"You haven't given up on treating her."
"I'm the one who harmed her," the speaker finally showed some emotion, a faint sadness clouding his eyes.
In his youth, due to his personality, he rarely grew close to others.
Back then, only a close personal maid by his side was nearer to him. In his hazy youth, they developed feelings for each other. Who would have thought that people of their status would ever allow a distinguished young master to get close to a maid?
So she was driven away. By the time he found her, she was already foolish and lost. No one knew what she had experienced in the interim.
Although he knew now that it was merely a youthful infatuation, how could he pretend not to know about the woman who became foolish because of him?
"I really don't understand you. She's just a maid, and she's worth all this trouble for you? If you feel you owe her, why not find a decent young man for her and keep her in the manor, ensuring she has food and clothing for life? Wouldn't that be better? Or perhaps you still harbor feelings for her..."
Shangguan Lin glared at the man opposite him with suspicion.
At times, he truly couldn't fathom what this man was thinking. He liked tending to flowers and plants, saying that every flower was like every woman, possessing an innate beauty that deserved to be treated well.
He couldn't agree with this philosophy. Why were women so great?
However, he didn't want to argue with this madman. Furthermore, this man could be so indifferent to his parents for the sake of a maid. He didn't know whether to call him mentally ill or to question his thought process.
"You wouldn't understand, Lin. And is that doctor called Feng Guan really that capable?"
Ye Wuyun slightly lifted his eyelashes. He knew that talking about such matters with Master Shangguan would not gain his approval, and it would be a waste of effort.
He sought her out today because everyone praised the Ghost Hand Feng Guan's superb medical skills. He wanted to confirm if that person was truly skilled. If he possessed extraordinary medical expertise, he would spend a thousand pieces of gold to invite him to treat Qiao Fan.
"When it comes to medical skills, he is indeed formidable. However, that person is too cunning, like a dragon that never shows its head or tail. No one knows where he is now?"
Shangguan Lin gritted his teeth in annoyance at the thought of that cunning fellow.
After their parting at Fengya Pass, there was no further news. He had originally sent Mu Li to track him to confirm his whereabouts, but who knew that Yun Zhen would employ the tactic of the golden cicada shedding its shell, disappearing without a trace?
Now, not only Ye Wuyun but even the Emperor was looking for him. He was also searching, but there was no news at all. This person seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"If he is that capable, I will definitely find him."
Ye Wuyun spoke faintly. He just needed to confirm that the person was fine, and he would find him using his own methods.
Hearing Ye Wuyun's words, Shangguan Lin quickly smiled and said, "If you have any news of him, be sure to let me know."
Ye Wuyun raised his fine, attractive eyebrows. "What are you looking for him for?"
Shangguan Lin froze and became somewhat uneasy. To be honest, he just wanted to find him. What was he looking for him for? Right, that fellow was very interesting.
In all these years, he had never met anyone who wasn't afraid of him and who would bare their teeth at him.
If he found him, he would definitely become sworn brothers with such a person, interacting with each other from then on. Shangguan Lin was making calculations in his heart.
The private room was quiet for a moment. The commotion downstairs attracted their attention, and the two of them leaned forward to look down.
They saw two striking figures standing at the entrance of the grand hall below.
A youth as fine as jade and a graceful woman. The moment the two appeared, they caused a stir.
The youth's complexion was like jade, his skin fair, his eyebrows curved like willow branches, his large eyes as dark and deep as a pool of clear water, emitting a shimmering radiance as they moved. Beneath his proud, straight nose, his lips were plump and alluring, and he moved with a flowing, elegant grace.
He held a gauze fan in his hand, tapping it lightly, enjoying himself. With a casual sweep of his gaze, he heard many gasps from downstairs. It was evident that there were many female guests in the hall.
Looking at the woman beside him, she should be his maid. The two of them seemed to be on very good terms, whispering and chatting intimately as they turned their heads.
It was hard to believe that even a mere maid could be so outstanding. Who was this person?
Interesting, Shangguan Lin and Ye Wuyun exchanged glances and then spoke.
"When did such stunning beauties appear in Yanjing? How could we not know about them?"
"I don't know where they came from, truly breathtaking."
Ye Wuyun nodded lightly and retracted his gaze. He rarely showed interest in matters that didn't concern him.
His most pressing concern now was how to find the world-renowned Ghost Hand Feng Guan. This was the most important matter at hand. Qiao Fan couldn't be delayed any longer, or her youth would be wasted.
Meanwhile, Shangguan Lin was still watching with great interest from the windowsill, his usual aloofness receding considerably.
This surprised Ye Wuyun. After all, Shangguan Lin was sometimes very cold and aloof, and he had never seen him show interest in anything.
If there was anything, it was only the person in the palace, and nothing else. Yet now, he was showing interest in the two people downstairs. Was it the young master, or the beauty?
"I'm leaving."
Ye Wuyun stood up. He needed to order people to search, as he didn't have time to waste with him.
Shangguan Yao turned around and, with rare kindness, reminded him.
"Don't waste your efforts. That guy is extremely cunning. He must be somewhere in Yanjing City right now, hiding in some corner, but just not letting anyone find him."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Ye Wuyun's refined features as he stared at Shangguan Lin, who was still turning to watch the scene downstairs.
Shangguan Lin's expression just now was truly rare, his pupils shimmering unexpectedly, and a smile playing on his lips.
Could it be?
Ye Wuyun shrugged his shoulders, hoping he was overthinking. He pulled open the door to leave. He was too lazy to believe this fellow and couldn't just sit and wait. As he stepped out, he suddenly remembered something and spoke in a deep voice.
"The Divine Dragon Palace seems to have been unusually active lately. You all need to be careful. I heard that Murong Chong's Four Great Protectors have all been dispatched."
Ye Wuyun pulled the door shut and walked out.
Shangguan Lin finally came back to his senses, retracted himself, his face becoming grave.
The Four Great Protectors of the Divine Dragon Palace, like Murong Chong, were mysterious and unfathomable. No one knew who they were or what they did, only that whenever those individuals appeared, they wore masks.
Lüehua, Nongying, Canhong, Luori.
These four were still the Four Great Protectors of the Divine Dragon Palace. Everyone had only heard of their names, not seen them in person. It was unexpected that they had appeared now.
What did the Divine Dragon Palace intend to do? Shangguan Lin suddenly became nervous and sat in the private room with a heavy heart. Should he report this matter to his imperial brother?
He believed the information Ye Wuyun obtained was absolutely true because Qin Yu Tower was this fellow's intelligence network, which was why he always sought him out. Despite his cold demeanor, his sources of information were extensive.