086. Susu Impersonates the Ghost Doctor

It was administered through medicine and acupuncture, she said. It would induce hallucinations and bend his thoughts to her will. But it would not last long, only the span of a cup of tea.

Yan Susu nodded. That was enough.

Le Qianxue gave a quiet assent and began questioning Yuan Feng.

Now that Yuan Feng was under the drug’s influence, whatever he knew, he would say.

“What is your name?” Le Qianxue asked. “How did you end up working for the emperor and the crown prince?”

“My name is Yuan Feng.” He paused, then went on. “My family was one of the four great clans of the former dynasty. Twenty years ago, the emperor came to recruit my father, but at that time we were merely a branch family, with no true inheritance. So the emperor promised to help us find the secret manual of gu arts, and my family pledged loyalty to the imperial house of Yu for all generations.”

Le Qianxue was taken aback. So that was how it was.

She glanced at Yan Susu and said, “So it was the emperor who set this in motion. Then your family must be the main line, since the gu manual was in your father’s hands.”

Yan Susu had not yet replied, but Yuan Feng, still under the drug’s control, seized on Le Qianxue’s words and said at once, “Yes, we are a branch line. Once they learned the main line had changed its name and identity, the emperor helped us seize back the Yuan family token and the gu manual. But the book of the Five Elements Arts was never found.”

Le Qianxue’s expression darkened. “How despicable. And you still call yourselves one of the four great clans? You’re nothing but impostors.”

Yuan Feng’s face remained unchanged, and he still answered in his dull, wooden tone, “That’s right. We are only a branch family.”

Yan Susu’s expression shifted slightly. She had been too young then, and her father had never told her so much.

Now that she was hearing these things from Yuan Feng himself, it was hard to accept.

Le Qianxue asked again, “Then which families made up the former dynasty’s four great clans?”

She was rather interested in that.

Yuan Feng replied, “The Yan, Qian, Yuan, and Yao families. Each had its own strengths, and each could aid an emperor in accomplishing great deeds.”

Le Qianxue actually smiled. One of the names had collided with hers.

Then a thought struck her, and she suddenly understood something.

She asked, “The Yan family now is one of those clans. Then do you know what the clan registry is, and where it is kept?”

Yuan Feng did not hesitate at all. “The clan registry was left behind by the former dynasty. It is the key to opening the former imperial palace. The emperor fears a revival of the old regime, so he has long been searching for it, but he has never found it.”

Yan Susu considered this, and the picture became clearer.

It seemed that Zhan Lianjing was a man of the former dynasty.

This was only speculation, but it was already eighty or ninety percent certain.

Yan Susu’s face hardened. “Then where is the gu manual?”

“In my father’s hands. In Red Manor,” Yuan Feng said.

As time was running out, Le Qianxue hurriedly asked, “And Yan Luoyu?”

“In the imperial palace.”

As soon as he said that, his eyes rolled back and he collapsed unconscious.

With a cold expression, Le Qianxue gave Yuan Feng another pill.

“Why are you saving him?” Yan Susu was furious. She had never imagined her family’s history was like this, and that it had drawn such a murderous calamity upon them.

Le Qianxue said, “Calm down. Did you think this soul-binding art had no side effects? I damaged his nerves. I’m afraid he’ll be dazed and foolish for the rest of his life.”

“That’s what it does?” Yan Susu was stunned.

Le Qianxue said, “That’s why I generally don’t use it. But if it’s on scum like him, I have no objection.”

After speaking, she sat down at one side.

Yan Susu let out a sigh. “Xue’er, my enemy is the emperor. I can’t exact my revenge yet, but I must take back that gu manual and offer it to my father’s spirit in heaven!”

Le Qianxue thought it over. “Red Manor was built ten years ago as a summer retreat, yet oddly enough, the emperor has never once gone there. So that’s where he kept Yuan Feng and his people.”

Yan Susu gave a cold laugh. “Then we’ll go there. I still have some men. That will be enough.”

“Yuan Feng is likely just a minor figure. He may be an old hand, and I’m not comfortable letting you go alone,” Le Qianxue said. “I can leave the capital for a while too. I’ll go with you.”

Yan Susu said, “I heard what happened to you today. I never expected that old emperor would truly make his move. Luckily you still have your father backing you. Then let us hurry and get the manual!”

Le Qianxue nodded. “I’ll go back and pack. At daybreak, we meet at the city gate.”

There was no time to waste. The emperor placed great importance on the Yuan family, and if Le Qianxue did not act, she would be a fool indeed.

When she opened the door, she saw a man standing there.

A robe of dark black fluttered in the cold, sinister wind.

The silver mask on his face glimmered softly in the candlelight.

At that instant, Le Qianxue’s heart seemed to stop.

She held her breath, nearly unable to contain herself. Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Only Yan Susu turned back, stammering, “Wa... War King...”

All Le Qianxue could do now was pray that Zhan Lianjing had not heard the conversation from the beginning. If he knew she was the Ghost Doctor Maiden, what then?

Zhan Lianjing stepped into the small stone chamber, his eyes sweeping over Yuan Feng, who lay unconscious.

He had arrived late and had only overheard a little.

But he recognized Yan Susu at once. His gaze sharpened, and he let out a cold laugh. “So the mistress of Drunken Painting Tower is acquainted with the young lady of the Le family, and the two of you have been in league to do so many things.”

Le Qianxue felt her heart seize. Yan Susu steeled herself and stepped forward. “Your Highness the War King, you flatter me. To tell you the truth, I am not only the mistress of Drunken Painting Tower, I am also the Ghost Doctor Maiden who once stole one of your flower petals!”

Le Qianxue was startled, unable to understand why Yan Susu would say such a thing.

She looked over, and Yan Susu appeared utterly unconcerned.

Zhan Lianjing thought it through for a moment. It was indeed possible that Yan Susu had been playing two roles all along.

He had forgotten that when he had sent people to pursue the Ghost Doctor Maiden, why had they never searched Drunken Painting Tower? Perhaps she had been hiding there all the while.

And when he had tested whether the Ghost Doctor Maiden was Le Qianxue, all evidence had shown that Le Qianxue was not. Now that Yan Susu had admitted to being the Ghost Doctor Maiden, Zhan Lianjing naturally accepted it as fact.

Seeing that he had no further questions, Yan Susu let out a quiet breath of relief. Better that she die than Le Qianxue.

She had dragged Le Qianxue down before; what was so terrible about sacrificing a little for her now?

Zhan Lianjing looked at Le Qianxue and said, “How do you know her? You clearly knew she was the Ghost Doctor Maiden, so why did you not tell this prince?”

Le Qianxue’s mind spun rapidly. In a flash of inspiration, she said, “Susu is my friend, and half my teacher. How could I possibly say anything?”

Zhan Lianjing seemed to understand then. “So the few of you were in on it together. This time, I was deceived by you as well.”

Yan Susu folded her arms and smiled. “Mutual, Your Highness. Have you not been using Xue’er all along as well?”

Le Qianxue now stood caught between them, but she was certain Zhan Lianjing had not heard their earlier conversation. Otherwise, he would already have known Yan Susu was lying.

To her surprise, Zhan Lianjing also showed no intent to kill Yan Susu.

She quietly breathed out in relief, but then Zhan Lianjing glanced at her again before turning away.

“Le Qianxue, come out with this prince.”

Le Qianxue followed reluctantly. She would never have been like this before, yet now it seemed as if Zhan Lianjing had her completely under control.

There was nothing to be done. She was simply afraid he might suddenly lose his temper and turn against them.

Outside, the air was bitterly cold. Le Qianxue had taken great care on her way here, certain no one had followed her, never imagining that she would still be tracked down by Zhan Lianjing. She had truly suffered a crushing defeat.

Seeing her regretful expression, Zhan Lianjing knew exactly what she was thinking.

He said lightly, “You really were determined, crawling through a dog hole. I recognized your silhouette at a glance.”

Le Qianxue froze again, and her frustration only deepened.

“So what?” she said. “We are the ones who captured Yuan Feng. We didn’t rely on even the slightest help from you.”

Zhan Lianjing also admired the two women, but his voice still cooled.

“So, when you first said you wanted to take refuge with this prince, you were lying to me?”

Le Qianxue met his gaze directly. “Just as Susu said earlier, hasn’t Your Highness also been using me? But hand on my heart, I have never betrayed you, while you have pushed me to the brink time and again. Now even the emperor sees me as a thorn in his side. Are you pleased?”

She could not see what expression lay beneath Zhan Lianjing’s mask.

But after saying all that, her body trembled slightly.

She took a deep breath and steadied herself. This was negotiation; she could not show weakness.

Zhan Lianjing stared at her for a long while before finally stepping forward. Le Qianxue thought he was angry, but instead he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

He said, “This prince never wanted to drive you into a corner. I simply did not wish to make you my enemy. You will never know how painful it is to stand against the one you like. Now it is better: the emperor has turned against you, which means you stand on this prince’s side. I am selfish, yes, but I am also glad.”

Le Qianxue went still. Breathing in the faint, clean fragrance on his body, she felt a little intoxicated.

What did it feel like to be held by Zhan Lianjing?

It felt safe, so safe that she could not help but sink into it.

Almost unconsciously, Le Qianxue reached up and embraced him in return. Zhan Lianjing’s body stiffened, and only he himself knew that her gesture filled his entire heart with warmth.

“Your Highness...” Le Qianxue said with a trace of indignation. “You are truly a great scoundrel!”

Zhan Lianjing actually smiled then, rare and bright, because he was very pleased.

He let go and patted her head. “You said just now that you plan to go to Red Manor. This prince will go with you.”

Le Qianxue shook her head. “Is that really necessary?”

“Red Manor is no ordinary place. With only your strength, you will never obtain what you seek,” Zhan Lianjing said.

Yan Susu, who had been secretly watching the show for quite some time, leaned out at once and said, “Your Highness, how do you know that?”

“This prince went there a year ago and nearly lost his life before returning,” Zhan Lianjing said.