Chapter 09
Delivering Medicine to Tempt Him
Qin Zi Guang left her clothes soaking in the water and didn’t put them on. “If you’re bothered by me not wearing clothes stinging your eyes, you can just close your eyes.”
Xuanyuan Yu…
He really did close his eyes.
But soon opened them again.
Qin Zi Guang looked at him with a smile. “What’s wrong? Feeling insecure with your eyes closed? Afraid I’ll do something wicked and kill you?”
Xuanyuan Yu…
He really did need to be on guard against this woman.
Who knew what she might do.
He found a rock and sat down, not looking at her.
“So, Princess Physician, you really insist on returning to the city only after half a month?”
Qin Zi Guang nodded. “Yes, that’s right. And whether I save His Highness or not depends on my mood. Don’t try to force me with so-called authority ā it won’t work.
“Besides, when it comes to power, my Qin Prince’s estate isn’t afraid of yours either.
“But since you climbed three mountains to get here, I’ll give you something.”
Qin Zi Guang pointed to a box placed by the spring.
“Open it. Inside is something you want. If the Eldest Prince feels better in his body after taking this, then I can save him.
“Otherwise, I can’t save him.
“Have him try eating it.
“Oh, and before he eats it, be sure to have the imperial physician test it for poison, so no one can say I used medicine to poison him. I don’t want to get involved in palace scheming of any kind.”
Xuanyuan Yu picked up the pill and sniffed it.
Long illness makes one into a doctor ā though it wasn’t his own illness, Xuanyuan Hong had been sick for so long, and over the years he’d searched the world for renowned physicians on his behalf, so he’d picked up some rudimentary medical knowledge himself.
He could smell that the pill was refined from several precious medicinal herbs.
Many of these herbs weren’t found in Eastern Xia ā they’d have to come from other countries.
It seemed this pill was extraordinarily precious.
If it really worked…
“Thank you. Princess, what do you want in return?”
Qin Zi Guang said, “Let’s talk about that once it shows results. Oh, and don’t blame me for not warning you ā if he takes three of these pills in a row and then stops, his body will actually get worse. One every half month. He needs to take them continuously for three years to fully restore his health.”
Xuanyuan Yu understood her meaning. “So, in half a month, if it works, I’ll have to come find you again?”
Qin Zi Guang said, “Correct. But you won’t need to climb the mountain. I’ll return to the city in half a month ā come meet me at the city gate. If you don’t come, I won’t continue the treatment.”
Xuanyuan Yu…
He took the pill and left.
Not wasting another word on her.
Once his figure disappeared, Qin Zi Guang rose from the spring and put on her clothes.
This guy ā she had a body of ice-like skin and jade-like bones, yet he wasn’t moved by her beauty at all…
It seemed the seduction approach wasn’t working so well.
She had no doubt about her own charm; it was just that this young man cultivated the Golden Armor Technique, which naturally made him strictly guard himself against female allure.
Half a month later.
Qin Zi Guang, as she’d hoped, saw Xuanyuan Yu at the city gate.
He wore a sullen expression, as if coming to meet her was the last thing he wanted to do.
When Qin Zi Guang saw him, though, she broke into a radiant smile.
The more she looked at this man, the more handsome he seemed.
He sat astride a fine steed, dressed in white with a cinched waist, his jet-black hair tied back with only a single red ribbon. In the light breeze, he was simply a feast for the eyes ā handsome and refined.
Qin Zi Guang nearly whistled, but held herself back.
She spurred her horse forward, walking slowly toward him. “Young Master Xuanyuan, you really did come to meet me… so obedient. I like it.”
Her tone was like a lover’s teasing.
Xuanyuan Yu felt a flush of heat inside at hearing this.
This woman left him somewhat unable to cope.
Still, he seemed to have grown used to her manner by now. Though his heart stirred, he kept his composure, his eyes cool and clear.
“Princess, are you headed back to the Qin Prince’s estate, or somewhere else?”
Qin Zi Guang said, “I’d like to visit your home and sit for a while, is that alright?”
She said it so casually ā wanting to visit his home.
Was this young lady offering herself up, throwing herself at his door?
Whatever her intentions, his instinct was to refuse. “Princess, ahem… let me just escort you back to your estate.”
Qin Zi Guang said, “Hmph, I offer my goodwill and you don’t appreciate it. I noticed the aura around your parents’ palace looks quite dark ā hasn’t your mother been ill lately?”
Xuanyuan Yu’s eyes flickered. “How do you know that? Did you send someone to spy on my family’s residence?”
Qin Zi Guang said, “Earlier at the palace banquet, I told His Majesty that I know the art of physiognomy, and that I could tell he and the Second Prince weren’t father and son. None of you believed me, did you?
“From your face, I can tell your family’s fortunes haven’t been good lately. If your mother doesn’t receive timely treatment, I’m afraid… well, that’s all I’ll say. Believe it or not as you like. Now, take me back to the Qin Prince’s estate.
“But let me say this first ā coming down from the mountain has left me exhausted. Once I’m back at the estate, I won’t be going out for seven days… it won’t help you to beg.”
Xuanyuan Yu…
At this point, Gu Feng approached Xuanyuan Yu and said, “Young Master, the Madam’s illness really is quite serious. Mainly it’s because the young miss keeps causing trouble all day, and the Madam can’t rest properly to recover.
“This morning the Chancellor even went to the palace to request the imperial physician.
“But the physician said the Madam’s condition comes from suppressed anger ā her blood and energy aren’t flowing smoothly ā and the young miss keeps angering her every day. No medicine seems to help the Madam at all.”
Xuanyuan Yu changed his attitude.
“Princess, please, I ask that you come to my home and treat my mother… and along the way we can discuss the Eldest Prince’s matter. The Eldest Prince hopes you’ll enter the palace to treat him.”
Qin Zi Guang glared at him. “Beg me. If you beg me, I’ll go to the Chancellor’s residence. Weren’t you just now hoping I wouldn’t come to your home? Am I something to be summoned and dismissed at will?”
Xuanyuan Yu truly had no way to deal with this woman’s temper.
He took a breath. “I beg you. I beg you to treat my mother, Princess Physician.”
Qin Zi Guang nodded, looking quite satisfied. “Lead the way.”
The Chancellor’s residence sat in the finest location in the capital, with vermillion-lacquered gates and a pair of stone lions beside the entrance that looked most formidable.
The pavilions and towers were built mostly from costly wood, carved with exquisite patterns. The path underfoot was paved with bluestone slabs.
Walking through the covered corridor, even the lamps hanging on the pillars were extremely refined and ornate…
This Chancellor’s residence was truly luxurious ā worthy of being called the foremost of the three great noble families.
Taking all this in, Qin Zi Guang suddenly asked, “Young Master Xuanyuan, have you ever gone hungry?”
Xuanyuan Yu glanced at her. “Why does the princess suddenly ask this?”
As the son of a great noble house, he’d been raised in wealth since childhood, clothed in fine silk and fed delicacies ā naturally, he’d never gone hungry.
Qin Zi Guang said, “No reason, I just wanted to mention that I once went hungry, for nearly half a month. I truly didn’t get so much as a single steamed bun to eat.
“Actually, my father and I were fine ā at least we wouldn’t starve to death. But the soldiers on the battlefield who had nothing to eat, they suffered terribly ā quite a few of them really did starve to death…”
Xuanyuan Yu understood now why she’d been so ruthless toward Hou Yingying in court. “So it’s because the Second Prince embezzled funds and left the soldiers to starve that you brought him down?”
Qin Zi Guang nodded. “Exactly. Young Master, look at this residence of yours ā so extravagant. Wasn’t the silver for it extorted from the people?”
Xuanyuan Yu’s expression immediately turned rather strange…
After thinking for a moment, he answered honestly, “Whether my ancestors did some extorting in the past isn’t something I can easily look into. But as for me, I have no taste for extorting the common people.”
Qin Zi Guang said, “Mm, that’ll do then. I don’t treat those who extort the common people.”
Xuanyuan Yu…
She really did have quite a lot of rules.
They circled through most of the residence and arrived at an elegant courtyard.
Above the courtyard gate hung a plaque reading “Pavilion of Listening to Rain.”
Seeing Qin Zi Guang staring at the plaque, Xuanyuan Yu explained, “My mother loves the sound of rain, so that’s how it got its name.”
Qin Zi Guang nodded. “I love the sound of rain too. Sleeping to the sound of rain is especially pleasant.”
Xuanyuan Yu…
