Sunlight shone into the Knowledge and Practice Tower through its latticed windows, falling warmly across Wei Zhilin's robes in dappled patches.
Wei Zhilin gazed at a lone peach blossom blooming amid sparse shadows in the spring breeze outside the window. He stared in a daze, a trace of worry surfacing on his face.
"Minister Ding's illness... is there truly no cure after all?"
"Senior brother, I've tried more than a dozen prescriptions, but none have helped. I took Minister Ding's pulse... the illness has now sunk deep, and his primordial energy is failing. I'm afraid... he hasn't much time left!"
Cheng Zi Ya sighed, unhooked the wine gourd from his waist, and tipped his head back for a drink.
The two fellow disciples watched the spring scenery outside the window, remaining silent for a long while.
"There's something about Minister Ding's illness... that strikes me as strange. I can't say exactly what's wrong... Imperial Physician Hua has been living at the Chancellor's Residence year-round. Minister Ding has long withdrawn from affairs of state, yet he still enjoys such extraordinary favor..."
Wei Zhilin's brows drew tightly together. His fingers tapped the wooden window frame, and his three strands of long beard gleamed amber in the sunlight.
"Senior brother, do you mean... the imperial court...?"
A cold gleam flashed through Cheng Zi Ya's fierce eyes as he asked in puzzlement.
Wei Zhilin waved a hand, looking somewhat desolate. "The imperial court... the court put Cui Canyun in command of two hundred thousand troops and sent him racing to reinforce Lanzhou. And then... he lost. An utter rout!"
"This Cui Canyun is also a member of the Cui Lineage, serving as Director of the Privy Council. Ever since Dragon Gate Academy lost that martial contest, His Majesty has been deeply displeased with the