I Don’t Want to Treat Patients Like This Anymore
The news of Qi Wang’s three concubines being turned into bald courtesans by a skilled thief had spread across the capital.
Before this, Yuan Shaoqi and Yuan Shaochang, the two brothers, had been forced by their father into endless matchmaking meetings, leaving them no time for work. Both originally served under their father, An Guogong, who held the position of Minister of Administration[1] and oversaw the Department of Personnel[2]. However, as the brothers disliked the idea of being civil officials who spent their days listening to the endless squabbles of cunning old foxes in court, they sought permission to join the military instead.
When the two brothers returned to An Guogong’s manor, An Guogong learned that his second son had nearly lost an arm and narrowly escaped death alongside their illegitimate nephew, the Fourth Prince. The revelation shocked An Guogong so much that he nearly fainted.
Fortunately, Divine Doctor Xian had stepped in to save them. At that time, An Guogong almost offered his entire estate as gratitude to the mysterious doctor who had brought his precious sons back from the Lord of Hell.. Luckily, Yuan Shaoqi stopped him in time, as the doctor’s background remained enigmatic, and it was inappropriate to make such a grand gesture. Otherwise, Luxian might already be the wealthiest person in Da Qi.
After An Guogong pieced together the full story, he forbade Yuan Shaochang from taking on any dangerous missions in the future, confining him to desk work under close supervision. Servants were ordered to keep a constant watch over him, preventing any chance of him sneaking off to do any mischief. If it were possible, An Guogong would have long gone to seek advice from Divine Doctor Xian on how to care for his injured son.
Yuan Shaoqi, meanwhile, fared little better. Upon returning, his father busied him with matchmaking, leaving him to haul work back home to complete.
This time, when the brothers heard the rumors about Qi Wang’s estate, they were so astonished that they decided to investigate in person. The Fourth Prince, their friend, was a renowned general of the East. It seemed implausible that he could fail to defend his own estate so thoroughly that criminals could come and go as they pleased.
“The culprit must be someone from within,” Yuan Shaochang concluded after hearing Qi Wang recount the events.
“Not someone from within,” Zhao Qirong replied with a faint smile, “but the consort himself.”
“Why would you think that? Perhaps the consort had a skilled ally. If Eldest Young Master Chen were that capable, why were there only rumors of him being a useless trash of Yong Hou’s manor before?” Yuan Shaoqi was skeptical. Eldest Young Master Chen was infamous for his scandalous reputation throughout the capital.
“He brought only two maids with him. The footprints found by Qi Wu were those of a man. As for the previous rumors about Eldest Young Master Chen, I need to investigate further,” Zhao Qirong said mysteriously, refusing to explain further to the Yuan brothers. Matters concerning his consort were something he wished to resolve privately.
Their discussion then shifted to various government affairs and updates from the capital. At present, the prince with the most accomplishments was none other than the Third Prince, who had recently married the daughter of Ping Hou, the Minister of Revenue.
Zhao Qirong invited the brothers to stay for lunch. During the meal, Yuan Shaochang suggested, “Why not invite the consort to join us? It would be a good opportunity to get acquainted.” His intention, however, was to observe and catch any suspicious behavior, a motive he left unspoken but which everyone understood.
Zhao Qirong saw no reason to object. After all, such a meeting would happen sooner or later. Considering that the Yuan brothers and the Fourth Prince were cousins by lineage, meeting the consort was not unusual. However, the real reason was to scrutinize their younger brother-in-law.
...
At the Consort’s Residence...
“An Guogong’s heir and Second Young Master Yuan...” Hearing the names of the guests from Chun Gong Gong, Luxian felt reassured enough to follow. What truly weighed on his mind, however, was Zhao Qirong’s true intentions. It had been five days since that night, yet he had not reached a conclusion as to whether Zhao Qirong and Rongqi were the same person. If they were not, what would he do?
This question had troubled him for days. He had been waiting for a chance to meet either Zhao Qirong or Rongqi to confirm his suspicions, but no such opportunity had presented itself. In the end, he resolved to wait for their next meeting at the Hall of Lu Yue. Who would have guessed that Qi Wang would suddenly summon him to meet his distant relatives?
“Everyone is waiting for you by the lakeside pavilion, Your Highness. Please make haste,” Chun Gong Gong said.
“I understand. Gong Gong, please wait here for a moment.” Luxian called for his maidservants to assist him in changing attire, combing his hair, and donning his hairpiece. Today, he had no need to dress extravagantly to assert his dignity, so he chose a light lavender robe adorned with Bai He flowers[3], exuding elegance and simplicity. He also wore a thin veil that covered the lower half of his face.
Luxian followed the gravel path until he reached a replica lake. In the middle of the lake stood a large pavilion. The grandeur and luxury of the place befitted a prince of noble rank. Although Luxian had been living in this manor for several days, he had yet to explore this part of the estate.
The primary consort of Qi Wang crossed the bridge and entered the pavilion. Along the way, he passed numerous court ladies and guards. Inside the pavilion, there were only a few people present, unlike the bustling activity outside.
As soon as he saw the faces of An Guogong’s heir and Second Young Master Yuan, Luxian found himself caught between laughter and tears.
The four friends he had picked up by the roadside, who had claimed to be soldiers under the Eastern Army. The had spoken the truth, but today, they were revealed to be distant relatives of Qi Wang. Luxian’s gaze swept over the young men dressed in qilin-embroidered robes and formal headdresses, alternating between their noble attire and their languid postures. Most striking was the silver tiger mask that concealed one face entirely, leaving only the eyes and mouth visible.
“Yuan Shaochang greets Your Highness.”
“Yuan Shaoqi greets Your Highness.”
When the two brothers saw the consort entering, they stood and bowed according to custom. Chun Gong Gong also bowed as Luxian passed by, still busy inspecting the food for poison.
“No need for formalities, young masters.”
“...” Why does this feel so familiar?
“...” Why do I feel like I’ve met him somewhere before?
“This consort greets Your Highness,” Luxian said, bowing to Zhao Qirong. Although he was a modern man unaccustomed to the hierarchical customs of nobility, he had read enough scenes like this in novels and received etiquette training before marrying into the Zhao family. As such, this situation posed no difficulty for him. This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.
“There’s no need for formalities, my consort. Please, take your seat.”
Zhao Qirong spoke just one sentence, yet it was enough to make the usually calm and healthy-hearted Dr. Chen’s heartbeat quicken abruptly. His eyes, not hidden by the thin veil, widened briefly before he quickly composed himself and took a seat opposite his ‘gravely ill husband.’
A husband who is so gravely ill that even eating a meal required dragging himself out just to sit by the lakeside for the view...
Luxian wondered if Zhao Qirong realized how contradictory his actions appeared.
The four high-ranking individuals sat around the circular dining table. The atmosphere was strange with each person either stealing glances or exchanging stares. Minutes passed, yet no one touched the food.
“May I ask why you keep looking at my face, Young Master? Is there something on it?” Unable to bear it any longer, Luxian broke the silence.
Caught off guard, Yuan Shaoqi realized his rudeness and quickly averted his gaze from the consort’s face.
“N-no, Your Highness,” he replied.
Zhao Qirong, not wanting the tension to linger, picked up his chopsticks and began placing food on his consort’s plate. This gesture left the Yuan brothers visibly surprised, though their shock was nothing compared to Luxian’s.
From what he understood about the Eastern Army’s general, his husband was not one to show affection openly. Considering how Zhao Qirong had left him alone on their wedding night, allowing others to gossip, this unexpected display of care raised a question: could Zhao Qirong have already uncovered the truth about everything?
Throughout the meal, Luxian kept observing Zhao Qirong’s and Yuan Shaochang’s arm movements. In truth, the upcoming meeting at the Hall of Lu Yue could just as well be canceled. Also, the unresolved matter from five days ago could be addressed right here.
“What are you staring at?” Zhao Qirong finally noticed that his consort had been staring intently at his left arm for quite some time.
“I was looking at Your Highness’s arm,” Luxian replied truthfully, shifting his gaze from Zhao Qirong’s arm to the face beneath his tiger mask.
“My arm? You must be curious about my injury. If you have questions, why not ask directly?”
The meal continued in an awkward silence, starkly contrasting the lively atmosphere when Luxian and his friends met at the Hall of Lu Yue.
After waiting for some time and seeing that his consort remained silent, Zhao Qirong decided to start the conversation himself.
“Wearing that veil while eating—doesn’t it make things difficult?”
“I’m used to it, Your Highness,” Luxian replied flatly, his thoughts wandering to the moment he had questioned his friend Rongqi about whether he was really Zhao Qirong, only to receive a firm denial.
“Why must you always wear it? Can’t you take it off?” Zhao Qirong pressed on.
“Your Highness already knows the reason, does he not?” Luxian’s brows furrowed slightly.
“I would rather hear it from your own mouth.”
“It’s not that I can’t take it off, Your Highness. Surely, you must have deduced the truth five days ago. I only hope the young masters here will not be too shocked.” Luxian spoke calmly, raising a hand to undo the tie securing the veil. However, just as he was about to remove it, an interruption occurred.
“Your Highness! The Bei Man prisoner held at the Er Ren Prison has escaped!” Qi Yi, one of Zhao Qirong’s shadow guards, appeared before everyone, reporting the urgent matter with a tense expression.
“What did you say?!” Zhao Qirong and the Yuan brothers exclaimed simultaneously. The escaped prisoner was a significant figure of the Bei Man tribe, someone they had personally captured before entrusting him to the Grand General to be brought to the capital. Letting him escape was unbelievable!
“Chun Tai, prepare the horses. Aifei[4], I have urgent business. Once I’ve dealt with the prisoner, we’ll settle our matter.” Zhao Qirong said, removing his tiger mask.
“Qi San!” Zhao Qirong called for another shadow guard. Moments later, a figure dressed entirely in black, with a face concealed by a matching cloth, appeared. This figure was even more thoroughly disguised than Luxian.
From Luxian’s perspective, the shadow seemed to glide over the water, its direction indiscernible.
“Put this on. From now on, you are Qi Wang, Zhao Qirong.”
Luxian observed the unfolding scene in silence. He now understood why, when his friend Rongqi came to visit him, Qi Wang was still bedridden in his private quarters. So it was because Zhao Qirong had someone else impersonate him. Shadow Guard Qi San was remarkably bold, impersonating royalty—even with permission, the consequences of being discovered by outsiders could be decapitation.
“Your Highness, will you ride it personally? But the doctor said you shouldn’t...” Yuan Shaoqi voiced his disapproval, recalling the doctor’s strict warning.
Luxian had been about to object as well, but he felt relieved when Yuan Shaoqi intervened—it was good to see his cautious friend remember the doctor’s advice.
“No need. Let’s go quickly.” But Zhao Qirong paid no heed to anyone. He removed his official robes, swapped them with Qi San’s outer garments, and strode toward the stables without waiting for further objections.
Luxian could only sigh in exasperation.
Do you still want that leg?! If not, let me help you cut it off myself!
...
Dressed in plain black robes, Zhao Qirong joined the Yuan brothers in the name of a strategist. Together, they tirelessly searched for the escaped Bei Man prisoner, practically overturning the earth in their efforts. The heir of An Guogong commanded soldiers to encircle the forest within ten li of the Er Ren Prison.
After two days and nights of relentless searching, they finally found the escaped Bei Man prisoner disguised as a hunter in a forest seven li from the prison.
“Good thing we found him in time to return to the capital and see our Divine Doctor Xian. I have some questions I need to ask him,” Yuan Shaochang said with a relieved expression.
“Indeed. If we miss our meeting, we won’t even know where to begin looking for him,” Yuan Shaoqi added, glancing meaningfully at Zhao Qirong.
“Let’s head back quickly, clean up, and change into fresh clothes before meeting him,” Zhao Qirong suggested.
Perhaps if they hurried, they wouldn’t even need to make the trip to the Hall of Lu Yue...
...
After bathing and changing into a simple but high-quality outfit Chun Gong Gong had prepared for him—different from his formal attire as Qin Wang but resembling what he often wore when visiting Luxian at Hall of Lu Yue—Zhao Qirong met up with the freshly washed Yuan brothers.
Zhao Qirong had sent someone to check his consort’s chambers and learned that Luxian was not there. So, the three friends, along with Chun Gong Gong, headed toward the less-frequented back wall of the manor.
“Your Highness, are you planning to meet Divine Doctor Xian this way? Taking a carriage would be better,” Chun Gong Gong said, puzzled about why Zhao Qirong was heading in this direction. But when he saw the way Zhao Qirong eyed the wall, he almost couldn’t stop himself from protesting further.
“Your Highness, it’s understandable that you’re eager to avoid being late and miss the meeting, but you mustn’t injure yourself further. A bit of delay wouldn’t be a problem,” Chun Gong Gong reasoned.
“I agree with Chun Gong Gong. If Luxian finds out you ignored the doctor’s warnings, he’ll bare his teeth and scold you for three straight hours. He’s already told you countless times not to use martial arts for three months,” Yuan Shaochang added rationally, with Yuan Shaoqi nodding in agreement.
“It’s fine. I’m in a hurry. We’ve lost enough time as it is. It’s better to clear things up as soon as possible,” Zhao Qirong said, dismissing their concerns.
...
Meanwhile, Chen Luxian, who had resolved to reveal the truth to everyone once the three friends returned from Er Ren prison, was strolling through the flower garden by the manor’s artificial lake. That day, he was supposed to meet his friends, Shaochang and Rongqi.
He had no idea when Zhao Qirong, Yuan Shaoqi, and Yuan Shaochang would finish their business. Nor did he know whether Rongqi would complicate matters by waiting for him at the Hall of Lu Yue instead of sending someone to fetch him. When he noticed no movement at Qi Wang’s chambers, Luxian decided to head to Hall of Lu Yue himself.
Luxian wandered leisurely for a while, and by the time he reached the corner of the wall he usually climbed to leave the manor, he eventually missed the servant Zhao Qirong had sent to look for him.
Today, Luxian didn’t deliberately remove his phoenix-patterned coronet. His outfit was similar to what he had worn two days earlier, except the purple color was replaced with sky blue. His face veil, which he typically wore within Qi Wang Manor, was removed as he approached the rear of the property.
Just as Luxian arrived, he witnessed a scene that made him lose all composure.
The most frustrating type of patient for any doctor is the one who doesn’t follow medical advice. Hadn’t he repeatedly warned Zhao Qirong not to use martial arts for three months? Chun Gong Gong and the Yuan brothers were also right there—why hadn’t they stopped him?!
“Zhao Qirong! Get down from that wall immediately!” Luxian shouted as he rushed toward the figure atop the wall.
Chun Gong Gong, seeing a strikingly handsome man suddenly appear and address Qi Wang so disrespectfully—daring even to issue commands—immediately furrowed his brows in disapproval.
Meanwhile, the Yuan brothers, upon seeing Luxian’s expression up close, could already predict their near future: they were about to endure a long and scathing lecture from the Divine Doctor Xian.
[1] The Minister of Administration (Shangshu Sheng) holds the highest administrative position, with direct authority over the Six Ministries.
[2] The Ministry of Personnel (Libu) oversees matters concerning officials, such as promotions, demotions, appointments, transfers, and general administration.
[3] The Bai He flower refers to the lily.
[4] Aifei (爱妃) means beloved consort or beloved wife.