The Loose-Tongued Divine Doctor Wanted to Swear Brotherhood with Elder Shen-and Pronounce the Emperor's Death Sentence
Gu Moran pulled Liu Ruyan toward the back door.
Han Che sat back down by the well.
His back was very straight.
Half of his body was hidden in the smoke.
He looked at Liu Ruyan.
Don't look back.
"Young lady, live on."
Liu Ruyan's eyes were red-rimmed as Gu Moran led her outside.
There's a narrow alleyway outside the back door.
Rainwater accumulated in the cracks between the rocks.
Uncle Fu spoke in a low voice at the front.
"Your Highness, you can go to the left; it leads to the Charcoal-Selling Alley."
Gu Moran pushed Liu Ruyan to Uncle Fu's side.
"Take her with you and go first."
Liu Ruyan grabbed his sleeve.
"And you?"
Gu Moran pulled his sleeve out of her hand.
"I'll hold off."
Liu Ruyan was about to speak again.
Gu Moran lowered his voice.
"Go quickly, trust me."
Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth, turned around and followed Uncle Fu.
Gu Moran took one last look at the courtyard.
The smoke was so white it looked grayish.
Han Che sat by the well, pressing his chest with his head down.
The rusty knife had already pierced through.
Blood trickled down the straw raincoat.
With his last breath, he shouted towards the courtyard gate.
"Listen up, you bunch of bastards! The Liu Clan hasn't rebelled!"
The noise outside the door stopped for a moment.
Han Che shouted again.
"It's because the Gu Clan is afraid the Liu Clan will live!"
After shouting that, he coughed up blood.
But he didn't stop.
"The Second Prince wants to use my hatred to murder the Emperor and usurp the throne!"
"His spies arrived before you, came to steal the goods, and even tried to silence me!"
Chaos erupted outside immediately.
"Nonsense!"
"Break down the door!"
Don't let him die!
A Imperial City Bureau came from the other side.
"We'll check everyone one by one later, whoever arrived first!"
Gu Moran did not stop.
He turned and disappeared into the dark alley.
After passing through two alleys, the sound of banging on doors behind us finally faded into the distance.
Uncle Fu turned around and glanced back.
"Your Highness, the Imperial City Bureau has entered the courtyard."
Gu Moran pressed the testimony hidden in his sleeve tightly.
The edge of the rolled-up paper was digging into my wrist.
"Let them investigate."
"What should be left for them to see is all by the well."
Liu Ruyan stopped in her tracks.
She didn't cry out loud.
His shoulders were just very tense.
Gu Moran out and pressed down the collar of her cloak for her.
There's no turning back now.
Liu Ruyan looked at him.
"I know."
Her voice was terribly hoarse.
Gu Moran looked towards the alley entrance.
" Han Che risked his life to hold onto the Second Prince's Residence."
" The Imperial City Bureau will remember this statement."
In the Old Well Alley.
After the wooden fence was split open, the Imperial City Bureau rushed into the courtyard first.
The white smoke hadn't completely dissipated yet.
Han Che lay sprawled beside the well.
A rusty knife was stuck in his chest.
Blood flowed down the edge of the well.
On the ground lay old wax models and half a page of old accounts about alchemy furnaces.
The spy from the Second Prince's Residence, who had been lying on the ground, was awakened by the smoke and started cursing as soon as he opened his eyes.
"That old bastard's gone mad!"
He said even my prince would have to pay with his life for the Liu Clan!
The words had barely left his mouth.
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
The entire Imperial City Bureau looked over.
The scout also came to his senses, his lips turning pale.
The leader of the Imperial City Bureau squatted down, glanced at the old wax model, and then looked at the scout.
"Your Highness?"
The scout's lips moved slightly.
"I... I misspoke."
The Imperial City Bureau ripped the rag out of another spy's mouth.
"You say."
Another scout coughed until tears streamed down his face.
"We're just here to find something."
"That's what the leader asked."
What are you looking for?
The spy got stuck.
The man in the lead carried the old wax model under the lamp.
Looking for this?
No one dared to speak.
The Imperial City Bureau sneered.
"The people from the Second Prince's Residence, go to Old Well Alley first."
"The old wax model is by the well."
"The old accounts regarding the alchemy furnace are also there."
" Han Che's last words were heard by everyone outside the alley."
He looked at the clerk beside him.
"Remember."
The clerk immediately spread out the paper.
The scout's mouth was agape, his face flushed red.
The Imperial City Bureau continued, "Tie them up."
"Take him away alive."
"Seal the body."
"Old wax models and old accounts, all put into the box."
No one can absolve themselves of all responsibility today.
In the courtyard, Han Che's body was covered with a white sheet.
Deep in the Charcoal-Selling Alley, Gu Moran led Liu Ruyan into a carriage that was parked in the shadows.
The carriage curtain fell.
The sound of the rain outside was muffled.
Liu Ruyan sat in the car, her fingers constantly gripping the edge of her cloak.
" Uncle Han's body..."
" The Imperial City Bureau will take them away."
Gu Moran carefully put the testimony away again.
"That's exactly what he wants."
"Let everyone see that he died in Old Well Alley."
"Let everyone hear: The Second Prince's Residence offered a pill to commit patricide."
The back hall of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
Chu Tianxing looked at the banquet with satisfaction.
He first tore off a piece of chicken skin, stuffed it into his mouth, and the oil slid down his fingers.
He raised his hand, wiped it away, and took another sip of rice wine.
The spiciness hit my throat.
Chu Tianxing narrowed his eyes.
" Old Shen, your liquor is good."
"More conscientious than prison food."
"The porridge in prison, you have to be lucky to find even a single grain of rice."
I drank three bowls, and my stomach was so empty I could hear an echo.
Elder Shen sat opposite him, picked up a peanut, and slowly chewed it.
"You've finished testing the elixirs too."
"Let me ask you a question: If His Majesty asked you to recuperate for him and asked how much longer he had to live, how would you answer?"
Chu Tianxing didn't stop gnawing on the chicken leg; he started eating right away.
"Just tell the truth."
"Erysipelas has penetrated to the bone; at most, he'll have two years left."
"If they keep eating, things will get complicated."
"May take a year."
"It's also possible that one day, in a fit of rage, he might be halfway through the morning court session, and just like that, he's gone! Hey!"
Thump.
The wine glass slammed onto the table.
The wine in the glass swirled out half a circle, causing the wooden table to shake.
Elder Shen stared at him.
"With a mouth like yours, your ancestors' graves must be emitting a thick plume of green smoke to have lived this long."
Chu Tianxing taken aback.
He held the chicken leg in mid-air, his face full of defiance.
"An illness is an illness; can it be cured by hiding it?"
Besides, I didn't insult him.
"I already said it would be at most two years, isn't that polite enough?"
Elder Shen's forehead twitched.
You call this being polite?
Chu Tianxing nodded seriously.
"Yes."
"If I were to be blunt, I would just ask him whether he prefers nanmu or cypress for the coffin."
Elder Shen raised his hand and pressed down on the pestle.
When Chu Tianxing saw the pestle, his words took a different turn.
"Of course, you can't say that."
"I'm not stupid."
Elder Shen pushed the wine glass back.
"Whether it can be cured or not depends on who is listening."
"If the emperor heard that he only had two years left to live, do you think he would think you were a useless person and, in a fit of rage, order your execution?"
Chu Tianxing slowed down the bite of meat in his mouth.
I put the chicken leg down, my hands were greasy, so I wiped them on the rim of the bowl.
"If he won't let me tell the truth, but still wants me to get treatment, isn't that just cheating?"
Elder Shen's face was cold.
"The imperial court was never meant to be a teahouse."
"If you say someone has kidney deficiency at the tea stall, you might get punched at most."
"If you say the emperor is about to die in front of him, you'll get more than just a beating."
Chu Tianxing touched his neck.
"Are they really going to behead you?"
"Um."
Chu Tianxing remained silent for a moment, then picked up the chicken leg again.
"Then I need to finish eating first."
Elder Shen closed his eyes, resisting the urge to smash the pestle over.
"You can say that elixirs are harmful, you can say that you should stop taking them and recuperate, you can say that His Majesty is blessed with great fortune, and that following the prescription and resting quietly can prolong his life."
"You just can't pronounce a death sentence to my face."
"A doctor must save lives, but first he must be alive himself, and first he must be able to hold his medicine kit."
Chu Tianxing looked down at the half chicken leg in his hand, his usual bouncing energy subsiding a bit.
"Then I'll lie?"
Elder Shen picked up a piece of braised tofu.
"It's not a lie. If you say he can be transferred, he'll feel more at ease and might even live a few more years."
"By saying you're going to die, you're digging your own grave."
Chu Tianxing pondered for a while.
He took a bite of the chicken leg, then frowned.
"But if I speak too quickly, I might blurt it out."
Elder Shen picked up the pestle.
Chu Tianxing immediately waved his hand.
"I understand, I understand, I'm very smart."
Only then did Elder Shen put down the pestle.
Chu Tianxing took another swig of wine.
My throat went round and round.
He suddenly slammed his hand on the table.
" Old Shen."
"I see you're capable, courageous, and know how to protect yourself."
I admit defeat.
"Come, let's become sworn brothers, sharing life and death."
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[Let's start with four chapters. Special thanks to: Green Pepper for the update reminder and inspiration capsule, Jenny for 30 flowers, likes, milk tea, and update reminder, Fatty for the likes, Night Rain for the flowers, and all the lovely readers for their support!]