Chapter 46: Troublesome Youth

The blade came with fierce force; Gu Jiu Ling could feel a murderous aura rushing at her. She instinctively dodged, and the flying knife plunged straight into the tree trunk above her head. It wasn't really meant to kill her—even just this scare made Gu Jiu Ling's calves twitch and cold sweat seep from her back. Gu Jiu Ling finally understood why the Elder Princess had just gotten into trouble: it turned out her son was a hot‑tempered brat! She really wanted to turn and leave, but she had reached an unspoken agreement with the Elder Princess on Mount Wolong, and this favor couldn't be ignored. Gu Jiu Ling stared fixedly at the flying‑knife youth. Cheng Ming slowly turned around, a square, handsome face with sword‑like brows and starry eyes, exuding a clean, refreshing aura like a bright moon and clear wind. Tall and striking, he looked like a supermodel who could strut the runway—a typical handsome man. But… Gu Jiu Ling's gaze fell on his lower abdomen, which looked as if he were four or five months pregnant, peculiarly strange. Gu Jiu Ling furrowed her brows tightly, not wanting her stare at Cheng Ming's belly to make his face turn even colder. She lifted the other flying knife in her hand. "Young Prince!"

Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly hid behind the tree, poking half her body out and smiling: "Ming'er, I am your Ninth Royal Aunt, come to help you see a doctor."

As Gu Jiu Ling's words fell, another knife flew over. Though Cheng Ming had long resided in the princess's manor, Gu Jiu Ling's reputation in Shang Jing was notoriously foul. To casually call him "Ming'er" and then offer to treat him only infuriated him further. The flying knife struck the tree trunk where Gu Jiu Ling was hiding with a "crack." Gu Jiu Ling really didn't want to continue—this was nothing but a troublesome youth. She took a breath and said: "What? Are you afraid of illness and killing the doctor?"

"The old General Wuwei is a world‑renowned hero, a great champion—how did he produce such a cowardly son like you?"

"Not daring to face your chronic illness, you're simply a coward!"

"Master! Master!"

Jiu Yue nervously tugged at Gu Jiu Ling's sleeve, watching Cheng Ming approach slowly, his face filled with murderous intent. The attendant beside them also looked at a loss—though they had summoned doctors before, each one had been terrified to death; some hadn't even begun examining the prince before being driven out. Now this was the first time a doctor had openly scolded the prince to his face, leaving them dumbfounded. They hurriedly slipped away to the front courtyard to fetch the Elder Princess. The Elder Princess, having been disappointed many times over the years, dared not follow the doctors when they came to treat the child, fearing she couldn't bear it. Cheng Ming stood before Gu Jiu Ling, eyeing the woman hiding behind the tree, his lips curling coldly. He raised his hand, pulled the knife from the tree trunk, and, because his sword‑practiced fingers had thick calluses, he slowly traced the blade's edge. His brows were handsome, his heroic spirit striking; even silent, standing there gave off a desolate, iron‑clad army aura. He slightly raised his eyebrows, coldly staring at Gu Jiu Ling, and a thin, chilling syllable slipped from his lips: "Scram!"

Gu Jiu Ling snorted: "Young Prince, you'll regret this!"

"Boasts aren't blown, trains aren't pushed!"

Cheng Ming thought she was stupid enough to not even speak human words—what fire‑wheel, water‑wheel? Gu Jiu Ling coldly snorted: "Do you know what happened at the royal hunting grounds?"

"The Bei Di's pressure on our Southern Qi's second prince, Tuo Ba Yu—an arrow pierced his heart, who saved him? It was this humble one!"

Gu Jiu Ling chuckled: "So your mother has been eagerly hoping I'd treat you—if not, it's fine; as long as you feel comfortable yourself."

Gu Jiu Ling finished speaking and turned to leave. "Stop!"

Cheng Ming coldly glared at her: "Go to the warm pavilion and get examined!"

Gu Jiu Ling smiled: "Young Prince, when you ask for help, you must have the proper attitude! Now I'm examining you, not you…" Cheng Ming said nothing, slowly moving his hand toward his sword sheath. Gu Jiu Ling lightly laughed: "The Prince is too courteous—let's find a place to sit and take your pulse!"

Cheng Ming snorted coldly, a flicker of contempt in his eyes. She followed Cheng Ming out of the bamboo grove beside the drill field, walking deeper into the courtyard. All around were dense pines and cypresses; in the center stood a secluded little compound, its décor very simple. Moreover, the walls weren't painted white but were a black‑gray tone. Gu Jiu Ling felt as if she had stepped into a tomb—dead and gloomy—and she said: "Your side's feng shui… not bad!"

Cheng Ming gave a cold snort, his eyes flashing disdain. She followed Cheng Ming out of the bamboo grove beside the drill field, walking deeper into the courtyard. All around were dense pines and cypresses; in the center stood a secluded little compound, its décor very simple. Moreover, the walls weren't painted white but were a black‑gray tone. Gu Jiu Ling felt as if she had stepped into a tomb—dead and gloomy—and she said: "Your side's feng shui… not bad!"

Cheng Ming lifted his head, looking incredulously at Gu Jiu Ling: "This woman truly has no shame! 'Please respect yourself!'"

Cheng Ming's brows knotted. Gu Jiu Ling laughed angrily: "My royal prince is a hundred times more handsome than you—I'm asking you to take off your clothes so I can check your abdomen for any lumps?"

"And in our doctors' eyes, you patients are just lumps of meat—you really overthink things."

Cheng Ming's face alternated between gloom and clarity; just then the Elder Princess entered from outside, her eyes red, her expression flustered even desperate. She hurried to Cheng Ming's side and said: "Ming'er, this is your aunt, your elder—let her have a look, it'll be fine."

Cheng Ming glanced at his mother, his heart pausing slightly; he felt he owed her the most, seeing himself become such a monster that even his mother couldn't hold her head up in Shang Jing. He inhaled, though his ear tips tingled faintly red, he still slowly untied the inner garment's straps, revealing the thin shirt underneath. "Please, Young Prince, remove your upper clothing entirely, lie on the bed, and let me examine you!"

Gu Jiu Ling had Jiu Yue bring the medicine chest inside, from which she took a stethoscope and a newly designed handheld ultrasound device from their lab—still in the trial phase, not yet mass‑produced. After producing these, the Elder Princess mother and son looked somewhat dazed. Cheng Ming, with his mother beside him, gritted his teeth and lay on the bed, removing his clothes to reveal a firm chest and a round belly. Gu Jiu Ling approached with the device, placed the stethoscope, and just as she stood before him, her expression suddenly changed. She stared intently at Cheng Ming's chest—a hideous scar ran horizontally across it, yes, a scar cutting straight across his chest! It was the very scar she had been searching for!