TFWYH – Chapter 757 The Old Doctor

Ling Shang cast a quick glance at Ling Yu before smiling and returning the greeting with a cupped-fist salute.

“Indeed, I am.”

“Greetings, National Preceptor. I am Huangfu Yi, the second son of His Majesty. On behalf of my imperial father, I welcome all of you to the Celestial Empire.”

“So it is the Second Prince. My respects.”

“You are too courteous, National Preceptor. My father knows that you have traveled a great distance and must be weary, so he has specially prepared some of the finest halls within the palace for your accommodation. Please follow me into the palace to rest and recover. This evening, His Majesty will hold a banquet in your honor.”

“Staying in the palace, hmm…”

Ling Shang smiled faintly before asking,

“Would that not be somewhat inappropriate?”

Huangfu Yi glanced meaningfully at the people from the Southern Barbarians and the Northern Frontier in the distance.

“My father merely worries that certain idle individuals may disturb your peace. If the National Preceptor has reservations, rooms have also been prepared at the official guest residence. Whether you stay in the palace or at the inn shall be entirely your decision.”

“What the Second Prince says makes perfect sense.”

Ling Shang nodded.

“In that case, this National Preceptor shall stay in the palace.”

The moment those words were spoken, the princes and princesses of the Southern Barbarians and the Northern Frontier—who had been secretly listening nearby—turned black with anger.

The message could not have been clearer.

The Feng Kingdom had no desire for close dealings with either of their nations.

And upon hearing Ling Shang’s answer, Huangfu Yi secretly let out a huge sigh of relief. The smile on his face became far more genuine.

Intelligent people never spoke directly; their conversations always wound around mountain paths.

His earlier remarks had actually been a test to determine where Ling Shang stood.

And Ling Shang’s answer had been unequivocal.

Good.

At least for now, there was no need to worry about the Feng Kingdom aligning itself with either the Southern Barbarians or the Northern Frontier.

“In that case, National Preceptor, please come with me.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Second Prince.”

Ling Shang nodded and led Murong Hong and the others after Huangfu Yi.

However, as he passed by Ling Yu, he suddenly halted.

Turning his head, he looked at him and said,

“Sir, you bear a remarkable resemblance to an old acquaintance of mine. May I ask your surname and given name?”

“I am Ling Yu, Minister of Revenue.”

Ling Yu narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“May I ask who this acquaintance of yours is? Do I truly resemble him so closely?”

Ling Shang smiled and shook his head.

“To call it a resemblance would be inaccurate. You are, in fact, identical.”

“As for that person’s name…”

“He was called Doctor.”

Ling Yu’s entire body trembled.

He abruptly raised his eyes and stared fixedly at Ling Shang.

Ling Shang merely laughed silently, withdrew his gaze, and continued walking forward.

Ling Yu remained standing in the cold wind, frozen in that posture for a very long time.

…

That evening, the imperial palace held a grand banquet.

The emperor hosted a feast to welcome the foreign envoys.

Ling Yu had returned home in the morning, yet instead of going back to his room, he had locked himself inside his study…

For a very, very long time.

His behavior worried Ling Yue and Ling Chen greatly.

When Tang Wan came home, the two children rushed toward her as though they had seen their savior.

Ling Yue said,

“Big Brother came back this morning, but he’s been shut inside the study ever since. He hasn’t even eaten.”

Ling Chen added,

“Sister-in-law, did you make Big Brother angry? If so, why don’t you divorce him? When I grow up, I’ll marry you instead!”

Faced with the two little ones, Tang Wan could only shake her head helplessly.

“I’ll go check on him. You two go eat.”

Honestly, what went through these kids’ heads all day?

If she ever actually agreed to marry him, her mother would probably be the first person to come after her!

Tang Wan walked to the study.

Before she could knock, Mu Qingfeng appeared in a flash and blocked her path.

“He said he doesn’t want to see anyone.”

Tang Wan pointed at herself.

“Not even me?”

Just as Mu Qingfeng was about to nod, Ling Yu’s hoarse voice came from inside.

“Qingfeng, let Wan-niang come in.”

Upon hearing that, Mu Qingfeng immediately vanished and no longer stood in her way.

After a moment of hesitation, Tang Wan pushed the door open and entered.

Looking up, she saw Ling Yu sitting beside his desk.

And on the desk…

was a tray.