Chapter 51: Prince Wu Seeks to Intercept, the Medical Saint Plays Along
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Listening to Zhao Kai, Ye Xun knitted his brows tightly. He understood at once that someone was deliberately obstructing him.
Otherwise, Zhao Kai would never have dared to bar his way at such a critical moment.
At that very instant, a luxurious sedan adorned with golden tassels along the edge of its canopy came to a stop before Azure Dragon Gate.
Ye Xun looked over.
Ye Tao emerged from the sedan, holding a folding fan and wearing a broad smile.
He had not expected the person scheming behind the scenes to reveal himself so quickly.
Ye Tao was a master of calculation, but Ye Xun was no fool. With one glance, he saw exactly what Ye Tao was plotting.
After stepping down from the sedan, Ye Tao did not even spare Ye Xun a glance. He merely looked toward Zhao Kai and lowered his eyes.
“Chief Zhao, what has happened? Why are you refusing to let Prince Qin enter the palace?”
Zhao Kai hurried forward and bowed obsequiously.
“Your Highness, Prince Wu, His Majesty once issued an edict stating that without his personal warrant, no one may admit Prince Qin into the palace without authorization. I am merely acting in accordance with the imperial decree.”
“I was just discussing the matter with His Highness, asking him to wait outside while I have someone escort the Medical Sage into the palace.”
Ye Tao nodded with exaggerated solemnity.
“Indeed. Without rules, there can be no order. You cannot be blamed.”
“Since these are Father’s rules, neither of us can defy his decree.”
“Still, Father’s injuries are severe. We cannot afford any delay.”
He then turned to Ye Xun, raising his brows with unconcealed smugness.
“My dear elder brother, why not let your younger brother escort the Medical Sage instead? Was it not always your younger brother who risked his life for you in matters such as this?”
Seeing Ye Tao’s triumphant, petty expression, Ye Xun laughed inwardly.
The fool was rushing headlong to his own death.
At the same time, Wu Shouzhi, Wu Yue, and Shangguan Yunqing approached the gate.
Wu Shouzhi had traveled countless miles and encountered every kind of person under heaven. With one glance, he saw through Ye Tao’s scheme.
He immediately turned toward Ye Xun and pretended to be furious.
“Ye Xun, my time is precious. What sort of prince are you if you cannot even enter the imperial palace?”
“If this is how things stand, then I might as well not treat this illness. Consider the favor owed to the Shangguan family repaid.”
With that, he turned and began walking back the way he had come.
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Seeing this, Ye Tao felt even more pleased with himself and hurriedly called out, “Medical Sage Wu, you may not be familiar with the affairs of the imperial family. My dear elder brother is a deposed crown prince and is forbidden from entering the palace.”
“Allow me to escort you inside to treat Father’s illness. Would that not be best?”
He then looked toward Ye Xun.
“Elder brother, surely you would not let Medical Sage Wu leave like this, abandoning Father to danger?”
At that moment, Ye Xun swore inwardly that he would one day destroy this wretch, Ye Tao, once and for all.
But for now, Ye Tao wanted to make a spectacle of himself.
There was no way Ye Xun would refuse him.
Turning toward Wu Shouzhi, Ye Xun gave a slight bow.
“Medical Sage Wu, I am truly sorry. Since I am at fault and cannot enter the palace, please accompany him inside.”
“Hmph…”
Wu Shouzhi swept his sleeve, his face darkening, then led Wu Yue through Azure Dragon Gate.
Ye Tao greeted him with an ingratiating smile.
“Medical Sage Wu, the palace is still some distance from here. You may ride in my sedan.”
Wu Shouzhi stopped and cast him a sidelong glance.
“Then what will you do?”
“Hehe…” Ye Tao’s face became a mask of smiles. “I shall walk. It would be my honor for you to ride in my sedan.”
At this moment, Ye Tao was doing everything in his power to win Wu Shouzhi over. He did not even dare to address himself as Prince Wu.
Seeing his obsequious, villainous manner, Wu Shouzhi sneered inwardly.
He even dares to scheme against my third brother?
You will have plenty of time to cry later.
Ye Xun and Shangguan Yunqing stood before Azure Dragon Gate, watching Wu Shouzhi follow Ye Tao inside.
As for Chief Zhao, he walked toward the gate tower without looking back.
Shangguan Yunqing gazed at Ye Tao, her beautiful eyes growing cold. She had always despised the man from the bottom of her heart—fickle, hypocritical, and utterly shameless.
Back then, everyone in the capital had known that Ye Tao was Ye Xun’s devoted follower, eager to tear out his own heart and offer it to Ye Xun.
Ye Xun had treated him well in return, taking the blame for him on countless occasions.
Yet now that Ye Xun had been demoted, Ye Tao not only refused to lend him a hand, but had repeatedly plotted against him. He was truly vicious.
Ye Xun turned to Shangguan Yunqing.
“Yunqing, why do you not return home first? The sun is so fierce. If it leaves you tanned, I shall be guilty indeed.”
At his words, Shangguan Yunqing paused slightly, a blush spreading across her cheeks. She did not know when it had begun, but Ye Xun had started calling her by her given name.
She had always detested it when other people addressed her with such intimacy.
Yet when Ye Xun did it, she felt no displeasure at all.
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Shangguan Yunqing shook her head slightly and replied in a gentle voice, “Your Highness, I am fine. I promised to see this matter through with you. How could I leave halfway?”
“This amount of sunlight is nothing to me. Please do not imagine me as some delicate young lady born to wealth and privilege.”
Her voice was soft, yet filled with resolve.
“Hehe…” Ye Xun raised his brows and smiled. “Very well. It seems I owe you another favor.”
Shangguan Yunqing turned toward him, her willow brows lifting as her lips parted in confusion.
“Why do you say that, Your Highness? Why must you owe me yet another favor?”
Ye Xun said calmly, “Look at all the princes and nobles throughout the capital. Every one of them is eager to sever all ties with me, Ye Xun. They would prefer nothing more than to stand against me.”
“Who else would remain by my side as you have, standing beneath this blazing sun, being refused entry to the palace by the city guards, and enduring all this coldness and humiliation?”
Shangguan Yunqing raised her pale-blue sleeve and covered her mouth as she giggled.
“Your Highness, you are being too modest. Once Elder Wu publicly reveals the relationship between you and him, countless people will come rushing to curry favor with you.”
“When that happens, even if I wish to stand beside you, there may no longer be room for me.”
“And as for Prince Wu, I fear…”
There was an old saying: the more one boasts, the harder one falls.
Ye Tao could never have imagined that Ye Xun and Wu Shouzhi had already sworn brotherhood.
At this very moment, he was still secretly congratulating himself on his despicable scheme.
Before long, he would likely be subjected to endless ridicule.
Shangguan Yunqing was increasingly convinced that Wu Shouzhi and Ye Xun were much alike.
Just now, the two of them had exchanged no more than a fleeting glance, yet each had immediately understood the other’s intentions.
Clearly, Wu Shouzhi was no kindhearted man either.
Ye Xun turned his head and gazed into Shangguan Yunqing’s limpid autumn-like eyes.
“Do you think I am a man who relies on underhanded methods?”
Shangguan Yunqing met his gaze. Her eyes trembled faintly, and then she lowered her head shyly.
“You jest, Your Highness…”
“You are merely treating others as they have treated you.”
“Though I am a woman, I understand the principles involved. You had no choice but to take this step.”
Ye Xun nodded slightly, then changed the subject.
“In a few days, I shall take my elder brother to the Shangguan residence to pay my respects to your grandfather.”
“After all, we owe your grandfather a favor for this matter.”
Shangguan Yunqing was startled, then quickly replied, “Your Highness, there is no need to be so formal. I am merely repaying the favor I owe you.”