MSW Chapter69

108

This truly is hard-won good news. Although Mu Ke and Old Physician Ji both carefully chose their words, saying it was only a possibility or worth a try, Old Physician Ji even put it bluntly as treating a dead horse as if it were alive[mfn]Try everything possible.[/mfn].

 

Although Mu Peixuan didn’t like these words, nothing could be more joyful than the possibility of Duan Linzhou’s poison being cured.

 

Seeing Duan Linzhou’s dazed expression, Old Physician Ji also felt a pang of sorrow. Duan Linzhou had achieved fame at a young age. When he was first brought to the medical hall, the “Jian Huangquan” poison had flared up severely. His face was ashen, he vomited blood incessantly, and it seemed he was on the verge of departing for the afterlife. It was Old Physician Ji who snatched his life back from the jaws of death. In the past two years, Duan Linzhou had survived with unbelievable perseverance and a will to live. Yet, even so, he had been tormented to the point of accepting his fate of not having long to live.

 

Most people cherish their lives, and Duan Linzhou was no exception.

 

He had once said to Old Physician Ji that he still had many things he wanted to do in this life, he wanted to become a royal merchant, wanted to one day see the Duan family’s trading guild spread throughout the Daliang, and even to foreign lands overseas. He also hadn’t found a good match for Duan Weirui… Speaking of this, he smiled again and said to him with a sense of melancholy, “Don’t laugh at me, but I haven’t even properly found someone I truly like to fall in love with yet.”

 

Old Physician Ji glanced at him and said, ‘You, Boss Duan, are known for your romantic affairs outside. Aren’t you ashamed to say such a thing?’

 

Duan Linzhou chuckled softly and said, ‘That’s different.’

 

As for how it was different, Old Physician Ji, who was obsessed with medicine his whole life, didn’t understand, and he didn’t want to understand either. He suddenly heard Duan Linzhou say, ‘I just remembered someone. If it had been two years earlier, I would have done anything to befriend him.’

 

It’s a pity… a pity he’s going to die.

 

Both of them understood this unspoken truth and said no more. However, the regret in Duan Linzhou’s words left a deep impression on Old Physician Ji. Half a year later, Old Physician Ji suddenly received Duan Linzhou’s wedding invitation, and he was speechless, he knew that Duan Linzhou never told the truth. To be honest, he wasn’t optimistic about this marriage at first. Duan Linzhou, a dying man, was still going to marry someone; it was too immoral.

 

Secondly, with royal and noble families involved, he worried that Duan Linzhou wouldn’t even get peace and quiet when he was about to die.

 

Unexpectedly, Duan Linzhou and Mu Peixuan truly had some kind of fate. He wasn’t blind, so he could naturally see that Mu Peixuan liked Duan Linzhou, and Duan Linzhou wasn’t indifferent to Mu Peixuan either. He actually felt a bit of pity.

 

Old Physician Ji then looked at Mu Peixuan. When Mu Peixuan was young, he had a somewhat frivolous reputation, but since returning from Fengzhou, he had become increasingly steady and acted with prudence, faintly showing the demeanor of the late old Marquis. Now, however, he was so happy he didn’t know what to do. He held Duan Linzhou’s fingers, his mouth stretched into a grin—well, he looked a bit silly.

 

As a physician, Old Physician Ji couldn’t help but pour cold water on the two of them, saying, “The ‘Jian Huangquan’ poison is inherently extremely dangerous. Ordinary detoxification methods are simply unable to eradicate it.”

 

As soon as these words came out, Mu Peixuan’s fervent heart cooled down a bit. He couldn’t help but squeeze Duan Linzhou’s fingers and looked towards Old Physician Ji and Mu Ke. Mu Ke slowly said, “During these days, Old Physician Ji and I have scoured ancient medical texts, constantly pondering the way to detoxify this poison. This poison has resided in Boss Duan’s body for nearly three years. Although Old Physician Ji has been trying his best to suppress it during these years, ultimately, the time has been too long…”

 

He looked at Mu Peixuan. Meeting his gaze, Mu Peixuan suddenly calmed down and said, “I understand. Please continue.”

 

Mu Ke said, “There’s a hand-copied medical text left from the previous dynasty that mentions a peculiar poison called ‘Posuo.’ I’ve noticed that ‘Posuo’ and the ‘Jian Huangquan’ poison have quite a few similarities. It could almost be said that later generations developed ‘Jian Huangquan’ based on ‘Posuo’.”

 

Mu Peixuan didn’t want to hear about these things. He only wanted to know if the poison in Duan Linzhou’s body could be cured and how. But in the end, he could only restrain himself and listen quietly. Mu Ke and Old Physician Ji supplemented each other, and finally, Mu Ke looked at Duan Linzhou and said, “The method that Old Physician Ji and I have proposed is dangerous, with no turning back. Once it begins, there’s no going back. If it succeeds, Boss Duan will no longer be troubled by ‘Jian Huangquan.’ But if it fails, while Boss Duan could originally have survived for another two years with Old Physician Ji’s medical skills, if it fails…”

 

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Mu Peixuan’s heart sank. He frowned and asked, “Is this the only method?”

 

Old Physician Ji irritably said, “Do you think you’re buying something?”

 

Duan Linzhou then spoke, “May I ask what the chances of success are?”

 

Old Physician Ji and Mu Ke exchanged a look. Old Physician Ji said, “Fifty-fifty.”

 

The room fell silent. Mu Peixuan’s throat tightened, and he said, “Only fifty-fifty?”

 

Mu Ke hesitated for a moment and then said softly, “Yes, and we also need a crucial medicinal primer.” At this point, Mu Ke glanced at Mu Peixuan, who asked, “A medicinal primer?”

 

Mu Ke said, “As it happens, this medicinal primer is related to you.”

 

Mu Peixuan and Duan Linzhou were both taken aback. Mu Ke didn’t keep them in suspense and continued, “Four years ago, no, it should be considered five years ago now, after the leader of the Arles tribe, Yan Zhen, was captured, he submitted and offered a batch of tribute.”

 

Mu Peixuan naturally remembered this matter. Among the tributes were treasures from the Arles tribe, as well as beautiful women, who were quite favored by the late emperor at the time. Medicinal primer—Mu Peixuan thought carefully for a moment, and then something came to mind. He looked at Mu Ke and said, “The Southern Pearl?”

 

Mu Ke nodded and said, “Exactly. When the people of the Arles tribe offered it as tribute, they called the ‘Southern Pearl’ their tribe’s most precious treasure, but at the time, not many people paid attention to it.” Compared to the fist-sized pearls produced in the Daliang seas, a mere pigeon-egg-sized red pearl, though rare, wasn’t particularly remarkable. At that time, the Daliang was at its peak of power, and who would care about a tribal treasure like that?

 

“Actually, I also didn’t know about it initially. It’s recorded in that ancient text that the ‘Southern Pearl’ was obtained by the Arles tribe’s sorcerers through a secret method, said to have received the creation of heaven and earth, and capable of neutralizing all poisons.”

 

Mu Peixuan’s voice rose slightly, “Capable of neutralizing all poisons?”

 

Mu Ke said, “Later, I also went through the notes left by my uncle, the one who treated Xiong Mao. He also mentioned this item in his notes. The ‘Southern Pearl’ does indeed have a detoxifying effect, and it specifically neutralizes the ‘Posuo’ poison. A hundred years ago, someone used the ‘Southern Pearl’ to cure the ‘Posuo’ poison. It was precisely because of this that they developed the even more vicious and ruthless ‘Jian Huangquan’ poison.”

 

Mu Peixuan considered his words and said, “So, does that mean the Southern Pearl can’t completely cure ‘Jian Huangquan’?”

 

Mu Ke smiled slightly and said, “Although the Southern Pearl cannot completely eliminate ‘Jian Huangquan’, but with its power to nourish the meridians, Boss Duan won’t be overwhelmed by the toxic shock that occurs during detoxification. Boss Duan’s body is already extremely weak. Once detoxification begins, ‘Jian Huangquan’ will be like a wild beast breaking free from its cage. A moment of carelessness could tear Boss Duan to shreds. But with the Southern Pearl, the ferocity of the beast can be reduced; therefore, the Southern Pearl is crucial.”

 

Mu Peixuan said, “After the Arles tribe presented the ‘Southern Pearl’ as tribute, it was taken into the palace—”

 

“Exactly,” Mu Ke said with a wry smile. “It’s been five years. I don’t even know if the ‘Southern Pearl’ is still in the palace or not. If it were a few years ago, in peaceful times, I could have asked my father to check the Imperial Household Department. But now that the young Emperor has moved the capital, I don’t know if the ‘Southern Pearl’ was moved to Yuzhou or left behind in Liangdu.”

 

But whether it was in Yuzhou or Liangdu, obtaining the Southern Pearl would not be an easy task.

 

This matter had taken so many twists and turns that no one had anticipated this outcome. After a moment, Mu Peixuan said, “No matter what, I will retrieve the medicinal primer.”

 

Hearing this, Duan Linzhou looked at Mu Peixuan. His expression was calm and determined, as if no matter the difficulties, he would venture into that perilous place for Duan Linzhou’s sake.

 

Detoxification was a major undertaking and couldn’t be done immediately. Mu Ke and Old Physician Ji gave a few more detailed instructions before leaving together.

 

Duan Linzhou suddenly smiled and said, “Xiao Junwang, it seems you and I truly have a deep connection. That day, because of you, Yan Zhen was captured, forcing the Arles tribe to surrender and offer tribute. And now, the medicinal primer for my detoxification is among those tributes.”

 

Mu Peixuan thought for a moment and couldn’t help but smile. He said, “If I had known earlier that you would be poisoned by ‘Jian Huangquan’, I should have asked His Majesty for that as a reward.”

 

—If he had known what the future held, he would have stayed by Duan Linzhou’s side much earlier, not giving Duan Linyu any opportunity to take advantage, preventing Duan Linzhou from suffering these three years of pain in vain.

 

Duan Linzhou shook his head with a smile and said, “Don’t be anxious. I’ll first have a letter sent to Sanjiu to figure out a way to investigate.”

 

He added, “It’s already been three years. There’s no need to rush this moment.”

 

Mu Peixuan thought to himself, how could he not be anxious? Every day that this damned poison remained dormant in Duan Linzhou’s body, his heart trembled with fear. However, he also understood that Duan Linzhou was right. Not to mention Liangdu, even the capital of Yuzhou, Yu’an, was quite far from Ruizhou. Qin Fengyuan now occupied Liangdu, and Yu’an was King Xin’s fiefdom. If he acted rashly, he might alert the enemy and return empty-handed and even easily create unnecessary trouble.

 

Mu Peixuan said softly, “I understand.”

 

Duan Linzhou looked at Mu Peixuan and said, “Actually, I still feel like I’m in a dream.”

 

Mu Peixuan raised his eyes, looking at Duan Linzhou’s gaunt cheeks, and heard him say, “I never thought this day would actually come.”

 

He had long since given up hope and therefore had long been prepared for death.

 

Mu Peixuan took his hand and suddenly leaned in to bite his lip lightly, asking, “Are you awake now?”

 

Duan Linzhou laughed, shaking his head. “What should I do? I’m still a bit dazed.”

 

Mu Peixuan increased the pressure and bit him again, then kissed the spot he had bitten, saying, “It’s all real.”

 

“Duan Linzhou, I won’t let you die.” Mu Peixuan said very seriously.

 

Wenfeng Yuan had been operating in Liangdu for a long time. Upon receiving Duan Linzhou’s secret letter, Liu Sanjiu was overjoyed and paid even more attention to the matter of the “Southern Pearl.” However, Liangdu had undergone a series of upheavals. On the day of the capital’s relocation, the palace was in chaos, and many eunuchs died. Investigating would not be easy.

 

Mu Ke sent a letter to his father, asking him to inquire about the “Southern Pearl.” His father had moved south with the young emperor and still held the position of head in the Imperial Medical Bureau in Yu’an. Having been in the palace for a long time, he had more or less some connections with the palace eunuchs. Although there were many arrogant eunuchs, they were also afraid of getting sick and needing help in the future, so they naturally treated the imperial physicians with courtesy.

 

Not to mention that the Mu family had always been known for their medical skills.

 

Later, Imperial Physician Mu sent a letter saying that the registry of the private treasury had been lost in the chaos. Most of the items from His Majesty’s private treasury had been brought to Yu’an. Unfortunately, the guards now watching over His Majesty’s private treasury had been replaced by King Xin’s men.

 

By then, it was late October. Mu Peixuan pondered for a long time and said to Duan Linzhou that he needed to make a trip to Yu’an.

 

Although Duan Linzhou didn’t object, he insisted on going with him. Mu Peixuan naturally refused, but Duan Linzhou was adamant about accompanying him. Yu’an was King Xin’s fiefdom. No matter under what pretext Mu Peixuan went to Yu’an, it would be extremely dangerous. Duan Linzhou couldn’t bear to watch Mu Peixuan venture into danger alone.

 

The two even had a small cold war for two days because of this.

 

It was the first time Mu Peixuan had been angry with Duan Linzhou. Duan Linzhou found it novel and also thought Mu Peixuan was really quite adorable, to express his anger, he wouldn’t let Liu Guang offer candied fruit when Duan Linzhou took his medicine.

 

Yes, it was a punishment!

 

Duan Linzhou had originally been accustomed to bitter medicine and rarely had sweet treats to accompany it. However, after being fed two candied fruits after taking his medicine by Mu Peixuan for half a year, he had actually developed a habit. It was as if without the candied fruit, the bitter concoction tasted even more bitter. He made a pained face, and in front of Mu Peixuan, the person who had once drunk the bitter medicine without batting an eye now held the bowl as if he were pouring liquid goldthread into his mouth. Mu Peixuan remained unmoved.

 

Later, Duan Linzhou had to coax Mu Peixuan with both gentle words and firm persuasion for a good while before the two moved past this little episode.

 

Mu Peixuan couldn’t stop Duan Linzhou, just like when he went to Fengzhou. As soon as he left, Duan Linzhou would follow right behind him. Xiao Junwang began to feel that his own princess consort being too opinionated wasn’t necessarily a good thing. If Duan Linzhou were a Kunze, a Kunze would instinctively submit to a Tianqian. If Mu Peixuan had asked him to stay obediently in Ruizhou, Duan Linzhou might have listened.

 

Mu Peixuan gently rubbed the hollow gland at the nape of Duan Linzhou’s neck, his teeth itching slightly, yet he felt helpless.

 

The journey from Ruizhou to Yu’an and back would take a considerable amount of time. In the interim, there was a significant event, Xu Ying and Fang Yuan were getting married.

 

Whether it was a coincidence or not, their wedding day was exactly one month earlier than Duan Linzhou and Mu Peixuan’s wedding day. Upon careful calculation, they would almost have been married for a year.

 

If they left for Yu’an at this time, they would miss Xu Ying and Fang Yuan’s wedding.

 

Duan Linzhou’s words, “It’s not a matter of urgency for just a month or two,” decided that the two would first attend Xu Ying and Fang Yuan’s wedding before setting off for Yu’an. Mu Peixuan had consulted Old Physician Ji and Mu Ke, and both had agreed. Only then did Mu Peixuan breathe a sigh of relief and wholeheartedly participate in Xu Ying’s wedding preparations.