At that moment, Qi Wang was reading a letter from Daoist Li Changqing at his fief. Along with the letter came a small box. Inside it were black medicinal plasters, emitting a pungent, overpowering smell that made one instinctively want to cover their nose.
But Qi Wang didn’t.
On the contrary, he stared greedily at the box, and then turned urgently to the Divine Physician Xue, who was bent over, scraping at the ointment: “Well? Tell me, is it effective or not?!”
This ointment was sent by Li Changqing, who claimed it was a type of bone-regenerating salve he had acquired while traveling in the Western Regions—capable of helping broken bones grow back together.
Qi Wang immediately recalled the Qi Yuan from his past life. At first, Qi Yuan had her leg broken by her own brother, yet she later served as a death soldier, all thanks to this very ointment.
Now he had it too. Did this mean his own leg could be healed?!
Just the thought of it filled his eyes with burning frenzy.
Divine Physician Xue looked cautious, though he was clearly amazed as well: “I’ll have to study it. This doesn’t exist in the Central Plains—I’ve never seen anything like it! Let me try, let me test it.”
Qi Wang forced himself to remain calm.
The ointment was right here. If it truly worked, Divine Physician Xue would find results in just a few days.
He nodded. “Good. Do your best to test it!”
Divine Physician Xue carefully carried the box away.
Eunuch Xu immediately knelt, tears streaming down his face as he congratulated the prince: “Your Highness is blessed by Heaven! Daoist Li traveled thousands of miles to deliver such a divine medicine—Your Highness will surely be healed!”
Whenever it rained, the pain in that leg flared up again.
The leg had been broken twice. Qi Wang gently touched it, eyes cold and distant.
Yes, he thought, truly blessed by Heaven.
Li Changqing had returned—and brought with him this miraculous medicine from the Western Regions.
Didn’t this mean Heaven still favored him? He had escaped from the capital against all odds, the Feng family had returned to the capital, and now he had a way to cure his leg…
Thinking of Li Changqing’s return to the capital, Qi Wang couldn’t help but laugh softly: “Yes, I’ll definitely recover. If my royal mother and sister knew, they’d be overjoyed.”
In the past, he hadn’t listened to his royal mother, nor to Eldest Princess Baorong.
He had indulged Qi Yuan again and again, believed in her, and in the end—it cost him his life.
But that didn’t matter anymore. Though his past was full of mistakes, from now on—he would never soften again.
Let the fight begin.
A centipede doesn’t die easily, and neither does the Eastern Palace. It couldn’t be destroyed from outside—it had to collapse from within.
Eunuch Xu, moved to tears: “Yes, Your Highness. If the Imperial Consort and Her Highness the Eldest Princess can see from Heaven, they’ll surely be delighted.”
Qi Wang laughed heartily: “Why cry? This is something to celebrate! Come—we’ll go make offerings to my royal mother and sister and bring them this joyful news. And let’s enjoy the spectacle unfolding in the capital!”
Eunuch Xu rushed to make arrangements.
—
Indeed, a storm was brewing in the capital.
Emperor Yongchang summoned Xiao Yunting. When he heard Xiao Yunting say he wished to marry Qi Yuan, he immediately remembered the bold young woman who had knelt before him and said she wasn’t afraid of being slandered—because he was a wise ruler.
That girl—Qi Zhen’s daughter—was lovely, clever, from a noble marquis’ household, and more importantly, Xiao Yunting clearly liked her…
The emperor laughed: “So this stubborn old block of wood finally figured it out.”
Xiao Yunting knelt, speaking earnestly: “Royal Grandfather, I rarely ask anything of you. But for this matter of a lifetime, I hope to marry someone I truly love, someone I can grow old with. Please grant your blessing.”
Grow old together…
Emperor Yongchang suddenly thought of his younger self—when he had just married Liu Wangfei. Back then, he had dreamed of never parting from Wan Ying.
He was momentarily lost in thought.
When he came back to himself, he smiled and looked at Xiao Yunting: “You really do resemble me.”
Bright, spirited, full of youthful vigor and sincerity—unafraid of anything.
He raised his brows: “Very well. I understand. I’ll have the Ministry of Rites draft the formal procedures. You are the Imperial Grandson, and your wife will be the future mother of the nation—this can’t be taken lightly.”
Xiao Yunting exhaled in relief.
The emperor’s willingness to yield meant he had a good impression of Qi Yuan.
And indeed, on the surface, Qi Yuan was just a noble young lady trained in martial arts and horsemanship. Other than that infamous horse race with Liu Mingzhu, she had never caused trouble.
Thinking of Liu Wangfei, the emperor sighed and summoned Daoist Li Changqing: “Daoist, about Mo’er’s condition…”
Li Changqing, dressed in Daoist robes and holding a horsetail whisk, looked like a transcendent sage. He answered calmly, “This old Daoist must see the boy in person before making a judgment.”
He specialized in summoning souls and treating with elixirs.
It was said he was a descendant of one of the imperial magicians from Emperor Wu of Han’s time.
Emperor Yongchang thought of Xiao Mo—his fits, Liu Wangfei’s worn-out face—and felt a pang in his heart.
Mo’er was his son. If there was any way to help him and Liu Wangfei live easier lives, he wanted to try.
“Perfect,” he said. “Tomorrow is the first of the month. I always visit them then. You’ll come with me.”
Li Changqing smiled and agreed.
—
On that day, Qi Yuan also followed the Eldest Princess up the mountain to visit Liu Wangfei and Xiao Mo.
Since returning to the capital, the Eldest Princess had grown closer to Liu Wangfei. Over the years, Lu Jintang and Xiao Mo had become quite fond of one another as well. On the first and fifteenth of each month, the eldest princess always made a trip to Baiyun Temple to burn incense—and visit Liu Wangfei and her son.
Liu Wangfei liked Qi Yuan, and Qi Yuan would often accompany Xiao Mo, so the eldest princess always invited her along.
But this time, Emperor Yongchang was there too.
Although Liu Wangfei didn’t care much for him, she wouldn’t stop him from visiting his son—especially when he’d brought a famous healer.
Nervous, she stood with hands clasped as Li Changqing examined Xiao Mo. Her voice trembled: “Daoist… what do you think?”
Li Changqing lifted his eyelids and shook his head slowly: “His soul has been absent for too long. If only you had come to me earlier…”
Liu Wangfei’s face fell in disappointment.
But then he added: “However, the epilepsy can still be treated. I will set up a formation, perform several rites, and see if I can recover some part of him.”
Liu Wangfei was overjoyed. Every seizure worsened Xiao Mo’s condition—if it could be cured, it would still be a great improvement.
Just then, a young Daoist nun came in to announce the arrival of the Eldest Princess.
Liu Wangfei quickly said, “Invite her in!”
She was eager to share the hopeful news with the princess—when suddenly, Li Changqing let out a quiet hmm and stood up.
Emperor Yongchang turned to him: “What is it?”
Li Changqing’s expression turned grave: “The White Tiger Death Star has appeared… this is an ominous sign!”
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