Plum Blossom Village.
An unexpected guest arrived.
Li Qingzhi sat beside Sui Yunzhu with his head hanging low, overwhelmed with shame.
When he returned today, he hadn’t realized he was being followed—unaware, he had led the tail straight to the island.
That person was none other than Gao Dazhuang!
Having served as a eunuch for some time, his mannerisms had grown increasingly effeminate. Even the way he held a teacup was enough to make one’s skin crawl.
“Ahem.” He cleared his throat and addressed Mo Sigui, “These subordinates of mine…”
Mo Sigui blew a smoke ring, cutting him off. “Take them all away. Saves me the headache of looking at them.”
“Sir, now that we’ve left, we have no intention of going back.” A faint murderous aura emanated from Li Qingzhi.
“Tch.” Gao Dazhuang sneered, flicking his fingers. “Do you think everyone is as foolish as you? If I had come here to drag you back, would I have dared follow you alone onto the island?”
He then pointed at An Jiu. “You’re nothing but an ungrateful wretch. Wasted those few Gu I gave you.”
An Jiu narrowed her eyes. “So you’ve made up your mind to walk the path of no return as a eunuch?”
Gao Dazhuang quickly withdrew his hand, rolled his eyes, and ignored her.
“If you have business, speak plainly, sir. If it’s something we can help with, we’ll consider it repayment for your kindness in letting us go,” Sui Yunzhu said.
“Finally, someone sensible.” Gao Dazhuang shot a glance at the others. “Talking to you lot is exhausting.”
He took a sip of tea and shifted into a more comfortable position. “I didn’t follow protocol in planting the Gu because I intended to recruit you for the Second Prince’s faction. Who knew you’d actually escape? Forcing things never ends well, so I won’t insist. This time, I’m here to ask for a small favor.”
“Go ahead, sir,” Sui Yunzhu said.
“Many officials at court have submitted memorials demanding Ling Jiangjun’s punishment. The tide has turned against him, and with sycophants surrounding the Emperor, Ling Jiangjun is in grave danger this time,” Gao Dazhuang explained. “The Second Prince wants to save him. If that fails, we hope you’ll help break him out of prison.”
Li Qingzhi was on the verge of nodding immediately, but Sui Yunzhu spoke first. “We’ll do our best.”
Meaning they wouldn’t risk their lives.
“Yunzhu!” Li Qingzhi was furious. “Ling Jiangjun is loyal to his country and sovereign. Now that he’s been wronged, how can we not fight to save him?”
“No one’s stopping you from risking your life,” Sui Yunzhu replied.
Though it seemed cold, he sensed something off about the situation. Until he figured it out, he wouldn’t make any rash promises.
“What about you?” Li Qingzhi asked An Jiu.
She paused. “We’ll play it by ear.”
“You’ve all seen Ling Jiangjun in battle! A hero like him—is it so hard to lend a hand in his time of need?” Li Qingzhi’s greatest aspiration in life was to become a man as indomitable as Ling Ziyue, but fate had forced him onto this path instead.
Silence fell over the group.
Mo Sigui leaned back in his chair, exhaling smoke rings one after another, watching them ripple like water before him.
“Willing to help is enough,” Gao Dazhuang said, standing. “I’ll take my leave now. I’ll cover for you as long as I can. You’d better watch your step.”
Sui Yunzhu escorted him to the door. After a moment’s hesitation, Li Qingzhi followed.
An Jiu and Mo Sigui remained rooted in their chairs, unmoving.When the two men returned, Mo Sigui tapped his pipe to shake off the ashes. "Don't bother me with such trivial matters again!"
Since Mo Sigui had arrived on the island first, the others had subtly regarded him as their leader. Today, when Gao Dazhuang arrived, they immediately pulled him out to receive the guest.
"Miracle Doctor Mo, how can this be trivial?! General Ling's fate is tied to the destiny of the Great Song!" Li Qingzhi protested.
Mo Sigui had already risen and was swaying toward the door. Hearing this, he turned back and said, "I don't care about any of that! But my eyes see clearly—tying a nation's fate to a single person isn't necessarily a blessing."
In times of crisis, if one person can hold the line while others hide behind him, ignorant of how dire the situation truly is, they will only grow increasingly naive and cowardly.
This was easy to understand—at least for An Jiu, who saw it in the way Mei Yanran shielded Mei Jiu.
In truth, if Ling Ziyue could hold the border indefinitely, it would be a good thing. But who could guarantee that one man could stand unshaken for a lifetime? The Great Song's current predicament could no longer be salvaged by one or two individuals.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Sui Yunzhu sighed heavily. "Yet some must die for it—what a cruel irony. Miracle Doctor, care to guess whether the jackals will devour the ailing lion, or if the lion will tear the jackals apart?"
"Si Gui!"
Sheng Changying's urgent voice rang out from outside, accompanied by rapid footsteps.
As soon as he appeared, he announced, "Miss Lou has collapsed at the dock."
Before anyone could react, a blur flashed past—Mo Sigui was already gone. They hurried after him.
By the time An Jiu reached the dock, Mo Sigui was kneeling on the ground, cradling Lou Mingyue's head. Upon closer inspection, she saw he was pressing his fingers against a wound between her shoulder and neck.
The wound was deep, the flesh torn outward, likely having severed a major artery. But as the blood had flowed for too long, the pressure had lessened. Instead of spurting, the blood now seeped steadily between Mo Sigui's fingers, pooling into the lake and staining it red. The surrounding Dream Blossoms absorbed the blood, growing wildly at a visible rate. In mere moments, the budding flowers unfurled, their crimson petals more vivid than fresh blood.
"Ming Yue, don't fall asleep!" Mo Sigui growled.
An Jiu rarely saw him so distraught—his gaunt, weary face speckled with blood.
Mo Sigui slowly channeled True Energy into her to keep her from slipping into unconsciousness.
Lou Mingyue's lashes were matted with blood. She struggled to open her eyes, her throat working, her cracked lips trembling slightly. But no words came out.
"A Jiu, fetch my silver needles," Mo Sigui said.
Having often received his treatments, An Jiu knew he usually kept the needles tucked in his robe. She stepped forward to retrieve them and helped support Lou Mingyue's head.
Freeing one hand, Mo Sigui swiftly inserted the needles around the wound.
Soon, the bleeding stopped.
Mo Sigui gathered her into his arms and rushed back to the house.
Sheng Changying had already prepared everything. "This is hot water boiled half an hour ago—it's cooled a bit. I've asked Pianxian to boil more."
"Mm." Mo Sigui used scissors to swiftly cut away the fabric around Lou Mingyue's wound. Then he grabbed a basin, dipped a cloth in water, and cleaned the blood around the injury. The wound itself was washed directly with the medicinal solution he had prepared.
Everyone except An Jiu withdrew from the room.Mo Sigui's face was grim as he meticulously stitched the severed flesh, beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
An Jiu wiped his brow with a cloth.
"You should leave. I can handle this alone," Mo Sigui said.
Without another word, An Jiu set down the supplies and turned to exit.
Outside, people stood or sat in various positions. Xiao Yue, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly got up. Seeing An Jiu emerge, Li Qingzhi asked, "How is it? The Miracle Doctor doesn't look well."
"Probably fine," An Jiu replied, uncertain whether Lou Mingyue had sustained other injuries.
Sui Yunzhu nodded. "The Miracle Doctor looks troubled, likely because the injured is Lou Er."
If it had been anyone else, even if they were bleeding out, he would have calmly applied his needles without a flicker of emotion.
"Whoever could wound Lou Er this severely is no ordinary foe. Qingzhi, come with me to scout the island perimeter, just in case," Sui Yunzhu suggested.
"Agreed," Li Qingzhi responded.
Zhu Pianxian brought in hot water she had boiled, with Xiao Yue trailing behind. Only Sheng Changying and An Jiu remained outside.
After a moment of silence, Sheng suddenly asked, "A Jiu, have you seen Lord Chu before?"
"Once. Why?" An Jiu inquired.
"General Ling has always been steady and restrained in his actions. Such a sudden change must have a reason. I estimate the shift began even before you left the Hebei camp. I think..." Sheng hesitated mid-sentence.
"You think what?" An Jiu already had an inkling. "Does this have something to do with Chu Dingjiang?"
Sheng looked at her and nodded. "Perhaps he's the only one who can save General Ling now, yet he..."
Was the least likely person to save Ling Ziyue.
An Jiu said, "You're telling me this because you want me to persuade him?"
"Yes." Sheng still appeared drowsy, his fox-like eyes rimmed with faint dark circles, though much improved from before—evidently well-tended by Zhu Pianxian lately.
"I admire General Ling too," An Jiu admitted, then pivoted. "But I won't persuade Chu Dingjiang. If he wants Ling Ziyue dead, there must be a compelling reason."
"If I'm not mistaken, he likely intends for Ling Ziyue's death to ignite Song resistance against imperial authority and the Liao. A Jiu, do you realize how perilous this is?" Sheng sighed. "One misstep could lose the entire game!"
Conservatives like Sheng shared this perspective.
"Why is the Head Librarian involving himself in this? Is Ling Ziyue a relative?" An Jiu was puzzled. Sheng knew much but typically remained aloof, focusing solely on the Crane Control Institute's affairs and ignoring the rest.
The heavy scent of medicine wafted from inside. Sheng glanced toward the room. "Just moved by the situation. I believe those who sacrifice themselves for their country shouldn't perish for other reasons. If you won't persuade him, forget I mentioned it."
Though incapable of such patriotism himself, Sheng didn't hesitate to support those who were.
An Jiu gazed at the door and windows, lips pressed thin.
"Also, before leaving the Crane Control Army, I saw reports that the new Liao Emperor, barely enthroned, is gravely ill. Without heart blood, he won't last five years. They're desperate for it—be careful," Sheng warned.
"Mm," An Jiu acknowledged.Sheng Changying noticed she was deep in thought and didn’t disturb her. Leaning against a pillar with closed eyes, beads of cold sweat soon appeared on his forehead. Accustomed to constant busyness—his lifelong survival strategy—this sudden idleness left him feeling strangely anxious, as if something ominous loomed. (To be continued...)
Note:
Attending Qidian’s literary gathering today, I’ve been mountain-climbing all day and am utterly exhausted. With an early start tomorrow, I won’t be able to update. My apologies—I’ll make up the missed chapters after returning in a few days. (To be continued...)
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