Chapter 60 She Still Couldn't Let Him Go
Fang Zhixu's face was ashen, his breath barely perceptible. Yan Xuerui hadn't anticipated such a critical situation. In truth, she knew—she understood everything.
Cousin Zhixu was always meticulous and cautious. When she first encountered Yao Er, she had already grasped his intentions. At that time, she had sent Yao Er to convey her message: she had no desire to meet, as it would only cause unnecessary trouble.
Through a twist of fate, things had reached this point. It was her fault. No matter what, she couldn't abandon Cousin Zhixu.
Yan Xuerui dabbed her reddened eyes with her sleeve, forcing herself to calm down.
"Cousin Zhixu, promise me you'll focus on recovering, alright?"
She tried to recall past scenes, imagining interacting with Fang Zhixu as they once had. But too much time had passed; the beautiful memories were now just vague outlines. Yan Xuerui stopped reminiscing and turned to call for the imperial physician.
The imperial physicians were clearly more skilled than ordinary doctors. Several elder physicians felt his pulse and reported tremulously, "Your Highness Princess Changle, the Taoist Master is suffering from a rare poison that has already affected his vital organs."
"If not treated in time, I fear... he may not survive more than ten days."
"Then prepare an antidote at once!"
In moments like these, Yan Xuerui shed her usual gentleness and grace, her tone sharp and commanding, exuding an air of authority.
"It is not that this old minister is unwilling, but that I cannot."
The white-bearded elderly physician bowed and said, "This poison is extremely treacherous. The properties of medicines interact in complex ways—sometimes complementary, sometimes conflicting. Even the same medicine, if the dosage is off by the slightest amount, can lead to disastrously different results. Now that the Taoist Master is in critical condition, I fear any misstep could hasten his decline."
"This old minister's skills are insufficient; I dare not act recklessly."
The elderly physician was older than the emperor himself, highly respected and virtuous. If even they had no solution... Yan Xuerui clenched her fingertips and said, "Please prepare some nourishing and warming medicines for the Taoist Master first. I appreciate your assistance."
Suppressing her grief, Yan Xuerui calmed herself and pondered.
Since it was Gu Yan's doing, this poison must be extremely dangerous.
She needed a physician more skilled than the imperial physicians, one especially adept at detoxification.
For example, Physician Gao from the Marquis's household.
Yan Xuerui thought back to when her birth mother, Imperial Consort Chen, had also been poisoned. None of the imperial physicians at the time had detected it. But Physician Gao, whom she’d once dismissed as a charlatan, had pinpointed the cause of the problem just by feeling her pulse.
Back then, Gu Yan had said that if there was only one person in the world who could cure her cold syndrome, it would be Physician Gao.
Similarly, if she wanted to save Cousin Zhixu, he was her only hope.
Thinking of this, Yan Xuerui turned to Fang Zhixu and said softly, "Cousin Zhixu, even if it's for me, please take your medicine regularly, alright?"
"Our separation back then was so rushed... I still have so much I haven't said to you. Hold on for me."
With that, she dared not linger any longer. She instructed the imperial physicians and Fang Zhixu's adopted sons and daughters to take good care of him. Taoist Master Fang's followers were devout, and the adopted children under his care were deeply devoted. They treated Yan Xuerui, their father’s beloved, with great respect—all except Yao Er, who was an exception.
Not seeing Yao Er, who held such hostility toward her, Yan Xuerui didn’t have time to ponder it. Suppressing her doubts, she hurried toward the Marquis of Jingyuan’s estate.
Unbeknownst to her, the moment she left, Gu Minglan, who should have been on duty with the imperial guards, emerged from the shadows. His brows, so similar to Gu Yan's, knitted slightly.
His mother had said that the separation was only provisional. Minglan understood the court politics. Though he sensed something amiss between his father and mother, since neither had spoken openly about it, he kept his concerns to himself.
Until last night, when he caught that maid who had a questionable connection with his mother. The woman had gone mad, daring to defame his mother and tarnish her reputation!
Minglan, who respected his mother deeply, nearly struck down the impudent maid in a fit of rage. Afterward, he locked himself in his room for a long time, not touching a drop of water, before rushing to Fang Zhixu's residence.
The last time he had noticed something off about the maid Yao Er, he had reported it to Gu Yuan, concealing his mother's involvement. The matter was later handled by his father and second uncle. Minglan knew nothing of the past between Yan Xuerui and Fang Zhixu.
Now, after hearing Yao Er's embellished version, Minglan didn't want to believe it, but the details were too hard to dismiss.
The adopted daughter of his mother's former fiancé, hiding her identity to serve as his mother's maid—and his mother treated her with unusual favor.
This Taoist Master Xu had once colluded with the Virtuous Prince to frame his father.
Taoist Master Xu claimed his mother was Princess Changle, and with his help, she had reclaimed her title as a princess.
His mother had secretly sent him ointment.
Had his mother proposed the separation in front of all the civil and military officials because of this man?
...
Though Minglan wasn't as naive as Ming Wei, his father and mother had shared a loving relationship for so many years. He had a younger brother and sister. He couldn't accept it.
Perhaps it was all a misunderstanding.
Minglan thought—maybe this Taoist Master Xu had led his mother astray. His mother was gentle and refined; she must have been deceived!
And his father... right, his father must not find out.
Well aware of his father's merciless ways, as a son, he had to both protect his mother and remove this danger.
Their family of five was happy and harmonious. He would never allow anyone to destroy it.
Having made up his mind, Gu Minglan took a day off and came here alone, carrying a blade, ready to eliminate Fang Zhixu. To his surprise, he saw his mother emerging from the door.
Her eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying.
Gu Minglan stood frozen in shock. After a long moment, he gritted his teeth, turned around, and stormed off.
***
When Yan Xuerui arrived at the Marquis of Jingyuan's residence, Gu Yan had just returned from morning court and was shirtless on the training grounds, wielding a black iron long blade with fierce, slicing arcs, the blade glinting coldly.
Early that morning, a letter had arrived from the palace. Gu Yan had thought his high-born princess wife had finally come to her senses. He personally went to the gatehouse to see what scheme she was plotting.
Ordinary favors wouldn't impress Grand Tutor Gu. She knew what he wanted.
But the letter was indeed from Princess Changle, recalling a maid from the residence back to the palace. There wasn't a single word about him.
The palace maid who delivered the message, seeing Marquis Gu's dark expression, added, "Her Highness did not rest well yesterday. Perhaps she is still unused to the palace. Bi He has served Her Highness for three years and knows her preferences best."
The explanation only made things worse. A mere maid who had served for three years was worth summoning, yet she dared say nothing about their nearly twenty years of marriage!
Gu Yan, who had been dominating the court these past two days, turned and left in a fury. Minglan and Gu Yuan were both absent, and few guards in the residence could match his skills. Frustrated, Gu Yan headed to the training grounds. His dark hair was tied back casually, sweat trickling down his firm, well-defined back. With each swing of his blade, the muscles in his shoulders bulged, the edge cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
The stone pillars around him shattered explosively. As the rubble flew, Gu Yan's deep, cold eyes suddenly narrowed, and he halted his blade mid-swing.
Before even seeing her, he recognized that familiar, subtle fragrance.
"What are you doing here?"
With a clang, Gu Yan dropped his sword and strode toward Yan Xuerui.
He was a civil official, usually dressed in elegant scholar's robes that added a touch of refinement to his demeanor. But now, shirtless, his muscular chest rising and falling slightly, he resembled a lurking beast, full of predatory intensity.
Backlit by the light, this impression was even stronger. Yan Xuerui pursed her lips and unconsciously took a step back.
"I’ve come to see the Marquis."
She whispered, "What, is the Marquis not welcoming me?"
Gu Yan sneered, his large hand firmly grasping hers as he dragged her toward the main courtyard.
"Princess graces my humble abode with her presence, what a rare honor."
He couldn’t resist jabbing at her, but his mood was unusually cheerful. Since she had come, he would be magnanimous and not hold the earlier incident against her.
However, there was one thing he needed to make clear. Glancing at her, he said decisively, "The political situation in the court, I have my own ways of handling it."
"Divorce? Out of the question!"
During her time in the palace, she might as well consider it a chance to relax. Whether she was a merchant’s daughter or a princess, he would never let her go.
Yan Xuerui didn’t have the energy to argue with him at the moment. Following the tall and long-legged Gu Yan, even though he had slowed down, she still found herself panting from exhaustion.
The pearl curtains rustled, and Yan Xuerui naturally sat on the soft couch she used to love. Gu Yan poured a cup of tea and handed it to her.
"Princess, a precious gem like you shouldn’t be tired out in my humble marquisate."
Since the emperor announced her identity, Gu Yan’s words had always been tinged with sarcasm. On the way to the marquisate, Yan Xuerui told herself to stay calm and not act rashly.
But once he was in front of her, she was easily provoked by him.
Yan Xuerui glared at him fiercely, took the tea from his hand, and drank it in one gulp to calm her agitation.
She hadn't come here to argue with him today.
Yan Xuerui carefully weighed her words, hesitating over how to begin, when Gu Yan said unhurriedly, "You wouldn't come here without a reason. Speak up—what do you need me for this time?"
Yan Xuerui fell silent.
She lowered her gaze and took the offered opportunity. "I haven’t been feeling well these past couple of days, and my body doesn’t feel quite right."
She knew exactly what would get to him, and sure enough, Gu Yan immediately dropped his careless demeanor, taking her slender wrist to check her pulse.
Her pulse was steady and strong—nothing wrong.
"What did the imperial physicians say?"
Though her pulse showed no issues, her perpetually delicate appearance made him overly concerned. He didn’t suspect anything else.
"The imperial physicians prescribed some medicine, but..." Yan Xuerui sighed softly and lifted her eyes, her beautiful, luminous gaze fixed on Gu Yan.
"Without the candied fruit you buy, it’s too bitter."
"I can’t bring myself to drink it, so I came to find you."
Gu Yan’s deep pupils trembled slightly. He couldn't believe that the vast imperial palace had no palatable candied fruit. He thought of the palace maid who had delivered the message earlier that day—the one who said, "Her Highness is nostalgic and has summoned her former servant to the palace for a reunion."
If she even remembered a mere maid, how could she disregard their many years of marital bond?
She still hadn't gotten over him.
Amid Yan Xuerui’s nervousness, Gu Yan suddenly drew closer to her, gently stroking her disheveled, jet-black hair.
He whispered, "Wouldn't it have been better if you had done this earlier? Why be so stubborn and pick a fight with me?"
He didn’t care that their disputes had become the talk of the town. All he wanted was for her to live peacefully with him and grow old together.
Unaware of how deeply her words had moved Gu Yan, Yan Xuerui suppressed her own complicated emotions and said slowly, "The prescription Mr. Gao used to prepare in the residence wasn’t bitter. It worked wonders—it cured the illness right away. I was wondering… if Mr. Gao could be invited into the palace to make it easier to treat me."
Mr. Gao had originally been hired to treat her cold syndrome, so Gu Yan readily agreed. He said gently, "Don’t worry, just hang in there for another six months. I’ve already found a way to cure your cold syndrome."
In these turbulent times, she hadn’t taken her medicine for many days. Even if Yan Xuerui hadn’t come today, Gu Yan would still have been thinking of her.
It worked out that she could have another bowl today. No matter how much they quarreled, he couldn’t let her health decline.