“Your Highness is not… the Phoenix Official? The Phoenix Official, that person is not normal.”
Mu Li stammered, afraid of offending his Prince. If his Prince became enraged, he would suffer greatly.
But even his refinement provoked his Prince.
Shangguan Lin gasped and furiously pointed at Mu Li, slapping the back of his head with a crack. He sternly declared, "This Prince is not ill, nor is he a homosexual. You damned fellow, starting today, you are forbidden from speaking for ten days."
"Your Highness?"
As Mu Li opened his mouth, Shangguan Lin continued expressionlessly, "Fifteen days."
This time, Mu Li dared not utter a sound, only muttering in his heart. It seemed he had hit a sore spot for his Prince. Oh, my poor Prince.
Seeing his constipated expression, Shangguan Lin exploded in anger again and kicked him. "Get out!"
Mu Li obediently walked out. Once he was gone, Shangguan Lin's expression cracked, full of astonishment. Could I truly be a homosexual? If not, why am I still thinking about that boy, the Phoenix Official, and can't forget him?
And why can't even a great beauty like Mo Ruoyan move me…
Shangguan Lin was utterly disheartened, standing dazed in the study for a long time without uttering a word.
Finally, Prince Shangguan made a decision. Since that boy was gone now, and he hadn't fallen too deep yet, he would go and see him. He had to cure this shameful illness.
In this vast Yan Capital, who didn't know Shangguan Lin, except for this newly opened clinic? So, he decided to secretly seek out Young Master Leng Yue and have him treat him.
"Qiao Chu,"
Qiao Chu walked in from outside and respectfully cupped his fist. "Your Highness."
"Let's go and check out that newly opened clinic."
Mu Li and Qiao Chu were Shangguan Lin's two personal attendants. Although Mu Li was loyal, he talked too much.
Qiao Chu was much calmer in comparison. Therefore, Shangguan Lin decided not to let Mu Li know about this treatment matter. Otherwise, that fellow would surely spread it all over the city.
Prince Lin, accompanied by one subordinate, boarded a simple carriage and headed for the Poppy Clinic for treatment.
He found the strange name "Poppy Clinic" somewhat disagreeable. A clinic actually used such a creepy, hair-raising name, which showed how enigmatic its owner must be.
In the evening, there was no one in the clinic, only a shop assistant and a doctor, idly organizing things inside. Not a single patient was in sight.
Shangguan Lin stood in the shop, his brow furrowed. It seemed the rumors were true.
That Young Master Leng Yue, in a fit of rage, had driven away all the patients and even cursed them for being ungrateful.
But it made sense. Those people were indeed ungrateful. When someone offered to treat them without charging a fee, they still provoked him in every way possible. How could that not make one angry? However, it was truly rare for someone to directly drive people away out of anger.
As Shangguan Lin was deep in thought, the shop assistant hurried over and respectfully said.
"Patient, my young master said he is not seeing patients today. If you wish to be treated, please come again tomorrow."
This shop assistant did not recognize the cold and overbearing person before him as the current Prince, hence, while polite, he was not panicked.
Shangguan Lin raised an eyebrow, and a chilling, bone-piercing indifference flowed from his pupils, startling the shop assistant, who took a step back and pointed at Shangguan Lin, unable to speak for a long time.
At this moment, the doctor, who had been organizing things with his head down, looked up strangely. As he did, his face changed drastically. He quickly got up and rushed to Shangguan Lin, speaking in a panicked tone.
"I didn't know Your Highness Shangguan was coming. We are all in a fright."
Upon hearing this, the shop assistant realized the person before him was Prince Shangguan, the younger brother of the current Emperor. And he had pointed at the Prince. His face turned pale with fright, and trembling, he knelt down with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing.
"Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness, spare my life! I deserve death, I deserve death."
Shangguan Lin glanced at him coldly. Frankly, he really wanted to draw his sword and chop off this fellow's fingers. Let alone his fingers, killing him would not be an exaggeration. How dare he be rude to a dignified Prince? This was no minor offense.
However, he had come incognito. How many people in Yan Capital didn't know him? How could he vent his anger on someone else? Thus, despite being angry, he did not trouble the shop assistant and simply said in a deep voice.
"This Prince wishes to see Young Master Leng Yue."
"Alright, I will go and invite the young master right away."
Hearing this, the shop assistant dared not delay. He scrambled to his feet, drenched in cold sweat that clung uncomfortably to his body.
But he couldn't show it now. Although his legs felt weak and unsteady, he feared that if he walked too slowly, he would incur the Prince's displeasure, which would mean a dead end. Therefore, the shop assistant hurried towards the back building.
In the small courtyard at the back, Yun Xiao and Wan Wan were tidying up an open space, preparing to plant some medicinal herbs. When they looked up, they saw the on-duty shop assistant, his face deathly pale, running towards them with great speed. Seeing Yun Xiao from afar, his legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground.
Wan Wan walked out to help him up and asked curiously.
"What's wrong? You're so scared?"
The shop assistant gasped for air and quickly said, "Young Master, something bad has happened! Prince Shangguan is here. I was disrespectful to him just now, and I'm scared, so scared!"
He didn't finish his words, but Wan Wan had already looked up at her master behind her.
Why had Shangguan Lin come? Yun Xiao was also confused. Although Shangguan Lin had helped her out of a difficult situation in the restaurant a few days ago, he wouldn't have come to find her for that reason.
"Wan'er, invite him in."
Yun Xiao said calmly, her expression serene and composed.
"Yes, Young Master." Wan Wan bowed and helped the shop assistant walk towards the front.
On the cleared ground at the back, Yun Xiao frowned and lowered her head, gazing at the soil on her slender jade fingers. She pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out why Prince Shangguan was looking for her.
It was impossible for him to recognize her as the Phoenix Official. So, what exactly did he want?
It wasn't until she heard footsteps that Yun Xiao snapped back to attention.
The man walking towards her was clad in black brocade, his robe hem embroidered with gold thread, exuding an air of unrestrained arrogance and domineering power.
His eyebrows were like swords, his eyes like stars, and he exuded a cold aura.
Yun Xiao smiled and cupped her fist. "May I ask why Prince Shangguan has graced our humble clinic with his presence?"
The dirt on her hands fell away, and she made an elegant gesture with surprising poise. Shangguan Lin found it peculiar; this person was truly strange.
His appearance was stunning, but his behavior was eccentric, making it impossible to discern what kind of person he was.
"This Prince wishes to inquire about someone from Young Master Leng Yue."
Shangguan Lin couldn't very well say he wanted to be treated in front of his subordinate and a maidservant, so he offered this excuse. Besides, he genuinely wanted to find out the whereabouts of the Phoenix Official.
Yun Xiao's smile remained as radiant as a blooming flower, but a fleeting coldness flashed in her eyes. Could this Shangguan Lin be asking her about the whereabouts of the Phoenix Official? This was truly laughable. She motioned to Wan Wan at the side without changing her expression. "Take the Prince to the hall."
"Yes, Young Master."
Wan Wan responded, bowed to Shangguan Lin, and said respectfully and cautiously, "Your Highness, please follow this servant inside."