Chapter 213: Old Foxes
Xiao Dong dizzyingly changed into clean clothes and followed Doctor Li to Wutong Garden.
At this time, the Wutong Garden was lit up everywhere, and Xiao Hong led them across the corridor bridge but did not enter the main hall. Instead, they turned a corner and went to the nearby waterside pavilion.
At the corner of the pavilion, a black nanmu table was placed, and Qin Yuan and Marquis Gu nestled in reclining chairs beside the pavilion, talking about something unknown.
Red lanterns reflected on the water, a pair of lovers whispering softly, the frogs by the water and crickets in the distance harmonizing.
Xiao Dong’s heart settled in his stomach.
It seems Marquis Gu is not angry with the senior sister.
"Master and junior brother are here," Qin Yuan stood up with a smile and said to Doctor Li, "Master, the Marquis learned that the disciple has become an apprentice and says he wants to get acquainted too."
Doctor Li’s eyes crinkled into chrysanthemums with his laughter.
Xiao Dong grinned from ear to ear.
Marquis Gu stepped forward and performed a junior’s courtesy to Doctor Li, saying with a smile, "Junior Gu Jinghui greets Master."
Doctor Li hurriedly helped him up, saying, "Marquis, there’s no need for such formality."
Xiao Dong also called out "Brother-in-law" shakily, Qin Yuan laughed, "My little junior brother admires you the most, he’s even trembling now."
Xiao Dong’s face flushed red, shyly looking at Gu Jinghui.
Gu Jinghui reached out, gently smoothing Xiao Dong’s hair, saying, "When there’s time these days, let Sixteen take you horse riding."
"Aye," Xiao Dong replied joyfully.
Doctor Li glanced at him but said nothing.
After everyone was seated, Gu Jinghui said, "Yuan’er becoming an apprentice should have been celebrated with a proper feast, but with smallpox in the mansion, we can’t hold a grand event. Yuan’er said Master didn’t want it publicized either, so we’ll just make do."
Doctor Li laughed, "No, no, Marquis’s sentiment is already understood. The matter of apprenticeship need not be ostentatious, to avoid gossip."
Qin Yuan laughed while serving dishes, occasionally teasing Xiao Dong with conversations.
By the meal’s end, guests and hosts were all pleased.
After clearing the table, Gu Jinghui still wished to speak with Doctor Li, but someone outside called for Gu Shiliu, and soon he entered, whispering a few words to Gu Jinghui.
Gu Jinghui then stood up and said, "Master, junior brother, there are matters in the outer courtyard to attend to, I must excuse myself."
Doctor Li hurriedly said, "Marquis, please go ahead, there will be plenty of time to gather later, do not delay the important matters."
Gu Jinghui nodded and left in a rush.
Only then did Doctor Li and Xiao Dong breathe a sigh of relief.
Xiao Dong asked, "Senior sister, did I let something slip, did brother-in-law blame you for anything?"
Qin Yuan laughed, "No, but you must be careful in the future. What if you reveal where your small treasure chest is hidden?"
Xiao Dong quickly shook his head, saying, "Senior sister, I don’t have a treasure chest, but Master does, Master’s chest is right at..."
Doctor Li hurriedly covered his mouth, glaring, "You rascal, I just told you to mind your mouth, and you slip up again."
Qin Yuan laughed, "Yet you let Xiao Dong know. Didn’t you say to guard against Xiao Dong’s mouth?"
Doctor Li said, "I had no choice. He and I rely on each other, if I don’t tell him where the family savings are, if there’s an emergency, whom should he seek?"
Hearing this, Qin Yuan suddenly felt a pang in her nose and changed the subject, saying, "Xiao Dong seems slick on ordinary days, why can’t he keep his mouth shut?"
Doctor Li said, "He’s very clever usually, just young, having been under my care since childhood with no companions. Once he makes friends, he can’t hide anything. This flaw hasn’t been corrected."
Qin Yuan inevitably sighed inwardly.
Xiao Dong broke free from Doctor Li’s hand and said, "Master, Senior sister isn’t an outsider. She’s so wealthy, she wouldn’t care about your little treasure chest."
Qin Yuan said, "But don’t forget, walls have ears. If you’re careless, and people hear where the savings for Master’s old age are, what will you do?"
Xiao Dong was shocked and immediately admitted his mistake, "I promise to change."
Doctor Li said, "Let’s see you change, it’s easy for rivers and mountains to change, but hard for nature to alter. Choose your friends wisely, lest you’re betrayed without realizing, despite looking clever."
Then he complained to Qin Yuan, "Look at him, wanting to enter the Imperial Hospital. I’m afraid there’ll be nothing left of him but bones."
Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "Xiao Dong can manage Renhe Hall well enough. Treating patients is the same whether at the Imperial Hospital or Renhe Hall, what’s the difference? Going to the Imperial Hospital is even more constraining, all the scheming is exhausting."
Xiao Dong puffed up his little dumpling face, with a hint of grievance in his dark eyes, "I will change, besides, I never insisted on joining the Imperial Hospital."
Doctor Li said, "As long as you remember."
Qin Yuan lowered her eyes, silently drinking tea, the doubts in her heart growing larger.
Doctor Li asked, "Weren’t you preparing a memorandum, is it ready?"
Qin Yuan sighed, "Some areas still need consideration. The Emperor’s attitude..."
...
Weiyang Palace.
A middle-aged man wearing a Yishan Crown and dressed in a narrow-sleeved round-neck robe with four dragon circular patterns, squinted in the lamplight, quickly flipping through the memorandum in his hand.
Beside him stood the Chief Eunuch, holding a horsetail whisk, seeming to watch his movements, yet appearing lost in thought.
The hall was silent, with only the occasional sound of moths hitting the lampshade.
The man frowned, throwing the memorandum on the ground in frustration, and angrily shouted, "These useless scoundrels, sitting idle, everything written in their memos, a heap of nonsense, sullying my eyes."
The Chief Eunuch immediately leaned in to refill his tea, softly saying, "Your Majesty has been reading for two hours, even an iron man can’t bear it, why not rest before continuing?"
The Emperor sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and leaned back on the dragon chair, after a while saying, "Old Wang, I am truly exhausted. The Crown Prince..."
The Chief Eunuch dared not respond.
The Emperor paused, "The Crown Prince is physically weak, the Eastern Palace still has officials handling affairs for him, yet it’s restless. If he were to assume this position, could he withstand those old foxes?"
The Chief Eunuch looked confused, asking, "Is Your Majesty intending to remove obstacles for the Crown Prince?"
The Emperor said nothing further.
After a while, he suddenly laughed, "Old Wang, you old fox."
The Chief Eunuch chuckled a few times, shaking the horsetail whisk in his arms, just about to express loyalty when the little eunuch tiptoed in from outside, glancing at the Chief Eunuch.
"What’s the matter?"
The Chief Eunuch lengthened his voice asking.
The little eunuch hastily replied, "The Ninth Princess has arrived, she insists on seeing His Majesty, saying she’s made a soup to relieve the heat, wants to deliver it for His Majesty to taste."
The Chief Eunuch looked at the Emperor, awaiting his command.
The Emperor, eyes still closed, said, "Let her in, it’s late, what soup is there to drink."
The Chief Eunuch then said, "Quickly, invite the Ninth Princess in?"
The little eunuch hurriedly ran out, soon after, the Ninth Princess carried a box of food, quickly walking in, her immature round face, almond eyes full of cheer, before she approached the dragon desk she chirped, "Father, tomorrow I want to go with Seventh Sister to Dingbei Marquis Mansion for solace. Considering the effort spent on the soup, please grant my wish."