The atmosphere within the Valley of the Divine physician is free and relaxed.
Wen Qingci only found out later that the Valley of the Divine physician originally didn’t even have a name. The people outside the valley called it this way, so they simply referred to themselves in the same manner.
Although Song Junran is the valley master, he doesn’t bother to keep an eye on anyone other than Wen Qingci.
During the Qingming Festival a while ago, apart from Wen Qingci, a few others also left the valley to pay homage to their deceased. They have only returned to the valley in the past few days.
“Second Valley Master, please try this. This is a plum, a specialty of Dengcheng Prefecture. The taste might be a bit astringent now, but it will be more delicious in a few days. Nowadays, people outside are using it to make wine. Ah… speaking of this, I knew I should have bought some back for you to try.”
The medicine attendant who had just returned to the valley brought a basket of green plums to Wen Qingci’s residence.
When Wen Qingci was young, he spent all his time reading and never set foot outside the Valley of the Divine physicians.
Therefore, the old valley master ordered the medicine attendants who went out to bring him some fresh things from the outside world to see when they came back.
After crossing the book, Wen Qingci hasn’t been to many places, and coincidentally, “Dengcheng Prefecture” is one of them.
After receiving the green plums and thanking him, Wen Qingci washed them with spring water while casually asking, “I wonder how the outside world is doing recently?”
The medicine attendant didn’t think much about it and answered with a smile, “It’s not much different from usual. Hmm… if there’s any big news, it’s that the emperor suddenly arrived at Dengcheng Prefecture when I left there—”
His words abruptly stopped.
…The dragon boat, wrapped in red silk, headed north, with the sound of the phoenix leading the way echoing along both banks of the Yinchuan.
Wherever it passed, everyone knew that Xie Bufeng had married a wooden coffin from Songxiu Prefecture and was heading to Yongdu.
Even now, everyone is saying that the owner of that wooden coffin is Wen Qingci.
Thinking of this, the medicine attendant couldn’t help but sneak a glance at Wen Qingci.
So what is the relationship between the Second Valley Master and the Emperor?
Does the Second Valley Master know about the Emperor’s…?
Nowadays, all kinds of rumors have spread throughout the Wei Dynasty, becoming a topic of daily discussion among the people.
Even if others are scratching their hearts, let alone him who can see Wen Qingci every day…
He felt that he shouldn’t be thinking wildly, this is blasphemy against the Second Valley Master.
On the other hand, he couldn’t help but feel curious.
But Song Junran said that these things should not be mentioned in the valley.
The cold spring water slid over the green plums and fell down along the pale fingertips.
Wen Qingci drained the water from the bamboo basket and casually asked, “What happened then?”
His tone was very calm, as if he was just making a casual remark.
The spring water in mid-spring still carries a bone-penetrating chill.
Wen Qingci’s left hand, which was washing the green plums, was aching in waves.
But even the medicine attendant standing opposite him couldn’t see a trace of abnormality on Wen Qingci’s face.
He asked this on purpose.
…Although he had told himself to say goodbye forever, the last glimpse of Songxiu Prefecture still lingered in Wen Qingci’s heart and couldn’t be waved away.
Wen Qingci couldn’t help but want to know if Xie Bufeng is doing well now.
Hearing Wen Qingci’s question, the medicine attendant, who was already scratching his heart and lungs because of the story spread outside, couldn’t help but sneak a glance back.
After confirming that Song Junran was not here, he finally lowered his voice and tentatively said, “He went to a temple… to offer a blood sacrifice to heaven and earth.”
“What?”
This time, Wen Qingci finally frowned and raised his head.
In those ink-black eyes, there was a rare hint of shock.
The green plums in the bamboo basket rolled and fell to the ground, but Wen Qingci didn’t notice.
…If he remembers correctly, isn’t Xie Bufeng not interested in the so-called ghosts and god talk at all?
How could he go to a temple, let alone offer a blood sacrifice to heaven and earth?
“Is this true?”
“True!”
The medicine attendant hurriedly nodded, tactfully telling the story he had heard near Dengcheng Prefecture—
Xie Bufeng was not on a southern tour this time, so he didn’t stop at all on the way there.
But on the way back, the huge dragon boat stopped outside Dengcheng Prefecture.
The emperor suddenly changed his itinerary and moved into the temporary palace in Dengcheng Prefecture.
Suddenly receiving this news, the officials of Dengcheng Prefecture were all terrified and hurriedly arranged it.
But they didn’t expect that when Xie Bufeng arrived at Dengcheng Prefecture, he didn’t even bother to deal with those officials.
He stayed in the temporary palace all the time.
Or rather, in the temple behind the temporary palace.
In mid-spring, the plane trees in the mountains are all green.
The sunlight is cut into pieces and sprinkled on Xie Bufeng.
Everything is just like that year.
Hearing that Xie Bufeng was coming, the monks in the mountain temple wanted to accompany him, but they were also rejected by him.
In the end, only dozens of soldiers were left to surround this place.
There was silence in the mountain temple, and the only sound left in Xie Bufeng’s ears was the rustling of the wind blowing through the leaves and his own footsteps.
Xie Bufeng stood under a tree wrapped in red silk and slowly closed his eyes.
On that day, Wen Qingci told him here that the talk of ghosts and gods might be false, but the thoughts and wishes left here are real…
He never believed in these illusory things in the past.
But today, Xie Bufeng carefully took the red silk and ink from a stone table.
The soldiers who had left the ship to go to Songxiu Prefecture had been gone for several days. Although Xie Bufeng had a guess in his heart, if he didn’t receive a definite answer for a day, he would have trouble sleeping and eating for a day.
…Must be alive, must still be alive.
We will definitely meet again, and we will never be separated again.
Xie Bufeng couldn’t help but clenched the brush on the stone table.
The brush on the stone table for the incense guests to use at will was full of ink.
In an instant, it dirtied Xie Bufeng’s fingers.
But he seemed to be unaware of it, and very solemnly wrote Wen Qingci’s name on the red silk with the brush.
Then he carefully picked it up and tied it to the highest place on the ancient tree.
This is the closest place to the gods and Buddhas on the ancient tree.
Life is like a journey, and Xie Bufeng’s journey has not been smooth, even bumpy.
He considers himself a monster, abandoned by the heavens.
At the same time, he also hates ghosts and gods.
But today… Xie Bufeng stood here very solemnly, praying for the mercy of the gods and Buddhas.
In the courtyard of the mountain temple, there was only Xie Bufeng.
Nine dark lines embroidered into five-clawed golden dragons, coiled on the black clothes, emitting a faint light.
The mountain wind messed up his slightly curly black hair, swept over his defiant eyebrows and eyes, and thin lips.
The young emperor who dominated the world, walked slowly towards the center of the open space.
Then, he flicked his robe to one side and knelt down very solemnly towards the place where heaven and earth were.
This seems to be the first time in Xie Bufeng’s life that he has knelt down devoutly.
The cold air in the mountains, all along the stone slab, passed to Xie Bufeng’s knees.
In just a moment, he was shivering all over.
Xie Bufeng has never had the experience of praying to gods and Buddhas.
He only roughly knows that he needs to burn incense and kneel down, but he doesn’t know how to do it specifically.
But Xie Bufeng knew that before the war in the north, there was a custom of sacrificing heaven and earth with human and animal blood, praying for victory.
He didn’t hesitate at all, and directly pulled out the short blade hanging by his side and stabbed it towards his palm.
Xie Bufeng was merciless, and a deep scar that could see the bone was immediately born on his palm.
Ten fingers are connected to the heart.
The next moment, blood gushed out from the wound with severe pain.
And in an instant, it soaked Xie Bufeng’s sleeves.
But he just lowered his eyes and smiled, and in an instant he clenched his palm, forcefully squeezed out the bright red blood, and slowly raised his hand to throw it towards heaven and earth.
Blood is like rain.
This is like the most primitive sacrifice.
Xie Bufeng is both a priest and a sacrifice.
Blood pooled into small puddles on the ground.
Some were blown away by the wind, splashed on the cheeks, and dyed the thin lips red.
Xie Bufang finally stood up, turning back to look deeply at the Buddha who was smiling and holding flowers.
The battle in the North, a hundred battles, a hundred victories.
Xie Bufang thought that he would not lose this one either.
Blood seeped into the earth through the gaps in the stone slabs.
Several heavy rains failed to wash it clean.
Anyone who came to this place would see a patch of scarlet on the blue stone slab at first glance.
The deeds of Xie Bufang, as well as the horrifying scene in the mountain temple, were thus passed on by word of mouth, spreading throughout the entire Dengcheng Prefecture in a secretive manner.
Xie Bufang knew, but didn’t care.
*
Xie Bufang did not stay in the largest back hall of the Dezhang Hall in the palace, but stayed in the side hall where Wen Qingci had temporarily lived.
After the southern tour, no one had lived in the palace again.
So when Xie Bufang arrived, he found that there was still a medical book on the bookshelf in the room.
——This was left here by Wen Qingci by accident.
Xie Bufang had no interest in the art of Qi Huang.
But in this year or so, he has turned over the medical skills and notes left by Wen Qingci in the Taishu Palace.
At first, he just wanted to find traces of Wen Qingci in those words and lines.
After a long time, Xie Bufang could actually understand one or two.
He found that the medical books that Wen Qingci often read, and the notes left behind, were mostly related to water epidemics.
Late at night, there was a knock on the door outside the room.
“Your Majesty…” The voice of Consort Lan came through the wooden door, “Can I come in?”
Consort Lan, who is already the Empress Dowager, should call herself “”, but in front of Xie Bufang, she always uses “I”.
Although Xie Bufang has been enthroned for a long time, he is still not used to having people around him.
He slowly put down the medical book and went to open the door himself.
“Mother came late at night, what’s the matter?” Xie Bufang’s tone was very calm, and no emotion could be heard from it.
In the middle of spring, it was still a bit cold at night.
Consort Lan was dressed in plain clothes, draped in a light green cloak, her hair lightly tied up, without any flowers, and her eyebrows were full of worry.
And next to her, there was still the awkward Xie Fuyin.
——Ever since the day she was scared by Xie Bufang, Xie Fuyin has been hiding from Xie Bufang.
But today, when Consort Lan said she was going to bring supper to Xie Bufang, she hesitated for a long time and still followed.
Consort Lan brought Xie Fuyin in, and she gently put the soup bowl in her hand on the table on the side.
“…I heard people say that your Majesty did not have dinner today, so I asked someone to make some and brought it over.” After speaking, she quietly glanced at Xie Bufang.
Xie Fuyin nodded gently along with it, although she was a little afraid of Xie Bufang, she still couldn’t help but say a few words: “I just tasted it, it’s delicious!”
What Consort Lan brought was the famous magnolia porridge in this place.
The temperature of the porridge is just right now, exuding a sweet fragrance.
Xie Bufang didn’t have much appetite, and he wasn’t interested in this sweet porridge.
Just as he was about to refuse, Xie Fuyin on the side seemed to see his intention.
The little girl already vaguely knew that her brother liked Master Wen.
So she couldn’t help but add: “It’s like the Magnolia Flower Porridge made by Master Wen, brother… you try it?”
Xie Fuyin’s voice got smaller and smaller, and the three words “Master Wen” that suddenly popped out of her mouth scared Consort Lan in an instant.
“Childern’s words are not to be taken seriously——”
Unexpectedly, before she finished speaking, Xie Bufang paused for a while and gently picked up the bowl of porridge.
“Ah…” The next moment, Xie Fuyin gasped.
She couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
What’s wrong with my brother’s hand?
There was a long scar across the palm of Xie Bufang’s left hand.
Although it was simply bandaged, it was still bleeding at this time.
“Your Majesty, what’s wrong with your hand?”Consort Lan couldn’t help but ask.
In fact, she came here today for this.
The matter of Xie Bufang’s blood sacrifice to heaven and earth has been spread privately.
Consort Lan originally thought that it was all exaggerated by everyone, but she didn’t expect… it was really the same as the rumors.
Her gaze suddenly became extremely complicated.
“It’s okay, it’s just a minor injury.” Xie Bufang didn’t care.
After a pause,Consort Lan said: “You should still call someone to have a look.”
She deliberately avoided the two words “imperial physician”.
Xie Bufang shook his head: “I can bandage it myself.”
This is how he got through the North.
At this time, the night was deep, everyone was asleep, and it was quiet all around.
In theory, there should be no visitors at this point.
But unexpectedly, at this moment, a sound of footsteps came to Xie Bufang’s ears.
Looking up, it turned out to be the soldier who was sent to Songxiu Prefecture during the day, and he returned here in the dust late at night.
In an instant, the originally dead eyes were full of vitality, as if they were lit by fire.
“No need to salute,” he directly put down the bowl of porridge in his hand and looked at the person in front of him, “Have I found out what I said?”
“Return to your Majesty, everything has been investigated!”
Consort Lan was immediately left aside, thinking that Xie Bufang was going to talk about political affairs with his subordinates, She was about to say goodbye, but before she could say it, she heard a familiar name appear in her ears again.
“What’s going on?” Xie Bufang’s words were full of anxiety.
The soldier on the opposite side gritted his teeth and took a deep breath: “Your Majesty, just before you arrived at Songxiu Prefecture, two people had been to that medical hall and stayed for a few days. One of them looked very similar to Song Junran, and the other always wore a veil and never showed his face.”
Song Junran is Wen Qingci’s senior brother…
Hearing this,Consort Lan froze in place in an instant.
And Xie Bufang clenched his palm in an instant.
Blood seeped out of the wound, completely wetting the bandage and dripping onto the ground.
Xie Bufang’s breathing was trembling, and his heart was about to burst out of his chest.
“…People who have heard him say that the man wearing the veil, his left hand is indeed not very convenient, Song Junran takes care of him very much for this.”
“By the way, he should also be a local person in Songxiu Prefecture, able to understand the dialect there.”
The soldier who received the imperial decree investigated very clearly and did not miss any details.
Everything that happened in front of him was as distant as a dream.
Xie Bufang clenched his palm tighter and tighter.
He tried to prove through the pain that what was happening in front of him was not a dream, but reality.
After a long time, he finally lowered his head and slowly laughed.
Song Junran’s side, wearing a veil to cover his face, his left hand is not very convenient.
Xie Bufang didn’t know who else could be besides Wen Qingci?
The great joy even caused his brain to go blank for a moment.
Xie Bufang found the last piece of the puzzle.
Wen Qingci is really not dead…
Even just passed by him.
Xie Bufang didn’t know whether he should be happy or sad for a while.
The soldier was still talking: “After they left Songxiu Prefecture, they went directly into the mountains. From then on… there was no trace.”
His voice stopped abruptly.
The mountains are endless, and you can’t really turn it upside down, right?
The clue seems to be broken again.
Thinking of this, the soldier in charge of this matter was also extremely nervous.
The room suddenly fell silent.
And the last one to break this silence was Consort Lan.
Her voice became a bit hoarse, and she trembled a bit, as if she had made a big decision: “…Is the medical hall that your Majesty asked someone to find, is it the one on Zhengmiao Street in Songxiu Prefecture, next to Bai Rongxi?”
Xie Bufang and the soldier looked at her at the same time.
“Yes.”
…It really is there.
Consort Lan slowly lowered her head, and let out a long sigh of relief as if she was relieved.
She looked back at the soldier faintly.
The other party immediately understood and saluted and left quickly.
In a blink of an eye, there were only three people left in the room.
“…You’ve found the right place. That clinic is indeed located next to the Valley of Divine Physicians.” She raised her eyes to look at Xie Bufeng’s amber eyes and spoke almost word by word, “People from the Valley will choose to stay there after leaving the valley… There should be more than ten clinics like this in Wei Dynasty.”
Xie Fuyin looked at his mother and brother as if she understood something.
Consort Lan bit her lip and said, “The incense pill that caused the deposed emperor to go crazy was obtained from one of the clinics.”
The wound on Xie Bufeng’s palm completely opened.
In just a moment, the blood formed a pool.
The piercing pain did not make him frown, but instead made him smile slowly.
Like a wild beast that finally found its prey.
“Song Junran’s mother was once a female official beside Emperor Ai of the previous dynasty. She… grew up with the former steward Zhao Gonggong, and they were as close as siblings.”
“…The addresses of those more than ten medical clinics are all in the hands of Zhao Gonggong.” Consort Lan finally said this.
Before today, Consort Lan, like everyone else, firmly believed that Wen Qingci had already passed away.
Therefore, she kept her promise and did not reveal the existence of those clinics.
But if Wen Qingci really wasn’t dead… as a mother and empress dowager, she would definitely not watch Xie Bufeng return empty-handed or fall into another madness.
At this moment, Consort Lan didn’t know whether her action was right or wrong. She only knew that she had no choice.
Xie Bufeng smiled and untied the bandage on his hand that had long been stained with blood. He slowly stretched out his palm and clenched it in the air.
“Someone——”
The soldiers standing in the dark knelt down outside the hall again.
Xie Bufeng’s voice penetrated the silent night and fell into their ears.
“We will set off tonight and return to Yongdu,” he said in a hoarse voice, “and prepare a generous gift to send to Zhao Gonggong’s mansion.”
Xie Bufeng raised his eyes and looked towards the high vermilion wall not far away.
…He had once secretly kissed the ends of Wen Qingci’s hair there.
Several years have passed, and that moment of tenderness still lingers in Xie Bufeng’s heart like the moonlight.
The young emperor, dressed in black and covered in blood, suddenly laughed out loud.
Wen Qingci’s name “Immortal-faced Demon” spread throughout the world, which is not something that can be achieved by hiding from the world.
Xie Bufeng didn’t believe that after returning to the Valley of Divine Physicians this time, he could really endure and not come out again.
Those amber eyes that were usually cold were instantly filled with bone-chilling tenderness, and unspeakable desires and expectations.
Oh my god!!! Thank you for the update ❤️❤️❤️