Chapter 45: Too Exciting!

Chapter 45: Too Exciting!

Inside a chamber of the imperial palace, the emperor looked at Ye Tian with delight. After pondering for a moment, Ye Tian finally spoke. "Your Majesty, I have already discerned the princess's illness and devised a treatment. However, the method is somewhat troublesome and requires your decision." Ye Tian bowed as he spoke.

"Really?" The emperor exclaimed in joy. "How confident are you?"
"About eighty percent," Ye Tian replied truthfully.
"Eighty percent? What does that mean?" The emperor was momentarily puzzled.
"It means eight out of ten," Ye Tian clarified.
"Eight out of ten—oh, eighty percent. So if success is ten, you are eight parts confident, correct?"
"Yes," Ye Tian answered.
"Good, I agree," the emperor declared.
"Your Majesty, please don’t be hasty. Allow me to explain everything," Ye Tian said awkwardly.
"Oh, what do you wish for?" The emperor assumed Ye Tian sought a reward and smiled.
"You misunderstand, Your Majesty. I do not seek anything. I wish to inform you about the treatment," Ye Tian replied with a wry smile.

"Oh, my apologies," the emperor became embarrassed, realizing Ye Tian was not after a reward. "Go ahead."
"The princess's illness is caused by the stagnation of blood within her veins. To treat her, I must clear her meridians—that is, her blood vessels. For this, I require a sealed room filled with heat, to accelerate the blood flow. I must also administer acupuncture, which requires...the princess to remove her clothing," Ye Tian explained.

The emperor's face turned pale at once. The princess, undressed before a man—what would become of the empire's honor?
"Is there no other way?"
"For now, there is not," Ye Tian replied. If someone could assist with inner force, it would be less troublesome—but where could he find such help?

"Let me consider this. Guards, escort Sir Geer to rest and grant any request he may have," the emperor ordered.
"Yes!" A maid stepped forward, bowed, and addressed Ye Tian, "Please, Sir."
"Thank you," Ye Tian nodded, following the maid out. The emperor collapsed into his chair, covering his forehead. "Summon the empress!" he commanded.

"By the way, my name is Geer. May I ask how I should address you, sister?" Ye Tian inquired.
"You may call me Lady Li," the maid answered calmly.
"Lady Li, could you help me by taking me to where the medicinal herbs are stored?" Ye Tian asked, uncertain of the proper term.

Lady Li paused abruptly, turned to look at Ye Tian, and asked, "Do you think His Majesty will agree to this?"
"I do not know," Ye Tian shook his head, "but I will prepare everything." Lady Li observed him for a moment and then said, "This way."

The palace's herb store was less diverse than the specialized shop Ye Tian had visited in Masher. One glance was enough for him.
"Is it not enough?" Lady Li asked.
"Not even close," Ye Tian replied.
"Write down what you need, I will procure it for you," Lady Li offered.
"I can't write," Ye Tian admitted with a bitter smile. Lady Li was unsurprised. "There’s still time; I’ll take you outside," she said, and led Ye Tian out of the palace.

"Do you need those kinds of things?" In Lady Li’s mind, only apothecaries or sorcerers used such odd herbs, but this young man clearly was not one—his golden badge was proof enough.

No wonder it was the imperial capital—the herb shops here were much larger and more comprehensive than the one Ye Tian had seen in Masher.
"This one, this one, this one, and this one!" Ye Tian spared no courtesy, purchasing a great many items in one go, leaving the onlookers astonished.

"Sir, this is poison," the attendant cautiously pointed to a piece of wolfbane.
"I know. Separate the packages, and do not mix them," Ye Tian instructed, continuing to search for useful items. Many he did not recognize, so he dared not buy them.

"Are you certain all these are useful?" Lady Li asked, frowning at the full sack.
"I’m not sure—let’s see when the time comes."
"And let’s stop by the inn; I need to find my friends," Ye Tian said, hoisting the sack.

Along the way, their presence turned heads in every direction—a young man carrying a large sack and a maid with a face as cold as ice, making for a truly odd pair.
"Hey, wait for me!" Ye Tian called out, wondering why Lady Li was walking faster and faster.

Lady Li felt like taking off her shoes and hitting Ye Tian with them. She was walking quickly precisely to avoid walking beside him. Pretending not to hear, she continued toward the inn. At the entrance, she stopped, waiting for Ye Tian to catch up. "Hurry, we must return before curfew," she said.

"Right. By the way, is this the only inn nearby?"
"Of course not, there are more than a dozen," Lady Li replied with a disdainful pout.
"Alright, let me check inside. If they’re not here, we’ll try another," Ye Tian said, setting down his sack and heading in.

"Wait!" Lady Li grabbed Ye Tian. "What do you mean, check inside? Don’t you know where your friends are staying?"
"We just arrived in Mumbai today. They went ahead to the inn, but I had other matters, so I didn’t follow. Then, on the way back, I accepted the royal summons," Ye Tian explained.

Lady Li’s lips twitched, finally muttering, "Hurry!"
"Understood," Ye Tian replied, striding into the inn.

Moments later, Ye Tian returned disappointed.
"Did you find them?" Lady Li asked coldly.
"No, it seems this is not the place," Ye Tian said with a smile. "Let’s try another."
"Hmph!" Lady Li snorted, ignoring him. Ye Tian wasn’t bothered, asked a few people nearby, then hoisted his sack and said, "There’s another inn ahead. Let’s go." He took the lead, and though Lady Li was reluctant, she followed.

"Not here."
"Not here."
"Still not here."
Ye Tian checked inn after inn. Damn it, why were there so many inns in the imperial capital? He glanced back at the maid, whose icy face now seemed to need no hydration.

"Let’s try one more. If I can’t find them, we’ll leave," Ye Tian said cautiously.
"Hmph!" Lady Li responded with a nasal sound, her eyes warning that if this went on, blood might be spilled.

"Just one more, just one more!" Ye Tian laughed, dashed ahead with his sack.

"How is it?" Lady Li asked, seeing Ye Tian’s face clouded with disappointment.
"Not here."
"Not here; they’ve been taken away," Ye Tian said gloomily.
"By whom?"
"I don’t know," Ye Tian shrugged. "Forget it, let’s head back to the palace. I still need to prepare." Hoisting his sack, he set off.

Lady Li snorted and led Ye Tian back to the palace. By then, night had fallen.

"Lady Li, His Majesty is looking for you," a young maid greeted them at the palace entrance, whispering something in Lady Li’s ear. Lady Li nodded. "Escort our guest below," she instructed.

"Yes," the maid bowed, then turned to Ye Tian. "This way, please."
"Thank you," Ye Tian smiled.
"Sir, would you like me to carry that for you?" The maid eyed the heavy sack Ye Tian carried.

"No need, it’s quite heavy," Ye Tian replied.
"No worries," the maid stepped forward, intent on taking the sack.
"No, really, it’s fine," Ye Tian said, dodging her attempt. The maid smiled, then naturally lifted the sack from Ye Tian’s shoulder, carrying it with ease.

"Oh, you’re really strong!" Ye Tian exclaimed in surprise.
"It’s nothing," the maid replied with a smile. "This way, please. After your journey, you must be hungry."
"It’s alright," Ye Tian said, wary of the food in this world—he could never get used to seven-tenths cooked beef.

"This way," the maid said, effortlessly carrying Ye Tian’s sack as she led him to a room.

"Please wash and change your clothes, then I will escort you to dinner," the maid bowed and left with the sack. Ye Tian curiously examined the room—a large bath awaited him.

"Heh, a hot bath!" Ye Tian looked at the steaming water and was instantly delighted. In moments, he stripped off his clothes, removed his wrist guards and leg wraps, and felt so light he might float away.

"Ha! Here I come!" Ye Tian jumped into the pool, the hot water relaxing his entire body.
"Wonderful!" he sighed, draping his arms over the edge.

Just then, footsteps echoed nearby. Ye Tian looked up and promptly slid into the water.

"You—you—what are you doing?" Ye Tian crouched in the pool, asking nervously. The person approaching was none other than Lady Li, his companion for the afternoon.

"I’m here to help you bathe," Lady Li replied, expressionless, as if it were the most trivial matter in the world.

"No, really, there’s no need!" Ye Tian quickly turned his head away, lest his nose start bleeding.