The news that Chen Yunfan still hadn’t woken up struck Chen Yi as both amusing and a little alarming. The Immortal Drunk was far too potent.

He had, of course, intended to amplify its effects when he was developing the formula.

But knocking out a Middle Third-Grade Martial Artist for several days straight was bound to attract unwanted attention.

Not to mention, once Chen Yunfan himself woke up, he would likely want a bottle of Immortal Drunk for his own protection.

’Hmm... It seems I do have a bottle on hand.’

With this in mind, Chen Yi did not refuse the request.

"I’ll go ask Doctor Ma at the Medicine Hall later."

"To be honest with you, Brother Fang Gui, this Doctor Ma of my Jishi Medicine Hall practiced in the Wumeng Mountain region for many years. His Medical Skill is quite remarkable."

Chen Yi, of course, knew perfectly well whether the doctor was actually capable or not.

Fortunately, with him pulling the strings behind the scenes, "treating" Chen Yunfan wouldn’t be difficult.

Li Huai’gu’s face lit up. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your help, Brother Qingzhou."

Chen Yi gestured for him to drop the formalities. "Brother Fang Gui, you seem to have forgotten," he said with a smile. "He is my brother, after all."

Of course, Chen Yunfan being his brother was only one of his reasons for getting involved.

More importantly, Chen Yunfan was the current Imperial Top Scholar, the Assistant Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office, and probably had a mission from the emperor himself.

If he remained in this deep slumber, it would likely cause unnecessary complications.

Li Huai’gu smiled and nodded. "That’s a relief."

In fact, over the past two days, Chen Yunfan’s servants had visited every renowned Medicine Hall in Shu State to no avail. They were so frantic they were considering sending him all the way back to Jiangnan Prefecture.

When he went over yesterday and saw the situation, he immediately reported it to Yang Ye.

The two conferred and decided to help find some renowned doctors to see if Chen Yunfan could be woken.

His visit to Chen Yi was a desperate, last-ditch effort.

The two then made small talk for a while.

Chen Yi deliberately steered the conversation toward Guiyun Academy, asking if Mr. Yue Ming was still pestering him about it.

Li Huai’gu’s expression flickered. "To be honest, ever since I got married, every time I see our teacher, he urges me to come to the Marquis’s Mansion and try to persuade you."

"If I hadn’t been so busy with official duties at the Governor’s Office lately, I would have paid you a visit much sooner."

Li Huai’gu paused before continuing his persuasion.

"Brother Qingzhou, our teacher’s invitation for you to become an Instructor at Guiyun Academy... while he may have his own motives, he truly has your best interests at heart."

"Forgive my bluntness, but now that you’ve married into the Xiao Family, seeking a post in the government or the military would inevitably arouse suspicion from certain quarters."

"At Guiyun Academy, however, you wouldn’t have to worry about any of that."

"You could not only devote yourself to your studies and showcase your talents but also build a fine reputation for yourself."

It was heartfelt, earnest advice.

Normally, given Li Huai’gu’s personality, his relationship with Chen Yi would have been a distant, formal one—the friendship of gentlemen, as bland as water.

But between Mr. Yue Ming’s request and Chen Yi’s own helpfulness toward him, he felt he could speak from the heart.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi’s expression relaxed.

Li Huai’gu’s words gave him the perfect pretext to accept Mr. Yue Ming’s invitation.

Still, thinking of what his life would become, he couldn’t help but feel a little wistful.

If it weren’t for the Hidden Guard, if it weren’t for what happened last night, he could have found a way to weasel out of it, even if Xiao Jinghong herself tried to force him.

But reality had a way of foiling the best-laid plans.

Seeing it was getting late, Chen Yi suggested they go visit Chen Yunfan.

Li Huai’gu readily agreed.

The sooner Chen Yunfan woke up, the sooner the matters at the Governor’s Office could be properly handled.

A moment later, after Chen Yi wrote out a prescription in his study—imitating Ma Liangcai’s handwriting—and put it away, he instructed Xiaodie to take Xiao Wuge to Jiaxing Garden.

Once they were gone, he opened an umbrella and left Spring Lotus Garden with Li Huai’gu.

The moment he stepped out of the rear courtyard, Chen Yi noticed something was off about the expressions of the Armored Warriors in the mansion. They looked as though they were facing a formidable enemy.

He had a suspicion that news of Liu Jing’s death had arrived, putting the entire mansion on high alert.

Even Li Huai’gu, walking beside him, seemed to notice something was amiss.

However, since they were in the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion with so many eyes and ears around, it wasn’t convenient for him to speak openly.

Just then, they came face to face with Second Master Xiao Wang, who was leading several men dressed in Crimson Brocade Clothing.

Xiao Wang, dressed in a long black robe, had an air of natural authority. He glanced at Chen Yi and Li Huai’gu before hurrying past without a second look.

Chen Yi stopped and looked back, a fluorescent glint flashing deep in his eyes.

Under his Qi Observation Skill, the auras of the men in Crimson Brocade Clothing were fully revealed.

’Two at the Seventh Grade, two at the Eighth...’

’Are they from the Punishment Hall?’

Chen Yi turned back, his expression thoughtful.

’It seems the old master and Xiao Wang are preparing to make a move.’

’But according to my calculations, even if the Liu Family wants to use this as a pretext to cause trouble, they won’t act so quickly.’

’For one, the Jing State Liu Family will have to consult Liu Hong. For another, the Xiao Family’s response is also critical.’

’After all, the Xiao and Liu Families are both major wealthy families. If they truly decide to take action, the conflict will drag in far more than just the two of them.’

Seeing his odd expression, Li Huai’gu asked tactfully, "Did I come at an inopportune time?"

Chen Yi understood his meaning and shook his head. "Everything is business as usual at the Medicine Hall. Let’s go pick up Doctor Ma first."

Li Huai’gu nodded and didn’t press the matter.

Chen Yi then followed him into a carriage, which headed for the East Market.

The sky was still blanketed by dark, oppressive clouds.

Lightning flashed, thunder rumbled, and a torrential downpour began.

Through the blurry rain-streaked view, Chen Yi noticed a significant increase in the number of government officials and Imprisonment Officers on the streets.

Most of them held portraits, questioning every person who passed by.

Chen Yi glanced at one of the portraits. Seeing it was of the five burly men who had abducted him last night, he lost interest.

’This world has many methods of investigation, but none are particularly efficient.’

’Especially after I deliberately cleaned up the scene last night, there’s little chance the Imprisonment Department will trace it back to me.’

’The torrential rain will have washed away what few footprints those thugs left behind.’

’The number of usable clues is minuscule.’

’In a situation like this, short of a lucky break, I can’t imagine what the Imprisonment Department could possibly do.’

’Then again, a lack of clues can sometimes fuel even more speculation.’

’Take the members of the Jing State Liu Family and the Shu State Liu Family, for example.’

’The longer the Imprisonment Department fails to find the killer, the more certain they’ll become that the Xiao Family was behind it.’

’All in all, the flap of this butterfly’s wings has certainly kicked up a tornado.’

Soon, the carriage stopped outside Jishi Medicine Hall.

Chen Yi went in alone to find Ma Liangcai. After a few quiet words of instruction, he brought the physician along and headed straight for Chen Yunfan’s residence.

The crippled physicians Wang Ji had found didn’t have much in the way of Medical Skill, but their talent for acting and setting a scene was second to none.

They were not only shrewd but also cunning.

Fortunately, Chen Yi had never revealed himself, always giving Ma Liangcai orders in Wang Ji’s name. So far, the deception had held.

「About an hour later.」

The carriage stopped in an alley in the western part of the city, and the three of them got out.

"This is my brother’s residence?"

Chen Yi looked at the character for "Chen" on the gate and glanced around. "It’s quite secluded."

But as soon as he was led inside by Chun Ying, who had rushed out to greet them, he immediately retracted that thought.

The sound of falling rain, string and bamboo instruments, and wind chimes mingled in a continuous stream of noise. It was anything but secluded.

As he thought this, Chen Yi noticed several carriages parked in the front courtyard.

Besides one carriage bearing the Chen Family crest, the other three were also adorned with silk canopies. Atop each was the insignia of a "Long River Sunset Painting."

From the look of them, they belonged to a young lady from a prominent family.

Chun Ying seemed to notice his gaze. As she led the way, she whispered:

"Lord Councilor, Young Master Yi, you’ve come at an inconvenient time. Someone has just arrived to treat the Young Master."

Li Huai’gu smiled. "No matter. We can wait a moment."

"If their Medical Skill is great enough to wake Brother Yunfan, it would be a good thing."

Chen Yi nodded, but he was more interested in who the visitors were.

"Who is it? They don’t look like they’re from around Shu State."

Chun Ying glanced back at him and said hesitantly, "To be honest, Young Master Yi, it is someone from the Qinghe Cui Family."

Realization dawned on Chen Yi, followed by a strange expression. "It couldn’t be... *her*, could it?"

Chun Ying nodded. Saying no more, she hurriedly led them to a side hall in the rear courtyard before heading off toward a wing on the other side.

Chen Yi watched her go, his gaze following her toward the wing.

The Qinghe Cui Family was the maiden family of the Chen Family’s matriarch, Cui Yu. It was also the family of the young woman engaged to Chen Yunfan.

Moreover, like the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family, the Cui Family was a Noble Family with a five-hundred-year lineage.

In terms of official positions, connections, and wealth, they were in no way inferior to the Chen Family.

In comparison, the Xiao Family, with its mere two-hundred-year heritage, was little more than "new money" in the eyes of the Chen and Cui Families.

Just as Chen Yi was mulling this over, three women and an old man, clearly a physician, emerged from the distant wing.

The woman in the lead was every bit as beautiful as Xiao Jinghong or Xiao Wan’er.

She had an oval face and captivating eyes, and was dressed in a long pink gown. She was leading her small party toward them.

Chun Ying hurried after her, offering words of reassurance.

"My young master is in perfect health. Several physicians have confirmed it. I hope you can rest easy, Miss Cui."

The young lady in the lead nodded. "Go back and take good care of Yunfan. I’ve already sent people to find a renowned doctor; they will arrive in two days."

Chun Ying breathed a sigh of relief. Spotting Chen Yi and his companions nearby, she quickly said:

"Another physician has visited today, brought by Lord Councilor Li Huai’gu of the Governor’s Office and Young Master Yi. Perhaps you..."

Before she could finish, Miss Cui stopped in her tracks. She glanced toward the side hall and frowned.

"Nonsense. What renowned doctors could possibly be found in a place like Shu State?"

"..."

Chen Yi let out a stifled laugh. ’So this must be Chen Yunfan’s fiancée.’

Just hearing that one sentence, though, made him understand why Chen Yunfan had never wanted to talk about his engagement.