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Luo Tan woke up once at night.
Speaking of coincidences, Shen Xin and entourage were searching Shen Miao's whereabouts in the Ding capital, and Luo Ling was watching over Luo Tan and Gao Yang in the residence when he suddenly got a report from his subordinate, that there were suspicious people seen in the western part of the city. Luo Ling thought of Shen Miao and entrusted Luo Tan to Gao Yang, before rushing over to the western part of the city with his subordinates.
Now only Luo Tan and Gao Yang were left in the room.
When Luo Tan woke up, there were only two maids taking care of her in the room, but they were Shen Miao's Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang. When they saw her awake, they were incessantly surprised, "Biao Young Lady finally woke up."
Luo Tan felt that her body was somewhat heavy, and pushed aside the blanket to look when she saw that below the middle garment, there was a white cloth wrapped around. When Bai Lu saw this, she thought that Luo Tan was worried that in the future a scar would remain and reassured her, "Biao Young Lady has survived a great disaster and will be destined to a good fortune. The injury that day was very deep, that Master and Furen were very much frightened. The doctors that were invited in succession, all had no way to treat. It was Imperial Physician Gao that had superior medical skills who treated one. Not only that, Imperial Physician Gao even left behind a prescription, that Young Lady only need to take the medicine for the scar to lighten till it would be almost impossible to identify it."
Luo Tan rubbed her forehead and seemed to have remembered some matters before asking, "How many days have I been unconscious?"
"Replying Biao Young Lady, you were unconscious for almost three days." Shuang Jiang said.
"Three days?" Luo Tan jumped in shock. She suddenly remembered something and asked hurriedly, "How about Biao Youngest Sister? Has Biao Youngest Sister been found?"
Bai Lu's and Shuang Jiang's expressions dimmed, and they shook their heads.
Luo Tan's heart gradually sank and she said, "How is GuGu and GuFu now?"
"The city is sealed off. Master and Furen would run about outside all day to search for Young Lady's whereabout, but there is still no news." Shuang Jiang said, "One do not know what is the situation of Young Lady."
"It had been three days. How is it that there is no news at all after all this time? Those people do not know any evil spell, how could they make a living person disappear?" Luo Tan said emotionally.
Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang looked at one another, but could only lower their heads and kept quiet.
Luo Tan clenched her fists and her heart was filled with endless anxiety. At that time she remembered seeing two persons knocking Shen Miao unconscious and bringing her up the carriage. After that... Luo Tan's heart moved as she suddenly remembered the words that Shen Miao spoke to her in the horse carriage.
"Remember, if you succeed in escaping, think of ways to send a letter to Prince Rui's residence. Just say that there is a transaction to be done and prices will be discussed later."
Shen Miao said to Luo Tan in the carriage that if something happened, to go and look for Prince Rui. Even though Luo Tan did not understand how Shen Miao and Prince Rui of the Great Liang would secretly have any friendship, but in the two years in the Xiao Chun City, Luo Tan knew clearly Shen Miao's personality, and she would not do anything unnecessarily. She stood up and wanted to head out, but Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang jumped up in shock when they saw this, and quickly came over to support her, "What does Biao Young Lady want to do? Let us servants do it. Biao Young Lady's body have not yet recovered, and one must not let the wounds reopen."
When Luo Tan stood up, her body felt sluggish. Most probably it was due to lying on the bed for far too long, that her legs were as soft as cotton. This made her feel somewhat angry as she had felt that she was strong due to practicing of martial arts. However she said, "I have some stuff to do. Leave me alone."
As soon as she finished her words, an unfamiliar voice was heard from outside, "Where are you going?"
Luo Tan looked up and saw a young male walking in from the outside of the room. The male was clad all in white and had the air of a graceful gentleman. He was also very good-looking and one of his hand was bent at the waist and the other was placed on a small table. As he took out a fan from his waist pocket and gently waved it, he then asked another time, "Where are you going?"
Luo Tan frowned, "Who is he?"
Shuang Jiang quickly said, "This is Imperial Physician Gao from the Palace. It is him who treated Biao Young Lady. Currently he is staying in our Shen mansion, as it is convenient to treat Biao Young Lady with acupuncture."
Luo Tan frowned. Even though Luo Tan had some masculine air and less femininity, she was the same as the tens of thousands of females who like to look at good looking stuff. Previously when she was in the Xiao Chun City, there would be the occasional pretty things in the theatre and Luo Tan would drag Shen Miao to reward those actors. This was enough to say that Luo Tan value the appearance of a male. If it was on a normal day, if she had encounter such a handsome white clad gentleman, Luo Tan would most probably be in a good mood, but today she was very worried for Shen Miao that even if a fairy came down, she had no mood to appreciate."Doctor Gao, I have something important to do."
Gao Yang could not help but choke. He had heard people calling him 'Gao Daren' or 'Imperial Physician Gao', but he had never heard anyone calling him 'Doctor Gao'. This made him feel that he was just like a doctor in some random medical hall, just like those type of barefoot doctors that would carry a medical box on his back and rush out in a hurry.
This was simply unbearable for Gao Yang, who had always been critical and cherished his good name.
He looked at Luo Tan again. The young female's complexion was not as fair and delicate like those females in the Ding capital, but was a healthy wheat colour. Even though she was weak and just stood there, she was a vibrant character. She stared with a frown at Gao Yan and her beautiful facial features appeared more three-dimensional. It was Gao Yang first time seeing someone who had been stabbed three days ago to be this lively. Thinking of the first time when his heart was so shocked when he saw Luo Tan's injuries, Gao Yang did not help but exclaim in admiration. For a normal person to have such injuries, even males would not be able to persevere through them, much less Luo Tan, a young lady. But she proved herself up till someone discovered her, showing that her survival instinct was very strong.
Gao Yang had considered himself as one who had tender and protective feelings for the fairer gender, but he did not like Shen Miao type of scary tigress with schemes and trickeries, and he also did not like females like Luo Tan who were coarse and strong minded, that have not softness of a female. He immediately said, "General Shen and Shen Furen had invited me to treat Young Lady so this one had treated, but Young Lady running all over the placard would cause the injuries to recur again. One is unable to accept the label of not doing one's best on medical treatment, so may Young Lady not walk around as one wishes."
Although Luo Tan's heart was anxious, she could only endure and explain to him patiently, "I have to leave due to an important thing, and will definitely tell Youngest GuGu and GuFu personally upon my return that this matter does not involve you. Is that alright?"
"No." Gao Yang said."As a 'Imperial Physician' one must be responsible for one's patients." He emphasised the words 'Imperial Physician', hopping that Luo Tan could understand that he was different from those doctors living in the marketplace.
But Luo Tan had failed to notice his emphasis, and instead became angry and exasperatedly said, "You are a doctor that treat illness. On what basis can you control me?"
"First of all, this one is an Imperial Physician. Second, Young Master Ling had entrusted Young Lady to this one before leaving, so if Young Lady really have something important, this one can help Young Lady to run the errand. There is no harm for Young Lady to say it."
Luo Tan bit her lips. At that time Shen Miao said that the matter with Prince Rui could not be told to others at all, and it was because Shen Miao trusted Luo Tan that she told the matter to her. Luo Tan was one who was on a one-track mind and coupled with the sensitive status of Prince Rui, she knew that no matter what, this cannot be known by outsiders even if they were Shen Miao's maids, they could not know about it. She glared at Gao Yang ferociously.
"If Young Lady changed her mind then it is better to drink the medication first. After drinking the medication, Young Lady's body would heal faster and naturally be able to do important things." Gao Yang said with a gentle smile.
Luo Tan let Bai Lu bring the bowl of medication over and drank it down in one shot, with some heroism that could reach the clouds. After finishing, she put the medicine bowl down and said to Gao Yang, "Is this enough!"
"This one respects." Gao Yang cupped his hands towards Luo Tan. Good medicine taste bitter and Luo Tan's injuries were serious, so the concoction was extremely bitter that it was unpleasant for one to even smell it, but Luo Tan did not even change her expression when she drank the whole thing down. One could praise her as a firm and unyielding brave person!
Luo Tan said, "I want to rest, thus would trouble Doctor Gao to leave earlier. Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang should also withdraw, as I am unable to sleep with someone in the room. It is just too noisy."
Gao Yang had a smiling expression as he left with the two maids.
After everyone left, Luo Tan stood up and ran over to the window to look out, and saw Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang sweeping the other side of the courtyard. She quickly pulled out the outer garments and cloak from the room and put on them in quick succession. After some thoughts, she dumped all the bottles of medication on the table into her sleeves, and pushed a wooden stool to the window and started to climb over!
With regards to slipping out of the residence secretly to play, the siblings Luo Tan and Luo Qian had practiced so much, that it was brought to the point of perfection when they were previously in the Xiao Chun City. At the end, even if Luo Lian Tai used iron locks to lock the both of them in their rooms, Luo Tan and Luo Qian would still pry open the locks and sneak out.
So Luo Tan did not really care if was to be locked in the Shen mansion, moreover the top priority was to quickly go to Prince Rui's residence and look for Prince Rui. Luo Tan believed Shen Miao's words without a doubt, and felt that as long as she was able to meet with Prince Rui, he would certainly be able to rescue Shen Miao.
It was just that the injuries on her waist had not been healed, and just a light movement would be painful. At this moment Luo Tan could not be bothered by it and pressed on her wounds with one hand, and successfully flipped herself over the window. At the other side, she familiarly found her way to the corner of the courtyard and pulled off the weeds at the corner of the wall, uncovering a dog hole and squeezed into it without any burden.
Luo Tan did all of this extremely easily, but did not see that a white figure was standing afar staring at her movements flabbergasted.
Gao Yang just could not believe his eyes.
Even if the Luo family was one with a military lineage, and even if the people of the Xiao Chun City were valiant or even if... But Luo Tan was still a Young Lady of an official's family. To flip over windows and squeeze through dog holes. Gao Yan felt It would be a tough job for Luo Tan to even think of doing all this. He thought that it was already a marvel for Shen Miao to come from the Ming Qi, and did not think that Shen Miao's Older Biao Sister would not be outdone. It was really a case of only a family of people that would enter a family residence. He shook his head but still followed up.
Luo Tan had almost gone crazy.
When she went out she was afraid of alerting others, so she did not use the horse carriages of the Shen mansion, but when she came out it was not ideal to look for another carriage, so she could only walk over by herself. Even though the distance of the residence of Prince Rui was not far from the Shen mansion, but for a person like her, who just crawled back from the line that divides life and death, it was just too far away.
However Luo Tan did not give up at all.
The Luo family's descendants' perseverance was not a joke. Even Luo Qian who would normally laugh and joke around, would be able to hold on quite a while at a truly serious moment. Luo Sui had taught the younger generation of the family discipline, of never to give up. Although Luo Tan felt dizzy at the moment and found difficult to walk, she did not think of giving up halfway.
Gao Yang watched from afar. He was initially gently moving his fan, as if he was watching the bustle, but at the end the fan no longer moved.
The entire young female's body was under the cloak, and even though others could not see clearly, he could see that Luo Tan could not stop trembling. After every two steps, she would need to stop and support herself against the wall to rest. No one was clearer than Gao Yan on how serious Luo Tan's injuries were. Just now in the Shen mansion, even though he had the intention to tease, Gao Yang's words were not wrong. Luo Tan's wound would split open, thus the recurrence of the wounds would definitely be very painful. He could almost guess that Luo Tan's forehead was filled with sweat continuously.
However what made one astonished was that even when it was like that, Luo Tan did not stop at all. Every time Gao Yang thought that Luo Tan was not able to head forward after stopping for a long time, Luo Tan would again continue. This made Gao Yang curious and wanted to see if Luo Tan would not care about her own safety, and crawl out and what exactly she wanted to do.
This short section of the road seemed particularly long and Luo Tan could not help but miss her previous bubbly and energetic self. When she caught sight of the words 'Residence of Prince Rui', both her legs went soft and she almost knelt down.
But at the end she did not kneel down as a pair of hands supported her from behind.
Luo Tan turned her head around. That elegant white cladded fan-waving 'Doctor Gao' was supporting her to stand up.
"You followed me?" Luo Tan shook his hands off and said angrily.
"Mm." Gao Yang admitted readily and asked, "You suffered untold hardships just to come to the residence of Prince Rui? What are you looking Prince Rui for?" Gao Yang could probably guess the purpose of her visit, but he had never heard Xie Jing Xing speaking about Luo Tan, thus the only link between Luo Tan and Xie Jing Xing would be left only with Shen Miao. Luo Tan looked for Xie Jing Xing for Shen Miao, and most likely because of Shen Miao's whereabouts.
Luo Tan looked vigilantly at Gao Yang as he stood in front of her with an anxious heart. She had not expected that she would meet Gao Yang at such a timing, and was feeling half dismayed and half furious. This person has a look and appearance of a human, but would actually follow and track other's private matters. She was angry at her current weak self, otherwise how could she not discover that there was someone following her? However Luo Tan did not imagine that with Gao Yang's ability, even if she had already recovered, she might not even discover Gao Yang's presence.
Luo Tan had already calculated in her heart. The relationship between Shen Miao and Prince Rui must not be known to anyone, moreover this person was from the Palace. What if he returned and spilled it out to Emperor Wen Hui, and trouble arises out of it? One could not help but say that even though Luo Tan was normally thick in her thoughts, in some matters she did think quite in long term.
"You are familiar with Prince Rui?" Gao Yang asked her.
"How could I know Prince Rui!" Luo Tan refuted resolute and decisive, "His Highness Prince Rui is noble as gold and revered as jade, and I am only a ordinary daughter of an official's family, so how could I know him!"
"Then why did you come to look for him?" Gao Yang did not overlook anything.
Luo Tan stammered, "Because, because..." Her gaze landed on Gao Yang's face, and she was suddenly struck with a bright idea and quickly said wittily, "I heard rumours in the capital that His Highness Prince Rui was a rare peerless beautiful man, thus wanted to catch a glimpse of that beautiful face!"
She did not study well, thus the idioms that she used were in a mess, and even use the phrase of 'peerless beauty'. When Gao Yang heard it, he burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Just for a glimpse of the beautiful face, you did not care that your body is not recovered, and dragged your injured self all the way here with great difficulty? It is just for a glimpse of that beautiful face?" Gao Yang asked.
Luo Tan argued with the courage of one's convictions, "What do you understand? It is very difficult to find good looking people in the world and if there is, one glance is also precious."
Gao Yang shook his head, "This one is also very good looking, so then why is Young Lady not looking at this one? And purposely come here?"
Luo Tan said, "It is important to know one's own limitation." She continued, "I do not want to continue talking to you. I want to see His Highness Prince Rui." Finishing talking, she then went up the steps and reached the front doors of the residence of Prince Rui and naively said, "Would trouble both of you to report in that I have an important matter to see His Highness Prince Rui on."
Gao Yang followed behind closely and gave a look to the two guards. The guards naturally recognised Gao Yang and immediately did not say anything before opening the main doors. One of them said, "I will bring both guests in to wait."
Luo Tan looked at Gao Yang, "What are you following for?"
Gao Yang said, "I also want to take a glimpse of that beautiful face. If Young Lady do not let me enter, then this one can only return back to the Shen mansion. When Shen Furen and General Shen return and ask..."
"Wait!" Luo Tan thought about his words and glared at him hatefully before speaking, "Follow me in then."
The two guards looked at each other in dismay, as they were puzzled with the situation in front of them. One had thought that Gentleman Gao had brought this Young Lady to the residence of Prince Rui, but currently why did it look like... That Young Lady came to the residence of Prince Rui and brought Gentleman Gao?
Gao Yang and Luo Tan waited in the main hall for a moment and after half a incense, His Highness Prince Rui who was wearing a mask appeared.
Luo Tan's heart became anxious. If it were previous times, to be in such close contact with Prince Rui for the first time, she would definitely open her eyes wide to see what kind of person is Prince Rui. However with the current situation that did not wait for others, every moment of waiting would bring Shen Miao additional danger. She took a glance at Gao Yang, who was still drinking tea, and said to Prince Rui, "Requesting Your Highness Prince Rui to step aside to speak."
Under Luo Tan's perturbed wait, Prince Rui nodded his head slightly. Luo Tan's heart was secretly happy as she thought that this Prince Rui was not as difficult to get along with, like the rumours say.
When she entered the separated side, Luo Tan fell onto her knees without a second word, "Begging Your Highness Prince Rui to save my Youngest Biao Sister!" She then tell told him the words that Shen Miao taught her and said at the end, "Since Youngest Biao Sister believe in Your Highness Prince Rui, then this official's daughter also believe that Your Highness Prince Rui, would definitely be able to save Youngest Biao Sister. Even though this official's daughter is unable to bring anything out now, if Youngest Biao Sister can be found, the Shen family will definitely provide remuneration to Prince Rui. Begging Your Highness Prince Rui to save a life!"
She then pressed her forehead onto the ground.
Even though Luo Tan had pride ingrain into her bones, but it was different from those who would rather die then kneel to others. Luo Tan was a realist and from her view, Prince Rui was after all in the Imperial family of the Great Liang, so it was not a disadvantage to kowtow to him. If by speaking good stuff would make him happy and save Shen Miao, then why would one care about doing this? She kowtow straightforwardly, and did not see that her action had made that person to jump in shock.
"I got it." Prince Rui said.
Luo Tan felt somewhat weird but was unable to tell what was strange. She subconsciously said, "Your Highness Prince Rui has promised to save this official's daughter's Youngest Biao Sister?"
Prince Rui nodded his head lightly.
"Many thanks to Your Highness Prince Rui!" Luo Tan delightedly gave him another kowtow before standing up. But who knew when she stood up, everything went black and she suddenly fell down. She had unexpectedly fainted.
Prince Rui jumped in shock and reached out to scoop her as he called out, "Someone come! Gao Yang!"
Gao Yang came in from outside and was also startled. He then quickly went forward to take Luo Tan's arm to take her pulse, before putting it down after a while and sigh, "Her body is too weak. Go make her a bowl of ginseng soup, I will send her back to the Shen mansion when she is awake."
Two maids came in and helped the fainted Luo Tan to lie on the bed. Gao Yang and Prince Rui walked out of the room, and Prince Rui violently took out the silver mask and said, "Stuffing me to death. Why do you let me pose as Third Older Brother?"
This person was not Xie Jing Xing but Ji Yu Shu.
"One did not know when he will be returning. One cannot just let Luo Tan wait in the residence of Prince Rui till nightfall. At that time when the Shen family's people come knocking, nothing can be cleared up. Anyways Third Xie has already gone to inquire about Shen Miao's whereabouts, so you just need to pose for a while so that she would leave earlier." Gao Yang said.
Ji Yu Shu waved his hands, "I cannot stand it if it goes for a few more times. I have grown so old, but still this is the first time that someone kowtow to me. I am not a Bodhisattva, do your think if this will impact my predestined life-span? This Young Lady is indeed too vigorous, that one kowtow just now almost made my heart jump out. Fortunately there were no mistakes, else if Third Older Brother think that I have destroyed his image, he would definitely beat me up."
Gao Yang said, "Fortunately she is silly."
"Are you saying I did not act the part?" Ji Yu Shu said angrily, "I acted until others kowtowed to me. How is there not a resemblance?"
Gao Yang waved his hands, "I cannot be bother to talk to you."
"But why does she call you Doctor Gao?" Ji Yu Shu said suspiciously, "You are no longer in the Palace, but have become a doctor in a medical hall?"
Gao Yang, "..."
*****
When Luo Tan woke up from this fainting spell, it was already in the evening. When she woke up, coincidently Gao Yang brought the medication over. Luo Tan did not stand on ceremony and took it and drank it all down with 'gudong gudong' sounds. This air of an heroine made the corner of Gao Yang's mouth twitch.
After drinking the medication, Luo Tan wiped her mouth and looked at the darkening skies outside, "I have to return. Where is His Highness Prince Rui? I have to give him my thanks."
Gao Yang looked at her from the side of his eyes, "No need. Prince Rui had already left. If you want to give thanks to him, it might be the day after."
Luo Tan was first startled before becoming overjoyed. Thinking about Prince Rui leaving so quickly, it must be to save Shen Miao. She had only spoke to him about the matter and he had taken action so quickly, it seemed that Prince Rui was a person who was kindhearted and value relationships. The more she thought about it, the more Luo Tan's impression of Prince Rui went up a level.
Gao Yang looked unfathomable at the suddenly pleased Luo Tan and said, "In that case, then tidy up and leave."
"Alright." Luo Tan happily climbed out of the bed and wore her shoes, when she suddenly thought about something and asked, "You are also returning back with me?"
"Naturally so." Gao Yang said, "If it was not General's and Furen's intense urge for me to stay, this one would not have. There are many noble people and Ladyships in the Palace that are waiting for this one to treat." Gao Yang emphasised.
Luo Tan looked at him with some sympathy, "It is toiling for Doctor Gao. If this is the case, then it is better to hurry back to the Palace first. It is not good to interfere with the job else your salary would be deducted."
Gao Yang, "..."
How did Luo Tan always managed to put 'Imperial Physician' as a job that everyone was competent to do? So much that he had no status at all? Gao Yang thought about it for a long time but was still completely puzzled. He gritted his teeth, "No need. This one had already taken a leave of absence from the Imperial Medical Institute."
Luo Tan made an approval sound but she then turned her head and rolled her eyes, hiding her look of despise.
This man was indeed very handsome but for nothing better to do, followed those maidens and still lustfully looked at His Highness Prince Rui's 'beautiful face'. No matter how high one medical skills was, he had no medical ethics. Shameless! Sick!
In any case, Gao Yang eventually returned to Shen mansion with Luo Tan. On the return back, as one feared that Luo Tan's wounds would worsen, Gao Yang found a horse carriage.
Upon returning to the Shen mansion, Shen Xin and entourage had all came back. Seeing both of them returning, everyone was relieved. Shen Qiu asked, "Younger Biao Sister and Imperial Physician Gao, where did you go?" Everyone thought that Luo Tan was kidnapped by others again, and Shen Qiu even suspected if Gao Yang was some spy, and if Gao Yang was the one who kidnapped Luo Tan.
"Tan-er, your body has not recovered yet, where did you go?"
Luo Tan's expression stiffened. The matter of Shen Miao and Prince Rui could not be spoken out, and one had to find another excuse. She hemmed and hawed, "I... I am..."
"It is this one that brought her out." Gao Yang cupped his hands and said, "Young Lady Luo's body has not recovered yet, but to stay in the room all day would make her feel depressed and would not be conducive for the recovery. This one brought her out to take a walk so that Young Lady's injuries would be able to recover faster."
Hearing it, Luo Xue Yan's suspicious then only disappeared but her words still had some blame as she spoke to Gao Yang, "Imperial Physician Gao has good intentions but if there is a next time, it is better to inform the servants. Tan-er did not even bring a single maid, we thought that she had an accident."
Gao Yang blushed with shame, "It is this one who did not consider it thoroughly and must apologise to Furen."
"Forget about it. Forget about it." Luo Xue Yan waved her hand.
Luo tan sighed in relief. Even though she did not look at Gao Yang with friendly eyes, it was much better than before. Gao Yang had carried such a black pot for her, so Luo Tan's heart was thankful for it. The Luo family emphasised on comprehending kindness and giving back in return, so Luo Tan was thinking to give Gao Yang more treatment fees and not nitpick about what happened previously.
"But why have one not seen Older Brother Ling?" Luo Tan stretched out her neck and looked around. Shen Xin, Luo Xue Yan and Shen Qiu were all here but only Luo Ling was absent.
"Not together with you all?" Shen Xin asked with a frown.
Luo Tan shook her head.
"Then that is strange." Luo Xue Yan said, "Before leaving today, I instructed Ling-er to look after you and upon returning, one did not see your presences and thought that you went out together. It is only you and Imperial Physician Gao?"
Luo Tan nodded her head.
"Did Younger Biao Brother go out to buy something?" Shen Qiu asked, "Even if it was searching, it is getting late and he should return back."
In order to exchange information, the Shen family would return to the Shen mansion in the evening to recount the result of the search. Thus even if Luo Ling went out and search for himself, he should also have returned by now.
"Could it be that she was found?" Luo Tan's heart moved, "Could it be that Older Brother Ling has found Youngest Biao Sister, thus returning late?"
Shen Qiu and Luo Xue Yan were stunned before delight appeared on their faces, "If that is the case then it would be good."
However just at this time, someone from outside frantically shouted, "Bad news! Bad news!"
Everyone looked over. The oncoming person was Luo Ling's subordinate and his entire body was doused in red colour, "Bad news, Young Master Ling has gotten into an accident!"
| ← Ch. 142 | Ch. 144 → |