When Lin Qingyu emerged from Chu Zhengde’s office, Hong Changfeng craned his neck, eager for some drama—but none greeted him. What came instead was an announcement from the crown prince: “Hong Changfeng neglected his duties and disrespected the crown prince. Hence, he is now removed from his position as imperial physician and barred from working in the palace.”
Hong Changfeng’s eyes widened in shock, and he collapsed to the ground in dismay. Before he even registered what had happened, two eunuchs had dragged him out of the room.
✦ ✦ ✦
The military officials persisted in their demands for three days straight. The civil officials, already at their limit, advised the crown prince cease investigating Great General Gu for the sake of the royal court’s stability. It would be unwise to continue a lengthy investigation that had made a mess of the imperial court while yielding no results. But the young crown prince, aggressive and stubborn to a fault, refused to be forced into submission, stopping at nothing to maintain his dominance.
Thus, the standstill continued.
Lin Qingyu brought this up to Gu Fuzhou, who said gravely, “How can they make things so difficult for the crown prince? I’ve heard that he was so enraged that he fell sick, and imperial physicians needed to be summoned. If something happens to His Highness, how am I supposed to face our people? I’ll have no choice but to atone for my sins by taking my own life.”
Outside, in front of the door, the two men from the Tianji Guard silently traded a look.
The first few times Lin Qingyu delivered the antidote to Gu Fuzhou’s residence, the general was standing, but after that he opted to sit instead. Today, however, he was…lying down.
“Rise and drink the antidote, General,” Lin Qingyu said.
“Carry it here, please, Imperial Physician Lin,” Gu Fuzhou drawled, having finished with his grave speech.
Lin Qingyu took the antidote to Gu Fuzhou, sitting down beside his bed. Gu Fuzhou, still half prone, propped his chin on his hand and drank the antidote before handing Lin Qingyu the empty bowl.
As Gu Fuzhou lay back down peacefully, Lin Qingyu couldn’t help but ask, “How long have you slept today, General?”
“I’ve been in bed since lunch.”
“Then where did you eat your dinner?”
Gu Fuzhou blinked. “In bed.”
Lin Qingyu found himself unable to withstand the over-the-top blinking of a hulking thirty-year-old who usually wore a stony expression. “You can’t keep doing this, General. It would be fine if you were a sickly patient, but you’re strong and healthy now. How can you possibly lie in bed day after day doing nothing? Do you want to be a useless wretch so badly?”
“I’ll be honest with you, Imperial Physician Lin,” Gu Fuzhou said. “After nearly dying, I had a realization.”
“What would that be?” Lin Qingyu asked.
“If one achieves his dream of becoming a layabout, he can be said not to have a care in the world. Isn’t that so?”
Lin Qingyu had nothing to say.
“You don’t know what my life used to be like,” Gu Fuzhou lamented. “I rose earlier than the chickens and went to bed later than the dogs. My subordinates put me through hell during the day, and I’d finally turn in for the night only for enemies to attack. I wasn’t allowed to sleep in for even a minute—I had to get up and run for my life! Can you imagine that degree of suffering? I wasn’t allowed to sleep in for even a minute!” the general repeated emphatically.
Lin Qingyu couldn’t help but chuckle. “You deserved that.”
Watching the physician laugh, Gu Fuzhou felt his control slip. Despite knowing that he was still under threat, he uttered the name he’d spent every waking moment thinking about. “Qingyu…”
Heat suffused Lin Qingyu’s chest. He likewise realized that this wasn’t the best time to answer, but he still couldn’t help himself. “Hm?”
“You’ve gotten so thin.” Not wanting to dampen the mood, Gu Fuzhou added with a grin, “Meanwhile, I’ve gained so much muscle. Aren’t you mad?”
Lin Qingyu was speechless. He was indeed mad—so mad that he wanted to poison this “Jiang” into impotence once again.