Chapter 47: Pulling Her Into His Arms

Tang Chaoyang’s eyes shone brightly as she looked at the knife in his hand. “Let me try. Maybe it’s just that your knife is too sharp.”

That was why cutting the wooden pillow seemed as easy as slicing tofu.

Ling Guyong found her amusing and handed her the knife.

The handle still retained the warmth from his hand.

Tang Chaoyang gripped the hilt and walked over to the table. Mimicking his posture, her gaze sharp, she gave a loud shout and struck at the table corner with force.

Ling Guyong’s breath stalled instantly. He had been worried she might hurt herself and somewhat regretted handing her the knife.

When Tang Chaoyang brought the knife down, it only left a scratch on the table—just a scratch, nothing more. It hadn’t even come close to cutting the corner off. “…So it really wasn’t because of the knife, but because he’s that strong.”

Once Ling Guyong could breathe again and saw her look a little disappointed, he pressed his fist to his thin lips, unable to stop a smile from appearing.

Tang Chaoyang: “…”

She returned the knife to him, preparing to go deal with the newly purchased medicinal herbs, not wanting to hear him speak for the time being.

When Ling Guyong noticed the tips of her ears turning a little red, he quickly restrained his smile.

He shouldn’t have laughed at her. That had been wrong.

About fifteen minutes later, the secret guard tasked with splitting the bed returned, bringing something back.

“After splitting the bed, your subordinate found these pieces of black stone inside.”

Tang Chaoyang frowned as she looked at the black stones laid on the table. She contemplated for a moment. “Prepare two rats for me. Put these black stones inside their cage.”

The secret guard acknowledged her order, wrapped the stones in a rough cloth, and left.

“Doctor Tang, do you suspect there’s something wrong with these stones?” Ling Guyong’s gaze darkened slightly as he asked.

“I don’t know.” Tang Chaoyang glanced at him. “I just find them odd. Don’t you also suspect them?”

Who would stuff stones into a bed for no reason? It was obviously suspicious.

Tang Chaoyang still had things to do. She opened her mouth to shoo him away. “Gu Yuan, if you have nothing else to discuss, you can leave after taking your medicine. Take care.”

Ling Guyong took out two banknotes, pinching them between his long fingers and holding them out to her.

His voice was very earnest. “Doctor Tang, you helped the Jinyiwei this time. This is a token of gratitude.”

Tang Chaoyang hadn’t expected he would offer her thanks. She cleared her throat softly. He really knew how to handle things properly.

She accepted the banknotes. “If you ever need help in the future, feel free to find me. Don’t stand on ceremony. But…if it’s something that could cost me my life, then don’t come looking.”

She was just a shallow person who loved money and treasured her life.

Ling Guyong fell silent for a moment. All the smiles he’d lacked over the past few years were made up for today.

Just then, there was a loud pounding at the door—bang bang bang.

Something had happened?

Tang Chaoyang frowned and stood up, quickly walking out of the house. She pulled a face covering over half her face as a temporary disguise.

Ling Guyong followed behind her.

Blind Uncle had just opened the door when Madam Li burst into the courtyard, crying uncontrollably. Her eyes were full of panic as she clutched Tang Chaoyang’s hand. “Doctor Tang! The young master is in trouble! Doctor…?”

Only then did Madam Li notice that the woman in front of her had a forehead covered in blisters and pustules. “Ah! I mistook you for someone else—Doctor Tang, Doctor Tang…”

She let go of Tang Chaoyang’s wrist, frantically shouting her name in confusion.

Tang Chaoyang’s expression instantly darkened. “It’s me. I’ll go get my medical kit.”

Madam Li was shocked as she watched Tang Chaoyang walk away. But right now, the most important thing was the eldest young master’s life. She wiped her tears, anxiously waiting for Tang Chaoyang.

Ling Guyong turned to Ling Yi behind him and ordered, “Prepare the horse. Clear the way.”

His words had just fallen when a flurry of urgent footsteps approached.

Tang Chaoyang came hurrying back to the courtyard, carrying her medicine chest. “Madam, let’s go.”

“I’ll take you on horseback,” Ling Guyong said.

He circled his arm around Tang Chaoyang’s waist, lifting her onto the horse.

Then he swiftly mounted behind her. Gripping the reins, he clamped his legs around the horse’s flanks, and the animal galloped forward like an arrow.

Tang Chaoyang didn’t have the time to think much about it. Riding a horse was indeed faster than taking a carriage. “To the Prince Cheng Manor.”

She sat in front of him, one of his arms securing her. Neither of them paid any attention to this intimacy.

Tang Chaoyang clutched the medicine chest tightly, her mind busy speculating—this Qin Ruoming was most likely set up.

Hoofbeats echoed across the street.

Ling Guyong’s gaze remained calm as he spoke in a low voice, “Doctor Tang, forgive me.”

Tang Chaoyang blinked. “?”

His arm circled her waist, pulling her firmly into his embrace so that their bodies were pressed tightly together.

He urged the horse to an even faster pace.

Tang Chaoyang was momentarily stunned.

She could feel his strong, powerful arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

The wind howled in her ears.

At any other time, she would have noticed that all the commoners on the street had already moved aside to clear a path.

But right now, she was too occupied adjusting her face covering and hugging the medicine chest to pay attention to the scene.

When galloping through the streets on horseback, the greatest worry was accidentally running someone over.

However, there was one situation in which the common folk, upon hearing the courier’s shout, would immediately make way.

Ling Guyong had already instructed Ling Yi to ride ahead as the herald, shouting, “Urgent dispatch—clear the way! Clear the way!”

**

Upon arriving at the Prince Cheng Manor, Ling Guyong dismounted first and extended his hand to help Tang Chaoyang down.

Tang Chaoyang shook her head, handed him the medicine chest, and then nimbly dismounted on her own.

“Ling Yi, knock on the door.”

Tang Chaoyang glanced at the secret guard who had always stood watch over Suzaku Alley and thought to herself, So his name is Ling Yi.

Ling Guyong took the two veiled hats Ling Yi offered and put one on himself, then placed the other on Tang Chaoyang’s head.

Tang Chaoyang suddenly realized—Gu Yuan really was so meticulous and considerate.

Ling Yi knocked, but no one came to open the door.

Tang Chaoyang’s gaze turned cold. Someone was deliberately keeping her from entering.

When Ling Guyong saw her expression, he gave Ling Yi a slight nod. Without hesitation, Ling Yi vaulted over the wall to enter the residence and unlocked the main gate from within.

Tang Chaoyang felt sincerely grateful that Ling Guyong was here today. Otherwise, she would never have been able to climb over the Prince Cheng Manor’s wall.

“Thank you.”

At that moment, the side courtyard was in utter chaos.

Madam Mei spoke in a frail, delicate voice. “Sister Princess Consort, the eldest young master is already dead. Who told you to call in some female doctor no one’s ever heard of to treat him?”

Hearing this, Prince Cheng’s face darkened. He pointed at Princess Consort Cheng angrily and scolded, “Foolish woman! Why are you still holding on? Let the doctor take his pulse! I don’t even know where you found this quack woman—she’s killed our son!”

Madam Mei frowned delicately. “My lord, shouldn’t we report this fake doctor who caused a death to the authorities and have her arrested?”

When Tang Chaoyang entered the side courtyard, she heard Madam Mei’s words.

Report me to the authorities and have me arrested?

She didn’t have time to deal with Madam Mei right now.

Tang Chaoyang spotted Princess Consort Cheng.

Princess Consort Cheng was kneeling on the ground, eyes bloodshot, clinging to Qin Ruoming. She refused to let anyone approach her son.

Her half-white hair was disheveled, and she looked as though she had gone mad.

Seeing her in this state instantly reminded Tang Chaoyang of herself. In her previous life, she had clung to An’an’s corpse, refusing to let go.

As she walked quickly over to take Qin Ruoming’s pulse, she was nearly attacked by the crazed Princess Consort Cheng.

Ling Guyong caught the princess consort’s flailing hand in time.

“Don’t come near my son! Get out!” Princess Consort Cheng screamed in a frenzy.

Tang Chaoyang scolded her sharply. “Princess Consort, it’s me—Doctor Tang. Do you want your son to die?”

Ling Guyong had been about to simply knock Princess Consort Cheng unconscious, but Tang Chaoyang stopped him.

The princess consort’s mental state was clearly not right. If she were knocked out by force, her mind might deteriorate even further.

Hearing Tang Chaoyang’s stern voice, Princess Consort Cheng tilted her head, her eyes murderous. But her mind cleared slightly, and her lips trembled. “Save…”