Chapter 344: Why Did He Leave?

At that moment, Ling'er rode her beloved pony past the courtyard gate of Tingfeng Pavilion, and the Eleventh Prince's eyes lit up—what a beautiful young girl, so lively and free atop the horse, playfully smiling at the maid pulling the horse.

The fleeting figure that passed by so quickly deeply attracted him.

"Hurry, go see who that girl who just passed the gate was."

The palace attendant ran off and returned shortly.

"Your Highness, that girl is Lady Qiao, also the only daughter of this household, the Princess of Tianshui."

"I see."

The Eleventh Prince looked at the gate again; with the beauty's figure gone, his gaze dimmed considerably.

In that short span, he stared out the window and saw many vivid scenes.

On the roof, a red kitten darted about; before he knew it, a few small squirrels leapt up, their tiny paws clutching unknown nuts as they ate.

"Perhaps Lady Qiao cannot tolerate a grain of sand in her eyes; such a person is hard to confide in."

"Your legs have Lady Qiao's favor; the Father Emperor has invited them to the palace, let our two families sit together and thank them properly."

"Being here in body but elsewhere in heart isn't exactly pleasant, is it?"

They sent someone to Tingfeng Pavilion, which made Xiaoliuzi overjoyed; after pushing a wheelchair for over a decade, this model was the best he'd ever pushed.

When the Eleventh Prince returned to the Imperial Palace, the Old Emperor went over, and upon seeing his beloved son finally recovered, he nodded repeatedly with joy.

The Eleventh Prince furrowed his brow, "Burying a tomb for one's biological parents doesn't seem like a big deal, does it?"

"Why did he leave?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"The household servants all say Lady Qiao is kind and approachable; as long as one does one's duty, Lady Qiao only rewards, never punishes."

"Amnesia?"

"Someone like that wouldn't care for such things, but this is the court's intention; as long as Lady Qiao accepts it, that's enough."

"It's… fine."

"Perhaps those two brothers crossed her line."

They say love at first sight is a Seeing Color Revolt; otherwise, love at first sight can also be explained as Full Eye Fate.

The weather grew colder, and the Old Emperor, uneasy about his son, came over at dusk; after seeing his son able to walk, he happily took a cartload of food from Qiao Mai.

Seeing that her return to Tianshui Town wasn't far off, Qiao Mai decided to make another round of consultations before the year's end.

He brought his people and all the necessary supplies back to the Imperial Palace.

"Then the day after tomorrow."

Fortunately it was evening; otherwise Qiao Mai would have had to do an erroneous diagnosis again—when the season changes, patients increase, the cold weather brings many common folk in line.

"When there's business, there's business; this court feels Jixiang Yuan is especially bustling."

"Father Emperor, although the impression is good, we still need to interact."

"Hmm, cats like this are truly rare."

Days flew by; in ten days, the Eleventh Prince's legs were already swift as flight, and Qiao Mai also issued a dismissal order.

Three days later, Li Yuxian finally could eat, tasting Qiao Family's meals; his stomach regained vigor, and he ate three meals a day without shortage.

Qiao Mai came daily to take his pulse; by the fifth day, Li Yuxian no longer needed assistance—though he walked slowly, his steps were steady.

"Seeing you like this makes me very satisfied."

"The servant thinks this is fine; Lady Qiao letting them return to their own family fulfills their wishes, sparing them from lingering."

In this world there aren't many peerless beauties, yet most couples share a resemblance; perhaps that's what eye fate means.

Unable to finish his meal, he ate whatever was left, feeling embarrassed in front of the Eleventh Prince.

Xiaoliuzi pushed him, introducing several courtyards of Jixiang Yuan; at the entrance of Penglai Yuanzi they met the Old Lady and Jiaru.

With outsiders present, it always feels a bit uneasy.

Xiaoliuzi stood beside him, explaining.

The few Yiguan in Jingcheng have no leverage over this Divine Physician; they can't track him, have no reason to cause trouble, so they must focus on their own clinics.

"Looks like they just returned?"

Both sides merely exchanged a courteous nod; Xiaoliuzi grinned.

"Perhaps they went to the rear garden; I heard Lady Qiao entrusts the small animals here to the old lady for feeding. The red cats you saw are the old lady's beloved pets."

"The palace also has an Imperial Yuanzi; we don't plant flora in each palace to avoid giving Shiren a place to hide."

"Son, did you see the Princess of Tianshui in Jixiang Yuan?"

"Hmm, indeed. After this court is settled, it won't be needed, but it can be given to those in need."

"No, seeing those things didn't make me very happy; my expression remained indifferent."

One must admit the master and servant overthought it; a wheelchair like this sells online for only a few thousand coins, which converts to a few dozen grams of gold—no wonder such items are rare and precious; high‑tech goods here are truly treasured.

"Hmm, after all it's more elegant than the Imperial Palace, which lacks any flowers, grasses, or trees."

Their cute appearance is something he's never witnessed; had he seen them strike down people, he wouldn't call them cute.

Around noon, Xiaoliuzi returned.

"That makes some sense."

"Hmm, she has nothing to say, right?"

Here, the Old Emperor, Guifei Niangniang, Princess Jiamei, and the Eleventh Prince were already waiting in the hall.

"Your Highness, the place you reside in was originally the residence of Lady Qiao's eldest son."

Thinking of that figure made his face flush, "a fleeting silhouette."

The Eleventh Prince was carried by palace attendants, walking slowly on the ground; though it was arduous, his brain still commanded his legs.

"Your Highness, the items have been delivered to Yuexian Pavilion, and Lady Qiao has accepted them."

"Mother‑in‑law, I truly think they're a match made by heaven and earth!"

Back home, Yuan Jiaqi had already prepared clothes for her; Qiao Mai took a bath, changed, and, bringing her son and daughter, went to the palace.

"Exactly, our emperor has long been eager to come here for a meal and, when there's nothing else, just take a stroll."

"Before, because of a fierce temperament, a love of competition, and an inability to tolerate others, she was placed under house arrest by the senior Princess Consort."

At the gate of the rear Main Yuanzi, Xiaoliuzi whispered, "This is Madam Qiao and Lord Yuan's courtyard."

After eating, they went down from the kang to stroll, and when tired they sat in the wheelchair.

The Imperial Consort held Qiao Mai's hand; the emperor intends to match Eleven with Ling'er, and he knows it.

"He wants to sweep his parents' graves, so Madam Qiao let him acknowledge his lineage,"

When the two families met, they were very enthusiastic; Jia Mei greeted Ling'er, Eleven greeted Chuan'er, and the two pairs of elders, disregarding rank and status like youngsters, even held hands and sat together.

Eleven glanced at Ling'er, whether intentionally or not; with just one look, he fell in love.

"That senior lady holds a First‑Rank Imperial Mandate; the younger woman is her grandson, and she is Prince Li Longji's Princess Consort. It is said she fell ill, lost her memory, and was taken here by her grandmother."

"Father Emperor, just arrange it."

When tired from walking, he let others push him to view the scenery in Jixiang Yuan.

Everyone was moved and exclaimed, "Your Highness, indeed Madam Qiao is capable; such a chair must be unique in the whole world."

"What is your impression?"

"At the moment, my spirits aren't great; could you support me as I walk around the courtyard?"

Fortunately, Qiao Mai only gives diagnoses without prescribing formulas, and she doesn't sell medicines; otherwise, they would indeed have to argue with her properly.

"This is truly a priceless treasure."

In fact, today's meeting was to let them examine each other closely.

Qiao Mai accepted his gift, saw that his wheelchair was bulky and heavy, and therefore bought him a very lightweight and beautiful chair from the Platform.

Qiao Mai glanced at the emperor, "Your Majesty, could you tell him my three conditions?"

"Not yet; first let them look at each other. I can agree to everything, let alone that kid—if he dares not to obey, try him."

"You can control a person but not the heart."

"If he dares to flirt, I—I'll kill him."

(End of Chapter)