Ye Xunyang stood at the entrance of the small kitchen, still pinching a handful of goji berries and thinking in a daze.
The Zhao father and son had fallen from power in an instant, and the other two families had also suffered reprimands. With methods like these, it was absolutely impossible that his father had done it. His father would only have found a few people to beat them up.
Therefore, aside from Lou Jin, he could not think of anyone else.
Was he doing this for him?
From the time he was a child, whenever Ye Xunyang got into fights or caused trouble, he mostly bore it himself or had his father and elder brother step forward to smooth things over. He had never experienced being quietly protected like this before.
Besides, how did Lou Jin know about things in such detail? Did Mushan tell him?
Had he known, he would not have brought the Prince Manor’s people out with him. From now on, he might as well just bring his own people.
This situation made Ye Xunyang feel quite uneasy, as it felt like his every move was under Lou Jin’s control.
Although Lou Jin had once been at the height of power and naturally possessed certain methods and intelligence networks, ever since he fell gravely ill, he had never been heard to participate in any court politics.
Now, to have covertly deployed an intelligence network that had lain dormant for many years simply for his sake was something Ye Xunyang found a bit too much to bear. If the Emperor grew suspicious or if the Fourth Prince targeted them, what would they do?
“Your Highness, these goji berries…” The estate physician saw him spacing out and reminded him cautiously.
“Ah, oh!” Ye Xunyang snapped back to his senses and tossed the goji berries back into the medicine pot.
“Let us leave it at that for now. I will go think about it some more.” He wiped his hands absentmindedly and decided to go find Lou Jin.
Inside the study, Lou Jin was holding a scroll of books with a peaceful expression, as if the storm in the court had nothing to do with him.
Sunlight filtered through the window paper, casting a soft halo over his pale face and giving off a kind of tranquil beauty.
Ye Xunyang pushed the door open and entered, momentarily not knowing how to broach the subject.
Should he ask directly if he was the one who did it?
That seemed too rash.
Should he say thank you?
That would make it look as if he desperately needed protection.
Lou Jin raised his eyes to look at him with a calm gaze: “How is the medicinal formula coming along?” He seemed to have no intention of bringing up the court affairs at all.
Ye Xunyang choked for a moment, walked up to his desk, placed both hands on it, leaned forward slightly, and stared straight into Lou Jin’s eyes: “Prince, did you hear about what happened during the early morning court session?”
Lou Jin put down the book scroll, met his gaze, and spoke in a detached tone: “Mm, I heard a little. Zhao Yong failed to properly educate his son and brought this upon himself.”
So this counted as an admission that he was the one who did it?
Ye Xunyang straightened up, rubbed his nose, and lowered his voice a fraction: “Um, thank you.”
A trace of extremely faint amusement flashed across the depths of Lou Jin’s eyes, vanishing so quickly that it was impossible to catch: “What are you thanking me for? This Prince simply dislikes people slandering the reputation of Prince Jin’s Manor.”
“Besides, they cursed this Prince with a short life. Should this Prince simply sit back and do nothing?”
These words sounded reasonable and logical, lightly brushing past the part about protecting Ye Xunyang and placing the focus entirely on his own dignity and that of the manor.
Listening to this, Ye Xunyang felt it made sense, but also felt as if something was slightly off.
He chuckled and flashed a row of white teeth: “Anyway, the result is good! Let us see if they ever dare to talk nonsense again!”
His smile was bright and carried a hint of small triumph, as if sunlight had instantly dispelled the gloom inside the room.
Lou Jin looked at him with a flicker in his gaze, suddenly feeling that the study was much brighter than before.
He gave a light cough and changed the subject: “Have you made any progress with your formula?”
Mentioning this, Ye Xunyang’s face fell: “Do not mention it. Reading medical books gives me a massive headache. Those medicinal herbs countering or enhancing one another are even harder than deploying military formations!”
“What the estate physician suggests is safe enough, but those are all mild, slow-acting restorative tonics. I feel like they might not pack enough punch for an illness like yours.”
Watching his distressed appearance, Lou Jin felt his heart soften and said, “An illness is pulled out like silk from a cocoon; it cannot be rushed. How could stubborn ailments that both the imperial physicians and the Grand Preceptor are helpless against be easily cured by ordinary medicinal stones? Since you have this good intention, this Prince accepts your kindness.”
“That will not do! I said I would cure you, so I must accomplish it!”
“The palace having no solutions does not mean ordinary society lacks extraordinary experts. I have decided to send people out to search for renowned doctors. The world is so vast; there must be exceptional individuals capable of curing your illness!”
He spoke with complete confidence, his eyes sparkling and filled with unquestionable determination.
Lou Jin looked at him, temporarily left without words.
He knew his own body best. That poison was bizarre in the extreme, and over the past three years he had consulted every renowned physician, leaving hope long since slim.
Yet seeing Ye Xunyang’s expression, perhaps there really was a sliver of a chance of survival.
Lou Jin opened his mouth, but ultimately chose not to dampen his enthusiasm, saying only indifferently: “As you wish.”
“Act according to your capabilities; do not overexert your mind.”
“Rest assured, Prince! Leave it to me!” Ye Xunyang patted his chest, as though he had already seen the day of Lou Jin’s recovery.
“I will go write a letter right now and have my brother keep an eye out at the border for any rare herbs from the Western Regions or miraculous doctors from beyond the frontier.”
Watching Ye Xunyang’s bustling figure as he prepared to rush out again, Lou Jin could not help calling out to stop him: “Xunyang.”
Ye Xunyang paused in his tracks and turned around in astonishment.
This was the first time Lou Jin had directly called him by his given name.
Lou Jin also seemed to pause for a moment before continuing: “Eat lunch first. Searching for doctors and medicine is not something that needs to be rushed this exact moment.”
His voice remained calm, yet it carried a little less aloofness.
Ye Xunyang froze for a second, then grinned broadly: “Alright! I will listen to the Prince! You need to eat your fill to have the strength to work!”
During this lunch, Ye Xunyang ate with exceptional relish. While eating, he chatted with Lou Jin about his master plan for finding a doctor, and Lou Jin simply listened quietly, responding occasionally. The atmosphere was harmonious as never before.
Wang Quan waited upon them from the side, watching the Prince eat half a bowl of rice more than usual, with satisfaction radiating from the corners of his eyes and brows.
In the afternoon, Ye Xunyang first wrote letters to his father and elder brother, then summoned several capable estate stewards, instructing them to keep an eye out for news of renowned doctors in the capital and various other regions, offering heavy rewards.
Meanwhile, in the study, Lou Jin listened to the secret guards reporting Ye Xunyang’s actions while tapping his fingertips lightly against the tabletop.
“Let him be. Send people to protect him in secret, just make sure his people do not come into contact with forces they should not touch.”
“Understood.”
After the secret guard withdrew, Lou Jin looked out the window.
His original plan had been to use Ye Xunyang to alleviate his physical pain, stabilize the Ye family, and plot in the dark.
However, things now seemed to be heading in a direction he had never anticipated.
Regardless, the chess game had begun, and a move made cannot be taken back.