Chapter 40: Ye Xun’s Heart in Turmoil, Shangguan Yunqing Requests an Audience

Seeing everyone depart, Wei Wuji had no mood to pay attention to Ye Xun. He pushed open the hall doors and hurried inside. That Ye Xun’s assassination attempt had implicated Ye Lantian, leaving the Emperor clinging to life by a thread, was something Wei Wuji had never anticipated. At this moment, his own mind was in turmoil, and he felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles.

Meanwhile, Cao An and Ling'er rushed out from the hall to help Ye Xun up.

“Your Highness, please go inside and take shelter from the rain. No one wanted such a thing to happen.”

“Yes, Your Highness, let this servant help you back to the rear courtyard.”

Ye Xun stood up from the pool of blood, gathering his shattered composure. He had originally gained the recognition of the Great Xia Emperor, and matters had taken a significant turn for the better. Yet now, Ye Lantian had been brutally assassinated and left in a coma, fighting for his life. It was a crushing blow to Ye Xun. However, as the event had already transpired, wallowing in despair was meaningless.

Ye Xun made a secret resolution. Whether for his own sake or for the sake of Ye Lantian, who had taken a blade for him, he would find the culprit! He would make something of his life!

...

Prince Qin’s Mansion. Rear Courtyard. Study.

Ye Xun changed into clean clothes and sat at his desk. Wei Feng sat opposite him, his expression somber and his brows deeply furrowed. Originally, everything had been according to their plan, and everything had been moving in a positive direction. But tonight’s events would likely fundamentally alter the landscape of the Great Xia.

“How is the Emperor?” Ye Xun looked up at Wei Feng, his heart filled with indescribable complexity.

Wei Feng sighed mournfully, “The situation is not optimistic. The Imperial Physician-in-Chief says that the chances of His Majesty surviving are less than thirty percent.”

Ye Xun slammed his fist onto the desk, his voice deep and heavy: “It is that severe?”

Wei Feng nodded, helpless. “That is correct. Right now, it is not just His Majesty; our own situation is extremely perilous. His Majesty was assassinated at Prince Qin’s Mansion. Although my father saw that the assassins were targeting you, His Majesty has nonetheless suffered such a grievous injury. Furthermore, you were only just stripped of your position as Crown Prince. If His Majesty were to truly fall, you would have no way to defend yourself and would be unable to escape the blame.”

“It is not just you; the Wei family will also face suppression. I have much to do in the coming days and must prepare for the worst. I may not have time to look after Your Highness.”

At this stage, complaining or blaming others was entirely futile. Given Wei Wuji’s position, one move would affect the whole situation. He would surely do his utmost to stabilize the court.

Following this, Ye Xun nodded and asked: “Cousin, is there anything I can do? I cannot just sit here and do nothing!”

Upon hearing this, Wei Feng’s brows knitted tightly, and he replied: “There is one thing that holds some hope, though it is extremely difficult.”

“What is it? No matter what, I must try!” Ye Xun said anxiously.

Wei Feng nodded and mused: “Very well. If this can be accomplished, it could win some leverage for Your Highness. Deep in the Bulao Mountains within Dongtian County of the Capital, there lives a reclusive Medical Sage who loves to travel across all nations. I heard he just returned to the mountains for seclusion last month. If he could be persuaded to come down, perhaps His Majesty could be saved.”

Hearing this, Ye Xun was slightly taken aback. Persuaded to come down? The one injured was the Emperor of Great Xia, Ye Lantian. Couldn't they just go and bring him by force? At a time like this, what was there left to worry about?

Seeing his reaction, Wei Feng explained: “Your Highness, you do not understand. This Medical Sage has a peculiar temperament. Although he is from Great Xia, he is not subject to its control. Whenever he travels, he holds lectures, and his students are spread across the world. Of the ten remaining Medical Immortals in the world, eight have received his guidance. The physicians who have attended his lectures across various nations are as numerous as carp crossing a river. Fifty percent of the imperial physicians in the Great Xia palace have attended his classes. Even the Great Xia Medical Immortal and Physician-in-Chief Zhang Zhongping was once his external disciple.”

“Because the Medical Sage’s influence is so vast, the nations established a rule: unless the Medical Sage is willing, no one may force him to come out of seclusion by any means, or else all nations will unite to attack the offender. Most of the imperial physicians in every palace owe a debt of gratitude to the Medical Sage; who could bear the consequences of offending him? Moreover, it is rumored that the Medical Sage’s own younger brother is the leader of the 'Drizzle Pavilion,' the world’s number one assassin organization. Thus, even kings dare not easily offend the Medical Sage.”

Hearing this, Ye Xun finally understood the reason. If what Wei Feng said was true, this Medical Sage was indeed someone not to be offended. If the imperial physicians were to go mad, they could potentially poison half the palace. Who could endure such a result? Ye Xun realized this task would not be easy.

Wei Feng continued: “However, this Medical Sage is not entirely heartless; if he is in a good mood, he might come out. He even holds the Iron Certificates of Immunity from Great Xia and surrounding nations.”

Ye Xun: “...”

For one person to hold the Iron Certificates of several countries at once—this was proof enough of the Medical Sage’s influence.

Ye Xun nodded slightly: “Cousin, rest assured, I will do everything in my power to persuade the Medical Sage to come down.”

Afterward, Wei Feng stood up and bowed slightly: “Very well, Your Highness, take care. I will take my leave.”

In truth, Wei Feng held little hope that Ye Xun could actually convince the Medical Sage to descend. He simply wanted to give him something to do so he wouldn't dwell on things. By now, several other princes had already set off for the Bulao Mountains. The hurricane that was about to sweep through Great Xia would certainly not be stopped easily. If the Medical Sage could be persuaded to heal Ye Lantian, it would undoubtedly be a major step toward the throne.

Wei Feng departed. Ye Xun headed toward his bedroom, his head still spinning. Everything had happened far too suddenly.

...

The next day. Dawn broke.

Ye Xun rose early and sat in the study, lost in thought, contemplating his countermeasures. This morning, the Emperor had already been taken back to the palace. Wei Wuji had followed, and Wei Feng was outside stabilizing the situation. Ye Xun had suddenly become a lone wolf. He estimated that many ministers had already written memorials denouncing him and were sending them to the palace. But Ye Xun, having nothing left to lose, thought: what more could they possibly say? Still, he owed it to Wei Wuji’s efforts that he wasn't already under house arrest.

A moment later, Ling'er walked in with a bowl of warm porridge. She placed it before the desk and said with concern: “Your Highness, please eat some porridge. You are also a victim; please do not blame yourself.”

Ye Xun forced a smile: “Do not worry, I will not be defeated so easily.”

He picked up the porridge and took a sip. Wallowing in anxiety, blaming the heavens, or complaining—that was simply not Ye Xun’s nature.

Seeing Ye Xun eat, Ling'er wore a relieved smile. Ye Xun was even stronger than she had imagined. Having walked this path with him, she knew the difficulties and the bitter hardships he had endured. They had come so close—just a hair's breadth away—from the total destruction of Prince Qin’s Mansion in the capital.

At the same time, Zhao Jia arrived outside the study to report: “Your Highness, Shangguan Yunqing requests an audience.”