Chapter Thirty-Six: A Noble Status

Chu Yun nodded and said, “Lord Luo, your words make sense. I’d like to try and see if I can seize this opportunity. May I ask, whom do you want me to treat?”

Luo Feng replied, “It is the eldest son of the current King of Qi—the future ruler of Qi.”

Chu Yun was somewhat surprised. “I didn’t expect it to be the Prince of Qi. Yet, Lord Luo, even someone of such noble status may not have the authority to grant titles and lands, correct?”

Luo Feng explained, “Originally, noble titles and fiefs could only be bestowed by the Martial Emperor himself. But in recent years, for reasons unknown, the Martial Emperor has encouraged the various kingdoms to grant their own titles and lands. Thus, even though the Prince of Qi has not yet ascended the throne, he holds the right to confer rank and territory upon you.”

“So that’s how it is!” Chu Yun responded outwardly, but inwardly he was quite surprised.

He was never good at the liberal arts, and his grasp of history was even worse, so he truly didn’t know why the Martial Emperor had loosened restrictions on noble titles and fiefs and encouraged the kingdoms to exercise this power. What was his reason, and what was his purpose?

Luo Feng patted Chu Yun’s shoulder. “Doctor Chu, since you’ve agreed to treat the Prince of Qi, I’ll head to the royal city at once and introduce you to the King of Qi.”

“Chu Family Town is quite far from the royal city—even on horseback, a round trip would take eight days.”

“By the time I return, your clinic should be fully prepared and ready to open.”

“As your clinic opens, word of your dream—where you met an immortal and gained divine medical skills—will quickly spread throughout Chu Family Town.”

“The King of Qi will be even more convinced of your abilities and will agree to let you treat the prince.”

“So, Doctor Chu, please don’t mind that I bought you a house to help you open your clinic—I admit I had my own motives.”

Hearing this, Chu Yun grew concerned. “Lord Luo, your injury hasn’t fully healed yet. Traveling back and forth, enduring the jostling and fatigue, I fear your body might not withstand it.”

Luo Feng replied, “It’s nothing. Even if my wound acts up again, I still have you to treat me, don’t I? Besides, having received the ruler’s favor, I should do my part to ease his worries. The Prince of Qi has suffered from this strange illness for some time now, and his condition is worsening. Not a moment can be lost. I wish I could bring you to his side this instant to treat him.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Yun said, “In that case, why don’t I accompany you to the royal city? If we travel at a slower pace, it won’t delay the prince’s treatment too much, and I won’t have to worry about your health.”

At these words, Luo Feng frowned.

Chu Yun asked, “Lord Luo, what concerns you?”

Luo Feng replied, “I’m worried the King of Qi won’t believe in your medical skills and won’t allow you to treat his son. After all, even here in Chu Family Town, few wholly believe the story of your dream and the immortal’s gift of divine medical knowledge.”

That was true.

Although everyone saw that the two dignitaries trusted Chu Yun’s medical skills and had given him generous sums of money—suddenly enabling the poverty-stricken Chu Yun to enjoy a comfortable life—and both Jiang Lin and Luo Feng’s conditions had clearly improved, most still believed Chu Yun’s luck was simply a fluke.

A rascal, suddenly wealthy overnight, living the good life—it was as if the worst student suddenly leaped to the top of the class. No one could accept it; everyone suspected cheating.

The townsfolk were filled with envy and resentment, wondering why the immortal hadn’t appeared in their own dreams to bestow divine medical skills, so they too could heal, earn money, and live well.

Thus, they all waited for the day when Chu Yun would make a mistake in his treatments, and all his good fortune would vanish, restoring him to his former status as a nobody.

For these reasons, so far, Chu Yun had only treated Jiang Lin and Luo Feng.

No one else had come to him for medical attention.

Chu Yun thought for a moment and shook his head. “Lord Luo, if the Prince of Qi’s strange illness has baffled many renowned physicians and is now worsening, I believe the King of Qi will be willing to give me a chance.”

“There’s a saying—when all else fails, try anything. I believe the King of Qi won’t easily pass up any opportunity to save his son, especially since you will be personally introducing me.”

“Moreover, if we delay any longer and the prince’s condition worsens, I might not be able to help after all. I’ve received the immortal’s legacy, but I am not an immortal myself, and there are some illnesses I cannot cure.”

Luo Feng was silent for a moment before speaking. “Doctor Chu, your reasoning is sound. But I worry that, if you admit before the King of Qi that you are not completely certain you can cure his son, he may not give you the chance—and may even order your execution. To serve the ruler is to walk with a tiger, and the King’s temperament has grown volatile lately because of his son’s illness.”

Chu Yun replied, “So that’s what you’re worried about, Lord Luo. Don’t worry—I know how to conduct myself before the King of Qi.”

Luo Feng, reassured, patted his shoulder again. “Doctor Chu, with your word, I am at ease. Very well, to treat the Prince of Qi as soon as possible, we’ll depart for the royal city tomorrow.”

Chu Yun nodded. “Agreed. I’ll settle things at home today; you can come find me in the morning.”

Luo Feng said, “Good. Anyway, Jiang Lin is helping you set up your clinic. Perhaps, by the time we return from the royal city, your clinic will be ready to open.”

At this, he rubbed his nose and sighed inwardly that his reason for helping Chu Yun set up the clinic was to make the King of Qi believe in Chu Yun’s medical skills.

Now, the clinic’s role seemed almost insignificant to him.

Yet, thinking that Chu Yun would have a place to practice medicine and help more people, bringing benefit to the local folk, he felt genuinely pleased.