Resplendent – Chapter 543

Chapter 543: Unbearable

Princess Heyang inherited her mother’s beauty—the renowned ‘The Beauty of the Capital.’ Her features were like a painted portrait: naturally dark brows, a delicate nose, and cherry lips. She seemed like the Goddess Luo incarnate, peerlessly exquisite.

However, her temperament was far less endearing. Spoiled by her father’s adoration since childhood, she grew into a willful and domineering young woman. Whatever caught her eye, whatever she desired, she must possess! Right now, her eyes blazed with the certainty of victory!

Ling Juechen, who had been tending to the little girl with utmost care, felt something and cast a glance toward the teahouse. Though it was but a fleeting look, he took in everything within the window. Yet, the only person in this world who could command his genuine attention was the girl before him—the one with a tough exterior but a soft heart, who bared her teeth at him and declared, “Serves you right if it hurts!” 

To him, other women were no different than decorative ornaments in a room, completely irrelevant.

Gu Ye scowled. “Don’t get hurt again, got it?”

“Yes, I will protect myself from now on. Not even a scratch the size of a fingernail will appear, okay? Alright, don’t be mad. Be good!” Ling Juechen stroked the girl’s hair with his uninjured hand. Deep down, he was overjoyed. His little girl was genuinely worried about him!

“What do you plan to do with these two?” Ling Juechen quickly changed the subject, hoping to distract the girl from staring at his injured hand.

Grand Pharmacist Huang declared sternly, “To openly attempt assassination against an exam participant in front of so many witnesses—this crime deserves the harshest punishment! They must not be spared!” As he spoke, he shot a warning glare at the two brothers.

The two brothers knew from the moment their scheme was exposed that today would not end well. They had planned to identify the mastermind behind the plot, hoping it might lessen their own punishment. Little did they know the mastermind was backed by a grand pharmacist. No matter what choice they made, their fate would be grim.

The grand pharmacist had mentioned their wives and children, reminding them of the promise made by the apothecary they sought: if they could injure their target and prevent her from taking the next pharmacist examination, they would receive a large sum of silver to flee far away and live a life of plenty.

They knew escape was impossible, but they hoped their wives and children could take that money, find a small county town, and live out their days in peace. That was why the two men had lashed out violently. One was subdued by Yin Hong’s left hand, which had been kept free. The other, however, caught Gu Ye off guard, closing in on her and nearly injuring her.

Having failed to harm Gu Ye, the brothers collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen. No matter what others asked them, they clenched their teeth and remained silent.

Gu Ye knew someone held their lives in their hands, and nothing more could be pried from them. She turned to the Crown Prince in disguise and asked, “Young Master Huang, how should this matter be handled?”

The Crown Prince summoned officials from the Wardens’ Office of the Five Wards to take custody of the two assailants. It was later rumored that shortly after being imprisoned, both men died from poison. The coroner’s examination revealed the toxin had been concealed beneath their fingernails. The source of the poison and the identity of the mastermind remain unsolved mysteries to this day.

To others, the matter remained an unsolved mystery, but Gu Ye knew full well it was undoubtedly connected to the Huang Sect. Those from the Huang Sect had indirectly caused Brother Chen’s injury. How could Gu Ye possibly swallow this injustice?

That very night, she gathered her fourth, fifth, and sixth brothers, along with Gu Ming. The five siblings huddled together, whispering intently for quite some time. Watching his three sons stride out of his daughter’s embroidery courtyard, full of vigor and determination, the Duke couldn’t help but remark to his wife, “When these rascals team up, someone’s bound to get into trouble.”

“No need to guess—Bao’er’s scheming must be behind it. Don’t worry, our sons know their limits.” Under the lamp, Lady Jun sewed a thin quilted jacket for her daughter, embroidering exquisite crabapple blossoms upon it.

“They’re definitely going to get revenge for our girl! Those Huang Sect… Hmph! What’s so great about being a Grand Pharmacist? How could they engage in such disgraceful tricks! No, I must keep an eye on them. Those little brats better not go too far. If something happens…” Recalling how his daughter had nearly been hurt, the Duke felt a surge of anger. While cracking his knuckles, he followed after his sons.

Lady Jun shook her head inwardly. As if I don’t know you. What ‘keep an eye on the boys’? You just want to land a few punches on those Huang Sect men yourself to vent, don’t you?

“Just don’t kill anyone…” was all Lady Jun managed to warn him before he left. 

Chu Bufan left her with a dashing retreating figure: “Don’t worry, I know my limits!”

The next day, the entire capital was abuzz. Word spread that last night, thugs had stormed the Apothecary Guild’s inn and broke the legs and arms of two of Grand Pharmacist Huang’s apprentices. They even shaved the Grand Pharmacist’s hair and beard clean off.

At first, no one could believe it. Who would be so audacious as to risk antagonizing the entire Apothecary Guild by attacking their inn? And to not spare even a Grand Pharmacist?

However, during the next day’s Level 9 pharmacist examination, Grand Pharmacist Huang sat on the judging panel wearing a hat that hid his face, and his already sparse goatee had mysteriously vanished. The spectators on the viewing platform thus believed the rumors.

Grand Pharmacist Huang seethed with rage, yet his fury was futile. He knew full well who was behind it. This matter was undoubtedly connected to that young girl surnamed Gu. It was either the Jiang family or the work of the Duke’s family, perhaps even the Sage Apothecary had a hand in it.

This was payback for that brat. Otherwise, why would it be the Huang Sect among all the apothecaries at the inn who got injured—specifically Liu Changgui and Li Yutang, the ones involved in that incident? That brat was truly vindictive. He merely helped suppress the matter, and she turned him into a bald fool!

But what good would anger do? Just like that incident in front of the Jimin Pharmacy, he still couldn’t produce any solid evidence. Even if the mastermind paraded right in front of him, shooting him defiant glances, what could he possibly do to her?

Fewer than twenty apothecaries were participating in the ninth-level examination. After entering the venue, they were to listen to the formal teachings of the judges, the Grand Pharmacists themselves. As the shortest and youngest among them, Gu Ye stood in the front row, less than three meters from Grand Pharmacist Huang.

Gu Ye’s lively eyes lingered on his chin for a long moment before drifting to his ill-fitting hat, gifting him a meaningful smile. Then, with audacious swagger, she ran a hand through her hair and stroked her own chin, flinging a provocative glare in Huang’s direction.

Grand Pharmacist Huang was so enraged that every organ in his body ached. Clutching his chest, he gasped for breath.

This year’s Great Pharmacists Convention had invited the venerable Sage Apothecary to impart wisdom to the younger generation.

As his master finished reading his script, Gu Ye flashed a dazzling smile at Huang: “Grand Pharmacist Huang, are you feeling under the weather? Looks like a heart condition to me. Shall I take your pulse?”