A Western Doctor’s Happy Farming Life[1] 152

Song Qinghan thought as he walked and realized that the assignment of Wu Dahu was not included. Probably the Imperial Noble Consort was the ‘culprit’ who delivered wicked counsel behind the scene. After all, the Fifth Prince didn’t look like a man with a pack of scheming thoughts. Even if he really wanted to do something evil, he wouldn’t have such a brain to come up with any feasible plans.

He sighed softly with a hint of worry in his eyes.

Upon thinking of the various possibilities the Imperial Noble Consort might nurse, Song Qinghan still failed to conceive of any ideas. Yet for one possibility he would completely deny with a full confidence: The Imperial Noble Consort was all willing to assist to help the Fifth Prince get rid of this troublesome life because he thought the child was pitiful.

The principle reins everywhere and any times. There was no eternal friendship, only eternal profit. Unless the Fifth Prince was able to bring some profits to the Imperial Noble Consort could they co-exist in a cooperative relationship. Otherwise, Song Qinghan would never believe that the Imperial Noble Consort would try his best to give advice and lend a hand.

But what benefit could the Imperial Noble Consort gain from the Fifth Prince? Couldn’t he gain that from Hening?

If Song Qinghan could figure out this deep root towards the matter and changed the Imperial Noble Consort’s side in this ‘battle’, probably their stratagem which ensured success would be more inclined to succeed.

Seeing Song Qinghan frowning and deep in thought, Wu Dahu was about to speak when he suddenly saw a bright yellow in the distance. He was shocked and reached out to grab Song Qinghan and said in a low voice, “The Emperor is here.”

It was not unusual to meet the Emperor in the palace, so Song Qinghan did not think much about it. He followed Wu Dahu to the side and knelt early before the Emperor passed by, waiting for the Emperor to leave.

Well, beyond their expectations, not long after the Emperor passed by them, he stepped back, saying after he stood still while raising his eyebrows, “Are you the doctor who dispelled the outbreak of the small pox?”

Song Qinghan was stunned, as if he didn’t expect that the Emperor would stop for him.

But he got a prompt reaction, and he answered respectfully, “I might be blessed by you, Your Majesty, to succeed dispelling the evilness of the small pox in the Moshang Town.”

No one at the scene was fool, he who listened to that could clearly figure out the deeper meaning within the words.

“Alright,” sounded the Emperor after he noticed that Song Qinghan did not refute at all, “I heard that you refused the award from me, are you going to change your mind now?”

Song Qinghan’s heart tightened. But soon he realized that the Emperor didn’t seem to bother himself into investigating further the matter of ‘being of rudeness’, he pondered for a brief moment, and then bowed, saying, “I hope the Moshang residents can be blessed by you, Your Majesty, I mean I wish you can relieve them offering them some alms. Forgive me if I require too much and break the rules…”

The reason why he made this request was because he wanted to make an excuse for ‘not wanting the award’ previously, and secondly, he really wanted to help out the residents in that Moshang Town. After all, they might have experienced a hard life after the outbreak of that disaster, the outsiders probably would still look down upon those residents even though the epidemic had already been totally vanished.

The Emperor took a deep look at Song Qinghan and smiled. He turned his head to one of the people beside him and praised, “Well, well, friend of Haiyun does get something extraordinary!”

Song Qinghan was stunned when he heard this. He quietly glanced at the man standing behind the Emperor from the corner of his eye.

When he caught a glimpse of Luo Haiyun’s smiling eyes, he turned his eyes and seemed to figure out what was going on. He lowered his head and waited for the Emperor’s reply.

The Emperor didn’t let him down at all, he waved his hand smartly, saying, “I allow that.”

Seeing that the Emperor was ready to leave after saying that, Song Qinghan didn’t bother to say anything else even though he felt quite regretful not doing so.

After all, he had already exchanged the kindness of the Emperor for the sake of the residents in that Moshang Town. Now if he was being annoying to mention the matter of Wu Dahu’s assignment, probably that would be a bad impression for the Emperor.

However, even he didn’t bother to mention that. At the next moment when the Emperor took a causal glance at Wu Dahu, he himself took the initiative to ask doubtfully, “Are you the Tanhua of the final tournament? The one who is going to marry Hening?”

Hearing those words, Song Qinghan’s heart tightened. He almost escaped his lips to ask the Emperor to withdraw the decree. Luckily, Wu Dahu responded quickly, successfully blocking Song Qinghan who was about to make a mistake.

“Your Highness, I’m the tanhua of the final tournament, Wu Dahu.”

The Emperor nodded satisfactorily as he found that Wu Dahu was with such a humble attitude while his voice was loud and clear, he replied, “Would you consider staying in the state capital as an Imperial Guard. As for how good you will perform, it all depends on you.”

Wu Dahu paused for a moment, as if he hadn’t expected that his long-awaited assignment would come down at such a time. He quickly lowered his head and said in a low voice, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor, who had just solved two things in a row, looked rather cheerful. He waved his hand and left with the guards who escorted. He seemed to have never thought about the reason why Song Qinghan and Wu Dahu would appear in the palace at such a time.

Song Qinghan and Wu Dahu rose, looked at each other while both of them felt rather rejoiced.

Even the Fifth Prince would not be able to change anything now since it was a decision made by the Emperor orally. In addition, the Imperial Guard’s duty was to protect the Emperor, which meant that now Wu Dahu was guarded by the Emperor, more or less.

Thinking of this, Song Qinghan couldn’t help but sigh in amazement that he didn’t make a mistake to vent his grievances before Wu Dahu said something. Otherwise, if the Emperor found out that the Fifth Prince was messing around behind him, probably he wouldn’t even punish the Fifth Prince but follow his inclinations. After all, the Fifth Prince was about to bear his responsibility to marry the barbarian for the peace of the whole country, if such a tiny requirements of his could not be fulfilled. Wouldn’t it be a bit ruthless?

Since the matter had been perfectly resolved, there was no need for them to look for the Fifth Prince now. They turned their heads and prepared to leave the palace.

Yet again, beyond their expectations, it seemed that it was easy for them to come in but hard to get out. Just before they almost stepped out the palace gate, they were stopped by the guards.

“Here comes the Imperial Noble Consort’s decree, Lords, please follow me.”

Song Qinghan paused, he could smell a sense of danger which was making him uncomfortable. But he still obediently followed up behind, heading to the familiar place he had once been to.

Seeing the Imperial Noble Consort once again, Song Qinghan quickly lowered his head as if the beauty of that noble person was glitteringly dazzling.

“What did I expect you to do, you such a fool!” the Fifth Prince aside roared fiercely before the two of them reacted to pay salute.

Song Qinghan pretended not to know anything and asked in surprise, “Your Highness, are you talking about me? Forgive me, but I really did try my best to do that according to your requirements expect hanging myself. I did cut my own abdomen myself using the kitchen knife, and I still got the injury on it!”

The Fifth Prince was even angrier when Song Qinghan leaked the plan out in front of Wu Dahu. However, he didn’t get a proper word to repute right at the moment. After all, Song Qinghan was not telling a lie since the gossip about that fact was passed almost everywhere. Even though the content of the gossip was a bit exaggerated, it was still a truth.

So he turned his head and looked at Wu Dahu who bore resemblance to a piece of wooden stake there, and then roared even louder, “How come you are so aloof and indifferent?! Your husband is killing himself!! You’re such the coldest and most heartless man in this world.”

Wu Dahu remained his calmness on face, bowing and answering, “Your Highness, commoners like us get no power to resist against the Imperial Decree at all. I was just being loyal to this country, didn’t dare to be at open defiance with the Imperial Decree, after all, I still got a child and seniors who need so much my support. Being emotional is no helpful at all but harmful.”

The reason why he said so was to completely block the Fifth Prince’s thoughts. Otherwise, if the Fifth Prince found out that it actually worked to use Song Qinghan as a shield to threaten him, things would just developed in a bad way.

After hearing Wu Dahu’s words, the Fifth Prince got his face full of redness suddenly as if his face was like an ignited firecracker, ready to explode at any time.

The Imperial Noble Consort chuckled, stretched out her skinny and fairly white hand, grabbed a purple grape and put it into his mouth. He uttered slowly in a leisurely manner after chewing and swallowing the grape, “You’re right, but it’s useless for you guys to argue domestically with the door shut. Why don’t you cooperate to persuade Hening, and ask him to take the initiative to leave you guys alone. After all, Sir Wu isn’t the only choice for him, right?”

The Fifth Prince didn’t bother to be angrier after being interrupted by the Imperial Noble Consort. Instead, he was rather excited towards that and he hurriedly echoed, “Right, that’s it! Though Hening is someone hard to get along with. But if you guys persist persuading him, I believe that he isn’t that kind of unreasonable trouble maker, he will finally come back to Royal Father and ask to withdraw the Imperial Decree.”

Song Qinghan and Wu Dahu Wu Dahu looked at each other without words, and then it was Song Qinghan who hesitantly responded, “What if His Highness Hening refuse…”

The Imperial Noble Consort yawned indifferently and said lightly, “Just try your best. Besides, no difficulty is really difficult as long as you’re determined.”

His words sounded full of inspiration but both Song Qinghan and Wu Dahu got their nerves strained all of a sudden. They bowed and took the initiative to leave.

Only when they walked out of the palace and were blown by the breeze did they finally find out that their backs were soaked with sweat.

Wu Dahu looked a little grim as he said in a low voice, “Did the Imperial Noble Consort mean that we should persuade Hening till he agrees?”

Song Qinghan smiled bitterly and said in resignation, “What else could he mean? I mean, I am quite doubtful that he probably gets a hatred on Hening. Otherwise, I’m fully confident that he wouldn’t have lent a hand to help the Fifth Prince, the one who gets an empty brain.”

Wu Dahu nodded and said thoughtfully, “Regardless of whether they have any grudges or not, they should be a pair of foes now, we have to go visit Hening anyway.”

Ever since his argument with Hening last time, Song Qinghan had never seen Hening now. So currently he was embarrassed in thinking of visiting Hening.

They got onto the carriage, and didn’t even get their clothes changed and went straight to the Hening’s mansion.

It could be seen that Hening’s mansion looked rather low-key yet generous. Even the gate of the mansion was bigger than the whole house Song Qinghan and Wu Dahu lived currently.

Speaking of which, it was quite strange. Song Qinghan had never understood the title ‘Infanta’ Hening got, and the relationship between this guy and the Emperor. The Emperor would even get his own son married with the barbarians for protecting him.

Song Qinghan stepped forward and knocked on the door of Hening’s mansion. When he saw the servant behind the door, he took the initiative to express his intentions here.

He thought that the servants would go in and report, but after hearing his name, the servant opened the door and said respectfully, “Childe Song, please come in. Master has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Song Qinghan paused. He didn’t understand when his name was so useful. When the people in the palace heard it, they would naturally move aside.