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BLPSG Chapter 86: The Emperor’s old illness

 

“Let go of my hand!”

 

“Qingci’s hand, is it yours to hold?”

 

“In broad daylight, with so many people watching, he dared to hold Qingci’s hand and not let go. Who knows what crazy things he will do behind his back?”

 

Although he couldn’t hear their conversation, the scene of Xie Bufeng holding Wen Qingci on the bed once again intruded into Song Junran’s mind.

 

Thinking of this, he wished he could grind his teeth to dust.

 

Every word Song Junran thought was clearly heard by Xie Bufeng.

 

But the other party still didn’t let go.

 

Xie Bufeng’s fingers were long, strong, and as firm as cast iron, effortlessly restraining Wen Qingci’s hands with one hand.

 

The young emperor, dressed in black, slowly raised his other hand, brushing it over the veil hanging from the hat.

 

His movements were extremely gentle, cautious.

 

As if caressing Wen Qingci’s cheek through the veil, filled with endless longing.

 

Wen Qingci couldn’t help but hold his breath.

 

The two were so close that Wen Qingci couldn’t see Xie Bufeng’s face, only his black robe and broad shoulders, and hear his shallow breathing.

 

The dragon musk on the fabric was like a fine chain.

 

Binding the two together tightly.

 

Xie Bufeng chuckled softly.

 

His slender fingers suddenly stopped in front of Wen Qingci’s eyes, as if about to pull away the white veil.

 

And the person under the veil instinctively closed his eyes at that moment.

 

…Was Xie Bufeng planning to expose his disguise at this moment?

 

Wen Qingci’s heart felt like it was being tightly gripped, making it difficult and heavy to beat.

 

His hands and feet were cold at this moment.

 

However, what Wen Qingci feared did not happen.

 

Xie Bufeng’s fingers reluctantly brushed past the veil.

 

After a pause, he finally turned to the crowd and said, “No need for formalities, rise.”

 

“Thank you, Your Majesty—”

 

Phew…

 

Under the veil, Wen Qingci slowly exhaled.

 

The thin veil fluttered gently with his uneven breathing.

 

Wen Qingci’s heart finally pumped blood forcefully to his limbs again.

 

Song Junran clenched his fists and stood up.

 

Standing beside Wen Qingci, he had seen the whole scene just now, and his face was already livid.

 

“If you don’t leave now, you’ll be in danger of falling into the tiger’s mouth.”

 

“Tonight, no matter how heavy the rain, we can’t delay!”

 

Just as he thought of this, a chilling killing intent suddenly arose behind Song Junran.

 

The storm was approaching, and the air in Lianhe was hot and humid to the extreme.

 

But… in that instant, Song Junran felt as if he had returned to winter.

 

He instinctively looked to his side, only to see Xie Bufeng slowly turning around, walking away.

 

…Was that an illusion just now?

 

“I never knew the governor was interested in sulfur.”

 

Xie Bufeng’s tone was so casual, it was impossible to discern his emotions.

 

—Just now, Xie Bufeng had already heard the governor’s intentions from the hearts of the surrounding people.

 

The governor of Heliang was still kneeling on the ground, not daring to get up. Hearing Xie Bufeng’s words, he trembled like a sieve.

 

Although he was not in Yongdu, he had heard many rumors about Xie Bufeng…

 

After ascending the throne, this young emperor had swiftly cleared the court of stubborn forces, consolidating power.

 

His methods of dealing with the deposed emperor and the Hengxin Guard were particularly ruthless.

 

The governor’s son was already lying in a pool of blood.

 

Xie Bufeng frowned in extreme disgust.

 

Then he suddenly chuckled lightly, “Since that’s the case, I should fulfill the governor’s wish. Let the governor and his son make a good contribution.”

 

“I, I dare not, I dare not…” The governor of Heliang couldn’t even form a complete sentence.

 

“Guards—”

 

As Xie Bufeng’s words fell, the guards stepped forward and knelt.

 

“Take the governor of Heliang and his son to the open ground outside Lianhe County,” Xie Bufeng said with a faint smile, “Since they like it, let them enjoy the same treatment as the pests outside the city.”

 

“The fumigation for the next few days will be entirely up to them.”

 

Xie Bufeng’s tone was not cold, but after his words fell, the governor of Heliang collapsed completely.

 

As for his son, he was already sitting there in a daze, clearly scared out of his wits by Xie Bufeng.

 

—Although no one had used sulfur fumigation to kill rats before, everyone knew that prolonged close contact and inhalation of sulfur gas would be highly toxic.

 

Previous sulfur fumigations were carried out by the people of Lianhe in shifts. After setting up the materials, they would stay away from the open ground, and each time they would cover their noses and mouths with thick white gauze.

 

But this time, Xie Bufeng wanted the governor of Heliang and his son to enjoy the same treatment as the pests.

 

As soon as his words fell, the distant people couldn’t help but cheer.

 

The sound of “Long live the emperor” echoed endlessly throughout Lianhe, making the rain outside the city seem even louder.

 

—At this moment, they were more excited than anyone else.

 

The emperor’s reputation had already reached this small town.

 

However, the people of Lianhe, far from the emperor, never dreamed that one day the emperor would appear here in person to handle the plague!

 

The distant mountains had long been shrouded in mist, and the sky was getting darker.

 

The strong wind carried the rain-filled clouds towards Lianhe.

 

The sound of “Long live the emperor” was deafening.

 

Xie Bufeng’s thoughts were inadvertently pulled back to the northern lands a few years ago.

 

Amidst the cheers, he rewarded all the imperial physicians on this trip, and the county magistrate of Lianhe was promoted two ranks and transferred to Yongting Prefecture.

 

For a moment, the people’s morale was greatly boosted.

 

…Xie Bufeng had been on the throne for more than a year, but today was the first time Wen Qingci had witnessed how he wielded his power up close.

 

Xie Bufeng stood facing south, the majesty and anger of the emperor had long been integrated into his blood and bones.

 

He was the sole master of everyone’s fate in the world.

 

The storm finally swept through the small town.

 

The people on the open ground reluctantly returned home.

 

In the blink of an eye, only a hundred or so people remained.

 

The young emperor in black looked up at the sky, then slowly turned and walked to Wen Qingci’s side, saying softly, “You should go back to your residence and rest well today.”

 

Before the other could react, he turned and instructed the attendants to take good care of Wen Qingci and Song Junran, then mounted his horse.

 

“To the outskirts of the city, to handle the grain.”

 

“Yes!”

 

All the grain in Lianhe had been destroyed.

 

The people were eating grain transported from nearby prefectures.

 

Lianhe did not have large granaries, so the grain for the past few days had been stored directly in courtyards.

 

Today’s rain looked heavy.

 

They had to find suitable houses to store the grain properly before the storm soaked it.

 

To ensure that the newly transported grain did not spoil or attract pests again.

 

—Xie Bufeng had come to Lianhe with only a few guards.

 

Although they were very obedient to the emperor, they lacked experience in this area.

 

To ensure there were no problems with Lianhe’s grain, Xie Bufeng chose to handle it personally, as he would in the army.

 

“Take care? You mean to say guard, don’t you?”

 

Hearing his words, Song Junran thought with slight disdain.

 

…He had practiced hidden weapons and light skills for many years. Although his martial arts were not very strong, avoiding these people was more than enough.

 

Unless Xie Bufeng himself stood outside the house, no one could trap them.

 

As he turned to walk into the courtyard, Wen Qingci did not see Xie Bufeng suddenly tighten his grip on the reins.

 

At the same time, he pressed his thin lips together and looked deeply at his back.

 

Xie Bufeng’s heart was not as calm as he appeared.

 

The storm that swept through Lianhe also pierced his heart at that moment.

 

The wind and rain cut like blades on his heart.

 

Xie Bufeng slowly closed his eyes.

 

“Hyah—”

 

He whipped his horse and charged into the rain.

 

The heavy rain poured down, the cold raindrops like tiny stones constantly hitting Xie Bufeng.

 

Impenetrable.

 

The cold instantly pulled his memory back to that year.

 

…Back then, after parting on the Yin River Grand Canal, Xie Bufeng also braved such heavy rain, crossing half of Wei Chao to the northern lands.

 

Although he had not yet left, the time spent in Lianhe suddenly felt more distant than a dream.

 

Xie Bufeng knew that when he returned to the courtyard, Song Junran would definitely try to take Wen Qingci away.

 

He was deliberately betting this time.

 

“Please don’t go…”

 

The rain poured down like the Milky Way, drowning Xie Bufeng’s voice.

 

His tone was like a plea.

 

If Wen Qingci didn’t leave this time, he swore to disguise himself for a lifetime by his side.

 

To blend in with the majority of people in this world.

 

Even if it meant retracting his claws, dulling his teeth, transforming from a lion to a dog, as long as Wen Qingci stayed by his side, Xie Bufeng was willing.

 

He could even learn to be gentle and courteous, becoming whatever Wen Qing liked.

 

Not only will it never scare him again.

 

He even treated his senior brother as a guest of honor.

 

But if Wen Qingci really left…

 

Thinking of this, Xie Bufeng suddenly opened his eyes.

 

The amber eyes slowly narrowed, and his gaze fell into the rain and fog.

 

Like a sharp sword, it cut through the rain curtain in an instant.

 

He will never let go again.

 

He even wanted Wen Qingci to fall in love with his true self.

 

A true self who is no longer pretending.

 

A smile suddenly appeared on Xie Bufeng’s lips.

 

When he left the county yamen office just now, he did not say “goodbye” to Wen Qingci.

 

Because Xie Bufeng knew that they would never be separated again in the future——

 

Inside the Lianhe County Office.

 

“Let’s go!” Song Junran pushed Wen Qingci back into the house, then turned around and closed the door tightly.

 

The emperor went on a private tour to Lianhe this time and did not bring many people with him.

 

But the damn Heliang County Magistrate just now brought a bunch of servants with him!

 

Xie Bufeng did not take them to the outskirts of the city, but instead asked them to stay here.

 

The county government office was not very big to begin with, and now it was completely packed with people.

 

“How to get there?” Wen Qingci asked subconsciously.

 

As if answering his question, Wen Qingci’s voice had just fallen when a “creak” sound came from behind him.

 

Song Junran pushed open the window at the back of the cabin.

 

Then he turned around and said to Wen Qingci quickly, “Although there are many servants outside, their martial arts skills are only mediocre. First, use Qinggong to leave the house, and then go to the people in the suburbs to buy a raincoat for a fast horse. Just grit your teeth and bear it, and we will reach Yongting tonight.”

 

Thinking of his junior brother’s physical condition, Song Junran couldn’t help but hesitate.

 

But the hesitation only lasted for a few seconds before he threw it out of his mind.

 

——He can’t be entangled with him anymore. If he continue to be entangled with him, who knows what Xie Bufeng will do to Wen Qingci!

 

“But……”

 

Wen Qingci’s heart was in chaos.

 

Countless thoughts swirled in his mind, but in the blink of an eye they became a tangled mess.

 

He instinctively wanted to reject Song Junran.

 

But reason told me that it was right to stay away from Xie Bufeng and treat the person he met in Lianhe this time as just an ordinary inspector.

 

The Lianhe incident was just a small episode in life.

 

It’s time to get back on track and return to the valley.

 

“No buts.”

 

Song Junran sighed softly, he turned around and looked deeply at Wen Qingci: “…The thing that Father regrets most in his life is getting involved in the affairs of Yongdu. Qingci, you have to know…no matter how famous the name of ‘Valley of Divine Physicians’ is, we are just wandering physicians. We never belong to the same world as those nobles in Yongdu.”

 

“I know you may feel a little sorry for him. But you have to remember that when you met Xie Bufeng, he was just the unpopular eldest prince, but now he… I’m afraid he is no longer the same as before.” Song Junran said, almost gritting his teeth.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor controls the world, and no one in the world is qualified to pity him.”

 

Song Junran and Wen Qingci have known each other since childhood, and Song Junran knows his fellow apprentice well.

 

He saw the confusion in Wen Qingci’s eyes and guessed what Wen Qingci was thinking.

 

The strong wind brought heavy rain into the house.

 

But in the blink of an eye, the hems of their clothes were wet.

 

The long-lost chill seeped into the skin.

 

…Is his feeling towards Xie Bufeng “pitiful”?

 

The image of the young man kneeling alone in the snow appeared in Wen Qingci’s mind again.

 

He thought himself pitiful for not being able to meet Xie Bufeng earlier.

 

But that feeling…is it just pity?

 

The heavy rain forced Wen Qingqi to think about this question that he had never thought about before.

 

The next moment, Wen Qingci’s heart suddenly felt empty.

 

“…I know.” He muttered to himself.

 

Under the cover of the heavy rain outside the window, Song Junran couldn’t help but raise his voice a few notches: “…Besides, besides, the way he has been acting recently is actually all fake, can’t you see that?”

 

“Qingci, you’ve never even seen his true nature.”

 

“…… Aren’t you afraid that all of this, is just Yegong.”

 

No, Xie Bufeng’s kindness to the people these days was not fake—Wen Qingci instinctively wanted to refute.

 

But before he opened his mouth, he suddenly remembered that Xie Bufeng and his senior brother had acted a little strange since he woke up from his coma last time.

 

There were even fragments of porcelain bowls in the room.

 

Combined with what Brother just said…he seems to know something?

 

Wen Qingci couldn’t help but feel scared for a moment.

 

Before his senior brother said this, he almost forgot how dangerous Xie Bufeng was.

 

If Xie Bufeng reveals his true nature one day, will he still be able to get along well with him?

 

Is he really like Ye Gong who loves dragons as Song Junran said?

 

Wen Qingci didn’t know.

 

…He hasn’t had enough time to think this problem through.

 

“Okay, there’s no time—” Without waiting for Wen Qingci to figure it out, Song Junran immediately dragged his fellow apprentice out of the window.

 

Although his other martial arts except for hidden weapons and light skills are average, he is much stronger than Wen Qingci after all.

 

Song Junran pulled Wen Qingci out without much effort.

 

The heavy rain washed away Wen Qingci’s chaotic thoughts and forced him to calm down.

 

There were no servants guarding the backyard, and the rainy night masked all sounds.

 

Before anyone could react, two pale figures, like stars, flew over the roof and headed towards the other side of Lianhe.

 

The two men went all the way out of the city and spent a lot of money to buy a straw raincoat and a low-quality horse from a farmer’s house on the edge of Lianhe.

 

Then he continued to walk through the mountains and forests, heading towards Yongting Prefecture in the dark.

 

Little by little, they left the town where Xie Bufeng was.

 

 

At the hour of Chou, Xie Bufeng and his group finally arranged for food and fodder and returned to the county government office.

 

The rainstorm has not stopped yet, as if someone has poked a hole in the sky.

 

Xie Bufeng dismounted from his horse, ignored the servants who were saluting him in the yard, and walked quickly into the room.

 

The black clothes had already been completely soaked by the heavy rain and were tightly wrapped around Xie Bufeng’s body.

 

He walked quickly to the eaves, then suddenly stopped and slowly raised his hand.

 

——Through the window, you can see that the room is dark and there is no light.

 

Xie Bufeng took a deep breath.

 

Maybe… Wen Qingci just fell asleep.

 

It was already midnight, and it would be unusual if the lights were on in his room.

 

The cold raindrops slid across Xie Bufeng’s cheeks and hit the mud under the eaves.

 

He finally mustered up the courage and lowered his hand.

 

“Knock knock.”

 

The gentle knock on the door was swallowed up by the heavy rain.

 

“…Wen Qingci?” Xie Bufeng couldn’t help holding his breath, waiting for a response, “Qingci, have you rested?”

 

There was endless tenderness in his tone.

 

The room was silent.

 

Xie Bufeng’s heart also calmed down a little bit.

 

After pausing for a few seconds, he couldn’t help but increase the intensity of his hand movements.

 

“Knock, knock, knock.”

 

The knocking on the door grew louder and louder.

 

Waves of sound echoed in the rainy night.

 

Even the entire door frame began to shake with Xie Bufeng’s movements.

 

No one in the room responded.

 

And the expectations in his heart were extinguished along with the silence at this moment.

 

Xie Bufeng slowly lowered his eyes and smiled, murmuring over and over again: “I knew it, I knew it…”

 

Song Junran tricked Wen Qingci away again.

 

But this time, Xie Bufeng was well prepared.

 

The muscles in his arms suddenly tensed up, and with a loud bang, the already rotten wooden door could no longer hold on and opened completely.

 

“Really.”

 

The room was empty, there was nothing in it.

 

But Xie Bufeng was not angry. He suddenly lowered his head and laughed softly in the quiet and empty room.

 

“Qingci, I have tried my best.”

 

I have tried my best to hide my claws and disguise myself as you like.

 

But I seem to have failed.

 

The only audience member has left, and there is no need to continue the play.

 

“…see you in a few days.”

 

The crazy magma in Xie Bufeng’s heart did not cool down or disappear despite him gritting his teeth to suppress it day after day.

 

Instead, they are piled up in one place, waiting for the moment of eruption.

 

At this time, the volcano was rumbling, and the magma was surging towards the mountain pass.

 

Xie Bufeng looked around and quickly walked out of the room.

 

“Someone——”

 

A row of attendants dressed in black knelt before him.

 

Xie Bufeng looked up at the rain curtain, closed his eyes, and said heavily, “My old illness has relapsed, and the imperial physicians are at a loss. Unfortunately, the Physician has already left without saying goodbye, leaving this place overnight.”

 

“…I need you to ‘invite’ them back.” Xie Bufeng’s voice was as light as a whisper.

 

Dressed in black, Xie Bufeng blended into the night.

 

His voice was shattered by the rain, becoming indistinct.

 

It was hard to discern his emotions.

 

The emperor is ill?!

 

But… but wasn’t he just fine?

 

The attendants couldn’t help but steal a glance at Xie Bufeng.

 

Just then, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, and in the cold light, the attendant saw a hint of blood on Xie Bufeng’s lips…

 

There was no time to ponder Xie Bufeng’s words further. The attendants immediately kowtowed and hurriedly gathered their men to head out of the city.

 

However, just as they were about to leave the courtyard, Xie Bufeng suddenly spoke again, “Once you find them, don’t rush. Make sure to take good care of the Physician.”

 

“Remember to be polite, do not force him,” he said.

 

Do not force him?

 

What if he refuses to come?

 

Despite their doubts, the attendants immediately obeyed and kept Xie Bufeng’s words in mind: “Yes, Your Majesty!”

 

The sound of hooves drowned out the heavy rain, waking Lianhe from his sleep.

 

The attendants did not dare to slack off and immediately began searching along the way.

 

At the same time, a few others braved the rain to the county magistrate’s private residence to fetch the imperial physician who was temporarily staying there.

 

*

 

Xie Bufeng slowly walked back to his room.

 

He had not rested for almost a day, and the fatigue hit him like a mountain.

 

But Xie Bufeng did not rest immediately.

 

He took a small wooden box from the wardrobe.

 

This box, like the “Xinglin Jie’e,” was brought by Xie Bufeng from Yongdu.

 

His fingers gently stroked the surface of the box.

 

After a few seconds, Xie Bufeng opened it.

 

If Wen Qingci were here, he would recognize that the box contained old items he had left at the Yongdu Imperial Medical Bureau when he faked his death.

 

Most were prepared prescriptions.

 

Reviving the yang, promoting blood circulation, calming the mind.

 

Though few in number, the variety was complete.

 

These were likely made during his boredom while being confined at the Imperial Medical Bureau.

 

There were also a few pills.

 

Wen Qingci did not like pills, so there were not many left.

 

Xie Bufeng casually poured out a few and examined them closely.

 

On the day of the Fengshan ceremony, he was poisoned by a sword, and it was Wen Qingci’s blood that saved him.

 

That day, Wen Qingci almost drained his blood.

 

So even now, Xie Bufeng’s constitution remained special.

 

Although he was not immune to all poisons, ordinary poisons would not take his life quickly.

 

Over the past year, Xie Bufeng had read Wen Qingci’s books over and over again.

 

Although he did not understand medical principles, he recognized the names of these pills.

 

Without exception, they were all poisonous.

 

There were no candles lit in the room, only a bit of moonlight struggling to penetrate the clouds and rain, illuminating the room.

 

Without hesitation, Xie Bufeng poured all the pills into his mouth.

 

He swallowed them with the cold tea on the table.

 

The bitterness spread in Xie Bufeng’s throat in an instant.

 

But sitting alone, he smiled softly.

 

His eyes were full of anticipation.

 

“…Come back and save me, will you?” he whispered.

 

Xie Bufeng’s voice echoed lonely in the room.

 

You see, I didn’t lie to you, I am really sick.

 

—he said softly in his heart—

 

Before dawn, Wen Qingci and Song Junran had already arrived at Yongting Prefecture.

 

But this time, they did not stay in the city’s medical hall as usual. Instead, they went directly past Yongting Prefecture to a nearby small town called “Futao.”

 

Only then did Song Junran feel slightly relieved and temporarily settled in an inconspicuous inn with his junior brother.

 

They left in a hurry, bringing nothing but a medicine box and some silver.

 

After settling Wen Qingci, Song Junran immediately went out to buy supplies.

 

By this time, it was already the evening of the next day.

 

Summer rain storms come and go quickly.

 

Apart from the faint traces of water on the bluestone slabs of the street, there was no sign of the heavy rain.

 

Futao was small, with only a few streets.

 

Song Junran bought a few clean clothes and returned to the inn without delay.

 

Although he had a raincoat, Wen Qingci’s clothes were still mostly wet.

 

After a night of travel, his head was a bit dizzy and numb.

 

Wen Qingci took a hot bath in the inn, changed his clothes, and fell into a deep sleep.

 

He did not know how long he slept.

 

In his dream, he returned to Yongdu.

 

Sometimes he saw the young Xie Bufeng being pressed down by guards, waiting for him to feed him medicine.

 

Sometimes he saw him riding a warhorse, accompanied by cheers, passing through the streets of Northern Di Changyuan Town, heading towards the Gobi Desert.

 

Then he saw the red marks on his own arm…

 

The dream was chaotic.

 

 

“What do you want to do—”

 

“I have booked this entire floor, how can there be uninvited guests?”

 

“…Officials? Oh, so officials can be unreasonable?”

 

Song Junran’s voice penetrated the wooden door, faintly reaching Wen Qingci’s ears.

 

At first, Wen Qingci thought he was still dreaming, but as he struggled to open his eyes, the voice became clearer.

 

“I’ll say it again, there’s no one you’re looking for here.” Song Junran’s tone was already impatient, as if he was starting to drive people away.

 

Who is the Senior Brother talking to?

 

Wen Qingci thought groggily.

 

He struggled to open his eyes and looked out through the gap in the bed curtain.

 

There were several unfamiliar figures reflected on the flower window.

 

The light outside was somewhat dazzling.

 

…It seemed he had slept through the night, and it was now the next morning.

 

Hesitating for a moment, Wen Qingci slowly got up, changed his clothes, and put on the veil hat that was placed by the bed.

 

More and more people gathered outside the door, judging by the shadows, there seemed to be more than a dozen.

 

After checking other places, the officers all gathered here, where the door had not been opened.

 

Song Junran was still arguing loudly with them.

 

…Senior Brother never speaks so loudly.

 

What happened today?

 

Wen Qingci paused and immediately realized that the people outside were here for him!

 

Song Junran was speaking so loudly to wake him up.

 

At this moment, he was fully awake.

 

Wen Qingci immediately turned and walked towards the window.

 

As soon as he pushed open the wooden window, he found that the street was already full of guards, making it difficult for even a fly to escape.

 

This formation was too large.

 

Wen Qingci’s heart suddenly tightened.

 

“…We are just following orders, please cooperate.” The voice outside the door was already somewhat impatient.

 

After the words fell, he directly gestured to the shopkeeper, “No need to say more, just open the door.”

 

“Yes, yes…”

 

Then, there was a crisp sound of metal clashing outside the door.

 

It should be the shopkeeper looking for the key.

 

At this moment, footsteps finally sounded in the room.

 

Forget it, life and death are fated.

 

Wen Qingci took a deep breath and simply said, “No need to trouble yourself.”

 

Leaving in a hurry, Wen Qingci remembered halfway: Xie Bufeng could hear the evil thoughts in people’s hearts…

 

No need to guess, the Senior Brother must have a bad impression of Xie Bufeng.

 

Song Junran had long been planning to escape, and Xie Bufeng might have heard all the plans from his heart and knew where they planned to stay.

 

As a Emperor, it would be easy for him to find two people.

 

Wen Qingci’s voice was clear but slightly hoarse.

 

Before the people outside the guest room could react, the door was slowly pushed open from the inside.

 

A figure dressed in white, wearing a veiled hat, appeared before them.

 

The people outside were stunned.

 

…This person’s attire seems to match the description?

 

Why did the junior brother come out!

 

Song Junran instantly clenched his sleeves, his face turning extremely ugly.

 

It’s okay, it’s okay…

 

He repeatedly told himself that this group of attendants had very average martial arts skills. Although they had found this place, with just their lightness skills, he and his junior brother could escape them.

 

At this moment, an attendant dressed in dark blue, carrying a long knife, suddenly walked quickly from the other side of the corridor.

 

His footsteps sounded somewhat flustered.

 

Unlike the local officials and soldiers of Futao, this person was one of the attendants who had traveled from Yongdu to Lianhe with Xie Bufeng.

 

After spending so many days together, he recognized the two at a glance.

 

The newcomer was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward quickly, knelt down with a thud, and said in a trembling voice, “Gentlemen, I have been looking for you for a long time!”

 

Before the other party could react, he immediately gritted his teeth and raised his head, saying with difficulty, “To be honest, His Majesty… His Majesty’s old illness has relapsed, and the situation is probably not good.”

 

Xie Bufeng, old illness? He looks ten thousand times healthier than my junior brother!

 

He can’t even come up with a good excuse.

 

“Huh?” After hearing his words, Song Junran immediately sneered, “Don’t lie to me, I can tell…”

 

However, before he could finish his sentence, Wen Qingci interrupted him, “What happened to His Majesty?”

 

Wen Qingci’s heart suddenly tightened.

 

The left hand that had just been raised to the door frame fell heavily at this moment.

 

He saw that the tension on the attendant’s face was not feigned.

 

Seeing Wen Qingci ask, the attendant recalled his colleague’s description and said, “His Majesty suddenly vomited blood at night. The imperial physicians in the palace have no solution. His Majesty said his illness… can only be cured by you.”

 

Worried that Wen Qingci would refuse, he couldn’t help but add, “A servant saw it with his own eyes! There was black and red blood coming out of His Majesty’s lips.”

 

After speaking, the attendant carefully raised his eyes and looked at Wen Qingci.

 

The slightly trembling veil revealed the owner’s mood.

 

His mood didn’t seem to be relaxed either.

 

“So the emperor asked you to bring him back?” Song Junran, who thought he had seen through Xie Bufeng’s tricks, sneered, “Pretending to be sick, playing the victim? When did His Majesty start using such lowly tactics?”

 

Unexpectedly, the attendant’s answer was different from what Song Junran had imagined.

 

“No,” he gritted his teeth and answered truthfully, “His Majesty said not to force him.”

 

Song Junran was choked back: “…Fine.” He admitted defeat.

 

While the two were debating the truth, Wen Qingci spoke again:

 

“Besides vomiting blood, what other symptoms are there?”

 

“Did the imperial physicians take his pulse? If so, what did they say?”

 

“What is His Majesty’s current condition? Is he still in Lianhe?”

 

Wen Qingci’s tone was somewhat anxious, asking many questions in one breath. However, after hearing his words, the attendant looked confused.

 

After thinking for a moment, the other party could only shake his head truthfully: “I did not inquire about these.”

 

“…I only know that His Majesty is seriously ill, and there is no medicine in Lianhe that can help. Therefore, he has returned to Yongdu for treatment.”

 

Lianhe is just a small county surrounded by mountains, with only the most basic and common herbs in the city, mostly for treating the plague, which cannot alleviate Xie Bufeng’s symptoms at all.

 

The plague had just subsided, and it was unclear if there were any residual infections.

 

Moreover, Xie Bufeng’s identity had already been exposed, making it too dangerous to stay there.

 

After some deliberation, everyone had followed the imperial physician’s suggestion and left the place early, rushing back to Yongdu.

 

After speaking, the attendant gritted his teeth and kowtowed heavily three times to Wen Qingci: “I hope you won’t make things difficult for us, Sir.”

 

His voice was extremely difficult.

 

In the eyes of these attendants, vomiting blood was a serious illness.

 

The emperor coughing up blood should shock the court.

 

After the incident in Lianhe, they naturally respected Wen Qingci.

 

And the emperor did indeed instruct “not to force him.”

 

But in comparison, the emperor’s health was obviously the most important.

 

…If the Physician refused, they would have to resort to force.

 

In short, no matter what, they had to bring the Physician to Yongdu!

 

Wen Qingci and Song Junran both saw his intentions.

 

The two exchanged a glance.

 

After a moment, Song Junran coldly said:

 

“We kindly went to Lianhe to help the court solve the plague, but you people from Yongdu repay kindness with enmity?”

 

“Pretending to be sick, Only he can come up with that.”

 

His words were full of sarcasm.

 

The guard remained silent.

 

For a moment, the inn was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

 

“Good.”

 

In the silence, this sound was particularly abrupt.

 

“W-what?” The attendant was stunned for a moment, thinking he had misheard, and looked up dumbfounded.

 

Wen Qingci, who had unknowingly clenched his fist, no longer wore the white veil after leaving Lianhe, and his voice was no longer as muffled as before: “We will go back to Yongdu with you.”

 

“Junior brother! Are you crazy?” Song Junran’s eyes widened instantly.

 

Wen Qingci lowered his eyes and said softly, “He has never lied to me.”

 

“But—”

 

Wen Qingci gently shook his head, lowered his voice, and said in a volume only Song Junran could hear: “Don’t worry, senior brother, if Xie Bufeng is not sick and this is all a scam, I will leave the palace immediately, not staying a moment longer.”

 

His voice was still clear and gentle.

 

But Song Junran could hear that his junior brother’s tone was firm, definitely not joking.

 

“…Fine,” thinking of this, Song Junran was no longer anxious, “I will go to Yongdu with you.”

 

Wen Qingci always responded better to gentleness than force.

 

The more he tried to stop him, the more he wouldn’t listen.

 

Song Junran was convinced that Xie Bufeng was definitely pretending.

 

Once his junior brother took his pulse, he would understand this person’s deceitful nature.

 

The lightness skills of the Valley of Divine Physicians were not just for show.

 

If Wen Qingci couldn’t escape from the Tai Shu Palace, he would find a way to get him out!

 

The carriage traveled along the official road, heading north.

 

Inside the carriage, Wen Qingci couldn’t help but lower his eyes and grip the medicine box tightly.

 

Outside the carriage, an attendant rode a fast horse, heading towards Yongdu ahead of the carriage.

 

 

A few days later, in Yongdu.

 

The dark blue-clad attendant knelt at the long steps beside the Imperial Physician’s Bureau, covered in dust.

 

The wind blew through the beaded curtain, making a crackling sound.

 

The emperor, dressed in black, was hidden behind the swaying beaded curtain and the smoke from the incense burner.

 

The hall was filled with the bitter scent of medicinal herbs.

 

The attendant kneeling below could only see a vague dark figure.

 

“What else did the Physician say?”

 

The low voice echoed repeatedly in the empty hall.

 

Xie Bufeng’s tone was calm, but each pause was full of pressure.

 

The attendant’s clothes were unknowingly soaked with cold sweat.

 

Kneeling on one knee, his knees were trembling, almost collapsing to the ground.

 

The attendant racked his brains: “He… he didn’t say much, but… upon hearing that you were ill, he seemed a bit panicked.”

 

After speaking, realizing that he was answering off-topic, he subconsciously wanted to slap himself.

 

Unexpectedly, the beaded curtain crackled again.

 

—The emperor hidden in the smoke suddenly sat up straight.

 

“How flustered?” Xie Bufeng’s tone suddenly became urgent, “What did he say? How do you know he was panicking?”

 

Huh?

 

The attendant was stunned for a moment, half scared out of his wits by Xie Bufeng, and stammered, “He… his hand was originally on the door frame, but after hearing that you were ill, it suddenly fell heavily.”

 

In a life-and-death moment, the memory from a few days ago became clear.

 

The attendant continued, “He kept asking about your Majesty’s symptoms and whether the imperial physicians had diagnosed your Majesty.”

 

…Wen Qingci was always gentle, calm, and composed.

 

But he actually panicked because of him?

 

Xie Bufeng couldn’t believe it for a moment: “Is this true?”

 

“True!”

 

“…Good, good.”

 

Xie Bufeng, like a drowning man, grabbed the last straw.

 

Wen Qingci cared about him.

 

Xie Bufeng’s heart, numbed by waiting, came alive again at this moment.

 

“How did he ask about the symptoms?”

 

The attendant’s neatly trimmed nails dug deeply into his palm.

 

He answered while trying to recall.

 

“Cough, cough, cough…”

 

Xie Bufeng suddenly started coughing at this moment. Although he wouldn’t easily be killed by poison, after a few days, the drug had gradually taken effect.

 

A thin stream of blood flowed out from Xie Bufeng’s lips.

 

The attendant stopped immediately.

 

“Go on.” Xie Bufeng just casually wiped the blood from the corner of his lips with his finger.

 

“Yes, yes…”

 

The pain in his chest and lungs hasn’t gone away yet.

 

As the servant described, Xie Bufeng slowly closed his eyes and laughed.

 

Although separated by thousands of miles of mountains and rivers.

 

But he seemed to have smelled the bitter fragrance at this moment.

 

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Comment

  1. FireFoxWinterWolf says:

    Thank you for the double update~

  2. Dewy says:

    I want QingCi to give this little wolf a big slap after healing him -__-

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