Chapter 107: We Can’t Just Abandon It Then!
After Gu Yu and Mengyao Gu returned home, a few more days passed, and good news indeed arrived.
The Westerners at the opera house vanished overnight, and by the next day, they were nowhere to be found.
However, they left behind a group of ‘weak and powerless patients.’
This caused immense headaches for the investigating officials, especially when faced with the hysterics of the patients’ families, making them feel that the case was truly troublesome.
If the Westerners at the opera house hadn’t run away, the cause of the illness could have been investigated. But now…
With so many patients, and including many noble’s children, the officials in charge of the case couldn’t handle it. Finally, they wrote a memorial to the emperor, letting him deal with the headache.
After the emperor heard the news, he quickly dispatched palace imperial physicians to quell the unrest.
However, even the imperial physicians could not cure the weakness and powerlessness.
Thus, the helpless officials reported again, asking the emperor to find a solution.
But when the imperial physicians were helpless, the emperor had no other options. In the end, he had to convene a court assembly, where all the ministers gathered to discuss and see if they could come up with a solution.
Then, after much debate among the imperial court ministers, no good solution was discussed, which gave the emperor a terrible headache.
Finally, Gu Qing’s eyes rolled, thinking that this was a great opportunity for his good son-in-law to make an appearance!
“Your Majesty, I have a good plan for the civilians in the capital suffering from this strange illness.”
“Oh? Minister Gu, please elaborate.”
“I have a son-in-law named Gu Yu. He has been resourceful since childhood and was the one who received the Iron Scroll, written decree from the emperor previously. Although he is still young, he is proficient in medical skills. Not only did he previously treat measles in a town, but I believe he can also cure this strange illness and alleviate Your Majesty’s worries.”
Since he wanted his son-in-law to shine, Gu Qing didn’t hesitate and stepped forward to tell the emperor his plan.
As for what would happen if Gu Yu couldn’t cure it, those who fell ill could only wait for death!
Upon hearing Gu Qing’s words, the emperor did not reply directly but pondered in his heart whether to accept Gu Qing’s proposal.
Although there were many people suffering from strange illnesses in the capital now, it would be bad if someone rashly treated them and caused further problems.
To put it bluntly, the emperor did not believe that Gu Yu’s medical skills were truly that strong. Could a mere child solve a difficult problem that even the palace imperial physicians could not solve?
“I object. A child is ignorant, how can he be entrusted with such an important task!”
But at this moment, Xu Wang stepped forward and refuted Gu Qing’s proposal.
Xu Wang had always harbored a deep hatred for Gu Qing.
According to Xu Wang’s investigation, Gu Qing had truly shown ‘great affection’ towards the Wang Clan. Just like the rumors of the Western woman and her strange illness, Gu Qing must have been the one who put the Wang Clan in the spotlight before!
This was because the rumors from the opera house originated from the Gu Residence!
The way the rumors spread was exactly the same, as if Xu Wang could already imagine Gu Qing laughing wildly behind the scenes when the Wang Clan was severely punished by the emperor.
Last time, the Wang Clan colluded with people from Luoluo Kingdom to betray them and killed the envoy who came to seek peace. However, it was later discovered, causing their plan to fail.
Not only did they lose some clan members and their prestige, but Xu Wang was also sent out as an envoy for peace talks.
It had been quite some time since Lifeng Kingdom and Luoluo Kingdom signed the peace treaty. As an envoy to Luoluo Kingdom, Xu Wang not only paid a large sum of money but also endured hardships traveling through mountains and rivers, and was almost killed by the people of Luoluo Kingdom.
If it weren’t for the powerful experts accompanying him, Xu Wang probably wouldn’t have returned alive.
This made Xu Wang reflect a lot, thinking that he must act without leaving any traces in the future, never letting anyone uncover anything.
Xu Wang disdained doing good deeds and did not want to do them.
His current life was good. If it changed, he would be relentlessly pressured by the emperor, leading to the decline of his family under his leadership, and eventually disappearing into the long river of history.
Xu Wang did not accept such a result.
He wanted to make the Wang Clan even more powerful, so that future generations would prosper and their lineage would never be extinguished.
Therefore, Gu Qing should be careful!
He would always find an opportunity and then make Gu Qing taste the consequences.
When they went to the underworld, Gu Qing would regret his arrogance.
“Hmph, my son-in-law is a very capable person. At least, he made contributions on the battlefield at a young age, which is much stronger than those who only talk with their mouths.”
“There are many people afflicted with this strange illness, how can such a major matter be entrusted to a mere child! Is there no one else in the capital that you have to place your hope on a child?”
“You keep mentioning children, it’s really too much. Can you, an adult, cure this strange illness? If so, I would like to hear your brilliant suggestions!”
“You…”
“Alright, arguing further is useless. How about this, let’s first send Gu Yu to see the situation. If he can treat it, then let him take action. If not, we’ll think of another way.”
Finally, the emperor’s words stopped Gu Qing and Xu Wang from arguing.
However, after Gu Qing returned from the court, he immediately called Gu Yu to the study and explained the matter in detail, telling him to be prepared.
He also stated that he didn’t care if he lost face in the court, but Gu Yu must seize this opportunity to perform well in front of the emperor and try to gain some favorable impressions.
When he becomes an official in the future, his career will be smooth sailing.
“Gu Yu! You must do well this time and strive to cure everyone’s strange illness, to anger that old geezer Xu Wang, who has been opposing me ever since he returned from Luoluo Kingdom… However, if you can’t cure it, don’t force yourself. Of course, I naturally hope that you can…”
“Father-in-law, please rest assured, I will definitely cure the strange illness.”
Although Gu Qing said he didn’t care, his words did not mean that. He appeared ready to anger Xu Wang, which made Gu Yu feel a sense of amused helplessness.
However, since Xu Wang always retorted to his father-in-law in court, Gu Yu couldn’t just stand by and watch anymore.
Without waiting for Gu Qing to continue his lengthy speech, Gu Yu patted his chest and guaranteed that he could cure the weak and powerless strange illness, so that Gu Qing could rest assured.
“Well, it’s good to have confidence! After curing this strange illness, there will definitely be rewards from the Emperor. However, that’s secondary. The most important thing is to frequently appear before the Emperor, which will be helpful for your future official career… I heard from Qingheng that your literary talent is also excellent, and you can participate in the Imperial examination in the future and strive to be among the successful candidates.”
Just when Gu Yu thought everything was fine, who knew that when Gu Qing saw Gu Yu as a teachable person, he became even more satisfied in his heart.
He also had more to say.
The words Gu Qing spoke afterwards had paved the way for Gu Yu’s future, preparing him, his son-in-law, to embark on the path of an official and become more accomplished.
After he was a hundred years old, Gu Yu would also be able to take care of Mengyao Gu.
Then he could finally rest assured.
When Gu Yu heard his father-in-law’s words, he couldn’t help but smile helplessly, thinking that he didn’t want to become an official through the Imperial examination in the future.
With his younger brother-in-law dominating the court in the future, he would be better off retiring to the mountains with his wife.
Even if he couldn’t live in a mountain village, he definitely wouldn’t enter public service.
Because there were too many restrictions, Gu Yu felt that he was not suited to such a life.
In modern times, there were too many helpless situations that bound him to achieve a certain balance… However, after transmigrating to this different world, Gu Yu suddenly felt that he should no longer be bound.
In this new life, he didn’t want to live unhappily like before.
Besides, he already had such a good wife now.
His attitude towards life should be more positive, thinking of building a beautiful future together…
“Dad, you’re still here! It’s almost lunchtime, let’s go quickly!”
“Yes, I was so engrossed in chatting with Gu Yu that I forgot the time. We’ll go now.”
Just as Gu Yu was daydreaming and Gu Qing was talking until his throat was dry, Gu Qingheng pushed the door open and directly announced that it was time to eat, intending to rescue his poor brother-in-law.
Ever since Mengyao Gu and Gu Yu arrived in the capital, Gu Qing felt that his mood had been good every day. The feeling of family reunion made him extremely comfortable.
It’s a pity that it’s only temporary…
After Gu Qing finished speaking, Gu Yu also came back to his senses. Seeing his younger brother-in-law appear, he knew that it was time to leave.
Afterwards, Gu Yu excused himself and led Gu Qingheng ahead.
“Brother-in-law, what did my dad say to you? He talked for so long???”
“Don’t mention it, he said that in front of the emperor, he accepted a task for me, to cure those suffering from ‘weakness and powerlessness’ and restore them to normal, and he also said that I should become an official in the future…”
“Pfft, no wonder he talked for so long. Brother-in-law, don’t you have a way to slip away?”
“How can I slip away? After all, he’s my father-in-law, I just have to endure it! However, let me tell you now, I will never be an official in the future. I plan to rely on my younger brother-in-law, so you can’t just abandon me then!”
“Brother-in-law, the phrase ‘abandonment after involvement’ is completely inappropriate here.”
As they walked towards the main room for lunch, Gu Yu’s face was initially filled with worry, but then, after finishing his words, he changed his expression and smiled as he spoke of his future plans, causing Gu Qingheng to roll his eyes towards the sky helplessly.
He could already envision the scene in the future…
