Small Courtyard.
Inside the side room.
"Old Xue!"
Chief Steward Li was sweating profusely, his voice even trembling slightly.
"Can you... is there a way to save Your Highness?"
"Difficult!"
Looking at the Seventh Prince, who was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, enveloped by a layer of fire intent, Dr. Xue shook his head, "I can only temporarily suppress the cold poison; I can't eradicate it. But you know, his cold poison has already penetrated deep into his bones and become one with him. Each suppression will inevitably cause a rebound, and now, this old man... is already powerless."
He paused.
He sighed.
"This time, I can still barely suppress it, but for the next outbreak... Alas!"
"Your Highness!"
Chief Steward Li naturally understood the meaning of his words and couldn't help but shed tears.
"It's pitiful that the Imperial Consort only has Your Highness as a child. If anything happens to Your Highness, this servant would die ten thousand deaths and still not atone for his sin!"
"Chief Steward Li."
Just then.
A weak voice came over.
"You don't need to be sad. I know my own situation. If it weren't for you and Old Xue running around for me all these years, how could I have lived until today? Even if my Imperial Mother knows in the afterlife, she wouldn't blame you."
It was the Seventh Prince who had slowly woken up.
"Your Highness..."
Chief Steward Li couldn't bear to look at him anymore.
"Speaking of which."
Having narrowly escaped death and retrieved his life, the Seventh Prince seemed to have come to terms with life and death, somewhat emotional, "Today, I met a very interesting person. Coincidentally, Old Xue, you also know him..."
...
Outside.
"Ah, Liu..."
A Sha's expression brightened, and she was about to greet him, but then she suddenly remembered her attitude towards Gu Han a month ago. Her small face instantly drooped, and she turned her head away with a huff.
"Gu Han."
Liu Ying's voice was as cold as ever.
"I heard about your matter."
"Oh, your news is quite well-informed."
"What are you doing here?"
"Hehe, that's not something Young Miss Liu should be concerned about!"
Liu Ying's brows furrowed.
She was already certain.
Gu Han's timely appearance here must mean he had pledged allegiance to the Seventh Prince!
"Let me give you some advice."
Her tone was calm, yet it carried a hint of condescension.
"The most important thing for a person is to know their place and not overstep. Your previous troubles were precisely because you were too much in the limelight. If you don't learn to restrain yourself, even if you are lucky enough to escape this time, you won't escape the next."
"Pretentious!"
Gu Han sneered.
"How I, Gu Han, conduct myself is not for you to dictate!"
"I've said what I needed to say; whether you listen is up to you."
After speaking.
She was about to knock on the door.
"Wait!"
The few people at the very front were displeased again.
They didn't know Gu Han, nor did they know Liu Ying. How could they let them pass so easily?
"Who are you again? Are you also here to see Dr. Xue?"
"My father is City Lord Liu Yuan."
Liu Ying chuckled lightly, "I am here to see the Seventh Prince. He and I are friends."
As she spoke.
She glanced at Gu Han indifferently.
The difference between a friend and a subordinate was too obvious.
City Lord's daughter?
Friend?
The few people's hearts skipped a beat.
The former identity was fine, but the latter... was a bit frightening.
Although the Seventh Prince's reputation was not prominent in the Imperial Capital and he was not highly regarded, he was, after all, of Imperial Bloodline. How could these minor stewards presume to associate with him?
"My apologies!"
"It was I who was rude earlier. Please don't take offense, Young Miss Liu!"
The few people, initially arrogant, now became respectful, their attitudes changing drastically.
"We hope Young Miss Liu can put in a good word for us when you go in."
"Yes, we've been waiting here for so long, and we haven't even seen Dr. Xue."
Liu Ying had an elegant demeanor, and her speech and conduct were all refined, plus she was exceptionally beautiful. They naturally didn't doubt her words. Such a captivating woman was rare even in the Imperial Capital, so it was not surprising that she could become friends with the Seventh Prince.
"No matter."
Liu Ying glanced at Gu Han indifferently.
"Later, when I see the Seventh Prince, I will ask him for you."
"Thank you, Young Miss Liu!"
Everyone was overjoyed.
"Young Master."
A Sha's face was full of indignation.
"Why don't they believe us when we also know that grandpa?"
"Hehe."
Gu Han sneered.
"They're just looking down on people!"
"How dare you curse at us!"
"Kid, I think you're tired of living!"
"People from a small place, not much experience, but quite bold!"
...
The few people's expressions were unfriendly.
"What a joke!"
Gu Han scoffed, naturally not intimidated by them.
"You say we can't go in, and we can't go in? Today, I insist on going in! Let's go, A Sha!"
Saying that.
He held A Sha's hand and slowly walked forward.
"Alas!"
Chen Ping sighed repeatedly.
"Little brother, why won't you listen to advice?"
These people, relying on their Imperial Capital origins and accustomed to bossing around Loose Cultivators, were truly capable of resorting to violence.
"Eh?"
Suddenly.
A surprised voice came from inside the courtyard.
"Little girl, why are you here? Come, come, come, quickly come in and let me see!"
It was Dr. Xue!
The few people subconsciously looked at Liu Ying.
Could it be...
She was also very familiar with Dr. Xue?
Liu Ying was naturally also very surprised, but she remained composed, bowing gently, "Thank you, Senior..."
Creak!
Just then.
The small wooden door was opened.
"What's all this noise!"
Chief Steward Li had a belly full of anger with nowhere to vent. Seeing the crowd, he instantly cursed loudly.
"A bunch of scoundrels!"
"Dare to disturb the Seventh Prince and Old Xue's rest, this servant will slap you to death!"
The few people shrank back in fear, not daring to say another word.
"Little girl!"
Chief Steward Li looked at A Sha, his face darkening again.
"Come with this servant!"
"Ah?"
A Sha pointed to herself.
"Are you calling me?"
"Nonsense!"
"You... aren't you not familiar with me?"
...
Chief Steward Li's face grew even darker.
"Old Xue wants to see you!"
Despite being full of anger, he naturally couldn't disobey Dr. Xue's words.
Passing by him.
Gu Han almost couldn't hold back his laughter.
He didn't know why, but every time he saw Chief Steward Li being put in his place, he felt particularly good.
Everyone's expressions were uncertain and surprised.
Could it be... this little girl really knew Dr. Xue?
"Oh, right!"
A Sha seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to look at Chen Ping, "Do you also want to see Grandpa Xue?"
"En!"
Chen Ping subconsciously nodded.
"I want to see him, I want to see him!"
"Then you come over too."
A Sha waved her hand.
"You just helped Young Master; you are a good person!"
"Thank you, young lady! Thank you, young lady!"
Chen Ping was overjoyed and quickly followed.
He naturally hadn't expected that a few subconscious acts of kindness would bring him rewards he dared not even dream of!
...
Chief Steward Li's mouth twitched.
However, thinking of Dr. Xue's inexplicable attitude towards A Sha, he resisted the urge to stop Chen Ping.
Forget it!
This servant won't interfere with Old Xue's matters!
The remaining few people were so jealous their eyes were about to pop out.
This...
He just went in?
Why him!
Subconsciously.
They cast hopeful glances at Liu Ying.
Don't panic!
There's still a chance!
"Chief Steward Li."
Feeling the gazes of the few people, Liu Ying took a deep breath, displaying what she believed to be a flawless smile, and bowed gently forward.
"The Seventh Prince, he..."
"He's busy and can't see you!"
Chief Steward Li replied to her coldly.
As if that wasn't enough, he added.
"Stop pretending!"
"Pfft!"
Gu Han could no longer hold back and burst out laughing.
"Kid!"
Chief Steward Li almost couldn't help but make a move.
"What are you laughing at!"
"I think what you said makes perfect sense!"
Gu Han gave a thumbs up, feeling for the first time that Chief Steward Li wasn't so annoying after all.
Bang!
Chief Steward Li flicked his sleeve and closed the courtyard gate.
"Come in with this servant! You, wait here!"
He was naturally referring to Chen Ping.
"Yes, yes!"
Chen Ping bowed repeatedly and honestly stayed put.
Being able to enter this courtyard gate meant he would eventually be able to see Dr. Xue, which was far better than those outside who had no hope at all.
...
Outside.
The few people were so jealous they almost went mad, and their gazes towards Liu Ying also became somewhat off.
A friend of the Seventh Prince?
Hehe.
Easy to say!
How come she couldn't even get past Chief Steward Li?
To the side.
Liu Ying's face alternated between red and white, her high chest heaving, clearly seething with anger.
"Just you wait!"
Leaving behind a weak and powerless threat.
She was so ashamed she wished she could die, no longer having the face to stay there, and not daring to look at the contemptuous gazes of the few people, she fled as if escaping.
...
Inside the side room.
Dr. Xue withdrew his large hand.
"With my Master's pills supporting her, although her Soul Power is still slightly draining, there's no major issue in the short term."
"Thank you, Senior!"
Gu Han breathed a sigh of relief.
With this.
He would have time to continue searching for a way to cure A Sha.
Of course.
The premise was that A Sha no longer used the power of the Eye of Insight.
"Thank you, Grandpa Xue!"
A Sha looked delighted and quickly bowed.
"Good, good, good!"
Dr. Xue patted her head, his attitude towards her clearly better than towards everyone else in the room, including the Seventh Prince.
"I heard about your matter."
He looked at Gu Han again.
"You did well. To be able to maintain your Heart-Nature is truly commendable."
Compared to before.
At this moment, Gu Han no longer had that deeply resentful feeling, and the hostility between his brows had largely diminished. He had indeed returned to the state and Heart-Nature a young man should have.
"Indeed."
To the side.
The Seventh Prince sighed, "Earlier, seeing you... cough cough, seeing you act on your grudges with such abandon, I truly envied you."
"Thank you, Seventh Prince, for helping me out today!"
Gu Han cupped his fists.
"Kid!"
Chief Steward Li raised an eyebrow.
"This is the Seventh Prince of Great Qi; speak more respectfully!"
Gu Han was expressionless.
He again treated it as if Chief Steward Li had just farted.
"You..."
"Alright."
The Seventh Prince gave a self-deprecating smile.
"My identity as a prince can only fool those who are unaware of the truth. Don't you know the real situation?"
He looked at Gu Han again.
"Speaking of which, cough cough... the Scarlet Flame Serpent you gave Old Xue also helped me a great deal."
"You..."
Gu Han frowned slightly.
"Are you also sick?"
"Hey! Kid, how dare you speak like that!"
"That's right."
The Seventh Prince nodded, sighing, "I am indeed sick, and gravely so..."
It turned out that when the Seventh Prince's birth mother was ten months pregnant, she was attacked, and cold Qi entered her body, causing him to be Innate deficient. He had already damaged his foundation before birth. If it weren't for Dr. Xue's meticulous treatment all these years, he probably wouldn't have lived past two years old and would have been killed by that cold Qi.
Of course.
The cold Qi had been suppressed until today, and even Dr. Xue was at a loss.
"You're so pitiful."
A Sha looked at the Seventh Prince with sympathy.
"No matter."
The Seventh Prince smiled.
"Everyone has their own fate; one cannot force it."
"I want to try."
To the side.
Gu Han's brows were tightly furrowed, as if he had finally made up his mind, and he suddenly spoke.
Earlier, if it weren't for the Seventh Prince's intervention, let alone the Martial Academy qualification, it was questionable whether he could even escape Tianwu City.
Gratitude, repaid tenfold.
Vengeance, also repaid tenfold.
This had always been his belief!
"What did you say?"
Chief Steward Li didn't hear him clearly.
"I said, I want to try."
"You? Even Old Xue is at a loss, what kind of method could you, a Meridian Opening Realm kid, possibly have!"
"What if I do?"
Gu Han retorted.
The little good impression Chief Steward Li had left on him earlier was completely gone.
"Kid."
Chief Steward Li pointed to the several beast cores beside the Seventh Prince.
"See them?"
"If you can really come up with a method, this servant will eat these things in front of you!"
"Really?"
Gu Han's eyes lit up.
"Hehe, this servant's word is always as good as gold; there's no going back!"
"Good, you wait!"
As his voice fell.
Gu Han slowly closed his eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking a nap. When I wake up, I'll have a solution!"
Chief Steward Li: ...