Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Exposing the Fake Scene
"This Divine Doctor," the voice was clear and cold, emanating authority, "has yet to hear your diagnosis. Do tell, what caused the Ninth Princess's leg ailment?"
"This…" The white-bearded old man was suddenly at a loss for words, as he had not actually diagnosed the condition.
Lai Hao hadn't mentioned it to him either.
In an instant, the gaze of everyone in the room converged on him, as if roasting him over a fire, causing him to sweat profusely.
With his experience wandering the Jianghu, the white-bearded old man swiftly regained his composure: "Emperor, the Ninth Princess's leg ailment is not congenital but acquired. If it were congenital, not even an immortal could cure it; but if it is acquired, it can be resolved as I just mentioned."
The Emperor nodded and said, "Hang'er, all the Imperial Physicians are here, and none object to the Divine Doctor's treatment, which shows his medical skill is superb. You should let the Divine Doctor look at your eyes soon."
Ye Yiheng lightly laughed, "Father Emperor, I need not trouble this Divine Doctor with my eyes."
"Why is that?"
"I believe he is a charlatan."
Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, Rhino Horn, and leopard bone are all precious medicinal materials.
Precious medicinal materials should only be used as guides in prescriptions; this "Divine Doctor's" recipe would require a veritable mountain of gold and silver.
This "Divine Doctor" was even more outrageous than the one from Linqing Pavilion!
And, in the world, only the Divine Doctor from Linqing Pavilion is so highly esteemed.
Ruofeng has yet to invite that person out of recluse; how could the second son of Leng Family manage to do so?
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's words, the Imperial Physicians present all straightened up; they did not believe that anyone could cure the leg and eye ailments that even the Imperial Hospital had failed to heal.
The "Divine Doctor's" earlier speech was indeed impressive, and they were not in a position to judge his authenticity. But now, hearing what the Crown Prince had said, they were quite hopeful that this Divine Doctor was a fraud.
In this way, the reputation of the Imperial Hospital would be preserved!
The Emperor sighed with a hint of frustrated disappointment before turning to Leng Yu Yan: "Miss Leng, let the Divine Doctor have a look at the blemish on your face."
Leng Yu Yan stood up and curtsied: "Emperor, please forgive my presumption, but I believe what Crown Prince has said is very true, this elderly man is likely a swindler."
At this, Ye Yiheng's elegant brows raised slightly.
This woman's opinion coincided with his own, a truly rare occurrence.
"Explain, how did you come to know?"
His voice was resonant and pleasing, with a touch of nonchalance and the air of someone enjoying the show.
As Leng Yu Yan was about to answer Ye Yiheng, Lai Hao spoke up: "Younger sister, this Divine Doctor was invited by me after great difficulty and many travels, do not throw a childish tantrum."
In his words, there was a hint of a warning glance directed at her.
"Brother, your words are mistaken," Leng Yu Yan said with a light smile. "I am no longer a child, how can I throw a childish tantrum?"
Under the veil, the corners of her lips curled into a mocking smile, unseen by those present.
However, the shimmering brilliance in her eyes caught the attention of the Ninth Princess, who had not spoken all day.
"The eyes of the Crown Princess Consort are beautiful," said the Ninth Princess, straightening up on her beauty couch, with a palace maid quickly propping her up with two cushions.
Finding a comfortable position to lean on, the Ninth Princess continued, "The voice of Crown Princess Consort is also lovely. I would like to hear why, in her eyes, this 'Divine Doctor' is a fraud?"
After the Crown Prince and the Ninth Princess asked in succession, the Emperor frowned slightly and said, "Miss Leng, speak plainly, I will not blame you."
Leng Yu Yan curtsied again: "If I claimed to be a Divine Doctor, would anyone here believe me?"
"Of course not, of course not," Grand Doctor Zeng was the first to wave his hand dismissively. "It's said that our Heavenly Bright God Doctor is a white-bearded old man; Miss Lai is a young maiden, how could she be the Divine Doctor?"
The other Imperial Physicians unanimously nodded in agreement.
"This white-bearded elder, aside from having the same white beard as the legendary Divine Doctor, seems to me to be bluffing about being a Divine Doctor, which is equally untrustworthy."
Leng Yu Yan slowly paced forward, stopping in front of the "Divine Doctor" and gently bent down.
The "Divine Doctor" was as nervous as if he were sitting on pins and needles, the young girl in front of him staring at him as if she could see right through him.
Her eyes, inherently radiant and bright, made his deceptive tricks seem completely transparent before her.
Leng Yu Yan straightened up, "Could Grand Doctor Zeng please take the 'Divine Doctor's' pulse and see if his pulse is disordered and his heart rhythm irregular at this moment?"
After Grand Doctor Zeng saluted the Emperor, and the Emperor nodded in agreement, Zeng grabbed the wrist of the white-bearded elder and held it down.
After a moment, Grand Doctor Zeng spoke, "Just as Miss Lai has said, this man's pulse is disordered and his heartbeat irregular, as if he is lying."
Leng Hao grew anxious, "Fifth Sister, you mustn't be disrespectful!"
"Second Brother, no need to rush." Leng Yu Yan turned around indifferently and reached out to grab the "Divine Doctor's" white beard and pulled hard, tearing off the entire beard cleanly.
The "Divine Doctor" felt his bare chin where his beard once was and fell from the stool to the floor in fright, "I, I, I had a beard before, it's just that... as one gets old, the beard falls out. I, I, I just stuck it back on."
Leng Yu Yan threw the white beard to the ground and dusted off her hands, "Well, if the white beard is fake, can the identity of the Divine Doctor still be real?"
If the Divine Doctor's most characteristic white beard was fake, then naturally his identity must be too.
The Emperor was furious, "Seize this man and throw him into the dungeon!"
Leng Hao's knees buckled, and he knelt down immediately, "Emperor, this subject admits his error, having searched for so long for the Divine Doctor only to find a fraud, this subject is at fault!"
The Emperor rose from his rattan chair and raised an eyebrow slightly, "You cannot be blamed for this matter, just now I and the other Imperial Physicians were nearly deceived as well."
Being so dull-witted, Leng Hao nearly caused me to lose my imperial dignity; this man must never be allowed to enter official service.
And the Princesses who wished to marry him shouldn't even think about it!
Leng Hao kowtowed in thanks, and upon lowering his head, saw the old man being dragged away like a lump of mud, feeling a chill run down his spine.
The Emperor left with a flick of his sleeve, and the other Imperial Physicians hurried to follow.
Watching Leng Yu Yan's figure preparing to leave, as if possessed by something, Ye Yiheng asked, "How could you tell the beard was fake?"
"If the Crown Prince were not blind, you would be able to see," Leng Yu Yan dropped these words and left gracefully.
Using her name to swindle and deceive was something she could not tolerate.
With just one sentence, Ye Yiheng was left dumbfounded in his spot.
From atop her luxurious couch, the Ninth Princess saw this and laughed heartily, "Even Sixth Brother has such a day, how amusing!"
Realizing there was still someone kneeling on the ground, Ye Yiheng gave him a kick.
Song Guo immediately raised his voice, "Your Highness has poor sight and walks with difficulty, it's really not appropriate for Leng Hao to still be kneeling here in the Ninth Princess's palace."
Being reminded by someone, Leng Hao scrambled up and retreated, nodding continuously, and fled from Xingning Palace as if escaping.
Then the Ninth Princess laughed again, "That someone even dares to dream about this Princess, truly a fool's dream."
Ignoring the Ninth Princess, Ye Yiheng leaned on Song Guo's arm and walked out.
"That trickster just now, was there something unusual about his facial beard?"
How had Leng Yu Yan seen through the deception when so many other Imperial Physicians had not?
Song Guo respectfully answered, "Your Highness, I have never grown a beard, so even if there were something unusual, I wouldn't be able to tell."
Ye Yiheng sighed, "I've asked too much of you."