Where were Imperial Physician Gu and Yingzi?

Those two never left Jun Beiyue’s side, not even for a moment!

So why were only Old Li and Physician Hua in the room right now?

A complicated look flashed through the Gu family head’s eyes. He frowned and looked toward Gu Meiting, who immediately lowered her head to avoid his scrutiny.

Ziqing stood at the doorway, not taking a single step inside, waiting for Madam Gu to answer.

Old Li and Physician Hua hurried out to greet her. Physician Hua quickly explained, “This must be the young mistress. What terrible timing—I only just received the news myself. If I’d known sooner, I wouldn’t have let Imperial Physician Gu and Yingzi leave.”

“Leave? What happened?” Madam Gu asked hurriedly.

“The young master’s vital energy was badly injured this time, and he needs large amounts of tonics to recover, but the medicine stores don’t have enough. I planned to go to the Medicine Mountain myself to gather herbs, but Imperial Physician Gu insisted on going in my place, and had Guard Yingzi go along to protect him. He said he’d be back in a few days,” Physician Hua explained.

“Oh… how could you let Imperial Physician Gu go himself? That mountain is full of poisonous creatures and fierce beasts!” Madam Gu said anxiously.

“He insisted on going personally. Fortunately Guard Yingzi went with him,” Physician Hua said.

Madam Gu looked ready to scold him further, but the Gu family head spoke up instead. “It’s fine, it’s fine. You understand Beiyue’s condition better than Imperial Physician Gu does anyway. If you’d gone and something happened, that wouldn’t have been good either!”

Only then did Madam Gu nod. She turned to Ziqing. “Qing’er, what terrible timing. Beiyue is inside. Go on.”

Yet strangely, Ziqing was in no hurry at all. She asked flatly, “How long before they return?”

“A round trip to the Medicine Mountain takes at least three or four days at the fastest. As for gathering the herbs, that depends on luck,” Physician Hua said.

Ziqing nodded, and finally stepped through the doorway. Nearly everyone stole glances at her expression, wondering what they might see—perhaps her crying, perhaps her growing agitated, perhaps her growing anxious.

But no one saw any of that. Though the woman had seemed restrained and yet visibly anxious just moments ago, now nothing at all could be read from her face.

She walked so slowly—it was only four or five steps, yet everyone watching felt anxious on her behalf. She alone showed no urgency.

Madam Gu took her hand again and said softly, “Qing’er, what are you afraid of?”

Ziqing didn’t answer. She quietly slipped her hand free of Madam Gu’s grip, and her steps grew even slower.

Perhaps she was simply nervous, the others could only assume. At last, however slowly, she reached the bedside.

The man lying on the bed—even having been unconscious for so long—still possessed looks and bearing that made it impossible to look away, dazzling enough to outshine every hero in the realm.

He looked as though he were merely asleep, as if the slightest disturbance might wake him. The room fell silent, everyone’s attention fixed on Ziqing.

They watched her approach the edge of the bed and slowly sit down. They watched her gaze quietly at Jun Beiyue, utterly still.

Gu Meiting watched coldly, waiting with great patience to see this woman cry. Though Physician Hua hadn’t said it outright, and her father hadn’t said it either, it was clear from how things were going—Jun Beiyue was certainly not going to wake up anytime soon!

So what if Han Ziqing had come? With no man to back her up, what could an outsider like her possibly do?

She’d had the audacity to come in and report Jiang Chen’s misdeeds the moment she arrived. Just wait until she finished crying, finished grieving—then Gu Meiting would slowly settle the score with her. Under the same roof, there would be plenty of chances to teach her a lesson.

But wait as they might, Ziqing showed hardly any reaction at all. She didn’t even say a single word, only silently gazing at Jun Beiyue, her clear eyes giving nothing away of her current emotions.

Madam Gu and the Gu family head exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads helplessly. Surely this girl wasn’t a fool, was she?

Madam Gu stepped forward and gently wrapped an arm around Ziqing’s thin shoulders. “Qing’er, if you’re sad, say so. Don’t hold it in. It’s all right.”

Only then did Ziqing speak, her tone flat. “Thank you, Madam Gu. I’m fine. What is Beiyue’s… condition right now?”

Physician Hua hurried forward and reported the condition truthfully.

Ziqing listened carefully. “He’ll wake within five days—what day is it now?”

Physician Hua sighed helplessly. “I was held up by something yesterday. I only just took his pulse. Looking at it now, it’s very strange indeed!”

“Strange how?” the Gu family head asked at once.

“By rights, after taking in so many tonics, his vital energy should be quite abundant. And yet, the young master seems instead to have…” Physician Hua hesitated. He himself had only just been pulled in by Old Li and didn’t know the full situation, so he didn’t dare speak carelessly—but judging from the young master’s condition, this truly had him stumped.

Though both physicians shared the same profession, each had his own specialty. Imperial Physician Gu had been taken away—otherwise he likely would have understood what was going on!

“Instead have what?” Madam Gu asked anxiously as well.

“Madam, this humble one is incompetent. All I know is that the young master is absorbing very little of the medicine’s effect, and his recovery is extremely slow. As for why he can’t absorb more, that I cannot say. For now, the only option is to use large quantities of medicine, and hope Imperial Physician Gu can find as many herbs as possible!” Physician Hua answered hurriedly.

“So his body is simply too weak, and that’s why he can’t wake?” Ziqing asked seriously.

Physician Hua nodded. “That’s right.”

“Then can he… hear us talking?” Ziqing asked again. If it was weakness rather than some other cause keeping him unconscious, then was Jun Beiyue conscious in some way—could he perceive everything happening around him?

The moment Ziqing said this, Madam Gu’s expression changed abruptly. Gu Suying, who had just arrived and was stepping through the door, visibly stiffened for a moment before quietly walking in and taking her place beside Gu Meiting.

Physician Hua furrowed his brow, thinking it over, and shook his head helplessly. “That’s hard to say. Perhaps he can hear. Perhaps he’s aware of everything!”

“Physician Hua, leave the Medicine Mountain matter to Imperial Physician Gu and Guard Yingzi. You go arrange things right away—send the herb boys down the mountain to buy medicine. Whatever the price, as long as it’s a useful tonic, buy it all!” the Gu family head ordered at once.

“Father, such a large move will surely arouse the other families’ suspicions!” Gu Meiting reminded him quickly.

“I don’t care about that. Just say… just say the Gu family is planning to open a medicine hall!” the Gu family head said, offering the excuse offhandedly, and had Physician Hua go handle it immediately.

Madam Gu grew tense as well. “Old Li, go check what’s left in my quarters and bring it all over!”

“Mother, those are things meant to save your own life! Your health is already frail as it is!” Gu Meiting hurried to persuade her.

“I’ll be fine. As long as it can wake Beiyue, even if the Gu family has to spend its entire fortune, we must find that medicine!” Madam Gu said, her expression utterly serious.

“Thank you, sir. Thank you, Madam,” Ziqing said flatly.

“Ziqing, saying that makes you sound like a guest. Beiyue is the young master of our Gu family, the future heir of the Gu family—everything the Gu family has belongs to him!” the Gu family head said earnestly.

“That’s right, Ziqing, don’t worry. If anything’s troubling you, don’t keep it bottled up—come find me anytime. Meiting lives right nearby too, you can find her as well,” Madam Gu said, continuously rubbing Ziqing’s shoulder, trying to comfort her.

“Thank you, Madam.” Ziqing remained courteous. Madam Gu sighed helplessly. “Keep thanking me like that and you’ll really start to feel like an outsider. It’s good that you’ve come—Beiyue needs someone to attend him. With Imperial Physician Gu and Yingzi away, I feel more at ease now that you’re here.”

Madam Gu gestured for Guard Li to come over. “Qing’er, this is Old Li. From now on, he’ll stay by your side to attend to you. You can leave things to him.”

“Mm.” Ziqing nodded.

Madam Gu seemed about to say more, but the Gu family head stopped her. “Madam, Ziqing has traveled far and must be tired. Let her rest a while first.”

“Look at me, going on and on now that I’m old. Qing’er, rest first. I’ll have someone bring you snow ginseng soup shortly,” Madam Gu said with a smile.

Ziqing nodded again, murmuring a soft acknowledgment, saying nothing further.

Madam Gu patted her shoulder and rose. Seeing that Gu Suying had also arrived, she pulled Ziqing over to introduce her. “Qing’er, this is my second daughter, Suying.”

“Suying, you arrived and didn’t even say anything.” Madam Gu chided her.

“I thought when Miss Han saw Beiyue, she’d cry her heart out, so I didn’t dare disturb her,” Gu Suying mumbled, pouting.

The moment she said this, an awkward silence fell over the room. Hadn’t everyone just been waiting to see Ziqing break down in grief?

But Ziqing hadn’t. And the second young lady’s remark was clearly meant to needle and mock Ziqing—and by calling her “Miss Han,” she was plainly refusing to acknowledge Ziqing’s actual status!

Both Madam Gu and the Gu family head frowned, glaring angrily at the second young lady, who only pouted further, looking every bit the spoiled, thoughtless little girl.

Gu Meiting burst out laughing at once, teasing, “Second sister, you really do like your jokes. You want to see someone cry that badly? Why don’t you stay behind and wait for it?”

She went on, laughing heartily. “Miss Han, my sister and I are just joking around. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Enough. Is this a place for jokes?” the Gu family head suddenly snapped, silencing both Gu Meiting and Gu Suying at once. Both lowered their heads, not daring to say another word.

“You two, honestly—is this how I’ve taught you to behave?” Madam Gu said furiously, clutching her chest. “Both of you, get out! Don’t stay here disturbing Beiyue!”

“Ziqing, those two sisters are just like that, never serious, always saying whatever nonsense comes to mind—but they mean no real harm. Don’t take it to heart,” Madam Gu quickly explained.

Yet Ziqing paid her no mind. She slowly lifted her head and looked toward the two young ladies who were just about to leave, and suddenly spoke. “Eldest Miss, if Jiang Chen died, would you cry?”

The moment she said this, Gu Meiting missed a step and fell flat on her face, even dropping Jiang Yuan in the process, who immediately began wailing. Gu Suying rushed to help her up. Gu Meiting, with no time to tend to Jiang Yuan, spun around to curse—but Gu Suying gripped her arm tightly, holding her back.

Yet Ziqing, with utter seriousness, advanced step by step, her voice sinking into something chillingly cold. “Eldest Miss Gu, would you cry?”

Gu Meiting, who had been burning with fury a moment ago, felt an inexplicable flicker of fear as Ziqing closed in on her. Though she stood a full head taller than Ziqing, she found herself instinctively cowed, made to feel smaller by the sheer force of Ziqing’s presence.

Gu Suying, too, lost her usual mischievous manner, looking flustered as she stepped back along with her sister.

Seeing the situation turning dangerous, Madam Gu and the Gu family head moved to intervene—but Ziqing flung her hand back sharply, and a blade of icy, ruthless wind lashed out, sending a row of stone tiles beneath her feet flying into the air, blocking Madam Gu and the family head in their tracks!

Without even glancing back, Ziqing bore down coldly on Gu Meiting, and said, word by word, “Eldest Miss, your husband is dead. Would you cry?”

……