"Something terrible has happened to Young Master Ling!"
Everyone hurried outside to see Luo Ling being supported by someone, his right hand covered in blood—a sight that sent chills down their spines.
"Brother Ling!" Luo Tan was startled. Though Luo Ling was trying hard to endure the pain, his face was deathly pale. Despite the freezing winter weather, large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"Imperial Physician Gao," Luo Xueyan quickly said, "please take a look at Luo Ling."
Gao Yang wore a somewhat helpless expression. He had thought that with Luo Tan now able to move about freely, his task was complete. Who would have thought another difficult case would appear? Was he really being treated as a resident physician now? Though these thoughts crossed his mind, he showed none of it on his face. "Bring him inside," he said. "I'll examine him."
After Luo Ling and Gao Yang entered the bedroom, Shen Xin angrily demanded of the subordinate who had brought Luo Ling back, "What exactly happened? How did Ling, who was perfectly fine, end up so severely injured?"
The subordinate looked on the verge of tears. "We received a tip that someone might have seen Miss Shen's whereabouts. Young Master Ling led us to search for her. Then someone delivered a note demanding that Young Master Ling go alone. Who knew it was a trap? It seemed those people originally intended to target Young Master Qiu but didn’t expect Young Master Ling to come instead. Young Master Ling fought them, but they ambushed him and injured his right hand." The subordinate paused, his face filled with worry. "Young Master Ling injured his right hand years ago during military training. It healed eventually, but today’s wound lies directly over the old scar. He immediately took a turn for the worse. By the time our men arrived, he was already in this state."
Neither Luo Xueyan nor Shen Xin had known about Luo Ling’s previous injury. They turned to Luo Tan and asked, "Ling was injured before?"
Luo Tan nodded. "When he was young, he went hunting with Uncle and was chased by a wild beast. He fell down a mountain and was cut by sharp rocks. The injury was severe—all the physicians at the time said his hand might not recover. But somehow, Brother Ling pulled through."
Everyone realized the gravity of the situation. If Luo Ling had suffered such a serious injury before, this new wound on top of the old one could be far worse. Shen Qiu asked, "Who was behind this? Did you get a good look at the attackers?"
The subordinate shook his head. "Their skills were exceptional—not like ordinary thugs. They were even stronger than Young Master Ling."
"This is suspicious," Shen Xin said gravely. "First Jiaojiao, now Qiu—it’s clearly targeting our entire Shen family. Damn it! If I don’t find this person and skin him alive, I’ll stop using the Shen name!"
Luo Tan interjected, "Right now, the most urgent matter is Brother Ling’s injury." She grew anxious. "It looks so bad..."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense.
It wasn’t until the time it took for an incense stick to burn that Gao Yang finally emerged from the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Everyone stared at him expectantly. Luo Tan couldn’t wait any longer and stepped forward. "Physician Gao, how is Brother Ling?"
Gao Yang replied, "I’ve treated his wound. It’s a deep blade injury laced with poison. Though the poison isn’t fatal and I’ve neutralized it, still..."
"Still what?" Shen Qiu pressed."But Young Master Luo injured his hand years ago, and this time it aggravated an old ailment. The injury is quite severe. Even after recovery, he likely won't be able to lift heavy objects with his right hand."
Luo Tan staggered back two steps, staring sharply at Gao Yang. "Not lift heavy objects... what about weapons?"
Gao Yang shook his head.
Luo Xueyan dropped her cup in shock, while Shen Xin and Shen Qiu both drew sharp breaths simultaneously.
Luo Ling was a child of a military family. Luo Sui had sent him to accompany Shen Xin back to the capital precisely to train him in Fixed Capital, so he could better take over the Luo Family Army upon returning to Xiaochun City. Having practiced martial arts since childhood, being unable to use his right hand now was akin to crippling his entire martial prowess. For Luo Ling, this was a devastating blow.
"Impossible, it can't be!" Luo Tan rushed forward, clutching Gao Yang's sleeve in desperation. "When Ling-ge was injured before, the doctors also said he'd never use his right hand again, but he recovered. Aren't you the best physician? When you saved me, didn't those doctors say I was beyond help too? If you could heal me, surely you can heal Ling-ge's right hand, right?" Luo Tan and Luo Ling, being close cousins who grew up together, found this unbearable to accept.
Gao Yang pulled back his sleeve and said patiently, "Miss Luo, it's not that I refuse to treat him. But your brother's injury is truly too severe." He continued, "Forgive me for saying something painful, but if I declare someone untreatable, no one under heaven can save them."
These words severed the last shred of hope for everyone, confirming that Luo Ling would never wield a sword with his right hand again.
"How could this be?" Luo Xueyan nearly fainted. "How will I explain this to my elder brother and sister-in-law?"
"Does our cousin know about his injury yet?" Shen Qiu asked.
Gao Yang nodded, then added, "Rather than the injury itself, I believe the focus these days should be on Young Master Luo's emotional state. Anyone suffering such a sudden misfortune would be deeply traumatized, especially someone as proud as him. This is nothing short of a catastrophe for him. Without proper guidance, it may lead to unnecessary troubles and hinder his recovery further."
With that, Gao Yang picked up his medicine chest and said, "I must return to the palace first to prepare some herbs. I'll come back later to administer acupuncture for Young Master Luo. For now, I'll take my leave."
Having stayed at the Shen residence for several days without returning to the Imperial Hospital, Gao Yang's departure was understandable. Luo Xueyan nodded. "We've troubled you greatly these days, Imperial Physician Gao. Qiu'er, see the physician out."
"Let me!" Luo Tan interjected, grabbing Gao Yang's sleeve and dragging him toward the gate.
Gao Yang stared at his now-wrinkled sleeve until they reached the entrance, where Luo Tan finally stopped. She hesitated before asking, "Physician Gao, is there really no hope for Ling-ge's right hand?"
Gao Yang sighed. "I never lie."
Despair flickered across Luo Tan's face, but after a moment, she said, "In that case, thank you for covering up the matter about Prince Rui's Residence earlier."
"Cover up?" Gao Yang looked at her in surprise. "When did I say I'd cover for you?"
Luo Tan gaped at him. "But you lied for me in front of Aunt and Uncle...""I was merely going with the flow. We can discuss the terms of our deal in detail another day when I think of them." Gao Yang ignored Luo Tan's instantly darkened expression, glanced outside, and said, "Tsk, it's getting too late. I must take my leave now. Until next time, Miss Luo." He cupped his hands in farewell and left. After being called "Doctor Luo" so many times, Gao Yang was determined not to let Luo Tan off without some payback.
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he heard an almost gritted voice from behind: "Safe travels, Doctor Gao."
Gao Yang nearly stumbled and fell.
Only when Gao Yang's figure had completely disappeared did Luo Tan sigh heavily. She turned to go back inside, her expression troubled, when she suddenly spotted a carriage approaching from the other end. The carriage was extravagantly ornate, and with the dimming light, Luo Tan couldn't see clearly at first. It stopped in front of the Shen residence, and two people stepped out.
Luo Tan rubbed her eyes, making sure she wasn't mistaken, then let out a startled cry: "Little cousin!"
Shen Miao had been escorted back by Rong Xin Princess's personal attendant, Lu Xi. As they reached the gate, the first thing she heard was Luo Tan's shout. Earlier, Xie Jingxing had mentioned that Luo Tan was severely injured, which had worried Shen Miao greatly. But hearing her cousin's vigorous cry now put her mind at ease.
Luo Tan's shout immediately alerted Shen Xin and the others inside. They rushed out in a flurry, disbelief written all over their faces when they saw Shen Miao.
Luo Xueyan froze for a moment before quickly stepping forward, pulling Shen Miao into a tight embrace as tears streamed down her face: "Jiaojiao!"
As if snapping out of a daze, Shen Qiu also hurried over, calling out excitedly: "Sister, you're back!"
Shen Xin was about to step forward too, but Shen Miao glanced around. It was evening, and the streets were quiet—these days, the city had been on edge due to Shen Xin's relentless manhunt, and most citizens stayed indoors after dark. No one was around to witness the commotion at the Shen residence. Shen Miao said, "Let's go inside first. And please, keep this quiet for now."
Though puzzled, Shen Xin exchanged a glance with Shen Qiu, who promptly went to instruct the servants outside. The group then entered the residence.
Once in the main hall, Luo Tan asked, "Little cousin, what exactly happened? And who is this…?" She looked at Lu Xi.
Lu Xi bowed gracefully to everyone. As a personal attendant of Rong Xin Princess, her every movement exuded propriety, setting her apart from ordinary people. She said, "This servant is an attendant to Her Highness the Princess. The day before yesterday, the Princess's guards rescued Miss Shen from assailants. Her Highness feared Miss Shen might struggle to explain the situation, so she sent me to escort her home. Now that Miss Shen has been safely delivered, I must take my leave."
Two years ago, during the Lantern Festival, Shen Miao had been saved by Rong Xin Princess. Now, two years later, she was rescued by the Princess again. If this was mere coincidence, it was hard not to read more into it. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan exchanged doubtful glances, about to press further, when Shen Miao stood up and smiled at Lu Xi. "Auntie Xi, thank you for everything these past few days. Please convey my deepest gratitude to Her Highness for her timely aid. I will never forget the Princess's life-saving kindness and will surely visit to express my thanks in person."Lu Xi quickly stepped aside to avoid Shen Miao's bow and smiled, "No need for such formalities, Miss. Since you are an old acquaintance of Her Highness, there's no need to stand on ceremony. This servant will take her leave now. Miss Shen, please rest well and recover. Tomorrow, Her Highness will explain matters to the Capital Magistrate."
Shen Miao thanked her again. After seeing Lu Xi off, everyone could no longer hold back their questions. Shen Qiu asked, "Little sister, what exactly is going on here?"
From the conversation between Shen Miao and Lu Xi, it was clear to everyone that Shen Miao already had her own plans in mind. Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan, who now understood Shen Miao's temperament best, knew she was a girl with strong opinions and likely had other arrangements in place.
Shen Miao smiled and said, "It's nothing much. The people who abducted me that day actually dragged me into another matter—they took the wrong person. Later, when they were about to send me away, they happened to run into people from the Princess Hall. The guards there had seen me before and thought something was amiss, so they rescued me on the spot. Afterward, I explained the situation to Rong Xin Princess, and Her Highness intends to help clarify matters for me." For now, she didn’t want to reveal the full truth to Shen Xin, as it involved Ming An Princess. The current power dynamics between Qin State and Ming Qi were complex, and if Shen Xin acted rashly, it might be hard for him to extricate himself. She had worked hard to gradually distance the Shen family from those messy entanglements—how could she let history repeat itself?
Most importantly, this explanation was what she and Xie Jingxing had agreed upon. Though she wasn’t sure what Xie Jingxing would ultimately do, Shen Miao believed that, given his methods, Ming An Princess and the Xie brothers would surely suffer a great loss. Since things had already reached this point, Shen Xin getting involved would only complicate matters further.
Shen Xin frowned. "Jiaojiao, tell me honestly—does this have anything to do with Ming An Princess?"
Shen Miao’s heart skipped a beat.
Shen Xin was no fool. They had only just returned to Fixed Capital, and those who had deliberately abducted Shen Miao must have done so out of personal grudges. Since the Shen family’s return, if they had offended anyone, it was likely that arrogant and domineering Qin State princess. If it were the Qin State people, such audacious actions wouldn’t be beyond them.
Shen Miao replied, "Father, what are you thinking? This is Ming Qi’s territory. Even if Ming An Princess wanted to target me, the Crown Prince of Qin isn’t a fool—why would he let her cause trouble at such a critical moment?" Seeing that Shen Xin and Luo Xueyan still didn’t believe her, Shen Miao simply raised her arm and said in a coquettish tone, "That day, they threw me out of the carriage, and my arm hurt so much. I’m also starving. Mother, I want something to eat."
At this, Luo Xueyan immediately forgot everything else, her heart aching for her daughter. She instructed the kitchen to prepare snacks while having the maids help Shen Miao back to her courtyard to rest.
Luo Xueyan, overwhelmed with concern for Shen Miao, personally went to the kitchen to prepare soup. Shen Xin, frowning, pulled Shen Qiu aside for some unknown discussion. Luo Tan accompanied Shen Miao back to her room. Once Shen Miao had settled onto the couch, Luo Tan said, "Little cousin, you were lying earlier, weren’t you? It really was Ming An Princess behind this, wasn’t it?"
Shen Miao’s heart skipped another beat, wondering when Luo Tan had become so sharp. She asked, "Why do you say that?"Luo Tan rubbed her arms, pretending to be unable to bear it as she said, "The way you were acting spoiled just now really gave me goosebumps. It was clearly just an act to brush off Uncle and Aunt. Only because they dote on you did they let you get away with it."
Shen Miao chuckled, then looked Luo Tan up and down before saying, "I heard you were seriously injured. Why are you already out of bed instead of resting more?"
Luo Tan waved her hand dismissively. "That physician Gao from the palace is incredibly skilled—he can bring the dead back to life. I guess I was just lucky." Her eyes then gleamed as she looked at Shen Miao. "This afternoon, I went to beg Prince Rui to rescue you, and by evening, you were already back. His Highness truly has extraordinary abilities—such speed was beyond my expectations. I thought it would take days. So, that Aunt Lu Xi was fake too, wasn't she?" Luo Tan sighed. "This Prince Rui of Great Coolness really thinks of everything."
Shen Miao: "..."
Xie Jingxing had already rescued Shen Miao before Luo Tan even went to Prince Rui's Residence. By the time Luo Tan arrived, Shen Miao was likely already at the princess's residence. Poor Luo Tan genuinely believed Xie Jingxing had such miraculous powers—as if he were some immortal who could save someone from peril in an instant. Shen Miao inwardly scoffed but didn't correct Luo Tan. Instead, she thought of something else and asked, "But why haven’t I seen Cousin Ling? Has he gone out?"
Luo Tan's previously cheerful expression instantly darkened. Shen Miao, puzzled, asked, "Why do you look like that?"
"Cousin Ling... had an accident," Luo Tan replied, her voice strained. "Gao Yang said he’ll never be able to use his right hand again... You should go see him."
...
At Marquis Lin'an Manor, Xie Changwu was also in a state of extreme anxiety.
After returning from the banquet with Xie Ding, Xie Changchao had vanished without a trace. Not only was there no sign of Xie Changchao in the secret chamber, but Shen Miao was also missing. Upon closer inspection, there were no signs of a struggle in the chamber either, leaving Xie Changwu utterly bewildered.
Originally, due to Shen Xin's interference, they had been unable to send Shen Miao away. Now, not only was the plan stalled, but their captive had disappeared entirely. When Ming An Princess sent someone to inquire when Shen Miao would be handed over, Xie Changwu could only offer vague reassurances while privately panicking.
No matter how hard he searched—dispatching servants, scouring Xie Changchao’s usual haunts—both Xie Changchao and Shen Miao seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving no trace. The longer this went on, the more uneasy Xie Changwu grew. He tried to gather information from the Shen family, the household of the Grand General of Might, but there was no news of Shen Miao there either. This gave him some small comfort—at least it meant no one had come to rescue her and taken Xie Changchao along.
But as time passed, even Xie Ding grew suspicious, asking why Xie Changchao hadn’t been seen all day. Xie Changwu had no choice but to claim that Xie Changchao had gone hunting outside the city with friends, repeating the same excuse when Fang Shi asked. Ming An Princess had already sent envoys to press the matter—if the Xie brothers didn’t act soon, she would take matters into her own hands and deal with Shen Miao herself.Xie Changwu was in a dilemma he couldn't voice. Now not only was Shen Miao missing, but even Xie Changchao had disappeared. If Princess Ming An found out and blamed him for incompetence, not only would she fail to put in a good word for their brothers before Fu Xiuyi, but they might even face additional torment. Truly caught between a rock and a hard place, Xie Changwu regretted taking on this hot potato for the first time.
Regardless, Xie Changwu had to send people to continue searching for Xie Changchao. It was ironic—just days ago, they had abducted Shen Miao, and the Shen family had scoured the city for her. Now it was Xie Changwu's turn to search the city for Xie Changchao, as if karma had come full circle.
Little did Xie Changwu know, the brother he was desperately searching for was now in Xie Jingxing's hands.
Tie Yi followed behind the purple-robed young man and asked, "Xie Changchao's body is stored in the Tower Prison, preserved in the Ice Coffin. When does the master plan to use it?"
"Leave it there for now, no rush," Xie Jingxing replied. "Such a fine specimen shouldn't go to waste."
He walked leisurely back to his residence. Upon entering the courtyard, he saw Ji Yushu dressed in a purple robe, wearing a silver mask, chasing the white tiger named "Jiaojiao" around the room. As he ran, he shouted, "You little rascal, don't you recognize who I am? Open your dog eyes wide and come to me obediently!"
Tie Yi's face twitched uncontrollably. Sometimes, one really had to admit that Ji Yushu was a unique talent—no matter the situation, he could always act like a fool, laughing and cursing without a care. Only someone as idle as Ji Yushu would think to impersonate Xie Jingxing just to tease a tiger.
The white tiger dodged Ji Yushu's "warm" embrace and suddenly spotted Xie Jingxing and Tie Yi. It abruptly changed course and dashed toward Xie Jingxing, happily tugging at the hem of his robe and shaking its head.
Xie Jingxing bent down to pick up the tiger and glanced at the other "Xie Jingxing" in the courtyard, smirking. "Seems like you've been having fun in my absence."
"Third Brother!" The counterfeit Xie Jingxing removed his mask, revealing Ji Yushu's sweaty face. Panting, Ji Yushu waved his hands and said, "Third Brother, it wasn't my idea to impersonate you! Today, a young lady came seeking your help, and Gao Yang insisted I play your part. But I swear, I did a pretty good job—the moment she saw me, she knelt without a word and even kowtowed several times." Ji Yushu looked both aggrieved and worried. "I wonder if this will shorten my lifespan."
"A young lady?" Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow and glanced at Tie Yi. Tie Yi quickly explained, "In the afternoon, the Luo family's cousin and Young Master Gao came by. At the time, Young Master Ji pretended to be you and agreed to the Luo cousin's request... After that, the two of them left."
Ji Yushu emphasized, "It was Gao Yang who forced me to do it!"
As they spoke, Tie Yi announced, "Young Master Gao is here."
A figure in white robes strode in—none other than Gao Yang himself. However, whether it was their imagination or not, Gao Yang's white robes didn't seem as pristine and new as before, and his face looked somewhat haggard. Earlier, Ji Yushu had been too preoccupied with Luo Tan's kowtowing to notice Gao Yang's appearance. Now, seeing him, he exclaimed in shock, "Gao Yang, you look like you've aged ten years!"Originally, Gao Yang and Xie Jingxing stood together. Though not as strikingly handsome as Xie Jingxing, Gao Yang could still be considered an elegant young gentleman. But now, standing beside Xie Jingxing, he looked somewhat disheveled and weary.
"Don't even mention it," Gao Yang said. "These past few days, I've been at the Shen residence treating that Luo family's young lady. Do they really take me for a common physician?" His expression grew indignant as he added, "I'm not just a physician—I'm a royal physician!"
"It's all the same—treating people," Ji Yushu dismissed him and turned to Xie Jingxing. "Did you find Fifth Miss Shen?"
Xie Jingxing nodded.
Ji Yushu let out a long sigh of relief. "You scared me. If someone as good as Fifth Miss Shen had truly fallen into someone else's trap, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep well either."
Xie Jingxing gave him a cold look. "Oh? You're very familiar with Shen Miao?"
Ji Yushu instinctively sensed danger and shook his head subconsciously. Feeling the profound meaning behind Xie Jingxing's gaze, he hurriedly added, "Third Brother, since you have ties with her, I wasn’t worried about her—I was worried about you. Seeing that you rescued her now puts my mind at ease. I’m sure Fifth Miss Shen is very grateful to you."
"Bootlicker!" Gao Yang scoffed.
"None of your damn business," Ji Yushu shot back.
Gao Yang took a deep breath and turned to Xie Jingxing with a serious expression. "Was it Ming An Princess who made the move?"
In truth, within Fixed Capital, aside from Ming An Princess, there really was no one else bold enough to target Shen Miao. Others who might consider harming her would have to weigh the consequences against the Shen family’s retaliation. Everyone knew how much Shen Xin doted on his daughter—to the point of indulgence. Touching Shen Miao was like plucking hairs from a tiger’s head, inviting endless trouble. Only a brainless woman like Ming An Princess would act so recklessly. Yet such audacity was still astonishing.
"Not just her," Xie Jingxing said coolly. "Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao were also involved."
"Have they lost their minds?" Gao Yang couldn’t hide his shock. "Even if Ming An Princess promised them benefits, how could Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao risk their lives like this?"
People usually weighed risks against rewards, but the Xie brothers' actions were utterly irrational. Gao Yang couldn’t comprehend it. Were they so desperate to climb higher that they’d make enemies of the Shen family, ignoring the long-term consequences?
"Perhaps they’ve grown too comfortable and forgotten their place," Xie Jingxing replied with a chilling smile. "Fools who never learn, even after ten years."
Gao Yang and Ji Yushu fell silent, sensing the icy aura radiating from Xie Jingxing. After a moment of silent mourning for the Xie brothers, Gao Yang spoke again. "Actually, Ming An Princess didn’t just target Shen Miao this time."
Xie Jingxing turned to him, frowning. "What do you mean?"
"They also plotted against Shen Qiu. While I was at the Shen residence today, I heard someone used Shen Miao’s whereabouts to lure Shen Qiu into a trap. Once he was isolated, they planned to strike. Those men were highly skilled—likely trained palace assassins. After some thought, I concluded they must have been sent by Ming An Princess."
Not only did they want to ruin Shen Miao, but also Shen Qiu. The two were the younger generation of the Shen family. Destroying them would make it nearly impossible for the Shen family to recover. Moreover, given the deep bond between the siblings, if Shen Miao later learned Shen Qiu had suffered for her sake, she would carry that guilt forever. There was no punishment more cruel than forcing someone to live in agony. Ming An Princess was truly ruthless.
Xie Jingxing’s expression shifted slightly. "What was the outcome?"
"Shen Qiu didn’t fall for it," Gao Yang said.
Xie Jingxing’s gaze softened, but before he could speak further, Gao Yang continued.
"However... though Shen Qiu wasn’t tricked, the Luo family’s young master at the Shen residence didn’t fare as well. The assailants mistook Luo Ling for Shen Qiu. Luo Ling’s martial skills are inferior, and he suffered at their hands."
Xie Jingxing raised an eyebrow. "How is he now?""Not good," Gao Yang said. "Even with my medical skills, I'm at a loss. He probably won't be able to wield a sword with his right hand for the rest of his life."
Xie Jingxing froze, his handsome features gradually darkening as his gaze suddenly turned icy cold.
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
Brother Xie shooting daggers with his eyes: Damn it, after getting injured, is he going to start writing poems, playing the qin, doing needlework, and making pastries again? A sympathy ploy! Such a schemer! WTF!
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