Chapter 119 |
The county yamen's rear courtyard.
Qu Dubian poured a cup of water for Ye Xiaoyuan, telling him to take it easy.
Two imperial physicians were checking Xuanfei's pulse.
Physician Yang said, "A doctor must have treated her before, but they only stabilized her condition. They didn't use acupuncture to wake Her Ladyship."
Qu Dubian: "Right. How can Consort Xuan be awakened?"
Physician Yang: "We need acupuncture to dissolve the blood stasis, combined with medicinal treatment," he pondered, "It's not a major issue, but it would be best to go to the prefectural seat. The variety of medicinal herbs there is more complete."
In four or five days, the people from the capital will also go directly to the prefectural seat, making it more convenient to liaise with Consort Xuan.
The medicinal herbs brought by Xue Letian were mostly for treating abrasions and preventing epidemics. Some herbs needed for Consort Xuan weren't available here. Going to the prefectural seat was good; it was the least affected by the disaster, and Consort Xuan could receive better care.
Qu Dubian: "We'll follow your advice. When can Consort Xuan wake up?"
Hearing this, the weight in Qu Dubian's heart lessened slightly.
He trusted these two physicians' skills. If they weren't completely sure, they wouldn't speak so definitively.
He took half a step back, cupped his hands, and said, "Earlier, knocking you both out and bringing you here was an act of urgent necessity. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness."
Physician Yang quickly sidestepped the gesture, waving his hands, "This is not proper, not proper at all. Please rise, Your Highness."
He said with a mix of worry and sigh, "To read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles, to practice medicine and treat illnesses... enduring a bit of hardship is just part of it."
"However, Your Highness, you... haven't fallen ill?" Physician Yang looked Qu Dubian over, surprised. "This humble official thought the first person needing treatment upon arriving here would be you."
Qu Dubian: "......"
Consort Xuan was unconscious, Sixth Brother was useless, the chief official, Magistrate Hua, was busy managing the people by district according to the disaster relief manual. The only one left who could handle matters and make decisions was him. At such a critical juncture, how dare he get sick?
He stroked his chin and fabricated an excuse, "Perhaps the local climate here is nourishing."
Physician Yang wasn't entirely reassured. His medicine chest was still the one prepared before he was knocked out at the princes' quarters, containing some of the medicines Qu Dubian most commonly needed.
Better to keep it ready.
-
Elsewhere.
Yu Ruo had just returned from the area where the Nanning refugees were settled, his expression somber.
Gu Xin had also remained silent.
Although they had long been mentally prepared that the Nanning people wouldn't receive good care from Great Zhou, seeing it firsthand—over a hundred people crammed under two thatched sheds, starving and barely clothed—was still distressing.
Magistrate Hua had only given them one pot over there, telling them to fetch water from the river, boil it, and drink it to last several more days.
Hungry? Then sorry, our own Great Zhou people don't have enough to eat. If you're hungry, figure it out yourselves.
They had gone to the settlement in the morning and returned only after dark.
It wasn't that the Nanning people were particularly troublesome; they had helped bury two bodies of those who starved to death and also helped pull two Nanning people from the river.
Yu Ruo was soaked through, his clothes splattered with mud.
"How long would it take to send a letter from here to His Majesty?"
Gu Xin: "If this subordinate sets out overnight to deliver it to the border relay station, His Majesty can receive it tomorrow."
Yu Ruo: "Good."
As they spoke, they entered the refugee area newly reorganized by the county yamen.
After a day of adjustments, the refugee area was now incomparably more orderly than when they left in the morning. Patrol teams moved back and forth to prevent unrest.
There were also yamen runners distributing clothes and servants from wealthy households.
Newly rescued injured were carried on stretchers by able-bodied refugees to the treatment area.
Several doctors bustled about there, brewing medicinal decoctions—herbs were still limited, one batch boiled several times, but it was already very good.
Others were burning mugwort in various places; the smoke was pungent but not unpleasant.
The scent of mugwort dispelled the foul stench of decay. The chaotic, muddy refugee area operated in an orderly fashion, all following the same set of rules.
Gu Xin: "Your Highness, this..." He had never seen such a well-organized disaster area before.
And in such a short time?
Just one day! The efficiency was astonishingly high.
Yu Ruo had already crouched outside a thatched shed, asking, "Excuse me, elder. I remember the refugee area wasn't divided like this in the morning. Who ordered this change?"
The elderly man drinking hot water looked up and sighed, "Heard Magistrate say it was ordered by some disaster relief expert called 'Bian Dou.' We're just common folk, what do we know about these things? But if doing what they say gets us thick gruel to eat, that's a good thing. A good thing? Then we follow along."
An expert named Bian Dou?
"Did the expert arrive suddenly?"
The old man thought for a moment: "Seems so. Never heard of him before anyway."
Yu Ruo thanked him, then concentrated on walking a full circle around the disaster area, observing carefully. He finally stopped before the county yamen gate.
"I've seen disaster relief methods before, but a systematic one like this is a first."
"Systematic?"
"Mm," Yu Ruo said, "Look, wealthy families who hadn't shown themselves before are now out distributing porridge. All this happened within a single day, likely orchestrated by the same person."
Gu Xin didn't fully understand, but he saw the serious look on his master's face.
After entering the county yamen, Yu Ruo inquired around about when any strangers had arrived. He only learned that aside from Ye Xiaoyuan's group who came in the evening, there were no others.
Yu Ruo: "Forget it. I'll go write the letter first."
He returned to his room and wrote an urgent letter, requesting his father to dispatch grain from the border city to the Xiang River area swiftly, and to negotiate with the Great Zhou Emperor to gather the Nanning people in one place and repatriate them to Nanning territory as soon as possible.
After writing, Gu Xin set out overnight to deliver the letter. Yu Ruo, however, went to Qu Dubian's courtyard.
Qu Dubian was in the courtyard drying his hair.
Ye Xiaoyuan had rested a bit, cleaned himself up, and simply couldn't stand seeing his own master covered in dust from head to toe. Without troubling others, he had fetched water himself, heated it, and forced Qu Dubian to change clothes, wash his hair, and wipe down.
Qu Dubian had already changed into a fresh set of clothes and was sitting on a stone stool outside, wearing a thin white underrobe, his hair half-dry.
He looked up at Yu Ruo: "What do you want?"
Yu Ruo pursed his lips: "I want to ask for your help."
Qu Dubian said lazily, "No."
Yu Ruo: "Consider it me begging you."
"Hmm?"
It seemed like the first time Qu Dubian had heard the word "beg" from Yu Ruo. Usually, this guy was always trying to peel back his veneer, his words full of probing, which was rather annoying.
Yu Ruo: "I've already sent a letter back to Nanning, but the grain will take time to arrive. I want... to ask you to speak with the magistrate, to share a little food with the Nanning people."
It wasn't that no Nanning people had tried to blend in with the Great Zhou refugees, but their accents were different. The moment they spoke, they'd be exposed, either driven out or beaten, so they could only gather separately.
Qu Dubian: "Magistrate Hua is an official. Without orders from above, if he gives food to Nanning people and some malicious person reports him, he could lose his official position."
Yu Ruo walked up to him. "As long as there's grain, I won't implicate Magistrate Hua. Just half a bag would do."
Qu Dubian stopped drying his hair, curious. "What's in it for me if I agree to help? What can you do for me?"
Yu Ruo glanced at the cotton cloth in his hand, gently took it over, and held it himself. Rolling up his sleeves, he started the work of serving others: "You rest, I'll do it."
After drying his hair, he went inside again and brought out a cup of water.
While Qu Dubian drank, Yu Ruo took the opportunity to massage his shoulders and legs.
Qu Dubian slowly let out a pent-up breath of frustration. This detestable fellow was always finding fault with him, making him feel utterly insecure.
He enjoyed the attentive service of this Nanning prince for a moment, feeling that Yu Ruo's technique was surprisingly good. "You didn't actually learn this before, did you?"
Yu Ruo: "When I was young, I was often treated like a servant. If I didn't massage shoulders and legs well enough, I'd get beaten. I mastered it a long time ago."
Qu Dubian raised an eyebrow: "If you stop being a prince in the future, you could open a shop. With this skill, you won't starve."
"I was trying to gain sympathy. Didn't you catch that?" Yu Ruo smiled. "Sometimes I really think your heart is unbelievably soft, and other times I feel it's terrifyingly hard."
Qu Dubian silently rolled his eyes.
Who didn't know how to play the sympathy card? He was a master at it centuries ago.
Qu Dubian: "Understand your position. You are from Nanning."
As he spoke, he observed Yu Ruo's expression.
He really couldn't detect any trace of discomfort.
To stoop for the common people... If Yu Ruo were to return to Nanning in the future and gain influence, Nanning would likely become an even greater threat to the Great Zhou.
Estimating that enough time had passed, Qu Dubian raised his hand. "Alright, you can go back now. I should sleep."
Yu Ruo's hands paused, stopping the massage.
"What about the grain...?"
Yi Shier returned from outside, glanced at Yu Ruo, and said to Qu Dubian: "Your Highness, the grain has already been delivered."
Qu Dubian: "Hmm."
He stood up, patted his clothes, and said to Yu Ruo: "Remember, the grain wasn't given by us. It was a bag that Merchant Xue accidentally dropped during transport, which was then picked up by the Nanning people."
Yu Ruo was taken aback: "You had someone deliver it already?"
Qu Dubian: "I find you disagreeable, but the common people are innocent. Moreover, they might become subjects of the Great Zhou in the future. I'm just helping our future people in advance. It's justifiable."
Yu Ruo: "I owe you a favor."
Qu Dubian: "Your massage just now settled it."
With that, he prepared to return to his room.
Yu Ruo stood in place: "Thank you."
[Yu Ruo's Favorability +10. Total Favorability: 28]
As he walked away, Qu Dubian thought to himself, this guy's way of increasing favorability is occasionally normal.
From behind came another laughing remark: "Layman Biandou has the whole world in his heart. I am impressed."
Qu Dubian: "..."
That bastard.
He gritted his teeth secretly and turned around: "Where is there any Layman Biandou here?"
Yu Ruo shrugged, "Don't know. Just saying it randomly."
He was the 'Orchid Court Bright Moon' admired by many young ladies, the type of refined, gentle gentleman. His smile was quite handsome, but in Qu Dubian's eyes, it was: This fellow exudes a thoroughly annoying vibe from head to toe.
Qu Dubian picked up a stone, weighed it in his hand, and threw it at him.
[Yu Ruo's Favorability +3]
Yu Ruo nimbly dodged the stone, rushed outside the courtyard in a few steps, and even thoughtfully closed the gate for him: "See you tomorrow."
Bang!
A second stone smashed hard against the gate.
[Yu Ruo's Favorability +2. Total Favorability: 33]
Qu Dubian: "………"
He looked at Yi Shier: "He's genuinely ill, right?"
Yi Shier nodded silently.
-
After leaving the vicinity of Qu Dubian's courtyard, the smile slowly faded from Yu Ruo's face.
He looked back once.
He couldn't be certain that Layman Biandou was Qu Dubian, but the series of policies currently being implemented in Le'an County were absolutely related to him.
With just an initial display of skill, he had managed to stabilize Le'an County.
The more he interacted with Qu Dubian, the stronger his feeling became.
If this person were to fully mature, he would undoubtedly become a formidable enemy for Nanning.
From a hostile standpoint, Yu Ruo wished such a person were either born in Nanning or remained forever in obscurity. Yet, from the perspective of the common people under heaven, he hoped such a person could shine brilliantly, illuminating the world.
-
Qu Dubian lay in bed.
Ye Xiaoyuan had gone to rest in the adjacent room. He had been exhausted from the journey, and upon arrival, had been busy with tasks. Qu Dubian had practically forced him back into his room. The one who claimed not to be tired or sleepy fell asleep as soon as he touched the bed.
Qu Dubian yawned: "Liuliu, aren't you off duty yet?"
Yi Shier had been a bit unusual lately. Usually quite eager to get off duty, these past few days he had been staying up late and often looking at him.
"Hmm... right, tomorrow Consort Xuan and the Sixth Prince are going to the commandery seat, aren't they? You go with them to see them off. I don't trust anyone else."
"Alright."
Yi Shier agreed but still didn't leave.
Qu Dubian asked, puzzled: "Do you have something else to tell me?"
Yi Shier was silent for a few seconds. "Your Highness, I remember you said that whenever I found something I wanted to do, I could leave at any time. Is that correct?"
Qu Dubian sensed the meaning in his words and slowly sat up: "Yes."
"You want to leave?"
Yi Shier: "Yes, I want to leave."
One Qian Qian Pill relieved the symptoms for six hours. Holding out until now, only one pill remained.
He didn't know if, after taking it tomorrow and escorting Consort Xuan and the Sixth Prince to the commandery seat, he would be able to return.
"...It's not that I won't let you go, it's just," Qu Dubian hesitated, "it's... a bit too sudden."
"Liuliu, can you tell me the reason?"
Yi Shier calmly stated the reason he had prepared long ago: "In the palace, I am constantly under surveillance by the Shadow Guard Division, with no freedom. In a few days, people from the capital will arrive at the commandery seat. I don't want to return to the capital and the palace, nor do I want to have any more contact with officials from the capital."
It was the first time he had spoken so many words to Qu Dubian in one go.
"I want to be free and unrestrained in the jianghu, like the people in the storybooks I've read."
Qu Dubian: "I see. When do you plan to leave?"
Yi Shier: "Perhaps after escorting Consort Xuan. Tomorrow."
Qu Dubian: "Tomorrow?"
Yi Shier: "Just perhaps. I wanted to tell Your Highness first."
His Highness was very perceptive. If he confirmed leaving tomorrow, His Highness would suspect he was hiding something. By giving an uncertain time, indicating he wasn't in a hurry, His Highness wouldn't become suspicious.
The antidote for the Three-Day Drunk was controlled by the imperial family and never leaked outside.
Even if he told His Highness, and His Highness pleaded, the Emperor and the Shadow Guard Division would not agree.
He was just a shadow guard who had long lost his status, unimportant in the eyes of those people.
Perhaps he held some place in His Highness's heart, but it wasn't worth His Highness worrying and fretting over.
Therefore, the best solution he could think of was to find an opportunity to bid farewell and leave, letting His Highness believe he was still living somewhere in the world.
Qu Dubian lowered his head, fiddling with the quilt.
"I understand. Tell me before you leave. I'll see you off."
"Alright."
Yi Shier left, gently closing the door.
Qu Dubian lay back, resting his head on his arm, staring at the ceiling with open eyes.
He turned over, unable to sleep until late into the night.
Sigh.
Indeed.
Although he had said he wouldn't restrict Liuliu's freedom, when the day really came for Liuliu to part ways with him, he still couldn't bear it.
Qu Dubian sighed inwardly.
Twelve years.
Liuliu had been by his side for twelve years.
He had long grown accustomed to his silent companionship and protection in the shadows.
Outside the house.
On the rooftop.
Yi Shier sat cross-legged on the roof tiles.
A leaf fell onto his shoulder and lay still. After a while, a breeze blew, and the leaf fell away again.
He listened to the breathing of the young prince inside the room, sitting quietly through the entire night.
-
The next day.
Magistrate Hua prepared a carriage and guards.
They carefully moved Consort Xuan onto the carriage.
The Sixth Prince: "Little Qi, are you sure you won't come with us to the commandery seat?"
Qu Dubian nodded: "You go ahead. I'll follow in a couple of days."
Yu Ruo was waiting for aid from Nanning, and Uncle Letian was still here distributing porridge. It was best for him to stay until everything was settled.
The Sixth Prince couldn't wait: "Then we'll be off." He had no desire to stay in this wretched place a moment longer.
After boarding the carriage, he leaned out: "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Consort Xuan. If the commandery officials show any neglect or disrespect, I'll make sure they're punished when I return to the capital."
Qu Dubian smiled: "Alright."
He looked at Yi Shier: "Liuliu, I'm counting on you."
Yi Shier: "Rest assured."
He took the driver's seat at the front of the carriage and took hold of the reins.
Imperial Physician Qiu went with them, while Imperial Physician Yang stayed behind.
The two physicians had discussed it: Consort Xuan would be fine under Physician Qiu's care, and as Physician Yang was more familiar with the Seventh Prince, it was better for him to stay to handle any emergencies.
Qu Dubian waved: "Travel safely. Be careful on the road."
He didn't return to the county office until the carriage was out of sight.
Imperial Physician Yang walked beside him, saying cheerfully, "This humble official just visited the wounded ward. I expected the situation to be severe, but it's mostly under control. Layman Biandou's methods are excellent; they've largely prevented an epidemic from breaking out."
"If every commandery and county handled things this way, we wouldn't have to fear major post-disaster epidemics."
Qu Dubian: "Indeed."
Fewer people dying was always good.
He responded to Physician Yang's words, but his mind was somewhat distracted, feeling as if something was about to happen.
-
Yi Shier led the convoy towards the commandery seat.
At noon, the convoy stopped to rest.
Mindful of Consort Xuan's injuries, they traveled slowly and would likely arrive by evening.
Sweat beaded on Yi Shier's forehead. Fighting off drowsiness, he walked under a large tree, poured out the last Qianqian Pill, and swallowed it.
Moments later, as the medicine took effect, his breathing steadied.
By forcing himself to wait this long to take it, the effects should last until midnight.
By then, matters concerning Consort Xuan and the Sixth Prince would surely be settled. Perhaps there would even be some time left for him to return and see His Highness one last time before leaving.
-
Dusk.
Yu Ruo's letter reached the Emperor of Nanning.
Along with his letter was a state missive from Emperor Chongzhao.
Both letters, without exception, demanded that he provide money and grain to retrieve the Nanning citizens who had been swept into Great Zhou territory.
Emperor Chongzhao also demanded compensation, arguing that it was the failure of Nanning's dikes first that had implicated Great Zhou.
The Emperor of Nanning snorted coldly: "Yu Ruo... his elbow is bending outward."
The chief eunuch beside him asked, "Your Majesty, will you send some money and grain?"
The Emperor of Nanning remained silent. After pacing the hall once, he narrowed his eyes slightly.
Currently, many in the court still supported sending aid, but these people were unaware that he was the one who had secretly ordered Nanning's dikes to be breached.
The rains were frequent. Once Nanning's dikes were destroyed, Great Zhou's Xiang River dikes were bound to fail as well.
Trading a few thousand insignificant Nanning commoners and some farmland for three Great Zhou commanderies flooded... Just imagine how much national strength Great Zhou would expend on disaster relief, and how many able-bodied laborers would die?
This deal was a sure profit.
He still harbored resentment from the last defeat.
He asked, "How is Xiang River Commandery now? Has chaos broken out?"
The chief eunuch: "Well... it's been several days. There has been unrest, but it was quickly suppressed."
The Emperor of Nanning frowned: "No epidemic has arisen?"
The chief eunuch: "It seems not."
The Emperor of Nanning pondered for a moment: "Issue the order. Send grain to Xiang River Commandery."
It was enough that the Nanning people knew he had sent grain. Whether the sacks actually contained grain was unimportant.
He beckoned and whispered in the chief eunuch's ear: "Take those prepared corpses of plague victims and throw them into the river."
A glint flashed in the chief eunuch's eyes: "Yes."
After the chief eunuch left, the Emperor of Nanning sat back down at his desk, wrote a letter, and handed it to a shadow guard.
"Deliver this to the Northern Frontier."
-
Night fell.
The guards who had escorted the party to the commandery seat returned.
Consort Xuan and the Sixth Prince had been delivered safely. The Commandery Governor personally received them, and Imperial Physician Qiu was treating Consort Xuan.
Everything had gone smoothly, but Qu Dubian did not see Yi Shier.
"Liuliu didn't return?"
A guard was momentarily confused: "You mean the masked lord?"
Qu Dubian: "Yes."
The guard said: "That lord took a fast horse and left. We don't know where he went."
Qu Dubian was stunned: "Left?"
Just like that?
"Did you see which direction he went?"
"No."
Qu Dubian unconsciously furrowed his brow.
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness, please return to your room. It's starting to drizzle again."
Qu Dubian went back to his room and opened the window. Outside, a light rain dampened the ground, making the fallen leaves gleam with a wet sheen.
"Banban, did Liuliu really leave?"
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness told me that Lord Liuliu said last night he would be leaving."
Qu Dubian checked the simulator.
[Name: Yi Shier (Yi Liuliu)
Favorability: 58]
No distance was displayed, meaning Liuliu was not within the simulator's 300-meter sensing range.
He leaned on the windowsill. "He just left like that. I don't even know what he looks like."
Ye Xiaoyuan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Lord Liuliu stayed with you for a long time. Your Highness is just not used to farewells."
Qu Dubian: "I was planning to tell him a new, interesting storybook when we got back to the palace. I recently found a really good one."
Ye Xiaoyuan looked down at his young prince.
The young man seemed a bit dazed and lost in thought. He didn't hide his reluctance in front of those close to him, his emotions transparent at a glance.
Ye Xiaoyuan patted his head.
In his eyes, His Highness was still a very affectionate child who loved to act spoiled.
"Lord Liuliu will come back."
He stayed with Qu Dubian through dinner and urged him to sleep.
"Your Highness has lost weight these past few days, with dark circles under your eyes from lack of rest. You need to sleep early."
Qu Dubian: "Alright."
Ye Xiaoyuan waited until he closed his eyes before quietly closing the door and leaving.
Drowsiness gradually washed over Qu Dubian. Just as he was about to fall asleep—
[Yi Shier is 300 meters from the host]
[Yi Shier is 250 meters from the host]
[Yi Shier is 100 meters from the host]
The distance closed rapidly.
Qu Dubian almost jolted up from the bed, but he kept his eyes shut, held his breath, and remained calm. A flicker of doubt rose in his heart—Liuliu was acting very strangely.
What exactly was he doing?
Outside the house.
A fine misty rain fell, shrouding everything in a hazy veil.
Yi Shier was already soaked, his face pale, water droplets tracing from his chin into his collar.
He landed silently in the courtyard, steadying his violently pounding heart.
A few seconds later, he walked to Qu Dubian's door and pushed it open.
He kept his breathing and presence extremely subdued. Originally trained as a Shadow Guard, and having cultivated for over a decade beside Qu Dubian, his internal energy was more profound than his master's. As long as he intentionally restrained himself, the sleeping Prince would not detect him.
And that was indeed the case.
Qu Dubian only heard the faint sound of the door opening and caught a trace of damp, rainy air; he sensed nothing else.
Yi Shier knelt on one knee before the bed, lifted the bed curtain, and silently gazed at the young man's profile on the bed.
A moment later, he removed his mask, gently took Qu Dubian's hand, and lightly pressed his forehead against the back of it for a brief instant before pulling away.
[Yi Shier's Favorability +1]
I acknowledge you as my master, pledging loyalty unto death.
Only the master can make a shadow in the dark remove its mask.
He was about to die. Once completely free from the Shadow Guard Division's shackles, he could pledge his allegiance anew.
Even though His Highness didn't see it, and didn't know.
Yi Shier put his mask back on and left the room. Qu Dubian slowly opened his eyes, hesitantly raising his hand. It felt slightly damp with rainwater.
What was Liuliu doing just now?
The simulator reported that Yi Shier was moving farther and farther away. Qu Dubian initially thought it was Liuliu's farewell before leaving, secretly visiting to avoid a sorrowful parting.
But on the simulator, the color of Yi Shier's name was visibly shifting from black to a pale grayish-white.
Qu Dubian: "???"
"His name changed color?"
Simulator: [When a character is on the verge of death, their name will turn ashen gray.]
The instant the simulator finished speaking, Qu Dubian rushed out of the room.