Shaochang Wakes Up
“Good. Now I can explain everything to the patient and his relatives at once. Lu Lu, fetch a wheelchair for Young Master Rongqi so everyone can visit Young Master Shaochang together.”
The wheelchair mentioned was the one designed by Luxian himself and commissioned from a carpenter. While it wasn’t as sturdy and durable as a modern aluminum wheelchair, it was functional enough for the patient’s use. When the three men saw the wheelchair, they were visibly surprised. Though they had seen similar contraptions used by the elderly in the royal court, they had never seen one like this before. It was incredibly practical. At first, they had assumed they’d either need to carry or support their prince manually.
“Please, Young Master Shaoqi, help me support Young Master Rongqi,” Luxian requested.
Once everything was in order, Luxian led them to the adjacent room, where they found Qing Hai stacking pillows to prop Shaochang up in a semi-reclined position.
After checking on Shaochang’s condition post-surgery, Luxian smiled with relief. Shaochang was recovering quickly, likely due to the enhanced regenerative abilities of martial artists compared to ordinary people.
“Can you hear what I’m saying?” Luxian began his assessment, checking Shaochang’s responsiveness.
Shaochang nodded slightly, prompting Luxian to continue his questions.
“What is your name?” “Shaochang.” “How old are you?” “Twenty.” “Where do you live?” “The capital, Bei Bian District.” “How many siblings do you have, and what are their names?” “Two. My elder brother is named Shaoqi, and my younger sister is Sumei.”
Luxian turned to Shaoqi, silently asking for confirmation. When Shaoqi nodded, Luxian declared, “The patient’s memory is intact—no confusion or disorientation.”
“Where am I? What happened?” Shaochang asked, his gaze shifting between the three people around his bed and Luxian.
“You’re at a clinic. You were stabbed outside of the city, and I brought you here for treatment. For the rest, you can ask them,” Luxian replied, gesturing toward Shaochang’s three companions.
Shaoqi then began recounting everything—from their ambush by assassins, Luxian’s intervention, their rescue, and Shaochang’s subsequent treatment. He even detailed how the severed arm had been reattached, the secrets of their benefactor, and his motives—leaving nothing out for Shaochang to understand.
It was only then that Shaochang noticed his arm was still intact. He had been so focused on the conversation that he hadn’t realized it. Remembering how the assassins had severed his arm, he stared at it in wide-eyed astonishment and joy. Never had he imagined that any doctor could reattach an arm.
“Thank you so much. Shaochang owes his life to you. Even if I must traverse fire and water for you, I’ll do it without hesitation. You truly are the divine doctor you aspire to be. I cannot thank you enough,” Shaochang expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
“There’s no need for fire and water. As your elder brother already explained, I simply seek allies with influential people in Da Qi for a greater purpose. Besides, I have no other friends in the capital,” Luxian replied nonchalantly.
“Regardless, I must thank you. But... will my arm truly recover?” Shaochang asked, concern evident in his voice. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“Yes. Before you woke up, we were just discussing this. The stab wound you got was quite severe. For the next half-month, you must stay still. Refrain from practicing martial arts, wielding swords, or leaping over walls—anything strenuous. However, that doesn’t mean you must stay bedridden all the time. During these two weeks, it would be best for you to recover here. This clinic has everything: a doctor, proper care, and meals prepared for you. If the clothes provided aren’t to your liking, you can have your brother fetch new ones for you. In short, if you agree, recovering here will be the most effective option.
Traveling now would risk reopening your wound. And if you leave, I can’t guarantee your safety. Of course, I also can’t force you to stay. If you wish to return, you’re free to go. I have no authority to stop you, including you, Young Master Muwen and Young Master Shaoqi. There’s no obligation for you to recuperate here. However, if you’d like to stay and take care of the patients, feel free. As for Young Master Shaochang’s arm, I can’t guarantee it will function as it did before. But for the next three months, avoid lifting heavy objects, wielding swords, or drawing bows. After three months, we’ll assess its condition again."
Listening to his explanations, the four men nodded in understanding. Staying here was far more convenient, even medicines and meals were readily available.
They had just escaped a band of assassins who had chased them for months, which had delayed their journey for several months. Before sending the news to their families and preparing on how to deal with those who were still hiding, staying here temporarily was a sensible choice. As for the arm, merely having it reattached was already a miracle; they had never dared hope it might function as it once had.
"Tomorrow, I’ll treat Young Master Rongqi’s arm and leg. Like I have said, he’ll need time to recover here after the treatment. I’ll come to check on you from time to time, but I won’t stay here full-time. My house is in the capital, so I’ll be coming and going. Otherwise, that old fox at my residence might grow suspicious. If you need anything urgent, you can leave a message with the Mistresses of the Hall of Lu Yue. There are four of them—they’re the young ladies who will also help look after you."
"Mistresses...? You’re already married? To four women?" Rongqi asked in astonishment, clearly taken aback. The young man before him seemed far too young to have already taken four wives.
"Of course not." Chen Luxian shook his head, amused by Rongqi’s assumption.
"Well, most of the time, I sneak in here at night. But if there’s an emergency, the young ladies can send me a message via carrier pigeon, and I’ll come immediately. Don’t worry. No one knows who the real owner of this place is. During this time, my residence still has its share of troubles, and I must tread carefully when coming and going. These are my personal constraints, and I hope you understand."
"We understand your circumstances. And to stay here to recover..." Muwen replied, but he paused and glanced at Rongqi.
"I agree," Rongqi finished for him.
"If Young Master Rongqi agrees, then I doubt the others will object. I’ll stay here today and perform the treatment tomorrow. After that, I’ll return to my manor in the capital. Well, now it’s already the Hour of You, so you all should rest up. If you’re bored, there’s entertainment on the first floor. Please feel free to watch. As for meals, there are no restrictions. My restaurant operates twenty-four hours a day. If you’re hungry, you can go downstairs for food anytime, but don’t forget to pay. The entrance to the third floor is locked and accessible only via the rear door of the building. Lu Lu already unlocked it for you earlier when you went to bathe. Here, take these. Don’t lose it or give it to anybody," Luxian said, handing each of them a key.
The clinic, hidden within the Hall of Lu Yue, required a key to access and had no entry from the front of the building.
"Now that Young Master Shaochang is awake, others can move to this room if you wish. Oh, and one more thing—the black-clad assassins who were after you, the first eight collapsed because I threw sleeping powder at them. They’re not dead. While this place is secure, I can’t guarantee your safety if you wander outside. Your enemies are still out there, so be cautious. Once you’ve decided where to stay, have Lu Lu and Qing Hai help Young Master Rongqi onto the bed. I’ll leave now."
With that, Luxian turned and walked out, paying no mind to the confusion or lingering questions of the group he had brought back.
"The three of us will stay in this room with Shaochang. I must trouble you, young ladies," Shaoqi said courteously.
"Yes, Young Master," Lu Lu and Qing Hai replied in unison. Together, they carefully helped Rongqi without aggravating his injuries, with Shaoqi assisting as well. Once finished, they excused themselves and closed the door, leaving the four men alone.
"There’s a way to treat Your Highness now. I am truly overjoyed," Shaochang said with deep relief and joy, despite his weak state.
"I’m equally glad to see you safe, Shaochang. Thank you all for taking care of me so well and never abandoning me," Rongqi replied, offering a faint but genuine smile. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
Since the Fourth Prince had fallen from his horse, his companions had only ever seen his cold and emotionless expression. The rare sight of his smile filled them with relief.
The four men had been close friends since their youth, studying and training together. As they grew, they joined the military side by side, becoming both comrades and commander-subordinates. Their bond was unshakable. At the border, when the accident left the Fourth Prince paralyzed, they had waited until his condition stabilized before setting out on their journey back. Along the way, they encountered numerous assassination attempts. Every single guard and soldier who had accompanied them had perished, leaving only the four of them alive. The delays had stretched on for months—until Luxian intervened and saved them.
Now, seeing their prince smile, the three companions could finally feel at ease.
"You should all rest as he instructed. There’s no need to rush into investigating anything yet. Once they learn I’m alive, they’ll strike again. For now, it’s safer to remain here. Speaking of which, the two of you who went downstairs—what was it like?"
"Everything is as Young Master Luxian described, Your Highness," Muwen reported. "The Hall of Lu Yue is fascinating. An eatery that operates twenty-four hours a day without closing, serving unique and unusual dishes, with a remarkable interior design. People were constantly coming and going. Business seems excellent. The bathhouse we used was so peculiar that Miss Lu Lu had to teach us how to use it. Once we learned it’s functions, it was incredibly convenient. Inside, there are pipes that deliver water directly to wooden tubs for soaking. There’s also something called a shower, which lets water pour over us without having to scoop it ourselves. The water is also perfectly warm. Out of curiosity, I have asked the young ladies about it. They said Young Master Luxian designed it during the renovations. Before bathing, you just need to light a fire under a boiler outside, and it heats the water that flows through the pipes."
Muwen spoke with admiration, and both Rongqi and Shaochang, who hadn’t yet seen these marvels, listened intently.
"Young Master Luxian’s personal room is also unusual. What stood out most was the iron cages attached to the outer windows, which don’t fall off. Inside are several carrier pigeons. Quite intriguing," Shaoqi added.
"This young man is highly skilled and remarkably peculiar. He’s invested so much effort in helping us, all in the hope of forging a friendship... Brother, to be honest, I thought I wouldn’t survive back then. And now, not even a day has passed, and here I am, speaking with you all—and I even have my arm back," Shaochang said, his voice a mix of awe and gratitude.
"Hmm, it’s good that you’re safe now. As for becoming our ally, I doubt he considers it a loss," Shaoqi replied to his younger brother. "Young Master Luxian is both clever and deeply perceptive. He saw from the start that we rely heavily on His Highness’s opinion. He even preemptively discouraged us from investigating him, likely confident that even if we tried, we wouldn’t uncover anything. This man isn’t simple. Outwardly, he may seem innocent, but inside, he’s undoubtedly full of plans."
"I agree with him," Muwen added. "In the beginning, Young Master Lu mentioned having a ’house in the capital,’ but later, he said to ’return to his manor after the treatment tomorrow.’ It seems likely that he belongs to the noble family here in the capital."
"Heh, now I’m curious to know which noble family this new ally of mine belongs to," Rongqi said with a lighthearted tone.
"What should we do about the news of Your Highness’s return?"
"Tomorrow, Shaoqi, you go inform Uncle that I’ve returned safely. However, there’s no need to mention this place. We must respect our new ally’s plans," he said, half-joking but clearly issuing a command. "Have Uncle spread false news that the Fourth Prince has returned to the capital and is seeking skilled physicians from across the land for treatment. Have Qi San wear the Mask of the Tiger Encompassing the Moon and impersonate me at the manor. Word of my paralysis has likely already spread throughout the capital. Definitely, Father won’t summon me to court anytime soon. If any royal physicians are sent, let them treat Qi San instead. I’m curious to see how they’ll report on his condition that is perfectly healthy yet unable to walk."
"Understood, I will inform my father," Shaoqi nodded, acknowledging the order.
"Alright then, you should all get some rest. Shaochang has just recovered, and the doctor advised plenty of rest, didn’t he? As for you two, if you want to watch the performance downstairs, go ahead. I give my permission. After all, it’s the first opportunity we’ve had to relax in months. On your way back, just make sure to order some dinner for us."
"Understood, Your Highness," they both replied in unison.