“Who dares? The Qian family still has you here to oversee everything. Who can lay a finger on us?”
Qian Guoshun’s neck stiffened. Though he was already in his fifties, his passion burned no less fiercely than that of a young man. His eyes blazed as he stared at his father.
“Father, the Emperor is gravely ill. Not a moment can be wasted. The Zhennan King and the Prince of the Frontier both hold great power, but since the Prince of the Frontier must guard the border, he cannot act rashly and thus poses no threat to the Crown Prince. However, the Zhennan King is different. If we don’t take this chance to eliminate his heir, the throne might change hands, Father!!”
“You’re talking nonsense!!”
Qian Zhongyi pointed at his foolish son, his eyes reddening with anger, and struck Qian Guoshun’s arm with his cane.
After all, they were father and son; even at this level of anger, Qian Zhongyi did not strike him on the head directly.
At Qian Guoshun’s age, a cane blow to the head could easily kill him outright.
“Who else dares to move against the Qian family? Tell me straight—is it that bastard Zhao Shuzhi who’s making you do this?”
“Father, Master means well. As long as we eliminate this hidden danger in the Qian family, then in the future—”
“Future my foot!! Let me make this perfectly clear: if something happens to that person in Liuyun County, our Qian family will be the first to be thrown out as scapegoats! Those vassal kings will never allow anyone to harm their heirs!”
“Even if the Zhennan King dies, if the Prince of the Frontier finds out, he won’t need an army to invade. Just by rallying a few vassal kings together to petition, our Qian family will be wiped out!!”
“Though Chao Ge’s army is strong, it cannot simultaneously face the forces of multiple vassal kings. If someone dares to harm even one of these vassal kings’ heirs, the others will immediately intervene! Do you know why over all these years, every emperor has wanted to move against the vassal kings but none has succeeded?”
“They not only hold military power but also have the backing of some Immortal Clan, to some extent. Even though the Flowing Cloud Sect Master suppresses the orthodox path and forbids contact between Immortal Sects and the vassal kings, do you really think that can stop those ambitious men!?”
“If you move against any vassal king’s legitimate heir, multiple vassal kings will hold you accountable. When that time comes, don’t think your old man can save you, nor will that bastard Zhao Shuzhi be able to keep you alive!”
At present, among the thirteen prefectures of Great Qi, the two kings and two princes possess the largest armies.
The two kings are the Prince of the Frontier and the Zhennan King.
The two princes are Crown Prince Li Kuang and Third Prince Li Zhun.
The royal family’s order is arranged according to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The current Emperor belongs to the fire generation, and the next generation is earth.
Each of these four commands more than three hundred thousand troops.
The entire Chao Ge army numbers around 1.2 million.
However, the army has not been deployed for years, and its equipment and discipline have long since deteriorated; how effective their combat capability is now is anyone’s guess.
If it becomes known that someone plotted against a vassal king’s legitimate heir, even if the plot fails, the Qian family would be utterly wiped out, not a single member spared, all going straight to the underworld.
These vassal kings are not mere puppets. Even the Emperor must tread carefully when thinking of moving against them, let alone now, with the Emperor unconscious for over ten days.
“Guards! Lock this rebellious son up in the Ancestor’s House! Without my order, no one is to let him out!”
Qian Guoshun was completely dumbfounded by his father’s words, his expression blank.
Seeing this, Qian Zhongyi couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.
“My son, it is not that your father is heartless or has lost his patriotism with age, but Great Qi is in a tumultuous time, where pulling one hair can shake the entire body. You don’t understand… the political waters run too deep. I only kept you out of office because I knew your straightforward nature and lack of shrewdness.”
“Now, your dream of being an official hasn’t even begun, and you’ve already become someone else’s pawn. How can I rest easy with such a huge Qian family at stake?”
“Father… Father? Your son is unfilial and has troubled you.”
Qian Guoshun seemed to understand something, finally losing his stubbornness, but still appeared to have some matters hidden deep within.
Seeing his son’s state, Qian Zhongyi knew exactly what was on his mind.
“Enough… I’m tired. Go to the Ancestor’s House to reflect on yourself. And don’t try any clever tricks in front of me. I’m guessing that old scoundrel Zhao Shuzhi has already given you some Deathsworn, right? Dismiss them all! I’m telling you plainly: if you dare touch a single hair on that person, I will have you beaten to death according to family law, bring your head to Chao Ge to beg forgiveness, and then you shall commit suicide before Wumen Gate!”
“Father?”
Qian Guoshun was startled and suddenly looked up, only to see Qian Zhongyi glaring fiercely, his eyes wide and eyebrows furrowed.
“Leave!!”
“Yes…”
At this point, even if Qian Guoshun still wanted to harbor some ulterior motives, he had to weigh the consequences against a father who said what he meant and meant what he said.
If he really allowed someone to act, his head would probably be cut off by tomorrow and taken to the capital by his father.
Watching his foolish son exit the room in a daze, Qian Zhongyi sighed deeply and looked down at his own limbs.
“Hmph. Though I can’t move freely, it’s at least barely manageable. Guards.”
“Yes, Great-grandfather, your orders?”
“Bring two strong men to carry me to the Eastern Wing Room.”
“But Great-grandfather, your health—”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Go!”
Having been a veteran official, Qian Zhongyi suppressed his son and was already preparing to personally apologize.
This straightforward and decisive action was something many young men could not achieve.
Soon, two burly guards were summoned, and a sedan chair was brought in. Qian Zhongyi was placed in it and carried swiftly toward the Eastern Wing Room.
Inside the Eastern Wing Room, Xu Ping’an was sitting in the courtyard pavilion, disinfecting his Silver Needles.
Li Yuer sat opposite him on a soft cushion, holding a teacup, occasionally glancing up at Xu Ping’an and quietly lost in thought watching his focused expression.
This scene was unusually harmonious. Neither spoke, yet both were acutely aware of the other’s presence and yet comfortable with it.
Xu Ping’an placed the Silver Needles one by one into a clay pot, watching them boil and tumble in the water.
“If only moments of such peace could last longer, how wonderful that would be.”
Li Yuer smiled softly.
“If you like this courtyard design, once matters in Chao Ge are settled, why not have the garden expanded?”
Xu Ping’an glanced at Li Yuer, then looked up at the pavilion roof, nodding.
“Hmm… not a bad idea. We could indeed add a pavilion.”
“Then when we return, let Yu’er handle it.”
“No way. If I let you do it, I’m afraid you’ll turn my humble cottage into a prince’s residence.”
Xu Ping’an shook his head quickly.
He liked the style of a simple farmhouse courtyard. If the Princess Royal handled it, there would probably be two giant stone lions squatting at the gate by the next day.
At this, Li Yuer did not take offense but laughed. Her peach-blossom eyes squinted playfully with a hint of mischief.
“Sir, what nonsense is this? I am but an ordinary woman; how could I possibly build a courtyard as lavish as a prince’s residence? Don’t tell me you don’t trust me?”
“You? Ordinary?”
Xu Ping’an rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“Alright, alright. I’ll let you handle it. But one thing I want to say first—no high walls or grand mansions. I dislike that style most.”
“Don’t worry, Sir. Since you like a life full of simple warmth, I won’t make it too extravagant.”
Hearing this, Xu Ping’an was much relieved.
Although his medical treatment was free of charge, remodeling the house was a different matter.
It couldn’t count as medical fees, but at least this was a place she would live in, wasn’t it?
“Good, I’m glad you understand.”
He picked up tweezers, retrieving each needle from the boiling water one by one.
Then, he wiped every needle down with alcohol for disinfection and laid them neatly on the table.
Though this era had no sterile rooms or similar facilities, Xu Ping’an never took any chances with medical instruments.
While speaking, Li Yuer shifted slightly in her seat, inching closer to Xu Ping’an.
“What are you doing, Sir?”
“This is called disinfection.”
“Each person carries a different Qi, some carry illness miasma or other energies, which can be spread through external contact. So, the needles used on patients must be boiled and then wiped with medicinal liquid to remove the illness miasma.”
Explaining bacteria and such would have been troublesome, so Xu Ping’an simply used the term “illness miasma” to describe it.
“Illness miasma? Like a wind-cold that can be transmitted?”
“Yes. Actually, it’s better described as tiny things.”
“What kind of tiny things?”
Li Yuer’s interest peaked.
She had already been attentive to Xu Ping’an in all matters, and now that he had used this term, curiosity stirred within her.
She leaned even closer. Now the two sat side by side, and her eyes fixated intently on the needles arranged on the table.
“You want to know?”
Xu Ping’an hadn’t expected her to ask.
Seeing her eager expression, he hesitated briefly before retrieving an ancient-style microscope from his medicine chest.
It was something he had tinkered with in his spare time. Though primarily a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, he had some exposure to Western medicine as well.
“What is this?”
“A microscope.”
“Micro…scope?”
“Yes. This device magnifies tiny objects several to dozens of times, allowing the naked eye to observe them.”
Xu Ping’an assembled the microscope, then prepared a slide, casually scraping a bit of dust from the table with his fingertip and placing it on the slide.
He lowered his head to observe, adjusted the focus, then moved back to Li Yuer’s side.
“There are many tiny things in the dust I wiped just now. But I must warn you—after seeing this, don’t ask any more questions.”
“Why?”
Li Yuer asked curiously.
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to eat your meal afterward.”