The Real Young Master Was Sold as a Slave, The Obsessive Crown Prince's Forced Love - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Retaliation

Consort Li was indeed the Emperor’s current favorite, and within moments, an imperial edict arrived at the Imperial Physician’s Office.

There were two copies.

One for Song Yu and one for Su Yunhe.

However, since Song Yu was locked up in the interrogation room and would take some time to arrive, the edict meant for him was temporarily claimed by Xu Huaien, the head of the Imperial Physician’s Office.

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Considering the newly appointed Imperial Physician Song Yu’s exquisite medical skills and diligent dedication, and the unjust grievance he suffered yesterday, he is hereby granted a special reward of ten bushels of pearls, one thousand taels of silver, and fifty bolts of silk. It is hoped that the minister will continue to uphold his benevolent heart and further his medical expertise.

“Furthermore, Imperial Physician Su Yunhe of the Imperial Physician’s Office is of malicious character, neglected his duty, and failed to save a life, thereby lacking the benevolence of a physician. He is stripped of his rank as an eighth-grade Imperial Physician and demoted to Medical Aide, forbidden to practice medicine within the palace.”

Su Yunhe knelt on the ground, as if struck by lightning.

His face was pale, trembling with shock and disbelief as he looked at the eunuch who delivered the decree.

Beside him, Xu Huaien, who had claimed the decree on Song Yu’s behalf, had already thanked the Emperor and stood up.

Glancing at the dumbstruck Su Yunhe, Xu Huaien discreetly offered silver to the eunuch and inquired, “What exactly did Su Yunhe do to suddenly anger His Majesty…”

The delivering eunuch snorted coldly.

“Suddenly? Yesterday, Imperial Physician Song had already diagnosed the little eunuch with huyangsan poisoning, yet Su Yunhe twisted the truth and deceived Consort Li, causing the little eunuch to miss the chance for detoxification. He died from the poison last night.

“How could His Majesty continue to employ such a vicious person who would not save a life?”

With those words, the eunuch turned and left.

As Su Yunhe knelt on the ground, a surge of towering fury suddenly rose in his heart!

Song Yu!

It was Song Yu again!

When he was little, ever since his father brought Song Yu home—

Identifying herbs: his father said Song Yu remembered faster than him.

Taking a pulse: his father said Song Yu’s diagnosis was more accurate than his.

Reading and writing: his father said Song Yu understood better than him.

Even setting traps for wild beasts: his father said Song Yu was better at it than he was.

He was told to learn from Song Yu.

Why!

He was his father’s biological child, and Song Yu was just an unwanted bastard picked up from the street!

Why was Song Yu better than him at everything!

Now, he had finally escaped his former life, so why did Song Yu have to come and shatter his peace again?

Why didn’t Song Yu just die!

Three years ago, the accident he orchestrated should have killed both his father and Song Yu!

The fury was immense; Su Yunhe practically ground his teeth, barely managing not to show his grim expression.

Beside him, Xu Huaien frowned, looking at Su Yunhe, but said nothing more than a mild instruction: “Since His Majesty has decreed it, you are no longer an Imperial Physician. Move from the ‘A’ wing to the Medical Aide’s quarters. From now on… be disciplined and virtuous.”

Su Yunhe was so angry he felt like spitting bl00d.

He stood up from the ground, dizzy, and said, “Yes.”

Xu Huaien took the rewards and went to the interrogation room to fetch Song Yu.

As soon as Xu Huaien left, Su Yunhe fiercely clenched his fists, lifted his feet, and walked out.

Prince Yu’s residence.

Prince Yu’s face was ashen with regret and fury, like his intestines had turned blue.

He was so foolish.

Truly.

He had merely thought the little eunuch would naturally die from the huyangsan poisoning.

How could he have been so careless as to let Qi Wang capture the little eunuch!

Recalling yesterday.

If he had acted just one step earlier, if he had killed the man before Qi Wang captured him, then Qi Wang would have been powerless. Would he be so arrogant now?

Hanging the corpse in front of his gate.

Performing a grand opera at his doorstep!

What were they singing?

They were singing “Today We Drink a Toast to Victory.”

Listening to the faintly audible wailing and commotion from outside, Prince Yu was about to explode.

As he was fuming, a servant announced, “Your Highness, Su Yunhe requests an audience.”

Hearing that name, the anger already blazing in Prince Yu instantly flared up, like pouring oil on a fire. “He still has the audacity to come? If it weren’t for his incompetence, would I be here being humiliated by Qi Wang? Let him crawl in!”

Clap!

The moment Su Yunhe entered, Prince Yu slapped him hard across the face.

Caught off guard, Su Yunhe lost his balance and smashed his head against the nearby doorframe.

His head was throbbing with pain.

Ignoring the pain, Su Yunhe quickly knelt, “Your Highness, please quell your anger.”

Prince Yu’s fury was immense. He lifted his foot and viciously kicked Su Yunhe in the face, pouring out his frustration.

“Quell my anger? How can I quell my anger? If it weren’t for your incompetence yesterday, would I be humiliated by Qi Wang like this?”

Su Yunhe thought: I clearly followed your instructions and brought Song Yu into the palace. If you had silenced the man earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this.

But he dared not say it.

He could only clench his fists and silently vow that he would make Song Yu repay everything he suffered today, tenfold.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Su Yunhe said to Prince Yu, “Your Highness, yesterday’s matter was truly too strange. Song Yu clearly just entered the palace for the first time. The eunuch’s message was to go take the pulse of Consort De, so how did Song Yu dare to knock the eunuch unconscious!”

Prince Yu was startled, “He knocked him unconscious?”

Su Yunhe nodded, “The eunuch was fine before delivering the message but suddenly fainted while speaking. That is very abnormal. Later, when your subordinate revived the eunuch, I saw a needle mark on the back of his hand.

“This is strange. If Song Yu was using acupuncture to save someone, why would he prick the back of the hand?

“There is only one explanation: the eunuch’s collapse earlier was caused by Song Yu pricking the back of his hand. The needle was probably coated with some kind of anesthetic.”

Prince Yu immediately slammed the table!

The reason he couldn’t immediately dispose of the eunuch, allowing Qi Wang to gain the upper hand, was because the eunuch’s fainting delayed things. Then, the commotion outside Consort Li’s bedchamber made it known to everyone, which gave Qi Wang the chance to hear the news.

Otherwise.

Qi Wang wouldn’t have known a damn thing!

He would have definitely disposed of the eunuch before Qi Wang got the news.

Why did it come to this!

Seeing Prince Yu’s furious expression, Su Yunhe continued, “Furthermore, just a moment ago, an imperial edict arrived from the palace. While His Majesty rewarded Song Yu, he stripped your subordinate of my Imperial Physician title and demoted me to Medical Aide…”

“What?”

Before Su Yunhe could finish, Prince Yu glared furiously at him.

Then—

Bang!

He kicked Su Yunhe in the face again.

“You damned bastard! You get punished first, and then you come to my residence right after? What are your intentions? Are you afraid that others won’t know you have ties with me? Stupid pig!

“Get out! Get out right now! You are a jinx! Don’t drag me down!”

Su Yunhe was kicked over, his nose instantly bleeding profusely.

Amidst the curses, Su Yunhe clenched his fists, endured the humiliation, scrambled to his feet, and desperately kowtowed.

“Your Highness, please listen to your subordinate. I suspect the Crown Prince and Song Yu are colluding, working together to set a trap for Your Highness!”

Prince Yu was seething with anger, “You better have something worthwhile to say!”

Su Yunhe wiped a streak of bl00d from his nose. “Your Highness, Song Yu just entered the palace for the first time. Why would he inexplicably carry anesthetics with him? And why would he choose to strike the eunuch just as he was delivering a message?

“Unless he knew all along that the eunuch was problematic.

“And it so happens that he succeeded yesterday, and today His Highness the Crown Prince is humiliating Your Highness.

“With such a connection, who would believe they are not colluding?

“What’s more…”

A cruel look of revenge flashed in Su Yunhe’s eyes.

“Even if they are not truly colluding, will His Majesty believe that?”

Prince Yu’s eyes immediately lit up.

The Emperor had always been suspicious of Qi Wang!