"I am Ye Yunfei."
Ye Yunfei answered impassively.
It was apparent that this Master Chen Xuan likely came with ill intentions.
Therefore, Ye Yunfei had no reason to give him a friendly face.
Besides, a Fourth-Grade Alchemist was truly nothing worth mentioning to Ye Yunfei.
"I truly never imagined," said Chen Xuan, his gaze appraising Ye Yunfei with a scrutinizing air, "that after I wandered outside the empire for a few years, such an extraordinary young man would emerge in the Great Qin Empire. Truly, the younger generation is formidable."
"Ye Yunfei, a junior like you, how dare you adopt such an arrogant attitude upon seeing my master!" Tang Feng suddenly reprimanded Ye Yunfei. "Utterly insolent! Apologize immediately!"
"A mere Fourth-Grade Alchemist is not qualified to receive an apology from me," Ye Yunfei said flatly.
"Young man, you are being somewhat excessive," Chen Xuan said, his expression darkening upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words. He had been famous in the Great Qin Empire for a long time. Whether it was the emperor of the imperial family or the sect leaders of the Four Great Sects, they all treated him as an honored guest with the utmost respect.
Now, a mere youngster dared to speak to him like this right in front of him, naturally angering him.
Moreover, in his mind, even if Ye Yunfei was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, someone so young must have only recently achieved that rank. How could his experience and seniority compare to his own? Therefore, he didn't hold Ye Yunfei in high regard.
"I'm accustomed to speaking frankly," Ye Yunfei said without a hint of expression.
From the moment Chen Xuan arrived, he assumed a lofty attitude of an elder facing a junior. Given Ye Yunfei's temperament, he naturally would not accommodate him.
"You..." Chen Xuan actually found himself at a loss for words.
"Your Majesty, I heard you intend to ask this young man to diagnose the Empress Dowager's illness," Chen Xuan suddenly said, his tone subtly laced with provocation. "If you don't mind, I would like to observe as well. I am quite eager to witness this young man's medical skills."
"That would be excellent! In that case, both masters, please accompany me now to the Empress Dowager's Kunning Palace!" The emperor was overjoyed.
After all, both Ye Yunfei and Chen Xuan were Fourth-Grade Alchemists. Having one more person might mean an additional safeguard.
Thus, the emperor personally led the way, with the others following, leaving the Jinluan Hall.
Naturally, a large group of eunuchs and palace maids accompanied them.
"Hmph! Ye Yunfei, after you witness my master's brilliant medical skills, you'll understand that there are always greater heavens beyond the sky, and greater people beyond the people!" Tang Feng, walking behind Chen Xuan, shot a cold glance at Ye Yunfei and snorted.
"Hmph! Third brother, you actually dared to let this unweaned brat diagnose the Empress Dowager! What exactly is your intention?" the Crown Prince sneered at the Third Prince. "You must understand, the Empress Dowager is a body worth ten thousand pieces of gold, incredibly precious! If any problems arise, could you bear the responsibility?"
Hearing this, Ye Yunfei's expression turned cold.
This Crown Prince was targeting him everywhere, even sending that Commander Leng to hunt him down. An involuntary glint of killing intent flashed in Ye Yunfei's eyes as he looked toward the Crown Prince.
"How can you say that? Master Ye Yunfei is also a Fourth-Grade Alchemist and naturally well-versed in medicine!" the Third Prince said angrily.
A moment later, they arrived at another resplendent palace.
Inside an opulent and exquisitely decorated room, precious incense burned, delicate wisps of azure smoke coiling upward, winding through the chamber.
This type of incense, when burned, released a unique fragrance with the effect of focusing the mind and calming the spirit. It was extremely valuable, something only the imperial family could afford to consume in such quantities.
In the room stood a large hardwood bed with covers embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, their texture soft as human skin. Upon the bed lay an elderly woman, her face pale, her breath weak, her sunken eyes tightly shut, seemingly unconscious. This elderly woman was precisely the Empress Dowager of the Great Qin Empire!
Ye Yunfei's gaze swept over, examining the Empress Dowager briefly.
"So that's it," he thought to himself.
To be joking, Ye Yunfei was once the Heavenly Emperor, with true divine medical expertise. He had an understanding of the human physique to an ultimate degree.
Even if a physical body were completely shattered, Ye Yunfei had methods to reconstruct it, let alone dealing with some diseases afflicting the body.
"Both masters, half a year ago, my mother began to be confined to her bed," the emperor explained to Ye Yunfei and Chen Xuan. "For the past two months, she has remained unconscious the entire time."
"Young man, will you diagnose first, or shall I?" Chen Xuan looked at Ye Yunfei.
"I don't need a diagnosis. It's clear at a glance. You go ahead," Ye Yunfei said mildly.
"You... Fine, very well! Young man, I don't know if you are ignorant and arrogant, or truly have confidence!" Chen Xuan was so angry his beard quivered, as he spoke with rage. "But soon, it will become clear!"
He then ignored Ye Yunfei, directly stepping forward to begin his diagnosis of the Empress Dowager.
He examined her meticulously, even extending three fingers to press against the Empress Dowager's pulse point to listen.
Most alchemists excelled at medicine, and Chen Xuan was particularly famous for his profound medical skills.
"Hmph, putting on a show! I think you simply don't understand any medicine at all! Soon, your true colors will be revealed!" Tang Feng sneered.
"Exactly. Third brother, inviting this boy who knows nothing about medicine... if anything happens to the Empress Dowager, could you bear it?" the Crown Prince also spoke, his tone accusatory.
"Master Ye Yunfei..." The Third Prince looked at Ye Yunfei, feeling somewhat uneasy himself.
After all, Ye Yunfei had been standing idly to the side, unmoving.
"Third Prince, rest assured. I have my own judgment," Ye Yunfei responded placidly.
"Hmph! Even now, he's still putting on a stubborn front!" Tang Feng sneered.
After diagnosing for a short while, Chen Xuan spoke. "If my guess is correct, the Empress Dowager was once severely injured, damaging her meridians and causing her cultivation base to be completely lost."
"Correct! Master Chen Xuan's medical skill truly surpasses others," the emperor promptly answered, looking at Chen Xuan with great admiration. "To be honest, in the past, my mother also practiced martial arts, and her strength was not weak. However, she was later injured by an enemy, her meridians damaged, causing her cultivation base to vanish!"
"Then, Master Chen Xuan, what is the exact condition of my mother now?" the emperor anxiously asked.
"It should be an old injury flaring up, leading to a loss of life vitality. That's why the Empress Dowager's body grows weaker and weaker," Chen Xuan said.
"What should be done to treat it, then?" the emperor asked.
"I will refine some third-grade healing spirit pills and specialized life vitality replenishing spirit pills for the Empress Dowager to consume and regulate her condition," Chen Xuan said after a moment of thought. "I believe that before long, Her Grace's body will gradually improve."
"Haha, that's excellent! Master Chen Xuan truly lives up to his reputation!" The emperor was delighted, bursting into hearty laughter.
"Ye Yunfei, now do you understand who the true master is?!" Tang Feng was extremely pleased with himself, his gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei as he shouted. "Hmph, someone like you isn't even fit to hold my master's shoes!"
"Third brother, the quack you invited nearly ruined a crucial matter. Luckily, Master Chen Xuan returned in time. Alright, now that the quack's presence is unnecessary, third brother, take him away immediately," the Crown Prince said, pointing at Ye Yunfei with a cold sneer.
The Third Prince's face also showed despair, crestfallen.
Even the emperor's attitude toward Ye Yunfei cooled noticeably; he felt that Master Chen Xuan seemed more reliable.
Chen Xuan's gaze also fell upon Ye Yunfei, carrying a subtle air of superiority. He wanted to see what kind of attitude this arrogant youngster would adopt toward him now. He believed Ye Yunfei should be cowed and submitting meekly.
"Let me warn you. Using your method, you cannot cure the Empress Dowager," Ye Yunfei said with perfect composure, his tone mild. "It will only delay the optimal time for her treatment."