78
There was a sudden downpour.
Inside the dilapidated temple in the wilderness, Lu Chong had lit several bonfires, and the entire caravan crowded inside, either sitting or standing, filling the entire ruined building. The early spring was still chilly, and the rain was even worse. Duan Linzhou leaned closer to the fire, rubbing his fingers together and muttering, “This rain is really untimely.”
Old Physician Ji also exhaled onto his palms, saying, “Fengzhou is much colder than Ruizhou.”
Duan Linzhou couldn’t agree more. As they traveled, they had encountered many refugees, all of whom were tattered and worn, with numb expressions. Some wandered in small groups, while others migrated with their entire villages.
As Duan Linzhou watched them, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
Now, with Ruizhou in relative peace and Han Shiqing not refusing refugees from entering the city, the news of the safe haven spread, and many refugees flocked to Ruizhou. Duan Linzhou thought that, in the long run, this would actually be beneficial for Ruizhou. The world was already in chaos, and there would be no end to the wars ahead. The foundation of Marquis Annan Mansion was in Ruizhou, and they could only defend the city.
Once these refugees settled in Ruizhou, if they could register for household registration and establish roots, it would greatly benefit the development of Ruizhou.
Since the death of King Duan, and without mentioning the rebellions across various regions, King Xuan of Jiangzhou had revolted, and King Xin of Yuzhou had also turned against the throne. They both raised armies under the pretext of purging the inner court and were marching towards Liangdu, causing turmoil. Unlike the poverty of Jiangzhou, Yuzhou was rich in resources, and its neighboring Cangzhou was the grain depot of the southern Liang region. With King Xin having held Yuzhou for many years, it would certainly be a headache for Liangdu.
Liangdu’s attention was fixed on Jiangzhou and Yuzhou, leaving no time to manage Marquis Annan Mansion. If the northwest army rebelled at this point, Liangdu would be even less likely to risk antagonizing the southern army.
Duan Linzhou absentmindedly stroked the thin calluses on his fingers, lost in thought. His mind drifted to Mu Peixuan, who was now in Fuzhou. He wondered what the situation there was like.
It was strange. Mu Peixuan was nearly a decade younger than him, he was just a young man, yet there was an inexplicable strength about him that commanded trust.
It was as if when Mu Peixuan said he would help Mu Peizhi, Duan Linzhou never once considered that Mu Peixuan might fail.
This was truly unusual.
Since childhood, Duan Linzhou had rarely trusted anyone so easily.
Duan Linzhou asked Old Physician Ji, “What are your thoughts on this outbreak?”
Old Physician Ji’s brows furrowed deeply. He shook his head and said, “When this old physician was young, I witnessed an epidemic once, it broke out right after a locust plague. The locusts were followed by drought, and many common folk starved to death. When the epidemic hit, the county magistrate sealed off two villages. The scenes there were truly tragic—”
“But this current outbreak is different from that illness,” Old Physician Ji sighed. “To be honest, this old physician is not certain yet. We’ll have to reach Fuzhou and assess it firsthand.”
Duan Linzhou nodded. “Let’s rest here for the night and continue on the road tomorrow.”
He smiled and added, “This journey’s been hard on you.”
They had been rushing along the road, eating in the wind, and sleeping in the open. Old Physician Ji, being advanced in age, still went out of his way to give him acupuncture treatments and look after his health; naturally, Duan Linzhou felt deeply grateful. Old Physician Ji gave a snort and said, “Once this matter is settled, you’d better send the full consultation fee to Huichun Hall without missing a single coin.”
Duan Linzhou smiled. “Of course.”
The next day, the rain that had poured all night finally stopped. When Duan Linzhou stepped outside the temple, Lu Chong was already having the men prepare for departure.
Lu Chong said, “After the rain, the roads are muddy, it’s going to be a tough route.”
Duan Linzhou said, “Make sure all the crates are tightly fastened. Drive carefully, and don’t let the goods get soiled.”
Lu Chong grinned, his white teeth showing. “No need to worry, I’ve already given the order.”
Liu Sanjiu had gone to Liangdu, and since Duan Linzhou’s journey was an urgent one, Lu Chong didn’t feel at ease letting him travel alone, so he decided to go along as well.
They had just finished packing and were about to set off when a rider came galloping toward them, the sound of hooves clattering loudly. The rider dismounted, and with his sharp eyes, Lu Chong immediately recognized him as one of the Duan family’s men. The man had likely been riding for too long, his leg muscles were tight, and the moment he dismounted, he stumbled and nearly fell. Someone beside him quickly reached out to steady him, and once he regained his balance, he hurried forward. Lu Chong instinctively stepped in front of Duan Linzhou.
The man said, “Boss, it was an urgent message from Fuzhou.”
Duan Linzhou’s expression tensed as he took the sealed letter handed to him with both hands. It was sent by the manager of the Duan family’s business in Fuzhou. Duan Linzhou scanned it quickly, eyes sweeping over the lines, and his face changed dramatically.
Lu Chong asked, “Master?”
Duan Linzhou clenched the urgent letter in his hand and gave a direct order: “Prepare the horse.”
Lu Chong frowned and looked at him. Duan Linzhou said nothing, just handed him the letter.
After reading it, Lu Chong’s expression changed drastically as well — Mu Peizhi had contracted the plague. He understood how urgent the matter was, but with Duan Linzhou’s poor health, how could he endure the jostling of horseback travel?
Duan Linzhou said, “Seven days have already passed since this letter reached me.”
The steward in Fuzhou didn’t know he had left Ruizhou, so the letter was first sent to Ruizhou and then redirected here.
That one sentence alone was enough to make Lu Chong’s heart pound with alarm. The plague was deadly; even the steward in Fuzhou had caught wind of it, which showed how severe the situation was. With such a delay, Mu Peizhi might already — Lu Chong turned and instructed the men under him, “Bring two horses.”
Old Physician Ji had just finished a brief conversation with the other accompanying physicians. When he came out, he immediately noticed the grave expressions on the two people’s faces and asked, “What’s happened?”
Duan Linzhou said, “Old Physician Ji, I’ll have to trouble you to go ahead with me.”
Old Physician Ji didn’t understand, but he knew Duan Linzhou wouldn’t say such a thing unless it was truly urgent, so he didn’t press further.
They set off at a gallop.
Duan Linzhou entrusted the trade caravan to Liu Guang, then departed with Lu Chong and Old Physician Ji. The biting morning wind cut like a blade. Duan Linzhou’s face was stiff from the cold, and his hands clutching the reins had nearly gone numb. Yet he still felt the horse wasn’t fast enough, and with another lash of the whip in his hand, he urged the horse to gallop even harder.
Duan Linzhou dared not imagine what might happen to Mu Peixuan if something befell Mu Peizhi.
Mu Peixuan might appear cold on the surface, but he had a soft heart and valued bonds deeply. Mu Peizhi was his blood brother, and there existed a silent understanding between them. Duan Linzhou could only pray to go faster, ever faster, hoping to reach Fuzhou in time.
The yamen was draped entirely in mourning white.
Mu Peixuan had set up a memorial hall for Mu Peizhi. He had died of the epidemic, and in accordance with Mu Peizhi’s will, his body was cremated after death. There were only Mu Peizhi’s official robes and ashes in the coffin.
From the moment Mu Peixuan arrived, Mu Peizhi no longer hid the truth about his illness.
Mu Peixuan had long held great prestige in the military. This time, arriving with cavalry like divine soldiers descending from the heavens, he had broken the siege on Fuzhou and given the soldiers a much-needed release of their pent-up fury. Soon after, they learned that Mu Peizhi had contracted the plague, and it was precisely because he had been tending to the people at the shelters that he became infected.
And the plague within the city had all been brought by the rebel forces.
For a time, the entire army was consumed by grief and fury, burning with the desire to slaughter every last rebel.
An army in mourning was bound to triumph.
Mu Peizhi’s death became the fiercest blaze thrown onto the fire, sharpening the blades and spears of the soldiers that had dulled from days of constraint.
When Duan Linzhou entered Fuzhou, he found the vast city eerily silent, like a ghost town. Many of the houses along the road were draped with white mourning banners, and his heart sank.
In his hand was a jade token that symbolized the rank of Junwang Fei, allowing him to pass unimpeded all the way to the yamen. From afar, he already saw the white cloth hanging at the entrance. A sudden chill gripped him from head to toe as he yanked hard on the reins to halt his horse.
After the long, jarring ride, his internal organs ached faintly, but he ignored the pain, swung off the horse, and rushed straight into the yamen.
He immediately saw Mu Peixuan kneeling before the coffin.
The young man’s back was ramrod straight, his figure solitary and still, something about the sight struck a sudden chord of grief in Duan Linzhou’s heart.
Inside the mourning hall, many of the Southern Army’s generals were also there paying respects to Mu Peizhi, all bearing sorrowful expressions; some even wiped away tears. Zhou Ting was the first to notice Duan Linzhou, he paused in surprise, having attended Mu Peixuan’s wedding banquet and seen Duan Linzhou before, he recognized him.
Now, Duan Linzhou stood travel-worn and weary, his face devoid of color, lips tinged pale. He stood there, dazed, eyes fixed on Mu Peixuan.
Zhou Tingxian said softly, “Junwang Fei?”
Mu Peixuan seemed to faintly register those words. He lifted his eyes to glance at Zhou Ting first, then followed his gaze, only to lock eyes with Duan Linzhou.
Mu Peixuan froze.
Their eyes met.
Duan Linzhou took two steps forward, and it was as if Mu Peixuan suddenly woke from a dream, he abruptly stood up and strode out. Before Duan Linzhou could say a word, Mu Peixuan had already seized his arm and demanded, “Who told you to come here?”
Mu Peixuan’s voice was hoarse, laced with both shock and fury. His words tumbled out in a torrent, it was sharp, fierce, and unyielding: “Duan Linzhou, do you even realize where this is? There are rebels outside the city and an epidemic inside! How could you come here from Ruizhou?”
Duan Linzhou looked at him, snapping back to his senses. He calmly said, “Let go of me first.”
Mu Peixuan’s expression was grim. “Leave. Now. Don’t stay here,” he snapped, shooting a fierce glare at Lu Chong, who had followed in. His words came down like a whip: “Don’t you know the condition your boss is in? Or are you unaware of the epidemic raging in this city? And yet you still let him run around like this?”
Duan Linzhou frowned slightly and gently patted Mu Peixuan’s tense arm. “Mu Peixuan—”
Mu Peixuan pressed his lips tightly together, eyes lowered, staring at Duan Linzhou.
Duan Linzhou let out a soft sigh and said, “I’m already here. Calm down first.”
But Mu Peixuan didn’t seem to hear. With a voice that allowed no argument, he shouted, “Xu Ying, prepare a carriage. And gather a squad…”
Duan Linzhou said, “Even if you want me to leave, at least let me rest for a bit first.”
At those words, Mu Peixuan’s gaze fell on Duan Linzhou’s bloodless face. His lips moved slightly, then he slowly lowered his eyes to look at the arm he was gripping.
After a long moment, he let go.
Duan Linzhou turned his eyes to the memorial tablet in the mourning hall. For a moment, he was lost in thought. He took a deep breath and said nothing, stepping forward to offer three sticks of incense.
At the side, Zhou Ting said, “Your Highness, you haven’t slept in two days already. Now that Junwang Fei has arrived, why not take him to rest for a while?”
“We’ll take care of things here.”
Mu Peixuan glanced at him, then looked back at Duan Linzhou. Without a word, he grabbed Duan Linzhou’s arm and led him out of the mourning hall.
He brought Duan Linzhou to his own quarters. As soon as they entered the room, he said, “Don’t stay in Fuzhou too long. Tomorrow — no, tonight, you’ll leave. I’ll make arrangements for the carriage.”
Duan Linzhou simply looked at Mu Peixuan, saying nothing.
Mu Peixuan met his gaze. His breath hitched for a moment, and his voice abruptly fell silent.
The room fell silent.
Duan Linzhou gently sighed, his voice soft, “I’m sorry, I’m late.”
Mu Peixuan seemed to understand, or maybe not, as he just looked at Duan Linzhou. After a while, his eyes suddenly turned red.
Duan Linzhou reached out and embraced Mu Peixuan, his hands wrapping around his waist, gently rubbing his back. Mu Peixuan’s body stiffened, every muscle felt as though it were embedded with iron, rigid and unyielding. It took a long time for him to slowly soften, and then Mu Peixuan tightly held onto Duan Linzhou’s waist.
He used so much force that he almost strangled Duan Linzhou into his arms.
Mu Peixuan whispered, “Duan Linzhou, Li Yue is gone, and now… Big Brother is gone too…” He finished in a choked voice, unable to control himself. His shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
The fabric on Duan Linzhou’s shoulder was soon soaked with hot tears, the droplets burning as they fell, and the heat made Duan Linzhou’s eyes redden as well.
