Chapter 84: The Decision to Take Action (Please Subscribe)

In an instant, both Wu Qingluan and Wu Yunxiao’s eyes flickered. Neither of them had considered this issue before. Given Emperor Wu Qing’s robust health, it was entirely possible he could reign for another ten or even twenty years, by which time Wu Yunxiao would be over forty.

“Thank you, Master Fang, for enlightening me so profoundly. Your words were a wake-up call. I had only found Father’s gaze toward me to be complicated, but hadn’t grasped the reason. Thinking on it now, this must be it. Even if I, as Crown Prince, remain in good health, waiting another twenty years for succession is fraught with unpredictable changes,” Wu Yunxiao said, realization dawning.

“In that case, let me strive to leave the capital and take up my fief. Let those who wish to scheme continue as they will. I need only focus on raising my two children well. Perhaps twenty years from now, the situation will be altogether different,” Wu Qingluan said, nodding, her thoughts finally clear.

“After today’s examination, I’ll begin preparing the necessary medicines and other items for His Highness’s treatment. Your Highness and the Crown Prince may return to report to His Majesty in the meantime. I’ll also request that His Majesty assign Situ Xun to assist me and allow him to fetch various medicines from the Imperial Medical Bureau. I hope His Majesty will permit him to redeem himself through meritorious service.

Starting tomorrow, I will formally begin treating His Highness. It would be best if the Crown Prince could reside at the medical institute. If Your Highness does not mind, you may stay as well; there are a few vacant courtyards that I will have prepared,” Fang Xian said to the two of them.

“As long as Yunxiao can be saved, I’ll explain Situ Xun’s case to His Majesty myself. If Yunxiao must reside here for convenience, then we shall both move in. I’ll have the Feifeng Guard bring people to clean the courtyards—there’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Master Fang,” Wu Qingluan nodded.

“What? Yunxiao has been poisoned? Does this divine physician have any means to cure him?” Emperor Wu Qing asked in shock after hearing the Princess and Crown Prince’s report.

“Your Majesty, Yunxiao was poisoned by a unique venom used by the leader of the Five Poisons Sect. Therefore, whoever poisoned him must have colluded with that sect. Since they dared target the Crown Prince, there’s no guarantee they won’t target other members of the royal family. This matter must be thoroughly investigated.

Additionally, Divine Physician Fang says he can treat Yunxiao, but the Crown Prince’s foundation has been gravely damaged, and he has at most five years left to live. If he does not tax his strength and rests quietly, he may yet live a few years longer,” Wu Qingluan said sorrowfully.

“Father, you are in your prime and the realm is firmly in your hands. Thus, I request to resign my position as Crown Prince. After my illness is treated, I wish to leave the capital, that I may spend my remaining years with my children. As for state affairs, I will no longer be able to assist you,” Wu Yunxiao said, kneeling and kowtowing.

“Let me think on this,” Emperor Wu Qing replied, neither agreeing nor refusing, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

“Your Majesty, Yunxiao is gravely ill and has been unable to attend to state affairs for these past two years. Why not let him step down? There are so many princes in the royal family; Your Majesty can appoint another worthy heir. The sooner you grant his wish, the sooner Yunxiao’s mind will be at ease to focus on his recovery,” Wu Qingluan pleaded.

“Very well, I consent. But the edict will only be issued after Yunxiao’s condition improves, lest the court be thrown into turmoil and more trouble arises. Yunxiao, is there anything else you wish your father to do?” Emperor Wu Qing finally nodded.

“I only hope Your Majesty will send someone to eradicate the Five Poisons Sect and bring their leader’s head before me. I have no other requests,” Wu Yunxiao replied.

“Zhang Zhili, send the secret guards to intercept and kill the Five Poisons Sect leader and deliver his head to the Crown Prince in Wudu. At the same time, secretly investigate the Eastern Palace and the entire imperial palace to find out who has been colluding with the sect,” Emperor Wu Qing ordered with a chilling tone, glancing at Zhang Zhili. To dare poison the Crown Prince was an affront to royal dignity he could not tolerate.

“Your Majesty, I have one more request. Divine Physician Fang requires assistants, including those to fetch medicines from the Imperial Medical Bureau. The court physicians, including Situ Xun, are still imprisoned. Why not release them and allow them to atone for their crimes through service? This would demonstrate Your Majesty’s benevolence,” Wu Qingluan added.

“Hm, those physicians cannot be executed, and they’ve been locked up for quite some time. Release them and have them do their utmost. If the Crown Prince can be cured, they will be pardoned,” Emperor Wu Qing agreed. He had ordered Situ Xun and the others imprisoned in anger, but had not intended their deaths. Now, this provided a convenient resolution.

An hour later, Situ Xun and the others emerged from the prison, where the Princess’s escort met them and brought them back to the Imperial Medical Bureau, instructing them to bathe and change before reporting to the First Medical Hall to await orders.

“General, what is this First Medical Hall?” Situ Xun stopped the leading officer to ask.

“Master Situ, you may not have heard: to save you, your family sold Jishi Hall to Divine Physician Fang, who renamed it the First Medical Hall, as he is known as the foremost physician under heaven. He is now in charge of treating the Crown Prince.

The Princess pleaded for your release on his suggestion, as treating the Crown Prince requires many medicines and helping hands. His Majesty has ordered you to cooperate and redeem yourselves. If the Crown Prince recovers, you will all be pardoned,” the Feifeng Guard officer explained.

“I see. We owe much to Her Highness,” the physicians all said with hands clasped, though Situ Xun felt the world spinning about him. Jishi Hall had been the Situ family’s ancestral business for over a century, and now it had fallen from his hands.

When Situ Xun returned home, lost in a daze, his wife, daughter Situ Yan, and son Situ Lei were overjoyed. They explained that, to save him, they had spent tens of thousands of silver taels and had no choice but to sell Jishi Hall.

“It doesn’t matter. So long as our family is safe, what’s lost is lost. Even if I never serve in court again, I can open a clinic anywhere to support you,” Situ Xun said, having gained much perspective after his ordeal.

“Don’t worry, Father. I’ve observed that Brother Fang is no ordinary man. He may only be using our clinic for now and might leave in the future. Perhaps he’ll even return the clinic to us,” Situ Yan consoled him.

“Even if he wished to return the hall, it would require several tens of thousands of silver taels. How could we possibly reclaim it?” his wife said tearfully.

“Mother, don’t worry. If it comes to that, I’ll willingly become Brother Fang’s concubine and win back our hall,” Situ Yan said, blushing. In truth, the young lady’s heart had long been moved.

As they spoke, they heard a commotion nearby. Sending a maid to inquire, they learned that the neighboring courtyards were being cleaned, as the Princess and the Crown Prince were both moving in so the latter could be treated nearby.

With the Princess and the Crown Prince both taking up residence, the Feifeng Guard brought people to tidy all the remaining courtyards. Apart from the Princess and the Crown Prince each having their own, the surrounding ones were occupied by the Princess’s personal guards, rendering the entire rear of the medical institute impenetrable.

“Is Master Fang truly able to save the Crown Prince? If anything goes amiss, it would spell utter ruin for us all,” Situ Xun asked gravely upon meeting Fang Xian.