085. Who Is the Real Ghost Doctor?

Though he was loyal to the Emperor, he cared deeply for his family. Now that Le Qianxue had met with misfortune in the palace, Le Yongcheng naturally placed all the blame on the Emperor.

To threaten his daughter? Absolutely not!

The Emperor asked, “General Le, what do you mean by this?”

“Your Majesty knows very well. Why was there poison in the wine? Your Majesty should thoroughly investigate this matter!” Le Yongcheng’s eyes were moist. As he approached the bedside and saw Le Qianxue in such a precarious state, he murmured, “Your mother left in the same way. Now you too… I have failed you both.”

The Emperor’s expression grew complicated upon hearing this, but it was fleeting—hardly anyone noticed. Eunuch Chen, aware of the entire situation but lacking authority, still said, “General Le, we have already dispatched people to investigate. The truth will come to light.”

Le Yongcheng’s face remained cold; he had no interest in explanations.

He turned to Yuan Tianci. “How is Xue’er?”

Yuan Tianci replied, “She must be treated at home. I cannot guarantee her survival.”

These words were meant for the Emperor’s ears—wasn’t this outcome precisely what he wanted?

The Emperor’s face turned ashen and he could barely stand; only with Eunuch Chen’s support did he remain upright.

Le Yongcheng closed his eyes to compose himself before picking up Le Qianxue.

The Emperor objected. “Put her down! I will save her—I promise she will live!”

This was his vow—he must save Le Qianxue!

Yet Le Yongcheng, though a court official, ignored the Emperor’s order. He continued holding Le Qianxue and said, “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I cannot obey.”

The Emperor, angered, shouted, “Guards! Stop him!”

The Crimson Guards blocked the way, but General Le’s demeanor did not waver. He turned and said, “Does Your Majesty wish for me to shed blood in the palace?”

A vein bulged on the Emperor’s forehead. “You dare!? Everything needed is here! The girl can be saved!”

Le Yongcheng replied, “She has been poisoned with deadly crane’s red; even Divine Physician Yuan cannot guarantee her life. How can Your Majesty be so certain? Xue’er is of the General’s Manor—I will not let her die in the palace!”

The Emperor’s face darkened to the color of iron, but suddenly he waved his hand for the guards to step aside.

Only then did Le Yongcheng carry Le Qianxue away, with Yuan Tianci hurrying after him.

This incident at the palace banquet, which endangered Le Qianxue, had touched Le Yongcheng’s raw nerve. He still commanded a hundred thousand troops, and in Tianlong, there were no other great generals to rely on—the Emperor was powerless against him.

Zhan Lianjing, seeing them go, said to Haoyue, “Let’s go.”

Haoyue, worried, asked, “Your Highness, will Miss Le be alright?”

Zhan Lianjing’s gaze was unreadable. He replied coolly, “She has a resilient life—she’ll be fine.”

At the General’s Manor—

Le Yongcheng’s eyes remained red all the way home.

Le Qianxue had no idea her actions would bring Le Yongcheng home. If she’d known, she certainly wouldn’t have played such tricks and grieved her father.

She slept straight through to the depths of the night.

During the day, Le Yongcheng kept vigil; at night, Yuan Tianci took over.

When Le Qianxue awoke, she saw Yuan Tianci dozing nearby.

She patted his head. “Yuan Tianci, are you still not awake?”

Startled, Yuan Tianci immediately opened his eyes. Seeing Le Qianxue full of vitality as usual, he knew she was completely recovered.

He sighed in relief. “Good, you’re awake—and your father is back.”

“My father’s back?”

Le Qianxue looked around and realized she was in her own room.

Yuan Tianci explained, “He carried you home himself. He confronted the Emperor today—so domineering he completely overshadowed the imperial presence.”

Le Qianxue narrowed her eyes but didn’t dwell on it. She quickly got up, rummaged for her night-walking clothes, and said, “I’m off to find Susu. There’s still the matter with Yuan Feng to settle.”

Yuan Tianci asked, “And what about me? Aren’t you taking me?”

He felt a bit aggrieved.

Le Qianxue poked her head out and said, “You need to cover for me. If you come too, it’ll be easy to give us away. Right now, everyone thinks I’m poisoned—no one would suspect me.”

“The Third Prince already knows you kidnapped Young Master Yuan!” Yuan Tianci huffed.

Le Qianxue chuckled. “The thing is, my lightness skill is now far superior to yours. I’m afraid you’d hold me back, so I have to go alone.”

Yuan Tianci was momentarily speechless—he never expected to be disliked this way.

Le Qianxue quickly slipped out. Nighttime stealth was nothing to her. The General’s Manor was surely being watched, but she had another way out—through the dog hole in the garden of her Clear Rain Courtyard.

Fortunately, she was small enough to crawl through; Yuan Tianci could never manage it.

Once outside, Le Qianxue headed straight for the Dusty Dreams Gambling House—one of Yin Susu’s establishments. Although it was a den of all sorts, it was the perfect cover.

She arrived and woke Yin Susu.

Yuan Feng was locked in the basement. Le Qianxue had drugged him, so only she could revive him with acupuncture.

Before long, Yuan Feng awoke. The moment he opened his eyes and saw both Yin Susu and Le Qianxue, he was startled.

Yin Susu wasn’t wearing her human-skin mask, so he didn’t recognize her, but he did know Le Qianxue. His expression changed repeatedly.

He realized he was shackled with iron chains—he understood he’d been captured.

“Which one of you is the Ghost Doctor?” Yuan Feng demanded, his voice edged with fury. “How dare you abduct me? Le Qianxue, are you tired of living?!”

Le Qianxue laughed. “Not at all. Since you’re not dead, I doubt I’ll die either.”

Yin Susu, seeing her enemy, was grim. She coldly demanded, “Enough nonsense. How did you learn the art of Gu worms?!”

Yuan Feng was stunned and stared at Yin Susu, unable to place her.

Suddenly, he recalled, “Aren’t you the madam of Drunken Painting House? So, Le Qianxue, you’re the Ghost Doctor!”

Le Qianxue only smiled and did not deny it. Being exposed by Yuan Feng didn’t matter—after all, he wouldn’t be leaving alive.

Yin Susu ignored his protests and snapped, “Yuan! I asked you—how did you learn the art of Gu worms?!”

Yuan Feng remained defiant, turning away. “So what if I know it? What’s it to you?!”

Le Qianxue flicked a silver needle, which shot into him. Yuan Feng howled in pain—sharp and relentless.

He drew a ragged breath. “Le Qianxue… you venomous woman!”

Le Qianxue pulled another needle from her sleeve, her smile deepening. “I have plenty more. You can keep silent, but I’ll torture you to death.”

Though he was an impostor, Yuan Feng had never been treated so cruelly.

“I won’t speak!” he grunted, still stubborn.

Yin Susu was on the verge of rushing forward to kill him in her fury.

Le Qianxue stopped her and sent in another needle.

Yuan Feng’s agony intensified; he could hardly breathe.

Le Qianxue said, “Young Master Yuan, your family stole the art of Gu worms, didn’t they? You slaughtered dozens to seize it, even stole their family token. It’s hardly something to boast about, is it? Claiming it as your own must weigh on your conscience.”

Yuan Feng’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How do you know…?”

It had been done with utmost secrecy—no one should know.

He continued muttering, “That family changed their name to Yin… but we killed them all, even their sole heir. There’s no way word got out…”

Yin Susu’s eyes reddened at this revelation, barely able to contain herself. She drew her sword and pressed it to Yuan Feng’s throat. “So you admit it? I’ll kill you to avenge my family!”

Yuan Feng recoiled. “Who are you?!”

“My surname is Yin.” Yin Susu smiled—a smile laced with deadly intent.

Yuan Feng suddenly understood, his face ashen, breath quickening. “Impossible… impossible…”

But no matter how impossible, Yin Susu stood before him!

She raised her sword to strike, but Le Qianxue pulled her back and said, “Step aside. Let me handle this.”

“What more is there to say? Only his death can avenge my family! He’s the one who stole the Gu worm manual!” Yin Susu shouted.

Le Qianxue pushed Yin Susu away, urging her to calm down, then whispered, “Don’t you want the Gu manual back? Leave this to me.”

Yin Susu was reluctant but held back, knowing Le Qianxue sought the truth.

Le Qianxue approached Yuan Feng and said, “Young Master Yuan, if you want to live, you’d better tell us everything.”

Yuan Feng sneered, “I never expected you two would be working together… but you’ll never get anything from me! Since I’ve fallen into your hands, I have no intention of surviving!”

Le Qianxue nodded, “Very well, then I won’t waste words.”

Yuan Feng assumed she meant to kill him, but unexpectedly, she stabbed several silver needles into his forehead!

Instantly, Yuan Feng’s head throbbed with excruciating pain.

Le Qianxue brought over a small incense burner and set it before him. Yuan Feng’s eyes grew glassy, his will seemingly overtaken.

Yin Susu, startled, asked, “Is this the soul-bewitching art you mentioned before? How does it work?”