Chapter 711: Chapter 712: Summon

"Ah! Mr. Fan—"

Seeing this, Eunuch Li instinctively looked toward Emperor Muwu.

"Your Majesty, it seems Mr. Fan has fainted."

Emperor Muwu waved his hand. "Summon an Imperial Physician."

’From the sound of it, he doesn’t intend to let Fan Chengzhuo leave,’ Eunuch Li understood at once.

He immediately responded with a respectful "Yes."

Zheng Baosu grew anxious as well. He had finally grasped a lifeline, but before anything could happen, the man had fainted?

’H-How is he supposed to save me now!?’

"Uncle! Uncle!"

He struggled to get over to him but was held down firmly by the guards, unable to move.

Xie Anjun breathed a long sigh of relief inwardly, but his face showed an anxious and worried expression. "How could Mr. Fan have fainted? If, if something were to happen to him, what should we do?"

Xie Anbai finally shot him a glance, his tone flat. "His Majesty has already summoned an Imperial Physician, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. However... the Marquis Zhongyong just said he wasn’t well-acquainted with Mr. Fan Chengzhuo. Why are you so anxious now?"

"You—" Xie Anjun choked, flicking his sleeves in anger and adopting a self-righteous tone. "No matter what, we are both officials serving the same court. There’s bound to be some camaraderie. Seeing him in this state, wouldn’t it be too cold-hearted and cruel to remain indifferent?"

Xie Anbai looked as if he had heard something amusing, the corner of his lip curling into a mocking, sarcastic smile.

"Oh? It seems I have misunderstood the deeply loyal and righteous Marquis Zhongyong."

He deliberately enunciated the words "deeply loyal and righteous" slowly and clearly.

Xie Anjun’s expression turned ugly in an instant.

Who in the entire Capital City didn’t know that he and Xie Anbai had long since fallen out? After Xie Pei’s death, he smoothly inherited the title, and the very first thing he did was to drive Xie Anbai out of the Xie Family.

How could a man who would do such a thing to his own brother be called "deeply loyal and righteous"?

’Aren’t Xie Anbai’s words deliberately implying that my relationship with Fan Chengzhuo is unusual?’

On any other day, Xie Anjun would have already snapped back with a rebuke. But this was Qiyuan Hall, after all. Even if he had all the courage in the world, he wouldn’t dare cause a scene here.

The only thing he could do was ignore him!

However, it seemed Xie Anbai had no intention of stopping.

He glanced at Fan Chengzhuo, who lay on the ground with blood trickling from his mouth and his eyes shut tight. He cupped his hands and said loudly, "Your Majesty, Mr. Fan’s condition doesn’t look optimistic. If we could invite Second Miss Ye to come, perhaps she might have a solution?"

Xie Anjun froze for a moment before he realized what Xie Anbai was saying.

’Second Miss Ye?’

’He actually wants to summon Ye Chutang!?’

For some reason, a strong sense of unease surged in Xie Anjun’s heart the moment he heard that name.

The young woman’s calm and composed demeanor at the Xie Family estate was deeply seared into his mind like a brand.

’If that Ye Chutang really comes... who knows what other complications might arise?’

Xie Anjun immediately objected, "Your Majesty has already summoned an Imperial Physician. With these words of yours, can it be that... you don’t trust the esteemed physicians of the Imperial Hospital?"

Xie Anbai said matter-of-factly, "I believe everyone in the capital has heard of Second Miss Ye’s medical skills. Even Your Majesty places great trust in her. Inviting her now is just an extra precaution, is it not? On the other hand, why does the Marquis Zhongyong seem so opposed to the idea?"

"I am not!"

Xie Anjun was so angry his head throbbed. With an uneasy heart, he secretly glanced toward the throne.

Everyone knew Ye Chutang had saved Emperor Muwu’s life. How could he dare slander her to his face?

"I just feel that this is making a mountain out of a molehill—"

"How can this be considered making a mountain out of a molehill?" Xie Anbai cut him off. "First, Mr. Fan is a court official. Second, his relationship with Zheng Baosu is highly unusual, so we might be able to find some useful clues from him. In any case, we must first ensure his life is saved. Could it be that in the Marquis Zhongyong’s opinion, there is a more suitable candidate than Second Miss Ye?"

"I—"

Xie Anjun was speechless, his heart filled with resentment!

’This Xie Anbai has been silver-tongued since he was a child. He could argue his way out of anything!’

He could never win an argument against him. In the past, he could at least use his status as the elder brother to gain the upper hand, but now...

Sensing the grave and serious atmosphere, Xie Anjun could only swallow his anger.

"I did not mean that."

Emperor Muwu pondered for a moment, then nodded. "What An Bai says is reasonable. In that case, someone, go and ask Chutang to enter the palace."

Eunuch Li immediately replied, "Yes."

Emperor Muwu turned his head and let out a few soft coughs.

"We are tired. We will resume after Chutang arrives and examines Fan Chengzhuo’s condition."

Xie Anjun was stunned.

’Does this mean Emperor Muwu intends to pause the interrogation and wait for Ye Chutang!?’

"Your Majesty, how can we—"

Xie Anjun instinctively protested, but before he could finish, he met Emperor Muwu’s indifferent gaze.

"What, does the Marquis Zhongyong believe this is inappropriate?"

A sudden chill shot down Xie Anjun’s spine!

He stiffened and spoke with difficulty, "This servant... this servant... had no such intention. Your Majesty’s health is of utmost importance."

Only then did Emperor Muwu withdraw his gaze. Supported by Eunuch Li, he rose and left for a side hall to rest.

Soon, the hall fell silent once more.

The scene was both absurd and laughable.

The throne above was empty. In the vast hall, only the stunned, kneeling Zheng Baosu, the dispirited Zhao Zhe, and the two brothers, Xie Anjun and Xie Anbai, standing on opposite sides, remained.

And, of course, the unconscious Fan Chengzhuo.

Looking at this scene, Xie Anjun no longer knew what kind of expression to wear.

’How... did it turn out like this!?’

Xie Anbai, in contrast, looked relaxed.

’It’s just waiting for someone, isn’t it?’

’I’d like to see what happens next.’

Xie Anjun glanced left and right, his heart still unable to find peace.

He couldn’t guess why Xie Anbai had suddenly suggested inviting Ye Chutang, but he knew they were in it together!

’If Ye Chutang comes, what... what will happen then?’

Panic, tension, apprehension... Xie Anjun’s mind was in turmoil. In the end, he could only look back at Fan Chengzhuo and Zheng Baosu.

’If these two just died right here... wouldn’t all his problems be solved!?’

...

When Ye Chutang received the news, she had just finished drying and packing the last piece of eucommia bark.

She wiped her hands, and when she turned around, her dark, clear eyes still held a hint of surprise.

"Mr. Fan fainted?"

The palace attendant who had hurried over wiped the sweat from his brow. "Yes! They say he was before His Majesty when he suddenly spat up blood and passed out! His Majesty already sent for an Imperial Physician to go to Qiyuan Hall, but he was still worried and wanted to ask Second Miss Ye to take a look as well."

Understanding dawned on Ye Chutang, and she nodded lightly.

"What a coincidence. I just happened to have examined Mr. Fan a few days ago, so I have some understanding of his condition. I don’t have much to do at home right now, so let’s go."

As she spoke, she turned slightly and beckoned to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu immediately put down the book in his hands, ran over to take the packed eucommia bark from her, and placed it in its corresponding medicine drawer.

’Thank goodness Big Sis was only drying this small batch today. The timing is perfect!’

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