Chapter 465: Truth

Doctor Bai's original assignment was to "ride swiftly to the capital to treat the Regent Prince's injuries."

He saw that Gu Xixi seemed worried about someone.

Bound by secrecy, he could not reveal the details.

So he ingeniously informed her truthfully of what he knew: that the patient had no danger to life.

That way, no matter who Gu Xixi associated Doctor Bai's trip with, this news would put her at ease.

Doctor Bai accepted Gu Xixi's exclusive prescription, using it to repay her kindness a little.

When leaving the Dependents Village, Doctor Bai felt quite pleased for having done a good deed.

Only just now did he return from giving the Regent Prince his first treatment.

Then, from a few offhand remarks by a servant, he suddenly had an epiphany!

Regent Prince, proclamation to the world, a Gu clan lady, meeting in Xi Bei, Boss Gu……

All the many clues he had long known now connected at this moment.

Doctor Bai discovered the truth and paced back and forth, agitated.

So that's how it is!

It turns out to be this!

So the one who has Boss Gu worried sick is actually the Regent Prince!

In the inner court, lights blazed behind the green gauze windows, wafting aromas of meat and wine.

Yet before the dining table, only He Jinghui was feasting heartily.

"The flavor of this year's autumn dew white liquor is utterly intoxicating."

"You can't touch alcohol while recovering, so brother, I'll reluctantly help you drink two extra cups."

"And this roasted goose—crisp outside, tender within, its juicy sweet fragrance rich, with gold and silver delicacies so fresh they seem to dance on the tongue…"

"Too bad—I can only enjoy it all by myself."

On the window-side Xiangfei bamboo daybed, Mu Nan Zhao lounged half‑reclined, his eyes betraying great displeasure.

"He Jinghui, if you want to die, just say so."

He Jinghui held his wine cup, gave a cool glance, and said, "I believe even if you lost a leg, I still wouldn't be your match in a fight."

Mu Nan Zhao raised an eyebrow, "How I hear you, it sounds like you wish I'd never stand again in this life."

He Jinghui slammed his wine cup down, turned to face Mu Nan Zhao.

"I wish that?"

"It's clearly the Prince himself who treats his life as nothing!"

Mu Nan Zhao closed his eyes with a headache and sighed, "Having kept you bottled up these days, of course you'd end up nagging."

He Jinghui let out a light laugh, though it was laughter born of anger.

"I'm nagging?!"

"Mu Nan Zhao! This isn't an ordinary injury—you've fractured your shinbone, and your shoulder is pierced by a poisoned arrow!"

"Others wager family honor, wealth and power—you, meanwhile, are gambling your life!"

……

Mu Nan Zhao well knew that He Jinghui had been sufficiently frightened by him this time.

Thinking there were still many tasks to assign to this guy, he needed to let him vent his pent‑up frustration.

Thus, Mu Nan Zhao reluctantly endured, letting He Jinghui say whatever he wanted.

Until he heard: "If you don't take proper care, you'll end up a cripple, and Gu Xixi will surely divorce you!"

Mu Nan Zhao's face turned green, he gritted his teeth, and spat, "He‑Jing‑Hui!"

He Jinghui stopped, looked at Mu Nan Zhao, smiled, and asked, "You're worked up?"

"Feigning inability to strike back or retort is too forced for you; it doesn't suit you."

Mu Nan Zhao snorted coldly, "Then what suits you?"

"I really do," He Jinghui said, spreading his hands with an innocent expression.

"Who among the court officials doesn't praise Minister He for being approachable and lively?"

Mu Nan Zhao neither affirmed nor denied, merely gazing at He Jinghui with a somewhat complex look.

Minister He's conduct is indeed starkly different from that of the Regent Prince.

He loves attending banquets and can blend in seamlessly with his colleagues.

Even when making enemies wish they were dead, he does so with a smiling gaze.

Though one is a cold‑faced flood dragon and the other a smiling tiger.

But in terms of popularity, at least on the surface He Jinghui is constantly surrounded by a flourishing crowd, far surpassing Mu Nan Zhao.

He Jinghui vented his anger, and it did help.

He sat down, and his mood stabilized considerably.

"If the emperor were assassinated, even with your skills and horsemanship, you couldn't dodge that poison arrow—but you wouldn't necessarily break your leg."

Having relied on each other for years, He Jinghui knows Mu Nan Zhao better than anyone.

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at him, did not deny, and said, "An emperor will never fully trust a minister."

"To gain the emperor's extra trust while also increasing his indebtedness."

He Jinghui understood, "The emperor has already agreed to a marriage alliance with Bei Li."

"And as Huo Jiang's memorial mentioned, the Rouran princess has taken a liking to the Grand Enterprise Regent Prince as her consort, yet the emperor has not yet made his stance clear."

"Although you now have the confidence to refuse the marriage, and also have Gu Xixi's public proclamation as a shield,"

"But if you wait until the emperor asks your opinion in person and then refuse, it's easy to sow discord between ruler and minister."

So to ensure there is no mistake, it's best to make it so the Emperor himself cannot speak.

Mu Nan Zhao's face was ashen, a genuine weakness.

He smiled faintly and said, "It's a rare opportunity that came to my door; when I act, I should make it convincing."

Otherwise, if the flaw is exposed, the loss would outweigh the gain.

When the Emperor was ambushed and his horse startled, Mu Nan Zhao chased on horseback, leapt to save the Emperor, and they fell together; Mu Nan Zhao deliberately struck his own shin against the edge of a stone.

Using the momentum of the fall, his leg bone broke naturally.

The pain of the broken bone was excruciating; Mu Nan Zhao only fainted after seeing the Golden Guard arrive.

The Emperor was unharmed; he immediately ordered someone to send the Regent Prince back to the tent and summoned the imperial physician for treatment.

Aside from the few assassins who committed suicide, all the others from that day's attack were captured alive.

As for why Huo Jiang specially sent Doctor Bai to the capital,

It's simply because he was worried, afraid that Mu Nan Zhao might be seriously injured this time and possibly leave some aftereffects.

Therefore, he must have Doctor Bai, the most experienced in treating various injuries, personally examine him to ensure there is no problem.

He Jinghui sighed, "Fortunately, both the imperial physician and Doctor Bai said that as long as you keep resting, your leg won't become disabled."

He looked at Mu Nan Zhao and teased, "If I were Boss Gu, knowing you endured a broken leg to avoid being defiled by the Princess of Beili, and remained loyal solely to Boss Gu, I would be moved to tears."

Mu Nan Zhao looked at He Jinghui, moved his thin lips, and said, "Get lost."

After the teasing, He Jinghui chuckled and thought he couldn't let Mu Nan Zhao's suffering go in vain.

His own sister has always been Boss Gu's ears and eyes in the capital.

Tonight he should also hint to Jing Lan; after all this time, it's time to write a letter to her close friend.

The northwestern border.

At the west end of Dependents Village, Lin Madam and others were gathered around a cart to say goodbye.

You've just had a baby and it's only been ten days; you're still far from finishing your confinement, so be careful on the road! Wear your hat, try to lie down in the cart, and absolutely avoid catching a chill!

It turned out that Yina was returning to Beili.

When she arrived, she had come by cart, so having just regained a bit of strength, she decided to leave.

Gu Xixi was also among the crowd seeing her off.

Yina once again expressed her gratitude to everyone, then finally walked up to Gu Xixi.

She gave Gu Xixi a curved blade, saying, "Thank you; meeting you was divine guidance."

Gu Xixi understood Yina's resolve, hesitated a moment, but still accepted it.

I will treasure it well.

Yina suddenly leaned close to Gu Xixi's ear and, in a voice only they could hear, said a few words.