Chapter 540: Chapter 191 Improvement_2
Rumors always spread quickly.
The Qi Family’s reputation for integrity over many years was thus ruined in an instant, and even she was implicated...
Qi Huaying lowered her eyebrows, her tone became a few shades lighter.
"These past few days, brother should focus on healing his wounds."
...
Not far from the pavilion in a flower garden, Qi Qing stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
This garden had once nurtured many birds.
But later on, the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion expelled all the birds, and not even a single cage was left behind, making the lush and graceful garden seem somewhat desolate without the clear chirping of birds.
Qi Qing gazed from a distance at the two siblings in the pavilion for a while before retracting his gaze, sighing, "Yu Tai has not had an episode for three whole days now."
The person beside him heard this and replied respectfully, "Young Master Qi has been suffering from shock and depression. This time, after taking the medication, the depressive qi has dissipated, and the fever has been reduced, which is why the symptoms seem to have disappeared. As long as he continues the good aftercare with the medicinal pills and powder, he will soon recover."
Hearing this, Qi Qing turned around, looked at the person before him, and slowly spoke.
"This time, I must thank Envoy Cui for his extensive efforts for my son."
Cui Min repeatedly claimed it was nothing.
Having prepared medicine and administered acupuncture on Qi Yutai for several days, Qi Yutai had grown thin from illness, and Cui Min had also become noticeably gaunt. Originally possessing a grace like that of a civil servant or hermit, now after only a few days, his temples had turned partially white, his complexion had lost its luster, his former elegance was gone, leaving him looking haggard.
Qi Qing smiled faintly, "Envoy, there is no need for such modesty."
"It’s difficult to treat a mental illness. That Envoy Cui could in just a few days come up with a new prescription that was highly effective proves his profound knowledge and mastery of medicine. In the Liang Dynasty, no one is your match."
This praise made Cui Min’s expression stiffen slightly.
He looked at Cui Min with a kindly smile on his lips.
"I knew that in all of Shengjing, only you, Envoy, could and would be able to treat my son’s illness."
Bending at the waist, Cui Min spoke with gratitude, "Thank you for your trust, sir."
"My son’s illness cannot heal without Envoy’s touch. Envoy has spared no effort for Yu Tai, for which I am truly grateful."
He smiled, "Envoy, you have also worked hard these past few days. Now that Yu Tai is improving, you should also return to rest early. In a few days, I will send someone to present a token of my gratitude."
Cui Min repeatedly claimed he dared not accept such honors, exchanged a few words, and then bowed and withdrew.
After he had left, the steward approached from a distance, watching Cui Min’s retreating figure and said, "Envoy Cui’s medical skills truly live up to the reputation of the Medical Officer Institute’s Envoy." He paused, then added, "It’s just a pity about his common origins..."
Qi Qing said indifferently, "There is no permanent distinction between high and low in officials, and no permanent lowliness among the common people. If one has ability, one should promote them. If not, they should be demoted."
"Whether he is a commoner or not is unimportant. As long as he possesses genuine knowledge and skill, and is of use to Yu Tai, that is all that matters."
"Yes."
Qi Qing turned around and took another look at Qi Yutai in the pavilion, talking with Qi Huaying. Now that Qi Yutai was getting better, perhaps because he hadn’t yet recovered his full vitality, he was much less impetuous than usual and had become more compliant.
"Did the people sent to Fengle Building find anything?" he asked.
The steward shook his head.
"Sir, didn’t you say it’s impossible for the Light-vented Bulbul matter to be real?"
After recovering from his grave illness, Qi Yutai mentioned having seen a painting of a light-vented bulbul that bled.
Of course, this was hard to believe.
The day he secretly took Cold Food Powder, those who consumed the powder experienced brief hallucinations. Plus, the sudden outbreak of fire reminded Qi Yutai of the blaze at the Yang Family in Mangming Township, leading to his confused senses—one could indeed see the likelihood.
"The Light-vented Bulbul matter might be false, but the fire at the building might not have been an accident," Qi Qing said.
When Qi Yutai regained consciousness, he said he had a dispute with someone inside the building, which led to the accidental toppling of a candlestick and the fire. However, afterwards, no one saw this person, and no one nearby had ever seen them either, nor could the two singers who were said to be playing the zither inside the room be found.
The singers were false, the dispute was false, and the bleeding Light-vented Bulbul Painting was false.
Everything seemed like the result of an inebriated Qi Yutai accidentally knocking over a lamp in a stupor, unintentionally causing a fire.
The blaze just happened to burn the building down to ashes, and just happened to destroy all the evidence, without leaving even the slightest clue behind.
Everything seemed too perfect, making it suspicious.
The elder, with his hands behind his back, looked at the colorful flower garden before him, a glint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
After some thought, the steward said, "However, sir, now that the Young Master’s illness is getting better, is it possible for him to go out?"
Since the incident with Qi Yutai, Qi Qing had claimed illness and not attended court sessions, and rumors were flying everywhere outside—no matter how powerful the Qi Family was, they couldn’t silence all the mouths in the streets of Shengjing.
The Third Prince, Yuan Yao’s faction, was especially eager to take this opportunity to kick them while they were down.
Everyone was suspecting that the Qi Family’s eldest son had become delirious and mad; only if Qi Yutai himself appeared before the crowd could the rumors be dispelled.
It had been more than a month, and using the excuse of Qi Yutai being shocked by the fire to keep the doors closed was becoming untenable. Now that he was nearly back to his normal state, it was time to quash the rumors.