Resplendent – Chapter 571

Chapter 571: Sharing the Rest of Our Lives

Gu Ye pressed her hand to her aching forehead, pouting slightly. “I was afraid you’d suddenly leave, and the sudden change would be too much for me to handle! If you tell me earlier, I can prepare myself…”

As she spoke, her mood grew somber. She’d grown accustomed to his constant, unannounced presence. What if one day he vanished? What then?

Ling Juechen stroked the girl’s head, a flicker of relief washing over him. At last, she was beginning to understand longing and separation. From now on, the ache of missing someone wouldn’t be his burden alone.

“Leave it to me. I’ll find a way!” Ling Juechen’s smile was faint yet possessed a soothing magic.

Gu Ye had fallen asleep nestled in Brother Chen’s embrace, breathing in the crisp scent emanating from him. She had no idea when he had left, nor how she had ended up in bed…

The next day, the Imperial Study of Emperor Zhao Rong welcomed two distinguished guests: the Fourth Prince of Yan and Prince Ning. Before the Emperor, the Fourth Prince shed his usual exuberance and casualness, presenting himself with solemn dignity and a touch of authority.

Lifting his teacup, he used the lid to skim the foam from the surface before slowly stating his purpose: “I have come this time to request a loan from Your Majesty, Emperor Dongling—a person!”

“A loan? Whom do you wish to borrow?” Emperor Zhao Rong’s gaze swept over Prince Ning’s cold, composed features. True to his reputation as the War God, clad in sleek black armor, he radiated an innate, commanding presence even as he sat motionless, expressionless.

Emperor Zhao Rong’s brow twitched slightly. Could it be that Prince Ning still hadn’t given up, scheming to get his hands on the daughter of the Defender Duke? That girl was rumored to be a ninth-level Prince Ning already. 

If the Fourth Prince borrowed her to help concoct a potion or something… Hmm! That wasn’t his concern, after all. The pharmacist world had its own rules. Seeking medicine required the pharmacist’s own consent!

The Fourth Prince spoke slowly, “Come to think of it, I owe this person my gratitude. Were it not for her, I’d still be lying in bed, counting down the days until my death!”

The Fourth Prince of Yan Kingdom has been bedridden for years, supposedly due to an illness stemming from a childhood drowning accident. However, this is merely the official story. As the Emperor of Dongling Kingdom, Emperor Zhao Rong has his own sources of information. The Fourth Prince was poisoned, and despite consulting countless renowned physicians, the poison could not be neutralized. His body deteriorated day by day. It was even said he would not live past twenty…

Yet now, he appeared merely gaunt and pale, hardly the deathly ill figure of rumor. Someone had neutralized his poison, and that someone was a physician from their own Dongling Kingdom… 

Could it be… the venerable Medical Sage? 

No. The Medical Sage had been celebrated in medical circles for decades. If he possessed such power, the poison would have been neutralized long ago. Why wait until now?

Emperor Zhao Rong touched his left chest, a thought striking him: Could it be her? After all, Dongling was a vassal state of Yan. Though its power had grown in recent years, compared to the three great nations, it remained as different as a tree and a blade of grass.

As for Yan, the Second Prince had been demoted for treason, the Third Prince was unfit for great responsibility, and Emperor Shengde had only four sons. The eldest was also disabled… Given all these, the throne could ultimately only fall to the ‘recovered’ Fourth Prince.

This frail prince before him was the future Emperor of Yan. Dongling, after all, depended on Yan for survival, which was why Emperor Zhao Rong had been unable to refuse the Fourth Prince’s proposal for a political marriage back then. If that marriage alliance had been unavoidable, then now, when Yan merely ‘borrowed’ someone to help nurse him back to health, he had even less reason to refuse.

Caught between a loyal subject and the future ruler of a powerful nation, Emperor Zhao Rong felt torn between conflicting obligations. Alas! Being the emperor of a small country is truly no easy task!!

He forced himself to perk up: “Oh? Might I ask who possesses such skill to alleviate the Fourth Prince’s troubles?”

“Not only this prince, but even Prince Ning, when he was poisoned, it was this young divine physician who rescued him from the Cangmang Mountains and saved his life!” The Fourth Prince slowed his speech and emphasized the words ‘Cangmang Mountains’ as he spoke them.

The last shred of hope in Emperor Zhao Rong’s heart vanished completely. The daughter of the Defender Duke had grown up in a remote mountain village deep in the wilderness, only moving out two years ago to settle in Yan City and establish a pharmaceutical factory… Add to that her exceptional medical skills, and there was simply no one else but her!

Why did that girl go around saving random people? Now look at what happened. They’ve come knocking at his door. Should he agree or refuse?

“I know who this Little Divine Doctor that Your Highness speaks of is! To be honest, she is also my savior.” Emperor Zhao Rong sighed softly. “If it were any other physician, Your Highness could borrow her without issue. But this girl holds another title, that of a ninth-level pharmacist. I’m sure both Your Highness and Prince Ning are aware that the pharmacist community has its own rules. Even royalty cannot lightly transgress these rules, so…”

“I never intended to pressure Your Majesty into compelling Miss Chu. I shall personally visit her residence another day to extend my invitation. After all, she is a citizen of Dongling Kingdom and the daughter of one of its most prominent ministers. It is only proper etiquette to inform you first!”

The Fourth Prince spoke with measured grace, his scholarly demeanor tempered by steadfast composure. A decade of quiet endurance had forged his resilient character. Compared to the others, he truly was the most suitable candidate for Crown Prince.

What else could Emperor Zhao Rong say? The Fourth Prince had already shown Dongling ample respect and demonstrated considerable courtesy. For him to intervene now would be unreasonable!

Defender Duke, oh Defender Duke, it’s not that I won’t help you, but I truly have no power to do so…

Thus, when Ling Juechen arrived punctually at Mingzhu Pavilion that evening, Gu Ye could clearly sense his excitement radiating from within. She couldn’t help but ask, “What’s got you so happy? Tell me, let me share in your joy.”

Ling Juechen pulled the young girl into his arms, resting his chin atop her head. Gu Ye clearly saw his sensual Adam’s apple bob up and down. “I get to take a young lady back to my country with me soon. Tell me, how could I not be thrilled?”

Gu Ye furrowed her brow, her mind racing but finding nothing. She was utterly puzzled: Could she have agreed to go to Yan Kingdom with him in her sleep? Impossible! Even if she had, her father would never consent. Unless they eloped…

She put on a pouty expression and shoved hard against his chest—but couldn’t budge him! she snorted. “Oh, really? You go behind my back flirting with some girl, then flaunt it in my face? Did you think the potions in this lady’s hands are harmless? So what if you’re skilled in martial arts? Believe it or not, I can turn you into a cripple in the next second!”

“Of course I believe you. Your pharmaceutical skills have been proven through my two lifetimes. How could I possibly doubt them?” Ling Juechen stroked her back as if soothing a spooked cat. “Besides Xiao Ye, Brother Chen would never flirt with any other girl. What I mean is, you could come back to Yan Kingdom with me. Maybe we could even celebrate the New Year together! How about it? Are you excited?”

“Impossible! My father, my mother, and my brothers would never agree!” Gu Ye’s tone was unwavering.

Ling Juechen felt a twinge of disappointment. The more concerns weighing on the young girl’s heart, the less space he occupied within it. In the past, she would have eagerly begun preparing for her trip to the Yan Kingdom without a second thought, even packing up Grandpa Gu and Gu Ming along for the ride under the guise of a family vacation. But now…

He pinched the soft flesh on her waist, holding her tight to prevent her from pulling away. He sighed. “What if I could make your parents agree?”

“No! Way!” Gu Ye said decisively. “My father has already shown Your Highness Prince Ning face when he spared you from a beating. Forget about you kidnapping me back to Yan Kingdom!”

“Then… dare you make a bet with me? If you lose, you’ll obediently come back to Yan Kingdom with me and celebrate the New Year together. How about it?” Ling Juechen looked down into the little girl’s eyes, a confident smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Gu Ye retorted, “And what if you lose?”

“If I lose… I’ll stay in Dongling Kingdom and celebrate the New Year with you. How about that?”

Gu Ye rolled her eyes dramatically at this—who was accompanying whom, anyway? Still, her instincts warned her not to agree so readily. In this lifetime, Brother Chen was cunning and crafty. He never made moves without certainty.

“But… this is my first New Year back with the Chu family, the reunion my parents have waited thirteen years to see. If I leave with you, they’ll be heartbroken…” Gu Ye hesitated. She longed to spend the holiday with Brother Chen, yet her heart ached for her parents.

Ling Juechen sighed silently, gently drawing the young girl into his embrace. His voice carried a hint of sorrow: “But if you don’t spend the New Year with me, I’ll be left alone again, guarding my vast manor by myself, lonely and solitary, standing all alone…”

“What about your grandfather?” Gu Ye understood the family situation somewhat. Their household was small indeed, just grandfather and grandson, relying on each other for survival.

“Before I came to Dongling, Grandfather went to the border. He probably won’t be back before the New Year…” Ling Juechen put on a pitiable expression, like a stray dog abandoned by its owner.

Gu Ye knew he was putting on an act, but thinking back to all those years when he often spent the New Year alone—while families reunited, he could only drink by himself, it still tugged at her heartstrings. However…

Gu Ye wrapped her arms around Ling Juechen’s neck and cooed sweetly, “This year is special! Look, I’ll marry you by eighteen at the latest, leaving only five short years with my parents. With my rejuvenation potions, we can easily live to be centenarians. For the remaining eighty-plus years, I’ll spend every New Year with you. How about that?”

Ling Juechen’s flawlessly beautiful face still bore a trace of sorrow, yet he nodded with restrained resolve: “You are right. No matter how much I want to be with you, I can’t disregard your feelings. This lifetime, you’ve finally found parents and family. How could I bear to force you… It’s just that I feel so sorry for myself, that’s all!”