Chapter 125

C125 – You Are Quite Open-minded

Tang Yue blushed and gently pushed him, but he didn’t resist, allowing the embrace to continue.

He could feel the steady pulse of Crown Prince Zhao and the reassuring strength of his chest, evoking a sense of security within him.

It was almost surreal to experience this level of comfort from a young man. Had Crown Prince Zhao matured early, or had he been too carefree in his previous life?

“I’m not skilled in sweet-talking or flattery. I hope you don’t mind,” Crown Prince Zhao consoled Tang Yue while rubbing his back and planting a kiss atop his head.

Tang Yue smiled at him and replied, “That’s perfectly fine. If Your Highness were overly smooth-tongued, I might have been concerned.”

Tang Yue didn’t inquire about the fate of the group of kidnappers; it wasn’t the primary concern. All that mattered was that, from this moment on, the compassion and admiration he held in his heart were enough to move him deeply.

In this lifetime, regardless of the ultimate outcome, he was determined to pursue the love he desired, even if it meant flying close to the flame like a moth.

“The wedding is fast approaching. How are the preparations at the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion coming along? I’m here to help if there are any difficulties,” Crown Prince Zhao inquired.

Tang Yue was reminded by this and, checking the date, felt his heart race. He gently pushed Crown Prince Zhao away, touching his own nose awkwardly. “These matters should be handled by the family. Your Highness need not trouble yourself with them.”

“I’m more than willing to help.” If not for the prestige of the Yueyang Marquis’s Mansion, Crown Prince Zhao would have personally overseen all the arrangements for Tang Yue.

Imagining that he would soon take Tang Yue under his wing and build a life together filled Crown Prince Zhao with anticipation for the future.

Having grown up within the confines of the palace and experienced the ravages of war, Crown Prince Zhao had not felt this kind of zest for life in many years. This sensation, it seemed, was happiness.

After their conversation, Crown Prince Zhao arranged for a carriage to take Tang Yue back home. According to custom, the two of them were not allowed to meet before the wedding, but as they were of the same gender, it went unnoticed by others.

At his doorstep, Tang Yue encountered Xiang Ann. The latter halted his carriage and greeted him with an air of importance, saying, “Master, I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while!”

Tang Yue couldn’t be bothered to correct him and went straight to the point, asking, “Xiao An, why have you been waiting for me?”

Xiang Ann nodded cautiously, glancing around before discreetly retrieving a bag from his backpack and handing it to Tang Yue. “Master, please inspect this. I have a lingering suspicion about its contents.”

“What’s in it?” Tang Yue inquired, accepting the bag and carefully examining its contents. His reaction was immediate, his eyes widening in astonishment. He struggled to hold onto the bag without dropping it.

Internally, he cursed. Was this youngster attempting to play a macabre prank on him? Who would carry human body parts around and present them like valuable treasures?

“Ahem... Where did you come across this item?”

“I obtained it from a deceased body, Master. Would you suggest that your disciple had the audacity to dissect a living person?”

That was a delicate matter to broach.

“Shock... What does that entail?” Xiang Ann rested his chin on his hand, gazing at Tang Yue with curiosity, as though eager to learn more.

Tang Yue couldn’t help but smile. With such a promising student, he might eventually surpass him in the field.

“Shock is a sudden condition where the body experiences reduced effective blood flow and microcirculation blockages, leading to vital organs receiving insufficient blood and oxygen. In simpler terms, it’s when a patient’s heart suddenly stops beating, and their breathing ceases, resembling a state of false death.”

Xiang Ann retained every word in his memory, though the full significance eluded him. He inquired, “Can a person survive without breathing and a heartbeat?”

“Actual death is characterized as brain death. If the heart regains its rhythm and breathing resumes, it’s not considered death.”

“So, a person in shock isn’t really dead? Can they be saved?” It almost sounded like a fantastical tale to Xiang Ann, and he swallowed in disbelief.

“Certainly! But it hinges on the circumstances.”

Xiang Ann gazed at Tang Yue with eager eyes, brimming with delight. “Master, please accept me. I promise to bring honor to my sect.”

Tang Yue didn’t firmly reject him this time. Encountering such a promising disciple wasn’t common. Besides, Xiang Ann was at a suitable age. Given a few years of mentorship, he might truly become a renowned healer.

He cautiously remarked, “My medical knowledge follows a distinct path, quite different from contemporary practices. Are you certain you can embrace it?”

Xiang Ann vigorously nodded. “As long as your medical skills can heal and save people, they’re exceptional. There are no factions.”

“You’re remarkably open-minded!” Tang Yue mumbled to himself, inwardly agreeing. Maybe he had overly compartmentalized traditional and modern medicine. It seemed that these ancient people could adapt.

“If you become my disciple, you must obey my guidance and adhere to a set of rules. The most crucial one is refraining from experimenting on living beings. If you’re caught, you’ll be expelled from the sect and turned over to the authorities.”

“I agree, and I’ll consider you my mentor for life. You’ll be like a second father to me from now on!”

“Ahem...” Tang Yue nearly choked on his saliva. He couldn’t help but think, “This young man knows how to seize an opportunity. How could someone his age already have such a grown-up son?”

“Don’t get too excited yet. I’ll give you a one-month probationary period. If you pass, then I’ll officially accept you as my disciple. If not, don’t blame me for being strict.”

“One month...”

“Is there a problem?”

Xiang Ann scratched his head, hesitatingly adding, “You’re about to marry into the Crown Prince’s Palace soon. I doubt you’ll have much free time in a month. Besides, I won’t even be able to enter the Crown Prince’s Palace. Should we shorten the probation period?”

Tang Yue, who had been reminded twice in a day about his impending wedding, found it hard not to consider it.

It was the first time someone had bargained over the length of the probation period. Tang Yue felt somewhat awkward as he brought up his impending marriage. “Let’s extend it by a few more days. In the future, you’ll have the freedom to come and go in the Crown Prince’s Palace.”

“Thank you so much!” Xiang Ann exclaimed joyfully. When he went back to inform his father, he was sure to receive praise and prove that he wasn’t just fooling around. He would become the Crown Princess’s disciple in due time!