Chapter 21 - Liu Ying Loves to Pretend

Inside the courtyard, in a room of a wing building.

“Elder Xue, do you have a way to save His Highness?” Chief Steward Li’s voice trembled slightly. Sweat covered his forehead, showing how anxious he was.

Divine Physician Xue shook his head and looked at the person in question. The Seventh Prince sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, enveloped in a layer of fiery energy.

“It’s difficult. Since it’s impossible to eradicate the cold poison completely, I can only suppress it temporarily. As you know, the cold poison has long seeped into his marrow, becoming part of him. Every time it’s suppressed, it rebounds. There’s nothing more I can do. I barely managed to suppress it this time, but the next outbreak...”

Understanding the implication of his words, Chief Steward Li couldn’t help but shed tears.

“Poor Imperial Consort... He’s the only child she ever had! Should anything happen to him, I deserve to die ten thousand deaths!”

At that moment, a weak voice sounded. “Chief Steward Li, there’s no need to grieve. I’m well aware of my condition. If it weren’t for you and Elder Xue running around on my behalf all these years, I wouldn’t be alive today. Even if my mother found out in the afterlife, she wouldn’t blame you.”

It was the Seventh Prince, slowly waking up.

“Your Highness...” Chief Steward Li couldn’t bear to look at him.

Having narrowly escaped death, the Seventh Prince seemed to have made peace with his fate. He sighed. “Speaking of which, I met a very interesting person today. Coincidentally, Elder Xue, you know him too...”

***

“

Ah,

Liu—” Ah Sha’s face lit up with joy.

She was about to greet her, but then she remembered Liu Ying’s attitude toward Gu Han a month ago. Her face immediately fell, and she turned away with a huff.

Liu Ying’s voice was as cold and detached as ever. “Gu Han, I heard about your situation.”

“

Oh?

News spreads fast here.”

“What are you doing here?”

“

Hehe,

that’s none of your business, is it?”

Liu Ying frowned. She was certain that Gu Han’s appearance here was no coincidence.

He must have pledged himself to the Seventh Prince!

“A word of advice. The most important thing in life is knowing one’s place, and not overstepping boundaries. The reason you found yourself in trouble is that you were looking to be at the center of attention. You may have gotten lucky this time, but if you don’t learn some self-restraint, you won’t escape the next.”

Her tone was calm but carried a hint of condescension.

“Stop pretending to care about me. How I conduct myself is none of your concern.” Gu Han sneered.

“I’ve said my piece. Whether you listen or not is up to you.”

With that, she moved to knock on the door.

“Wait!”

The few people at the front were displeased again. They had no idea who she was either, and since they hadn’t let Gu Han pass, they certainly weren’t going to let her skip the queue.

“And who are you? Are you here to see Divine Physician Xue too?”

Liu Ying smiled lightly. “My father is City Lord Liu Yan. I’m here to see the Seventh Prince. We’re friends.”

As she spoke, she cast a faint glance at Gu Han.

The difference between a friend and a subordinate couldn’t be more obvious.

The city lord’s daughter? Friends?

The group’s hearts dropped to their stomachs. The first part was one thing, but the second was downright intimidating.

Although the Seventh Prince wasn’t highly regarded in the royal capital, he was still of royal blood. How could small-time stewards like them ever hope to associate with him?

“Our apologies!”

“We were rude earlier. Please don’t take offense, Miss Liu!”

Their attitudes shifted from arrogance to deference.

“We hope you can put in a good word for us inside.”

“Yes, we’ve been waiting here for so long and we haven’t even caught a glimpse of Divine Physician Xue.”

Liu Ying’s elegant demeanor, refined speech, and stunning beauty left no doubt about her words. Such a captivating beauty was a rare sight even in the royal capital, so it came as no surprise that she could befriend the Seventh Prince.

Liu Ying glanced indifferently at Gu Han. “It’s alright. When I see the Seventh Prince later, I’ll mention your request.”

“Thank you, Miss Liu!” The group was overjoyed.

Ah Sha pouted, full of indignation. “Young Master, we know that grandfather too. Why don’t they believe us?”

Gu Han smirked coldly. “They’re just being snobs, looking down on people.”

“How dare you dare insult us!”

“Brat, have you lost your mind?”

“Stupid country bumpkins with nothing but audacity!”

The group glared at him with hostility.

Gu Han scoffed, unfazed. “Ridiculous! You say we can’t enter? Well, I don’t care. I’m going in anyway.”

With that, he took Ah Sha’s hand and strode forward.

Chen Ping sighed heavily. “Little Brother, why won’t you listen to my advice?”

These capital city dwellers, proud of their background and used to boss around rogue cultivators, were truly capable of violence at even the slightest offense.

Suddenly, a delighted voice came from inside the courtyard. “

Hmm?

Little girl, why are you here? Come, come inside! Let me take a look at you!”

It was Divine Physician Xue! The group instinctively turned to Liu Ying.

Could it be... She is also acquainted with Divine Physician Xue?

Liu Ying was equally puzzled, yet maintained her composure, offering a gentle bow. “Thank you, Elder—“

At that moment, the small wooden door swung open.

Chief Steward Li, who was seething with pent-up anger, erupted at the sight of the crowd. “What’s all this noise! Bunch of worthless trash! How dare you disturb the Seventh Prince and Elder Xue’s rest? I’ll slap you all to death!”

The group shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

Chief Steward Li’s face darkened as he looked at Ah Sha. “You, come with me!”

“

Ah?

You’re calling me?” Ah Sha pointed at herself.

“Who the hell else would I be calling?!”

“You... you just said you didn’t know me...”

Chief Steward Li’s face turned even darker. “Elder Xue wants to see you!”

Despite his fury, he couldn’t disregard Divine Physician Xue’s orders. As he passed by, Gu Han barely stifled a laugh. For some reason, seeing Chief Steward Li humiliated always uplifted him.

The crowd’s expressions wavered between shock and doubt.

Could it be that this little girl actually knows Divine Physician Xue?

Ah Sha seemed to remember something and turned to Chen Ping. “

Ah,

right! Do you want to see Elder Xue too?”

“Yes! I do, I do!” Chen Ping nodded.

“Then come along. You helped my young master earlier. You’re a good person!” Ah Sha beckoned him over.

“Thank you, Miss! Thank you!”

Overjoyed, Chen Ping hurried after her. He never thought a simple act of kindness would earn him such an incredible reward.

Chief Steward Li’s lips twitched. However, recalling Divine Physician Xue’s inexplicable fondness for Ah Sha, he suppressed the urge to stop Chen Ping.

Fine! Elder Xue’s business is none of my concern!

As the others watched, they were green with envy.

What... He just walked in? Why does it have to be him?!

Instinctively, they turned hopeful eyes toward Liu Ying.

Feeling their gazes, Liu Ying took a deep breath and mustered what she believed was a flawless smile.

She stepped forward with a graceful bow. “Chief Steward Li, is the Seventh Prince—”

“He has no time for you! Stop pretending you’re someone important!” Chief Steward Li coldly cut her off.

Gu Han couldn’t hold back his laughter. “

Pfft

!”

“Brat, what are you laughing at!” Chief Steward Li nearly lost his temper.

“I just think you’re absolutely right!” Gu Han gave him a thumbs-up, feeling for the first time that Chief Steward Li wasn’t entirely detestable.

Chief Steward Li flicked his sleeve, and slammed the courtyard gate shut. “Follow me. You, wait here.”

The last part was directed at Chen Ping.

“Right, right!” Chen Ping bowed repeatedly and obediently stayed put.

Merely stepping into the courtyard meant he’d eventually get to see Divine Physician Xue. It was far better than the hopeless lot outside.

***

Outside the gate, the group was nearly mad with jealousy. The way they looked at Liu Ying turned from awestruck to skeptical.

Ha! So much for being the Seventh Prince’s friend! She couldn’t even get past Chief Steward Li!

Liu Ying’s face alternated between red and white. Her chest heaved with barely suppressed fury.

“Just you wait!” She spat out a feeble threat.

Humiliated beyond belief, she fled as if her life depended on it, unable to bear the group’s scornful looks.

***

“Although her soul power is still leaking slightly, with my master’s pill supporting her, it won’t be an issue for now.”

Gu Han let out a relieved breath.

“Thank you, Elder Xue!”

This way, he had more time to find a cure for Ah Sha. Of course, that was on condition that she didn’t use the Eye of Shattered Illusions again.

“Thank you, Elder Xue!” Ah Sha beamed and quickly bowed.

“You’re welcome!” Divine Physician Xue patted her head. His demeanor toward her was noticeably warmer than toward anyone else in the room, including the Seventh Prince.

He glanced at Gu Han. “I heard about what happened. You did well. Staying true to your principles is commendable.”

Compared to before, Gu Han no longer carried that air of bitterness and resentment. The hostility had faded, replaced by the demeanor and mindset befitting a youth.

The Seventh Prince sighed. “Indeed. When I saw you earlier...

cough

... When I saw you act with such decisiveness, it made me quite envious.”

“Thank you for your help today, Seventh Prince!” Gu Han clasped his fist.

Chief Steward Li’s eyebrows shot up. “Brat, this is the Seventh Prince of Great Qi! Mind your tone!”

Gu Han remained expressionless as if he’d just heard a fart.

“You—”

The Seventh Prince smiled self-deprecatingly. “That’s enough. My title only fools those who don’t know better. You know the reality as well as I do. Speaking of which...

cough

... the Crimson Flame Snake you gave Elder Xue helped me greatly.”

Gu Han frowned. “Are... are you sick too?”

“Hey! Brat, watch your mouth!”

The Seventh Prince nodded with a sigh. “Yes. I am ill, and gravely so...”

As it turned out, his mother was attacked during the tenth month of her pregnancy, and cold qi invaded her body. His foundation was damaged even before birth, and he ended up being born with a feeble body. If it hadn’t been for Divine Physician Xue’s tireless efforts over the years, he’d have succumbed to the cold qi before the age of two.

Of course, after years of fighting the illness, even Divine Physician Xue was at his wits’ end.

Ah Sha looked at the Seventh Prince with sympathy. “How sad...”

The Seventh Prince smiled. “It’s fine. Fate deals each their own hand. There’s no use resisting.”

Gu Han, who had been frowning in thought, suddenly seemed to have reached some kind of decision. He said abruptly, “I want to try to help him.”

If not for the Seventh Prince’s intervention, he doubted he would have been able to escape Tianwu City, let alone have a chance at the Martial Academy. Kindness should be repaid tenfold, and ill will likewise. This had always been his motto.

“What did you say?” Chief Steward Li didn’t quite catch it.

“I said, I want to try to help him.”

“You? Even Elder Xue couldn’t help. What can a mere Meridian Opening brat like you do?”

“And what if I

can

do something?” Gu Han shot back.

The slight goodwill he’d felt toward Chief Steward Li earlier vanished without a trace.

Chief Steward Li pointed at the beast cores beside the Seventh Prince. “Brat, see those things? If you do come up with a solution, I’ll eat them in front of you!”

“Really?” Gu Han’s eyes lit up.

“

Hehe

, my word is my bond. I never go back on it!”

“Good, just wait then!”

With that, Gu Han closed his eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking a nap. I’ll wake up when I’ve figured it out!”

Chief Steward Li was speechless.