A good teacher is rare and hard to find at any time.
After changing teachers, Liang Qiran's studies in archery and horsemanship essentially stagnated.
He grudgingly followed Consort Huang's request to please Emperor Xingzhao, and perfected his Slender Gold script.
However, he lacked talent, and his hard work was inferior to Shen Yun and a few others who wrote the Slender Gold script particularly outstandingly.
Nevertheless, it was enough to please Emperor Xingzhao.
"Speaking of which, we must mention Mr. Gu again.
If my memory serves me correctly, Mr. Gu was your teacher back then."
This was also true.
The renowned scholars and great Confucians in the realm could be counted on one hand.
Emperor Xingzhao was determined to groom Liang Xinran. For archery and horsemanship, he relied on Duke Yu; for literary talent, he relied on Mr. Gu.
With both literary and martial prowess, it can be said that Emperor Xingzhao truly invested a great deal of heart and thought into Liang Xinran.
He brought in two of the top talents among civil and military officials to teach him.
However, it did not last long.
Duke Yu left the capital to guard the border.
Mr. Gu, on the other hand, voluntarily resigned.
Although the two were no longer by his side, they left a deep impression on Liang Xinran.
"Father once said that a teacher for a day is a teacher for life. Has the Crown Prince forgotten Mr. Gu's kindness in teaching you?" the Grand Princess asked with a cold voice.
Liang Qiran could disregard the Grand Princess, but he dared not disregard Emperor Xingzhao or Mr. Gu.
He blushed and said, "Imperial Sister, please do not spread rumors. Although those two gentlemen taught me for a short time, I have always remembered their kindness."
"In my opinion, you have likely forgotten. Otherwise, why would you publicly embarrass Mr. Gu's beloved daughter?" the Grand Princess followed up, dropping a weighty bomb.
Liang Qiran was stunned. He looked at the Grand Princess, then at Su Xiaoqi.
Mr. Gu had left the capital nearly ten years ago, but his voice and appearance were still clear in his memory.
After all, none of the teachers who came to him afterward could compare to him, from his appearance to his learning.
He did not think Su Xiaoqi resembled Mr. Gu.
Furthermore, Mr. Gu was famously fond of daughters, but the daughters from Duke Yu's estate had never given him any.
For this reason, the Emperor had once jokingly teased him in court.
Sensing his thoughts, the Grand Princess lightly told him that Su Xiaoqi was the goddaughter acknowledged by Mr. Gu and his wife.
Though not his biological daughter, she was treated as such, and even the Old Madam cherished her dearly.
Liang Qiran's handsome face furrowed.
He had never expected that this woman of ordinary background would have such a powerful backing.
He was momentarily speechless, and the previous mention of having her examine him became impossible.
Su Xiaoqi, however, wanted to take this opportunity to feel his pulse and see if he had any hidden ailments.
That might explain why he died so early in his previous life.
She curtsied and said, neither subservient nor overbearing, "Thank you, Your Highness, for not dismissing me. This commoner can feel your pulse."
Liang Qiran hesitated, but Su Xiaoqi did not give him a chance to retract his offer.
As soon as he extended his hand, she immediately took it.
His pulse was weak, his qi and blood deficient, and his essence leaking out.
This was a man whose body had been depleted by wine and women.
Su Xiaoqi suddenly felt a doubt about the legendary Emperor Xingzhao.
How could he have been so wise to dote on him and place the future of the Great Liang Dynasty in his hands?
Su Xiaoqi believed there were only two possibilities.
Either Emperor Xingzhao had lost his principles for the sake of love, choosing to be deaf and blind.
Or Liang Xinran was an exceptionally good actor, and Emperor Xingzhao had no idea he was such a useless straw bag.
Lost in thought, Su Xiaoqi became somewhat absent-minded, causing Liang Qiran to frown displeasantly. He withdrew his hand and said coldly, "Do you know how to feel a pulse?" What was the point of just holding it without doing anything.
Su Xiaoqi smiled good-naturedly and said, "I have already finished."
"How is it? Are there any problems with my body?" Liang Qiran asked with a deep frown.
He had been feeling unwell recently.
And a certain area had developed small nodules.
The personal eunuchs serving him had looked at it and said it was nothing, just that the weather was too hot and it was stuffy.
They had even brought some ointment from the Imperial Hospital to apply, but it didn't seem to help.
Su Xiaoqi shook her head, "Your Highness the Crown Prince's constitution is healthy, and there are no problems."
Even if there were, she wouldn't tell him.
She believed there were many doctors in the palace with better medical skills than her, and they must also know the Crown Prince's pulse.
It was just that for some reason, no one had proactively told him.
She naturally chose to conceal it as well, casually saying that it was nothing serious, just that the wound from two days ago had not fully healed and he needed more rest.
Liang Qiran had achieved his goal of annoying Prince Duan. Feeling that there was no point in staying any longer, he got up and left with his servants.
Seeing that it was getting late, the Grand Princess and Su Xiaoqi also began to head back.
On the way, the Grand Princess invited Su Xiaoqi to accompany her and asked in a low voice, "Xiaoqi, you didn't have to examine him if you didn't want to. With me here, he wouldn't dare to do anything to you."
Su Xiaoqi smiled and said, "Thank you, Grand Princess, for protecting me. But I truly wanted to feel his pulse.
Your Highness, the Crown Prince's pulse is depressed and weak; his health has likely never been very good."
The Grand Princess stared at Su Xiaoqi blankly, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked around.
She was afraid their conversation might be overheard by someone.
Su Xiaoqi quietly reminded her, "Your Highness, don't worry. This place is sheltered from the wind and is spacious. There are no obstructions around, so no one can hide here." Moreover, as she spoke, she had already listened, and there was no sound.
After listening, the Grand Princess realized she was being overly cautious.
Su Xiaoqi was a cautious person; since she dared to say it, she must have already investigated.
"Are you... telling the truth just now? Is his health very poor?" The Grand Princess's voice trembled slightly, revealing an anticipation that she herself could not control.
The Crown Prince was an opponent to her and her brother. If he was not doing well, she would naturally be happy.
Xiaoqi was not an outsider, and there was no need to be secretive in front of her.
Su Xiaoqi nodded and said, "He was originally constitutionally weak, and in some aspects, he was not temperate. Moreover, he seems to... have some ailments that cannot be revealed to outsiders.
However, my pulse-taking time was short, and I did not examine the symptoms, so it is possible that it may not be accurate."
"In that aspect, which aspect?" The Grand Princess was quite intelligent, but Su Xiaoqi's phrasing was too vague, and she couldn't understand for a moment.
"Uh, perhaps something like a venereal disease..." Su Xiaoqi's face flushed crimson.
Even though she was a modern person with open thoughts, discussing with the Grand Princess that her half-brother had contracted a shameful disease was, she felt, quite a challenge.
The Grand Princess's mouth was agape in shock. She even forgot to maintain her usual graceful and dignified posture.
"What is the probability?"
"Fifty percent." His heart fire was strong, his lung qi excessive, and his pulse sluggish, all of which were symptoms of that kind of illness.
However, without physically examining the symptoms, she could not draw a conclusion.