014. She Is Not the Ghost Doctor
Peach Blossom shrank back, a little afraid, and whispered, “Miss, our appearances are different. Can we really deceive everyone?”
Le Qianxue chuckled and produced a human-skin mask. “That’s easily solved. With this, we can fool anyone.”
Peach Blossom was taken aback, never expecting her lady to possess such a skill.
Le Qianxue moved swiftly, slipping out of the General’s Mansion. She knew perfectly well this might be a trap, but she had to go.
It was said the burn victims from the Thousand Gold Pavilion were being treated at the Spring Renewal Hall in the capital, while those who perished were placed in the charity mortuary.
Thinking this over, Le Qianxue decided to head to the Spring Renewal Hall.
Under the night’s cloak, her figure darted like a phantom between shadows.
After taking the pill refined from the Seven-Colored Flower, she had cultivated some internal energy, so her movements were much faster than before. But it wasn’t enough; if this was a trap, she might not escape.
When she arrived at the Spring Renewal Hall, she scaled the wall and slipped inside. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
She frowned slightly. Could it be that the fake cripple hadn’t laid an ambush? But considering Zhan Lianjing’s temperament, he wouldn’t give up so easily.
In the rear courtyard, one room was still lit by candlelight. She watched from the shadows as servants carried medicine and clean water in and out; the doctors were still tending to a patient.
“That burn victim is truly miserable—her face is completely ruined!”
“Yes, I heard it’s that beauty, Yin Susu. Such is the fate of those blessed with beauty.”
The two servants lamented as they walked.
Le Qianxue furrowed her brows; it was almost certainly Yin Susu.
She could do nothing but press on, flipping herself over to land silently.
Creeping closer, she tried to peer inside.
A sudden gust stirred behind her, and she squinted her eyes.
A flash of cold steel—a longsword swept past her cheek!
Le Qianxue tilted her head just in time; the blade nearly caught her black veil. Fortunately, she dodged quickly, keeping her identity hidden.
She drew her dagger and parried the sword, but her opponent wielded internal force, and her arm instantly went numb.
Le Qianxue hurriedly retreated several steps, frowning at the figures before her.
Bright Moon had already sheathed her sword, standing beside Chasing Star. Both fixed their gaze on Le Qianxue.
Chasing Star declared triumphantly, “The prince was right—someone was bound to come tonight!”
Le Qianxue cursed inwardly. So this really was Zhan Lianjing’s scheme; his meticulous planning had fooled the entire city.
Petite and clad in a black suit, her delicate fingers gripped the dagger, clearly unused to swords.
Bright Moon smiled gently. “Young lady, my master requests your presence. If you do not resist, you will be safe.”
She knew the girl before her lacked martial skills, but this young woman was the legendary Ghost Doctor, who had even stolen the Seven-Colored Elixir from the prince himself—astonishing indeed.
Zhan Lianjing had guessed there must be a connection between Yin Susu and the Ghost Doctor, and so devised this plan.
Whether the Ghost Doctor was Le Qianxue, her master was already investigating.
But there was a better way: capture her, and the truth would be revealed.
Le Qianxue couldn’t help but smile, slipping her dagger away. “That fake cripple went to great lengths to lure me out, yet he will be disappointed when he fails to catch me.”
Bright Moon stepped forward. “You have no internal force. I’ll defeat you in five moves! How dare you claim I can’t catch you?”
This Ghost Doctor was truly arrogant; no wonder her master insisted on capturing her.
Le Qianxue raised her hand. “Skill in martial arts doesn’t guarantee victory. With your muddled brains, you’ll have to wait until next time to win.”
Chasing Star frowned. Muddled brains?
She dared insult them so?
He and Bright Moon were both highly skilled, trusted aides to Zhan Lianjing for years, always reliable. Yet capturing this Ghost Doctor had taken so long, even requiring their master to intervene personally.
“Ghost Doctor! If you don’t surrender, Yin Susu will surely die!”
Le Qianxue paid no heed. “Her fate is none of my concern. That fake cripple’s schemes are wasted on me. I only came to tell you—stop wasting your efforts.”
She walked forward, seemingly unafraid.
Bright Moon was surprised. Was this woman hiding her strength? Or did she have other allies?
But as Le Qianxue drew near, their steps faltered; they could hardly stand.
Their hands grew weak, barely able to hold their swords.
Le Qianxue smiled inwardly. Her skills in alchemy were formidable; though her martial arts were lacking, she had other ways to protect herself.
Chasing Star and Bright Moon, arrogant in their own abilities, had underestimated her. When she drew her dagger, she’d already scattered a powder, and combined with the colorless, odorless powder she always wore, it formed a potent hypnotic mist.
Within five steps, they were bound to faint.
Sure enough, Bright Moon and Chasing Star collapsed, helplessly watching Le Qianxue slip past and leave.
Le Qianxue exited the Spring Renewal Hall. Zhan Lianjing had underestimated her, only sending Chasing Star and Bright Moon.
She still didn’t know where Yin Susu was. Pausing, inspiration struck—since Zhan Lianjing only sent his two aides and didn’t come himself, could it be...
Damn! Peach Blossom!
Le Qianxue hurried back to the General’s Mansion, returning to Clear Rain Courtyard.
The night was deep and quiet; no one else was present. On the bed, someone was trembling.
Le Qianxue went over and patted her. “Peach Blossom?”
Peach Blossom sat up immediately; her face was pale in the moonlight.
“Miss! You’re back! I heard some noises just now—it nearly scared me to death.”
Le Qianxue nodded. “Someone probably came by. Don’t worry, I’m back now.”
She removed Peach Blossom’s human-skin mask, letting her settle her nerves.
Zhan Lianjing suspected her and had come tonight to check if she was present.
The Ghost Doctor could show her face, but if Le Qianxue’s identity was revealed, trouble would multiply.
Peach Blossom got out of bed. “I knew, so I kept silent and still the whole time.”
Le Qianxue thought for a moment and grew uneasy. Zhan Lianjing might return!
She hurriedly pushed Peach Blossom behind the screen. “Don’t make a sound!”
Le Qianxue quickly returned to the bed. Just then, the door creaked softly.
Such a small sound would escape most people’s notice, but Le Qianxue was sensitive to such things and heard it instantly.
She turned her head—just in time to see a shadow flit past.
Before she could react, the figure leapt over and yanked back her quilt!
He wanted to see if Le Qianxue had just returned from outside.
But when the quilt was pulled back, a stunning scene was revealed.
Le Qianxue was wearing only a pink undergarment!
The man was startled, never expecting this.
Le Qianxue’s skin was smooth and fair; now, exposed and her quilt snatched away, her anger flared.
She immediately threw a pillow at him. “You lecher! Help! There’s a thief!”
The man retreated several steps, and because of Le Qianxue’s shouting, the guards were already rushing over.
Le Qianxue quickly pulled the quilt up to cover herself, while the man glanced at her face. The voice was the same—Le Qianxue had apparently been sleeping in her room the whole time.
The guards broke in, but the man struck out with his palm; before they could act, he had vanished without a trace.
The guards scrambled to their feet, and Le Qianxue shouted again, “Go after him! Don’t let that lecher escape!”
The guards answered and hurried out to pursue.
The room quieted once more, and Le Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief. “Peach Blossom, bring me my clothes.”
Peach Blossom emerged and fetched a set of inner garments from the wardrobe.
“Miss, why aren’t you dressed?” Peach Blossom turned away, embarrassed.
Just now... Wasn’t her lady exposed to that man?
“If I’d worn the night outfit, my secret would have been revealed.”
So just now, Le Qianxue had quickly stripped off her outer clothing. Since she still wore her undergarment, she was only glanced at a couple times—nothing more than a minor loss.
She changed clothes and finally relaxed completely.
But she hadn’t expected Zhan Lianjing, back at the King of War’s Mansion, to have a flushed face.
He had seen women before, but Le Qianxue’s supple skin lingered in his mind, impossible to dispel.
He tore off his silver mask and tossed it aside.
Unable to resist, he closed his eyes and muttered, “Woman.”
Outside, someone heard his command, and soon a blindfolded woman was ushered in.
On the bed, the woman trembled. Any woman Zhan Lianjing favored had to be pure.
Untouched, she knew she had to serve her master well.
Zhan Lianjing’s hair fell loosely, giving him a wild, arrogant air.
His eyes were cold and clear as he let the woman fumble with his robes.
Her hands touched his firm chest; her body warmed, not knowing who this man was, but willing to serve him.
Suddenly, her hand was grabbed.
Zhan Lianjing’s voice was low. “Leave.”
She had already undone his clothing, but he halted things abruptly.
Damn! It was because he had just remembered Le Qianxue, her enchanting figure sitting on the bed...
The woman was quickly led out, and in silence, Bright Moon and Chasing Star returned.
Bright Moon’s cheeks were tinged with red; Chasing Star dared not meet Zhan Lianjing’s gaze.
Their master’s physique was truly impressive...
“Did you catch her?” Zhan Lianjing asked.
“Your subordinate is to blame!”
Zhan Lianjing’s expression grew even darker.
The Ghost Doctor had escaped before, and now again—who exactly was she, to slip past him time and again?
Even Yin Susu had vanished without a trace...
Zhan Lianjing spoke in a low voice, “The Ghost Doctor is not Le Qianxue. From now on, stop watching her.”