My Lady Always Lacks Ambition
Chapter 131 - 130: The Yu Family has Changkong

Chapter 131: Chapter 130: The Yu Family has Changkong

Da Feng’s Yu Family, no matter how times change or which ruler takes the throne, remains an immutable, hidden noble family. Not a single person from the Yu Family serves in the court, yet this does not affect their status in Da Feng, or even in neighboring nations, for the Yu Family excels in strategy, and with their support, great achievements can be made.

People hold the Yu Family in high regard, with the likes of Mrs. Wang and Gongsun’s seeking to recruit them as strategists. However, the Yu Clan has its own rules, choosing only to recommend themselves to worthy leaders.

The Yu Family has Changkong, a once-in-a-century unparalleled genius, who has been groomed as the 21st generation heir of the Yu Family since childhood. Unfortunately, at the age of ten, he went blind.

People feel sorry for Yu Changkong being blind, yet they still admire him; Mr. Changkong, a person of extraordinary appearance and unmatched intelligence, destined to lead the Yu Family.

Qi Qian believes this as well.

If only those clear, deep eyes could focus, he would surely be hailed as Da Feng’s number one prince.

"Prince Rui?"

Someone calling out "Prince Rui" snaps Qi Qian out of his thoughts, the voice cool and piercing like the icy snow on a high mountain plateau.

Coming to his senses, Qi Qian looks towards the figure in a purple-black robe with gold thread, standing with his hands behind his back, and takes two steps forward. Even though the other person cannot see, he still clasps his hands and bows in greeting.

"Changkong, are we so familiar with each other that you no longer use my courtesy name? Or should I, like everyone else, address you as ’Mr. Changkong’?"

Yu Changkong, whose formal name is Yu Lingci, with the courtesy name Changkong, is commonly addressed by the public only as Mr. Changkong.

Hearing Qi Qian’s joke of a complaint, Yu Changkong slightly curved the corners of his mouth: "Haoran."

Qi Qian walked over to join him, turning together to enter the room, saying, "I didn’t expect you to come to Yi Garden. It’s been years since you’ve been here, I thought you’d always stay at the Yu Family and not go out."

The Yu Family has its own clan, located in Qingzhou Lan County adjoining Ningzhou Prefecture, a place of stunning mountains and clear waters, one could say that the area belongs to the Yu Family.

"Three years."

Yu Changkong and Qi Qian entered the house and sat down. Servants from all sides brought them each a cup of tea, then stood by the door waiting for orders.

"You should get out more," said Qi Qian after a sip of tea.

Yu Changkong ’looked’ towards the sound, his slender fingers caressing the rim of the tea cup, and said lightly, "It’s all the same, no matter where I am."

Qi Qian, catching the meaning behind these words, asked, "Changkong, do you know of the Daoist doctor Buqiu?"

"Hm?"

"In Li City’s Qingping Temple, there is a Daoist doctor named Buqiu, whose medical skills are incredibly refined. I was thinking..."

Yu Changkong cut him off, "Haoran, I have no desire to seek further medical treatment."

"Why? Don’t you want to see things again?" Qi Qian pressed, somewhat urgently.

"Blind for ten years, it took time to get used to it. To become accustomed to seeing again would be quite bothersome," Yu Changkong said with a detached and cool voice. "Moreover, what does it matter whether I can see or not? The world is not the bright place I once believed it to be. If it is dark out there, how would that be any different from the darkness I see? Better not to see at all!"

In his tone lay a distaste and indifference toward the world, as though he were an outsider looking in.

Qi Qian’s lips curled into a smile: "Are you truly content with this?"

Yu Changkong remained silent.

"Changkong, there is always a light in this world that you yearn for. It would be such a pity if it exists and you cannot see it."

Yu Changkong looked at him with an empty gaze: "Is there?"

His light had been lost ten years ago, in a most dejected manner.

"Just because you cannot see does not mean it does not exist." Qi Qian pursed his lips and said, "Moreover, don’t you want to find out who did this to you?"

Upon hearing these words, Yu Changkong’s entire demeanor turned icy. He stood up and said, "My eyes are not convenient, I will not see you out."

...

After Qi Qian left, Yu Changkong stood with his hands behind his back in front of the window for a long time, so long that it seemed as if time itself had paused. The servant Sifang stepped forward and said softly, "Young Master, shall I brew a fresh pot of tea for you?"

"Where is Uncle Qian? Tell him to come see me."

"Yes." Sifang quickly complied and bowed as he exited the room.

Before long, he returned, leading a middle-aged man approximately fifty years old with slightly graying temples.

"Young Master, why are you standing in front of the open window? Sifang, close the window. What if you catch a chill?" Uncle Qian walked over, wanting to close the window that was ajar.

"No need to close it; this golden and extravagantly fragrant air, while I cannot see, can still be savored," Yu Changkong turned around, and although he could not see, he calculated the location and distance of the items in the room and precisely sat back in his original position, asking him, "Uncle Qian, did you see Old Princess Consort Ning?"

Uncle Qian approached him, speaking with a hint of excitement, "I saw her. Old Princess Consort Ning’s cold symptoms have significantly improved. I inquired about it, and it turns out that Prince Rui had summoned a Daoist doctor from Li City to treat her."

Sifang chimed in curiously, "Old Princess Consort Ning has been suffering from cold symptoms for many years and has sought treatment from many famous doctors. Is she really cured?"

"Old Princess Consort Ning personally received me and also sent her regards to the Young Master. As you know, around this time in previous years, she would have already stayed indoors, wrapped in thick furs and warming herself with a floor-heating system. But now, she was dressed in thin fabric, with a rosy complexion and vibrant spirits. According to her, the cold poison has indeed been eradicated, and this Daoist doctor called Buqiu truly possesses extraordinary medical skills."

Uncle Qian said excitedly, "Old Princess Consort Ning also mentioned that we could go seek treatment. Young Master, shall we go to Li City?"

Yu Changkong replied, "Uncle Qian, I have given up long ago after so many years. If there were truly a cure, the best opportunity to treat my eyes would have been when the condition first emerged. Now ten years have passed."

"That’s only because you have not yet encountered a true master physician," Uncle Qian said, "I asked Old Princess Consort Ning in detail, and she said that this Daoist doctor’s medical skills are not like those of ordinary doctors, and the treatment is also somewhat different, reputedly employing the grand way of Dao."

Yu Changkong remained silent, gently tapping the lid of his teacup with his fingertips, listening to the crisp sound it made, and said, "Out of ten paths, nine lead to medicine; the Mystic Sect has its own technique of healing, but do not forget, Uncle Qian, that my grandfather once took me to see mages of the Mystic Sect, even high monks of the Buddhist Sect to seek a cure, but all efforts were in vain, weren’t they?"

His eyelids drooped, and his face bore a faintly disdainful expression.

When he first lost his sight, naturally he was panicked, desperate and unwilling. He actively sought doctors and remedies, but each spark of hope turned into disappointment. Over time, he lost faith.

Once he became accustomed to the loss of light, he became more resigned. He got used to it; what is there that can’t be accepted?

It’s just that, in the dead of night, listening to the watchmen’s calls, counting the passing hours—that period of time was far too long.

"Young Master, out of all the three hundred and sixty trades, each produces its own top-level expert. If previous doctors failed, could it not be that, Young Master, you simply have not encountered the most skilled one yet? As Prince Rui said, not having met one does not mean he doesn’t exist. This servant begs you on my knees to give it a try," pleaded Sifang as he knelt down.

Uncle Qian too looked at him with longing: "Young Master, Sifang is right, how can you know without trying? Let’s just try it once. If even Old Princess Consort Ning’s stubborn condition could be cured, I believe that person certainly has some real skill!"

Yu Changkong ’looked’ out of the window, his voice carrying a faraway tone, "I just don’t want to be disappointed again!"

Yet Uncle Qian argued, "But Young Master sought me out, didn’t you also want to inquire about Old Princess Consort Ning’s health, evidence of a desire? If the Young Master doesn’t even dare to try, how will you face your mother in a hundred years?"