The only ones who knew the truth behind the misunderstanding between Jun Beiyue and Bai Mengmeng were Jun Beiyue and Bai Mengmeng themselves. As for Situ Haonan — whether he’d seen or discovered anything at Mingsha Mountain back then remained uncertain.
Imperial Physician Gu couldn’t be entirely certain Situ Haonan had witnessed something. But he equally couldn’t be certain that Situ Haonan hadn’t uncovered the truth.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a chance substantial enough to finally break Han Ziqing’s heart for good.
Imperial Physician Gu understood someone like Han Ziqing all too well. Unless her heart was truly dead, she would absolutely come back to fight for what was hers.
Whatever else happened, he wasn’t about to let this chance slip through his fingers.
So Situ Haonan absolutely could not be spared.
“Young Master Situ, Prince Yao has looked out for you countless times since you were young — this time, consider it your turn to help him out!” Imperial Physician Gu murmured to himself, then turned and went to find Yelu Chenguang.
Having spent so long at Jun Beiyue’s side, even the dullest of men would have picked up a thing or two from him — Imperial Physician Gu was no fool himself.
He’d originally intended to find one of the Xijing physicians and bribe them to move against Situ Haonan. He hadn’t wanted Situ Haonan’s life — only for him to remain permanently unconscious, so the truth could never come out.
But on second thought, seeking out Yelu Chenguang would save him far more trouble than approaching a Xijing physician.
Going directly to a Xijing physician risked things going wrong and eventually exposing him.
But Yelu Chenguang was different — the man was practically desperate for Situ Haonan to die. Approaching him would save considerable effort, and compared to a Xijing physician, Yelu Chenguang was far less likely to betray him.
Imperial Physician Gu was thankful he hadn’t acted on impulse earlier. Yelu Chenguang, being a prince, had to pay his respects to Prince Baxian, then to the second prince and others, and wasn’t currently at the envoy’s residence.
Imperial Physician Gu wasn’t in a hurry either. He bribed the gatekeeper and simply waited in Yelu Chenguang’s room.
But where was Yelu Chenguang at that moment?
Having met with the second prince, he’d claimed exhaustion, but was in truth doing everything he could to arrange a meeting with Sha Qiuzi!
What was he up to?
Naturally, he was there to bribe Sha Qiuzi. Jun Beiyue had only these two physicians at his side — to kill Jun Beiyue, one had to start with one of these two.
It was common knowledge that Imperial Physician Gu had served as Jun Beiyue’s attendant for many years, so Yelu Chenguang naturally avoided him. Not knowing the relationship between Sha Qiuzi and Jun Beiyue, he’d targeted Sha Qiuzi instead.
Unfortunately, he was turned away at the door — no matter what pretext he offered, Sha Qiuzi politely declined to see him.
With no other option, Yelu Chenguang had no choice but to return to the envoy’s residence.
Killing Jun Beiyue wouldn’t change the current state of the Longyuan Continent for the time being — it would only trigger internal chaos within Da Zhou. Judging by the situation these past few years, Xijing wouldn’t gain any advantage from it either.
But what Yelu Chenguang wanted was to please his father, the Emperor, and seize the Xijing throne.
Returning to the envoy’s residence in a foul mood, he nearly drew his sword the moment he pushed open the door — only to freeze upon seeing it was Imperial Physician Gu.
This old physician, in his room — what did this mean?
Seeing Yelu Chenguang’s hand on his sword, Imperial Physician Gu smiled. “Eighth Prince, why so tense?”
Yelu Chenguang, a man who’d seen his share of the world, quickly composed himself and said coldly, “Imperial Physician Gu, what exactly do you mean by this?”
“Naturally, I have important matters to discuss with you.” Imperial Physician Gu’s expression turned mysterious. Though he was fairly confident he could bring Yelu Chenguang around, he still intended to test the waters first.
Yelu Chenguang immediately caught the strangeness in his tone, planting both hands on the table and leaning forward, lowering his voice. “You’re just a physician — what business could you possibly have that requires discussing it with this prince in such a manner?”
“What does the Eighth Prince think about the matter of Situ Haonan?” Imperial Physician Gu asked, still smiling, benevolent as any compassionate healer.
Yelu Chenguang’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Situ Haonan?”
“Precisely. If Situ Haonan wakes up, Princess Qianqian will hold the wedding at once, won’t she?” Imperial Physician Gu asked.
“What exactly are you getting at?” Yelu Chenguang demanded sharply, his patience wearing thin.
Once Situ Haonan woke and married Yelu Qianqian, heaven only knew what title and rank the Xijing Emperor would bestow upon him, how much power he’d be granted!
This was the greatest threat imaginable to Yelu Chenguang.
He wished with all his heart that Situ Haonan would never wake up at all, that the wedding would be postponed forever, that Yelu Qianqian would spend the rest of her days watching over Situ Haonan, unable to accomplish anything else.
The trouble was, the physicians treating Situ Haonan were all his father’s trusted confidants, men of unshakable integrity — he simply couldn’t bribe them.
So why had Imperial Physician Gu come to him with this?
Wasn’t this old man Jun Beiyue’s personal physician? He had no reason at all to bear any hostility toward Situ Haonan!
Yelu Chenguang stared at Imperial Physician Gu, deeply suspicious, but the old physician only kept smiling. “Eighth Prince — what if this old man had a way to make Situ Haonan sleep forever, never to wake?”
“Why should this prince believe you?” Yelu Chenguang sneered coldly.
“Because Nangong City holds a grudge against our Princess Consort of Prince Yao — and Situ Haonan is bound, sooner or later, to side with Nangong City.” Imperial Physician Gu said earnestly.
Yelu Chenguang knew little of the exact grievances involved with Nangong City, but he had indeed heard, from his father, something about Situ Haonan’s schemes with General Gu Du.
“Just because of that?” Yelu Chenguang asked, still suspicious.
“Yes. My master is too kind-hearted, unable to bear cutting off the bond of brotherhood — so this old man must handle it in his stead.” Imperial Physician Gu looked earnestly into Yelu Chenguang’s eyes, giving him no chance to think it over before continuing, “Eighth Prince, this matter benefits you entirely, with no downside whatsoever. I can persuade Sha Qiuzi to dispatch several physicians there under his own name. I’ve just inquired with Imperial Physician Beiqiu about Situ Haonan’s condition — he’s certain to wake within the month. We… have no time to lose!”
Hearing this, Yelu Chenguang started slightly. Whatever else was true, this matter genuinely offered him nothing but benefit — after all, the men being sent would come from Da Zhou’s side, so none of it could ever be traced back to him.
“Eighth Prince, before you all depart, someone will be sent to you. You… need only look after him,” Imperial Physician Gu said, eyes narrowing into a smile. “This matter — only heaven, earth, you, and I will ever know. Once it’s done…”
As he spoke, Imperial Physician Gu made a slicing motion with his hand. Yelu Chenguang watched, and a sinister smile gradually spread across his face. “And if word ever gets out, we simply deny everything, each pointing at the other — no proof, no evidence.”
“Exactly the idea!” Imperial Physician Gu smiled, knowing Yelu Chenguang had agreed.
“Then, it’s settled!” Sure enough, Yelu Chenguang agreed readily. Imperial Physician Gu, using tea in place of wine, shared three rounds with him before hurrying off.
As far as he was concerned, everything was now perfectly arranged.
Within two or three years, the moment Han Ziqing returned, he would make absolutely certain her heart was shattered beyond repair.
And if two or three years passed and she still hadn’t returned, that would be proof enough — she had died out there somewhere.
Yelu Chenguang’s delegation didn’t linger long. Imperial Physician Gu had successfully manipulated Sha Qiuzi into sending several physicians to accompany Yelu Chenguang back to Xijing, to look after Situ Haonan.
Meanwhile, poor Yelu Qianqian — still holding back her longing for Situ Haonan, still determined to find Ziqing first — remained utterly unaware of any of this danger. At that very moment, she and Xuanyuan Lige were already at Mingsha Mountain.