Three days later, Song Xingmu had time to take Yi Chuan back to the other courtyard.

All 30,000 sailors were captured and convicted one by one according to their participation. And all of the rebels, except the ones who committed suicide, were arrested. Qin Yu and He Lan were worried that another problem would arise, so they took personal custody of them.

Ming’an County finally returned to calm.

Only this courtyard was still shrouded in uneasiness.

When Song Xingmu returned, he saw Liu Zhenqing sitting on the steps in front of the courtyard.

Looking at the dark circles under the man’s eyes, he knew he had not been resting well.

He stepped forward and said: “Don’t wear yourself out. I heard Qin Yu speak of the King of Hell, which proves that the kid won’t die.”

Yi Chuan on the side said: “En, the King of Hell is very capable.”

Liu Zhenqing nodded slightly and said: “I know. I got some rest, but I just couldn’t sleep much.”

Song Xingmu removed his armor. Yi Chuan took it and helped him to the courtyard next door. He was still injured, so Song Xingmu had him apply medicine.

Then he sat down with Liu Zhenqing and said: “Everything is going well outside. Don’t be anxious.”

“I haven’t been anxious at all the past three days,” Liu Zhenqing murmured.

Song Xingmu looked at Liu Zhenqing with a smile. Yes, ah, he was not the former Prime Minister Liu. He was only worried about his puppy now, and nothing else could enter his eyes.

“It sounds like fate. I didn’t expect that the King of Hell would come to my door. I haven’t seen this little miracle doctor for many years. It’s strange, why did he come so suddenly? Was he looking for us?” Song Xingmu spoke with self-satisfaction.

Liu Zhenqing was taken aback for a moment before reacting: “You know each other?”

Song Xingmu nodded with a smile: “Fate brings people together. When we met him, he did not have the title ‘King of Hell.’ He is the young doctor who saved me and your guard nine years ago. Had we not met him in the capital, we would have both died there.”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression changed several times, and he gave Song Xingmu a look of astonishment.

“What is it?” Song Xingmu asked.

Liu Zhenqing hesitated for a moment before saying: “Actually…..he was my apprentice.”

This one sentence was like thunder in a clear sky, and instantly made Song Xingmu freeze.

“The King of Hell is your disciple? What about your poor medical skills?” Song Xingmu couldn’t believe it.

Liu Zhenqing also sighed with emotion. If he hadn’t recognized him as Xiao Ye, he would have worried about wasting these precious three days.

Song Xingmu was scratching his head. He grabbed Liu Zhenqing and asked: “Just what is going on, ah!”

Liu Zhenqing said speechlessly: “Is it so difficult to understand? After all, I am the disciple of a miracle doctor, and he is from Medical Valley, so we are related. It’s not that surprising.”

“Then how did you manage to have such a good master and apprentice, yet you’re the only one who’s half-assed?” Song Xingmu said indignantly.

Liu Zhenqing choked. He explained: “Isn’t this all due to the rules of Medical Valley?”

In fact, the disciples of Medical Valley could originally only accept two apprentices, one male and one female, so the review process for accepting new apprentices was very strict.

At that time, the miracle doctor came to the capital. He was originally invited to test Li Xingruo, but Liu Zhenqing suddenly appeared and fooled the miracle doctor. He mistakenly thought that Liu Zhenqing was a medical genius, and found out after he became a disciple that he had been tricked. But it was too late.

Later, a young child named Han Ye was born into the Medicine King family. He was extremely talented and was supposed to study medicine in Medical Valley. But everyone in Medical Valley was haughty, feeling that only a miracle doctor was qualified to teach Han Ye, otherwise it was better to teach him at home.

“So when people found out that the miracle doctor had a half-assed apprentice like you, it was like you cheated the other person’s family in advance?” Song Xingmu said.

Liu Zhenqing gave an innocent nod, saying: “The Medicine King family sent Han Ye to the capital to ask the Master to find a way to take on another one. Master was very upset when he discovered Han Ye, but the inheritance of Medical Valley cannot be broken. And back then, I wasn’t even studying medicine anymore, so he rolled his eyes at me eight hundred times a day. Then I thought of a compromise. I accepted this disciple, but he learned from my master. It didn’t count as an exception.”

“That was a good idea.” Song Xingmu nodded.

“This fellow is extremely talented, even more than Junior Sister. Master was very happy to be able to teach such a disciple,” Liu Zhenqing recalled.

“Then what happened?”

“Then, the two of them combined rolled their eyes at me 1,600 times a day,” Liu Zhenqing said helplessly.

Song Xingmu laughed out loud. He pointed at Liu Zhenqing and said: “That little prodigy with a master like you…..rolling his eyes can be considered a light reaction.”

Liu Zhenqing touched his cheek and said: “That’s why I never told anyone about our identities. And by that time, I had already entered the Imperial Court as an official, so we didn’t spend much time together. After staying in the capital for a while, he returned to Medical Valley with Master to concentrate on his studies. Later, he would occasionally go back and forth to the capital with Master. I prepared lots of gifts for him every time, but he wouldn’t spare me a good look. He was a very proud brat who was difficult to please.”

Song Xingmu suddenly said: “He really cared about you.”

Stunned, Liu Zhenqing said nothing. He knew it as soon as Song Xingmu said that it was Xiao Ye who saved them.

There were no coincidences in this world. Han Ye was only fourteen or fifteen years old at that time, and hadn’t finished his apprenticeship. But he came to the capital alone, went to Liu Zhenqing’s grave, and rescued the two people who were being pursued by the Jinyiwei and Dongchang…..

“Do you intend to tell him who you are?” Song Xingmu asked.

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s lips twitched. The look in Han Ye’s eyes and the words he said at the end made him afraid that…..

Suddenly, the door behind them opened.

Liu Zhenqing and Song Xingmu quickly stood up and watched as Han Ye staggered out. He had clearly expended a lot of energy.

Han Ye was not tall. Although he was in his twenties, he looked younger. He had cold features and seemed like someone it wouldn’t be good to provoke.

Just as he came to a stop, he fell forward. Liu Zhenqing and Song Xingmu quickly stepped up to support him.

“Doctor Han, are you alright? Do you need anything?” Song Xingmu asked at once.

“Tired.” Han Ye spoke one word, then turned to look at Liu Zhenqing and said: “I stabilized his condition. After a period of treatment, you will need to go to Medical Valley so that my master can treat him himself.’

Liu Zhenqing breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you. Please go and rest right away.”

Han Ye stopped talking and just looked at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

Song Xingmu looked left and right before saying awkwardly: “It didn’t expect that it would really be Doctor Han. Do you still remember me? You saved my life back then. By the way, why have you come…..”

“Master told me to come,” Han Ye said directly.

Liu Zhenqing frowned slightly and could only look toward Han Ye. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Han Ye sneer: “Still the same half-baked skills. It was no use telling you eight hundred times to learn medical skills quickly. You still have to rely on others to save the people you want to save?”

Trembling all over, Liu Zhenqing felt helpless and embarrassed as he said: “Xiao Ye, it’s fine if Master reprimands me like this, but you can’t. I have seniority.”

Han Ye simply rolled his eyes with that familiar expression.

With a slight smile, Liu Zhenqing released Han Ye and crouched down in front of him.

Han Ye was momentarily stunned. His eyes flashed, and his voice was almost unsteady as he said, “What are you doing?”

Liu Zhenqing patted his shoulder.

Song Xingmu saw that Liu Zhenqing intended to carry Han Ye. After all, Han Ye couldn’t stand up straight, so he thought this would be fine.

He heard Han Ye say: “Do you still think of me as a child? Your foundation is so weak now that you can’t even carry me.”

“I’ll give it a try. The elder should carry the junior,” Liu Zhenqing said softly. He patted his shoulder again.

The scene before him was just like a memory that flashed through Han Ye’s mind.

The master had two apprentices. One had no talent and did not like to learn, and one was talented and had a bad temper. All of this left the master dissatisfied while teaching, but then he showed up and the master taught him everything he knew. Li-shishu saw a companion who could finally discuss medical skills with her, and ordered him around to her heart’s content. Although he was willing to study, he was still young and far away from his family. Sometimes he was so tired that he would lay down on the floor of the medical center and fall asleep on the spot. However, the master and Shishu were both medical fanatics and didn’t know how to take care of people.

Thus, Liu Zhenqing would often appear in the middle of the night and take him back to his room. While carrying him back, he would complain about the unreliability of his master and shishu.

But if he spoke harshly, he would reply, “Don’t teach me bad lessons, you’re unwilling to learn!”

Liu Zhenqing always just smiled and instructed him on how to speak, no matter how impudent he was. 

He didn’t like this shifu, because he was such a disgrace. But…..this shifu was very capable. At least the people outside said so. And he was very kind to Han Ye. Therefore, he reluctantly recognized this shifu.

Until…..there was no more shifu.

Now he was lying on Shifur’s back again. There was no longer the grace and steadiness in his memories, but that reassuring aura was still there. It made him feel at ease where he lay, and he wanted to sleep.

But now, he was a little afraid to sleep.

“Why are you still so light, ah? This year, you should be…..twenty-three. Are you focusing on studying medicine at the expense of your health?”

“You’re worrying about me when your own health isn’t that good?” He lashed back.

Liu Zhenqing said innocently: “I can’t be blamed for taking over duties halfway, ah. Right, Master said I was here? You came to find me?”

Han Ye said with an annoyed tone: “I wasn’t just looking for you, but also for General Huo. After all, he is Master’s key patient, and I must keep an eye on him. It is fortunate that I’m here. Your medical skills aren’t good, and you can’t even take care of patients well. You really are regressing more and more.”

But Liu Zhenqing laughed and said: “Yes, ah, it is fortunate that you’re here.”

Han Ye was stifled.

“So why did you go to the capital back then?” Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but tease him.

But after he asked, there was silence behind him, and Liu Zhenqing regretted bringing up this topic. Fortunately, they had arrived at the room.

Han Ye was silent for a long moment before saying calmly: “Because you had no heirs, and I was your only disciple. According to secular customs, a teacher for a day is like a father for life. It was my duty to mourn you and show filial piety. Who made me unfortunate enough to recognize you as my shifu?”

Liu Zhenqing smiled: “En, thank you.”

The person at his back said suddenly and hoarsely: “I didn’t accomplish anything, so what are you thankful for?”

“It’s good that you remembered me.” As Liu Zhenqing spoke, he carried him to the bed and set him down.

“Have a rest.” Liu Zhenqing gave Han Ye a soft look.

Han Ye sat on the side of the bed and raised his head to watch him leave. Abruptly, he called out: “Shifu.”

“En?” Liu Zhenqing turned his head.

Han Ye’s eyes flashed, and he hmphed: “He isn’t sleeping well, so get him some soothing incense and light it.”

Liu Zhenqing gave a soft smile and said: “All right.”

Not sleeping well, ah. Even soothing incense couldn’t help Huo Fenglie, who had strong defenses and vigilance.

“What should be done? He’s still grimacing.” Song Xingmu remained in the room after the soothing incense was lit, then began to feel sleepy.

Liu Zhenqing took a breath and said: “Go out. I still have another trick.”

“What is it?” Song Xingmu asked curiously.

Liu Zhenqing’s lips rose in a smile: “Of course it’s to sleep with our family’s Er-gou.”

Song Xingmu: You just want to take advantage of this opportunity.

But he watched Liu Zhenqing climb into bed and lie next to Huo Fenglie, and after he called out ‘Er-gou’ a few times and hugged him, Huo Fenglie actually exhaled, and his features relaxed. There was really nothing to say now.

Song Xingmu clasped his fist in one hand and said farewell!

Thus, when Huo Fenglie awoke, he saw the two of them in nightclothes lying on the bed and sleeping together.

He thought he was dreaming.

Huo Fenglie stared blankly at Liu Zhenqing for a while. He couldn’t help but stick to him and feel his temperature with his cheek. Liu Zhenqing woke up as soon as he moved. Rubbing his eyes, he processed for a moment and said in pleasant surprise: “Er-gou, you’re awake!”

“Qing-ge, I…..” Huo Fenglie knew that his body was in bad shape before, but he felt fine now.

Before Huo Fenglie could ask, Liu Zhenqing practically threw himself into his arms.

Huo Fenglie took advantage of the situation to embrace Liu Zhenqing. Sensing his familiar temperature and scent, he felt much more at ease. Fortunately, he didn’t break his promise, and he could still accompany Qing-ge.

The two of them were hugging each other, or rather, Liu Zhenqing unilaterally hugged Huo Fenglie, and a sound of surprise was heard.

“What are you doing!”

Liu Zhenqing looked back and saw Han Ye staring at him in shock. It was clear that these words were directed at him.

Looking at his expression, which seemed as if he had seen a ghost, Liu Zhenqing suspected that his master had not gossiped with him.

In fact, the master had told him, but Han Ye didn’t hear anything else from the moment he heard about Liu Zhenqing’s resurrection. 

At this moment, he gazed at his resurrected shifu. He used to be surrounded by beauties who were infatuated with him, and would occasionally smile and ask what sort of shimu he wanted. At this moment, he was hugging his Shishu’s brother-in-law, still wearing underwear and sleeping in the same bed? For a moment, he had a strange sense of deja vu. 

It was like seeing…..seeing…..his father finding a stepmother for him. Except the stepmother was a grown man, and he caught them on the spot!

Liu Zhenqing called Han Ye over with a smile: “Xiao Ye, come here and take a look at Fenglie. He woke up, and he seems to be in good condition after feeling his pulse.”

Han Ye acclimated and walked over. He found that his shifu didn’t even plan to get out of bed, and just lay there with a man while waiting for him to check his pulse!

Although they were about the same age, couldn’t this be regarded as inappropriate in front of a junior?

The shameless Liu Zhenqing didn’t realize that there was a problem at all, until this scene completely affected Han Ye’s judgment and he roared: “Get down and leave! Don’t disturb me!”

When Liu Zhenqing was kicked out, he saw others approaching. They had likely heard the King of Hell, and looked at Liu Zhenqing suspiciously. Liu Zhenqing said with an innocent face: “I didn’t do anything.”

Soon, Han Ye came to the conclusion that everything was going well. According to the instructions the master had previously left him, acupuncture and medicinal baths should be maintained for a few days, and then they could go to seek out the master.

With Han Ye accompanying them, Liu Zhenqing was absolutely relieved. Regarding the acupuncture and medicinal baths, Liu Zhenqing proclaimed that he would help. It was the first time Han Ye had seen his shifu be so proactive. He was very suspicious. During a surprise inspection, he saw his shifu groping General Huo’s body. His face turned green and he drove that person away to handle it himself.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but rub his chin, suspecting that he Han Ye had some sort of teacher love complex. This caused Song Xingmu to burst with complaints.

“Didn’t he say that you took advantage of another person’s vulnerability and deliberately molested a patient? Aiyo, how cruel. Making your little Er-gou endure so much, I’ll see if you cry in the future.” Song Xingmu raised an eyebrow.

“I was punishing him for taking risks regardless of his body.”

“Yes, that’s right, he almost made you a widow.”

Liu Zhenqing shot a glance at the wildly giggling Song Xingmu.

When he was done laughing, Song Xingmu curled the tips of his hair and said: “By the way, Zhao Haicheng said he wants to see you. Do you want to see him?”

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Chapter Ninety-Four << Table of Contents >> Chapter Ninety-Six