Chapter 537 - 312: Madam Is Too Kind
Chapter 537: Chapter 312: Madam Is Too Kind
How would Chen Yunfan choose?
Chen Yi didn’t calculate it carefully; there were only two possible outcomes.
Either he would take the evidence of the Capital Commandery’s Zhu Hao’s crimes and report it to the Imperial Court in exchange for a meteoric rise in his career. Or he would turn a blind eye and remain an Imperial Top Scholar who treated power and influence like dirt.
Regardless of the outcome, Chen Yi could accept it.
It just meant he would have to work a little harder in the future—if Chen Yunfan became the blade the Imperial Court swung at the Xiao Family, then Chen Yi would simply cut down the one wielding that blade.
As for who that person might be... Chen Yi had his guesses. It was none other than the White Tiger Guard Pavilion Master, the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family, or perhaps the Holy Emperor seated upon the throne.
Fortunately, there was still time, and he was still in Shu State.
Once the chessboard in his mind fully took shape and gained momentum, the lands of Shu State might not become an impenetrable fortress, but they would certainly leave anyone trying to meddle with it nowhere to hide.
After wandering about until dusk, Chen Yi finally strolled leisurely back to the Xiao Family’s home.
Just as he reached the entrance, Xiao Wan’er’s carriage also drove through the estate gates. Seeing that Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang were driving the carriage, Chen Yi stopped and stood to the side.
While waiting to return to the inner courtyard with Xiao Wan’er, he looked toward the porter’s lodge and asked Third Steward Lu Guan, Wang Lixing, and the others, feigning ignorance, "I haven’t seen Uncle Gui for several days. Is he no longer in the estate?"
Lu Guan smiled bitterly and replied, "Mr. Chen, you might not know this, but on the day the Eldest Miss had her accident, Uncle Gui returned to the estate and then disappeared."
Wang Lixing added with a nod, "We’ve searched every corner of the estate but similarly found no trace of him. We only know that after he returned that day, he went to the backyard..."
Liu Si’er, who was standing to the side, looked at the group before letting his gaze fall on Chen Yi. He chimed in, "Because of this, we even went to his home to look for him, but there was still no sign of him. Who knows where he went.
"Perhaps... perhaps he also ran into Du Cang..."
Liu Si’er considered himself the one who best understood Uncle Gui’s true identity among them, so he inevitably guessed that the White Tiger Guard had made new arrangements for Uncle Gui. Thus, saying this was his way of covering for him.
Chen Yi shook his head with pity. "Uncle Gui... he was also a pitiful man."
But a pitiful person always had something detestable about them. Not to mention disregarding the Old Master’s kindness, Uncle Gui had also become Du Cang’s puppet and ended up having his corpse blasted to pieces by Chen Yi’s spear. He died a truly tragic death.
Hearing this, Liu Si’er felt a sense of sorrow, lamenting the feeling that "when the hare dies, the hound is boiled." Thinking back to a few months ago, the Xiao Family still had two Silver Banner Officers and several Iron Banner Officers. But now, those who hadn’t died had left. He didn’t know when he might follow in their footsteps.
After a few words of idle chatter, once Xiao Wan’er stepped down from the carriage, Chen Yi greeted Lu Guan and the others before taking a few quick steps to the front of the carriage.
"Wan’er, did the discussion with Miss Cui go smoothly today?"
Seeing him smiling as gently as usual, Xiao Wan’er gave him a reproachful glare. She wanted to ask him, "You were also at Tingyu Pavilion this afternoon, so you should know, right?"
Fortunately, Xiao Wan’er only thought this in her heart; after all, she had to cover for Chen Yi.
"It went quite smoothly," she said. "Little Sister Qingwu will find several Physicians in a few days. Right now, aside from the fact that a candidate for the academy dean hasn’t been decided yet, we can already start pushing forward with the other matters."
Chen Yi understood her look and smiled with a tacit understanding. "With Uncle Kang keeping an eye on the academy, all that’s left is to start drafting the academy’s ’Medical Canon,’ ’Regulations,’ and the like."
Xiao Wan’er nodded lightly and walked ahead. "According to what Little Sister Qingwu said, the character of those Physicians is excellent, but it’ll be difficult for them to take the lead. Compiling the ’Medical Canon’ might be..."
Chen Yi naturally understood this point.
The Medical Dao, after all, wasn’t like Martial Arts or Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting. Its purpose was to cure illnesses and save lives, allowing for not a shred of carelessness.
The academy’s "Medical Canon" was the same. Rigor was of the utmost importance. Only after that could they consider integrating the strengths of various schools of thought, and organizing prescriptions, medicinal materials, pharmacology, and medical cases. Even a Medical Saint Hand in the Minor Success Realm would probably find it difficult to take on the role of the academy’s dean.
Thinking of all this, Chen Yi muttered inwardly, "In the end, I’ll likely have to do it myself."
He then said, "I’ve asked Ma Liangcai previously; once the academy is built, he can also go there to serve as an Instructor."
"Divine Doctor... Ma?" Xiao Wan’er smiled winsomely, tilted her head to look at him, and voiced her approval. "It would naturally be for the best if Divine Doctor Ma can come."
She knew that Chen Yi stood behind Ma Liangcai. Ma Liangcai going to the Medical Dao Academy meant that Chen Yi would also involve himself in the academy’s affairs.
In all fairness, in Xiao Wan’er’s heart, the best candidate for the academy’s dean was Chen Yi. But she knew that Chen Yi didn’t plan to reveal his true talents and knowledge anytime soon. A secret was a secret, after all. Settling for the next best thing, Ma Liangcai serving as an Instructor at the academy was already the best outcome.
However, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but feel somewhat embarrassed in her heart. For her sake, Chen Yi had first established Hundred Herbs Hall, and then offered strategies to propose the Medical Dao Academy. Now, under the circumstances where the candidate for dean hadn’t been decided, they still needed Chen Yi to lend a helping hand in secret.
Feeling An Xin, Xiao Wan’er was also very grateful to Chen Yi.
"Thank you... Chen Yi."
Chen Yi tilted his head to look at her. Guessing her thoughts, he smiled and shook his head. "We are family; there’s no need for such formalities.
"Besides, Ma Liangcai is a Physician at the Medicine Hall to begin with. The fact that you agreed to let him serve as an Instructor at the Medical Dao Academy is truly a stroke of good fortune for him."
Xiao Wan’er knew she had lost her composure. She murmured a response and buried half of her face into her cloak. Warmth flowed from her chest throughout her entire body, not only dispelling the bitter cold but also bringing two rosy clouds to her cheeks.
Finally meeting the right person—it was probably exactly like this.
Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang followed behind them. No matter how suspicious they were, they didn’t discover anything at this moment. How could they have imagined that the matter of a Medical Dao Academy could hide so many twists and turns?
Before long, the four of them crossed the garden in the middle courtyard and passed in front of Qingjing Residence.
Xiao Wan’er was just hesitating over whether she should go pay her respects to the Old Master when she saw Chen Yi stop by her side.