BLPSG Chapter 53: House Arrest in the Palace (Part 1)

Abyss: Thank you so much Nix for the lovely wishes and the Kofi! Enjoy the updatesss!٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

 

As he was about to leave the city gate, Xie Bufeng slowly opened his palm and looked down. 

 

The flesh on his palm had been marred by the shattered medicinal jade, leaving no discernible patterns, just blurred blood and tissue. 

 

Even the slightest movement caused fresh blood to seep out…

 

The young man instinctively closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and calmed himself. Fragmented memories from last night surged once again.

 

The iridescent halo, ambiguous sounds, the cold skin, and the faint scent of bitterness, the touch and the kiss—all seemed both real and illusory.

 

Like a dream, beautiful to the point of unreality.

 

At this point, Xie Bufeng’s heartbeat became erratic once more.

 

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, slapped against him, and people instinctively squinted their eyes.

 

Yet Xie Bufeng seemed entirely oblivious.

 

He strained to capture and salvage those fragmented memories, but under the fever, everything remained hazy, as if hidden behind thick fog.

 

It was impossible to distinguish truth from illusion.

 

…Was it really him?

 

Or perhaps it was a deep-seated desire within himself.

 

Logic and emotion clashed fiercely in that moment.

 

His fingers clenched the reins, trembling slightly from nervousness.

 

Xie Bufeng gritted his teeth. At the moment of clarity, he wished he could seal off the entire Changyuan, send people to search every house, and find that person.

 

He even considered riding south along the official road, digging three feet into the ground if necessary, to unearth that person.

 

The rational part of him, which usually held sway, showed signs of crumbling on this clear morning.

 

But ultimately, he did nothing.

 

The deputy general suppressed the report about his own injuries, news of it hadn’t reached the northern region.

 

Wen Qingci couldn’t possibly know.

 

…And why would Wen Qingci, who had sent him to the battlefield, travel all this way to be here?

 

Yet if it wasn’t him, how could Xie Bufeng have awakened today?

 

Countless thoughts tore at Xie Bufeng’s mind.

 

At this moment, he couldn’t distinguish what he was hoping for and what he feared.

 

All he knew was that once the fire in his heart ignited, it couldn’t be extinguished.

 

Xie Bufeng smiled slowly, clenching his palm. He turned to look back at Changyuan.

 

As far as his eyes could see, there was a vast wilderness and countless soldiers in silver armor, raising their arms in jubilation.

 

He forcefully suppressed the hidden memories of that secretive night, compelling himself not to touch them.

 

At the end of the street, someone had thrown a wine jar in his direction.

 

Xie Bufeng caught it, took a sip, and then raised it high, pouring the contents into the air—

 

In an instant, the fragrance of wine filled the air.

 

His troops erupted in cheers behind him.

 

At this moment, everyone was shouting Xie Bufeng’s name.

 

The young man’s gaze swept past numerous soldiers, landing on the city.

 

He suppressed the frenzy within his eyes.

 

Everything that had happened on the battlefield had taught Xie Bufeng the meaning of “patience.”

 

He had indeed matured significantly.

 

Unbeknownst to him, his goal had long shifted from mere “killing” and “surviving” to “winning.” Now, the thought of “returning to Yongdu” has become clearer.

 

He would no longer be controlled by others.

 

If everything from last night was real, only achievements and power could preserve it.

 

If it was false, then he would make it true.

 

As the troops bearing the General of Dingyuan’s banner left Changyuan, heading toward the campfires, the jubilant crowd on the street receded like a tide.

 

Hidden beneath his black armor and long hair, few noticed the faint curve of Xie Bufeng’s lips.

 

At this moment, his ambition burned brightly.

 

*

 

“Let’s go…” Wen Qingci, draped in a cloak, tightened the reins. He glanced back at the city slumbering in twilight and turned to the medical attendant. “It’s time to return to Yongdu.”

 

His body was far from recovered, but any further delay would raise suspicions with the emperor.

 

“Yes, Second Valley Master.”

 

Wen Qingci had initially wanted the medical attendant to stay and continue monitoring events in Changyuan.

 

However, in the end, the attendant successfully persuaded Wen Qingci, who was still recovering, to ride to Yongdu together.

 

The snow on the ground was thicker now, slowing their pace.

 

Unlike their arrival, the medical attendant no longer followed behind Wen Qingci but walked alongside him on the road.

 

The attendant, older in age, enjoyed reminiscing about the past. Coupled with Wen Qingci’s interest in learning about matters related to the original owner, the attendant had been talking throughout the journey.

 

“…The Second Valley Master has the best memory among anyone I have ever met.” He smiled with his eyes narrowed.

 

“how do I say this?”

 

“You are the first person in all these years to walk to the Valley of Divine Physicians on your own.”

 

At this point, the medical attendant paused, then muttered to himself: “Aya…how old were you at that time?”

 

Wen Qingci’s right hand tightened, and by the time he reacted, he had blurted out, “Five years old.”

 

“Exactly! You were only five years old!” The medical attendant chuckled. “When you found your way to the valley, you were just a little over five.”

 

Wen Qingci lowered his head slowly, his thick eyelashes concealing his pupils.

 

He buried all his emotions deep inside.

 

Five years old.

 

The original owner was five when the great Yangchuan Canal collapsed in the tenth year of Tianchu.

 

So, he had indeed gone to the Valley of Divine Physicians at the age of five…

 

The original owner’s entry into the palace was undoubtedly connected to the canal incident.

 

In an instant, the images he had glimpsed during his coma, along with the attendant’s words, all connected in Wen Qingci’s mind.

 

After days of travel and another incident last night, Wen Qingci’s head remained foggy, and his cough hadn’t ceased.

 

He couldn’t push himself any further in this condition, so he followed the attendant’s advice and stayed at an inn for the night.

 

Their conversation on the road echoed repeatedly in Wen Qingci’s mind.

 

Amid the occasional stabbing pain in his forehead, he saw—

 

A child with cinnabar dots on his forehead, gathering herbs in the mountains with his father.

 

They happened upon a group of strangers emerging from the mountains.

 

A man in a blue robe, his hair white, chatted with the child’s father about the distribution of nearby medicinal plants.

 

Behind that man were several attendants in unfamiliar attire.

 

Seeing them, the child’s father grew nervous and respectful.

 

Wen Qingci’s intuition told him that this person from his memories was indeed the old master of the Valley of Divine Physicians…

 

Sure enough, from their conversation, he heard that this group was indeed from the Valley of Divine Physicians.

 

Seeing someone gathering herbs here, they had come to inquire.

 

The child, standing to the side, looked up curiously at the adults.

 

Seeing his earnest expression, the old master couldn’t help but smile. He squatted down, ruffled the child’s hair, and asked, “Are you learning medicine from a young age? Why are you so curious? Is there something you want to ask?”

 

“Um…” The child blushed slightly and nodded shyly. Then he asked, “Are you all from the Valley of Divine Physicians?”

 

“Hahaha, yes! Why?”

 

Hearing this, the child’s face turned even redder, and he suddenly fell silent.

 

Seeing this, the father stepped forward to explain.

 

Their small village was nestled against the Eryan Mountain, where most people made a living by cultivating medicinal herbs and practicing medicine for generations.

 

Growing up here, the child had always been curious about the legendary Valley of Divine Physicians hidden deep within the Eryan Mountain. Today, encountering them, he was too happy to find the right words.

 

Amused, the group from the valley burst into laughter.

 

After chatting with the child’s father for a while, they couldn’t resist teasing the child. The old master leaned in, half-jokingly, and whispered in the child’s ear, “Alright, I’ll only say it once. You’d better remember.”

 

Then he recited a long list of hidden locations within the mountains.

 

“Got it?”

 

The child nodded solemnly, meeting the man’s eyes. “I’ll remember it.”

 

Indeed, the old master had revealed the exact location of the Valley of Divine Physicians, but at this moment, he was merely teasing the child. He hadn’t expected the child to remember every word he said.

 

Wen Qingci’s memories blurred once again.

 

The lush green mountains and rivers faded suddenly.

 

In a daze, Wen Qingci saw—what had once been a thriving town due to herb cultivation and trade was now strewn with corpses.

 

The child, using his bare hands, dug deep pits in the ground, dragging people from grass mats into them as he wept…

 

This memory was murky and dark. Wen Qingci strained to see it clearly, but his head throbbed.

 

Faced with the desolation of the village, the child’s face held only confusion. He didn’t know where he should go.

 

Finally, he remembered the group he had encountered in the mountains and the place name etched in his heart…

 

With a heavy burden on his back, the child, dressed in mourning clothes, set off alone toward the Eryan Mountain and the hills hidden behind it.

 

This was the only place he could think of going.

 

After days of walking alone in the mountains, he finally reached his destination, relying on the words from his memories.

 

Kneeling outside the Valley of Divine Physicians, exposed to wind and sun, the child remained stubbornly on his knees, ignoring the people who came out to persuade him to leave.

 

At the moment when he was about to lose consciousness, someone gently carried him into the valley.

 

Vaguely, he heard the old master sigh, “What a tragedy… truly a tragedy…”—

 

*

 

It took Wen Qingci two whole days to return to Yongdu.

 

Although they hurried along the way, by the time they returned, the Qingming festival had already ended.

 

The officials returned to their original positions, and Wen Qingci’s absence was particularly conspicuous.

 

As soon as he returned to the mansion, before he had time to rest, the housekeeper came hurriedly and said, “Master Wen, you left just two days ago and the palace sent people to look for you. We… I followed your instructions and said that you were poisoned and unconscious, and could not enter the palace. Your Majesty also waited for a few days, but since yesterday, the palace has been sending people to ask if you can enter the palace.”

 

Wen Qing left in such a hurry that it could be said that he suddenly disappeared from Yongdu.

 

——He didn’t even have time to see Consort Lan again.

 

Fortunately, the two of them had just had a conversation before leaving.

 

Wen Qingci left a message, and Consort Lan finally helped him cover up a little bit of the lie.

 

But when he came back, the mansion was still in chaos.

 

Today alone, the emperor has come to urge twice, and his patience is running low.

 

The only thing to be thankful for is… the person the emperor had sent before was none other than Xian Gonggong. After realizing that Wen Qingci was not here, he did not make it public but helped to keep it secret.

 

The housekeeper in Wen Qingci’s mansion was also someone he hired through the clinic some time ago.

 

Although the steward didn’t know exactly why Wen Qingci had left Yongdu, he wouldn’t easily betray him. 

 

However, the current emperor was inherently suspicious. 

 

Even if he witnessed something first hand, he might not believe it, let alone listen to others.

 

Wen Qingci’s sudden “illness” would undoubtedly raise extreme suspicion.

 

“Very well… cough, cough, I understand.”

 

After a grueling journey, Wen Qingci’s condition had deteriorated significantly. As he spoke, he couldn’t help but break into a coughing fit.

 

The housekeeper secretly glanced ahead—Wen Qingci looked noticeably thinner after this trip, and the color had drained from his face.

 

He seemed like a wisp of mist, ready to dissipate in the wind.

 

At first glance, he indeed appeared to have recently suffered from poisoning.

 

As they conversed, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly echoed from outside the estate. 

 

Before Wen Qingci could react, he saw a guard with an unfamiliar face hurrying into the courtyard.

 

“Hey! Sir, please wait—”

 

The guard moved swiftly, catching everyone off guard. He hadn’t given anyone a moment to react.

 

From his slightly disheveled breath and the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, it was clear he had ridden here posthaste after receiving the emperor’s orders.

 

He was worried that someone might have sent a message ahead, so he didn’t dare delay.

 

Before the person blocking his way could step out of the courtyard, he was already standing in the open space in front of the house, announcing loudly: “His Majesty has heard of Wen Qingci’s illness and permits him to enter the palace for recuperation. He is to leave immediately without delay.”

 

Wen Qingci’s heart sank…

 

Recuperate in the palace?

 

Was this trip really about allowing him to recover? It was more likely a test to determine if he was still in Yongdu, with the intention of confining him within the palace.

 

Chaos erupted within the courtyard.

 

Wen Qingci furrowed his brow. Before he could step outside to see, the sound of footsteps reached his ears.

 

Twenty-some guards in light armor, swords at their sides, marched toward the house.

 

Accompanying them was the voice of the guard from earlier.

 

“Where is Wen Xiansheng? His Majesty wishes for you to enter the palace immediately. We’ve prepared a carriage outside.” With a brazen look, he glanced into the room.

 

He seemed convinced that Wen Qingci wasn’t there.

 

As he finished speaking, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

 

He turned to the others and ordered, “You few, go now—”

 

However, his words were interrupted by another set of footsteps.

 

“Thank you for your trouble,” a figure in moon-white robes suddenly emerged from the back hall. Wen Qingci coughed twice and nodded gently at the group. “Since that’s the case, let’s go now.”

 

The guards filling the room exchanged puzzled glances.

 

His face appeared unusually pale, yet his tone remained calm and gentle.

 

As if everything was business as usual, merely entering the palace to treat the emperor.

 

But Wen Qingci’s heart was far from calm.

 

He was certain that this man before him was a stranger.

 

In all the time he’d spent by the emperor’s side—over a year—he had never seen this person.

 

Usually, the emperor would send Xian Gonggong for such matters.

 

Now, with someone else, did it mean the emperor had grown suspicious of Xian Gonggong?

 

This is going to be troublesome.

 

“You…” The guard-dressed man seemed taken aback by Wen Qingci’s presence. Seeing him, he hesitated for a moment.

 

“…Very well,” the guard forced a smile and clenched his teeth. “Wen Xiansheng, please proceed—”

 

Turning around, he couldn’t help but laugh with disdain, as he had just witnessed the emperor’s rage over Wen Qingci’s matter not long ago.

 

After all, Wen Qingci was just an imperial physician. Yet here he was, putting on airs?

 

Wait, that’s not right.

 

Besides being an imperial physician, this man was also a medicinal person.

 

If his understanding was correct, the emperor was already considering using his blood.

 

Who knew if this trip to the palace would be his last chance to leave?

 

After all, the emperor’s mood is not very good.