HMHSE - 92

It was dark, then bright again. A day had passed.

Zirui brought a wet towel forward.

Shen Rong quietly took it, wiped her face and hands, put it down, and then picked up a bowl of hot, thick soup in front of her and slowly drank it.

Zirui tried to find something to say. “Donglai went to inquire. The Marquis of Heluo seems to have already left Youzhou. I don’t know if he’s returning to Chang’an.”

Shen Rong didn’t say anything and didn’t seem to care.

Zirui still wanted to say something, like asking her to leave the room and get some proper rest. She had only been sitting in this chair, closing her eyes for a while, but seeing that she hadn’t said a word, she didn’t say anything.

“Go out,” Shen Rong said suddenly.

Zirui looked at her face and had no choice but to retreat silently.

The light from outside came in, reaching the edge of Shen Rong’s clothes, a stagnant, hazy white. She moved her foot, not knowing what time it was. She turned her head and looked inside.

The curtain was lifted. The military doctor, who had been busy until now, finally walked out. His eyes were grayish-blue, and his face was covered in a cold sweat.

Shen Rong stood up, wanting to ask how he was, but she opened her mouth and no sound came out.

“Madam,” the military doctor said, clasping his hands. “After applying the hemostatic medicine, Messenger Shan’s wounds have been stitched and bandaged properly. Everything that needed to be done has been done.”

“Yes,” Shen Rong’s voice was very light. “And then?”

The military doctor suddenly lowered his head and slowly knelt down. “Messenger Shan has not woken up and has not taken any water. I’m afraid...”

Shen Rong stared at him blankly for a moment, then moved and walked straight into the inner room.

She lifted the curtain. The figure on the bed was still lying motionless. His wounds were bandaged, and he was wrapped in white cloth. The side of his face was half-hidden in the dim light. His jaw was like a chisel mark. His body was coated in a layer of hazy light, looking both real and unreal.

She stared at him, then suddenly put down the curtain and turned to walk out. When she got to the door, she said, “Go and call all the doctors in Youzhou!”

Donglai, who was guarding the door, looked up at her. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the military doctor behind her say in a low voice, “Madam, we have truly done everything we can...”

Shen Rong clenched her hands. Her chest rose and fell slightly. She looked at Donglai, who had stopped and hadn’t left yet. “Do I have to say it a second time?”

Donglai immediately left quickly, taking all of Changsun’s guards with him to call people as soon as possible.

Almost instantly, doctors from all the major medical halls in the city were brought over one after another.

Shen Rong stood outside the curtain of the inner room, watching them go in one by one and come out one by one.

Someone ran into the house from outside. It was Guangyuan.

“Madam...” He only called out to Shen Rong and didn’t say anything else, hurrying into the inner room.

Finally, the last doctor came out.

But no one came forward to report the results.

In the end, it was Donglai who slowly walked closer, lowered his head, and whispered, “Young Mistress, they have truly done everything they can...”

Shen Rong’s face was ashen. She clenched her fingers. “I will go myself.”

The doctors they found must not be good enough. That’s why he wasn’t awake yet.

These people were all unreliable. Not a single one of them could be trusted. She had to go find them herself...

She walked quickly to the door but suddenly stopped.

Outside was a group of people sitting. As soon as they saw her come out, they all stood up.

Hu Shi Yi, sitting on the side, was the first to get up, his eyes wide as he looked at her.

Next to him were the people who had earlier identified themselves as the cavalry commanders of the Lulong Army in front of the Marquis of Heluo—Bo Zhong and the two middle-aged cavalry commanders who came with him, and a group of familiar faces from the group of convicts, Jia Chen San and Pang Lu were there. Even Wei Shen Wu and Luo Chong, with his white scar and unclear expression, were there.

Everyone was staring at her, as if they were all waiting for her to say something.

Suddenly, a fast horse galloped towards them from the city gate. It was a team of a dozen people, and the sound of their hooves was urgent. The person in front was extremely fast, rushing over like an arrow.

Shen Rong looked over.

The horse arrived in front of her. The person on the horse flipped down, a young figure in armor, and ran to her. “Sister-in-law!”

It was Shan Zhao.

He had come too quickly and was still panting. He said urgently, “The Emperor has ordered an investigation into my brother. The entire Shan family has been alarmed. I heard that people from the court have been sent. How is he now?”

Shen Rong looked at his anxious eyes. Her lips moved, and she thought of the figure lying in the room. She couldn’t say a word and slowly took two steps back.

Shan Zhao looked at her in surprise and then looked into the room.

Behind him, a team had arrived.

Many people dismounted and walked towards the door.

As Shan Zhao went inside, two young men also entered. They were both wearing foreign clothes and armor, with sharp swords at their sides. After entering, they stopped and waited on one side. They were the two illegitimate sons of the Shan family, Shan Zhao’s two older illegitimate brothers, and Shan Zong’s illegitimate younger brothers.

Behind them, Yang Jun Jun, in a wide-sleeved, multi-layered silk robe, walked in quickly. She saw Shen Rong at the door at a glance and immediately grabbed her hand. She seemed very happy and said softly, “Ah Rong, I finally get to see you. You’re here too. I knew you would be.”

Behind her, another person walked in. He was wearing a wide, round-collared robe. His face was aged but upright and heroic. His gaze moved from the group of people at the door to Shen Rong.

Shen Rong looked at him and could vaguely see a hint of Shan Zong’s appearance on his face.

That was Shan Zong’s father, General Shan. It had been a few years since they last met. Now he was in such ordinary clothes, no longer wearing foreign clothes and military uniforms as he used to.

Guangyuan’s figure suddenly darted out from behind the curtain and knelt on the ground, his voice trembling. “Master, Madam, it’s my fault. I couldn’t take good care of the Young Master...”

When Shan Zhao heard this, he ran into the inner room.

Yang Jun Jun looked at Guangyuan in surprise, let go of Shen Rong’s hand, and also hurried towards the curtain.

Several people went inside.

The next moment, Yang Jun Jun’s heartbreaking cry came from inside. “Zong’er...”

Shen Rong seemed to be awakened by the cry. She walked back to the inner room’s door, pinching the curtain with her fingers. She finally lifted it and slowly walked in.

Several people were standing motionless in front of the bed.

Yang Jun Jun was kneeling in front of the bed, falling forward onto the lying man. She was already sobbing uncontrollably. “Zong’er, open your eyes and look at us. It’s been four years. I, your mother, can finally come and see you...”

Shan Zhao was lowering his head and sobbing. “Brother...”

General Shan was standing at the foot of the bed. He was standing straight with his eyes down, looking at his son on the bed like a withered pine tree, silent.

Shen Rong looked at them. Her chest rose and fell little by little, becoming more and more intense. She wanted to tell them all to stop crying. He wasn’t dead yet. Why were they crying?

She parted her lips, but it was as if her throat was being choked. She couldn’t say a word.

After some time, General Shan reached out to help Yang Jun Jun, but she pushed him away. She only clung to her son, her voice hoarse, no longer having the usual dignity of the Shan family’s mistress. “Get up, Zong’er. Let me take your place! Get up. Whatever suffering you can’t talk about, let me endure it for you...”

Shen Rong remembered what she was about to do. Oh, right. She was going to find a doctor.

She turned and walked out quickly.

When she got to the door, she was stopped by Donglai. He lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, “Young Mistress, we have already found all the doctors we can in the city.”

Her face was bloodless. Donglai had to stop her.

Shen Rong’s face was cold. “Move aside.”

Hu Shi Yi couldn’t help but run to her. “Does the chief...” His eyes instantly turned red.

“What about him?” Shen Rong’s throat was dry, as if a blunt knife was cutting it. She heard Yang Jun Jun’s heartbroken crying and said coldly, “He is clearly not dead yet. Youzhou is so big, but there isn’t a single useful doctor. That’s all there is to it! If there are none here, go to Danzhou. If there are none there, go to Hedong, to Luoyang, to Chang’an!”

She walked outside to find her horse.

Someone walked out behind her.

The cavalry commanders suddenly took a few steps back and stood straight, all facing that person with a solemn and serious expression.

It was General Shan. He was holding the already-fainted Yang Jun Jun in his arms.

The two Shan family attendants immediately went forward and helped her to a place to rest.

Everyone present was silent.

General Shan looked at the face of every person present and walked towards Shen Rong.

Shen Rong didn’t notice. She was focused on finding a doctor. Donglai was always close beside her. She had just grabbed the reins with one hand when she was stopped by someone.

General Shan stood in front of her, his voice hoarse. “Don’t travel, Shen Rong. You don’t look well. I will send someone to go for you.”

He waved his hand. Someone from the Shan family army who had come with him clasped his fists, got on a horse, and left.

Shen Rong saw that someone had actually gone and finally let go of the reins with a light sigh.

“When I saw them, I knew what was going on,” General Shan said, glancing at the group of people over there. His eyebrows were furrowed, and a deep crease was squeezed out between his eyebrows. “I didn’t expect him to actually bring them back.”

Shen Rong looked at him. “Those are his Lulong Army.”

“I know,” General Shan nodded. He looked at her, and his brows were full of a deep, aged sadness, as if he had aged ten years in an instant. “I’ve also heard about you two. I have some things to tell you. Now that he has come to this point, perhaps it’s time for you to know everything.”

Shen Rong’s heart sank. She gently closed her lips.

________________________________________

The twilight was heavy, and the night was about to fall again.

In the next room, General Shan finally finished what he had to say.

Before getting up and leaving, he said solemnly, “The things that happened back then caused you to suffer. It is my Shan family’s fault for letting the Changsun family down.”

Shen Rong watched him leave, feeling nothing. She walked out of the door and went to the next room.

That group of people was still standing at the door. She didn’t know how long they had been waiting like this.

Shen Rong passed them without looking at them and walked straight into the room.

Suddenly, two quick footsteps sounded. The military doctor ran into the inner room again.

Guangyuan raised his face at the inner room’s door, his eyes full of tears. “Madam...”

Shen Rong’s heart was hit hard. She walked over quickly, lifted the curtain, and went in.

The people from the Shan family were still standing inside, except for Yang Jun Jun.

“It’s alright. Don’t torment him anymore,” General Shan said, standing by the bed, his voice sounding extremely tired.

The military doctor was standing at the head of the bed, pulling out the silver needles from the person on the bed one by one.

Shen Rong’s hands and feet instantly turned cold.

More and more lamps were added here, illuminating this space as if it were daytime.

But the person on the bed was still lying in a deep shadow.

The military doctor’s footsteps were slow and heavy as he retreated.

General Shan stood silently for a moment and then instructed the person next to him, “Go get the thing.”

Shan Zhao wiped his eyes and stumbled as he walked out.

General Shan looked at Shan Zong on the bed. “I came to testify for you, but now I probably don’t need to. I’ve brought your old things with me. I’ll give them to you now.”

Shan Zhao came back, holding a neatly folded pile of black cloth in his hands.

General Shan turned around, took it in both hands, spread his arms, and slowly covered Shan Zong’s scarred body.

It was a black flag with two striking gold characters on it: Lulong.

He bent down, his voice choked. “I was angry with you when you left home, but I also know that no matter how far you go, you will always be the most outstanding son of my Shan family.”

Shan Zhao sobbed and knelt down.

The two brothers next to him also knelt down.

Hu Shi Yi suddenly burst in. He saw the scene in front of him, and his eyes turned red. He knelt down. “Chief...”

A figure moved beside him. Shen Rong took two steps closer to the bed and said softly, “He’s still here. What are you doing?”

Hu Shi Yi looked up and saw her dazed profile. Tears streamed down his dark face. “The chief left a message for you. He said that if he couldn’t say it himself, I should tell you.”

General Shan turned to look at Shen Rong. His throat was choked. He nodded. “Then I will leave him to you.”

After saying that, he pulled Shan Zhao and walked out, his footsteps heavy.

Everyone else left.

Shen Rong stood motionless, looking at the person on the bed.

Hu Shi Yi wiped his eyes with his sleeve and forced himself to say, “The chief was actually counting the days. He didn’t intentionally miss the meeting with you. He even arranged his own funeral...”

That night, when they were hiding in the forest, Shan Zong had called out to him and said, “There are two more things.”

Hu Shi Yi squatted back down, and he was told to submit the letter on behalf of the Lulong Army.

Shan Zong then said, “If such a time ever comes, it means I am about to die. You have to tell her that I originally intended to walk this path alone, but after meeting her again, I became selfish.”

Hu Shi Yi said, “Chief, you can’t say that. Didn’t you used to scold me for talking about dying? Even if we die, we can’t die outside the pass!”

Shan Zong laughed, holding his saber. “Of course. I will live as long as I have a breath. I’m talking about if.” His smile disappeared. “You have to tell her that she is my selfishness, and I would never abandon her. I will do what I promised her, even if there is only a slight possibility.”

Hu Shi Yi then nodded. “Okay.”

Before Shan Zong finally stood up, he turned his head and glanced at the pass. He suddenly said, “If I ever really die, bury me in Wangji Mountain, facing north and west.”

Hu Shi Yi was puzzled at the time. “Why?”

“So I can forever defend Youzhou and look west towards Chang’an.” He smiled. “So she knows that there will always be a mountain here waiting for her.”

________________________________________

When Shen Rong sat down by the bed, Hu Shi Yi left.

It was probably completely night. The surroundings were eerily quiet.

She looked at the man with the Lulong flag covering him.

“Don’t think that just because I heard your father talk about the past, I will feel sorry for you. Don’t think that just because you had Hu Shi Yi tell me those words, I will forgive you,” she said in a low voice. “I will not let you off the hook.”

The side of the person’s face was immersed in the candlelight. His nose and the side of his face were outlined by a hazy yellow edge.

She lowered her head and moved closer to his ear. “This time, I’m really going to find someone better than you to marry. Anyway, you can’t chase me anymore.”

He still didn’t move. His deep eyes were tightly closed, and his thin lips were a thin line.

“You’ll be sleeping alone in Wangji Mountain from now on. I’m not coming. I’m never going to that mountain again, and I’m never coming back to Youzhou again.” She leaned in to look at his face.

“I’m not sad at all. Not at all...”

His face became a little blurry. Something fell on the Lulong flag on his chest, creating small wet spots.

Shen Rong lowered her head and touched the tip of his nose. Her throat was choked. After a long time, she finally cursed out in a trembling voice, “You scoundrel...”