His face was sallow, his temples streaked with gray, and his cheeks sunken from emaciation. His loose robes hung on his frame as if a gentle breeze could send him swaying unsteadily.
After just over half a month apart, he had transformed from a dashingly handsome man into a gaunt, withered figure, startling An Jiu into stunned silence.
"Rumors speak of the young Miracle Doctor Mo as a brilliant talent. Today, I am fortunate to meet—" Hua Rongjian peeked out, but upon seeing Mo Sigui, the rest of his words lodged in his throat. After a pause, he managed a stiff, "Pleased to meet you."
Mo Sigui gave him a perfunctory salute with clasped hands before glaring at An Jiu. "What are you staring at? I thought I'd gained weight, so I've been slimming down lately. Don’t look at me like you’ve seen a ghost!"
Mo Sigui dismounted and climbed into the carriage. Even such a simple movement left him panting, though his spirits seemed decent enough.
He grabbed An Jiu excitedly, scrutinizing her from all angles. "It’s good that you’re alive!"
As long as she lived, the weight of guilt in his heart wouldn’t be so crushing.
An Jiu wanted to tell him that Mei Jiu was already dead, but her gaze lingered on his sickly yellow face. Her lips parted, yet no words came out.
"How did you end up like this?" An Jiu asked.
"Bringing this up—I have a feeling it’ll be the greatest humiliation of my life." Mo Sigui immediately launched into his grievance, seething. "A madwoman from Liao poisoned me, and it took me eight whole days to concoct the antidote!"
For most men, being captured by a woman and used as a test subject would be the greater shame—once the poison was neutralized, few would care how long it took. But Mo Sigui clearly considered the latter far more egregious.
"A madwoman from Liao?" Hua Rongjian latched onto that detail. "Could it be Ning Yanli, of the so-called 'Southern Mo, Northern Ning'?"
Mo Sigui scowled. "What 'Southern Mo, Northern Ning'? Don’t lump me together with some lunatic!"
No sooner had he dismissed Ning Yanli than his expression turned sly. "Hmph. I’ve recently brewed something special. If she can whip up an antidote in eight days, I’ll kowtow to her."
"She’s dead." Seeing his fervor for The Way of Medicine, An Jiu suddenly felt a surge of hatred, a malicious urge to shatter his obsession and madness on this path. "She died the moment she took an arrow for you."
An Jiu didn’t mention a name, but she knew Mo Sigui would understand.
Mo Sigui froze, staring into An Jiu’s pitch-black eyes for a long moment before suddenly coughing up a mouthful of blood.
"Mo Sigui!" An Jiu was stunned, never expecting the news to hit him so hard.
"You’re still alive." Those four words were all he managed before collapsing into unconsciousness.
His dreams were chaotic, filled with Mei Shisi—now weeping pitifully, now cold as ice—until the images blurred together, leaving him unsure which version had stirred his heart.
Had Mei Shisi truly died? He couldn’t untangle the thought.
When Mo Sigui awoke, he found himself nestled in soft bedding. Opening his eyes, he saw An Jiu standing by the bed, gazing down at him pensively.
Seeing him awake, An Jiu murmured, "I’m sorry."
"I should be the one saying that," Mo Sigui rasped.
A long silence followed.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone rapped at the door.
Mo Sigui called, "Come in."
Through the curtains, the vague outline of a tall young man entered, followed by a servant and several maids.Approaching the tent curtains, a servant stepped forward to lift the drape aside.
The man was clad in a dark blue robe, his hair gathered into a topknot secured by a black jade crown. His sharply defined features were accentuated by sword-like brows and piercing eyes, exuding an air of authority even without anger.
"I am Hua Rongtian," the man said, his gaze briefly sweeping over An Jiu with a slight nod in greeting before swiftly shifting to Mo Sigui. "Miracle Doctor, I hope your stay here has been comfortable?"
An Jiu studied him for a few more moments. This was the legendary youngest-ever head of the Privy Council—his official bearing was indeed formidable. Hua Rongjian had described his elder brother as a man of deep sentiment, but from this stern demeanor, not a trace of tenderness could be discerned.
Mo Sigui struggled to sit up, and Hua Rongtian strode to the bedside, personally assisting him.
"I must thank the Privy Council head and Hua Erlang for their assistance this time," Mo Sigui said.
As he attempted to rise, Hua Rongtian stopped him. "Your reputation as a Miracle Doctor who heals the world is well-known. Any mishap would be a great loss to the Song Dynasty. We are merely relieved you do not consider our interference meddlesome."
Though it was clear Hua Rongtian had intervened for Mo Sigui's medical skills, his words were far more palatable. Recalling Hua Rongjian's bluntness, An Jiu couldn't help but think—same surname, yet such a vast difference in character!
"Council Head, please have a seat," Mo Sigui offered.
"Today seems inconvenient, so I shall not linger. Seeing you in good health puts my mind at ease." Hua Rongtian's gaze flickered subtly, as if glancing toward An Jiu.
Before entering, Hua Rongtian had known there were female companions inside. Though Song customs were somewhat conservative, casual encounters between men and women were not forbidden. Typically, the women would quickly withdraw, but to his surprise, An Jiu remained rooted in place without the slightest intention of leaving, making prolonged stay inappropriate.
Mo Sigui shot An Jiu a sidelong glance before addressing Hua Rongtian again. "Then I shall visit another day to express my gratitude."
Hua Rongtian replied with a polite "No need for such formalities, Miracle Doctor," before turning to leave—though the maidservants remained behind.
One of them curtsied by the curtains. "Miracle Doctor, Mei Niangzi, the Eldest Young Master has sent us to attend to you both."
"Understood. You may withdraw for now." Normally, Mo Sigui might have teased them, but in his weakened state, he lacked the energy.
Spring arrived swiftly. Within days, Bianjing was awash in peach blossoms and willow greens, its rivers bustling with boats and painted barges as crowds thronged to welcome the season, shaking off winter's stillness.
People gradually emerged from the shadow of two massacres, yet the court remained reeling from the extermination of the Lou and Mei clans.
The Emperor, in particular, finally felt the immense threat posed by this unseen enemy.
The mastermind behind this scheme had clearly plotted for a long time, wielding terrifying power and ruthless tactics—annihilating two of the Crane Control Army's four great clans in mere days! Worse, they had successfully sowed discord between ruler and subjects, nearly tearing the entire Crane Control Army apart.
The Emperor dispatched guards to protect the remaining clans while placating the surviving Lou and Mei members in the Crane Control Army. Burdened by routine state affairs, he fell gravely ill with the sudden warmth of spring. Yet with the crisis unresolved, he forced himself to labor on, sustained only by medicine.On the surface, the Judicial Office made a big show of investigating the horrifying cases of the Mei and Lou families, but the real responsibility for the investigation lay with the Crane Control Army. After more than two months, the Judicial Office finally fabricated a plausible conclusion, while the Crane Control Army also made progress in their inquiries.
The investigation process was straightforward. Their starting point was the surprisingly large number of "unfinished products," which led them to Ning Yanli, who happened to be the physician in the household of Yelü Huangwu of the Liao Kingdom.
They also dug into Ning Yanli’s background. She was an orphan, picked up on a beach by a young Yelü Huangwu during her travels and brought back to the estate. Since she called herself "Ning Zi," Yelü Huangwu bestowed upon her the name Ning Yanli, meaning "a lone goose separated from the flock." Her talent in the way of medicine became evident within half a year of entering the household. Yelü Huangwu admired her vast knowledge and sharp memory, so she kept her as a study companion and specifically provided her with medical texts to read.
After staying at the Hua residence for over half a month, Mo Sigui had nursed himself back to health, becoming plump and fair-skinned—even more handsome than before.
Under the bright spring sunlight, the courtyard was in disarray. An Jiu, dressed in a close-fitting outfit, was sawing wood with practiced ease, preparing to modify a small crossbow for herself.
The stone table was cluttered with medicine piled high by Mo Sigui, who was engrossed in concocting two medicinal brews. Catching sight of his reflection in a cup, he muttered, "That woman Ning Yanli must be ugly herself, deliberately trying to ruin my peerless beauty. What a wicked scheme! Well, I won’t let her succeed!"
The only response he got was the rhythmic screech of An Jiu’s sawing.
"But that woman does have some skill—she actually delayed me for eight whole days!" Mo Sigui was still hung up on those eight days; it had practically become an obsession.
Hearing this, An Jiu grew irritated. "Eight days isn’t that long. Keep whining, and I’ll cut out your tongue to snack on!"
"Getting angry so easily—careful, you might die young." Hua Rongjian’s amused voice drifted in from the gate.
An Jiu scraped the wood smooth with a short knife, not bothering to look at him. "I can’t predict when I’ll die, but I’m sure you’ll go before me." (To be continued...)
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