Chapter Sixty-One: A Grave Crisis

These days, Chu Yun had been staying at Luo Feng’s residence. He had scarcely ventured outside. The only time he did leave was to visit the marketplace, where he bought exquisite jewelry for Yang Liu’er, planning to bring it back to Chu Family Town for her.

It wasn’t that Chu Yun was unwilling to go out. Rather, he intended to return to Chu Family Town as soon as he received the Earl’s jade token and the relevant documents, then make preparations to head west and properly develop his fief. He didn’t wish to linger in the royal city for too long, nor did he want to get entangled in any affairs that might delay his plans.

At the same time, he had taken a liking to Luo Mansion’s artisan Luo Qi. The young man was skilled and quick-witted; Chu Yun was certain he would be useful by his side. Over these days, Chu Yun had often spent time with Luo Qi, building a friendship, and planned to ask Luo Feng to let him take Luo Qi along when he left.

Thus, Chu Yun was completely unaware of King Qi’s public proclamations throughout the city, the hiring of storytellers to spread tales of his miraculous healing of Prince Qi, and his divine medical skills. It wasn’t until this day, when Chu Yun approached Luo Feng, that he learned of it.

“Lord Luo, I’ve troubled you for several days now, and I’m starting to feel embarrassed…” he began, but Luo Feng waved his hand with a smile, cutting him off. “Doctor Chu, it’s nothing. You saved my life. Besides, I recommended your golden wound medicine to King Qi. It’s been tested and proven far superior to the medicine from the Witch-Doctors’ Sect, bringing me great merit. You are my benefactor—stay as long as you like.”

In truth, Luo Feng thought to himself, I never intended to let you leave.

Chu Yun, however, insisted, “No, Lord Luo, I truly can’t impose any longer. Please ask King Qi when the jade token for the Earlship will be ready, and deliver the documents to me as soon as possible. I’d like to leave at the earliest opportunity.”

Luo Feng snorted, “Doctor Chu, are you really so eager to leave? Or have I treated you poorly, making you feel uncomfortable here?”

Chu Yun hastily shook his head. “No, not at all!”

Luo Feng changed the subject. “Doctor Chu, I have good news. King Qi has announced your successful treatment of Prince Qi and has storytellers extolling your miraculous skills. Now, the entire royal city wishes to seek your medical expertise and befriend you. King Qi has also arranged for several ministers to come for consultations this afternoon—not so much for treatment, but to help you establish connections and build your own network here.”

Chu Yun frowned, secretly lamenting that King Qi clearly wished to keep him in the city.

Luo Lin, standing nearby, chimed in with a smile, “Indeed, Doctor Chu. News of your healing Prince Qi has spread throughout the city—they call you a divine physician. The Witch-Doctors’ Sect was powerless before Prince Qi’s illness and has been thoroughly discredited; no one trusts them anymore. Now, everyone in the city wants you to treat their injuries and ailments.”

Chu Yun was stunned by these words, surprised that the Witch-Doctors’ Sect’s reputation had suffered.

After all, the sect was currently responsible for Prince Qi’s treatment; even if they hadn’t succeeded, their efforts should have been acknowledged. That was the very reason they took over his care.

Suddenly, a thought struck Chu Yun, and he cried out, “This is terrible, a disaster!”

Luo Feng was startled. “What’s wrong?”

Luo Lin was baffled—why would Chu Yun react this way to such good fortune?

Gripping Luo Feng’s hand, Chu Yun spoke urgently, “Foolish, King Qi has acted foolishly! How could he attribute all the credit for healing Prince Qi solely to me, completely disregarding the Witch-Doctors’ Sect? Worse, he’s damaged their reputation! Don’t you realize the sect is currently treating Prince Qi?”

Luo Feng, indignant, replied, “Doctor Chu, if not for you, Prince Qi would already be dead. The credit belongs to you alone!”

Chu Yun said, “That may be true, but the key issue is this: the Witch-Doctors’ Sect is now responsible for Prince Qi’s treatment. If something happens to him—if he dies—the blame will fall on me.”

This realization left Luo Feng visibly shaken. He staggered and fell to the ground.

Luo Lin hurried over to help him up. Luo Feng took a deep breath and exclaimed, “Quick, prepare a horse! I must rush to the palace and inform King Qi, or Prince Qi will be in grave danger!”

“Understood!” The steward answered and personally went to the stables to fetch a fast horse.

Luo Feng, too anxious for farewells, leapt onto the horse and galloped off toward the palace.

Chu Yun watched his receding figure, his heart full of worry, hoping desperately that there was still time to avert disaster.

Yet, less than a quarter hour later, Luo Feng returned.

In his hands was a refined wooden box, his expression downcast, eyes brimming with tears.

Chu Yun, seeing him thus, asked, “Lord Luo, why have you returned so quickly?”

Without a word, Luo Feng pushed the box into Chu Yun’s arms. “Doctor Chu, this is the Earl’s jade token and the documents. Take them and leave the city with Miss Ye immediately.”

He turned to Luo Lin, “Steward Luo, bring two fine horses at once!”

Seeing his master so distraught, Luo Lin didn’t even reply but hurried straight to the stables.

Chu Yun pressed Luo Feng again, “Lord Luo, what has happened?”

Luo Feng looked at Chu Yun and began to weep. “Doctor Chu, as you predicted, the Witch-Doctors’ Sect has made their move against Prince Qi—he’s already been poisoned.”

The thought that he himself was responsible for Prince Qi’s death made Luo Feng’s tears flow uncontrollably.

Chu Yun sighed, “Alas, we were still a step too late.”

Luo Feng quickly wiped his tears and continued, “King Qi realized the sect would blame Prince Qi’s death on you, so he immediately sent the jade token and documents. I had barely left when I met the courier; King Qi instructed me to give these to you and urge you to depart at once.”

“Only if you leave the city immediately can King Qi prove that Prince Qi’s death wasn’t your doing. The Witch-Doctors’ Sect won’t be able to seize you as a scapegoat.”

“But your reputation as a divine physician will be lost, and throughout the royal city—and perhaps all of Great Qi—few will have faith in your medical skills.”

At this, Luo Feng was filled with remorse, lamenting that not only had he caused the death of Prince Qi, but had nearly ruined Chu Yun as well. He felt he could hardly face Chu Yun.

“Hurry, Doctor Chu. Gather your things and leave at once!” Luo Feng could only urge Chu Yun to depart quickly, lest the situation worsen further.