FID – Chapter 1053

Chapter 1053: The Emperor of Xiliang

Over a year had passed since seeing Shan Lai, and she looked almost the same as the last time they met in the prison cell There was no noticeable change in her appearance.

Only her attire was different.

It wasn’t like what ordinary Xiliang people wore, nor the clothing of the royal family, and it certainly wasn’t the style of Nanling.

The garments were primarily black, embroidered with rainbow-colored threads, adorned with tassels, exuding a distinctly exotic flair.

It was quite similar to the style worn by the women of the Saintess Tribe.

Feng Qingbai and Xue Qinglian exchanged a glance, almost speaking in unison without a word.

Gu Medicine Clan.

The old eunuch must have run out of options that he even suspected the use of Gu.

They watched Shan Lai stride into the Imperial Household Department and was respectfully escorted by the attendants to the eunuch’s room. Xue Qinglian immediately slipped over and hid near that room.

Being a guard to the old eunuch had its perks. One could eavesdrop openly and justify it as protecting the master.

After finding a good hiding spot, he noticed Feng Qingbai hadn’t moved from his original position. Xue Qinglian sent a voice message: “Hey, why aren’t you coming over?”

“I can hear everything just fine from here.”

“….” Xue Qinglian silently twisted his face. If he exchanged even one more word with Feng Qingbai before the day ended, he was officially dead meat.

Peering through the carefully chosen gap in the view, Xue Qinglian could just make out the position of the large bed inside the room.

Seeing Shan Lai enter, the old eunuch—who had been lying there with a menacing air—immediately rose, stepped down from the bed, and bowed respectfully to her.

This scene made Xue Qinglian squint.

Even in front of the elders of the Saintess Tribe, those elders could at most be considered equals to the old eunuch. His words often carried more weight than theirs. Yet here, a single Shan Lai could command this wretched eunuch’s utmost deference. Who exactly was she?

“Miss Shan Lai, thank you for coming in person. I truly have no other way. Otherwise, I would never have dared to trouble you,” the old eunuch said, even forcing a smile at her.

“You flatter me, gonggong,” Shan Lai replied with a gentle smile. “Since I happen to be in the capital, how could I refuse if you summoned me?” She reached out, steadying the eunuch’s wrist, and naturally felt for his pulse.

She was immediately taking his pulse.

The old eunuch stiffened with delight, careful not to move a muscle, so as not to disturb her examination.

After a single breath, Shan Lai withdrew her hand, her dark brows slightly furrowed.

“Miss Shan Lai, what do you see?”

“Gonggong, you have not been affected by any Gu, nor is there any sign of poisoning in your body.”

The answer was virtually identical to that of the imperial physicians. The old eunuch’s eyes immediately lost their joy, and a shadow fell over him.

“How can this be? Nothing at all? How could I have ended up like this? There must be a reason. It’s impossible for there to be none! Something must be wrong somewhere!”

Seeing the eunuch’s unstable breath and signs of rising madness, Shan Lai paused thoughtfully. “If we must trace the cause, I am more inclined to think that you might have been poisoned.”

“But you just said there were no signs of poisoning?”

“What if it’s a poison that cannot be detected?”

“……”

“There are many talented hermits and specialists among the common people, each with their own extraordinary skills. For example, your condition of bleeding uncontrollably for no reason is extremely strange. As you said yourself, there must be a cause,” Shan Lai said calmly. “From what I know, over in Nanling there is a certain Ghost Doctor whose mastery of poisons is beyond comprehension. If he strikes, it’s normal for ordinary physicians to fail to determine the cause.”

“The Ghost Doctor?” The old eunuch’s pupils dilated. “The Ghost Doctor from Nanling? But this is Xiliang! Within the Xiliang border cities, it’s absolutely impossible for foreigners to enter!”

“Gonggong, didn’t you just return from the border city?”

The woman’s gentle remark almost shattered the eunuch completely.

Of course he had just returned from the border city!

Which meant it was highly likely that the Ghost Doctor had been there at the border city and had struck him while he was there!

Yet he could not understand it. Normally, he was always accompanied by a squad of guards. No ordinary person could have gotten close to him. If that ghost doctor had really appeared by his side, surely the guards would have noticed.

When did this happen, and how did it happen?

“Moreover, even if it wasn’t the ghost doctor who struck, you could at least determine whether you were poisoned.”

Having said this, Shan Lai’s expression remained calm. “This is all I can do. I cannot ease your worries, so please find another capable person as soon as possible, and take care of your health, Gonggong.”

With a nod toward the eunuch, Shan Lai turned and was about to leave.

“Miss Shan Lai, wait!” the old eunuch called out, stopping her. “If we can find this ghost doctor, is there any chance my strange illness could be cured?”

“If he can be found, there may still be hope for you, Gonggong,” Shan Lai replied.

Shan Lai left, but the eunuch clung to her words like a lifeline, treasure in his eyes.

In a nearby corner, Xue Qinglian ground his teeth in fury. Damn it, why is this nuisance everywhere?

Everything was fine, and yet she had to drag him out. It was just to stir up hatred, was that it?

He cast a cold glance in the direction the woman had gone, sneered, and vanished like a shadow from the Imperial Household Department.

Even with hidden guards around, he wasn’t afraid. With the face he wore now, he looked like an ally to those fools; no matter what he did, it wouldn’t easily arouse suspicion.

Feng Qingbai watched him leave but didn’t stop him. He stayed hidden in the corner, enjoying the sight of the eunuch’s euphoric delight.

This was the eunuch’s last remaining hope. The higher his joy now, the more intense his despair would be when that hope was crushed.

Little did he realize, even to his dying day, what had led him to such a fate.

Eventually, Xue Qinglian returned, refreshed, and squeezed up next to him. He didn’t ask where Xue Qinglian had been or what he had done.

Gradually, night fell.

The imperial garden of the palace was growing increasingly crowded. Eunuchs and palace maids bustled back and forth, preparing for the welcome banquet arranged for the Saintess Tribe.

At such a banquet, aside from the members of the Saintess Tribe, only the emperor, a few princes of the royal family, and some imperial consorts would attend—no ministers were present.

The reason was simple: the Saintess Tribe served only the emperor, and the people they brought were meant solely to prolong the emperor’s life. In truth, it was hardly a prestigious occasion.

At least the emperor didn’t see it as something to show off. Hence, he never invited ministers to attend, so as to avoid giving court officials any fodder for criticism or impassioned speeches in front of him.

At the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) in the evening, Liu Yusheng and her group were escorted by eunuchs and palace attendants into the imperial garden. By then, the Xiliang emperor was already seated. Around him sat a few consorts and several men in elegant attire.

When Liu Yusheng glanced over the crowd, she even spotted the prince she had bumped into that morning with Qian Lan.

Her gaze swept across the gathering, finally resting on the figure in bright yellow at the center of the seating.

A flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

She had expected the ninety-year-old emperor to appear frail and decrepit. Yet what she saw defied her expectations.

The Xiliang emperor wore the dragon robe, his hair already snow-white, but his face bore few wrinkles. His eyes were bright and spirited, half-open, half-closed, radiating the full majesty of imperial authority.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had the hair of a crane and the face of a child; from his appearance alone, there was no hint that he was already ninety years old.

Still, this did nothing to lessen Liu Yusheng’s disgust for him.

The mere fact that he treated the women of the Saintess Tribe as tools was enough to make her feel utterly sickened.