If Situ Haonan knew the truth, and Han Ziqing ever came back, wouldn’t every misunderstanding be resolved?
At this thought, Imperial Physician Gu grew troubled.
In truth, deep down, he had long believed Han Ziqing was already dead, that she would never return.
But he couldn’t afford not to guard against it.
Though it was Bai Mengmeng who had wounded Prince Yao, if not for Han Ziqing, the prince would never have braved that great storm to go to Mingsha Mountain in the first place!
All of this was tangled up with Han Ziqing, one way or another!
No matter what, Imperial Physician Gu had to guard against Han Ziqing’s sudden return.
He needed to prepare thoroughly, just in case.
“Old Sha, Prince Baxian is nearly frantic with worry. I think we should proceed with the joint consultation right away—pool everyone’s wisdom, and perhaps we’ll find a faster solution,” Imperial Physician Gu said, feigning concern. In truth, he understood better than Sha Qiuzi that no matter how many physicians were brought in to consult, the result would be exactly the same.
Nourishing vital energy couldn’t be rushed—haste would only ruin things. Vital energy wasn’t like other matters; it simply required time.
Sha Qiuzi had spent these past days racking his brain nearly to the breaking point without finding a better solution, and now badly wanted a large group of physicians to consult together. He nodded at once. “Then go tell Prince Baxian to invite the Xijing physicians over.”
Imperial Physician Gu nodded immediately, casting a meaningful glance at Jun Beiyue soaking in the medicinal pool before taking his leave.
Once the consultation began, Imperial Physician Gu would have his chance to make contact with the Xijing physicians!
Within the Xijing royal family, there were no shortage of people who hated Situ Haonan—he wouldn’t lack for someone he could use.
Just as preparations for the consultation were being hurriedly made in the Da Zhou capital, Xuanyuan Lige had already made his way to see Consort Qinji. Though it had been over a year since his last visit, Consort Qinji had arranged everything perfectly.
Xuanyuan Lige, dressed as a palace guard, made his way smoothly into the outer courtyard of Consort Qinji’s quarters.
Having received word in advance, Consort Qinji was like a caged bird set free, overjoyed, and had found an excuse early on to send everyone away, leaving herself alone in the courtyard.
She had prepared the finest tea and pastries, the finest zither stand. She hadn’t slept a wink the night before, and from early morning had sat quietly waiting in the pavilion.
Even as the day stretched from morning to sunset without Xuanyuan Lige appearing, she waited on, filled with anticipation.
In truth, just having word of him was enough to bring her joy for many days—someone she hadn’t heard from in so long, and now not only did she have news, but he was about to appear before her!
Finally, deep in the night when all was still, Xuanyuan Lige appeared.
His silver hair was bound up high, hidden beneath a soldier’s cap, his body dressed in a lowly guard’s uniform, yet it couldn’t stop his refined, elegant bearing from shining through.
Consort Qinji looked at the man before her, her eyes reddening, tears falling silently.
“Lige… I thought… I’d never see you again in this lifetime.”
Xuanyuan Lige suppressed a cough and did not sit, getting straight to the point, clearly anxious. “Is the King of Nanzhao holding a secret meeting tonight?”
“Mm! I wrote you several letters—didn’t you see any of them?” Consort Qinji asked, startled.
“I never received them. What news do you have?” Xuanyuan Lige asked urgently.
“They’ve all been discussing Mingsha Mountain. I only managed to overhear that much—Mingsha Mountain. Nothing else…” Consort Qinji paused, collecting herself before continuing, “Meetings like tonight’s aren’t the first—it’s happened more than once. No one can get anywhere near. I’ve tried several times, without any luck.”
“Mingsha Mountain…”
Xuanyuan Lige murmured to himself, falling silent for a long while. Just as he was about to speak, Consort Qinji, unable to hold back her worry any longer, asked with concern, “Lige, what’s wrong with your health? Your illness…”
“Take me there. Now.” Xuanyuan Lige’s tone wasn’t a request, but a command.
Hearing this, Consort Qinji sucked in a sharp breath, only now noticing how strange Xuanyuan Lige seemed. This man had always been cold and aloof—no matter how enormous the matter, he faced it with indifference. In all the years she’d known him, when had she ever seen him this fierce, this cold?
“You… what are you planning to do?”
A high-level secret meeting like tonight’s—even she, the most favored consort in the entire harem, couldn’t get near it. How much less could Xuanyuan Lige?
Xuanyuan Lige said nothing. Consort Qinji couldn’t help but grip his arm tightly. “You’ll never blend in there, it’s far too dangerous!”
“I have no intention of blending in. I intend to ask the King of Nanzhao myself.”
To her surprise, Xuanyuan Lige’s tone suddenly turned icy, and an intense killing intent seemed to radiate from him, making Consort Qinji involuntarily release her grip, stepping back.
What had happened to him?
He was clearly furious—this perpetually cold, detached man was capable of such intense emotion?
What on earth had happened?
Facing Consort Qinji’s terror, the fury in Xuanyuan Lige’s eyes only deepened, as though flames burned within those icy irises.
Such fury frightened Consort Qinji, and she suddenly felt the man before her was a stranger, utterly unfamiliar.
What was wrong with him?
Either he didn’t show up at all, or he showed up and was this impulsive—he had never been an impulsive man before!
This wasn’t her cold-as-ice Master Xuanyuan at all!
Yes—Xuanyuan Lige was worked up, was furious!
The moment Yingzi and Yelu Qianqian had come to find him, he had flown into a rage!
He wanted nothing more than to storm the Da Zhou capital and demand an answer from Jun Beiyue. He didn’t want to hear any excuses—he only wanted one answer to one question.
Why could that man protect an entire nation, and yet couldn’t protect one woman?
This wasn’t the first time!
That business with Yanzi before, the price Ziqing had paid then!
He’d thought something like this would never happen again. He’d foolishly sat in his courtyard day after day, waiting, believing that once the war ended, Ziqing would come see him.
But what had he gotten instead?
He had gotten terrible news.
Last time, at least, at least he had been there for Ziqing. But this time, no one even knew where she was!
What if she’d fallen into the hands of a Gu cultivator?
Xuanyuan Lige didn’t dare think further. The moment he’d gotten word, he’d decided to find the King of Nanzhao and get to the bottom of everything.
He wasn’t Jun Beiyue—Jun Beiyue wanted the whole world, and he wanted the woman too. But Xuanyuan Lige had long since given up on the world.
He was even willing to abandon his dream of Great Qin. He was willing to give up everything.
Even if it meant letting Nanzhao learn the truth, so be it! Even if it meant Da Zhou and Nanzhao became enemies, so be it! Even if it plunged the entire world into chaos, so be it—in his heart, nothing outweighed one Han Ziqing!
As long as Ziqing wished it, he would yield anything!
But if anything threatened Ziqing, then he no longer cared about anything else.
He only wanted Ziqing safe—everything else could go to hell.
“Qinji, lead the way!” Xuanyuan Lige said coldly. In this moment he seemed an entirely different person. All the way here with Yingzi, who knew how much restraint it had taken him not to lash out at Yingzi in anger.
Of course, no matter what, he would never take his anger out on Yingzi.
Because Yingzi knew too much—too much about Jun Beiyue, about the greater currents of the world, and about Eastern Qin as well.
“Lige… can’t you calm down a little? Tell me what happened, let’s think this through together, all right?”
Consort Qinji stepped forward boldly, both hands carefully gripping Xuanyuan Lige’s arm.
Just as Xuanyuan Lige was about to shake her off, a sudden rush of blood surged up his throat. Unable to hold it back, he began coughing violently—and once it started, he couldn’t stop, coughing up mouthful after mouthful of blood, growing worse and worse.
Yet still Xuanyuan Lige held himself upright. Weak as he was, he absolutely would not allow himself to appear weak at a time like this.