Dongshan Official Post.

A refreshed Marquis Wu’an, Qingye, returned to the post. As the commanding general of Juxu Pass and also a grand general marquis, he naturally did not need to stay in an inn while traveling.

The government’s station was the best and didn’t require any expense from him, as all necessities were provided by the court.

Of course, there was a special mission within the team this time, and staying at the official post was safer. Camping outdoors would be another matter altogether.

"This humble official, Prefect Pei Jian of Dongshan Prefecture, greets the Marquis!" Pei Jian came in person to visit immediately upon learning of Qingye’s arrival.

However, as soon as Qingye arrived in Dongshan Prefecture, he left without mentioning his destination to his personal guards, leaving Pei Jian to wait in anticipation all afternoon at the post.

It was already evening by the time he returned.

"Mr. Pei, I am merely passing through Dongshan and had no intention of disturbing you as the local governor. My apologies." Dongshan Prefecture is a critical logistical region behind Juxu Pass, and as the father official, he naturally couldn’t be too dismissive. However, as a military officer, he needed to maintain a certain distance and restraint when associating with civil officials to avoid arousing suspicion from certain court members.

"It’s Dongshan’s honor for the Marquis to pass through," Pei Jian hurriedly said, though he hadn’t expected Qingye to take this route back to Juxu Pass through Dongshan, as it was a longer path.

Had he known, he would already have prepared everything in advance.

He wouldn’t have to be so rushed now.

"Alright, enough with the pleasantries. Do you have any business with me?" Qingye asked.

"Marquis, this humble official has prepared a welcoming banquet at the Star-Picking Tower and hopes you will honor us with your presence..."

"I am tired from the long journey and will pass on the meal. I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Pei, but if there’s nothing else, I need to rest. Please feel free to make yourself at home." If Qingye accepted Pei Jian’s invitation, it would be difficult to shake off the implication of being associated with the "Crown Prince."

Taking the Crown Prince through Dongshan was His Majesty’s idea, with a dual purpose in mind. However, if he were perceived as too close to Pei Jian, who emerged from the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, it might be construed that he secretly aligned himself with the Crown Prince’s faction.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, simply being suspected posed a troublesome issue.

Furthermore, he never intended to have any interaction with the officials of Dongshan Prefecture.

Additionally, someone inside the station was waiting for his reply, so how could he have time to go to the Star-Picking Tower for any banquet?

Pei Jian experienced a bit of embarrassment, naturally feeling a bit displeased, but the other was a first-rank marquis and a military leader in charge of a large army.

There was no usual interaction between them; they were like wells and rivers that never crossed, with different stances, so this response was not unexpected.

"In that case, if the Marquis needs anything in Dongshan, just send someone to the yamen to inform us, and I’ll do my utmost," Pei Jian said with a bow.

"Show the guest out."

"Mr. Pei, please." The guards came forward.

Understanding that further speech would be futile, Pei Jian left with a dismissive wave of his sleeve.

...

"Minister Qingye pays homage to His Highness the Crown Prince." Inside the courtyard, Qingye opened a door, entered, and knelt on one knee to a man in scholar’s attire.

"Grand General, please rise; you’ve worked hard. How was it?" Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze quickly helped Qingye up.

Qingye stood up and said, "I have met with Lin Miao, but I didn’t expect him to be such a young man."

"A young man, that’s right. It’s said that Lin Miao just turned seventeen this year, in the prime of youth," Zhao Yuanze nodded.

"You knew, Your Highness?"

"Did the Grand General not know?"

Qingye, embarrassed, scratched his head, "I thought he’d at least be over fifty. Upon seeing him, I nearly walked away, thinking I’d made a mistake."

"I also didn’t make it clear to you; how are his medical skills?" Zhao Yuanze excitedly inquired.

"If he didn’t know about my health beforehand, his medical skills are truly extraordinary," Qingye said.

"Tell me in detail!"

Qingye then recounted in full detail his examination and treatment at the clinic to Crown Prince Zhao Yuanze.

"The Grand General has only two years left to live!" Zhao Yuanze exclaimed, visibly affected upon hearing Qingye say he had only two years remaining.

"Yes, but His Majesty should also be aware of this. Mr. Fu diagnosed me, saying the same, but he said I had about three years," Qingye nodded.

"This Da Li Dynasty cannot do without the Grand General..."

"Your Highness, it’s alright. The northwest border is stable now. Even if I’m gone, it won’t cause much disruption. The court can appoint someone appropriate to replace me," Qingye reassured.

"Does Mr. Lin have no solution?"

"He said that if he treated me, he could ensure I’d live more than five years," Qingye replied, keeping a cautious mind and not telling Zhao Yuanze the full truth.

Of course, what he said wasn’t wrong, as more than five years would indeed include ten years!

"Really?" Zhao Yuanze’s eyes lit up. If Qingye could live a few more years, even if he wasn’t on his side, it would still be beneficial for the court. As the Crown Prince, he had a sense of the bigger picture.

"I had him treat me once, and I feel a lot lighter and more comfortable," Qingye said.

"No wonder I see your complexion looks much better than before, it really is somewhat different now. Does his cupping therapy really work?"

Qingye nodded: "Anyway, after treatment, I feel much lighter in my back, the force of suppressing the spread of toxins has also lightened a lot, and my whole body’s meridians feel as if they’ve been unclogged. Anyway, it feels very good, the arrow wound on my back isn’t as painful..."

"It seems that although Lin Miao is young, he truly possesses real skills. I indeed came to the right place." Zhao Yuanze said excitedly.

"Your Highness, Lin Miao sees patients with only sixty slots available each day, thirty in the morning and thirty in the afternoon. An appointment number must be queued for in advance, only emergency cases get additional slots. I asked around, these numbers usually are all gone early in the morning, so you have to queue up quite early."

"Interesting, is it this crowded every day?"

"The queue is long every day, but once it hits sixty, those behind don’t bother to line up." Qingye said, "After issuing queue numbers, they’ll register identities, and if the number holder’s identity doesn’t match the patient’s, their qualification will be revoked."

"What about the Grand General today..."

"I was lucky today, someone took a number but didn’t come in the afternoon, their slot was passed to me." Qingye explained.

"Oh, is that so."

"However, when I go tomorrow, I won’t need to take a number again, I can go straight in." Qingye explained.

"Why is that?"

"I am undergoing continued treatment, don’t need a daily number, can go straight in." Qingye explained.

"Then can you take me in as well?"

"I’m afraid not, Your Highness. Since you’re here for treatment and don’t wish to reveal your identity, don’t resort to tricks. If disputes arise, it won’t be good." Qingye reminded and suggested.

"Alright, in that case, tomorrow morning, I’ll line up with the Crown Princess Consort." Zhao Yuanze accepted gracefully.

"Your Highness had better not bring guards."

"Why?"

"I am here, and Lin Miao Prime Practitioner has guards with cultivation no less than the Meridian Passage Realm around him, safety is entirely assured. Once your guards appear, it will attract attention and suspicion."

"Makes sense, I have the Grand General accompanying, safety naturally is no issue, I’ll have them follow from a distance then." Zhao Yuanze nodded.

...

Returning to the Prefect office.

"Mr. Dong, I found out, after Wu An Marquis arrived at Dongshan, he went incognito and left the main group to Xiuyue Square." Zhuo Qingfeng came to greet, bowed and reported quietly. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Xiuyue Square, is he looking for Lin Miao?"

"Very likely, Wu An Marquis early on, while battling the famous Beihu General Wuzhu Ha, received an arrow wound on his back that hasn’t healed in years. This time circumventing Dongshan Prefecture, very likely is to find Mr. Lin for treatment."

"No wonder he doesn’t want to attend my welcoming banquet, at this point, he doesn’t want any connection with someone having the Crown Prince’s imprint like me." Pei Jian finally understood why Qingye held such a firm attitude towards him.

"Arrange someone to inquire at the clinic tomorrow."

"Yes, Mr. Dong."

"Mr. Dong, this time the Second Young Master excelled at the Autumn Hunt, both Fahai and Mr. Lin contributed significantly, should we prepare a hefty gift to send over?" Zhuo Qingfeng asked.

Pei Jian glanced at his trusted strategist, instantly understanding his intention, he narrowed his eyes slightly: "Prepare the gifts first, wait for my word."

"Understood."

...

Lin Residence, evening in the front courtyard, inside Luu Wan’s room.

Qingtang and Luu Wan are relatives, now also mentor and pupil, close, both being female, no one suspects anything.

"Mrs Wan, the Autumn Hunt went by some days, my father should be returning from the capital to Juxu Pass..." Under the window, Qingtang rested her elbows on her head, gazing at the moonlight pouring into the courtyard, speaking to herself.

"You worry about your father so much, you should’ve stayed in the capital, not run off secretly. As long as you don’t wish to marry, I believe your father will find a way to avoid marrying you to that Fifth Prince." Luu Wan said.

"Mrs Wan, you don’t understand, if the Emperor decrees, my father can’t refuse. His whole life has been devoted to service to the court, loyal and patriotic. Even for me, his daughter, if the Emperor wants him to marry me to his son, he won’t oppose." Qingtang sighed deeply.

"How do you know the Emperor is more important to your father than you?"

"Father guarded the border for years, endured every hardship, have you ever heard him complain about the court, speak ill of the Emperor?"

"Tang’er, maybe you don’t really understand your father. What father doesn’t hope his daughter marries well? To others, marrying into the royal family looks like a step to greatness, but marrying a Prince isn’t a happy matter, doesn’t your father know this? If he had such a strong desire for power, how would he guard Juxu Pass, that bitter cold place, for twenty years without corruption or tyranny?" Luu Wan said.

"Then what is father doing it for?"

"For the people, so the people at the border aren’t troubled by Beihu’s incursions, and for the peace of the realm." Luu Wan said.

"Is father really like that?"

Luu Wan smiled gently, among all sorts in the world, someone like Qingye is indeed quite rare.