MSW Chapter52

88

In the end, Xu Ying and Fu Yue were unable to capture Yun Zhuo.

 

Mu Peixuan didn’t blame them much, only writing a memorial to Liangdu, along with ordering the surrounding prefectures to issue warrants for Yun Zhuo’s arrest. Liu Ziyi was dead, the main culprits of the rebellion were either dead or had fled, and the remaining remnants were terrified by the battle of Anyang. They paled at the sight of the Mu character banner and fled in panic.

 

On the sixth day of the fourth month of the second year of the Fengqi era, Mu Peixuan led the pacification army to recover Fengzhou.

 

On the tenth day of the fourth month, the army split into two routes. Mu Peixuan led his troops into Longzhou, and Zhou Ting went to Liangzhou. Their advance was unstoppable, and the rebel army collapsed like a landslide.

 

At the same time, Qin Fengyuan’s Northwest Army marched out of Ganzhou, forcefully breaking through Jiayan Pass, Tongzhou, and Quzhou. Liangdu urgently dispatched Xiao Zixing, a general of the Northern Garrison Army, to guard Bozhou. Xiao Zixing was a famous general of the Daliang and a veteran in the army, having made his name twenty years prior. He personally guarded Bozhou and indeed repelled Qin Fengyuan at Guziling outside Bozhou City. However, with Qin Fengyuan’s rebellion, war broke out everywhere within the Daliang, and the calls to punish the treacherous minister in Liangdu grew even louder, making the situation in Liangdu increasingly tense.

 

It was early May.

 

Duan Linzhou had finally taken off his thick fur coat and no longer carried a hand warmer, seeming lighter and more sprightly.

 

He had survived another harsh winter.

 

For the past two months, Duan Linzhou, in his capacity as Junwang Fei, had been holding down Fengzhou. Fengzhou had lost its prefect, vice-prefect, and assistant administrator. The chief officials within the entire prefectural government had been decimated in that catastrophe. Cruel as it was, it was actually a good thing for Duan Linzhou. With them gone and Liangdu being far away and having no time to worry about the affairs here, everything was under Mu Peixuan’s control. The officials temporarily promoted by Mu Peixuan naturally wouldn’t go against Duan Linzhou. Under Duan Linzhou’s decisive measures, coupled with the deterrence of the soldiers left behind by Mu Peixuan, no one dared to bring up Duan Linzhou’s merchant background again. For a time, the atmosphere within the prefectural government was completely refreshed, and the officials handling affairs were all on edge, fearing that they might be dealt with by Duan Linzhou if they weren’t careful.

 

In the first few days after Mu Peixuan left, an official with the surname Qi, a registrar, presuming on the fact that someone in his clan held an official position in Liangdu, didn’t take Duan Linzhou seriously. He said that Duan Linzhou was just a merchant, and even as a princess consort, he belonged in the inner quarters and had no right to interfere in the affairs of the prefectural government or meddle in important matters! He simply became lazy and neglected his duties, repeatedly delaying the tasks assigned by Duan Linzhou. However, within two days, Duan Linzhou had listed several charges against him, all of which were evidence of the registrar’s usual corruption and perversion of justice. The evidence was irrefutable, and Registrar Qi’s face turned ashen, unable to utter another word.

 

This action was extremely deterrent. The officials in the prefectural government had been in post for a long time. The previous prefect had exploited the local people, and those below followed his example, so none of them could be considered clean and would not be able to withstand scrutiny.

 

The people of Fengzhou who had been infected with the plague had gradually recovered. The day the temporary shelters were dismantled was a beautiful day. Duan Linzhou and all the major and minor officials of Fengzhou went in person. The people watched as the guards threw the wooden barricades that had blocked the passage of people into the fire to be burned. Everyone looked at each other, and the entire area was silent. After a long time, a low sob came from somewhere. This crying seemed to spread like a contagion, and the surrounding people all had red eyes, wiping them with their sleeves.

 

In the past half year, Fengzhou had suffered both natural disasters and human calamities, becoming riddled with holes. Two years ago, there were still twenty thousand households, but now two-thirds were gone, and the vast Fengzhou had become desolate. In this long catastrophe, some had lost both parents, some had lost their husbands, some had lost their children, and even more had seen their entire families perish in the snowstorm or die under the ravages of war.

 

The officials present looked at the grieving people, and even the most callous couldn’t help but be moved. Their sleeves were wet with tears, and their eyes held a bit more solemnity as they left.

 

The wind blew gently, stirring the burning flames, and the crackling sound was like a sorrowful elegy.

 

Duan Linzhou took a deep breath, as if to exhale all the pent-up emotions in his heart. He pressed his burning eyes and couldn’t help but cough a few times, turning his head away. Seeing this, Liu Guang hurriedly wiped his cheeks and supported Duan Linzhou, saying, “Young Master, let’s go back.”

 

Duan Linzhou let out an ‘en’.

 

He returned to the carriage. After only a moment, the curtain was opened again. It was Old Physician Ji who had spotted Duan Linzhou in the crowd. Since arriving in Fengzhou, Old Physician Ji had immersed himself in the temporary shelters, not paying much attention to Duan Linzhou, and the two hadn’t seen each other for some time. However, in these past few days, Old Physician Ji had become much thinner and looked older, though fortunately, he seemed very energetic.

 

Old Physician Ji took Duan Linzhou’s pulse, and his brow furrowed as he grumbled, “I knew you wouldn’t listen to Laozi! The moment I don’t keep an eye on you, you start acting recklessly!”

 

Duan Linzhou chuckled and said, “Don’t get angry, old man. I’m perfectly fine, able to run and jump…”

 

Old Physician Ji shot him a sideways glance and said, “It hurt last night, didn’t it?”

 

Duan Linzhou touched the tip of his nose. Last night, his bones and muscles had ached all over, and he had tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep until just before dawn, when he finally drifted off.

 

Old Physician Ji sighed and said, “If I hadn’t come today, the Jian Huangquan in your body would have flared up within two days—”

 

Duan Linzhou cut him off, grinning mischievously, “But I did see you, didn’t I? I was just waiting for your miraculous touch to save the dying and heal the wounded.”

 

Old Physician Ji glared at him. “Laozi is a physician, not an immortal! I told you, your body needs a lot of rest, and you can’t overwork yourself,” he said. “The Jian Huangquan in your body is like a fierce tiger locked in a cage. If you’re not careful, it will break free, and even the gods won’t be able to save you then.”

 

Duan Linzhou smiled brightly and said, “I understand.”

 

Old Physician Ji grumbled, “You understand nothing, stop trying to fool me.”

 

Old Physician Ji said, “I’ll come give you acupuncture these next two days. You behave yourself.”

 

Duan Linzhou agreed readily, “Alright, whatever you say.”

 

Old Physician Ji then asked, “I heard His Highness won another battle?”

 

Hearing him mention Mu Peixuan, Duan Linzhou couldn’t help but smile, his expression softening as he leaned against the carriage. “Yes, the last letter said the main culprits of the rebellion have been executed. Once Longzhou and Liangzhou are recovered, they can return in triumph.”

 

Old Physician Ji was also relieved. Immediately after, he shook his head and sighed, “Troubled times indeed.”

 

As night fell, rain suddenly began to patter down, carried by the evening breeze that gently tapped against the windowpanes, its rhythm mingling with the croaking of frogs, lulling one to sleep.

 

Perhaps it was due to Old Physician Ji’s acupuncture, or perhaps the rain had come at just the right time, but Duan Linzhou, who hadn’t slept soundly for several consecutive nights, fell asleep remarkably quickly. He even had a strange dream. In the dream, he was standing on the Duan family’s merchant ship at the Qing River Wharf in Ruizhou. The wharf was bustling with noise, and someone was calling him “Boss Duan.” Duan Linzhou looked in the direction of the voice and saw a dockworker. He remembered this worker, he was an honest and unassuming man who earned a meager living carrying goods at the wharf.

 

But Duan Linzhou remembered that he had injured his arm within a few years, couldn’t do heavy labor anymore, and had returned to his village.

 

Duan Linzhou looked at him in surprise. Many people around were greeting him. Duan Linzhou glanced over, and as he lifted his leg, the golden abacus hanging from his waist swayed and swung. Duan Linzhou was taken aback — since he had been poisoned, this golden abacus had been put away and hadn’t been taken out for a long time.

 

Duan Linzhou thought, He was actually dreaming of things before he was poisoned.

 

Before he could think further, a manager called for Duan Linzhou to disembark. Feeling rather curious, he immediately went ashore. Duan Linzhou watched himself chatting and laughing with the people around him. Suddenly, someone called out ‘Duan Linzhou’ — he subconsciously turned his head and saw a child standing to one side. The child was beautiful, dressed in silk, like a snow doll.

 

Duan Linzhou’s eyes widened. Based on the child’s eyes, he was clearly Mu Peixuan’s.

 

He recognized it was Mu Peixuan, but the dream version of himself didn’t. He watched as Mu Peixuan insisted on going back with him. The dream version of himself couldn’t refuse the child and had no choice but to take him along. But at this time, Mu Peixuan was too young, about ten years old, and small for his age. The horse was a tall steed, and Mu Peixuan couldn’t mount it. He looked up at Duan Linzhou with his chin raised. Duan Linzhou sighed, walked over, and lifted the unknown child onto the horse in one go, also telling him not to move around and to hold onto the reins tightly.

 

Duan Linzhou looked curiously at Mu Peixuan’s small arms and legs and his serious little face. The image of the grown-up Xiao Junwang Mu involuntarily appeared in his mind, and he couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

 

He was laughing so hard that suddenly, he seemed to hear someone say in his ear, “What are you dreaming about that’s so amusing?”

 

The voice was low and incredibly alluring. Duan Linzhou opened his eyes and saw a sharply defined face in front of him, clearly the grown-up version of the child in his dream.

 

Duan Linzhou reached out and gently pinched his cheek, saying, “I dreamt of you.”

 

Mu Peixuan was slightly taken aback. His expression softened involuntarily, and a smile appeared in his eyes as he asked, “What did you dream about me?”

 

Duan Linzhou thought for a moment and said, “How could you have been so adorable when you were little?”

 

Mu Peixuan was stunned for a moment and said, “When I was little?”

 

Duan Linzhou nodded as a matter of course and then went to rub his face again, saying, “How did you grow up so quickly? Change back for me to take a look again.”

 

He placed his hand against Mu Peixuan’s cheek, but the cheek he touched was warm and real, unlike a dream. His palm even felt a rough scar — a scar. Duan Linzhou froze, his eyes widening as he looked at the person in front of him. He saw Mu Peixuan propped up on his elbow, his long hair tied high. Perhaps he had just changed clothes, as he still carried the damp heat of a bath.

 

Duan Linzhou said blankly, “…Xiao Junwang?”

 

Mu Peixuan raised an eyebrow slightly, finally understanding that Duan Linzhou had just woken up from a dream. He slowly sat up straight and let out an ‘en’.

 

He asked, “Did I wake you?”

 

Duan Linzhou nodded, then shook his head, suddenly sitting up straight and staring intently at Mu Peixuan, his heart beating a little faster. Mu Peixuan felt slightly embarrassed by his naked gaze. After all, he had rushed back overnight and immediately crawled into his Junwang Fei’s bed — a loss of a commander’s dignity, Mu Peixuan thought absentmindedly, but his eyes couldn’t help but steal glances at Duan Linzhou.

 

Duan Linzhou still had a hint of sleepiness on his face, his long hair spread across his back, his undergarment slightly open, revealing his collarbones, slender neck, and skin so white it was dazzling.

 

Duan Linzhou looked at Mu Peixuan, and after a long moment, he smiled and said, “When did Your Highness return?”

 

Mu Peixuan replied, “I entered the mansion half an hour ago.”

 

Duan Linzhou glanced at the water clock[mfn]It’s an ancient device for measuring time by the gradual flow of water.[/mfn], slightly dazed, and said, “Did Your Highness return overnight?”

 

Mu Peixuan stared at Duan Linzhou for a long time and said, “Not exactly overnight. Ting Lei is fast…” He didn’t mention at all that he had left the main army behind, used his prince’s token to open the city gates of Fengzhou after they had been closed for the night, and passed through three patrols enforcing the curfew.

 

Duan Linzhou seemed to believe him and nodded. “You’ve been traveling all this way, returning so late. Have you had dinner?” As he spoke, he was about to tell Liu Guang to have the small kitchen prepare something, but Mu Peixuan grabbed his wrist and said, “Duan Linzhou.”

 

Duan Linzhou looked at Mu Peixuan.

 

Mu Peixuan clasped his hands together, enclosing Duan Linzhou’s wrist in his palms. He leaned in and kissed the corner of Duan Linzhou’s lips, then lowered his eyes to look into the Zhongyong’s eyes. Their gazes intertwined, and he whispered, “No rush.”

 

He said, “I want to spend some time with you.”