Lu Huating left the group without saying a word.
Juan Su became anxious. “I’ve been waiting in line for so long, and now we’re stopping again…”
Seeing that Lu Huating had only moved to the end of the line at Fangxie’s table, Juan Su relaxed and said, “This kid hasn’t even grown up yet. How could he possibly treat His Highness the Prince of Yan? That old doctor from earlier looked much more reliable.”
“Xiao Juan, look at these tables. Which doctor finishes prescriptions the fastest, and which one has the longest line?” Lu Huating interrupted with a faint smile.
“Of course, the one with the shorter line is faster…” Juan Su suddenly stopped talking.
The young doctor saw patients quickly, yet there was a long line in front of his table. This meant he treated far more patients every day than the older doctors. Most likely, his medical skills were excellent, and he had already built a good reputation among the people nearby.
Lu Huating’s mind worked faster than most people’s, and the people of the Prince of Yan’s residence had long been convinced of his abilities.
Behind the table, Fangxie glanced toward the straw mat where Qunqing had been sitting. It was as if cold water had been poured over her. While preparing the medicine and writing prescriptions, her long eyelashes lowered, and her expression was filled with disappointment.
Lu Huating looked at her, and a cold smile flashed across his eyes.
This young doctor knew Qunqing.
And they were clearly more than ordinary acquaintances.
After thinking it over, Lu Huating lowered his head and continued smoothing the sleeves that easily became wrinkled.
He had thought he only had two admirers…
He never expected there to be more outside the palace.
Fangxie looked up from time to time, but her disappointment grew deeper. She took several packets of medicine from the drawer, handed them to the young servant who was pounding the medicine, and gave him a few instructions.
Then she stopped looking up.
The young servant carried the medicine bag and followed the flow of people out of the clinic.
“Where is that crazy amateur?” Lu Huating suddenly asked.
“Didn’t he go buy snacks for His Highness? He’s been gone for so long. He’s really slow.” Juan Su saw the young servant chasing after the other person and immediately understood what Lu Huating meant. “Why don’t you stay here? I’ll follow him and catch up with Dai Muli…”
Before he could finish, Lu Huating stopped him.
“You stay beside me. It’s almost our turn.”
The patients in front of them had already left, so Lu Huating sat down in front of Fangxie.
There were strangers everywhere around them.
This unfamiliar and chaotic environment was an ideal place for an assassination attempt. There had been several assassination attempts against the Prince of Yan’s residence recently, so Juan Su understood the danger and stayed close behind Lu Huating.
“Where do you feel unwell?” Fangxie asked.
Lu Huating paused before answering, “I’m here to ask about someone else’s illness.”
“What symptoms?”
Lu Huating looked at Fangxie.
“At first, there were no obvious problems. The symptoms appeared gradually. After ten days, her knees became weak and the bones in her legs began to ache. After a year, she became tired easily and suffered from constant headaches.”
“If she suddenly became emotional or agitated, she would collapse and have convulsions. She would even drool, and her life would be in danger. What kind of illness is this?”
Juan Su was completely confused.
Wasn’t he here today to ask for medicine for His Highness the Prince of Yan’s face? Why was he suddenly asking about such a complicated illness?
Fangxie still looked unhappy.
“I can’t make a diagnosis based only on a description. The patient needs to come in person so I can take her pulse.”
Juan Su’s eyes widened.
He watched as Lu Huating rolled up his sleeve and placed his wrist in front of Fangxie.
Fangxie said nothing. She checked his pulse.
After a moment, she frowned.
“Your pulse is weak and unstable. Sometimes it’s fast, sometimes slow. Sometimes it is clear, and sometimes it is barely detectable. It feels like… poisoning.”
“What kind of poison?” Lu Huating asked.
“I don’t know.” Fangxie answered honestly. “My medical skills are still limited. I can only treat common illnesses. If you want a proper diagnosis, you should find someone else.”
“Have you ever heard of the Love-Sickness Elixir?” Lu Huating did not seem surprised by her answer. He smiled. “It seems to be some kind of poison.”
“Gu is gu, poison is poison, and illness is illness,” Fangxie said bluntly. “I treat illnesses. I don’t know how to remove poison. As for gu, those are insects raised by Miao doctors.”
She looked at him.
“My lord, you should first learn the difference between these three before testing me.”
“I enjoy chatting with people, and sometimes I get off topic. Please forgive me, my lord.”
Lu Huating smiled. He secretly stopped Juan Su from speaking and apologized to Fangxie before asking her for a prescription for the Prince of Yan.
Fangxie lowered her head and began writing.
A withered summer flower was blown in through the window and landed on Lu Huating’s robe.
Lu Huating lowered his eyes and stared at the flower.
His thoughts drifted back to the days before his death in his previous life, when all the flowers had withered.
His final days had been extremely difficult.
His health had deteriorated rapidly, like a candle flickering in the wind. His moments of clear awareness had become fewer and fewer.
There were many things he had not had time to do.
Even Meng Guanlou had managed to escape from prison.
Li Huan had hurriedly accelerated the process of ascending the throne. Court robes and an official hat had been sent to Lu Huating’s bedside, but it was already too late.
During the coronation ceremony, he fainted before he could even stand for the time it took an incense stick to burn.
Not long afterward, paper funeral money for Lu Xiang’s funeral was scattered throughout the palace that had been celebrating the new emperor.
Everything had gone wrong because when he was twenty-six, he had poisoned a female spy.
And she had poisoned him in return.
After that, he killed faster and more recklessly.
Some of his victims rolled on the ground and begged for mercy. Others cried bitterly.
None of it interested him.
During his confused moments, he often dreamed of that day.
The unbearable summer heat.
The endless chirping of cicadas.
A green figure kneeling before him, so thin and fragile that she seemed as if a single breath could make her disappear.
Yet she had suddenly lunged at him.
In the next instant, that weak figure had become a dark sword piercing straight through his heart.
Silent, yet carrying a terrifying coldness.
Even after closing his eyes, he could still remember that feeling.
It had only been ten months since Qunqing died.
The escaped prisoners had not been caught.
The new dynasty was buried under mountains of unfinished political affairs.
And yet his life had already reached its end.
Lu Huating had never feared death.
Even his own death had been something he had planned and controlled.
He had never imagined that he would leave this world in such a manner.
That feeling of helplessness and losing complete control was truly terrible.
As he coughed up his last mouthful of blood, he had gripped the edge of his bed and ordered his men to dig Qunqing’s coffin out of the ground.
He wanted to bury her beside him.
He wanted the coffin sealed with copper nails and have people chant spells over it.
He wanted to keep that woman locked inside the coffin with him so that, even in the underworld, he would not be left without someone to take revenge on.
Who would have thought that fate would give him such a miraculous chance and send him back three years into the past?
The sunlight of the first year of Emperor Shenglin’s reign fell through the window and gently touched Lu Huating’s face.
If not for the flower trembling beneath his fingers, his expression might have looked as though he were carefully admiring it.
Years of painstaking work had collapsed overnight.
Lu Huating had no strength left to face this hopeless life that he had been forced to live again.
But then he saw those eyes beneath the fence.
It was like being splashed with cold water.
Only then did he truly come back to his senses.
He wouldn’t mind killing her again.
However, based on what he had just confirmed, the Love-Sickness Elixir had not been given to Qunqing by this young doctor.
It seemed that only Qunqing knew where the poison had come from.
She had too many secrets.
They were like a tightly tangled ball of thread. If he simply cut through it with a knife, he would never discover where everything had begun.
Lu Huating loosened his fingers, and the flower fell from his hand.
Seeing his pale face, Fangxie added, “My lord, you’ve been poisoned for many years, probably more than ten. It may be difficult to cure.”
“If you often suffer from headaches, I know of a medicine from the Western Regions called yellow sage. Wearing it may help relieve the symptoms.”
“Thank you.”
Lu Huating’s voice was even unusually obedient.
Fangxie finished writing the prescription much faster this time.
This man was handsome and seemed polite, but there was a rebellious sharpness hidden in his eyes.
She could clearly sense the edge of his probing gaze.
“These are two packets of white ointment. They are folk remedies. You can apply them to the affected area to lighten the scars on your face.”
“As for the birthmark in your friend’s eye, it is different from an ordinary scar. My master, Doctor Li, may be able to treat it, but he is currently traveling.”
“I’ll write to him and ask him about it. Come back in a month.”
Juan Su accepted the medicine packets.
Because he admired Fangxie’s medical skills, his attitude toward her had become much more respectful.
Lu Huating stood up.
As he casually pointed at Fangxie’s sleeve, he said, “Young doctor, there’s a sandalwood scent on your clothes. Were you also a Buddhist disciple?”
Fangxie suddenly raised her eyes.
For a moment, her gaze became sharp, whether because she was wary or because she was imagining things herself.
“This convalescent ward was originally a temple. I stayed there for a long time and became familiar with the abbot. I also helped him with various tasks, such as chanting sutras and ringing the temple bell.”
“What a coincidence.”
Lu Huating smiled.
“So was I.”
He was also… a Buddhist disciple?
Fangxie caught sight of a string of small sandalwood prayer beads around his pale left wrist, partly hidden beneath his sleeve.
With four bottles of castor oil in her bamboo basket, Qunqing walked out of the East Hall with a small sigh of relief.
This proved that she was still carrying out her mission, so she could temporarily satisfy Lin Yujia.
Earlier, she had taken the opportunity to ask the doctor what would happen if someone drank castor oil.
“It can relieve constipation,” the doctor replied.
“What if someone drank an entire bucket?”
The doctor looked at her as if she were an idiot.
“That would kill you.”
Qunqing knew the question had been foolish, so she quickly left.
Castor oil was very thick, making it difficult for anyone to drink a large amount. Besides, it was not necessarily meant to be taken by mouth. Even applying it to the skin could cause a rash.
She still did not know what the “big thing” Lin Yujia was planning.
Since she had no idea what it was, she could only put it aside for now.
By this time, Lu Huating should have already left.
Qunqing originally wanted to go back and look for Fangxie, but she suddenly noticed a golden carriage parked by the roadside. Several tall warriors were leaning toward the carriage, listening to instructions from the person inside.
The men wore black short jackets. Their clothes were different from one another, but all of them had the same circular pattern embroidered on the back of their belts. It seemed they belonged to the guards of some powerful noble.
From time to time, officials or the Crown Prince would patrol the city and arrest spies who were passing information to Southern Chu.
Qunqing had already seen soldiers checking people’s tallies, so she did not dare wander around any longer. She turned around and headed toward Lingxinji.
She was worried that the people she had hired to buy the pastries might have been waiting too long and gotten into trouble.
Unfortunately, sometimes the very thing you worry about is exactly what happens.
An argument broke out on the roadside.
The little boy she had hired was struggling with a young man in black over something.
As soon as the boy saw Qunqing, he shouted,
“Madam, you’re here! The pastries I finally managed to buy for you are being taken away! Come quickly!”
Qunqing hurried over and snatched the pastries.
But the young man reacted quickly. His fingers curled like hooks, and in the blink of an eye, he snatched the pastries back into his arms.
Qunqing grabbed his wrist and stopped him from leaving.
“What’s going on? Are you trying to rob someone in broad daylight?”
The boy quickly said, “Madam, you don’t know what happened. He forced us to buy them! The cakes you asked the other two aunties to buy are also with him.”
Qunqing looked around.
The two women were nowhere to be seen.
The young man was holding two boxes of pastries with “Lingxinji” written on them.
For a moment, Qunqing’s mind went blank.
She had already considered the possibility that something might go wrong.
But somehow, all three boxes had fallen into this man’s hands.
What kind of luck was this?
Qunqing’s fingernails dug into the man’s wrist guard.
She immediately snatched the box in his right hand and threw it into her bamboo basket.
Then she grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, staring at him through her veil.
“My lord, you dare cause trouble right under the Emperor’s nose? Aren’t you afraid I’ll call for help?”
“I paid for those two boxes. Please return them to me.”
“Robbery! Assault! I… I bought them too!”
The young man in black’s neck turned red. He stepped backward while tightly holding the lotus cakes in his left hand.
“I paid with gold ingots!”
No matter how much he explained, Qunqing still reached out to grab him.
The young man dodged and struck her collarbone with his elbow.
Qunqing stumbled back two steps.
Seeing that he was about to leave, she grabbed his clothes with both hands and deliberately raised her voice in a childish tone.
“Help! Help! How dare you bully a woman and a child?”
Many people turned to look.
The young man’s neck became even redder.
He forcefully pushed her away and took two steps.
But then he suddenly stopped.
He touched his waist and turned around with a cold expression.
“Give me back my fish tally!”
A bronze fish-shaped tally landed in Qunqing’s palm.
The words “Bestowed upon the Left Guard General of the Prince of Yan” were engraved on it in seal script.
Qunqing glanced at it and immediately tightened her grip.
So he was one of Li Huan’s personal guards.
“Give me back my pastries first,” she said calmly.
The young man approached with a dark expression.
Qunqing grabbed the cardboard box while the young man grabbed her hand.
Neither of them was willing to let go first.
Qunqing felt as though the bones in her wrist were about to be crushed by his strength.
Then a voice came from behind them.
“What are you doing? Let go.”
The young man immediately released her hand.
The voice was clear and cold, like melting snow and breaking jade.
Qunqing felt a chill run down her spine.
She turned her head and saw the white figure approaching.
She had deliberately made a scene and called for help, but she never expected that it would bring Lu Huating here.
Qunqing stood frozen, her palms covered in sweat.
Lu Huating slowly approached.
His face gradually became visible through the white veil.
At this age, Lu Huating was several years younger than the man Qunqing had known in her previous life.
His eyes were dark and bright, and when he looked at people, he appeared sincere and gentle.
He kicked Kuang Su lightly on the boot and said,
“He has something wrong with his mind. Don’t take it personally, madam.”
Kuang Su looked wronged but obediently accepted the kick.
Qunqing said, “If he has problems with his mind, why did you let him go out and buy things by himself? Are you a responsible superior?”
The young woman spoke so directly to the Chief Secretary that Juan Su looked at Lu Huating in surprise.
Lu Huating paused.
Then he took a step back and bowed deeply.
“I misjudged the situation and failed to manage my subordinate properly. I apologize, madam.”
The wind rustled the curtain.
The dagger at Lu Huating’s waist and the fish-shaped tally in his pouch lightly clinked together.
The curtain hid his face, giving Qunqing a sense of security.
She waited.
Since he had already apologized, why had he not returned the pastries?
Lu Huating followed her gaze and looked at the pastries in Kuang Su’s arms.
“But…”
Sure enough, there was a “but.”
“But he did pay with gold ingots. The transaction between him and the person you hired has already been completed.”
“Morally, he may have acted improperly. But according to the rules, the pastries now belong to him.”
Lu Huating changed the subject and smiled at her.
“We are only doing our duty for His Highness the Prince of Yan, so we cannot simply give them up.”
“How about I compensate you with silver instead, madam?”
Lu Huating was too unpredictable.
Qunqing did not dare argue further.
“Fine. Then give me back my three gold beads and ten coins.”
She also included the money she had spent buying the candy figurines for the children.
Lu Huating began searching his clothes.
As the people around them grew more impatient, he finally took out three gold beads.
But he could not find the remaining money.
He looked at Juan Su.
Juan Su answered innocently,
“I didn’t bring enough money.”
“…That’s fine.”
Qunqing took a breath and simply held out her bamboo basket.
The basket was tightly covered with cloth, hiding everything inside.
Just like the veiled woman standing before him, it was full of secrets.
Only her hand was visible.
Her fingers were slender and pale, as if they had not seen sunlight for a very long time. Even now, she seemed reluctant to extend her hand.
Juan Su could not help glancing at Lu Huating.
In the gentle breeze, Lu Huating looked at the hand holding the basket.
His expression remained unchanged.
“I don’t like owing people. Which palace do you serve in? I’ll send someone to deliver the rest of the money this afternoon.”
Qunqing froze for a moment.
Lu Huating suddenly grabbed her basket to stop her from leaving.
He did not use much force, but the sudden weight nearly pulled her off balance.
His dark eyes seemed warm and affectionate as they looked through the veil and straight into her eyes.
“People wearing veils in Chang’an are usually either noble ladies or palace maids.”
“And the fish-shaped tallies carried by our guards cannot be easily taken away by anyone except palace personnel.”
“If you want to hide your identity, don’t leave so many clues behind.”
“Otherwise, sooner or later, we will meet again.”
After saying this, he released the basket and gently placed the gold beads inside.
Juan Su was completely confused.
He knew that Lu Huating had originally intended to capture this veiled woman and had deliberately positioned himself to block her escape.
Who would have thought that Lu Huating would suddenly let her go?
Qunqing tossed the gold beads in her hand, then turned around and left without saying another word.
She left behind the strange feeling of someone trying to punch air.
Juan Su hurriedly called after her.
“Wait! You haven’t told us which palace you serve in!”
Just then, a commotion broke out nearby.
From the corner of her eye, Qunqing saw several figures approaching.
Kuang Su might have problems with his mind, but his skills were not slow at all.
The two boxes of pastries in his hands fell to the ground with a loud clatter.
He immediately moved forward and blocked Lu Huating.
Lu Huating was surrounded by more than a dozen men dressed in black and carrying clubs.
They were tall and looked unfriendly.
Golden circular patterns shone on the backs of their belts.
The people on the official road quickly scattered.
Unexpectedly, Lu Huating had no choice but to retreat several steps.
Through the gap between two guards, he saw Qunqing remove her veil.
With a swift movement, she gathered the two boxes of pastries from the ground and wrapped them up.
Then she grabbed the little boy and rushed into the crowd.
Like a fish disappearing into water, she vanished without a trace.