Rock Paper Scissors, What the Shadow Guards Say

Uh...

Looking at Vincent Su's twisted, pained, and regretful face, Serena Feng really couldn't manage a cold expression, but she wasn't about to show him any kindness either.

Serena shot Vincent a glare. "You seriously want to blame me? Did you even give me a chance to explain? The moment I said 'kidney deficiency,' you started shouting and making a scene—now the whole household knows your kidneys are weak. It's like you're afraid people won't know you're unhealthy."

"I was just startled, okay?" Vincent retorted, trying to sound justified. Kidney deficiency—only slightly better than a death sentence. His pride and dignity were both in tatters.

"Alright, alright, I get it. You were scared. To calm your nerves, I won't charge you a consultation fee this time." Serena waved her hand grandly, then added, remembering Vincent's profession, "That would be one thousand taels of gold, you know."

"Are you robbing me? A thousand taels of gold just for this? That's my entire annual income." Medicine really is a lucrative business—no wonder the old men at Mystic Healer Valley never worry about going broke. Vincent was deeply jealous, especially since he'd just lost a fortune himself.

"I haven't opened for business in three years, so when I do, I have to make up for it. I did all those free clinics recently—didn't charge a thing. Treated Holden Cui for free, treated Reid Yale for free, I haven't had any income for ages... Oh right, Reid Yale said he'd pay the consultation fee. Remind me to collect it later. Just because he's hiding out doesn't mean I'll forget." Serena said this fiercely. If she had a knife, Vincent suspected she was more butcher than doctor.

Honestly, Serena now was pretty much like a butcher too—if butchers sharpened their knives for pigs and sheep, she aimed hers at them. Vincent shrank back. "Just write me a prescription, I want to go home."

Vincent was afraid that if he stayed any longer, Serena would change her mind, so he hurried her for the medicine. Gold and silver have their price, but health is priceless. Spending a thousand taels of gold to cure his kidney deficiency wouldn't be a loss—but since Serena said it was free, he'd be a fool not to take advantage. Besides, Serena was never short on money.

"Wait here." Serena turned and went back to her room. When she came out again, she was carrying a basket of medicine. "This is one course of treatment. I've written out the instructions—look them over when you get home. If you have any questions, just ask me."

Serena wasn't an expert at treating kidney deficiency, so she only prescribed Vincent some general strengthening and kidney-tonic medicine. Vincent was exhausted and really needed the boost.

"That's it? Why don't you give me more? Is it because you're waiving my consultation fee, so you're skimping on my medicine?" Vincent checked Serena's instructions carefully. She had written everything out in detail, including precautions and foods to avoid—there was nothing left to ask.

Very thoughtful. She really is a good doctor.

Serena was in no mood to chat with a man suffering from kidney deficiency. "Finish this course, then come back for a follow-up. Do you think medicine is like food—the more, the better? Make sure you rest and don't overwork. Also... well, best to avoid too much sexual activity for a while."

Serena realized she was getting more bashful these days. She couldn't even say "sexual activity" with a straight face anymore. She had truly adapted to this world, for better or worse.

"Ahem, I get it." Vincent coughed twice. What Serena found embarrassing, Vincent thought was shockingly bold. Luckily, he was used to Serena's straightforwardness.

With the matter settled and the bargain secured, Vincent didn't linger. He grabbed the medicine and prepared to leave. "Alright, I'm heading out." He was eager to get home and start his treatment.

"Go on, go on." Serena didn't try to stop him, waving her hand to shoo Vincent away.

Granted a pardon, Vincent dashed out with his medicine. On the way, he ran into servants of Feng Manor, who all stopped to greet him: "Good day, Young Master Su."

"Good day, Young Master Su."

If it were any other day, Vincent Su would have paused and flashed his signature gentle smile at the servants to show off his poise. But today...

He felt like every single glance was silently saying: So Young Master Su has kidney deficiency.

Poor guy, so young and already kidney deficient.

Young Master Su, so young and already suffering from kidney deficiency—how pitiful!

Imagine, in this situation, how could he possibly smile, act nonchalant, or stroll leisurely as usual?

Seeing the Feng Manor servants was like seeing ghosts; Vincent bolted, and in his panic, the basket of medicine tumbled out: "Young Master Su, your medicine! You dropped your medicine!"

A servant picked up a bottle, waved it, and hurried after him. Vincent stopped to thank him, only to see, in huge characters on the label: "Kidney-Tonic Capsules."

Kidney-tonic, my ass...

As if chased by a rabid dog, Vincent snatched the medicine and leapt into his carriage.

Feng Manor—he was never coming back. Absolutely, utterly heartbroken.

For a man, being sick is just too much to bear!

The servant stood there, completely baffled, unable to figure out what he'd done wrong.

Sweat... If Serena were here, she'd tell Vincent: Not only is your kidney weak, but your heart is too. These days, how many servants can even read? It's just kidney deficiency—why get so worked up? Anyone who doesn't know might think you've caught some scandalous disease.

High up in Feng Manor's tallest tree, all the shadow guards crowded together to watch the drama. Now the show was over—it was time to get back to work.

They played rock-paper-scissors to decide who'd go to Ninth Prince Manor and report Young Master Su's kidney deficiency to their master. One unlucky guard lost.

"Do we really need to tell the master about something this trivial? I think it's better not to," the loser said, playing the martyr.

The others shot him looks of disdain: "You were the loudest about reporting it, now you want to back out because you lost? No way, go on!"

Come on, if this were anything important, would they really decide by rock-paper-scissors?

"Fine, I'll go. What's the big deal? By the way... those symptoms Serena listed, I think I have a few myself. What do you think, should we ask the master to let Serena check us all out, or just steal Vincent's medicine?" The unlucky guard stalled, not wanting to leave.

Forget stealing Vincent's medicine—he'd guard it with his life. But asking Serena for a check-up, now that was possible; she was a great doctor. "We allow you to represent us and ask the master. If he agrees, we're fine with it," the guards snickered.

After years of living upside-down, always on edge, cramped in one spot for hours, even with expensive tonics, they still had plenty of little health issues.

But bringing this up with the master? Was that asking for credit, or admitting they weren't up to the job?

If it was credit they wanted, forget it—the master was already dissatisfied with this bunch. If it was admitting weakness, then back to retraining they'd go.

Really, this wasn't something to bring up with the master. If you had to mention it, maybe talk to Serena; but as for the master... no way.

The unlucky guard shook his head over and over, dragged out by the others, every step heavy as he trudged off to Ninth Prince Manor.

Moving like a shadow, the guard slipped past the surveillance outside the manor, silently entered the study, and knelt with a thud: "Master, Young Master Su accompanied Miss Feng outside the city this afternoon. The burial site for General Feng and Madam Feng has been chosen. On the way back, Young Master Su felt unwell. After Miss Feng's diagnosis, it was determined to be kidney deficiency."

His tone was flat, but only he knew how nervous and worried he was inside.

"Mm." Ninth Royal Uncle answered, signaling he understood, and gestured for the guard to continue. But...

Cold sweat broke out on the guard's forehead. He had nothing else to report, and didn't dare waste the master's time. Bracing himself, he said, "Master, I beg leave."

"Mm." Ninth Royal Uncle still said nothing more, just acknowledged. The guard fled as if pardoned, terrified of being punished for lingering.

After the guard left, Ninth Royal Uncle tapped the table lightly, his deep eyes flickering with a strange light. If the guard had seen this, he might've burst into tears on the spot, because...

Ninth Royal Uncle thought: the shadow guards around Serena were getting cleverer, but they really didn't know what mattered. They reported every little thing as if it were earth-shattering.

Clearly, these people were too idle. Time to ramp up their training.

Besides, even someone as pampered as Vincent Su was now kidney deficient—these shadow guards probably had their own hidden health issues. For their own good, he should intensify their physical training!

Ninth Royal Uncle came up with several reasons to increase their training, but never once thought of having Serena do check-ups—letting her miss out on a tidy health-screening fee.

Ahem... thinking too much. The shadow guards had their own doctors, experts in pharmacology, and their bodies were basically developed with medicine. Those doctors knew best how to treat them.

With the burial site and Vincent's issues settled, Serena was done. Ninth Royal Uncle had also sent Felix Fuller away. Felix had come sincerely to talk, but so what?

Felix had his own responsibilities and mission, and so did he. He wouldn't give up or trust Felix just because of a few earnest words.

After leaving Ninth Prince Manor, Felix went straight to the palace. He didn't need to announce himself; he went right in and saw the Emperor. The Emperor was fiddling with a chessboard—ever since losing to Ninth Royal Uncle, he'd been obsessed with the game.

When Felix entered, the Emperor didn't even look up. "How did it go?" he asked.

"Ninth Royal Uncle was unmoved," Felix replied, meeting the Emperor's gaze instead of bowing his head. This showed both his pride and that he was laying all his thoughts bare, letting the Emperor know he had no hidden agenda.

"Unmoved? My ninth brother's mind is growing deeper," the Emperor nodded, putting away the chess pieces. "Play a game with me."

"Yes," Felix forced himself forward.

He hated playing chess with the Emperor—it was torture. He wasn't like Nolan, who could crush the Emperor's forces without mercy. Letting the Emperor win without leaving a trace was a real test of skill...

—End of Chapter—