BLPSG Chapter 45: Allow yourself to go against reason

Without much thought, Wen Qingci subconsciously walked quickly towards the side of the boat.

 

The sky had become overcast with dark clouds, as if they might plummet to the ground at any moment. Even the canal water had turned murky, swirling like ink.

 

The boat’s deck slightly tilted upward, the highest point of the vessel—approximately three meters above the water. A single glance downward induced dizziness.

 

Wen Qingci clenched the railing, his toes propelling him overboard. He leaped onto the churning water, not hesitating for a moment, aiming for the floating fur nearby.

 

The water surged relentlessly, devoid of any foothold, concealing danger everywhere. Within a few steps, Wen Qingci’s lower legs were soaked.

 

Countless unseen hands seemed to reach up from below, pulling at his ankles, threatening to drag him under. The icy chill enveloped him.

 

“Cough, cough, cough…” Wen Qingci started coughing uncontrollably. His breathing became disordered and he almost fell into the water.

 

But he didn’t even look at his feet, he just stared at the piece of fur floating in the water not far away.

 

The canal water dampened his long hair. A figure akin to an exiled immortal had never appeared so embarrassed. Coughing heavily, he finally gathered his strength and leaned forward, clutching the fur tightly.

 

His racing heart finally steadied. Fortunately.

 

Fortunately, he had retrieved it…

 

Unnoticed, a fresh crimson stain adorned the corner of his lips.

 

Suppressing the itch in his chest, Wen Qingci fought the urge to collapse on the water’s surface. But the three-meter-high deck and the tumultuous river formed an insurmountable barrier.

 

Coldness consumed him.

 

“Physician Wen?!”

 

“Wen Qingci!”

 

The second prince, imprisoned and being transported to another boat, stared in shock at Wen Qingci’s location. He signaled the accompanying eunuch to steer the boat closer.

 

The heavy rain finally fell unrestrainedly on the Yinchuan Grand Canal.

 

“You’re insane! Why jump into the river?!” The young man pulled Wen Qingci from the water’s surface, only to recoil at the bone-chilling coldness.

 

His gaze fell upon the fur tightly clutched in Wen Qingci’s hand—a silver-white wolf pelt, now thoroughly soaked. Wrinkled and unassuming, it hardly seemed valuable.

 

Wen Qingci had risked his life to retrieve this—had it not been for his timely intervention, he might have sunk beneath the waves.

 

What was this fur, and why was it so important to him?

 

Wen Qingci chuckled weakly, shaking his head. “Thank you, Second Prince.”

 

His face, pallid as paper, bore a crimson mark at the brow, contrasting with the blood at his lips.

 

The small boat fell silent.

 

The scene from the cabin replayed in Xie Guanzhi’s mind. He despised betrayal, and now he should question Wen Qingci’s actions. Or perhaps ignore this person who stood on the same side as the emperor.

 

But he clenched his jaw and averted his gaze. “Life for life, we’re even. However…”

 

“However, you still owe Xie Bufeng an apology.”

 

Wen Qingci’s gentle response caught Xie Guanzhi off guard. “I know.”

 

Xie Guanzhi: “…”

 

Though he had been the one in the wrong, Xie Guanzhi suddenly felt his words had been too cruel. Like a small knife, they had cut into Wen Qingci, drawing blood.

 

*

 

Xie Guanzhi only had a personal eunuch by his side, and he looked much poorer.

 

 But the second prince’s influence remained, and the eunuch obeyed, steering the boat back to the elaborately adorned dragon-painted vessel. Wen Qingci returned to his room, still clad in wet clothes.

 

He wiped away the blood from his lips and carefully unfurled the fur in his hand. The rough yet intricate stitching and uneven edges came into view.

 

Wen Qingci’s nose tingled.

 

This was a hand warmer.

 

If he guessed correctly, Xie Bufeng had personally crafted it…

 

No time for further contemplation, Wen Qingci rinsed it clean with water. Separating the matted fur, he placed it near the gently warming incense burner.

 

Finally, he exhaled, realizing his fingers had grown icy. Only then did he remember to change out of his wet clothes.

 

As torrential rain pounded the Yinchuan, Wen Qingci held an umbrella, braving the downpour toward the other end of the boat.

 

“Ah, a rare guest! Please come in, Wen Xiansheng!” The steward, seeing Wen Qingci, hurriedly opened the door, ushering him inside and offering a fresh cup of tea.

 

“No need to be so polite, Steward.” Wen Qingci smiled, sitting down and placing the medicine box on the table.

 

This cabin is the residence of Xian Gonggong. The old steward, who is not on duty, wears a navy blue gown and looks no different from other old men on the street.

 

The two have known each other for so long that they are quite familiar with each other.

 

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the steward smiled and said, “I wonder why Wen Xiansheng came to visit us…”

 

Wen Qingci lowered his eyes and smiled, his gaze unconsciously falling on the medicine box at hand.

 

“I came to see Xian Gonggong, and I do have an unreasonable request.”

 

“You’re being too polite. Please feel free to speak, Wen Xiansheng!” XianGonggong looked flattered.

 

Wen Qingci slowly opened the medicine box, arranging a row of porcelain bottles neatly.

 

“These are the antidotes His Highness needs to take monthly, along with some medicinal supplies…” Wen Qingci paused, then looked up at Xian Gonggong. “Today, His Highness left in haste and couldn’t take the medicine with him. So I’d like to ask you, Your Excellency, to find someone to deliver these medicines to His Highness.”

 

Xian Gonggong hesitated for a moment, then smiled gently. “Naturally, naturally! Such important antidotes must not be forgotten.”

 

The elderly steward’s eyes were clouded, concealing his thoughts.

 

Unexpectedly, Wen Qingci seemed to possess more conscience than he outwardly displayed.

 

Serving by the Emperor’s side for so many years, Xian Gonggong had observed the Emperor’s condition closely and knew it had reached its limits.

 

…Perhaps it was time for him to make other arrangements.

 

During this period, while maintaining the Emperor’s stability and concealing any abnormalities, Xian Gonggong had also observed the people around him, especially the princes.

 

The current Emperor had four sons in total.

 

The fourth prince was too young, and his mother, Lady Wen Zhao, was implicated in the recent noble rebellion.

 

Death and exile had swiftly swept through their ranks.

 

Even Lady Wen Zhao herself had been sent to another imperial temple to become a nun due to a few words from Consort Lan.

 

As for the fourth prince, he was now raised by several less influential concubines who lacked presence.

 

He was clearly not a contender.

 

As for the third prince, he was even more incapable.

 

Upon careful consideration, it all came down to the second prince or Xie Bufeng.

 

In most people’s eyes, Xie Guanzhi was merely down on his luck.

 

His abilities and prestige needed no introduction.

 

If the Emperor suddenly passed away, he was the most likely candidate to ascend the throne.

 

As for Xie Bufeng… Consort Lan’s methods were more cunning than Consort Hui’s. Although her family wasn’t as illustrious as before, it was still a significant clan, certainly stronger than the recently exiled Jingzhao Prefect.

 

If Xie Bufeng returned alive from the battlefield, he also had a chance at succession.

 

After observing everyone, Xian Gonggong’s attention ultimately settled on Xie Bufeng and Xie Guanzhi.

 

Now that Wen Qingci had come to request this favor, Xian Gonggong naturally agreed to help.

 

Although he didn’t know the full story behind it, he could tell that both princes had a good relationship with Wen Qingci.

 

Since that was the case, establishing a favorable relationship with Wen Qingci would only benefit him.

 

Xian Gonggong solemnly accepted the medicine.

 

Seeing the labeled porcelain bottles, he recognized the handwriting—it wasn’t Wen Qingci’s.

 

As if sensing his curiosity, Wen Qingci coughed lightly after handing over the medicine. “By the way, when asking someone to deliver these medicines, please don’t mention that I prepared the wound medicine.”

 

If he claimed it was his own preparation, Xie Bufeng would likely dismiss it as he did earlier.

 

Wen Qingci paused and continued, “Just say they are a gift from Consort Lan.”

 

“Understood!” Xian Gonggong readily agreed.

 

The astute steward suspected Wen Qingci’s intentions. “The military reports we receive usually concern major matters, making it difficult to discern His Highness’s condition. However, we happen to have acquaintances in the military. If Wen Xiansheng needs it, we can also ask them to include His Highness’s recent situation in the letters.”

 

Wen Qingci disliked owing anyone favors, but he understood that Xian Gonggong was the only one in the entire palace who could fulfill those requests.

 

“Then I would like to thank you, steward,” Wen Qingci nodded gently at him, paused and said, “If you ever need anything…”

 

Before he could finish, Xian Gonggong interrupted with a smile.

 

“Don’t be so polite, Wen Xiansheng. As long as you remember us in the future, that’s enough.”

 

After saying that, he drank the tea in his hand.

 

The Emperor’s fleeting joy and relief from seeing off Xie Bufeng didn’t last long.

 

In the afternoon, Wen Qingci was called to his cabin again.

 

The person who came to call him this time was Zhao Gongong: “…Your Majesty was just falling asleep, and his body suddenly twitched for some reason. It looked really scary. Physician Wen, please come and take a look.” His tone was quite anxious.

 

Muscle twitching is also a symptom of chronic mercury poisoning.

 

Thinking of this, Wen Qingci couldn’t help but look at the steward again.

 

…I don’t know how much Zhao Gonggong, who is in charge of lighting the incense, knows.

 

Wen Qingci’s prescription only treats the symptoms but not the root cause.

 

However, after taking several heavy doses, the emperor’s muscle convulsions gradually disappeared over time.

 

But ever since he stopped taking the Fuxuan Flower Pill last time, the symptoms not only returned but also showed signs of getting more serious.

 

The other imperial physicians were helpless as usual, and only after Wen Qingci’s acupuncture did the emperor’s condition improve slightly.

 

Therefore, Wen Qingci became the emperor’s life-saving straw.

 

While communicating with Zhao Gonggong about the emperor’s symptoms, Wen Qingci quickly walked into the cabin.

 

The emperor didn’t want anyone to see him sick, so the bright yellow bed curtains fell as usual, leaving only his wrists exposed, while he waited for the imperial physician to come and take his pulse.

 

Wen Qingci quickly put the medicine box aside, stepped forward and placed his hand on the emperor’s pulse.

 

Before he could figure out the cause of the disease, he suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps.

 

Two men wearing straw raincoats were brought over by the eunuchs.

 

He knelt on the ground with a nervous look on his face, his body shaking constantly.

 

“Your Majesty, the person has been stopped and brought back.”

 

“Okay…” the emperor said slowly, “Call Consort Lan as well.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Having worked beside him for so long, Wen Qingci had already developed the habit of not looking too much or asking too many questions.

 

Ever since he heard the word “Consort Lan”, his nerves became tense, but his hands did not stop moving for a moment.

 

Wen Qingci stabbed the emperor’s arm with a silver needle.

 

The other person’s muscles, which had been twitching and shaking, finally slowly calmed down.

 

The ship was already large, not to mention it was raining heavily outside.

 

After a long while, Consort Lan was finally brought in.

 

Such a big thing happened today, even she looked unhappy.

 

“…Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you.” With the help of the palace maid, Consort Lan slowly knelt down.

 

“Um……”

 

The emperor’s voice came from behind the bed curtain after a long while, but he did not mean to ask Consort Lan to get up.

 

The cabin fell silent again.

 

The flow of time also slowed down at this time.

 

Just when Wen Qingci couldn’t help but wonder whether the emperor had fallen asleep inside, his voice finally came from behind the bed curtains.

 

“Take out everything.” the emperor ordered.

 

“yes.”

 

Several guards came forward, escorted the two men in straw raincoats down, and took out two packages from under the thick raincoats.

 

With swift movements, they unwrapped the contents.

 

The heart of Wen Qingci sank…

 

The emperor slowly withdrew his hand from the bed curtain, sighing as if resigned. “Although Xie Bufeng is a prince, once he steps onto the battlefield, he’s no different from an ordinary soldier. We cannot afford special treatment.”

 

His tone grew stern. “Consort Lan, look at what you’re doing! Have you no regard for me?!”

 

As the packages were revealed, a pile of common medicines and thick clothing emerged.

 

Seeing this, Consort Lan immediately kowtowed in apology. “Your Majesty, forgive me. I… I was only…”

 

Her maternal instincts had driven her.

 

The words “beloved son” were on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say them.

 

Since Xie Bufeng entered the palace, they had maintained a distance, pretending not to be familiar. Today’s actions would undoubtedly raise suspicions in the emperor’s mind.

 

However, even though it was summer, the northern region remained chilly.

 

Xie Bufeng had been abruptly dispatched without any preparation. As a mother, Consort Lan couldn’t simply stand by.

 

The emperor’s voice carried a hint of displeasure.

 

He had provided himself with a legitimate reason: “Even if he’s my son, he should use the same medicines as the soldiers, and share their hardships. If others can endure it, why can’t he?”

 

Quietly standing aside, Wen Qingci clenched his lips.

 

Why didn’t the emperor go to the battlefield and share the soldiers’ hardships himself?

 

He excelled at appearing generous with others’ sacrifices.

 

Moreover, Wen Qingci knew that before going to battle, soldiers had ample time to prepare in their hometowns. The armor provided by the Imperial Army was worn over cotton clothing brought from home.

 

—Both for soldiers and generals.

 

This scene reminded Wen Qingci that perhaps he should buy some warm clothing for Xie Bufeng.

 

The emperor had practically laid out his intentions for all to see.

 

He wasn’t interested in training Xie Bufeng, he wanted him dead. He didn’t want the young prince to survive.

 

Thinking this, Wen Qingci exchanged a glance with the steward standing on the other side of the emperor.

 

The old steward nodded slowly.

 

—They had decided that in a few days, when the emperor had likely forgotten this incident, they would send someone to the northern region.

 

The emperor had probably anticipated Consort Lan’s actions, which was why he had been watching her closely.

 

The two men in raincoats hadn’t caught up with Xie Bufeng yet, they were brought back by the emperor’s men.

 

However, he clearly hadn’t expected that, apart from Consort Lan, Wen Qingci had also acted similarly.

 

And he had even cooperated with the steward…

 

On the other side of the bed curtain, the emperor played his usual role of stern father.

 

He instructed those around him, “Since Xie Bufeng is on a journey of experience, he mustn’t deceive. Keep an eye on Consort Lan and ensure she doesn’t repeat such actions!”

 

“…If it happens again, you’ll all be punished together.”

 

“Yes,” the surrounding eunuchs and palace maids knelt down, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

 

This scene made Wen Qingci secretly relieved.

 

Thank goodness he had initially sought out the steward. If he had approached Consort Lan, it would have caused trouble and likely exposed them…

 

The farce finally came to an end.

 

Consort Lan was taken back to her residence, and after administering the injection, Wen Qingci stepped out of the cabin, holding an umbrella.

 

The torrential rain continued, and the Yinchuan Canal was shrouded in mist. At first glance, it was impossible to discern the riverbanks.

 

The damp wind blew, and Wen Qingci couldn’t control another fit of coughing.

 

The itch spread through his chest and lungs, and he instinctively pressed a silk handkerchief to his lips.

 

In the next moment, the once pristine handkerchief was stained crimson.

 

He wondered where Xie Bufeng was now—had he continued without stopping, or had he found shelter from the rain?

 

…

 

This is the heaviest rain in Wei Dynasty this summer.

 

Endless dark clouds covered more than ten provinces.

 

The rumbling thunder continued all day.

 

The boat’s progress was slower due to the rain. The messengers who delivered military reports recently had all ridden fast horses overland, and they would return the same way.

 

More than twenty horses galloped through the valley. The rain here was as heavy as on the canal.

 

The dirt official road became muddy due to heavy rain.

 

One of the horses was running when it was tripped by something. It neighed and fell heavily to the ground.

 

Even the soldier on horseback were thrown off.

 

His body shook twice, followed by a painful groan.

 

The whole team also stopped.

 

One of them wiped the rain off his face with his hands and shouted to the others: “Why don’t we stop for today? The rain is too heavy!”

 

“Let alone the fact that the horse can’t run, if there are gravel rolling down, it will cause a disaster—”

 

His voice was shattered by the heavy rain, and when it fell into everyone’s ears, it seemed extremely unreal.

 

After saying this, the man jumped off his horse and helped the soldier who had fallen to the ground, but the fast horse was still neighing on the ground.

 

“That’s true… but we don’t know how long it will take for the rain to stop. If it doesn’t stop, then will we never move forward? These military orders are time-limited. If there’s a delay, we won’t be able to take responsibility!” Another soldier retorted hesitantly.

 

Because of the rain and mud, the line was much longer.

 

As the man spoke, the last few horses caught up.

 

Everyone’s eyes involuntarily fell on the young man…

 

The heavy rain wet Xie Bufeng’s black hair and tight clothes. His amber eyes were even colder than the heavy rain at that moment.

 

He cut through the rain like a sharp blade.

 

“Keep going,” Xie Bufeng said coldly without even pulling the reins, “Leave one person to take the wounded back to the fleet.”

 

After he finished speaking, he continued going forward without looking back.

 

Everyone knew that Xie Bufeng would never return from this trip.

 

But he was the prince after all, and everyone had to obey his orders.

 

The few of them looked at each other, then rode forward through the rain again.

 

At the same time, he couldn’t help but think in his heart… The aura around Xie Bufeng was totally unlike that of a young man who had lived in the imperial mausoleum since childhood and was spoiled.

 

On the contrary, at this moment they all unexpectedly sensed a natural aura of a general in Xie Bufeng.

 

It has been more than three hours since he left the fleet, but from the moment he left Wen Qingci until now, Xie Bufeng has never looked back…

 

The heavy rain is still falling.

 

A tear slid down from the corner of the young man’s eye, and the next moment it merged into the rain, disappearing without a trace.

 

The sky was filled with fog and no one noticed Xie Bufeng’s slightly red eyes.

 

Xie Bufeng gritted his teeth and urged his horse forward.

 

He couldn’t help but lower his eyes and smile self-deprecatingly…

 

The young man slowly loosened the reins and gently touched the wool bracelet hidden under the clothes on his wrist.

 

When Xie Bufeng set off, he asked the soldiers for a bandage to wrap it tightly.

 

Fortunately, it’s still dry.

 

He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

 

…He should hate Wen Qingci, but he still couldn’t help but think of his gentleness back then.

 

Never mind.

 

He’s going to die anyway. What’s the use of rationality for a dying person?

 

It was raining heavily.

 

Xie Bufeng let himself go and fell into thoughts against his reason.