CHAPTER 416: CHAPTER 412 LI CITY IS ALSO A PLACE OF HIDDEN TALENTS

When he arrived, his mood was heavy and gloomy, but when he left, his smile brightened up, and everyone witnessed the change in Dongyang Marquis, inevitably feeling joy in their hearts.

The old servant asked, "Marquis, how do you feel?"

"Good, better than I’ve ever felt before," Dongyang Marquis, who still couldn’t walk and could only sit in a carriage to go to the Daoist Temple, touched his legs and said, "After the acupuncture, my legs feel warm, not stiff and cold as if frostbitten anymore."

Hearing this, the old servant was overjoyed, "The Junior Temple Master said that after two more sessions of acupuncture, combined with herbal soup, you will recover. Marquis, we truly made the right decision coming here."

"It’s fortunate that you insisted," Dongyang Marquis looked at him with warmth in his eyes.

The old servant dabbed the tears welling up in his eyes and said, "It’s a blessing that the Yue Family has not been forsaken by Heaven, Marquis. Now that you’re better, you can continue to command the Yue Family Navy. About Young Master Ding, what do you think?"

Dongyang Marquis’s expression turned serious, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Although the Junior Temple Master said so, my legs aren’t fully recovered yet. We should wait until we’re certain before telling him. He is thoughtful, and if his hopes are dashed, he may become even more disheartened. Let’s buy a mansion in Li City and I’ll stay there for a month. Didn’t they say that a month of treatment could lead to recovery? We’ll see if that’s true, and if I fully recover, then we can invite Ding’er to come and see."

The old servant said, "But tomorrow we enter November, and the year-end is upon us, you will be away for so long."

Dongyang Marquis pursed his lips and said, "Even if I can’t stay for a month, half a month is fine. Once it’s December, if my legs are better, I can quickly return the same way."

The old servant nodded.

Indeed, having encountered a reliable famous doctor who had already made some progress just with acupuncture, how could they take it lightly?

What if halfway back home the condition worsened again?

"Marquis, let’s properly recuperate for a month to avoid any relapse," the old servant said. "Now that winter has come, major naval battles are unlikely, so we’ll send a message for Yue Xin to defend carefully while you get your legs treated here. Only when you are well does the Yue Family Navy have hope."

Dongyang Marquis knew the importance of this, "You’re right." He leaned back on a large pillow inside the carriage and sighed, "I never expected such a little Li City to be a place where crouching tigers and hidden dragons lurk. I was too shallow before."

The old servant laughed, "There’s an old saying that masters are among the common folk, some great talents choose to live in seclusion, we’re just unaware of them."

"Indeed. I just didn’t expect this great talent to be so young," Dongyang Marquis sighed. "That’s also right, our Ding’er, only fifteen years old, could already go into battle and kill enemies. Isn’t he a young hero that everyone admires? Yet..."

Dongyang Marquis trailed off with a trace of deep sorrow in his eyes and closed them.

"Don’t overthink it, Marquis. Since the Junior Temple Master is a highly skilled doctor, once you’re well, you can ask if there’s a possibility to heal his condition."

Dongyang Marquis opened his eyes, a hint of hope on his face, "That’s all we can do now. Later, give some extra incense oil to Qingping Temple."

While master and servant talked, the carriage stopped at the back gate of Qingping Temple.

Just like Dongyang Marquis, the reputed top playboy of Shengjing, Young Heir Mu, who had only returned to the capital a few days ago and was summoned to the palace, saw his Queen sister barely holding a smile upon hearing another concubine in the palace was happily announcing her pregnancy. He tried to hold back, but in the end, couldn’t restrain himself.

"Big sister, if there really is a famous doctor who can help you with pregnancy care, at your age, would you dare to try?"

Empress Mu was already forty-two years old. When she heard her only brother from her family say this, she was stunned for a moment and asked, "What, during these months you’ve been out, have you befriended some famous doctors?"

Before he could reply, Empress Mu continued, "I’m not scolding you, big sister, but with your unruly and wilful nature, it’s fine however you want to play, as long as you don’t harm anyone, but you can’t leave Shengjing. Brother Xi, you’re the only male progeny from both paternal and maternal lines, you can’t afford any mishaps. When you left the capital, your mother and your aunt took turns coming to the palace to cry to me, worrying endlessly."

Mu Xi awkwardly said, "Staying in Shengjing is no fun at all."

"There’s fun outside, but many dangers too, and not to mention, you’re still..."

"I know, I am the only male progeny from both paternal and maternal lines," Mu Xi interrupted her, somewhat dispirited.

Seeing his deflated look, Empress Mu’s heart softened, and she sighed, "Don’t blame your big sister and the family for being strict with you. We’re really just worried. If you don’t want to hear it, then we won’t talk about it, but Axi, with our family’s status, we are just destined to have too many constraints."

"I understand."

The distinguished family background and the honorable status brought not only reputation and envious glances but also inescapable shackles and the heavy chains of responsibility named duty.

Suddenly, Mu Xi remembered Qin Liuxi. People like her, who had renounced worldly life, must truly be free and unbound, free to roam the vast sky and ocean, right?

Mu Xi’s face showed a hint of envy and longing.

Empress Mu saw his expression and could not help asking, "What, have you really made some acquaintances outside?"

It seemed necessary to ask father to inquire with Yuan Yong about what happened to this boy during his time away, to prevent anyone from taking advantage of him.

"A fascinating little Taoist." Mu Xi took off his wallet, pulled out a protective talisman, and handed it over to her, "She’s very impressive, this Amulet. Keep it by your side, big sister, to ward off any nefarious spirits."

Empress Mu looked at the peace charm, her heart melting, and scolded lightly, "You need these things the most, just keep it for yourself."

"I have one." Mu Xi revealed a red string around his neck, hanging a small talisman, "I have this too."

Empress Mu, seeing that the talisman wasn’t particularly exquisite, asked, "Does it work?"

Mu Xi nodded, "Wearing it feels reassuring. I haven’t felt those unclean spirits close by, and I don’t have nightmares."

Empress Mu felt a twinge of sorrow, knowing that her little brother’s fate was weak and his constitution yin, making it easy for him to attract unclean things. For this, she and the family were very worried and could only have high monks and Daoist priests draw talismans and make protective talisman amulets to suppress them.

"Big sister, her medical skills are also very amazing, she’s a Mystical Taoist Doctor," Mu Xi cautiously mentioned.

Empress Mu was taken aback, touched her abdomen, and said in a soft voice, "Let’s not talk about this matter anymore. I’m already forty-two, and besides, not everyone wishes to see me get pregnant."

Including the one seated on the throne.

Mu Xi’s eyes dimmed, and his fist clenched.

"Good boy, your concern is enough," Empress Mu patted the back of his head and smiled, "Tell your big sister, what interesting things did you see while you were outside?"

Mu Xi suddenly became spirited; he didn’t talk about anything else but about Qin Liuxi, the matter of "life borrowing," and so on, his eyes shining.

Only when the Holy Emperor arrived did Mu Xi become like a mouse seeing a cat, and after paying his respects, ran off immediately.

Leaving Fengyang Palace, Mu Xi looked at the gray sky, which seemed to foretell impending snow, and he sighed deeply, Shengjing, it’s really become so dull.