Tan Hua - Chapter 83: Don’t Harass My Queen Again!

Chapter 83: Don’t Harass My Queen Again!

 

Pei Xingxu stayed up all night.

 

When Jun Qiyu brought Qi Miao to the palace, Pei Xingxu’s first reaction was aversion.

 

He had previously suppressed his jealousy, but now a strong sense of unwillingness awakened the possessiveness deep within him.

 

He didn’t want Jun Qiyu to keep pestering Song Liqing.

 

So, he deliberately took his time dressing and washing up, dawdling for a whole hour before slowly leading Song Liqing out.

 

Jun Qiyu had been sitting in the hall for a long time without saying a word. It wasn’t until he saw Song Liqing that he raised his eyebrows slightly.

 

“Imperial Physician Qi has traveled a great distance to Jingguo because he is 90% confident that he can cure… the queen’s eye disease,” Jun Qiyu said as he approached.

 

He and Qi Miao had discussed it for a day. Song Liqing’s mental state was challenging to treat, and even finding the cause was difficult. All they could do was wait for the right opportunity. But the eye disease was external, and Qi Miao had studied it daily in the capital, achieving confidence in his ability.

 

Pei Xingxu responded with a simple “hmm,” holding Song Liqing’s hand as they passed Jun Qiyu and sat together on the throne.

 

Jun Qiyu lowered his gaze, feeling that Song Liqing’s actions seemed somewhat deliberate, as if declaring his relationship with Song Liqing.

 

Perhaps he was overthinking because he cared too much. Jun Qiyu dismissed the thought.

 

“What did you just say?” Pei Xingxu shifted his gaze away from Song Liqing and said, “Oh, Imperial Physician Qi, it’s been a long time. Thank you for thinking of Liqing and traveling all the way to Loulan.”

 

Qi Miao stood and said, “Liqing is my close friend; it’s the least I can do.”

 

Hearing Qi Miao’s voice, Song Liqing happily asked, “Brother Qi Miao, why didn’t you come to play with me yesterday?”

 

Qi Miao smiled and said, “Yesterday was the grand ceremony, and you and the King of Loulan were the main characters. How could I drag you away to run around?”

 

“Oh, then stay in the palace with us. If we live closer, it’ll be easier for you to find me!” Song Liqing chattered on. “Loulan is nice, but there are too few people who can speak Zhongyuan’s language. Talking to them is so dull; they can’t understand anything I say…”

 

“Uh…” Qi Miao glanced at Pei Xingxu, seeking his approval.

 

Pei Xingxu did not respond directly but said, “You can see that Liqing is homesick. The Jingguo delegation will return to the capital tomorrow, so even if you didn’t come today, I would have invited you to catch up with Liqing.”

 

“Was it the Demon Lord who asked you to come?” Song Liqing tilted his head suspiciously.

 

The mentioned Jun Qiyu straightened a little, shook his head at Qi Miao, and stayed silent.

 

Qi Miao caught the hint and replied, “Of course not. I’m in the capital, and he’s in the northwest. We haven’t been in contact.”

 

“That’s good.” Song Liqing reminded him, “Make sure you don’t associate with him. We don’t play with him—hush!”

 

Jun Qiyu’s eyelids drooped.

 

In this moment, he felt like the most injured person in the world.

 

“Liqing, let me take a look at your eyes.”

 

Just as Qi Miao was about to step forward, Pei Xingxu spoke first.

 

“I don’t think Imperial Physician Qi needs to bother. In a few days, I’ll have Loulan’s best physician treat Liqing’s eye disease,” Pei Xingxu paused and then added, “Today, just chat with Liqing to ease his homesickness. You’ll depart for Jingguo tomorrow, and who knows when you’ll meet again?”

 

Without thinking, Qi Miao said, “No problem. I can stay behind instead of traveling with the delegation. I’ll stay in Loulan for a few more days.”

 

“Does Imperial Physician Qi think so highly of his own skills that he looks down on Loulan’s physicians? Do you think only you can cure Liqing?” Pei Xingxu’s tone grew heavier.

 

Even the usually oblivious Qi Miao noticed the unwelcoming sentiment in Pei Xingxu’s words.

 

Pei Xingxu clearly did not want them to stay in Loulan.

 

“The King of Loulan is overthinking it. I only believe Liqing’s eye disease shouldn’t be delayed any longer…”

 

Realizing his tone had been harsh, Pei Xingxu reined in his hostility slightly.

 

“Imperial Physician Qi, I didn’t mean anything else. Since you’re here, go ahead and take a look.”

 

Pei Xingxu stepped aside, briefly locking eyes with Jun Qiyu.

 

Jun Qiyu scrutinized him, frowning slightly.

 

He wasn’t mistaken—Pei Xingxu was indeed acting unusually today.

 

What’s so special about getting married?

 

All this flaunting and rejecting.

 

Jun Qiyu felt sour and annoyed.

 

Song Liqing tilted his head back, his eyes wide open, allowing Qi Miao to examine them.

 

“The eyes have a cloudy white layer… They can perceive light but are obscured by a fog…”

 

Qi Miao murmured a few observations.

 

“It matches exactly with what my master described as cloudy eye syndrome.”

 

Song Liqing blinked his sore eyes and asked, “Brother Qi Miao, does that mean it can’t be cured?”

 

“It can! But…” Qi Miao hesitated and said, “But it requires another human eye.”

 

“Ah?!”

 

Song Liqing was startled and cried out.

 

Pei Xingxu asked, “A human eye, meaning…”

 

Seeing Song Liqing’s nervous and frightened expression, Qi Miao quickly explained, “It doesn’t mean taking someone’s entire eyeball. There’s a transparent part inside the human eye that can’t be healed with medicine if it’s damaged. It can only be replaced with a healthy one.”

 

“A living… person’s eye?!”

 

Song Liqing’s face turned pale.

 

“No! I won’t do it!”

 

Song Liqing waved his hands in terror. He never imagined that curing his eyes would require taking someone else’s.

 

Jun Qiyu muttered, “If you take that transparent part from someone, they’ll go blind, won’t they?”

 

“Yes, which is why I said there’s a 90% chance of success,” Qi Miao said reluctantly. “How many people would willingly give up their sight…”

 

Jun Qiyu fell silent for a moment.

 

“Slaves or condemned prisoners might work, right?”

 

“Cousin! How can you say such things?” Song Liqing shouted.

 

“Isn’t that what slaves are for? And condemned prisoners are going to die anyway.”

 

Song Liqing was stunned. He couldn’t believe how calmly Jun Qiyu uttered such cruel and domineering words.

 

He spoke with anguish, “Even slaves and condemned prisoners are human. Your elder brother is a wise ruler admired for his compassion. Acts of tyranny will only alienate the people. Such brutality is something only a tyrant like the Demon Lord would do!”

 

Jun Qiyu touched his nose, not daring to speak.

 

“…Hmm?”

 

Song Liqing turned his head toward Jun Qiyu.

 

He felt increasingly suspicious. Although the voice was different, the tone and habits were eerily similar to the Demon Lord’s.

 

Song Liqing’s lips moved slightly as he lowered his head in thought.

 

“Maybe… I just won’t get treated.”

 

Song Liqing seemed a bit downhearted. But if curing himself meant taking someone else’s vision, even if they volunteered, he wouldn’t feel good about it. He couldn’t live with such a burden.

 

Qi Miao said, “I’ll think about it when I return to the capital. Maybe there’s another solution.”

 

Pei Xingxu said, “Alright. Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to escort Imperial Physician Qi and the Jingguo delegation to the border.”

 

“Cousin is leaving?” Song Liqing looked up and asked.

 

Pei Xingxu glanced at Jun Qiyu and said, “Yes, he’s been in the capital for a while now. It’s time for him to go home.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Song Liqing felt a little regretful.

 

Now there would be no one to sneak food and wine with him. Finding someone as reliable and discreet would be difficult.

 

Jun Qiyu opened his mouth but refrained from speaking further. However, he had made up his mind.

 

Once Jun Qiyu and Qi Miao left, Pei Xingxu sat back down beside Song Liqing.

 

Seeing Song Liqing’s reluctance, his eyes darkened.

 

“Liqing, do you like him?”

 

“Who? Cousin?” Song Liqing answered honestly, “Yes, I like him. He’s warm and obedient. He listens to everything I say.”

 

A flame ignited in Pei Xingxu’s pupils.

 

Even after hiding his identity and changing his name, Song Liqing repeatedly fell for him.

 

“Don’t wander around. I’m going to see them off.”

 

Pei Xingxu patted Song Liqing’s back.

 

Song Liqing nodded and said, “Alright, go quickly.”

 

Pei Xingxu hurried after Jun Qiyu.

 

“Jun Qiyu,” Pei Xingxu stopped in front of Jun Qiyu, “Don’t show yourself in front of Liqing again after tomorrow.”

 

“Oh?”

 

Jun Qiyu’s lips curled into a cold smile.

 

“Your role ends here. You’ve witnessed my and Liqing’s wedding. Did you see? He’ll be very happy with me and will no longer be haunted by past nightmares.”

 

Jun Qiyu gazed into the distance, catching sight of Song Liqing sitting alone in the grand hall, waiting anxiously for Pei Xingxu to return.

 

Here, he had no family.

 

“Happy? Here, he has no one to talk to except you. Is that what you call happiness?” Jun Qiyu gritted his teeth as he spoke.

 

“I’ll always be by his side!” Pei Xingxu shouted. “At least here, he doesn’t have to live in fear!”

 

“Oh, so you can’t wait to drive me away,” Jun Qiyu sneered. “Is it because now that you’re married and have a title, you have the grounds to stop Liqing from seeing me?”

 

“If that’s how you see it, you’re not wrong,” Pei Xingxu admitted.

 

Jun Qiyu’s face darkened. “You know he’ll be afraid of me if he recognizes me. I can only approach him by hiding my identity. Without it, he’ll refuse to see me at all…”

 

“Jun Qiyu, isn’t this a consequence you should bear yourself? Why should I pay for it? Help my rival steal my beloved? Sorry, I’m not that magnanimous.”

 

Pei Xingxu spoke with righteous confidence. If the roles were reversed, Jun Qiyu wouldn’t allow Song Liqing to interact with someone who harbored intentions toward him either.

 

Pei Xingxu continued, “You’re a man. Could you willingly hand over the one you love to someone else? If you can’t, why should I?”

 

Jun Qiyu was thoroughly provoked, the space between his brows furrowing deeply.

 

“But you can’t protect him forever! You…”

 

Jun Qiyu swallowed the rest of his sentence.

 

“My illness, right? I’m not dead yet,” Pei Xingxu said coldly. “So before I die, please don’t harass my queen again!”

 

The veins on Jun Qiyu’s forehead throbbed.

 

“You…”

 

“What are you arguing about?”

 

Song Liqing’s voice sounded from behind them. He had unknowingly arrived at the grand hall’s entrance, leaning against the wall.

 

Jun Qiyu immediately shut his mouth.

 

Pei Xingxu hurried over and took his hand.

 

“We weren’t arguing. Cousin just can’t bear to leave, so he raised his voice,” Pei Xingxu lied effortlessly.

 

“Oh, but why did I hear… the Demon Lord’s voice?” Song Liqing looked around in confusion.