80
When Mu Peixuan returned to the yamen, Duan Linzhou was already asleep. He quickly washed up and changed his clothes before getting into bed. As soon as he got close, Duan Linzhou woke up, still drowsy, and asked, “It’s done?”
Mu Peixuan stretched out an arm and pulled Duan Linzhou into his embrace, taking a deep breath at the crook of his neck before replying, “It’s done.”
Duan Linzhou let out a muffled laugh from the ticklish, puppy-like gesture and rubbed his cheek against Mu Peixuan’s. Ever since arriving in Fuzhou, Mu Peixuan had to hold him every night before he could fall asleep.
Mu Peixuan said, “I killed Zhao Qianhou.”
“En,” Duan Linzhou said, “You killed him, then so be it.” He reached out and stroked Mu Peixuan’s back. The youth’s body still radiated warmth from the hot bath he’d just taken, firm and steaming, unlike Duan Linzhou, who even with a warmed bed still needed to hug a hot-water bottle to sleep through the night.
Mu Peixuan relaxed completely under his touch, tucking Duan Linzhou’s feet between his calves. Duan Linzhou narrowed his eyes and said, “Don’t worry. The court has no time to hold you accountable, nor do they dare to.”
Mu Peixuan murmured, “Hm?”
Only then did Duan Linzhou remember, after they parted, he hadn’t yet told Mu Peixuan what had happened in Liangdu. So he said, “King Duan is dead. Qin Fengyuan fled the moment he got the news outside the capital.”
Mu Peixuan’s eyes widened slightly. “King Duan is dead?”
Duan Linzhou replied, “He took his own life in the imperial prison.”
Mu Peixuan pondered for a moment, then slowly said, “With King Duan dead, Liangdu must be in chaos.”
Duan Linzhou replied softly, “Exactly. The scholars in Liangdu are causing daily unrest, the Jinyiwei can’t suppress them all. In Jiangzhou, King Xuan has mobilized troops, and in Yuzhou, King Xin is also marching straight toward the capital. Meanwhile, the northern barbarians are wreaking havoc. How could Liangdu possibly spare the strength to investigate how an eunuch died? Even if they know the truth, they’ll have to swallow it.”
The court still relied on the southern army to suppress the rebels, if they pushed Mu Peixuan into rebellion, Liangdu’s situation would only worsen.
Mu Peixuan understood that perfectly. He opened his eyes and looked up at the bed canopy. “I saw King Duan when I was younger. If the late emperor had passed the throne to him, perhaps the empire would look very different today.”
“Unfortunately, Prince Duan had a mild disposition, uninterested in power, content to live as a leisure king.”
But Duan Linzhou chuckled and said, “I don’t quite agree.” The two lay side by side, their heads touching, and Duan Linzhou spoke slowly, “Daliang is no longer the Daliang of twenty years ago. The late emperor reigned for ten years without governing, pouring resources into grand construction, palaces, and temples, each one funded by the officials draining the people’s lifeblood.”
“And that’s just what was officially reported,” Duan Linzhou continued. “Who knows how much more was embezzled privately?”
“When the ruler sets the tone, those below follow. The emperor built Taoist temples; officials rushed to imitate him. Have you ever seen the commoners forced into corvée labor in the bitterest winters?” He said with a touch of sorrow. “Years ago, I was doing business in Liangzhou. The prefect there, in order to honor the emperor’s birthday from afar, built a temple to offer prayers for long life. The cost was astronomical. I heard that of the laborers conscripted that year, eight or nine out of ten never came back, they were buried beneath that temple.”
Mu Peixuan turned his head to look at Duan Linzhou. Duan Linzhou shook his head and said, “My father once told me that when he was young, there were a few years when the imperial taxes were low, even the commercial taxes were reduced. But later, they increased year by year. Many small merchants couldn’t bear the burden and had no choice but to give up. If even merchants suffered like that, how could ordinary people survive? When they can’t survive, how could they not rebel?”
“Even if there were no Liu Ziyi today, there would be a Zhao Ziyi or a Wang Ziyi someday as well.”
These were words Mu Peixuan had never heard before. Born into nobility and raised in the provincial capital of Ruizhou, everything he laid eyes on was wealth and splendor. Even though he had his own fief, Mu Peixuan seldom concerned himself with its affairs. From childhood to now, he had thought that hardship merely meant delays in military provisions, for which he had already emptied much of his private treasury in recent years. Yet he had never once lowered his gaze to look upon the common folk under his jurisdiction.
Duan Linzhou saw that he was listening intently and felt a slight stir in his heart. He smiled gently and said, “They say human greed is insatiable, but sometimes I feel that it’s the common folk who are the easiest to satisfy.”
Mu Peixuan looked at Duan Linzhou, and Duan Linzhou continued, “The year before last, Ruizhou suffered the worst flood in twenty years. Why was there no uprising in Ruizhou? And yet this past winter’s snow disaster caused such turmoil in Fengzhou and Longzhou? Even if some rebels took advantage of the chaos, if the common people could survive, who would risk a crime punishable by exterminating their entire clan just to rebel?”
Mu Peixuan, prompted by these words, naturally thought of how corrupt the governors of those two provinces were. And it wasn’t just those two. He had been to Liangdu a few years back, the debauchery, extravagance, and indulgence there were still fresh in his memory.
After a moment, Mu Peixuan said, “The emperor is too young.”
The emperor is young, even if Prime Minister Lin were removed, how could he possibly wield true power? But if the young emperor were to abdicate, then who should ascend the throne?
This line of thought was far too dangerous, and Mu Peixuan did not pursue it further. Duan Linzhou, sensing the same, tactfully shifted the topic.
After a while, Mu Peixuan suddenly remembered the flood in Ruizhou and the disaster relief funds his elder brother had mentioned. He instinctively called out, “Duan Linzhou—”
“En?” Duan Linzhou responded.
Mu Peixuan stared at him for a moment, unsure how to begin. Why had Duan Linzhou involved himself in that matter back then? One misstep, and he would’ve faced the wrath of both Marquis Annan mansion and the court. And later, that incident had even become the catalyst for their marriage.
Mu Peixuan thought Duan Linzhou was still hiding many things from him.
Mu Peixuan hesitated for a long time but ultimately did not voice his question. He will wait a little longer, he thought, until Duan Linzhou tells me himself.
He said, “It’s nothing. Let’s sleep.”
Duan Linzhou suspected nothing and gave a quiet reply.
In the days that followed, Mu Peixuan clashed several times with the rebels. Both sides were probing each other, as if a storm was silently brewing.
According to the “Fengzhou Chronicles”, on the second day of the third month in the second year of Fengqi, Jingnan Junwang, Mu Peixuan, led his troops out of the city at night and attacked the rebel camp at four watch in the morning, annihilating 3,000 enemies and achieving a great victory.
It was the first offensive battle since the Southern Army had begun defending Fuzhou and a resounding triumph. Like the rising sun at dawn, it swept away the long-standing gloom that had hung over both Fuzhou and the Southern Army.
Zhou Ting fiercely rubbed his cheek, letting out a deep sigh of satisfaction, feeling a sense of release. In recent times, the city had been plagued by the epidemic, a shortage of supplies, and constant disturbances from the rebel forces outside, all of which had left them overwhelmed and frustrated.
Zhou Ting hadn’t expected Mu Peixuan to dare to launch a surprise attack on the rebel camp at this moment.
After all, aside from the battle where Mu Peixuan led the Black-armored Iron Cavalry into the city, due to Mu Peizhi contracting the epidemic, Mu Peixuan had mostly been on the defensive. He hadn’t anticipated that Mu Peixuan would suddenly take the initiative to strike at the rebels. Zhou Ting had also not foreseen that Sun Qing and his men, who were equally unprepared, would be caught off guard at the fourth watch, when the rebels were scattered and preparing their fires, only to be ambushed by the Southern Army in the dark.
Had it not been for Sun Qing’s quick reaction and the well-trained nature of his rebel forces, the battle would have been an even greater victory.
On the wall hung a topographical map, and inside the tent were Zhou Ting, Xu Ying, and other Southern Army generals, with Zhou Zijing also following behind Mu Peixuan.
The young commander had already removed his armor, his long hair tied up high, and dressed in a dark-colored, narrow-sleeved, fitted outfit. His face was calm and composed, exuding an air of confidence that made others trust him.
Xu Ying said, “They thought we’d be trapped by the epidemic in the city and wouldn’t dare to make a move.”
Another middle-aged general spoke. “Now that they’ve retreated thirty miles, what’s our next step?”
Mu Peixuan pointed to the map and said, “The rebel forces are rooted in Anyang. Sun Qing is thirty miles away, so we’ll push them step by step back to Anyang.”
Zhou Ting interjected, “The cavalry of the Chiluo people is not to be underestimated…”
Mu Peixuan glanced at him, and their eyes met. Zhou Ting was the commander sent by the court and also the official assigned by Liangdu to oversee Marquis Annan Mansion. Marquis Annan Mansion, however, had completely concealed the existence of the Black-armored Iron Cavalry from the court, even hiding them as though they were personal soldiers of Marquis Annan Mansion. If Zhou Ting reported this to Liangdu, the court would undoubtedly investigate.
Though Mu Peixuan was a prince, he was also a minor official under Zhou Ting, and the two had worked together for many years with few conflicts. Their personal friendship was strong, almost like that of close, long-time friends.
After a brief pause, Mu Peixuan spoke, “Leave the cavalry to Fu Yue.”
Fu Yue was the commander of the Black-armored Iron Cavalry.
After the discussion, the generals gradually exited the tent. Mu Peixuan then spoke up, “Uncle Zhou.”
Zhou Ting’s steps paused slightly.
After a while, only Mu Peixuan and Zhou Ting were left in the tent. Zhou Ting turned around, looking at Mu Peixuan with a serious expression, saying, “Laozi[mfn]It means “I”, usually used in an arrogant way.[/mfn] shouldn’t have accepted your call of ‘uncle’.”
Mu Peixuan replied, “Uncle Zhou, if you wish to report the Black-armored Iron Cavalry to Liangdu, I have no complaints. I just ask that you wait until things are settled here before submitting the petition.”
Zhou Ting responded, “Do you realize that your Marquis Annan Mansion is deceiving the emperor? If others get hold of this evidence—”
“Uncle Zhou,” Mu Peixuan interrupted, “Marquis Annan Mansion has guarded the southern border for generations, loyal to His Majesty and to Daliang, with no ulterior motives. But do you not know why my father died?”
Zhou Ting fell silent.
“Once the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. When the flying birds are gone, the fine bow is put away,” Mu Peixuan said in a deep voice. “My father left the Black-armored Iron Cavalry only to protect Marquis Annan Mansion.”
After a long pause, Zhou Ting waved his sleeve and said, “Fine, I, Zhou Ting, am not an ungrateful man. If it weren’t for you leading the troops here, Fuzhou might have already fallen.”
“I hope that the Xiao Junwang will be careful and always remember, the Black-armored Iron Cavalry belongs to Daliang, the same goes for the border army. They were never anyone’s private soldiers.” He turned towards the door, his voice lowering slightly. “This time, I will cover for you with Liangdu.”
Mu Peixuan quietly watched Zhou Ting’s retreating figure, his gaze slowly lowering.
The evening was approaching.
Sun Qing climbed up the small path to the hill and, sure enough, saw Yun Zhuo. The Kunze, dressed in white, was sitting on a flat stone.
“Shengzun.” Sun Qing saluted from behind him.
Yun Zhuo had long since become accustomed to this and casually replied, “You’re here.”
Sun Qing stepped closer and said, “The wind on the mountain is strong. Shengzun should return.”
Yun Zhuo, holding a palm leaf that seemed to have been plucked from nowhere, was slowly manipulating it with his slender, pale fingers. It was faintly visible that it resembled a grasshopper. A lifelike grasshopper stood beside him.
Yun Zhuo casually acknowledged, not lifting his head, while Sun Qing quietly watched the delicate grasshopper in his hands. He said, “When I was young, my sister often made these little trinkets. She would trade me coarse steamed buns from other children. If I was lucky, I might get one, and my sister and I would share it for the whole day.”
Sun Qing didn’t say anything, just watching him. After a moment, Yun Zhuo had finished weaving the grasshopper. He shook the two small grasshoppers in his hands, raised them, and tossed them to Sun Qing, who caught them effortlessly.
Yun Zhuo said, “It’s for you.”
Sun Qing softly replied, “Thank you, Shengzun.”
Yun Zhuo stood up, brushed off his sleeves, and said, “Did you suffer a great loss under Mu Peixuan’s hand?”
Sun Qing knelt on one knee and replied, “Sun Qing is incompetent. I wasn’t careful for a moment—”
Yun Zhuo’s expression was lazy as he spoke indifferently, “It’s not your fault. After all, you’re just a group of misfits. Even after training for some time, you can’t compare to the well-trained border troops.”
The two of them descended the mountain together, and suddenly Yun Zhuo asked Sun Qing, “When you followed me into the sect, do you regret it?”
Sun Qing didn’t hesitate, responding firmly, “No regret.”
“Without Shengzun, Sun Qing could only be a bandit on the mountain, with no chance to make a name for myself, let alone follow the Shengzun.”
Yun Zhuo said, “Is that so?”
Sun Qing walked a half step behind Yun Zhuo, his gaze falling on the slender neck of the Kunze, and he spoke softly, “Sun Qing is willing to leap into fire and walk through water for Shengzun, without any regret, even if it costs me my life.”
81
The night raid was a success, greatly boosting the morale of the Southern Army. Mu Peixuan ordered Fu Yue to lead the Black-armored Iron Cavalry out of the city to harass the enemy camps. Fu Yue, in his forties, was a seasoned warrior, skilled in both combat and strategy, particularly in unconventional tactics. He avoided direct confrontations with the enemy, striking swiftly and retreating just as quickly. His cavalry was nimble and formidable, and whenever they charged, the sound of hooves struck fear into the hearts of the rebel forces.
In addition to this, Mu Peixuan abandoned Sun Qing and instead dispatched generals like Xu Ying and Luo An to lead troops out of Fuzhou, reclaiming the various towns and cities that had been seized by the rebels. Since Zhao Qianhou had already angered many of the commanders and had now met his death, the city had fallen under Mu Peixuan’s authority. Despite his youth, he was known for his strict military discipline and had earned great respect among the troops. Generals like Xu Ying and Luo An, along with many other commanders, were loyal to him and immediately took their soldiers, filled with both pent-up frustration and a burning desire for revenge, charging like tigers and wolves toward the towns surrounding Anyang, gradually forming a siege.
Sun Qing clearly understood Mu Peixuan’s strategy. He gritted his teeth, but he knew very well that their victory over Mu Peizhi had not been due to superior troops but because they had planned ahead, while Mu Peizhi had been caught off guard. The plague had also tied Mu Peizhi’s hands. Now, Mu Peixuan’s forces seemed to have overcome the issues of morale, military strength, and supplies, and the city of Fuzhou had not been debilitated by the plague; it had not turned into a dead city.
The rebel forces had retreated all the way to Bu’er Pass.
Bu’er Pass was an important strategic stronghold in Anyang’s defense, difficult to attack but easy to defend. Sun Qing had taken up position at this crucial pass, and for the moment, the Southern Army and the rebel forces were once again at a stalemate, though the roles of attacker and defender had reversed.
Mu Peixuan sat high on his horse, looking at the old city walls. Lan Duo stood at the parapet, gazing down at the army below, feeling a slight shiver of unease. Lan Duo licked his dry lips and said, “Follow me out of the city to face the enemy.”
A middle-aged general standing nearby furrowed his brows and said, “General Lan, General Sun has ordered only to defend, not to attack.”
Lan Duo glanced at him and replied indifferently, “I have been given the order to defend Bu’er Pass.”
After saying that, he led his personal soldiers down from the city wall. With a loud rumble, the gate slowly opened, and Lan Duo rode out. The atmosphere on the battlefield became tense. It was already early March, and while Ruizhou had begun to show signs of spring, Fengzhou remained cold and bleak, filled with a chilling sense of impending violence. Mu Peixuan looked at the ghostly masked Tianqian and circled for a moment before spurring his horse out of the formation. Their eyes met, both filled with a sense of eager battle.
Mu Peixuan remembered what Xu Ying had said, that the spear in Li Yue’s chest had been pierced by this masked figure.
This masked man harbored intense hatred for him. On the night of the Lantern Festival, he had even sent assassins to provoke him, seemingly with a deep grudge against him.
The sound of spears clashing was sharp and intense. Both men were on horseback, their spears crossing in combat. Suddenly, Mu Peixuan spoke, mocking, “A lost dog.”
Lan Duo narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at Mu Peixuan with a fixed gaze, his attack growing even fiercer. Mu Peixuan remained unfazed, blocking his deadly strike with ease, and continued, “The Chiluo have had some renown, but now you’ve fallen so low. I fear that even in death, you’ll struggle to return to your homeland. I wonder what your father, Chiluo Yan, will think when he hears of your fate.”
Lan Duo’s hand hesitated for a moment. Mu Peixuan looked into his foreign eyes, a mocking smile playing at the corner of his mouth as he added, “Too bad, he won’t get the chance to know.”
“You-what did you say?” Lan Duo said coldly.
Mu Peixuan nonchalantly replied, “He’s dead.”
“In the great fire at Baima Temple, he was burned to death in the flames.” Mu Peixuan had just received a message from Duan Linzhou this morning, informing him of the fire at Baima Temple in the capital, where the Chiluo royal clan was being held. The two exchanged several dozen moves in an instant, but Mu Peixuan’s tone remained calm. “Which son of Yan Zhen are you?” He paused for a moment, then even chuckled. “Yan Zhen only has three sons left. One died at the hands of my father, one at the hands of my older brother, and among the remaining two, one is a zhongyong, and another is a tianqian—”
“You’re Yan Zhen’s youngest son, aren’t you?”
He spoke these words slowly, without any indication of the imminent danger of life and death, only the sound of clashing spears and the rhythmic beat of horses’ hooves adding a touch of murderous intent to the air.
Lan Duo was provoked, his eyes reddening slightly. He steadied himself and coldly chuckled, “So what if that’s the case?”
Mu Peixuan replied, “What a pity. If I were you, I would return and compete with Qi Mu for supremacy, rally the old troops, and wait for the day to rise again.”
“Mu Peixuan,” Lan Duo gritted his teeth and said, “Do you think I don’t know this is just your attempt to sow discord?” He aimed a vicious strike toward Mu Peixuan with his spear. Mu Peixuan narrowly dodged, countering with a thrust of his spear aimed directly at his throat. His tone was harsh yet casual as he said, “The Chiluo clan and Marquis Annan Mansion have been at odds for a hundred years, and now they’ve become nothing more than lapdogs and mongrels. Truly, how low you’ve sunk.”
He lightly uttered those words, and his attack became suddenly fiercer. Lan Duo’s heart skipped a beat as he saw the spear coming at him. He raised his arm to deflect the strike, and the two spear tips clashed repeatedly. Lan Duo felt his arms go numb, almost falling off his horse. He knew full well that Mu Peixuan was using those words to unsettle him, but his reflexes were sharp. Swallowing the taste of blood in his mouth, he said, “Mu Peixuan, I heard that the junior general who died at Wutou Ridge was your brother?”
Mu Peixuan’s gaze turned cold. Lan Duo, like a beast tasting the blood, sneered, “Have you seen his body? He was quite tough and didn’t give in even after all those wounds. We tried to persuade him to surrender, but he refused. So we had no choice but to kill him, one stroke at a time. If it weren’t for that old bastard Zhou Ting, I would’ve personally chopped off his head—”
Ting Lei seemed to sense his master’s anger, snorting loudly, and the two men became even more ruthless in their attacks, each trying to take the other’s life. Suddenly, Lan Duo heard Mu Peixuan speak, “For you to have such hatred for me, did your parents or loved ones lose their lives at my hands?”
At these words, Lan Duo’s breath became heavier, and through clenched teeth, he spat, “Mu Peixuan!”
Mu Peixuan muttered as if to himself, “A member of the royal clan?”
Lan Duo’s blood boiled with rage, seeing how the man who had stained his hands with his kin’s blood now wore a look of complete indifference. He growled through clenched teeth, “Four years ago, in the dead of night—”
Only then did Mu Peixuan seem to recall it, and he chuckled, utterly nonchalant. “Ah, yes. Four years ago, when I launched a night raid on your camp, I did kill a few people…”
Before he could finish, Lan Duo, consumed by fury, lunged with his spear and roared, “My royal uncle Yan Shan died by your hand, Mu Peixuan, I will kill you and offer your life to honor his spirit!”
Mu Peixuan saw that Lan Duo was already enraged, and a cold smile flickered in his heart. Ever since he had first come face-to-face with this unnamed member of the Chiluo royal clan, he had sensed that the man was bent on killing him. This kind of hatred wasn’t the kind that stemmed from conflict between two states, it was clearly personal.
Combined with the recent exchanges, Mu Peixuan was now certain: this man was impulsive and easily provoked, likely being used by Liu Ziyi or by the Jiulian Sect.
After all, if the Chiluo royal clan truly wanted revenge, the best course would have been to return to the Arles tribes, rally the old forces under the fading prestige of the royal name, and bide their time for a comeback, not throw themselves into the muddy waters of Daliang before their wings had even formed.
The war drums thundered as Mu Peixuan and Lan Duo clashed at the front lines, exchanging blows back and forth, battling from horseback down to the ground. Both of them were Tianqian, and the innate aggression and thirst for combat in their bones were fully unleashed. With old grudges and new hatred entwined, Lan Duo wanted nothing more than to kill Mu Peixuan on the spot. His gray eyes glinted with a beast-like savagery.
Suddenly, seizing a fleeting opening, he aimed to strike a fatal blow, only to meet Mu Peixuan’s gaze.
Those eyes, belonging to a youth of Daliang, were calm and indifferent, with a trace of mocking contempt. In that instant, the fury and vengeance clouding Lan Duo’s mind were doused like a bucket of cold water. A chill ran inexplicably down his spine, and he instinctively pulled back for just a second, yet in that second, Mu Peixuan’s spear thrust cleanly through his shoulder.
Had Lan Duo reacted even a moment slower, it wouldn’t have been his shoulder, it would’ve been his heart.
Lan Duo reversed his grip on the spear to force Mu Peixuan back, retreated two steps, and no longer lingered in the fight. With a whistle, he leapt onto his horse, preparing to return to the city. His personal guards rode up swiftly behind him, while the southern army’s war drums beat even louder. Xu Ying was the first to charge forward, when Lan Duo made that strike just now, his heart had nearly leapt out of his chest. If he hadn’t known from their frequent sparring that Mu Peixuan always held something in reserve, he might have cried out on the spot already.
Xu Ying asked, “Aren’t we pursuing?”
Mu Peixuan mounted his horse as well and replied, “No.” His gaze locked onto the city wall, sharp and cold, as though he could see through the thick stone to the mastermind hiding inside Anyang. He tightened the reins and said, “Bu’er Pass isn’t suited for a forced assault. Order the troops to fall back.”
As they withdrew, the two rode side by side. Xu Ying asked, “Your Highness, why didn’t you just kill Lan Duo back there?”
He was well aware of Mu Peixuan’s spear technique and had noticed that his strike had deliberately veered off by two points.
Mu Peixuan replied, “I wanted to take a gamble.”
Xu Ying blinked. “Hm?”
Mu Peixuan’s expression remained calm as he said flatly, “This morning, Duan Linzhou sent word that Baima Temple caught fire. I bluffed that Yan Zhen died in the blaze.”
Xu Ying frowned. “But won’t Lan Duo figure it out once he confronts the truth back at camp?”
Mu Peixuan countered, “Do you think the fire was set by the Arles tribe themselves or by the Jiulian Sect?”
Xu Ying fell into thoughtful silence.
Mu Peixuan said, “Since they’ve taken the Chiluo royal clan, naturally they’ll use them as hostages to control Lan Duo.”
“I was merely reminding him,” Mu Peixuan smiled coldly. “Liu Ziyi is, after all, a man of Daliang, he won’t fully trust a foreigner. Even if he does, would the rebel commanders really be willing to be led by an outsider? Each has their own agenda, and together they’re nothing more than a loose group—”
Mu Peixuan paused, then spat out a few words. “Easy to crush.”
Just as Mu Peixuan had expected, after hastily bandaging his wound, Lan Duo went to find Sun Qing to inquire about the rescue at Baima Temple, and from Sun Qing’s mouth, he learned that Yan Zhen had not perished in the blaze.
Before he could even ask when they would be reaching Anyang, he saw Sun Qing’s face darken as he sternly questioned why he had rashly left the city.
Another round of argument broke out between the two sides, ending in discord once more.
In Fuzhou City.
Mu Peixuan led his troops to Bu’er Pass. Although Duan Linzhou wished to go with him, someone had to stay behind to manage affairs in Fuzhou. His health was frail; once he got busy, it was hard to tell when he’d caught a chill, but soon he began to cough. Fortunately, it was only a mild cold.
Since arriving in Fuzhou, Old Physician Ji had thrown himself entirely into the dilapidated temple. As he was constantly in contact with the sick, he hadn’t come to tend to Duan Linzhou. Come to think of it, the two of them hadn’t seen each other much since arriving in Fuzhou.
Duan Linzhou set down his brush, pressed his fingers to his brow, and couldn’t help coughing a few more times before asking Liu Guang, “How are things at the dilapidated temple?”
Seeing this, Liu Guang stepped forward to refill his cup with hot water and gently pressed Duan Linzhou’s temples, saying softly, “Old Physician Ji and Military Physician He are currently discussing prescriptions.”
“There were several formulas left in the notes that Military Physician Deng left behind. He developed them based on the symptoms of the epidemic but never got the chance to test them before he…” Liu Guang continued, “I heard that Old Physician Ji holds those prescriptions in high regard. He’s been buried in ancient texts every day. I’m sure he and Military Physician He will settle on the most suitable remedy before long.”
Duan Linzhou felt a bit more at ease and said, “That’s good. Tell the people at the dilapidated temple to take care and watch over Old Physician Ji’s health. He’s not young anymore.”
Liu Guang replied, “Yes, Young Master.” After speaking, he looked at the dark circles under Duan Linzhou’s eyes and couldn’t help but complain, “You can’t just keep telling others to take care of their health. You should rest more yourself. If His Highness finds out that you’re sick…”
Duan Linzhou interrupted, “Don’t tell him, I just need a couple of days’ medicine, and I’ll be fine.”
Liu Guang muttered, “You make it sound so easy. That day, when you suddenly had a mild fever, I saw Zhou Xing’s face turn pale. He almost went to send a message to His Highness. Think about it, if you really get sick, what will you do with all the problems in Fuzhou?”
Duan Linzhou, seeing him fussing so much, smiled helplessly, “Alright, alright, stop nagging. My ears are getting calluses from all your complaints.”
“I know. Right now, the war is at a critical juncture. Don’t let Fuzhou’s matters disturb His Highness.” Duan Linzhou said calmly.
Not only was Old Physician Ji busy, but Military Physician He was also working tirelessly. The physicians in the dilapidated temple stayed there around the clock to care for the patients. Fortunately, the plague hadn’t spread further, but there was still no effective treatment.
For every day without a treatment plan, someone would die.
Military Physician He washed his hands and saw a medicine boy bringing a food box. Only then did he remember it was already noon. “Is this for Old Physician Ji?”
The medicine boy nodded, and Military Physician He said, “You go ahead and have your meal. I’ll take it over myself.”
Having said that, Military Physician He took the food box and walked towards Old Physician Ji’s quarters.
As he got closer, he saw Old Physician Ji pacing back and forth, muttering something to himself. His hair was a mess, his white beard tangled, and his clothes were the same ones he had worn two days ago. Military Physician He knocked on the door and called out, “Old Physician Ji.”
Old Physician Ji seemed oblivious to the sound. He suddenly turned around and rushed back to his desk, grabbed a brush, and quickly added a few more words to one of the papers. He nodded to himself repeatedly, lost in his thoughts. It wasn’t until Military Physician He called out a couple more times, and Old Physician Ji seemed to snap out of it. He grabbed Military Physician He by the arm and said, “Young He, come quickly and help me fetch the medicine. I’ve worked out a prescription…”
Military Physician He’s eyes widened in excitement. He didn’t even care about the food box anymore and quickly picked up the prescription. After scanning it a few times, he was visibly pleased and said, “Great! Great! I’ll go grab the medicine right away!” As he spoke, he lifted his robe and hurried out, and after a few steps, he broke into a run. Old Physician Ji followed closely behind.
They gathered the medicine, prepared it, and administered it to the patient suffering from the epidemic.
The room was filled with physicians, all of whom were staring intently at the patient, their faces covered. Military Physician He and Old Physician Ji stood at the forefront, both watching closely. After what seemed like a long time, they finally saw the patient’s painful groans gradually lessen, his expression calming. Old Physician Ji reached out and touched the patient’s forehead. “The fever has subsided, no more heat!”
“Really?”
“Does this prescription work?”
One by one, the physicians spoke, eagerly discussing the possibility of giving the patient more doses of the medicine, each hoping to see immediate results. Despite this, the fact that they had seen a positive response was enough to fill them with excitement.
Old Physician Ji’s tone was certain as he said, “Immediately prepare the medicine according to this prescription and administer it to the patients suffering from the epidemic.”
“Finally, there’s a solution.” Someone’s voice cracked with emotion.
As soon as that person spoke, the entire room, physicians and medicine boys alike, felt their eyes fill with tears. One of the military physicians said, “May the heavens protect Daliang, may the heavens protect His Highness!”
“May the heavens protect Daliang, may the heavens protect His Highness!”
When the news reached Duan Linzhou, he nearly knocked over the medicine in his hand. His eyes locked onto Liu Guang, and he asked, “Is it true?”
Liu Guang wept with joy and said, “Young Master, it’s true, Old Physician Ji personally sent word. The rashes on the patients who took the medicine first all faded.”
“We no longer have to fear the epidemic.”
Duan Linzhou said, “I want to go see.”
He started to head out, but Liu Guang quickly stopped him. “Young Master, you mustn’t go.”
Duan Linzhou paused, steadied his emotions, then let out a long breath and chuckled. “No matter what, this is good news. I’ll write to His Majesty at once.”
“I’ll grind the ink for you,” Liu Guang agreed readily, as long as Duan Linzhou didn’t insist on going to the dilapidated temple.
Just after the letter was written and Duan Linzhou was rotating his wrist to ease the strain, a servant came in to report, “Junwang Fei, there is a visitor.”
“They claim to be an old acquaintance of yours, surname Fang, Fang Yuan.”
