Accidentally Planting a Willow

"What? You mean my eldest senior brother doesn't know how old I am?"

Li Wuya looked at Zhan Peng in astonishment.

Zhan Peng replied matter-of-factly, "Of course. There's no way your eldest senior brother would have taken on an apprentice for you if he knew you were just a little kid."

Li Wuya thought about it and realized he was right. The Crown Prince was, after all, the emperor's son. Even if her eldest senior brother didn't care about the Crown Prince's face, he would have to consider the emperor's reputation.

If he

knew she was still a child and allowed a prince to become her disciple, would he want to live anymore?

Li Wuya suddenly grew concerned. If the Crown Prince knew her age, he probably wouldn't acknowledge her as his master.

No, she had to solidify her identity as the Crown Prince's master!

She had been thinking about how to change her family's military household status. This disciple came at just the right time. She could use him to change her family's status!

"Second senior brother, in your future letters to my eldest senior brother, don't mention me, especially my age."

Zhan Peng readily agreed, "Sure, Master also told me not to."

Li Wuya:

She had figured out that her old prankster of a master enjoyed watching his disciples' antics.

However, this saved her from trouble.

As long as her master and second senior brother didn't mention it, the distant disciple in the capital city would never know her age.

Li Wuya leaned closer to Zhan Peng and pleaded, "Second senior brother, I want to establish a connection with my disciple. Could you help me write a letter?"

Zhan Peng's expression turned reluctant. He didn't like writing at all. "Why don't you write it yourself?"

Li Wuya looked embarrassed. She wasn't skilled with a brush, and she didn't have the time or conditions to practice. Her handwriting was messy and unattractive.

If she wrote to a royal prince, who valued her reputation, it would damage her lofty image in his eyes.

"Second senior brother, you like massages, right? If you help me write the letter, I'll give you a massage."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Peng's face lit up. He quickly stood up and grabbed Li Wuya, heading straight to the study.

He loved it when his little junior sister gave him massages. After each massage, his body felt incredibly comfortable.

Unfortunately, his little junior sister was lazy and rarely gave him massages.

Seeing Zhan Peng prepare writing materials efficiently, Li Wuya's face broke into a triumphant smile.

Zhan Peng's martial arts were domineering, and his weapon was a heavy iron hammer weighing tens of kilograms. His muscles were always tense due to his daily training.

When Li Wuya massaged him, she used her healing abilities to soothe his body.

Zhan Peng had realized the benefits of massages and had become addicted.

"What should I write?"

With ink and brush prepared, Zhan Peng looked at Li Wuya.

Li Wuya rested her chin on her hand and pondered.

The Crown Prince was her eldest senior brother's doing. He probably had no intention of becoming her disciple, or rather, he probably didn't even know she existed.

If she guessed correctly, the Crown Prince was likely seeking to become her eldest senior brother's disciple.

As for her eldest senior brother, for whatever reason, whether he wasn't interested or just didn't favour the Crown Prince, he had outright rejected him. But he couldn't offend the emperor, so he orchestrated this show of taking on an apprentice on her behalf.

The actual reason didn't matter to her at all.

What she cared about was the benefits that came with being the Crown Prince's master.

"Oh, right, second senior brother, you mentioned before that my eldest senior brother seemed to be treating an illness for the Crown Prince. Is that true?"

Zhan Peng nodded. "Yes."

Li Wuya immediately asked, "What illness does the Crown Prince have?"

Zhan Peng shook his head. "I don't know, but he's close to death. Eldest senior brother wrote that he's just barely keeping him alive. How long he'll live depends on how long the Crown Prince can hold on."

"What? Close to death?!"

Li Wuya was first surprised, then a look of realization crossed her face.

No wonder!

She had thought so. Being the Crown Prince's master sounded like such a good thing, and her eldest senior brother rejected it. It turned out that it was because the Crown Prince was on his deathbed, which made it convenient for her.

Li Wuya's excitement and elation over gaining a royal prince as a disciple instantly cooled down.

After becoming a disciple of Old Man Tianchi, even though the Old Prankster hadn't taught her much, she could tell from various signs that his medical skills were at the top level in this era.

So, as his chief disciple, her esteemed eldest senior brother, it wasn't hard to guess that his medical skills were also remarkable.

For him to say he could only prolong the Crown Prince's life implied that the Crown Prince's illness was indeed severe.

A dying prince.

Li Wuya felt somewhat disappointed, but soon her emotions settled.

In any case, she had gained a disciple for free, and he was a prince. She had to maintain their relationship.

"Second senior brother, I know what to say to my disciple now. I'll tell you, and you write it."

Considering that the Crown Prince was ill, Li Wuya expressed her concern as a master, comforting him and urging him to relax and enjoy the present.

After Zhan Peng finished writing the letter, seeing that Li Wuya had no other response, he quickly said, "You're the master. Aren't you going to send a gift to your disciple?"

Li Wuya exclaimed, "A gift?" Then she huffed, "My master didn't give me a gift."

Zhan Peng said, "Master said that you can use the things in Tianchi Pavilion and the medicines in the medicinal fields. That's the gift."

Li Wuya pouted. She could see that Old Prankster didn't value her as a disciple.

From what she knew, when her eldest senior brother became a disciple, Old Prankster gave him a set of precise surgical instruments, suitable for surgeries from head to limbs. When her second senior brother became a disciple, he received a hammer made of extraterrestrial meteoric iron, weighing tens of kilograms.

And her?

She was supposed to use things from Tianchi Pavilion, but in reality, that meant she didn't get anything!

Sigh, a voluntarily offered disciple isn't cherished!

Thinking about her disciple's situation, which was similar to hers, she said, "Fine, my disciple is sick, so I'll prepare some medicine for him."

Three days later, along with the letter, three bottles of Qi and Blood Pills for nourishing vitality and blood, as well as a formula for a strengthening herbal bath, were bundled and sent to the capital city using a golden eagle.

Regarding this unexpectedly acquired disciple, Li Wuya had no emotional attachment, but after all, she was his master, so some responsibility was necessary.

Someone who had been ill for a long time would surely have a deficiency in both vitality and blood.

With diminished vitality and blood, the body would weaken.

A weakened body couldn't eat properly or move, creating a vicious cycle that worsened the condition.

She had put some effort into crafting the Qi and Blood Pills.

These were both medicine and health supplements, easy to absorb, and wouldn't add extra burden to the disciple's body.

Then there was the formula for the herbal bath that enhanced physical strength. It was the same one that Li's family had used for their first bath. Though it was a basic version and couldn't compare to potent tonics, it was sufficient for a patient.

If the Crown Prince took the medicine and bathed with the herbs, and his condition improved, there would be hope for his recovery.

Li Wuya felt that she had done enough as a master at this point.

As for her abilities, like using her unique powers to save people—no, she hadn't even considered that.

Even if they had a strong bond or affection, she wouldn't reveal her profound medical skills to a royal person.

Capital City.

The Crown Prince's residence.

Suppressed screams echoed from the main hall. Even from a distance, one could sense the unimaginable pain the person inside was currently experiencing.

The screams continued for half an hour before stopping.

"Your Highness, it's time for your medicine!"

A eunuch in his thirties entered the bedroom, carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup.

Seeing the Crown Prince lying on the bed, covered in sweat, his face as pale as snow, and his body skin and bones, Gao Changshou's face was full of heartache.

After waiting for a while and seeing the Crown Prince not moving, Gao Changshou said, "Your Highness, this medicine was prescribed by Divine Physician Zhan yesterday. He said it's very effective. You should drink it while it's hot."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince shifted his body slightly on the bed.

Gao Changshou quickly handed the medicine bowl to someone nearby and then stepped forward to support the Crown Prince.

With Gao Changshou's help, the Crown Prince struggled to sit up. He looked at the hot medicine in front of him, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. "Is there still hope to cure my illness?"

Gao Changshou swiftly responded, "Your Highness, you will get better."

The Crown Prince weakly smiled. In truth, he had little hope left, but even if the chances were slim, he still wanted to live.

Gao Changshou attempted to feed him the medicine, but the Crown Prince shook his head and refused. Despite his hands trembling as he held the bowl, he insisted on drinking the medicine himself.

"Gulugulu," a few sips, and the Crown Prince finished the medicinal soup.

Gao Changshou wiped his mouth with a cloth and then carefully helped him lie back down on the bed.

Not long after drinking the medicine, the Crown Prince fell asleep.

Seeing this, Gao Changshou left the room and went to attend to matters in the residence.

Upon arriving at the council hall, the steward came to him.

"Chief Steward Gao, a letter from His Highness."

Gao Changshou was surprised, his face showing astonishment. "A letter from His Highness?"

Since the Crown Prince had fallen ill, he had secluded himself. Other than the physicians from the Imperial Hospital, and perhaps other princes, there had been little communication. Who would send a letter to the Crown Prince?

The steward nodded. "It was delivered by someone from Divine Physician Zhan. There are also three bottles of medicine."

Gao Changshou realized something and quickly took the letter and medicine. After hesitating for a moment, he promptly rose and headed to the main hall.

The Crown Prince wasn't sleeping soundly, and it didn't take long for him to wake up after Gao Changshou left.

"Why aren't you dealing with matters? Why are you waiting here?" he asked.

Gao Changshou took out the letter and medicine. "This was sent by Divine Physician Zhan. He said it was sent from the northwestern border."

The Crown Prince's eyes flickered with surprise, followed by a hint of indignation on his face.

To have Divine Physician Zhan fully focus on treating him, the Emperor proposed that he become the physician's disciple. However, Divine Physician Zhan refused.

To save face for the Emperor, Divine Physician Zhan suggested that the Crown Prince become his little sister's disciple.

Hmph!

Did they think he was completely ignorant of the outside world since he fell ill?

Old Man Tianchi only had two disciples. Where did this little sister of Divine Physician Zhan come from? It was just an excuse to dismiss him.

No, not to dismiss him. He was just a sickly prince, hardly worth considering. This was all done to avoid embarrassing the Emperor.

Divine Physician Zhan's medical skills were exceptional. To retain him, the Emperor had even agreed to this absurd arrangement.

Taking on the role of his little sister's master.

Thinking of himself being helped by Gao Changshou to kowtow to Divine Physician Zhan, the Crown Prince felt deeply embarrassed.

Looking at the letter in Gao Changshou's hand, the Crown Prince found the situation quite comical. However, after remaining silent for a while, he allowed Gao Changshou to help him sit up.

He wanted to see who this supposed little sister of Divine Physician Zhan was.

Taking the letter, the Crown Prince opened it and began to read.

"Dearest beloved disciple, seeing these words is like seeing your face."

Seeing the beginning of the letter, the Crown Prince was stunned.

Such explicit phrasing made him feel that this was quite absurd.

The rest of the letter was equally straightforward, lacking any subtlety. It was written in plain language, clearly indicating a lack of education.

Although the handwriting was relatively neat, one's personality could be reflected in their handwriting.

The content of the letter was direct and to the point, with a sense of unconstrained and carefree expression.

Someone carefree couldn't produce such neat handwriting.

So, this letter was written by one person and signed by another!

The Crown Prince chuckled in exasperation.

To prove to the emperor that he wasn't lying, Divine Physician Zhan had found an uneducated person from the border to pretend to be his disciple's master!

He knew his health was deteriorating, and nobody in the capital paid much attention to him, the eldest legitimate son of the Empress. Being deceived and played with like this left him feeling bitter and indignant!