Gu Yunxi heard him clearly under the umbrella. Shocked and flattered, she stepped back fast.

Puzzled, Leng Qingtang followed up closely, lest the drenched girl be caught in the rain again.

After all, she was now "Tu Muxue", a stranger to him, so she should be more reserved.

There were many eyes in the Palace. The two of them walking under the same umbrella would draw unnecessary attention due to the disparity of status.

Thoughts were whirling in Gu Yunxi's head. She looked down and refused unwillingly with a frown.

"Thank you for your kindness, Master. But I'm already soaked and dare not to bother you."

Realizing that his offer had been abrupt, Leng Qingtang nodded understandingly. He handed the umbrella to her and said,

"Take it with you on your way back."

Stunned, she gazed into his beautiful eyes that seemed to be looking back smilingly.

Composing herself, she reached for the umbrella tentatively and gripped the agate umbrella stem where his warmth still lingered.

Suddenly, the residual warmth seemed to penetrate her palm and touch her heart.

Leng Qingtang noticed at this moment that her fingers over the umbrella were covered with bulging red scars of various thicknesses, which crawled over her smooth skin like hideous worms.

He knew that those were the scars left by the clamps after the scab fell off. In a humid and cold environment, they would appear more conspicuous.

Sadness instantly struck him.

He said hoarsely.

"The Imperial Hospital has a medicine called 'Xiangyu Powder'. It is the best for scar removal. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be awaiting you here to give you the powder."

To wait for her here tomorrow sounded like a secret date.

A trace of surprise showed in Gu Yunxi's eyes. She hesitated and pursed her lips.

"You don't need to. The medicine from the Imperial Hospital must be precious. I dare not..."

"Take it as compensation from the Imperial Ceremony Office."

Leng Qing replied with a faint smile. He looked into her eyes and said,

"Go back and change your clothes as soon as possible... Don't catch a cold lately."

Then, he turned back and strode away in the rain.

Holding the umbrella, Gu Yunxi froze on the spot. The complex expression of fear and doubt on her face grew heavier.

"Lately." Did he mean her period?

Or was she overthinking?

She knew that the Master was the only one who was aware of her period except herself.

Could it be that he had recognized her and was suggesting it?

Gazing at the rain that had screened his back, Gu Yunxi pondered warily.

It was not clear now whether she should have much contact with him. But he was the Master, the man she loved the most.

Confused, she sighed softly and then walked towards Chuxiu Palace with the umbrella firmly in her hand.

——

Imperial Doctor Jiang was summoned by Leng Qingtang into the Imperial Ceremony Office. He followed a eunuch into the cabinet of the Seal Keeper.

Leng Qingtang was pacing the room with his hands behind his back. The grim countenance on his fair and delicate face revealed that he was in a reverie.

When he saw Imperial Doctor Jiang, he took a pause and waved the servants to the courtyard.

After a salute to the Master, Imperial Doctor Jiang presented a shell-shaped white porcelain case on the desk.

"Master, Xiangyu Powder as you required. To use it, first dissolve it in glycerin, and then apply it to the scars day and night. The scars will disappear in about ten days."

After giving the instruction in one breath, Imperial Doctor Jiang raised his head cautiously and quickly scanned Leng Qingtang's uncovered skin.

The ingredients of Xiangyu Powder were scarce and hence it was extremely valuable. He figured the Master had been injured somehow to ask for it unexpectedly. As the appointed doctor of the Master, he should have known.

Noting Imperial Doctor Jiang's scrutinizing eyes, Leng Qingtang smiled and waved at him.

"Don't worry. It is not for me. I also want to inquire you about something today..."

"Please go ahead."

Seeing the Master's face suddenly turned grim for unknown reasons, Imperial Doctor Jiang bowed down seriously.

Leng Qingtang beckoned Imperial Doctor Jiang to sit down. Only after he was seated did he ask.

"Huaian, is there a surgery in the world today that can completely change someone's face to another? Just like the disguise technique in the streets."

The reason why he asked the question stemmed from the doubts and perplexity in his mind after the two meetings between Tu Muxue and him.

Her voice was limpid and gentle. Her expressions, being sad, happy, shy, or dazed, were all like a doublet of Yunxi!

Combining with the unexpected finding of two sugar hawthorns on the banks of the Silver River on the night of Girl's Day, Leng Qingtang brainstormed and came to a bold deduction.

However, whether his suspicion was true remained to be investigated carefully. Besides, he would need the help of one's professional opinion.

And that man was Jiang Huaian of the Imperial Hospital.

The Master's inquiry astonished Imperial Doctor Jiang on the chair.

"May I know why you are asking?"

"I need to verify my inference. I met someone a few days ago. Except for her facial features, she is no different from Yunxi."

Leng Qingtang was on the opposite side of Imperial Doctor Jiang and leaned on the couch. He looked upset and unconfident with a frown on his brows.

Imperial Doctor Jiang's eyes turned. He finally understood why the Master hurriedly summoned him, so he solemnly replied.

"To be honest, that is named 'Face Moulding', a top technique in the medical field. It requires to cut off two people's facial skin and then swap them. Unlike common masks for disguise, no marks will be left after the surgery, so it is hard to see through for a professional."

"But this technique is only available to the Tantais, the medical sage's family. They will not teach people that are not of their blood, so I never get to learn it. All I know is that in the past 15 years, my mentor has performed Face Moulding on ten people disfigured in accidents."

Leng Qingtang listened attentively. His expression changed along with Imperial Doctor Jiang's words.

When Imperial Doctor Jiang finished, Leng Qingtang's heart was already filled with extreme shock and excitement that was about to explode.

After staying on the couch for a long while, Leng Qingtang sat up and asked with a trembling voice and shining eyes.

"Has Master Tantai practiced the operation in the last year?"

Imperial Doctor Jiang shook his head, looking solemn.

"A year ago, my mentor went on a travel around the world and has not returned or sent back a message. Therefore, I don't know where he has been or if he has performed the surgery on anyone."

"A travel around the world?"

Leng Qingtang was taken aback, and his heart fell.

Imperial Doctor Jiang explained on.

"Yes, the medical sage has a habit of touring in the world without a date set for the return. However, this time he has been away for the longest. I've heard nothing from him. Hope he is alright."

While speaking, Imperial Doctor Jiang's eyes went blank, showing a trace of worry in the depths.

Leng Qingtang quickly consoled him.

"Don't worry. Master Tantai will be fine. He has practiced medicine and saved many lives. He'll be blessed."

Lost in thoughts for a moment, he asked again.

"Do you remember when he left last year?"

"Last year... Around May. Yes, it was in the middle of May, when Yunxi..."

The voice ceased abruptly as Imperial Doctor Jiang looked at the Master in shock. Leng Qingtang's face was now clouded, and his eyes were glaring with unforgiving coldness.

Last May was the time when Gu Yunxi disappeared.

There was a connection between her disappearance and the medical sage's travel!

If Tu Muxue was really Yunxi, who could it be that had kidnapped her and then committed such atrocity? And why had he made much ado to change her face and send her in the Palace?

Leng Qingtang felt trapped in an intricate puzzle. He was delighted to finally find a clue on Yunxi's whereabouts but also overwhelmed by the many mysteries that followed.

Anyway, he was determined to find out Tu Muxue's identity first. Once it was confirmed that she was Yunxi, he would hold on to it.

Yes, he owed her too much before and wanted to compensate her for the rest of his life. He would hold her hands tightly and never let her go again.