The ceremonial procession passed through the streets of Yongdu, the imperial carriage pressing down on the official road scattered with flower petals, leaving deep tracks as it made its way towards Yishan, standing majestically to the east of Yongdu.
The day of the had finally arrived.
Wen Qingci and Yu Guanlin accompanied the procession in their capacity as Imperial physicians.
—Just like in modern times, where ambulances would be stationed nearby during major events, today Wen Qingci and others played a similar role.
At this time, it was still dark, and the emperor was building an altar to worship the heaves.
Ahead, the sounds of drums and bells echoed, and the colorful canopy covered the sky, creating a bustling atmosphere.
However, the Feng Shan had nothing to do with the imperial physicians. Wen Qingci and Yu Guanlin simply stood at the back of the crowd, content to be spectators.
“…The previous Emperor, Emperor Ai, was born weak and lacked the energy to govern the court affairs. Fortunately, His Majesty has stabilized the empire when it was on the verge of collapse!” Yu Guanlin stroked his beard and praised, “Not only did he pacify internal rebellions, but he also promoted the construction of the Grand Canal, connecting the north and the south, leaving behind a lasting legacy!”
After speaking, he couldn’t help but bow towards the altar.
Yu Guanlin’s words were sincere, and his actions were exaggerated.
In order to catch the auspicious time, they had set off from Yongdu early in the morning.
The ancient carriage wheels, lacking rubber, jostled along the way, making Wen Qingci feel like his bones were about to fall apart.
He had originally planned to take this opportunity to rest in the back, but he hadn’t expected Yu Guanlin, who was older and seemed less energetic, to be so spirited and talkative.
Meanwhile, the Emperor was reporting his achievements to the heavens.
On the other hand, Yu Guanlin was incessantly recounting everything to Wen Qingci.
“Huh? I remember that you, Imperial Physician Wen, are from Songxiu Prefecture, right? You must be familiar with the Great Yinchuan Canal, which flows through Songxiu Prefecture!”
After his name was called, Wen Qingci, who had been listening through his left ear and out the right ear, finally sobered up a little.
“…Yes.” He nodded after a pause. The original owner of this body was indeed from Songxiu Prefecture.
“Songxiu Prefecture is a good place. No wonder it produced such a talented physician like you,” Yu Guanlin looked at Wen Qingci with interest and said, “If you have time in the future, Imperial Physician Wen, you must take me there for a visit.”
Songxiu Prefecture was a famous “Medicine Capital” in the current dynasty. It was normal for Yu Guanlin, as an imperial physician, to want to visit there.
Wen Qingci smiled and agreed.
Unknowingly, it was already mid-morning, and the sun had risen to the peak of Yishan.
The yet unmelted snow on the mountain was coated with a layer of golden light by the morning sun, a truly awe-inspiring sight from afar.
And the crowd ahead gradually became clearer.
“Ah… it seems like the Third Prince can’t hold on anymore,” Yu Guanlin suddenly remarked somewhat abruptly.
Following his gaze, Wen Qingci looked ahead.
The Third Prince, dressed in red, looked pale as paper and was swaying where he stood.
In theory, the Third Prince’s house arrest had not yet ended.
However, for such a significant event as the Feng Shan, all royal descendants were required to attend. The Emperor finally relented temporarily and allowed him to participate.
“The Third Prince’s injuries haven’t healed yet. It’s already commendable that he can hold on until now,” Wen Qingci’s words were tactful.
The Third Prince had received quite a beating recently. If it weren’t for his slightly overweight figure and the padding, he probably wouldn’t have survived.
The Feng Shan had been going on for two hours already, and the Third Prince, sweating profusely, stumbled several times, almost falling.
Worried that he might disturb the ceremony, a eunuch hurriedly went over to support him.
Looking up at the sky, Yu Guanlin said, “It will be time for a break in half an incense stick’s time.”
With numerous rituals in the Feng Shan, not only the injured Third Prince but also the elderly ministers would get tired.
Sure enough, not long after Yu Guanlin spoke, the sound of bells rang out from the front,
The ceremony paused temporarily, and everyone rested in place.
Wen Qingci was about to return to the carriage to rest when he was called out by someone.
“Imperial Physician Wen—”
The person approaching was dressed in purple court attire, twirling a Buddhist bead in his hand. He appeared to be in his fifties or sixties, with a slightly plump figure and a prosperous appearance.
“This is Ge Dejiao, Master Ge, the Minister of Secretariat.” Yu Guanlin reminded with a smile.
Wen Qingci paused and turned to greet the newcomer, “Greetings, Master Ge.”
“Haha, Imperial physician Wen, please don’t be so polite. I’ve long heard of your name. I didn’t expect to have the opportunity to meet you today,” Ge Dejiao quickly walked up and patted Wen Qingci’s shoulder very familiarly.
Wen Qingci is a bit of a germaphobe and didn’t like others touching him easily.
He instinctively moved his shoulder back slightly.
Ge Dejiao did not notice this subtle movement, but it all fell into the eyes of Xie Bufeng, who was not far away.
The young man paused, standing still and looking over.
“Imperial Physician Wen is indeed a heroic young man!” Ge Dejiao continued to marvel, “When I saw you today, I realized that you are younger than I thought, and the cinnabar between your eyebrows is even more wonderful. There is a connection with Buddha.”
This person was flattering himself.
Wen Qingci could only reluctantly say, “You flatter me.”
“Oh, no, no!” Ge Dejiao waved his hand, “To be honest, I am here to ask a favor from Imperial Physician Wen.”
Wen Qingci looked at him with some puzzlement.
…The Minister of the Secretariat was asking an imperial physician for a favor?
“Well, it just so happens that my family has been feeling unwell lately… Today, I am fortunate to meet Imperial Physician Wen here on Yishan, so I wanted to ask if you have time to visit my humble home?” Ge Dejiao’s face flushed with excitement, hardly resembling someone whose family was sick.
Clearly, he was using this as an excuse to get closer to Wen Qingci.
Although Wen Qingci had always been stationed in the Imperial Medical Bureau, his reputation had long spread throughout Yongdu.
Although they hadn’t met before, today was a rare opportunity, and everyone was eager to get to know this “trusted confidant of the Emperor”.
Wen Qingci was about to make up an excuse to refuse Ge Dejiao, but the latter, as if guessing his thoughts, turned to Yu Guanlin and said half-jokingly, “Imperial Physician Yu, why don’t you introduce me?”
“Master Ge is really flattering me,” Yu Guanlin stepped forward and bowed, stroking his beard with a smile, “I would certainly like to introduce you, but at the moment, both His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress cannot afford to be short of people. Even if you are a imperial physician, there are limits to what you can do!”
From his tone, it seemed that Yu Guanlin and Master Ge were old friends.
Ge Dejiao’s hand holding the Buddhist bead paused.
An Imperial physician who frequently visited the palace and often interacted with the Emperor and the consorts was an extremely special existence.
Inviting an imperial physician to visit under the pretext of seeking medical treatment, in order to improve relations with them, was a common social technique accepted by the officials and nobles of Yongdu.
Even Yu Guanlin himself had not refrained from accepting gifts or helping to “bridge connections”.
So why did he make excuses to help Wen Qingci today?
“…Indeed, indeed,” Yu Guanlin brought out the Emperor as an excuse, and Ge Dejiao could only temporarily bury his doubts in his heart, “Since that’s the case, let’s wait until Imperial Physician Wen is free from this busy period.” With that, he habitually patted Wen Qingci’s shoulder.
After being rejected, Ge Dejiao was still unwilling to leave and continued to stand here, chatting with Wen Qingci.
Not far away, Xie Bufeng frowned tightly.
Ge Dejiao’s hand on Wen Qingci’s shoulder was extremely annoying to him.
Suddenly, Xie Bufeng’s gaze turned to one side—
The person who was the most uncomfortable standing at the foot of Yishan was undoubtedly the injured Third Prince, Xie Yinshang.
As soon as the bell rang, he wanted to find a place to lie down and rest.
But due to his serious injuries, any movement caused him pain all over, and he could only move forward slowly with the help of the eunuchs.
Noticing Xie Bufeng’s gaze, the Third Prince couldn’t help but grit his teeth in his heart: ‘What are you looking at? You’re next!’
‘The reason I am in this situation today is all because of you. Someday, you will pay back double——’
Payback?
At these words, Xie Bufeng sneered disdainfully.
His gaze fell on the Third Prince’s legs.
They were slightly lame.
Although the beatings had been aimed at his buttocks, the pain affected his entire body’s movements, making it difficult for him to move.
Apparently the third prince fell down not long ago.
Xie Bufeng chuckled softly to himself and suddenly headed in the direction where the Third Prince was.
The next moment, he brushed past the Third Prince.
With a light touch, the already limping Third Prince immediately lost his balance.
“Ouch—”
“Your Highness?!”
With a loud thud, the Third Prince, who was being supported by the eunuchs, fell heavily to the ground.
Instinctively, he used his elbows to support himself.
“Ah… it hurts! My arm…” The Third Prince lay on the ground, gritting his teeth and groaning in pain, drawing the attention of the surrounding people.
The young eunuch tried to pull him up, but with the Third Prince’s weight, he couldn’t budge him even with all his strength.
At this moment, Xie Bufeng had already disappeared into the crowd.
“Ah… it hurts so much! Quick, come and see my arm!” The Third Prince, afraid that his arm was really broken, cried out in pain, clutching it and moaning.
The guards hurried forward to help him up and ran to call the court physicians.
Looking at the scene from a distance, Yu Guanlin turned to Wen Qingci and said, “This old bone of mine probably can’t handle the Third Prince’s injury. It’s better to let Imperial Physician Wen take a look.”
Yu Guanlin often used such excuses to pass his work to others.
But today, Wen Qingci, who was trapped here by Ge Dejiao, really needed his “help”.
“Yes, Imperial Physician Yu,” Wen Qingci turned to Master Ge and bowed, “I apologize, Master Ge. It seems that the Third Prince is in some trouble. I need to go and see him.”
“Of course, of course,” Ge Dejiao finally took a step back, making a gesture of “please” towards Wen Qingci, “Imperial Physician Wen, please go and attend to your duties. We’ll meet again another day!”
Wen Qingci turned and headed towards the Third Prince with his medicine box.
In a daze, he suddenly realized that he seemed to have seen Xie Bufeng’s figure just now?
… He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion.
The Third Prince’s fall caused quite a stir.
In a blink of an eye, everyone around him turned their attention.
What they were looking at was not Xie Yinshang, who was grinning and shouting, but Wen Qingci…
The morning golden light kissed down, coating Wen Qingci’s body with a layer of gold.
He is as refined and otherworldly as a figure walking out of a temple mural.
Whether in admiration or disdain, everyone cast their unscrupulous gazes upon this extremely young Imperial physician.
If only he hadn’t collided with Xie Yinshang just now.
Noticing all this, Xie Bufeng’s heart suddenly felt a bit displeased and regretful.
It was as if the lamb that belonged to him had been touched by someone else.
Thank you for the update~
So jealous haha! Really chugging down that vinegar isn’t he?