Chapter 79: To Avoid the Wedding Night, Did Manor Lord Qin Sever His Own Meridians? An Extra Chapter as Thanks for Everyone’s Rewards

The next day, an imperial edict was posted throughout the palace: the prince consort had fallen ill the previous night, and a reward of a thousand taels of gold was offered to anyone who could cure him.

Linglong and the others were staying temporarily at a residence. Mo Li entered carrying a basket of vegetables. After closing the door behind her, she took out the imperial edict and said, “Last night, for reasons unknown, Qin Daofei contracted an illness. The palace physicians are at a loss. This morning, the emperor issued an edict seeking skilled individuals to treat the prince consort.”

“Falling ill?” Linglong suddenly stood up and snatched the edict, but she couldn’t understand the language of Cangmo and had no choice but to put it down.

Tang Li glanced at Jifeng and gestured for him to speak.

Jifeng understood and said to Linglong, “Madam, we don’t know what happened to the master of the manor. Is the illness serious? Or did they injure him deliberately for some reason? Perhaps we should stay and observe.”

“His affairs are none of your concern. Just handle it yourselves,” Linglong snapped angrily.

Tang Li joined in persuading Linglong. “Madam, if you leave, Miss Aifei and Miss Mo Li will also go. Without your cover, the three of us men will be exposed quickly. Please help us and stay a few more days.”

“Since you beg me like this, I’ll wait a few days,” Linglong grumbled. “I wonder if that bastard has even consummated his marriage?”

Tang Li and Jifeng heard this but dared not show it; they held back their laughter.

Linglong kicked Ye Lishang lightly. “Hey, aren’t you a doctor? Isn’t this your job?”

“Why would I? He even dared to betray us. Why should I save him? Let him die for all I care. Think about it—yesterday he discovered you, and today he’s gravely ill. He must have done this intentionally to catch me, and catching me means catching you all. Are you idiots?” Ye Lishang’s analysis left everyone speechless—it was indeed quite logical.

“So what do we do if the master of the manor is really ill?” Jifeng paced anxiously.

“Highly unlikely. Qin Daofei is a cunning man; he wouldn’t allow himself to be so miserable,” Ye Lishang shook his head, indicating this was not his style.

Tang Li said coldly, “But don’t forget, our master has amnesia now!”

“What do you suggest then?” Ye Lishang snapped, standing up.

Linglong hesitated. “Maybe you should go see him? What if he really is sick?”

“What if I die there?” Ye Lishang complained plaintively.

Mo Li said, “The youngest son of that family knows a bit of medicine. Their family has been living in isolation here for years. If you go as him, they won’t suspect anything. It’s quite safe.”

“You all say that, but if I don’t go, won’t I be the one everyone blames?” Ye Lishang said darkly.

“Thank you, Doctor. If we can save the master and return to the capital, we will reward you handsomely!” Tang Li and Jifeng bowed together.

Ye Lishang fell for it immediately. “When we return, I want five thousand taels of gold, not a single tael less!”

“Agreed. We’ll report to the matriarch. You will be paid in full.”

Thus, Ye Lishang happily set off for the palace.

At the palace gate, Ye Lishang held up the imperial edict and said coldly, “I am here to treat the prince consort!”

“Who are you? Where do you live? Do you have a residence permit?” a soldier demanded.

“I am commoner Tiemuer, living in the west of the city. Here’s my residence permit.” Ye Lishang showed the soldier the document.

After examining it, the soldier said, “You’re not an official physician. You cannot enter the palace!”

“Little brother, though I’m not an official doctor, my family is well-known in the west for contagious diseases!” Before Ye Lishang could finish, they drew their swords, covering their mouths and noses, saying, “You’re infected! What are you doing in the palace?”

“I just want to tell you I learned some medical skills by chance and cured my family’s illnesses. I can definitely cure the prince consort!” In tall tales, Linglong was first, Ye Lishang was a close second.

The soldier was skeptical.

“If you don’t believe me, call a doctor to examine me. If I’m still contagious, I’ll die right here at the palace gate.”

Hearing Ye Lishang would die there, the soldier quickly waved him off. “No, no, I’ll get a doctor to check you first!”

Soon, palace physicians arrived. After examining Ye Lishang and finding him healthy, they tested his medical knowledge. Satisfied, the doctor said, “He really knows medicine. Let him try.”

Otherwise, the palace officials would keep demanding heads for this case. Since last night, three imperial physicians’ heads had already been chopped off.

And so, Ye Lishang muddled his way into the palace.

When taken to Qin Daofei’s chamber, the imperial physician sneered, “Our prince consort was injured last night. That man is useless now. If you can cure him, you’ll get gold. If not, leave. But no matter what, if you leak this out, your life won’t be spared.”

Pft...

“Well, I’ll give it a try first!” Ye Lishang wanted to laugh but stopped himself, remembering this was the imperial palace.

Still, he felt immense joy inside.

The physician insisted on accompanying him, but Ye Lishang bowed and said, “We’re all healers; everyone has their privacy. No one is allowed to watch during diagnosis. Please leave.”

“Hmph, you have a bad attitude. If you can’t cure him, your life is forfeit!” The physician stormed out.

Only Qin Daofei and Ye Lishang remained. Seeing Qin Daofei lying weakly on the bed, Ye Lishang could barely contain his happiness.

He reached out to poke Qin Daofei’s face, then tried to reach another sensitive area, but Qin Daofei grabbed his hand.

“You’re quite bold!” Qin Daofei glared coldly.

Ye Lishang immediately knelt. “Prince consort, I am here to treat you. Please allow me to take your pulse first.”

“Hmph, kneel all you want. But I’ll strip your mask off in front of everyone. Believe that or not?” Qin Daofei said icily.

Ye Lishang sucked in a breath. “Wow, you really know everything?”

“Didn’t the Cangmo emperor say you were all dead? How come you’re all alive and even changed identities?” Qin Daofei questioned coldly.

Uh...

Ye Lishang muttered, “I find you quite boring. Even with amnesia, you’re so perceptive. Just one glance to identify Linglong’s identity. One look at me and you know I’m with her.”

“She... she behaved differently yesterday,” Qin Daofei frowned at Ye Lishang. Though reluctant to admit it, seeing Linglong like that yesterday hurt him deeply.

Heh heh!

Ye Lishang snorted, “Of course. Her heart was almost shattered. She planned to leave the Great Demon City today, but when she heard you were ill, she risked being betrayed again by you and forced me to come treat you. Qin Daofei, she loves you so much, do you know that?”

“Betrayed by me again?” Qin Daofei caught the key words, his handsome brows furrowing deeply. “She thinks I told the Cangmo emperor your hiding place and that’s why you were caught?”

“Otherwise? You left not long ago, and Cangmo agents came to arrest us. If not for Aifei’s caution and quick relocation, we might all be dead now.” Ye Lishang’s tone grew angry.

Hmph!

Qin Daofei said nothing, but thinking of Linglong’s possible departure made his heart ache as if ants were biting it. He was restless, wanting to hold her back and forbid her from leaving.

“So it wasn’t you who betrayed us?” Ye Lishang was puzzled by Qin Daofei’s expression.

Qin Daofei looked at Ye Lishang coolly. “Either someone among your group is compromised, or you’re being watched. Remember the one who wouldn’t let you remove my poison?”

“No, no, no. That person was helping us. There’s no reason he’d help and harm us at the same time,” Ye Lishang said, stunned.

Qin Daofei coldly exhaled, saying nothing further.

“Hey, what happened here? You hurt your precious on your wedding night?” Ye Lishang changed the subject as Qin Daofei ignored him.

Qin Daofei’s face heated, but he kept a cold tone. “Slowly, carefully treat it.”

“What? You did it on purpose? You broke your own precious to avoid consummation?” Ye Lishang nearly pounced on him like discovering a new world.

Qin Daofei disliked his closeness and said coldly, “Either treat him quickly, or get lost if you can’t!”

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Ye Lishang nearly laughed himself to death.

“Many are watching me!” Qin Daofei warned coldly, and Ye Lishang dared not laugh anymore.

After taking his pulse, Ye Lishang smiled. “Actually, it’s not that serious, right?”

“Mind your own business!” Qin Daofei was quite sensitive about his condition.

Ye Lishang put his hands on his hips. “You won’t tell me your symptoms, how can I treat you? Diagnosis means looking, listening, questioning, and feeling. Or do you want to undress so I can see?”

For some reason, seeing Ye Lishang’s lecherous expression made Qin Daofei lose all interest in being treated. He looked at Ye Lishang coldly. “I know my illness well enough. You don’t need to look. Just treat it slowly.”

“You’re really suspicious. We understand you don’t trust Cangmo, but why don’t you even trust Linglong? You treat her like a treasure.” Ye Lishang muttered while preparing to give Qin Daofei an acupuncture needle.

Hearing Ye Lishang say he loved Linglong, Qin Daofei hesitated. “Do we... really love each other?”

“Yes, before you married that princess, you two loved each other deeply. But now, after your wedding yesterday, when you regain your memory, you’ll probably be the one pining alone. Take care, brother Qin!” Ye Lishang said with glee as he administered the needle.