Since the servant was desperate, he brought the three to the Crown Prince's Palace.
Upon arriving, the Crown Prince's Eunuch, Elder Zhen, came to greet Elder Bai. But instead, there were three masked men who came into view along with the servant.
"Where's Elder Bai? Didn't I tell you to bring Elder Bai here?!" Elder Zhen's voice was filled with impatience and frustration.
"Elder Zhen, the medicine pavilion said that Elder Bai left this afternoon, and he didn't say where he went," the servant replied, cupping his fist and bowing as he stood in front of Elder Zhen.
"Didn't I tell you not to return until you brought Elder Bai here? And who are these people?" Elder Zhen felt a suppression by their presence; the three were extremely quiet, which added to their mysterious aura.
"Elder Zhen, this is Doctor Yi Jin, a Doctor from a High-Rank Kingdom," the servant said hesitantly. Of course, he didn't know if they were telling the truth, but he was desperate and afraid that something would happen if he delayed.
Elder Zhen smacked the head of the servant. "If I tell you that I am as well, would you believe me too?" He didn't believe that this short young man was a doctor, much less from the High-Rank Kingdom.
"Oww..." The servant rubbed his head.
Before the servant could say anything else, Yi Ling stepped forward. She didn't say anything and just waved her left hand. A dense spiritual energy burst out from her hand. Elder Zhen and the servant were shocked.
"How? How could this be?" Elder Zhen couldn't believe what he was sensing. The spiritual energy was so pure and dense.
Yi Ling smiled. She had found a nice trick with the Ring. Along the way to the Xiang Kingdom, she accidentally discovered that she could release some spiritual energy from the Blue Rose Palace. Of course, people from the High-Rank Kingdom wouldn't be able to do what she had done, but the cultivators from Mid-Rank Kingdoms didn't know that.
"Do you believe me now?" Yi Ling's manly voice permeated along with the spiritual energy. The breeze in the air grew stronger, making the three musketeers look mystical.
"Yes, yes... I'm sorry for doubting you, Doctor Yi. Please follow this lowly one to meet the Crown Prince." Elder Zhen's attitude changed instantly. If one could give out spiritual energy on a whim, one was bound to be powerful. He decided to give it a try. They could always hunt and kill them if they were lying.
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The Crown Prince of the Xiang Kingdom was lying in bed. Xiang He, who was nineteen years old, was pale and weak. He looked devoid of joy and life. He had been bedridden since he turned fifteen, getting weaker as time passed.
He was the only son of the Emperor. No matter how many concubines his father impregnated, they always gave birth to princesses. At the moment, he had six sisters. He was the only child given birth by the late Empress, the love of his father's life. Unexpectedly, she died when Xiang He was ten. At that time, his father didn't want to marry anyone else. He already had Xiang He as the Crown Prince since birth. But by fifteen, everything changed. His son was crippled. The emperor was left with no choice but to take concubines to give birth to another son, coerced by the ministers. So far, though, it hadn't been productive.
When the guests came in, the Crown Prince tried to sit up. Pain was evident on his face; it wasn't easy to get up.
"Your highness!" Elder Zhen immediately went to the Crown Prince's side and helped him sit up.
"Elder Zhen, these are?" the Crown Prince asked, looking at the newcomers.
"Crown Prince, Elder Bai is away at the moment. Thankfully, Doctor Yi from a High-Rank Kingdom visited the medicine pavilion. We brought him here to check on you." Elder Zhen's lips pursed together after explaining. He was still hesitant but time was pressing.
"I see. Pardon me, Doctor Yi, if I can't greet you formally. As you can see..." He cupped his fist instead to show respect. Doctors were miracle workers in Huaxia. They mainly controlled all the Kingdoms in secret. If you made an enemy of one, you would make an enemy of all the people the doctor healed, as they considered the doctors their benefactors.
"Crown Prince, you are poisoned," Yi Ling said directly, pointing out his predicament. She wanted to act forwardly without hesitation or delays.
The Crown Prince and Elder Zhen looked at each other, their faces grim.
"We figured as much, Doctor Yi. Unfortunately, we talked to all the doctors, and nobody seems to be able to cure it," Elder Zhen explained. He was astonished that Doctor Yi could instantly tell what caused the Crown Prince's condition without feeling his pulse.
"Do you have any means to cure me? I'll do anything! If you need anything, please tell us," the Crown Prince said desperately. He wanted to ascend the throne. They suspected that his uncle was the one who poisoned him, but they didn't have sufficient evidence yet.
"I was able to tell your predicament, of course, I'm able to cure you. But on one condition," Yi Ling smirked beneath the mask. This would be the start of her plans. She wanted to gain strength, so she needed to build her foundations first.