101. Chapter 101: Old Master Fu!!

The Moon Festival banquet had been held in the imperial palace, and it was already late when they returned to the prince's mansion. It was only the next day that Li Rui went to find Zhang Xiaolan to tell her that he had already arranged for a renowned physician to examine Ling Xiao and see if he could treat his 'illness.'

"Xiaolan, this time I invited an esteemed imperial physician from the palace. This person possesses high medical skills and specializes in preparing elixirs. He also has some research on antidotes for poisons. I will invite him to come this afternoon, and at that time bring Ling Xiao to him for consultation."

Yesterday at the Moon Festival, all the officials had gathered. Li Rui immediately spotted the imperial physician Fu Daishan among them. Having returned to the palace after his travels in search of medicines, he took the opportunity to invite him.

With the emperor's approval, Fu Daishan could only consent, for he would otherwise remain exceedingly busy. Thus, he was not particularly eager to come.

"An imperial physician from the palace! Since he could become an imperial physician, he must have real skill. Now Ling Xiao has hope again."

Zhang Xiaolan spoke with a bright smile. Yesterday, she had met the direct disciple of Tao Hongjing, that venerable Mr. Fu, who had also said it could only suppress the poison for three years without recurrence.

Yet Zhang Xiaolan still refused to abandon any hope. Now that Li Rui had invited an imperial physician from the palace to treat Ling Xiao, and since he served as imperial physician to the emperor, his medical skills must be excellent.

"What do you mean 'has hope again'?" Li Rui did not understand why Zhang Xiaolan said he had hope.

"This matter I will explain in detail to Eldest Brother Li later. Now, I will go find Ling Xiao and have him prepare."

Zhang Xiaolan was not in the mood to explain the reason to Li Rui; she hurriedly ran off to tell Ling Xiao this good news.

Li Rui watched Zhang Xiaolan's back as she hurriedly left with a helpless expression. Zhang Xiaolan was truly devoted to Ling Xiao; even he began to feel a touch of jealousy.

Just after noon, Zhang Xiaolan could hardly wait to arrive at the hall, waiting for the palace imperial physician that Li Rui had promised to invite. She paced anxiously back and forth in the hall, glancing outside from time to time to see if anyone was entering. This made Ling Xiao, who stood aside with a composed expression, laugh at her.

"Xiaolan, sitting down to wait would be the same thing." Ling Xiao was annoyed by her; how could Zhang Xiaolan be more tense than himself?

Yesterday, he had heard from that venerable Mr. Fu that he could protect himself for three years without any worry. By then, he had already accepted this fact; otherwise, even these additional three years of life would be a frivolous luxury.

"How can I sit still? If the imperial physician coming today truly has divine powers, then the poison on your body can be resolved, and later you can live freely and openly."

When Zhang Xiaolan spoke with extraordinary excitement, her eyes sparkled with joy. This moved Ling Xiao, evoking both sentiment and a deep sigh.

But what if the person coming today was not more skilled than the venerable Mr. Fu he had met yesterday? Would Zhang Xiaolan not be disappointed once more?

As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Thus, while Ling Xiao seemed unconcerned on the surface, worries filled his heart in abundance. Now he had begun to worry about others, but probably the one he feared most was the person before him.

Meanwhile, Li Rui personally went to invite the highly skilled imperial physician. This Fu Daishan held great authority in the Imperial Medical Institute. Emperor Li Zhen had sent people to seek him out for many years before persuading him to emerge from retirement. Serving as imperial physician and elixir maker for the Li Dynasty's emperor was also because Emperor Li Zhen treated him with courtesy and without any restrictive constraints.

"Imperial Physician Fu, please come in!" Li Rui's voice came from afar, politely inviting the guest.

"People are here." Upon hearing the voice, Zhang Xiaolan quickly stood on tiptoes to peer. Ling Xiao, too, became curious and looked out. But when he saw the person approaching, both of them widened their eyes and exclaimed at once.

"Master Fu!!"