffled laugh. This was the first time he had enjoyed being looked at with a woman’s envy over his strength.

He wanted to show off a bit for her.

“Doctor Tang, watch closely.”

As his words fell, the knife in his hand seemed to gain a soul. Its speed was astonishing.

It looked as if he were slicing tofu rather than wood—effortless and smooth.

Hidden in the shadows, the secret guards widened their eyes expressionlessly.

Their master looked like a peacock displaying its plumage to attract a mate…

Don’t be fooled by the secret guards’ usual silence and poker-faced demeanor. In their hearts, their inner monologues were actually very rich.

Even a man spreading his peacock tail needed someone to admire him—and Tang Chaoyang was precisely that person.