Chapter Fifty-Six: This Was Merely My Duty as a Minister

“Thank you for accommodating me these past few days,” said the handsome young man, as if he had walked straight out of an ink painting. His slender fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, bringing forth an elegant smile. He was gentle, harmless, and appeared frail—so much so that anyone who saw him would have to praise his beauty, truly a youth as lovely as jade.

“This is merely what I ought to do as your servant,” Qin Huaiyong replied, bowing his head respectfully.

Chu Liuchen tilted his head and coughed quietly a few times, then returned his gaze with a warm voice, “It is not ideal to keep the General hiding things from others. I’ve heard the abbess at the Tranquil Heart Convent is highly skilled in medicine. I’d like to stay there for a few days. Do you think this arrangement is feasible?”

“That…” Qin Huaiyong hesitated.

“Is there a difficulty, General Ningyuan?” Chu Liuchen asked with a smile, his pale lips almost devoid of color, making him appear even more fragile, yet his beauty was exquisite, as if all the light illuminated his face.

Handsome and harmless! That was the first impression Chu Liuchen left on Qin Huaiyong. Such a sickly youth could hardly be called a man at all.

“The convent does not allow men to stay overnight,” Qin Huaiyong finally decided to speak honestly. “Since the convent is occupied by nuns, men are not permitted to lodge there. The incense rooms are reserved for female guests only.”

“Are there really no men who seek medical treatment at the Tranquil Heart Convent?” Chu Liuchen’s attitude was pleasant as he smiled, making Qin Huaiyong feel even more that the Prince was a gentle, refined youth, though his health was truly lacking.

“There is one place, though it may not be comfortable for Your Highness. It is small,” Qin Huaiyong replied after thinking. “Near the convent, there are cottages where men seeking treatment sometimes stay.”

“What place? Tell me,” Chu Liuchen asked, pinching his chin.

“I have a small courtyard near the convent, purchased from a farming family and later expanded somewhat, though it remains modest. If Your Highness does not mind, you may stay there. It is close to the convent, and summoning the abbess for treatment will be convenient,” Qin Huaiyong explained.

This small courtyard had originally been where he stayed when visiting his old mother at the convent. Whenever she was ill, she would go to the convent to recuperate, and Qin Huaiyong would sometimes rest in that place for a night, making visits easy.

“Let it be there then. My uncle asked me to go out and travel as I wished. If there are any renowned physicians, let them treat me. This illness has plagued me since birth; I do not seek a miracle, only some relief from pain,” Chu Liuchen said carelessly, as if speaking of someone else’s body.

He turned his head and coughed quietly again.

Qin Huaiyong bowed his head, feeling a pang of sorrow. He had once fought alongside the late Emperor and felt more loyalty to him than to the current ruler; but now, the throne belonged to Chu Liuchen’s uncle, not his father. The former Crown Prince was now merely the Prince of Chen, and so frail.

“Your Highness, I will escort you there shortly and invite the abbess to examine you,” Qin Huaiyong said.

“Thank you, General,” Chu Liuchen replied softly, pausing his cough.

“I shall make arrangements at once,” Qin Huaiyong bowed and took his leave, striding away to prepare carriage and horses. When Chu Liuchen arrived at Jiangzhou, he brought only a small entourage and instructed not to disturb anyone, not even Qin Huaiyong’s wife and daughter.

“Are you going to the Tranquil Heart Convent, Your Highness?” asked Xiao Xuanzi, the young eunuch, puzzled, as this had not been part of the original plan.

“I heard the abbess is skilled in medicine; why not pay a visit?” Chu Liuchen leaned back, revealing a hint of laziness that did not detract from his refined appearance.

“How skilled could an abbess possibly be? Surely she has only cured a handful of people,” Xiao Xuanzi replied skeptically. If she were truly so talented, she would have been summoned to the capital already, where the Emperor has been searching for miracle healers for Your Highness.

“Not all miracle doctors are in the capital, and not all outside it are lesser. The abbess is a woman,” Chu Liuchen smiled, his fingers tapping lightly on the chair.

“Do you mean you’ve found the person Doctor Qi mentioned?” Xiao Xuanzi’s eyes lit up, catching on quickly. Doctor Qi Jue had sent Your Highness out this time to find his junior apprentice…

Meanwhile, Qin Wanru was unaware that after she departed, a carriage was prepared again at the General’s residence and that Chu Liuchen was also heading to the Tranquil Heart Convent.

She had already arrived at the convent, alighting from her carriage first, then helping the old lady down. The abbess, having received word, came out to welcome them.

“This time… cough, cough… I must trouble you again, Abbess!” The old lady coughed as she spoke, her voice hoarse. The veins on her forehead stood out from the strain, and in just a few days she had grown thin and frail.

“Let’s go inside first, Madam,” the abbess offered, gently supporting her arm and carefully leading her in.

Even without checking her pulse, the abbess could see the old lady was in worse shape than ever before.

The walk was not long, but the old lady struggled, stopping every few steps to catch her breath. Shui Ruolan wiped the sweat from her brow with care, her own expression tense.

Once they reached the incense room and settled the old lady to rest, the abbess examined her pulse. She was more familiar with her condition than any other physician.

Shui Ruolan and Qin Wanru watched nervously as the abbess performed the examination.

After a long moment, the abbess set the old lady’s hand down and stood.

Shui Ruolan started to ask, but the abbess signaled her to wait.

“Abbess, how is my illness?” the old lady asked, opening her eyes.

“As in previous years, rest is crucial. I will prepare some medicinal tonics; as usual, if you use them and take care, there should be no trouble. Madam is growing older, however, so extra caution is needed,” the abbess replied with a reassuring smile.

The old lady felt relieved and nodded weakly. “Thank you for your trouble.”

“No need for thanks,” the abbess smiled. “I won’t disturb your rest further; after the carriage ride, you must be tired.”

The old lady nodded, closed her eyes, and the group withdrew to the outer room. The abbess’s gaze fell on Qin Yuru, whose face was still covered by a veil.

“Is your face healing well, Miss Qin?”

“Please have a look, Abbess,” Qin Yuru lowered her veil.

The abbess examined her injuries; the burns on her face had not been severe, and after treatment, had nearly healed, leaving only a few spots.

“Your face is fine now; just continue to care for it and avoid strong flavors in your food,” the abbess advised with a gentle smile.

“And my hand?” Qin Yuru extended her bandaged hand. Mei Xue hurried over to unwrap it carefully. The burns covered nearly her entire palm, and despite the medicine, the results were limited.

“This… I fear there may be some scarring,” the abbess said, frowning at the extent of the injury.

“Is there no other remedy?” Qin Yuru shot a cold glance at Qin Wanru, biting her lip.

“If you come across a good ointment, it may help,” the abbess replied, not closing the matter entirely, though she frowned inwardly. She had noticed the flash of cold, nearly tangible hostility in Qin Yuru’s eyes, though it had vanished quickly.

“Miss Qin, since you are injured, you should rest as well,” the abbess said politely.

Qin Yuru was quick to accept, standing and offering a gentle smile, “Thank you, Abbess.”

“No need for thanks,” the abbess replied, calling a nun to escort Qin Yuru to her room.

Once Qin Yuru had left, Qin Wanru anxiously asked, “Abbess, how is my grandmother’s illness, really?”

The abbess’s demeanor had seemed unchanged, but Qin Wanru had noticed her furrowed brow throughout. Her grandmother’s illness had come on fiercely this time, unlike the slow progression of previous years.

“Has Madam encountered anything especially upsetting recently? Something sudden?” Seeing both Qin Wanru and Shui Ruolan waiting earnestly, the abbess did not hide her concern and asked.

“Not that I know of…” Shui Ruolan looked to Qin Wanru for confirmation, since she had been at the family shrine when the old lady fell ill. “Wanru, do you recall anything different when Aunt fell ill?”

“That day something happened at the residence. Miss Qi came and made a scene, then Grandmother came to see, and before she could return, she suddenly fell ill and started coughing,” Qin Wanru recalled. The incident with Qi Rongzhi was well known to the abbess, and together with Qin Yuru’s scandal, they were the two major scandals in Jiangzhou.

The convent received many visitors, so it was impossible for such news not to reach the abbess.

“It came on suddenly. Miss Qi fell into the water, and Madam Di and your elder sister were also present?” The abbess frowned.

“Mother and elder sister were there,” Qin Wanru confirmed, recalling the scene.

“Your grandmother’s illness was likely triggered by something… This time it is more severe,” the abbess said after a pause, looking from Shui Ruolan to Qin Wanru’s tense face, repeating with emphasis, “It is very serious this time.”