207: Surprisingly

Surprisingly

After Yi Rong left to go back to his study in the imperial doctor's courtyard, the black-clothed man remain following Liu Yeyin. They didn't leave the Imperial Noble Concubine's palace. Instead, they made their way toward the palace's underground hidden room.0

This kind of hidden room is not deemed unusual in a palace. Almost, if not all palaces have at least one of them. Mostly, these rooms are used by the occupant as a treasury so it is only natural that it is revealed only to the occupant and their trusted aid and the emperor. These rooms are windowless and have never seen the light of the sun. This causes the air in the room to be stale and uncomfortable to live in.

These rooms are noticeably sizable. Usually at least half the size of the palace's floor area. Lin Xulian also used the hidden room in the phoenix palace as a treasury and storage room for her medicines and dried herbs.

But Liu Yeyin is different. Despite the room being unlivable for most people, she decided to turn it into her residence consisting of an outer and inner chamber and a study and lived there. Simply because she didn't want to assume another identity so she could openly roam around the palace. After all, the only choices she has is to either be Xing Baihe's servant or a personal doctor. Although it was only in disguise, Liu Yeyin refuse to be regarded as Xing Baihe's servant. She would rather hide underground and move in secret. Anyway, with her martial arts, living underground doesn't affect her at all.

Upon entering the outer chamber of the underground hidden room, Liu Yeyin lazily sat on the lounge chair. She then gave the black-clothed man a look implying for him to say whatever he wanted to say seeing that he followed her in.

The black-clothed man then kneeled on one knee and started his report. "Reporting to my lady, we inexplicably lost contact with three of our clan members. It's already been about a week since they were last seen."

Liu Yeyin's eyebrows knitted together upon hearing the report. When the clan was kicked out two decades ago, the only remaining members who survived are mostly children who are far less than half of the total number of Liu clan members. Their number is extremely low so losing one is already considered a great loss. So losing three warrants her concern.

"It's already been so long. Why did no one mention it right away?" Liu Yeyin asked with obvious displeasure.

The black-clothed man felt cold in nervous. How can he say that they felt complacent and didn't think that they will meet their match in Gonglu country? He is certain that their lady will mercilessly punish him since he is leading the monitoring team in the imperial palace. And the three missing clan members are stationed inside the palace which falls under his jurisdiction. But he also didn't dare to lie. He can only apologize.

"This one asks for punishment, my lady. This one neglected my duty."

Liu Yeyin looks at the black-clothed man coldly. Her plans failing are already enough for her to lose her patience. Now she is even losing subordinates. Saying that she is enraged is an understatement. She badly wants to vent her anger, but she still doesn't know the identity of the other party. The black-clothed man can only blame his luck and bear the brunt of her rage.

Liu Yeyin tossed a bottle of liquid to the black-clothed man. Seeing the liquid, the man's face paled alarmingly. He didn't need to ask to know that this is the punishment bestowed upon him. And Liu Yeyin's next words proved it.

"Drink that poison. It won't kill you but it will surely motivate you to not be careless in the future. Endure the punishment while continuing your duties. If you pass out I will give you another bottle." She coldly stated.

The black-clothed man looked at the liquid in fear. He doesn't know what the effect of the poison is, but with their lady's way of doing things, he would surely not end well. But he has no choice but to obey. So in front of Liu Yeyin, he downed the whole bottle in one gulp.

Right after drinking the poison, the black-clothed man felt unimaginable pain. It's like instead of blood, needles are flowing in his bloodstream. The pain made him want to howl. But his pride prevents him from doing so. And despite his vision blurring, he fought it and remain upright. He then bowed and left the room to return to his work while trying to act normal.

Liu Yeyin didn't give the black-clothed man a second glance after seeing him down the poison. She just stood up and went inside her study. She is aware that raging is not a solution. Instead, she should revise her plan and focus on trying to figure out who are the ones going against her.

Honestly, she did consider that the people of Qiangdu country are behind all these. But she unconsciously rejected the idea. Justifying that the people of Qiangdu are reclusive. That they would never meddle in other countries issues. However, her gut is telling her to face the possibility. With that, she also acknowledges that she is scared of that possibility. That is why she is resisting that idea.

Meanwhile on Yi Rong's side, after sneakily returning to his courtyard to make the waiting eunuch think that he was inside his courtyard all this time since he is avoiding suspicion, he calmly walks out to receive the guest. Acting like he is unaware of the happenings outside.

As expected, the eunuch is oblivious that Yi Rong was not in his courtyard a couple of minutes ago. After all, with his qigong, traveling between palaces lasts less than a minute.

Seeing that the Head Imperial Doctor had arrived, the eunuch immediately presented the edict from the interim emperor, the fifth prince, summoning him during the morning court. He didn't bother to give a greeting. This usually happens if the importance of the edict is urgent.

Yi Rong is not surprised that the fifth prince summoned him urgently. After all, despite not being in the same faction, the Right Prime Minister is still one of the highest-ranking officials below the emperor. Even if the fifth prince is part of the royal family, he still needs to give a face to the Right Prime Minister.

What surprised Yi Rong though is the part where he is requested to attend the morning court. He only expected to be called at the royal study privately or at most have some of the Han family's descendants inside as well to personally request his assistance. But it looks like there is more in this situation.

However, Yi Rong did not see any problem with this. At least not to him and their clan's plan. He even inwardly scoffed because he finds the Gonglu country's infighting laughable. To him, they all look like a clown fighting for the throne not knowing that the throne is nothing more than a piece of furniture at this point. The true power will soon be in their clan's hands. To be exact, on Liu Yeyin's hand.

After presenting the edict, the Eunuch didn't leave like the usual protocol. Instead, he gave Yi Rong a subtle look to not come off as him being rude and forceful. But this look in Yi Rong's perspective is like a desperate scream of "Let's go! Right now!"

Yi Rong didn't want to tease the eunuch. Why would he? So he didn't waste time and left the courtyard towards the Palace's court hall. But right when he stepped out of his courtyard's gates, he found someone standing at the front gate seemingly waiting for him. That person is no other than his disciple-in-name, Gu Lian.

"Gu Lian greets master," Lin Xulian deeply bowed to greet Yi Rong. She has been waiting in front of his gates soon after the eunuch entered the courtyard. As for her reason, of course, it is to take part in the Right Prime Minister's treatment. This is the part of her plan that she considers the gamble. Since it is all up to Yi Rong to decide whether she can take part in this case or not. If he won't allow it, then her entire plan will all go down.

"You're here. Come with me." Yi Rong no longer has a use for Gu Lian since he already acquired her skills. But since he publicly accepted her as his disciple, he can't just leave her out to dry. So he didn't think much and just asked her to follow without even asking the accompanying eunuch.

Lin Xulian thought she would need to make an effort to convince Yi Rong to let her partake in the treatment. But surprisingly he just let her follow him. She hid her surprise and just follow the group acting oblivious and obedient.

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