Seeking Truth with a Sword
Chapter 51 - 50 Early Rising

Chapter 51: Chapter 50 Early Rising

As night fell. In Yongjia Square, located in the northeast of Chang’an City, stood Prince Zhao Mansion.

Princess Le’an, named Li Nanlei, wrapped in a light goose-yellow gauze, sat alone in the courtyard, threading a needle and embroidering. The pattern she embroidered was a phoenix facing a sunbird, with the character "Shan" stitched in the corner.

The sound of soft footsteps arose from the covered walkway. Without turning her head, Li Nanlei casually spoke, "Has cousin gone to bed?"

"Yong Er has already retired," the female official replied respectfully. She was the same one who had appeared at the hostel outside Chang’an City during the day. Bowing slightly, her fair countenance devoid of expression, she added, "He hasn’t felt nauseous again."

"Is that so?" Li Nanlei remarked, her voice devoid of emotion. "It seems that Doctor Li from Yizhou does have some skill."

The female official respectfully stood in place, just like any other maid.

Outside, the chirping of insects filled the air. A pure white moth, drawn by the bright candlelight on the stone table, fluttered closer. The female official silently lifted her gaze, giving the moth a fleeting, indifferent look. Instantly, the moth froze mid-air, its wings still poised to beat, yet it couldn’t advance another inch. BUZZ— The moth split in two and fell silently into the grass beside the stone table, not disturbing Li Nanlei, who remained engrossed in her embroidery.

"Are you curious?" Li Nanlei asked, as if she hadn’t noticed the moth’s demise. "Why I brought Yong Er here, even though the Yong Family clearly wishes to avoid any entanglement with the Prince Mansion?"

The female official remained standing, her gaze lowered in a display of perfect composure—eyes focused on her nose, nose on her mouth, mouth on her heart—and remained silent.

Alas, I have no choice but to find help. The female official did not respond, and Li Nanlei didn’t seem to care, muttering to herself, My uncle, the Governor of Xiangzhou, deliberately keeps his distance from the Prince Mansion and the Right Martial Guard to avoid accusations from the Imperial Censor of forming cliques. He doesn’t realize that even if he refrains from associating, the Imperial Censors could still impeach him if they wished. Next year or the year after, Brother Shan is to be enfeoffed. The fiefdom will likely be in Du State or Wuzhou, near Xiangzhou. If my uncle were smart, he would realize what it means for me to have brought Yong Er to the Prince Mansion.

The Li Shan whom Li Nanlei mentioned was the ninth son of the current Emperor. He was also the person she was closest to, admired most, and most hoped to see ascend the throne. However, Li Shan’s maternal family was weak and not favored in the court, requiring more elaborate planning. Winning over the Governor of Xiangzhou’s Yong Family was just one part of the plan.

Li Nanlei casually asked, "By the way, speaking of that Doctor Li, I don’t like the look in his eyes. Who recommended him? Have you found out?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"We have. It was Cheng Juxiu, an Academic Palace Disciple who is about to take up the post of Water Director Historiographer."

"Cheng Juxiu, is it?" Li Nanlei’s brows furrowed slightly as she recalled. "Those people around Cheng Juxiu support the Crown Prince, don’t they?"

The female official replied, "Yes. And Cheng Juxiu’s close senior, He Siping, is currently serving as the East Palace Left Spring Prefecture Middle Officer."

"Troublesome." Li Nanlei put down her embroidery and sighed faintly. "That Doctor Li from Yizhou healed the prized horses I and several other families bought from Nanzhou. He also cured Yong Er before Qiu Feng, whom I had invited, could. It seems he really does possess some medical skill. However, the one who recommended him was Cheng Juxiu. Furthermore, those two reported that Sha Tao Village white dog case to the Ministry of Justice. If not for the lack of evidence, and the Ministry’s people being tactful and discreet enough to suppress the case, it might have stirred up trouble. Tsk. I had people bring in that white dog to befriend the Zhong Family’s legitimate daughter, who breeds hunting dogs for the garrison. Now I not only have to dismiss the servants in the mansion and tie up loose ends, but I also have to find another way to connect with the Zhong Family..."

"Shall we eliminate him?" the female official inquired calmly.

"You mean that Doctor Li?" Li Nanlei rested her chin on her hand, tilting her head as she mused, "The look in his eyes is rather annoying. Hmm... I heard his Spiritual Vein Talent is average? Just barely meeting the requirements for the Academic Palace? We can have someone look into it. Ask Xi Yangyu from the Academic Palace—he’s always been obedient."

"Yes."

The female official bowed and retreated, leaving Li Nanlei to continue embroidering alone in the courtyard. Neither master nor servant continued the discussion about Li Ang. After all, he was just a poor doctor from Yizhou.

---

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! The sharp raps on the door came from outside. Li Ang yawned, mumbling, It’s only six o’clock, as he struggled out of bed. He yelled to Song Shaoyuan outside, "Coming!"

"Hurry up! We can’t have students from the other State Mansions mocking us. We’re going to tour all of Chang’an today!"

Song Shaoyuan walked off energetically, his footsteps growing fainter in the distance.

Li Ang glanced at Chai Cuiqiao on the neighboring bed, who was just as bleary-eyed. He sighed helplessly, then dressed, fetched water, washed his face, and brushed his teeth. Afterward, he grabbed another towel, gave Chai Cuiqiao’s face a couple of cursory wipes, and muttered irritably, Am I the servant, or are you? Who’s serving whom here?

"Huh? Ah..." Chai Cuiqiao, still half-asleep and disoriented, replied subconsciously, her expression vacant, "Young Master, you want to be a maid? That won’t do. There’s only room for one maid at home, and your cooking is terrible..."

Li Ang’s face darkened. "If it’s so bad, then you can do all the cooking from now on."

"It was always me cooking..."

Still bleary-eyed and mumbling in her sleep, Chai Cuiqiao yawned again. It wasn’t until Li Ang flicked her forehead that she jolted fully awake. She leaped up from her chair, looking around vigilantly, her hands making quick chopping motions. "Who? Who dares say my Young Master’s cooking is bad? Who?"

"Stop fooling around. Hurry up and brush your teeth. Let’s go explore Chang’an."