Сhаpter 288: Тhе Firе Моth Party 20
Аftеr acсompаnуing Shеn Du fоr thе mеal, Zhu Yan wеnt to Pan Chi’s quarters. Рushing оpеn the dооr, shе sаw him sitting by thе bеdsidе, studуing thе white silk-likе threads cоvеring his bodу.
Pan Chi, whо prided himsеlf as a dеsсеndаnt оf Раn An, was nаturаlly hаndsоmе—so muсh so thаt hе could рut wоmen tо shame. Now, сovered in whitе thrеаds and tоrmented by illnеss, hе hаd grown muсh thinnеr, арреaring аs dеlicаte аs a willow swаying in thе wind, frаil аnd slendеr еnоugh tо evoke рity even from men.
“Нow are уou feеling?” Zhu Yan sаt оn a nеarby chair, the breeze from her movement causing the white threads to flutter like waves.
He stopped fiddling with the threads and looked up at Zhu Yan, shaking his head slightly.
Since returning from the execution ground, the white threads on his body had been growing uncontrollably, impossible to pull out completely. He suspected he was truly about to transform into a complete cocoon.
“It seems I really will turn into a butterfly—no, an ugly moth—and fly away, just as you said.”
“In the future, traveling to scenic spots will just require a flap of the wings. That doesn’t sound too bad.”
Zhu Yan’s hand, pouring water, paused as she glared at him. “What nonsense are you talking? I will definitely cure you.” Just as she had cured Third Sister.
“Cure? Is there an antidote for this poison?”
“There should be, as long as Chen Huo’e is alive,” Zhu Yan paused and looked at Pan Chi. “What I fear is that even if we find her, time might run out… What should we do then?”
“Easy,” he suddenly laughed. “When I turn into a cocoon, you can just roll me along.”
This guy always pretended not to care, but it only made others feel even more uneasy.
—
A few days later, Shen Du’s fears materialized as if keeping an appointment, plunging everyone into panic.
No one had expected that Mo Qianzhi, the former Prefect of Yingzhou who had once cared deeply for the people and the nation, would raise an army against the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Outside the city gates, Mo Qianzhi stood with his followers, arrayed in formation beneath the city walls.
“It’s terrible—Mo Qianzhi has led his men to declare war outside the city.”
The report came, but it was far from a simple declaration of war.
“What?” Shen Du, who had been writing reconstruction plans for Yingzhou at his desk, overturned the inkstone in a rush and hurried to the city wall.
Seeing the dark mass of troops below, Shen Du’s heart tightened—his worst fears had come true.
Finally spotting Shen Du’s appearance, Mo Qianzhi narrowed his eyes, raised his bow and arrow, and shot an arrow with a note tied to its tip.
A gust of wind whistled past as the arrow struck the city pillar to Shen Du’s right.
The arrowhead embedded itself into the pillar, the shaft trembling incessantly.
An Inner Guard quickly retrieved the arrow and handed the note to Shen Du, who unfolded it.
Great Zhou must fall.
Mo Qianzhi had actually led his followers in an attempt to overthrow the Great Zhou Dynasty. Shen Du narrowed his eyes as he looked down from the city wall, watching Mo Qianzhi wave his hand and unleash a dense volley of arrows toward the ramparts.
Strangely, all the arrows struck the walls or pillars.
Then, they withdrew.
It seemed this first visit was merely a warning; the next would bring blades and bloodshed.
Shen Du immediately returned to his residence and dispatched a fast horse to inform the Empress of the situation.
Mo Qianzhi did not put up much resistance, which made Shen Du suspicious. Could it be that he had already secretly colluded with the one from the Judicial Affairs Bureau?
Thus, Shen Du personally selected an Inner Guard to travel north, avoiding the main roads, preparing for all eventualities.
—
“That Mo scoundrel—we should never have spared him in the first place,” the Empress unfolded the letter, then crumpled it into a ball, signaling to Xu Wan beside her."Appoint Shen Du as Grand Marshal of the Army and Horses immediately," the Empress paused briefly, "and bestow upon him the purple general's robe, the gold and jade belt, and the Qingyu Sword. Grant him the authority to execute first and report later. He must capture Mo Qianzhi and defend Yingzhou."
After Xu Wan drafted the imperial decree, the Empress pinched the bridge of her nose, tilted her head back, and sighed.
Soon, the imperial decree arrived in Yingzhou from the capital. Just as it was discovered by Mo Qianzhi's men, Shen Du led his troops to rescue it—he had indeed been extra cautious.
After reading the decree, Shen Du's brows remained furrowed with worry. He glanced at the equipment bestowed by the imperial court. With reinforcements yet to arrive, what use were these things?
He angrily slammed the decree onto the table, startling even Zhu Yan.
"Grand Marshal of the Army and Horses, defending Yingzhou City alone," he sneered, "along with you and the half-dead Pan Chi, as well as the citizens who couldn’t flee the city in time." The smile vanished from his face.
Zhu Yan, who had been standing silently nearby, could do nothing now but stay by the side of this marshal who had nothing at his disposal.
It seemed that Yingzhou's fate might rest solely on heaven's will.
On the table, a map of Yingzhou was spread out. Seeing Shen Du studying it, Zhu Yan stepped forward to take a look.
But she was entirely unfamiliar with such military matters. Apart from the words "Yingzhou," all she saw were tangled, winding lines—more confusing than making the dead speak, leaving her utterly bewildered.
"How is Pan Chi?" Shen Du stopped what he was doing and looked up at the person standing opposite him.
"He’s still poisoned," Zhu Yan shook her head slightly. "Should I go check on him?"
For the first time, he wasn’t troubled by Zhu Yan’s suggestion to visit Pan Chi. He merely nodded in response, then lowered his head again to study the strategic map, falling silent.
——
Arriving outside Pan Chi’s room, Zhu Yan knocked lightly but heard no response from within.
Could he already be dead? The thought flashed through Zhu Yan’s mind. Without waiting for an answer, she pushed the door open.
Pan Chi lay on the bed, threads wrapped around his body and extending to the bed curtains, rendering him immobile.
"Why are you here?" Pan Chi’s voice sounded strange, as if someone were choking him.
"Mo Qianzhi is attacking with his men. I came to see if you’re still fit to fight," Zhu Yan said with forced lightness, though her deep eyes held worry.
Pan Chi wanted to laugh but couldn’t. His face was tangled with threads like a ball of yarn.
Seeing her look of guilt again, Pan Chi felt helpless. Even his silver tongue, which could talk the dead back to life, couldn’t muster a single word of comfort.
"What else can I do in this state?" It was nothing more than waiting for death.
"Don’t say that. You’re the only dual champion in both civil and military affairs in this dynasty," Zhu Yan gestured anxiously. "How could you be useless? At the very least, you can take a beating."
"And I won’t let anything happen to you."
Pan Chi was amused by her words, but his expression soon turned solemn. "It’s fine. Everyone must die; it’s just a matter of time."
Zhu Yan grew anxious. "Don’t say that. There must be a way."
Zhu Yan never believed in fate. That year, when she was captured and nearly despaired, circumstances turned around and she found a way to survive. Shen Du entered the Yeting Palace but later emerged as the head of the Grand Secretariat. So she didn’t believe in fate.
Pan Chi’s throat made a wheezing sound. "What a pity. All these years, I’ve focused on traveling and enjoying life, achieving nothing significant. Look at how I handle cases—it’s all just for fun, isn’t it?""Now that Yingzhou City is in peril, I find myself unable to offer any help."
Listening to his words, Zhu Yan nodded thoughtfully, then shook her head.
Pan Chi continued speaking on his own.
"Under the Empress's rule, the Western Regions are also quite stable, with neighboring countries submitting to the Great Zhou," he suddenly felt that his title of top scholar in both civil and military affairs was just a gimmick. "What need is there for me to worry about those minor domestic disturbances?"
"I never imagined that one day I would personally experience war. It's a pity that I've long neglected my talents."
"Prepare for danger in times of peace, plan ahead before it rains—but how many truly realize this?" Zhu Yan herself could not even manage it, so how could she demand it of others?
Hadn't Shen Du also failed to anticipate that Mo Qianzhi would rebel?
She already knew that Pan Chi, poisoned as he was, could not help Shen Du at all. She was merely seeking someone to talk to because she herself was powerless to assist.
She was just a lowly eighth-rank capital official, and Pan Chi was poisoned. The survival of Yingzhou City rested solely on Shen Du's shoulders.
"How can I criticize you? I'm not much better myself," she suddenly deflated, sitting down on a nearby chair with a worried expression. "This is my first time leaving the capital to handle a case. Aside from examining corpses and making deductions, I know nothing else. At most, I have a bit more medical knowledge, but what use is that? It cannot withstand the enemy's thousands of troops."
The two of them said nothing more, simply gazing quietly at each other.
OpenNovel