Divine Physician Xue sat on the rooftop, lost in thought.
The things Qi Yuan said to him today had shaken him to the core, so much so that he simply couldn’t pretend as if nothing had happened.
Why had he studied medicine in the first place?
What had he actually done all these years that truly benefited the common people?
What did it mean to be a renowned physician?
Each of Qi Yuan’s questions had stabbed deep into his heart.
And only now, in this moment of quiet, did he finally realize, most of his life had nearly passed him by, and all the medical knowledge he had painstakingly acquired… still had nowhere to be fully put to use.
At best, he had amounted to no more than Qi Wang’s personal doctor.
Not even as respectable as a palace physician from the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Once, he had mocked those court doctors for only treating nobles, for only caring about royal lives.
But now, how was he any different from those very same people he used to scorn?
No, he was even worse.
At least in times of plague, those imperial physicians had to draft prescriptions.
And he? He stayed by Qi Wang’s side, willingly playing the role of a guard dog.
His thoughts churned endlessly, keeping him up late into the night, unable to sleep.
And yet, the night wind was blowing over not just Divine Physician Xue.
—
By the time Qi Wang returned to the manor, it was already very late.
He hadn’t really taken the riot among the commoners to heart, just a bunch of lowborn rabble, after all. If the guards hadn’t been too heavy-handed and beaten a few people to death in the street, he wouldn’t have even bothered to show up.
What was there to deal with?
He had never thought of such matters as his concern, he just blamed Xiong Liangyong for being incompetent.
Xiong Liangyong nearly coughed up blood from anger. This was truly an eye-opener for him.
He had thought the officials of Jiangxi were already arrogant enough, but in front of Qi Wang, no one could compare. Who could out-arrogant a man like Qi Wang, who started conversations with “beat him to death”?
All he could do was tightly grip Qi Wang’s sleeve and plead, “Your Highness! You can’t just beat people to death! Because of those deaths and the burning of Xujiagou, the people are already outraged!”
He finally understood why Qi Wang had been exiled to Jiangxi as a vassal prince.
The man was simply not fit to be the Crown Prince. What had Duke Chu’s household been doing all these years?
Even after Qi Wang had started his formal studies, all his tutors were esteemed officials from the Hanlin Academy, Ministry of Rites, and Ministry of Personnel.
What educated man doesn’t teach the value of the people and the conduct of a ruler?
Did he ever study seriously? Had he even learned a thing?
Because if he had, he wouldn’t be so domineering now. If he ever became emperor, he would certainly bring about the downfall of the dynasty!
Qi Wang frowned, annoyed: “You handle it. What use am I standing here?”
Xiong Liangyong looked at the growing crowd and lowered his voice: “Your Highness, the number of people is increasing. You need to be careful not to incite a riot! Even if there isn’t a riot, if someone gets trampled, the consequences will be unthinkable.”
Yes, he was a corrupt official, but he wasn’t stupid.
If this blew up, it wouldn’t just be hard to explain to the capital, it’d be handing Xiao Yunting a perfect weapon!
Qi Wang had no choice but to bear with it and endure until the chaos was resolved.
He was eager to get back.
Once, that prince’s manor had meant nothing to him, it was just another building. But now it was different.
Now, Qi Yuan was there.
Knowing she was in that place brought him a strange sense of peace.
Xiong Liangyong watched Qi Wang return to the manor and finally let out a long sigh as he lowered the curtain.
Normally, an official like him would ride in a sedan chair, but this time, he’d requested a carriage. After running around all day and shouting himself hoarse, he simply couldn’t hold up any longer.
Once the carriage had pulled away from the long street outside Qi Wang’s residence, the advisor beside him spoke softly: “My lord, Qi Wang is not someone we can strategize with.”
So many advisors and aides had offered ideas today, so many people had pleaded with Qi Wang.
But he didn’t listen to a single word.
Not only did he ignore everyone, he even showed extreme impatience.
If Xiong Liangyong hadn’t risked everything and begged him personally, Qi Wang would have turned his back and left the scene without a second thought.
Xiong Liangyong sighed deeply. Hearing his aide’s comment, his expression grew bitter.
“His Highness… he is far too self-absorbed. Completely spoiled.”
All those years of favor from Emperor Yongchang, coupled with the support of Noble Consort Xiao Liu and Duke Chu’s estate, had bred this arrogance.
He didn’t care about anyone.
Didn’t care about the people’s lives or deaths.
And that… wasn’t even the scariest part.
The scariest part was, Qi Wang didn’t even care about his own people.
The advisor fell silent for a moment, then said gravely:
“Things in Jiangxi have gotten out of hand. His Majesty will surely fly into a rage…”
But Qi Wang still insisted on having Xiao Yunting killed.
The problem was, if Xiao Yunting died, Qi Wang might be fine… but the entire Jiangxi officialdom would be in deep trouble.
Xiong Liangyong closed his eyes and thought carefully.
The advisor, seeing this, spoke in a low voice: “If something really happens to the Imperial Grandson, even if Qi Wang gets away with it, my lord, you won’t be able to escape responsibility.”
Xiong Liangyong knew what he meant.
He opened his eyes, frowned deeply, and said: “The arrow’s already on the string, it must be released. I’ve considered that, but… there might be a way.”
The advisor lowered his head: “You mean…?”
“Aren’t there rumors of mountain bandits?” Xiong Liangyong sounded utterly exhausted. “If the Imperial Grandson is taken by bandits… even if there’s blame, it won’t be too severe.”
At worst, he’d be dismissed.
But that was still better than dying, wasn’t it?
He raised an eyebrow and looked at the advisor: “For everything else, let’s just hope Qi Wang lends a hand when the time comes.”
The advisor shook his head, he had little hope that Qi Wang would help anyone.
Who did Qi Wang see in his eyes?
Right now, the only person in his eyes was Qi Yuan.
—
But just as Qi Wang returned to his residence and was about to look for Qi Yuan, he received a letter.
Eunuch Feng watched his expression and immediately felt a chill down his spine.
“Your Highness?”
Qi Wang’s face was stone-cold as he crumpled the letter into a ball. Then, without a word, he turned and stormed toward the study.
Eunuch Feng scrambled after him: “Your Highness! Your Highness!”
But Qi Wang didn’t stop. His face was cold as ice. After walking some distance, he suddenly halted, turned to Eunuch Feng, and said: “Mobilize every archer in the residence, send them to the study!”
Eunuch Feng paled in shock. His heart nearly stopped. But he quickly came to his senses and cried: “Yes! Right away! This old servant will see to it!”
He was so startled that his foot slipped, nearly sending him tumbling down the steps, but he barely managed to catch himself before dashing off.
