Blood Emperor's Lazy Doctor [Hiatus]

Deep within the Duke Ding's estate. Inside a courtyard with quite the number of guards outside, but not much activity within. On the contrary, the only people within this building were located inside a room with the design of an office.

Inside, four middle aged men sat kneeled upon dark colored cushions. Their well practiced postures showed their proud and noble natures even if they themselves were unaware. Even their aura, though concealed, felt strong but well maintained.

One of them sipped from a cup of tea lightly billowing with steam. A head full of white hair, his face aged with time looked kind. But the words flowing from his mouth painted the picture of a stern man who has a strict side.

"Disregarding the sole Baron. We can come to an agreement that houses Count and below have sided with Consort Livida, I'm sure of. What of the two Marquesses?" Duke Ding Daobin asked.

A thin and sickly man with salt and pepper hair set his tea cup down. Still keeping contact with the cup, he spoke with a raspy tone.

"They had been seen entering Arcane Sensations, the same day as the Consort. They had booked a private room with a soundproof barrier stone, so nothing could be clarified on what had been spoken of." Imperial preceptor Lan Shulen answered, running his finger along the edge of his cup.

"According to witnesses and the waitress whom had served them, it hadn't gone in the two Marquesses' favor. Their expressions weren't too good." He ended with a flick to the rim, laughter raising his lips into a sly smile.

Duke Ding nodded.

"What of Duke Kang?" He inquired more.

This time another answered. A man with a broad stature, his brown hair chopped off at the shoulders, slammed his palm to the ground. He spoke with a gruff tone, powerful but controlled.

"Not a rat to be seen, too clean." General Wan Chang laughed coarsely whilst glancing to his left. "The same can't be said for Moxue's whose house is fit to burst. Rats here, rats there, rats everywhere!"

"..." Prime Minister Hong Moxue was not amused and didn't even deign to glance at General Wan.

General Wan clicked his tongue. "How cold. Not even humoring for a glare. Moxue sometimes I wonder if you even have a heart under that cold façade of yours. Really nothing to say, huh?"

Prime Minister Hong looked towards Duke Ding. "Permission to speak."

General Wan snorted at his robotic answer. Imperial Preceptor Lan just chuckled.

Duke Ding gave a curt nod. "You may."

"Black cloaked men have been coming and going on the first odd day of each week. This continues for a month then it's swapped to the last even days. Large human sized bags had been seen taken from the estate and burned. I feel this is merely a diversion of some what." He glanced at the ripples of his tea, appearing to be distracted by his thoughts.

"Or could be a sick hobby Duke Kang has undertaken." General Wan snorted in disdain. "Who knows what that man does in his spare time. We aren't even aware of his origins let alone if his skills are actually in the final stages of developing his soul tree. For all we know he could be a hidden Divine."

"Doubtful. Daobin, what do you think?" Imperial Preceptor Lan passed the question.

"Too little information, not enough evidence." Duke Ding refilled his cup, watching the stray tea leaves sink to the bottom.

"What I do know is this. Even if he is Divine, his essence would be sealed the moment he passed the spatial rips. He's merely a small existence that's been here less than a century. Regardless, its best to remain cautious."

"If he acts out beyond mere politics?" General Wan raised a brow in question.

"Why ask when you already know." Imperial Preceptor Lan was loathed to respond but did anything. "What do we do to all out landers who refuse to keep the peace?"

"Death." Prime Minister Hong stated.

"I know I know, but can't I ask just for the sake of asking? Rhetorical questions aren't meant to be answered after all." General Wan grumbled as if his fun had been ruined.

"Your habits are showing Chang." Duke Ding kindly reminded.

"Can you blame them?" General Wan exaggeratedly emphasized. "Having a wife and daughter like mine would give you the same habits, I swear! Both of them are driving me mad!"

"Divorce them."

"Dammit Moxue, I'm just complaining, to complain. I love the both of them, else I'd have a manor full of untouched flowers like yours. It still baffles me how your two girls came to be. You uncultured swine with a heart of bladed ice." General Wan irritably pointed out, slamming his fist to the floor to turn and look at Hong Moxue.

"Come now Chang, you complain about them every chance you get. You can't blame Moxue for his actions so stop blaming the poor man for his lack of heart. He just hasn't met the one yet like us." Imperial Preceptor Lan attempted to lighten the mood, but just made Wan Chang's following words burst his veins.

"I don't want to hear that from you Shulen. Before your wife came you were the complete opposite of Moxue. How many flowers have you plucked, how many diseases have you undertaken. By the heavens and the Buddha, your poor wife is subjected to your germ ridden stick! No wonder your son is a dawdling fool who only cares about money. He's afraid to turn into you!"

"You want to say that again muscle brained dunce?" Lan Shulen gathered his essence energy, cracking the leftmost walls of the courtyard.

"Gladly." Wan Chang just smirked, his side of the room also gaining cracks of the walls.

"Alright enough. Stop before your fight destroys my home. " Duke Ding stopped both raging men while Hong Moxue just sat at the side like a bystander.

Duke Ding sighed looking at his walls. "I've got enough problems, I don't need more. Making this old man want to replace you childish bunch with a room full of barbarians. At least they wait until they go outside to murder each other."

"By the by, Moxue has there been any word from the borderlands?"

Hong Moxue nods, his expression dark. "Three of the tribes were affected and sealed off. Each one the same as the last. Nothing was spared from the shower of blood. The sights are becoming more gruesome by the day and we still can't figure out what's causing it."

"Shouldn't we send in the old drunkard? Though his conduct is undesirable, his medical skills can not be denied." Lan Shulen inquired.

"Gods please tell me you're joking." Wan Chang looked at Lan Shulen like he'd lost his mind.

"Wu Yun is a darn money grubbing bastard that bails on his patients! The man has no ethics and only treats you if he feels like it. Do you even think he'd agree? Might as well pay him to just watch him walk away!"

"He has a point." Hong Moxue nodded.

"..." Lan Shulen had no words since you can't deny the truth.

"Can't hurt to ask." He scratched with a embarrassed cough.

Duke Ding looked around the room at all three men. He closed his eyes with a warm smile and waved his hand.

"Today's time is up. As a reminder, we still have a year, and at most two left until the Sacred Garden opens. Those selected need to be prepared. Last time no casualties were met, but still, unknown factors can't be forgotten."

"Agreed." All three men responded at once.

* * *

"Auchew!!!"

"My apologies Doctor Wu, we have been short handed and the dust has gathered. A handkerchief for your nose."

The doctor's kind acceptance of the cloth surprised the servant. But his following words also seemed to surprise her more. Which was quite odd.

"Mind not a thing, this old man is merely popular and the fairies are letting me know. This old man thanks you for your thoughts." He patted the servant's shoulder, looked up at her with a smile beneath his beard.

The maid walked away in confusion, as if walking forth from a dream that hadn't yet left her system.

Hong Luo noticed this and in turn glanced at the old doctor with a strange look.

Noticing her gaze, Doctor Wu straightened his back. "Worry not, they should not keep us waiting too long. Once known that this old man is here, whatever meeting is taking place will end at once. This old man assures you."

"Mmm." Luo merely hummed in response. She did not mind waiting. It had always been everyone else that lacked patience.

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Author's note: In case of theft. This is an original -English- novel done by yours truly [MyKataren]. This author will state here and now, oh ye thief of old, thanks for the free advertis.e.m.e.nt!

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