Chapter 024: Seeing Through

He Yu listened, both startled and delighted, her thoughts racing: Wasn't he supposed to take me to see the imperial consort? Why has he brought me here instead? Could it be that he has recognized me? I knew it—there's no way he could have forgotten. I haven't changed that much!

As she mulled this over, a scene from years ago surfaced in her mind...

It was the first time He Yu had left the mountains for the Central Plains, her first experience in a city teeming with all sorts of people. Ever since she could remember, she had lived in the Western Sea Manor. She knew nothing of her origins, had no kin to rely on, and was a child picked up by the main hall. She had spent several years studying medicine under the Medicine King, then returned to the Western Sea Manor, never venturing out again.

Back then, He Yu was just a young healer. Her master had sent her and her senior sister to gather some rare medicinal herbs. After completing their task, her senior sister wished to buy a few things and left He Yu to wait for her at the bridgehead.

Timid and afraid of being alone, He Yu stood there bashfully, dreading the curious glances of passersby, for she had noticed her clothes stood out awkwardly among the crowd. Yet, it was precisely this that caught the attention of a group of mischievous children.

They sneered at the scent of medicinal herbs clinging to her, mocked her attire, and began to jeer loudly and rudely.

"Where are you from, little beggar? Why do you smell so bad?"

"And you dress so terribly! Have you never looked at yourself in the river?"

"Yeah, go stand by the river for a while. Let's see how you swim!"

Faced with these brash, relentless children, He Yu was utterly helpless. Just as she was about to be pushed into the river by the group, someone suddenly pulled her back.

"Miss, are you alright?"

Startled, He Yu looked up and saw a refined and handsome young man gazing at her gently. His eyes seemed to radiate a healing light, brightening the shy and gloomy corners of her heart in an instant.

"I... I'm fine!"

The young man sent the rowdy children away, then instructed his attendant to gather up the scattered medicinal herbs for her.

"There are too many people here; chaos is easy to stir up. You seem unfamiliar with this place, so it's no wonder you've encountered such trouble. I apologize for this."

"Young sir, you are too kind. Children are mischievous by nature; it's none of your concern."

"Every place has its own spirit and its own people, all part of a whole. Those children are the city's face, so of course, I bear some responsibility. Please, don't let today's events trouble you or spoil your mood."

"I won't!"

"That's good!"

When she returned to Western Sea Manor, He Yu's mind was filled with thoughts of the young man. She had memorized his features without even trying. After that meeting, many years passed without another encounter, but she never forgot his face, nor the resolve he had awakened in her to strive and persevere.

Through years of diligent effort, He Yu became a renowned healer, winning first place among the women of medicine and assuming the position of chief healer at the Western Sea Manor. Her fame in the martial world was not to be underestimated. Yet, the most persistent thought in her heart was not her medical skill, but the memory of that young man.

"You were the woman dispensing medicine outside Tangzhou City?"

He Yu snapped back to the present at the sound of Liu Li's voice, replying nervously, "Yes!"

"The epidemic has plagued Beihua for months. The people suffer, the court is unsettled—thanks to your help, we are deeply grateful!"

He Yu was taken aback, warmth rising in her heart. She gazed in a daze at the Emperor as he bowed, thinking he was just as courteous as he had always been.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I merely did my duty as a healer. When disaster strikes, it is Heaven's test; to alleviate suffering is your gracious virtue, not mine."

"Is that so?" Liu Li smiled mildly, his expression gentle though unreadable. "But I believe a good government should not let the people suffer. The Beihua dynasty is far from perfect as you say. Moreover, I have heard that the healers of Western Sea Manor do not easily treat outsiders, nor do they meddle in state affairs. Why, then, did you make an exception?"

"Well... it's a long story. The Western Sea Manor only wished to offer some aid. Please don't overthink it, Your Majesty; it was mostly my own decision," He Yu said, altering the official account as she spoke, wanting to draw closer to the Emperor.

"And why is that?"

He Yu was about to open her heart and share the story she had hidden for so long, but Liu Li interrupted her. He did not let her recount their past meeting and seemed more concerned with other matters.

"Never mind. There is something I must ask you urgently—will you ease my doubts?"

He Yu nodded. "Please speak, Your Majesty."

"That day, I sent men to investigate and learned that each time you treated someone, you would also give a piece of candy. Why was that?"

He Yu was momentarily stunned, alarmed within: Candy? Why give candy when treating people? What should I do now? What's the benefit of this?

"Your Majesty need not be suspicious. It was only out of compassion for the people's long suffering, hoping that the sweetness of candy might soothe their bitter hearts. After all, sweetness can dispel sorrow and even has some therapeutic effects."

Liu Li nodded thoughtfully, his expression brightening with understanding. "That makes sense. My men reported: you wrote with your left hand, dispensed medicine and candy with your right. I hadn't expected such a reason. Now I admire your skill all the more! To write with the left hand is no small feat."

He Yu smiled awkwardly. "When I have nothing to do, I practice with both hands—it's good for the body and bones."

"Excellent!" Liu Li smiled, glanced at Eunuch Liu, and said gently, "It's getting late. Words of gratitude can wait. Please, see to the Consort's health."

Eunuch Liu came before He Yu, instructing a group of young eunuchs to escort her. "Miss, please follow them to the Consort's quarters."

"Yes, I take my leave!"

He Yu departed reluctantly, glancing back from time to time. The meeting had been sudden and brief, but at least they had spoken a little. Though Liu Li did not recognize their past connection, she was already overjoyed.

Once He Yu had gone, Liu Li finally shed his mask. He sighed softly, uncertain whether to feel pleased or troubled.

"Bring me my painting!"

Eunuch Liu fetched a painting from the inner chamber and presented it to Liu Li.

Unrolling it with care, Liu Li fell into deep thought once more. The woman in the painting was the healer from his memory, but how had she come to look like this now?

"How amusing—one identity, yet three people play the part."

Liu Li's casual sigh did not escape Eunuch Liu, who habitually tried to share his master's burdens. "Is Your Majesty suggesting this healer is an imposter?"

"What do you think?"

"From the moment we summoned her to the time she arrived, her identity couldn't have been falsified. Moreover, she was the same in appearance and bearing as the healer from that day, and holds the position of chief healer at Western Sea Manor..."

No matter how much Eunuch Liu said, Liu Li only smiled faintly.

"It seems she has managed to deceive everyone."

"What do you mean?"

"You have never seen her before, so you cannot compare. You assume she is the same. But no matter how real her identity and appearance, I trust my own feelings above all."

"Has Your Majesty seen her before?"

Liu Li nodded. "Three times—each time, a different person."

Seeing Eunuch Liu's bewilderment, Liu Li smiled quietly, gently caressing the painting as if probing his own heart.

Just one meeting, and he had memorized everything about her, able to pick her out among thousands.

"You are still you, the one in the painting. But who is this healer? And what is her connection to you?"

About an hour later, the door opened softly and Gao Hai entered. Eunuch Liu stepped aside, for Gao Hai seemed to have something to report but hesitated to disturb Liu Li.

"What is it?"

Hearing Liu Li's question, Gao Hai finally replied, "Your Majesty, I observed her treating the Consort and found nothing amiss. Her identity is genuine."

Liu Li chuckled softly. "Is that so?"

Gao Hai was momentarily taken aback. He had never lied—why did both the Emperor and Eunuch Liu look at him so?

"I just conducted a simple test. She revealed many flaws. The obvious things, they disguised well, but some things cannot be faked!"

"Your humble servant is slow—please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"

"Her words were overly flattering, lacking the integrity of someone from the martial world, nor did she possess the genuine compassion for the people shown by that healer. Moreover, I deliberately mentioned certain details, and she responded to each. But the healer that day gave no candy and did not write with her left hand!"

Gao Hai nodded with a smile. "Your Majesty is truly perceptive. What should we do next?"

"There is no next step—let the matter end here. The Empress Dowager will not pursue it; the healer poses no threat to Beihua. Both the medical aid and her entry into the palace were orchestrated by others. It's best for all sides to let it go."

"Understood. But what about the Consort's feigned illness? Won't that make us a laughingstock in the martial world? What if word gets out?"

Liu Li laughed lightly. "That's no longer our concern. Let the Consort and that healer entangle themselves as they please."