Resplendent – Chapter 572

Chapter 572: Settling for the Next Best Thing

Gu Ye felt tender too. She stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick peck on his rosy, full lips, continuing to coo, “Brother Chen is the best! Ye’er loves you. Even if we can’t celebrate the festival together, my heart is always with you.”

“You little minx, always pouring sweet nothings into my ears. What am I to do with you!” Ling Juechen, unsatisfied with such a fleeting kiss, pulled the girl closer and buried his face in her cherry lips, kissing her fiercely. Her lips carried the fragrance of petals, soft and sweet, nearly overwhelming him…

Gu Ye was nearly breathless from the kiss. Sensing the subtle change in his body, her cheeks flushed crimson. She gently pushed him away, her shyness overflowing… which only drew his lips back down to savor her sweet fragrance once more…

“Miss, it’s getting late. Time for bed…” Having lost the rock-paper-scissors game today, Meijing now bore the pressure of watching over the young lady. The two maids weren’t without opinions about the Duke’s methods. But after all, they were merely maids in the Duke’s household. They were helpless too, weren’t they?

“Sleep early. I will come see you again tomorrow!” Ling Juechen reluctantly gave the young girl a light peck on the lips. This was the first time, strictly speaking, that he had initiated a kiss with her, and it was one where their lips and tongues intertwined. He defined it as their first kiss—those earlier, chick-like pecks didn’t count!

Gu Ye obediently nodded, nibbling his chin. “Go to sleep soon too, Brother Chen Good night…”

“Good night!” Ling Juechen reluctantly departed as the maids outside urged him on.

Gu Ye emerged slowly from the study, a book held to her swollen lips. She passed Meijing without a word, not even a glance. 

Meijing hung her head in disappointment. Sigh! She really couldn’t please either of them!

Gu Ye had assumed Brother Chen’s visit meant sneaking over late at night like usual. Instead, the next morning, he was summoned to the front courtyard’s reception hall. Upon entering, he found the Fourth Prince of Yan and Prince Ning seated there, looking startled.

The Fourth Prince wore a sky-blue brocade robe that accentuated his clear and bright demeanor. The bright yellow embroidery signified his highest noble status. A jade dragon pendant, crafted from the finest white jade, hung from his waist, adorned with a yellow cord below.

Seated below him, Prince Ning wore a simple black robe adorned with dark-blue cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread. A plain sash accentuated his slender waist, while his exquisite face bore an expression of cool detachment. An aura of faint icy mist seemed to shroud him, making others hesitate to approach. Even in the presence of imperial princes, her Brother Chen didn’t pale in comparison at all! 

Gu Ye’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.

The Duke’s face darkened. If not for diplomatic relations between the two nations, he would have thrown the man out long ago! 

What did they mean? Invite his precious daughter to Yan Kingdom to help the Emperor and Fourth Prince purge residual toxins and recuperate? Wasn’t this just a clever ruse to lure his daughter into Yan Kingdom? 

Had it not been for the earlier incident, he might have considered it… But with Prince Ning lurking nearby, how could he possibly send his daughter into the lion’s den?

Gu Ye understood their purpose and shot Ling Juechen a silent glare: So this is what you meant by visiting me?

Ling Juechen winked at her: Tonight, Brother Chen will pay you a special visit. Is that acceptable?

She rolled her eyes: You came up with this scheme? No wonder you wanted to bet last night that my father would agree to my trip to Yan Kingdom. So there was a noble excuse all along. How cunning! Good thing I didn’t fall for it!

His lips curved upward: With such a rare opportunity, why not just go along with me…

The Fourth Prince caught the ‘flirtatious glances’ exchanged between his cousin and his future cousin-in-law. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for his iceberg cousin. 

It was rare for him to take a fancy to a young lady, only to face fierce opposition from her parents. How pitiful! If his cousin couldn’t handle it, he and his father wouldn’t mind lending a hand!

The Duke spoke carefully at this moment, “Ye’er, this matter must be decided by you alone!” His unspoken message was: Daughter, feel free to refuse. You’re now a Grand Pharmacist. No one can force you to do anything!

Gu Ye approached the Fourth Prince: “Your Highness, may I take your pulse?”

The Duke’s heart skipped a beat: Oh no, how could I have forgotten? 

His daughter had always been warm-hearted, rarely turning away anyone seeking medical help. She truly took ‘a physician’s benevolent heart’ as her guiding principle. 

Daughter, you’re a pharmacist. Treating patients is just a side job. You really don’t need to be so devoted!

The Fourth Prince obediently extended his wrist for Gu Ye to take his pulse. Watching that slender, delicate hand rest on his own pulse point, his mind drifted: Could this girl be a reincarnated immortal child? She’s barely a teenager, yet she possesses such profound skill in both medicine and alchemy! Is this truly achievable for a mortal? The realm of geniuses is beyond the comprehension of ordinary folk!

“Your Highness still carries residual toxins in your body, though it poses no immediate danger. As for your overall health… with diligent recuperation over two years, it won’t affect your lifespan!” The implication in Gu Ye’s words was clear to any discerning listener. Without proper recuperation, it might well shorten his life!

The Fourth Prince hurriedly rose to his feet, his tone tinged with respect. “The matter of purging the residual toxins and recuperation… This Prince must trouble Miss Chu once more…” …”

Under the anxious gaze of the Duke, Gu Ye smiled slowly. “Not at all! I would ask Your Royal Highness and Prince Ning to remain in Fanjing for several days. Once I prepare the detoxifying medicine, taking a few pills daily, the residual toxins will be completely purged within two months. As for recuperation? That can be addressed gradually after the detoxification is complete!”

The Duke exhaled in relief: Thank goodness, thank goodness! At least the medicine can be taken back by the Fourth Prince. There is no need for her to journey to Shengjing in Yan Kingdom herself…

The Fourth Prince shot a sidelong glance at his cousin: This outcome was quite different from what we’d planned! Cousin, did you fail to win over the young lady? Tsk-tsk. She even left a bite mark on your chin, yet you still couldn’t secure her? Utterly useless.

It seems this prince must make arrangements for you then. The Fourth Prince spoke with a hint of gratitude: “Thank you for the medicine, Miss. But… My father was poisoned by a strange toxin last year, and his health has been poor ever since. As his son, I am deeply concerned. Might I ask you…”

“Ah, the poison in your father’s body is the same deadly toxin that Prince Ning suffered from. However, it is far milder than what afflicted Prince Ning. Had he taken his medicine regularly and rested quietly, he should have recovered long ago!” Gu Ye turned to look at Prince Ning.

“His Majesty handles countless state affairs daily. Add to that the ongoing unrest at the borders this past year, and he has been managing court affairs while ill…” Rest quietly? That was simply impossible! If he abandoned all duties, wouldn’t the Yan Kingdom descend into chaos?

The Fourth Prince blamed himself. “It’s all my fault as an unfilial son, unable to ease my Father’s burdens. That’s why His Majesty…”

“I need Emperor Shengde’s latest pulse diagnosis records and a blood sample, the sooner the better!” Gu Ye had resolved to stay for the New Year with her parents and wouldn’t leave Fanjing or Dongling lightly. Yet the old emperor’s illness couldn’t be delayed. This compromise was the only solution.

“But… is this acceptable?” Not only the Fourth Prince, but even the Duke looked over with concern. The patient was the Emperor of Yan—what if something went wrong…

“Are you questioning my medical skills, or my alchemy?” How could this not be acceptable? If you don’t trust this lady, feel free to seek another expert. Gu Ye showed no deference to the Fourth Prince’s status, retorting coldly.

The Fourth Prince showed no anger, hastily explaining, “Miss, you misunderstand. That’s not what I meant.” 

He shot a glance at his cousin: Why aren’t you reining in your wife?

Prince Ning spoke slowly, “With an incurable poison like the Seven Deaths Powder, if Ye’er can develop an antidote, who would doubt your abilities? Rest assured, I’ll dispatch the messenger falcon immediately. Within five days, whatever you require will be delivered!”

Seven Deaths Powder? Their daughter could actually counteract its deadly poison? Not only was the Duke stunned, but even the Chu brothers exchanged stunned glances. 

The Seven Deaths Powder, a poison that made everyone in the martial world pale, actually had an antidote. And this antidote had been created by their own Chu family daughter. Indeed, some families poured their entire clan’s resources into cultivating a single pharmacist—a visionary and necessary endeavor!

The Duke and his sons regarded Gu Ye with complex expressions. The more extraordinary she became, the more it revealed the immense hardship and effort she had endured during her growth. She was only thirteen…

The Fourth Prince still voiced his reluctance, “Miss Chu, are you truly unable to grace us with your presence in the capital? Please understand a son’s filial devotion and concern for his father…”

“I understand, but leaving Fanjing is truly inconvenient for me at present. Firstly, the Dongling Apothecary Guild has a crucial meeting requiring my personal attendance. Second, Your Highness, you know I was separated from my family at a young age and only recently reunited with my parents. If not for this convention, they would have already held a ceremony to formally welcome me back into the family!” Gu Ye shrugged helplessly.

“However…” Gu Ye suddenly changed the subject, noticing the disappointment in the Fourth Prince’s expression. “The medicine I will give you must be taken on schedule, and you must rest properly. Once the pharmaceutical factory arrangements are settled next spring, I can make a trip to Shengjing.”

“Alright! Then next spring it is…” Ling Juechen silently calculated in his mind. Winter had only just begun, and the New Year was still nearly two months away. If he waited until spring to arrange matters for the pharmaceutical factory, it would likely be March before she could actually make the journey. Sigh! That was nearly five months to wait—it would be agonizing!

After leaving the Duke’s residence, the Fourth Prince dropped his formal demeanor and began complaining incessantly: “That Duke is something else! It’s almost noon, and he didn’t even offer us a meal! Your future father-in-law dislikes you, and now even this prince is caught in the crossfire! I heard the Chu family has a cook whose dishes are even better than those at Qingfeng Pavilion. What a pity…”

Seeing Ling Juechen’s silence, the Fourth Prince—accustomed to his cousin’s reserved nature—continued, “Since my future cousin-in-law won’t arrive in Shengjing until next spring, I can’t help but worry about Father’s health…”