“The poison in Your Majesty’s body has been mostly cured. From now on, you only need to take the medicine on time to clear the remaining toxins.” More than ten days had passed in the blink of an eye.
During these ten days, Xu Ping’an and Pei Qingxuan truly felt like newlyweds reunited after a brief separation, resting together every day.
Meanwhile, the Emperor’s condition gradually improved; the poison inside was almost entirely cleansed.
Only a trace of residual toxin remained, which could be handled easily with medication—basically no problem at all.
Xu Ping’an withdrew his hand from the Emperor’s pulse, a smile on his face.
“Congratulations, Your Majesty, you have basically recovered. As for the rest, you won’t need me anymore. The Imperial Physicians will naturally have their methods.”
To be honest, he didn’t want to stay in the palace for even a single day longer.
This place was essentially an open prison. Even with the Emperor’s favor now in full bloom, in this little patch of land, he still had to be cautious.
Even having Pei Qingxuan backing him up wasn’t enough.
Things had to be done one way or another. If he made a small mistake, those petty eunuchs would rush over muttering, “This won’t do, Lord,” or “My Lord, this really can’t happen!” and so on.
He was almost getting calluses from hearing it all the time.
“Sir, what do you mean by this? Could it be that you intend to leave me?”
Li Shuo’s expression darkened slightly at these words, but Xu Ping’an was not afraid.
He wasn’t afraid of the Emperor, but of the countless rules and regulations within the palace.
“Your Majesty, I am but a commoner. Even with this title, in the vast Royal City, there is no place for me. But please rest assured, now that I am a subject of Qi, if Your Majesty summons me, I will come without hesitation.”
“Sir… Does this Great Qi of mine displease you so much?” Li Shuo stared at Xu Ping’an, his gaze burning.
Over the past half-month, the Emperor’s health had visibly improved day by day.
As Emperor, faced with such a divine doctor, how could he bear to give up so easily?
Even if he didn’t possess the profound and unpredictable schemes that Li Yu mentioned, this medical skill alone was enough to sway the Emperor.
If it weren’t for the fact that Xu Ping’an was Pei Qingxuan’s disciple, Li Shuo wouldn’t even bother negotiating with him; he would have issued a firm edict, refusing to let him leave.
But now things were different. With Pei Qingxuan, the Flowing Cloud Sect Master, backing him, even the Emperor had no way to force the issue.
“Sir, I have heard from Li Yu some of your past. Though your suffering is not my fault, it is my mistake. I… I apologize to you.”
“Your Majesty, no. An Emperor must know when he is wrong and correct it, but not admit guilt.”
“Know one’s mistake… correct it, but not admit it?”
Muttering this a few times, Xu Ping’an’s eyes grew brighter, nodding repeatedly.
“Yes, yes, the Emperor should be so. Sir, you truly are a great talent! I have a personal request—please, you must agree!”
If it’s a personal request, then just don’t ask.
If Xu Ping’an’s facial expression control wasn’t so good, by now he’d be baring his teeth in irritation.
“Your Majesty, I am a simple man from the countryside. I truly cannot adapt to living in the Royal City. I have come today to diagnose Your Majesty’s pulse and also to bid farewell. My Master is returning to the sect, and as a disciple, I naturally must follow. I ask Your Majesty to permit this.”
He didn’t give him a chance to speak!
Knowing full well the Emperor’s next words would be something like, “Please teach me, Sir,” Xu Ping’an didn’t let him utter them, interrupting decisively.
Damn it, if this kept going, he really wouldn’t be able to leave!
“Ah—no… Sir, I haven’t spoken yet…”
“Your Majesty has a broad mind and countless talents around you. I am but a common man, ignorant, powerless, and without ambition or discipline. I am simply not suitable to stay by your side. I know I am not a qualified subject. If Your Majesty wishes to blame me… well, fine! I return this title to you.”
“Wait, Sir, Ping’an, listen to me first! I…”
“Your Majesty, no need for more words. I know my own limits. I take my leave without ceremony.” Saying this, he turned to leave.
“Wait, Sir… I haven’t finished! I want to say, I have a daughter, a heavenly beauty—”
“Your Majesty, as the saying goes: ‘One cannot be cowed by might, moved by poverty, or swayed by beauty.’ Please, no more words… The Princess, what’s wrong? Is she ill? Shall I examine her now? I will go at once!”
Li Shuo stared at Xu Ping’an, whose expression had changed so quickly and smoothly, twitching at the corner of his mouth, barely holding back a smile.
“Sir… you truly are no ordinary man.”
The subtext was clearly: You must be crazy!
“Your Majesty flatters me; I dare not accept such praise.”
“Uh, alright, alright. Since you’re willing to stay…”
“Wait, Your Majesty, I never said I would stay. Since the Princess is ill, I must examine her. After treatment, I will still leave.”
He wasn’t that shallow. As for beauties… well, looking briefly and indulging his eyes was one thing.
Besides, he already had a wife at home.
And she truly was a beauty that could topple a kingdom.
But as the saying goes, every person has their own kind of beauty—whether plump or slender, elegant or witty.
He preferred to abandon vulgar tastes and appreciate beauty with elegance and poetic sentiment.
Also… looking at the same person too long could cause aesthetic fatigue. Seeing other beauties now and then could rekindle his passion for his wife.
No other way—lately she had been pushing him too hard, staying up whole nights.
Even if he took the Nine-turn Divine Pill, prolonging his life by seventeen hundred years, he couldn’t keep up with such abuse!
Just this morning, he had checked the System.
Goodness, in just a few days, it had nearly eaten away two years of his lifespan.
This was only because he had a massive lifespan and the foundation granted by the Nine-turn Divine Pill that he had lasted this long.
An ordinary person would have turned into dried mummified meat by now.
To avoid mental fatigue and ensure his heart remained devoted to his wife, it was only natural to occasionally appreciate other beauties—not for anything else, just to soothe his eyes and refresh his aesthetic sense.
“Sir, you truly are… straightforward.”
Watching Xu Ping’an speak so righteously, Li Shuo could only grit his teeth and offer this reluctant compliment.
“Your Majesty, I don’t know where the Princess is or what her symptoms are. I will go examine her immediately.”
Seeing Xu Ping’an eager to move, Li Shuo suddenly wondered if his previous judgment had been wrong.
This young man’s anxious demeanor hardly seemed that of a schemer with a deep, calculating heart.
But… oh well. If a daughter could bring such a divine doctor, it was worth it.
“Xiao Shunzi, send Sir to the back hall of Zhonghe Hall to see Yuan Le. Let her be examined.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Xiao Shunzi nodded and then led Xu Ping’an out of Zhonghe Hall.
As soon as they stepped out, Xiao Shunzi’s expression soured.
He glanced at Xu Ping’an with a look full of grievance.
“Lord, Sir~ Your Majesty has already said so much, how can you still refuse? I’ve followed His Majesty for nearly ten years, and this is the first time I’ve seen him so eager to keep someone. Sir, why not agree? In the future, you’ll enjoy endless wealth and glory~”
His words sounded like a surrender offer.