The next day, Lin Qingyu delivered Gu Fuzhou’s antidote to his residence as usual. The moment he stepped out of the carriage, Yuan Yin came forward to greet him. “The general isn’t in the residence today, Imperial Physician Lin.”
“Where is he, then?” Lin Qingyu asked.
“He went to visit the fourth prince in his quarters,” Yuan Yin answered with a smile. “You can just give me the antidote, and I’ll have it brought to him.”
Lin Qingyu considered that. “It’s fine. I’ll head there myself.”
All princes older than eighteen—aside from the crown prince—were required to establish a residence outside the imperial palace. After taking the throne, the crown prince would bestow titles upon those princes, after which they would be required to move to their respective territories. It so happened that the fourth prince turned eighteen this year.
In front of his destination, Lin Qingyu disembarked from his carriage, only to see several dozen horses by the entrance. Noticing that the majestic mounts resembled warhorses from the barracks, Lin Qingyu guessed that Gu Fuzhou wasn’t the only military official present today.
Lin Qingyu relayed the reason for his visit to a servant by the door, who went inside to pass the message along. A short while later, an effeminate yet handsome man walked out—a steward of the residence, judging from his attire.
“Greetings, Imperial Physician Lin,” the steward said. “Please come with me.”
Lin Qingyu followed the steward to the rear courtyard. From afar, he caught a whiff of wine and cooked meat. A whole sheep was roasting atop an open fire; around that stood dozens of men, most clad in armor, eating and drinking without restraint. Only two of the men looked relatively modest. One was a young man wearing a brocade robe, his lips rosy and his comportment vivacious. He tore into the mutton with his bare hands, but he didn’t look uncouth doing so. This young man was none other than the fourth prince, Xiao Jie.
The other was Gu Fuzhou. He sat amid the crowd, his sword-sharp brows stark on his sculpted features. The coldness surrounding him dissipated when he saw Lin Qingyu, and he smiled as he raised his cup in greeting.
“Your Highness, General—Imperial Physician Lin is here,” the steward reported.
“I heard that a great beauty had recently joined the Department of Imperial Physicians. Would that be you?” Xiao Jie’s youthful face was flushed. “You’re as good-looking as they say!”
“He’s much prettier than Princess Jingchun, and they used to call her the greatest beauty in the nation!” a military official proclaimed brashly.
“You’ve really had too much to drink, Lao-Wu. How can you compare him to a woman…?”
“Imperial Physician Lin is here to deliver my antidote,” Gu Fuzhou said, beckoning to Lin Qingyu. “Come over here!”
“Have you had any wine to drink, General?” Lin Qingyu asked.
“No.” Gu Fuzhou handed Lin Qingyu his filled cup as proof. “I’m drinking tea instead.”
Lin Qingyu looked behind Gu Fuzhou. The men from the Tianji Guard were still there, but they appeared incensed, almost humiliated.
It didn’t take Lin Qingyu long to figure out why.
“General Gu only returns to the capital once in a blue moon, yet they’re following him everywhere,” an official remarked. “You’re certainly good-tempered, General. If I were you, I would’ve lost it long ago. What is this, house arrest?”
“I asked to return very suddenly, so it makes sense for the crown prince to harbor suspicions,” Gu Fuzhou replied.
“Even so, suspicions should be based on evidence! Almost a month has passed, and His Highness hasn’t seen the slightest treachery on your part. What right does he have to keep sending his lackeys after you?”
“The crown prince tends to favor stuck-up civil officials while being wary of us military men,” another of the general’s colleagues proclaimed. “Who conquered the lands Great Yu stands on? And who guards the nation against adversaries? The answers have probably slipped His Highness’s mind!”
Gu Fuzhou’s expression hardened. “General Wu, speak with caution.”
“Not only am I brave enough to talk about this here, but I’ll also speak up during our audience with His Majesty tomorrow morning,” General Wu Zhan continued, undeterred. “Great General Gu has fought valiantly on the battlefield for sixteen years, garnering countless victories and accolades. He shouldn’t be subject to such humiliation! This is terribly wrong! I can’t bear it anymore!”
“Me neither!”
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll report this to the emperor! The crown prince shouldn’t treat the general like this!”
“That’s right! What’s the worst that could happen—him keeping tabs on a dozen of us at once?” another general exclaimed. “We’ll see whether anyone will keep putting their lives on the line for him after being subjected to that!”
“Hey, hey—calm down,” Xiao Jie said soothingly, appearing somewhat helpless amid the chaos.
“His Highness the fourth prince invited us here today so that we could have a meal together,” Gu Fuzhou said sternly. “If you insist on being disrespectful, we can end this here.”
“Fuck this bullshit!” General Wu Zhan roared, dashing his cup to the ground. “I refuse to comply! I, Wu Laosan, will enter the palace here and now!”
Gu Fuzhou shook his head and sighed. “You’re all out of my control.” He sat back and let the military officials express their frustrations, remaining silent throughout.
Sitting beside the general, Lin Qingyu watched him finish drinking the antidote. “When the crown prince balks under the pressure to clear your name, he’ll eventually recall the Tianji Guard, and you’ll finally get to say and do as you please, General.”
Chuckling softly, Gu Fuzhou feigned a sudden realization. “You’re right, I think. That hadn’t even occurred to me. You’re so clever, Physician Lin.”
Lin Qingyu’s heart fluttered in his chest. He gazed downward, smiling. “I can’t possibly compare to you, General.”