Resplendent – Chapter 470

Chapter 470 — Background

“Ye’er…” Chu Bufan sounded a bit helpless. He quickly turned to apologize to the emperor. “My young daughter has studied medicine for only a few days, and now she insists on taking everyone’s pulse she meets. Lord Huang, please do not take offense.”

“Not at all, not at all!” Emperor Zhao Rong stroked his beard and laughed. “I never expected that Miss Gu would turn out to be the daughter your Chu family lost for so many years. Duke, you must not be so modest. How could your daughter have learned medicine for only a few days? Last autumn, she saved my— this elder’s life at the hunting grounds. She is my benefactor! Come, Little Divine Doctor, see if there is anything wrong with my body.”

Gu Ye solemnly took the emperor’s pulse, then nodded. “Your— Uncle Huang is recovering well.  It’s just that you’ve been overworked and overheated recently. You need to rest more and keep a light diet.”

Indeed, envoys from all nations had been arriving in Fanjing lately, and the population of the capital had nearly doubled. Countless matters required attention, and even the slightest oversight could lead to diplomatic conflict. Emperor Zhao Rong had exhausted his mind and strength, thoroughly worn out. He nodded slightly and smiled. “Very well. I shall follow your advice.”

Watching from a distance as the Chu family rescued Gu Ye, and seeing her chatting warmly with the emperor and Crown Prince of Dongling, Gong Lishang felt puzzled. 

Wasn’t that girl surnamed Gu just an unimportant village girl from a northern mountain village? When did she become a young lady of the Duke of Zhen’s family? And how had she managed to earn the special regard of the Emperor of Dongling?

Gong Lishang lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then slowly walked toward Gu Ye. The Crown Prince, who was responsible for receiving envoys from various nations, exchanged formal greetings with him.

Gu Ye glared at Gong Lishang and muttered angrily under her breath, “Hypocrite! Smiles to your face, stabs you in the back!”

Her voice was soft, but loud enough for everyone present to hear. Chu Bufan gave an insincere reprimand, “Ye’er, do not be rude!”

Gu Ye remembered how this seductive demon had indeed harbored killing intent toward her just moments ago, so naturally she didn’t give him a pleasant expression. She let out a heavy snort and turned her face away. 

Chu Bufan was also puzzled. His daughter was normally obedient and sensible. Why was she only showing a bad attitude toward the Crown Prince of Li Kingdom? It must be the Crown Prince’s fault! In the Duke’s heart, his daughter was perfect in every way. Even if she ever did anything wrong, the fault must lie with someone else.

Gong Lishang lifted a charming, devilish smile and said, “It’s no bother. Miss Ye simply has a misunderstanding about this Crown Prince.”

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding, you know very well! Can you honestly say you never had killing intent toward me?” Gu Ye curled her lip, her expression filled with disdain—hypocrite!

Chu Bufan and his sons all stiffened at her words.

The Crown Prince of Li Kingdom had once harbored thoughts of killing their daughter (sister)? Absolutely unacceptable! The Chu father and sons surrounded Gu Ye protectively, layer by layer, wearing expressions that clearly said: If you want to touch her, you’ll have to get past us first.

Emperor Zhao Rong finally spoke, slowly, “Little girl, there must be some misunderstanding here. Crown Prince Gong is the dignified heir of a great nation. How could he stoop to harboring grudges against a little girl like you? Since it’s a misunderstanding, let it be resolved and left behind. Do not bring it up again!”

Gong Lishang saw how strongly the Dongling Emperor was defending her, and felt even more astonished. The smile on his face deepened as he nodded. “Back then, Miss Ye even treated this Crown Prince’s injuries. I have always remembered that kindness.”

“Forget about it! As long as you don’t repay kindness with hatred, I’ll already consider myself fortunate!” Gu Ye continued muttering under her breath, expressing her dissatisfaction. So what if he was the prince of a great nation? So what if he was the Crown Prince? If he angered her, the fate of Li Kingdom’s First Prince should serve as a clear warning!

Gong Lishang had clearly thought of that as well. This girl’s backing was growing stronger by the day! The Duke of Zhen’s entire household, the Emperor of Dongling—he could choose not to regard them seriously. But… he glanced at Yin Mei standing behind Gu Ye…

Ling Juechen’s methods were formidable, and that was someone he could not afford to provoke.

“It seems Miss Ye still holds some misunderstanding and resentment toward this Crown Prince.” Gong Lishang smiled faintly. His beautiful features carried a hint of seductive charm, and his alluring fox-like eyes looked as though they could steal one’s soul.

Although Gu Ye liked handsome men, she wanted nothing to do with men who were as dangerously intoxicating as poison. She couldn’t be bothered with him and simply curled her lip. No matter how eloquently he spoke, those black-clad attackers just now weren’t her hallucination. Did he really think she was a naïve little girl who could be coaxed with a sweet date right after being slapped? Gu Ye made up her mind: once she returned, she would write a letter to complain to Brother Chen, telling him that Gong Lishang bullied her. Hmph!

After sending Gong Lishang off, Emperor Zhao Rong looked at Gu Ye with a kindly smile and asked, “Girl, what kind of grudge exists between you and that Crown Prince?”

Gu Ye shrugged and said casually, “It’s nothing much, really. Back when I was in Qingshan Village, I treated that guy’s injuries. He noticed that my medical skills were good and that I could make medicine, so he got the idea of taking me back to Li Kingdom with him. But I’m a citizen of Dongling. My home is Qingshan Village. I finally experienced the warmth of family from Grandpa and my brother. Why would I be willing to go with him? So I slipped deep into the mountains and escaped. While running away, I sprinkled itchy powder on him, making his whole body unbearably itchy for an entire month. Seeing him again today, I can’t help wondering whether those black-clad men were his doing!”

Chu Xiaoliu said angrily, “You saved him, and he tried to capture you instead. No wonder you say he repays kindness with malice! A person like that doesn’t deserve to be saved!”

Gu Ye nodded in strong agreement. “If it turns out he was behind today’s incident, then when I go back I’ll tell my master and senior brothers that our Sage Apothecary sect must sever all ties with the Li royal family. After I complete my assessment, and if I’m lucky, advance to be a Grand Pharmacist, my words will carry weight. I’ll expose all his evil deeds throughout the apothecary world and make him the enemy of every pharmacist!”

“Absolutely not!” Chu Bufan interjected. “A cornered dog will leap over a wall. How much worse would a Crown Prince behave?”

If the Crown Prince of Li Kingdom openly moved against her, even the Duke’s Manor might not be able to protect her. Chu Bufan felt overwhelming guilt. His daughter had been wronged, yet as her father he couldn’t shield her or stand up for her. He truly wasn’t a competent father!

“There is one solution,” Chu Mutong said as he closed his folding fan and tapped it lightly against his palm. He spoke slowly. “It’s said that the Li Kingdom’s First Prince offended a pharmacist, was struck with a strange poison, and now lives a life worse than death!”

Gu Ye’s lips moved a few times. She wanted to say that she was the pharmacist in question, but in the end she swallowed the words. Dongling was not Yan Kingdom; this concerned relations between two nations. She didn’t want her father and brothers worrying or fearing for her because of it.

After this incident, the Chu family no longer had the mood to enjoy the scenery. Chu Bufan protected his wife and daughter as they hurried back to the manor. The three black-clad men who were still unconscious were handed over to the Ministry of Justice. All three were death soldiers. Nothing of value could be extracted from them.

Emperor Zhao Rong already had some suspicion about where they came from, and since this was the critical period of the Great Pharmacists Convention, it was best not to stir up further trouble. He issued a secret order: each man was to be given a cup of poison wine and executed.

Gong Lishang had failed to capture Gu Ye and instead lost three of his elite shadow guards. It was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to lose the rice. Now that Gu Ye’s identity had changed, if he wanted to make a move against her, he would indeed have to think carefully. And Ling Juechen had also arrived in Fanjing—something he could not afford to overlook.