FID – Chapter 779

Chapter 779: Not Without a Price

If it weren’t for Feng Qingbai turning a blind eye, who would dare be so brazen and outrageous as to humiliate members of the royal family?

That identity alone was already beyond the reach of ordinary people!

Feng Moyun pressed his lips into a straight line, his gaze dark and brooding.

What else could they do?

Causing a scene here only made them laughingstocks—further exposing the decline of Prince Yan’s Manor.

If they couldn’t even enter the imperial palace, could they still call themselves royalty?

It was shortly after morning court had adjourned, and the civil and military officials were filtering out one after another—many taking in the scene unfolding at the gates.

Some averted their eyes and walked away. Some ignored them completely. Some even took schadenfreude-laced pleasure in mocking them with veiled insults, flaunting their own superiority.

Qin Xiao was the last to emerge.

Dressed in his military court robes, he stood tall and imposing. Years of battlefield command had left a lingering air of killing intent about him, making him especially striking.

The moment he appeared, Feng Qingyan looked as if he had seen a savior and rushed toward him.

“General Qin! General Qin! You must help me. Back when my imperial mother still had her freedom, she often spoke of your righteousness. Now that she’s been imprisoned in the Qingning Palace, I can’t even visit her. I’m beyond worried—please, for the sake of old ties, lend me your aid!”

Qin Xiao’s gaze fell on the arm that Feng Qingyan had just grabbed. With a light flick, he sent him stumbling back three steps. “Dowager Consort Liu was placed under house arrest because she committed wrongdoing. This is known throughout the court. I’m afraid I cannot help you, Prince Yan. My apologies.”

After speaking, Qin Xiao turned and left without looking back. Many who witnessed the scene ridiculed the plight of Prince Yan and his son even more.

When Feng Qingbai heard about it, he merely smiled faintly and offered no comment.

As for Qin Xiao—Feng Qingbai still hadn’t fully figured him out.

He didn’t know what that man was planning, but he was certain of one thing: Qin Xiao could not be underestimated.

The dog that doesn’t bark bites the hardest.

On the way back to the manor, Wei Zi reported.

“Master, the Imperial Insignia Guards reports that over the past couple of days, quite a few unfamiliar faces have appeared in the capital. Their behavior and speech don’t seem like people from Nanling. They appear to be searching for something. Shall I order the guards to tighten surveillance or drive them out?”

“Get a clearer picture first. Nanling is a land of propriety, but if these are scoundrels from another land causing trouble, there’s no need to bother with manners.”

“If another nation sent envoys, they’d have officially announced themselves. Coming in like this, silent and hidden—I worry they might be spies.”

Feng Qingbai shook his head. “True spies would never move in groups, too conspicuous. Have someone shadow them. If they show any suspicious behavior, treat them like common bandits and kill them on the spot.”

“Yes, Master.”

This was the most appropriate and advantageous way to strike back.

Since they had entered someone else’s territory without announcing themselves, the host was fully justified in treating them as unidentified criminals and executing them under the charge of banditry—still entirely within reason.

After all, who told them not to reveal their identities or announce their arrival in advance?

Wei Zi had already condensed his evaluation of his master into just two words: ruthless and heartless.

Only in front of the Princess Consort did his master show the demeanor of a refined gentleman, constantly exuding charm and elegance, keeping the princess thoroughly enchanted.

Three days later, when they returned to Dahuai Lane, the middle-aged man was already waiting at the courtyard entrance.

Seeing his appearance, Liu Yusheng’s gaze deepened slightly.

At the doorway of the main hall stood two stools. The legs and seats were mismatched in color, clearly cobbled together in makeshift repairs.

Still, at least there was somewhere to sit now.

The young man was already seated on one of the stools, waiting for her.

After sitting down, Liu Yusheng dismissed her maid who had accompanied her closely, indicating she would not allow an observer.

This gesture made the middle-aged man and the youth visibly relax, gratitude surfacing in their eyes.

They sat in silence for a moment. Then, the youth picked up a broken wooden twig nearby and began sketching a few strokes on the ground.

Liu Yusheng focused her gaze—it was the character for seven (七). “Is this your name?”

The young man shook his head, then nodded, and looked toward the middle-aged man.

“Our young master is the seventh child in the family. This isn’t his given name, but those who know him well all call him Xiao Qi. So, in a way, it counts as a name,” the middle-aged man explained on his behalf.

Liu Yusheng nodded and didn’t press further about the young man’s name. For him to write the character ‘seven’ today and offer a bit of explanation about his identity. This already showed a degree of trust.

“Madam, your previous diagnosis was accurate. Our Young Master’s throat was indeed scalded, and later he was force-fed medicine. Since then, he hasn’t been able to speak.” The middle-aged man paused and glanced at the youth. Only after the young man nodded did he continue, “He and I escaped. Had we not fled, our lives would have been in danger. Madam once said you only treat the illness and don’t concern yourself with other matters. After hearing all this, we hope you’ll remain true to that principle. And please be assured—we will never allow this matter to implicate you.”

This was their last hope.

Other healers either found his Young Master’s condition beyond their skill—or, after sensing something was off, refused to even try treating him.

Only the Princess Consort of Nanling, after sensing something was off, could still calmly say, “I’ll be back in three days.”

These past three days, they hadn’t left but had waited in place instead—it was, in fact, a gamble.

If the Princess Consort of Nanling had reported them, they would have been finished.

Fortunately, his young master had bet on the right person.

Liu Yusheng frowned and motioned for the boy to open his mouth again so she could examine his throat under the daylight. “Was it a branding iron?”

“…Yes.”

Liu Yusheng felt her chest tighten, a wave of indescribable emotion rising.

A red-hot branding iron pressed into the throat—such cruelty was beyond comprehension.

The boy before her was only fifteen or sixteen years old. It must have been worse than death for him to suffer that kind of torture. One could say he had clawed his way back from the gates of hell.

She couldn’t imagine what kind of hatred or purpose would drive someone to be so vicious to a youth.

She reached out and gently pressed around his throat. The boy immediately furrowed his brows in pain, a gurgling whimper rising from his throat.

It was very firm—swelling caused by inflammation that hadn’t subsided. In this condition, even drinking water would be difficult, let alone speaking.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Yusheng said, “I can’t say for sure how long the treatment will take, but it certainly won’t be short. In his case, the inflammation must be reduced first before any further treatment can begin. Staying here isn’t very convenient for medical care. I’ll help you find a place to settle temporarily. Let’s take it step by step.”

The boy’s gaze shifted slightly. He looked deeply at Liu Yusheng and nodded.

“Thank you for your kindness, Madam!”

It was that phrase again. The middle-aged man seemed quite fond of saying ‘kindness.’ 

Liu Yusheng rubbed her forehead. She was merely being responsible for her patient. “I can help you find a place to stay, but your daily living expenses will be your own responsibility.”

“Please don’t worry, Madam. As long as my Young Master can settle down, I’ll immediately go out and find some work. We’ll manage to feed ourselves,” the middle-aged man quickly replied. “It’s just… regarding your consultation and medicine fees, we might need some time to gather the silver before repaying you.”

Liu Yusheng nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll put it on your tab. You can pay it back gradually.”

The middle-aged man’s face twitched.

“Even a benevolent doctor needs to eat. If I have no income, how would I eat? I can’t do this for free,” the woman added, glancing at him.

“That’s not what I meant.” The middle-aged man was sweating now.

He hadn’t meant to ask for it free—but it was hard to take her words at face value. She was the Princess Consort of Nanling, after all. How could a princess consort possibly go hungry…