Chapter 1758 - 1744
Ru Xue’s proposal left many at the scene momentarily stunned. From the start, Ru Xue occasionally mentioned Chu Ge, and now, she was giving Chu Ge an opportunity to showcase himself. Such actions and behaviors made those present who wished to flatter the Prince quite envious.
They felt the Princess Consort was paving the way for Chu Ge, intentionally promoting him.
Chu Ge was also somewhat surprised. He didn’t feel that Ru Xue was helping him make his way. He neither wanted to be in the limelight now nor could afford to be. If he became too ostentatious, his actions would be restricted when he went to Yellow Island later.
Prince He Shuo lifted his gaze to look at Chu Ge, and the hand he had around Ru Xue’s waist tightened, displaying his current mood.
Ru Xue sensed his displeasure and hastily said, "Your Highness, don’t misunderstand. I just feel that if we only let Miss Feng Luo and the Imperial Physician evaluate, it’s hard to ensure fairness. If their diagnoses differ, whose should we follow?"
Prince He Shuo was quite dissatisfied, "Of course, the Imperial Physician’s."
"Your Highness."
Upon hearing this, Ru Xue laughed. She understood Prince He Shuo’s domineering ways. "Your Highness, if their results diverge and you rely solely on the Imperial Physician’s, what if the populace accuses us of abusing our power?"
Prince He Shuo raised an eyebrow, "What does the Princess Consort mean by this?"
"No one is perfect; who can guarantee the Imperial Physician won’t err?" Ru Xue’s words, though slightly unsettling, were indeed the truth.
"Allowing a third person to participate is also to ensure a more equitable result."
Ru Xue noted that Prince He Shuo’s expression remained grim, showing no improvement, so she quickly added, "Actually, it’s not necessary for Mr. Chu to validate. We could choose two other Imperial Physicians for more authority, but this might easily lead to criticism. If they say the Imperial Physicians are biased..."
Standing silently, Feng Luo became speechless upon hearing Ru Xue’s words. She said irritably, "It’s merely a contest; it should be about my skills. How did it become a matter of scheming in the Princess Consort’s words? Why is there so much ado?"
After all, Ru Xue was the Princess Consort, and she was already quite displeased by the Prince’s favor towards Feng Luo. Now, with Feng Luo speaking disrespectfully to her, she could hardly endure it.
Her eyes slightly narrowed with a hint of anger as she looked at Feng Luo, "Miss Feng Luo seems to have an issue with my proposal."
Not just a mere issue, quite a significant one; it was indeed a waste of time!
Of course, Feng Luo didn’t voice this thought, only silently remarked to herself.
"The rules are set by you; change them as you wish. I’m not afraid regardless. I care only about the outcome."
Feng Luo spoke in a calm tone.
She knew the Princess Consort was upset because of her previous comments, but she didn’t feel she was in the wrong. The rules were set by them, and now they express concerns about fairness, which truly sounds laughable.
Ru Xue glanced at Prince He Shuo, as if seeking some solace from him. Prince He Shuo pondered for a moment, remaining silent, and the surroundings gradually quieted down as everyone began to look his way, seemingly waiting for his final decision.
Chu Ge lightly coughed, not waiting for the Prince to speak before he began, "Princess Consort overpraises me. Actually, my medical skills pale in significance compared to the Imperial Physicians. Why not call upon a few other doctors for a joint discussion, making it more professional."
Though some words Prince He Shuo hadn’t heard before, he understood Chu Ge’s intent; he didn’t wish to participate.
An inexplicable flicker shone in Prince He Shuo’s eyes, and he nodded slowly, saying, "In that case, as Mr. Chu suggests, we shall enlist two local doctors and two Imperial Physicians from the Prince Manor to diagnose together. If their results align with Miss Feng Luo’s, then I shall grant Miss Feng Luo’s request."
Chu Ge smiled subtly, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Ru Xue gave Chu Ge a deep look, her face somewhat dimmed. In the eyes of outsiders, it seemed she was genuinely trying to help Chu Ge, yet Chu Ge didn’t appreciate it, making her appear discredited. The look she gave Chu Ge held a trace of resentment, confirming the previous notions people had.
But in Ye Liang’s eyes from below the city tower, it was another matter altogether. She had noticed from earlier that Ru Xue was using the Fox Charm Technique on Chu Ge. Initially, she worried whether Chu Ge might fall for it, but upon hearing Chu Ge’s refusal just now, she knew Chu Ge hadn’t been charmed!
Ru Xue intended to get close to Chu Ge intentionally. Ye Liang looked at Ru Xue with more calculation, as if Ru Xue sensed Ye Liang’s gaze, she looked over in Ye Liang’s direction.
Thus, the two stared at each other across the air, Ru Xue’s expression smugly smiling at Ye Liang, seeming to show off.
Ye Liang swallowed her anger silently and turned her gaze away, unwilling to view Ru Xue’s triumphant demeanor further.
Indeed, compared to Ru Xue’s noble grace, she appeared rather shabby. Even as the eldest daughter of the Marquis Ye Mansion, she didn’t possess even a single decent piece of jewelry.
Ye Liang lowered her eyes. She had never considered whether the Palace Master played favorites. Yet during recent tasks, especially when coordinating with Ru Xue, she noticed Ru Xue’s gaze always carried scorn and mockery, oftentimes boasting how her tasks exceeded hers by multiples.
Initially, she felt nothing, but now, her heart unwittingly soured.
Yet thinking again, one understands why Ru Xue could achieve such stature today, commanding the Palace Master’s special attention, because of logical reasons.
Ru Xue always excelled in her tasks. Her expertise in the Fox Charm Technique was extraordinary, usually impossible for one to escape from her grasp.
Such talent is precisely what Wufeng Palace currently lacks, making it reasonable she would be favored by the Palace Master.
Ye Liang gently lowered her eyes. The surrounding was lively and bustling, yet she felt inexplicably out of place, as if encircled by a natural barrier isolating her from the noise.
For the first time, she doubted herself, questioning whether she was truly suited for the assassin tasks.
Once, Xia Xuan also mentioned to her that her heart easily softened, a fatal weakness. Without growing colder, it would be hard to find footing in Wufeng Palace later on.
Now she was starting to understand.
"Your Highness."
On stage, Feng Luo couldn’t help but roll her eyes after the Prince issued the order. "I’ve completed my diagnosis. Now it’s up to the Imperial Physician and those doctors."
She finished speaking and went to a specially prepared desk, meticulously writing down the results of her final diagnosis...