Farm Girl's Manor

Under Xiao Ruiyuan’s consolation, Mo Yan temporarily set aside the worries in his heart and followed him down the mountain with five beasts to the Phoenix Mountain Palace.

The events that transpired in Savage Beast Forest had already reached Emperor Huian’s ears through a guard who arrived first at the palace, and soon after, the news spread throughout the entire encampment.

The noble ministers were anxiously waiting in the grand hall of the palace, for among those who were attacked by savage beasts in the forest were their sons. The atmosphere inside the hall was heavy and oppressive, with Emperor Huian sitting on the Dragon Throne, his face so sullen it seemed as though water might drip from it.

The attending Imperial Physicians waited tremulously in front of the hall, trying to minimize their presence as much as possible, fearing that one misstep could irritate His Majesty and cost them their lives needlessly.

Due to a shortage of hands, Doctor Gui, who was originally assigned to attend to Chu Heng’s health, was also summoned. He absent-mindedly stared out the door; those unaware of his disposition might think he was concerned about King Heng and others attacked by the pack of beasts, but in truth, he did not care about the life or death of anyone aside from Xiao Ruiyuan.

Yan Junyu was also there, gripping the Jade Bone Fan tightly, his expression solemn, far from his usual carefree demeanor. He worried not only about Xiao Ruiyuan but also about Mo Yan, who had suddenly burst into the encampment to rescue others.

Before long, the guards quickly carried in King Heng and the others into the main hall. At the command of Emperor Huian, the Imperial Physicians hurriedly took their medicine boxes and skillfully approached, first attending to King Heng, Prince Qi, and other distinguished princes and young masters from prominent families.

As for the injured guards, they had no privilege to be carried in here, and the bodies of the two young masters from prominent families who had unfortunately died were even more impossible to bring in, lest they offend Emperor Huian.

Seeing that Xiao Ruiyuan was not among those carried in, Yan Junyu and Doctor Gui immediately let go of the anxiety that had gripped them for so long, one resumed flicking his fan, and the other grabbed the wrist of the nearest Thirteenth Prince to feel his pulse.

After checking each one and confirming that these dignified princes and young masters had sustained non-critical injuries and were not in mortal danger, not only did the Imperial Physicians and noble ministers heave a sigh of relief, but Emperor Huian, who had not spoken a word until then, also visibly relaxed.

However, the thought of his sons going out in good health and being carried back in such a state, several of them maimed by the savage beasts, with no knowledge of whether they would ever stand again, twisted Emperor Huian’s face into an extreme grimace.

What Emperor Huian found even more difficult to accept was that King Heng, upon whom he had placed great hopes, had not only suffered severe damage to his right leg and hand, making recovery in the short term impossible, but the scratches on his face were worse than they appeared on the surface. Even after the wounds healed, ugly scars would remain, scars that not even the best Scar Removal Ointment from the palace could remedy.

With the help of the Little Eunuchs, King Heng managed to prop himself up laboriously, a forced genial smile on his face as he reassured the displeased Emperor Huian, "Father, it is a great fortune that your humble son has escaped death this time. As a man, what does disfigurement count for? If Father grieves and worries for me and harms your own health, that would be your son’s fault. I hope Father can take comfort."

Seeing what had become of his formerly handsome son and hearing his words, Emperor Huian’s face grew even darker. He patted King Heng’s shoulder and consoled him in a deep voice, "Ye, take good care of your injuries. Upon returning to the palace, I will issue a decree to find a good doctor to heal your face."

"Your humble son thanks you, Father!" King Heng replied with a faint smile, as if he genuinely did not mind the disfigurement, yet his eyes appropriately reflected a hint of sorrow.

This façade of fortitude, caught squarely by Emperor Huian, drew a rare look of distress on his august face, "We are father and son, Ye. There is no need to thank me, nor should you indulge in reckless thoughts, which are of no help to your injuries."