Abyss: A huge thanks to Jujü女王Joō, Kat and Nix for the kofis, please enjoy the updatess ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ ) ✧
That cup of wine acted as a catalyst, drawing blood from Wen Qingci’s body.
The faint smell of blood accompanied by a strong bitter fragrance instantly filled the entire palace.
Even though they ware still intoxicated, everyone’s gaze involuntarily fell upon Wen Qingci.
Although no one had ever openly mentioned it, the “legend” that Wen Qingci was a medicine man had already spread throughout Yongdu…
At the moment when Wen Qingci was about to collapse, the young man steadied him.
In the glow of the hall’s lanterns, Xie Bufeng saw… Wen Qingci’s blood had already stained half of his own body.
It looked particularly dazzling when it fell on the moon-white robes.
In that fleeting instant, a sense of impending loss washed over him.
Xie Bufeng’s heart sank heavily.
Xie Bufeng is afraid.
After nearly two years of battlefield experience, emerging from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, he was now feeling fear.
He had thought he had long transcended life and death—both his own and others’.
Yet at this moment, he realized he wasn’t as carefree and fearless as he believed.
He wanted to ask Wen Qingci how he felt, where he was injured, or if he was affected by Tianci.
But thinking about what would happen in the next two days, he suppressed the unspoken words deep within his heart.
Not now. This moment wasn’t the time.
…The would soon settle.
The young man’s fingers loosened, and a few seconds later, as if making a resolute decision, he clenched them again.
At this moment, Wen Qingci’s vision turned pitch black, and a buzzing filled his ears.
He didn’t notice the words the young man wanted to say but couldn’t.
Wen Qingci’s slender, pale fingers clung tightly to Xie Bufeng’s wrist, like a drowning person grasping at a last straw.
The next second, they went limp.
His other hand remained quietly at his side.
“Come here,” Xie Bufeng whispered to the eunuch beside him, “take Physician Wen back and let him rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Several eunuchs hurried over and helped Wen Qingci out of the hall.
The ambiguous interactions between Wen Qingci and Xie Bufeng, along with the rumors of their discord, had already infiltrated the guests’ minds during this drunken revelry. They couldn’t quite fathom the true nature of their relationship.
The moon-white figure was like a wisp of smoke, blown away by the wind and disappeared before his eyes.
The young man’s tightly clenched hands trembled slightly.
Silence enveloped the hall.
…His heart felt inexplicably uneasy.
Xie Bufeng, in his dark silk robe, turned back to his seat, seemingly treating everything that had just happened as an insignificant episode.
As Xie Bufeng raised his cup again, the atmosphere gradually livened up around him.
However, this time, those who couldn’t discern Xie Bufeng’s emotions dared not approach to offer their toasts.
Xie Bufeng lifted the wine cup slowly, downing the fiery liquor as if it were water.
“Brother… Brother.”
Someone tugged gently at Xie Bufeng’s robe, pulling him back from his thoughts.
Turning around, Xie Bufeng saw Xie Fuyin pouting behind him, accompanied by a worried and anxious wet nurse.
“What’s wrong?” The lingering unease persisted, and Xie Bufeng’s tone with Xie Fuyin held a hint of impatience.
The young girl seemed startled by his current demeanor. She hadn’t expected her gentle and caring brother, as described by Physician Wen, to suddenly appear so serious. Still, she sniffled and gathered her courage to ask, “Brother, is Physician Wen hurt?”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened.
Xie Bufeng’s hand holding the wine cup trembled involuntarily. “No… he’s just tired.”
Hearing her brother’s words, Xie Fuyin nodded, seemingly understanding. She finally released her grip on Xie Bufeng’s robe.
“Will Master Wen come back?” Xie Fuyin looked up earnestly.
Her voice carried a nasal tone, clear and innocent.
It was an innocent question, but paired with her sincere childlike voice, it unexpectedly tugged at Xie Bufeng’s heart.
A sense of panic gnawed at him.
—Wen Qingci won’t return tonight.
Xie Bufeng hesitated, not answering Xie Fuyin’s question directly. Instead, he turned and coldly instructed the wet nurse behind her, “It’s getting late. Take the little princess down to rest.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The panicked wet nurse quickly scooped up Xie Fuyin and hurried back to Consort Lan’s side.
The clear blue jade pendant glowed softly under the lanterns.
The jet-black curly hair was tied up high and spread out behind him like thick ink.
His facial features were sharp and deep, and he had a murderous aura brought from the battlefield.
The two completely opposite temperaments of “gentle” and “fierce” collide in Xie Bufeng.
Others didn’t even dare to look at it.
Xie Bufeng clenched the wine glass in his hand and slowly closed his eyes.
Go back and have a good rest, everything will be fine tomorrow…
The mountain stream covered with bindweed flowers on the outskirts of Yongdu is picturesque, and the air is fresher and warmer than that in Yongdu.
When the dust settles, He will build a sanatorium there and bring Wen Qingci to live there.
Or go back to Songxiu Mansion with him and visit the Valley of Divine Physicians.
Xie Bufeng clenched his palms… Although he was not a physician, he always believed that everything in the world was interdependent and there was no real poison that had no antidote.
As long as he is patient, he will be able to resolve the problem of Tianci.
Thinking of this, Xie Bufeng couldn’t help but let out a long sigh and smiled slowly.
The soil in the north is very poor, and most of the area is Gobi and desert, and all supplies are transferred from Yongdu.
If you want to eat meat, you have to find a way yourself.
The Wei Dynasty did not originally have this custom, but it was not known since which victory it began, as long as they returned to their base, the people nearby would secretly deliver slaughtered cattle and sheep to them in advance.
Xie Bufeng did not give it to the cook, but learned to process and cook it himself.
…When Wenqingci gets better, He can make it for him to try.
The wars that followed one after another and the winter that seemed to never end in the north made Xie Bufeng extremely patient.
His heart finally calmed down a little as he imagined the future.
The banquet did not end until late at night.
When all the civil and military officials and the rewarded soldiers left, it was already midnight.
“Your Highness, please come this way.” A small leader of Hengxin Guard came over, bowed to Xie Bufeng perfunctorily, and led him to Yuguang Palace.
The young man raised his eyebrows with a smile and looked the man up and down.
His eyes were sharp, as if he could see through the person in front of him at a glance.
The Hengxin guard subconsciously felt guilty and lowered his eyes.
Then he immediately turned around and walked to the palace road.
Xie Bufeng saw that he clenched the long sword at his side because of nervousness.
The young man had no spies in the palace, and he had no idea what was happening in the palace after being away for so long. However, this palace banquet and the exciting thoughts in everyone’s minds were enough for him to understand the situation.
Xie Bufeng did not see the figure of Xian Gonggong today. Instead, the “Hengxin Guards” that had never appeared before appeared in every corner of the palace.
It seems that this is the emperor’s “backup plan”.
They said they were sending him back to the palace to rest, but this was too much noise.
More than thirty Hengxin guards surrounded Xie Bufeng.
But the people surrounded by them remained calm.
“…Haha, death is approaching, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
“No matter how powerful you are on the battlefield, it is difficult to defeat a hundred alone.”
“Xie Bufeng may not see the sun tomorrow.”
Heavy snow was falling.
Every word in Hengxin Guard’s voice was filled with strong malice, so loud that it was frightening.
But Xie Bufeng was not angry at all after hearing this, he even laughed slowly.
His amber eyes glinted faintly in the darkness, like a wolf lying in ambush in the grass, waiting for the moment to strike.
That moment is about to arrive—
When Wen Qingci returned to the medical Bureau, the celebration banquet hadn’t yet concluded.
His symptoms always fluctuated—sometimes better, sometimes worse.
Now, the pain in his chest and lungs had gradually subsided. Aside from feeling a bit fatigued, Wen Qingci had returned to his usual self.
The Hengxin Guards stationed outside the medical Bureau were mentally reviewing tonight’s plan.
The Emperor’s orders were clear: after the victory banquet, immediately perform bloodletting and prepare medicine, then surround Yuguang Palace.
…
Although the banquet hadn’t officially ended, it was already late.
After changing clothes and freshening up, Wen Qingci didn’t retire early as usual.
He coughed softly and stepped into the small courtyard’s earthen room.
The wind is a bit strong tonight.
Before he could close the window, a gust of cold wind carried snowflakes and magnolia petals into the room.
Wen Qingci’s face paled from the cold, yet he didn’t rush to shut the window. Instead, he closed his eyes and deeply inhaled the familiar scent of magnolia.
The Hengxin Guards exchanged glances, following him.
This room had been converted from an earthen storage room, originally used for storing medicinal herbs. Even after the transformation, the cupboard still held some dried herbs.
They all had unpronounceable names.
Seeing those herbs and glancing at the small stove in front of Wen Qingci, the Hengxin Guards simultaneously thought of the word “poison.”
The two guards who had entered the kitchen with him grew tense, hands ready to draw their swords.
But to their surprise, Wen Qingci’s intentions were entirely different from what they had imagined.
The moon-white court physician produced a small porcelain bottle from somewhere.
The earthen room lacked a stove, but it was like a giant refrigerator.
His fingers grew numb from the cold, yet Wen Qingci seemed unfazed. He patiently washed the magnolia petals with cold water, and soon, his pale skin turned slightly red.
The firewood crackled, emitting soft sounds.
Wen Qingci intentionally used a low flame, simmering the mixture slowly.
After a while, spring water, magnolia petals, and glutinous rice finally tumbled together in the purple clay pot.
Steam and a delicate fragrance filled the air.
At this moment, the Hengxin Guards realized that Wen Qingci was making a hangover remedy.
Why was he doing this in the middle of the night?
The guards continued their slow movements.
The night in the medical office grew exceptionally quiet.
Even the Hengxin Guard standing behind him held their breath, afraid to disturb him.
After a long time, Wen Qingci finally sighed in relief. Then he smiled slowly.
“All right, I’ll trouble you to deliver it to His Highness’s chambers early tomorrow morning.” He turned around, casually instructing the Hengxin Guard behind him.
“Yes.”
However, no one in the room took his words seriously at this moment.
—Until tomorrow?
Both he and Xie Bufeng might not survive the night.
That realization dawned on everyone.
The magnolia petals stored in the jade bottle, collected from last spring, blended with the scent of magnolias outside the window, making it impossible to distinguish reality from illusion.
Suddenly, the snowfall intensified.
The lively sounds in the distance gradually faded with the deepening night.
Wen Qingci didn’t retire to his room, he stood guard over the flower gruel almost the entire night.
When the noise had completely dissipated, the Hengxin Guards exchanged glances.
The time for action is here.
It was widely known that although Wen Qingci’s health was poor, his background as a martial artist made him a master of lightness techniques and hidden weapons.
Once again, their hands rested on their swords, and their breaths quickened with nervous anticipation.
Before they could draw their swords, a heavy sound echoed from outside the medical Bureau.
The walls trembled violently, and the occupants’ eardrums throbbed in pain.
“Who’s there?”
The Hengxin Guard by Wen Qingci’s side momentarily abandoned him, unsheathing their sword to peer outside.
Before the guards outside the medical bureau could respond, chaotic sounds of horse hooves suddenly came from the direction outside the palace.
The Hengxin Guards exchanged fearful glances.
…the sound of horse hooves and the collision of weapons.
Cavalry!
Cavalry broke into the Taishu Palace?!
The medical bureau was already situated in a corner of the imperial palace.
Almost simultaneously with hearing the horse hooves, screams erupted from the front courtyard of the medical bureau.
The cavalry had reached this place!
Now they had no time to worry about Wen Qingci. Four guards hastily blocked him in the earthen room, while the rest charged out.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Taishu Palace.
Xie Bufeng, who had also heard the commotion, slowed his steps.
Before the Hengxin Guard beside him could react, the young man kicked them in the chest.
Blood sprayed forth, and the Hengxin Guard who had just cursed Xie Bufeng’s impending demise lost consciousness.
Xie Bufeng’s smile grew wider.
A snowstorm suddenly swept through the Taishu Palace.
In an instant, it covered the ground in blood.
The young man’s indifferent gaze swept over the faces of the thirty-odd Hengxin Guards.
Stepping on the blood that was about to be hidden, he walked towards them step by step.
“Ah—”
“Help! Save us!”
Xie Bufeng now resembled a demon risen from hell.
His battlefield experience meant that every move he made was aimed at taking lives.
The hastily assembled Hengxin Guards were no match for him.
“Your Highness, spare us! Spare us!”
In moments, the palace corridor was strewn with bodies.
The remaining Hengxin Guards fell to their knees, banging their heads against the ground in front of Xie Bufeng.
But the young man continued to wield his sword, seemingly deaf to their pleas, reaping their lives in an instant.
Fools.
The current Emperor was truly a fool who judged others by his own standards.
He cared deeply about “righteousness” and assumed everyone else did too.
He not only pretended to be a benevolent father but also deliberately acted satisfied with Xie Bufeng, as if he couldn’t wait to bestow the throne upon him in due time.
Just like every prince in history.
Little did he know that Xie Bufeng, born and raised in Suzhou, cared nothing for “righteousness” and had no interest in “legitimacy.”
He only knew that if he wanted something, he would take it directly.
—In fact, Xie Bufeng had long decided to storm back into the Taishu Palace and seize the old Emperor’s position.
He had changed his plan and acted tonight only because he couldn’t resist the urge to catch a glimpse of Wen Qingci beforehand.
Countless cavalry stationed outside the city gates now shouted as they charged into the Taishu Palace.
Straight toward the largest golden hall.
Xie Bufeng’s personal guards killed anyone who stood in their way, and in a moment, they cleared a bloody trail in the palace.
Yet Xie Bufeng merely glanced in that direction and headed elsewhere.
His destination is the Imperial Medical Bureau located in the imperial palace.
I was blasting ‘The Boy Is Mine’ while reading this, NGL that fit the vibe so well…