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This time, the wound was skillfully avoided and did not reach a vital spot. Yan Chu did not use the fire therapy technique, but instead let the physician take her pulse and examine her. The physician left with a look of regret after speaking with Xiao Qi for a long time, leaving behind two prescriptions. Yan Chu finally couldn’t hold on any longer and fell into a peaceful sleep.
She woke up at night. Xiao Qi was sitting by the bed silently, his expression grim. When he saw that she was awake, he wanted to reach out and hold her, but he was afraid of touching her wound. In the end, he just held her pale, slender hand tightly and said nothing.
Hong Ye carefully brought over a bowl of warm medicine. Xiao Qi reached out, and Hong Ye understood, quickly handing him the bowl of medicine.
Yan Chu let him feed her the medicine and then asked, “How is it?”
Xiao Qi handed the empty bowl back to Hong Ye and said, “You just need to rest well. You’ll be fine in a few days.”
The imperial physicians were not as good as those in the Eternal Realm, but they weren’t too bad either. Yan Chu didn’t point this out. “I want to move out.”
The grip on her hand suddenly tightened. Xiao Qi said, “Liuyu was confused after hearing the bad news about General Qin Chuan. I will go to the palace tomorrow to ask the emperor to issue a decree restoring your status.”
“Don’t be so anxious. I didn’t say anything,” Yan Chu stopped him. “I’m just worried about making things difficult for you.”
“No matter what you’re thinking,” Xiao Qi let go of her and said coldly, “You are still my wife, Yunze Xiao Qi’s wife. It’s not up to you whether you leave or stay. From today on, you will stay in the residence and recover from your injury.”
“I’ll do as you say. There’s no need to get angry,” Yan Chu propped herself up and looked suspicious. “Could it be... that my injury is very serious?”
Xiao Qi pressed her back onto the bed, his tone gentle. “The injury is not serious, but the physician just said that you have a very cold and yin energy in your body. Have you felt unwell recently?”
Yan Chu said, “It just hurts a little when it acts up.”
Xiao Qi said, “Didn’t anyone mention it to you in the Eternal Realm?”
“No. I guess it’s not a big deal,” Yan Chu didn’t pay it any mind and advised him, “The news of the Princess Consort’s death has already spread. A sudden resurrection will definitely arouse suspicion. Let’s put off asking the emperor for a decree for now and talk about it later.”
After calming down, Xiao Qi also realized that this was not a good idea and nodded. He turned his face to look at the twilight outside the window and suddenly asked, “Do you still remember that time in Hengling?”
Yan Chu was stunned to hear him suddenly bring up the past and did not answer.
How could she not remember? She went to Hengling to admire the maple trees and was almost kidnapped by people from the Mu Feng Kingdom. He happened to save her. That was also the first time she met him. He was a young man with an outstanding demeanor and a maturity beyond his years. Coincidentally, he was wearing a light blue long robe that day, standing in the maple forest, like a scene that had been lingering in her dreams for a long time. She thought it was a destined fate.
Xiao Qi said, “That day, you were wearing a maple leaf red dress and standing on a high place. Everyone was looking at you, but you were completely unaware. You were just leaning against a maple tree in a daze. I thought to myself, where could there be a woman like this? Could she be a maple fairy? Her family is too careless. They should build a maple garden and keep her locked up.”
Yan Chu said, “Marquis Qingyun built a maple garden to marry his beautiful wife. It became a beautiful story in the capital for a while.”
“You can think that I was deliberately trying to please you to achieve my goal,” Xiao Qi smiled. “But at that time, I sincerely thought that if anyone was lucky enough to marry this woman, they should not let her go out and be seen by others. If the people who were watching that day knew that I was the one who married her, I don’t know how envious they would have been of me.”
“It’s a pity that Prince Ding’s heart was already taken.”
“I was unscrupulous for power. I hid the truth about Liuyu and lied to her,” Xiao Qi looked down at her. “I also want to know, did she really like me that much?”
Yan Chu was surprised. “Why do you ask, Prince Ding?”
Xiao Qi said, “She is a straightforward person, but she is actually extremely intelligent. She manages the family affairs in an orderly manner. When her husband often did not come home at night, would she really have been so careless?”
Yan Chu was silent for a moment and said, “If I said she believed in you, would you believe me?”
“No,” Xiao Qi said. “She only used maple leaves for the vases in her room. I also placed an empty jade vase in my study, and she replaced it with who knows how many other flowers, but she never put maple leaves in it. She looks at maple leaves with such concentration, but she has never looked at me with that kind of gaze. Sometimes I even wonder if she’s not looking at me.”
“Why would Prince Ding think that?” Yan Chu laughed, which pulled at her wound, and she quickly frowned. “Actually, she did put maple leaves in the vase, but for some reason, the maple leaves never looked good with your jade vase. What woman doesn’t like a hero who saves her? In her heart, that young man was promising, skilled in both civil and military arts, a dashing talent, and had an extraordinary demeanor. He must have been a perfect husband given by the heavens.”
Xiao Qi said, “Really?”
Yan Chu nodded with a smile.
Xiao Qi slowly put away his smile and fell silent.
He kept finding excuses for his betrayal because he couldn’t bear the guilt. No matter what, he had already let down that most beautiful beginning. That first meeting was expected, but no other woman could bring him the same shock as that scene. When she was rescued, she was in his arms, her eyes not filled with shyness, and she did not hide her admiration for him. That kind of passion made him dazed and even hesitant about his next plan. Liuyu was different. He was seriously injured and woke up to see a beautiful woman taking meticulous care of him. He felt gratitude and was also moved. The two of them spent a few days together, and everything followed its course.
She was beautiful, strong, intelligent, and passionate, fulfilling her duties as a wife by taking care of him. Liuyu was gentle, affectionate, and pitiful, and she needed his care. His heart subconsciously leaned towards the weaker one. After a hundred years of avoidance, he thought he could forget, but the moment he saw her again, he found that he still couldn’t control himself.
Yan Chu suddenly said, “You won’t let Liuyu down.”
Xiao Qi’s face gradually turned pale. After a long time, he nodded and said with difficulty, “Liuyu saved my life. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am today. She gave me everything, and I can’t abandon her.”
He put her hand back into the quilt. “Don’t be willful at a time like this. Take good care of your body first. We’ll talk about other things later.”
Yan Chu pleaded in a low voice, “I want to see the old general. Right now, he’s the person I’m most worried about.”
Xiao Qi said, “When your injury is a little better, I’ll go with you to see the old man.”
Yan Chu showed a hint of joy. “Thank you.”
She was seriously injured and weak. The medicine was taking effect, and her body was alternately hot and cold. After speaking so much, Yan Chu quickly looked exhausted. Xiao Qi watched her fall asleep again, took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, told the maids to take good care of her, and then left the garden to go inside.
In the bedroom, Liuyu sat on the bed and sobbed silently, her eyes even redder and more swollen. Several times she wanted to get up and rush out, but the maids tried their best to persuade her. When they saw Xiao Qi come in, they quickly bowed and left.
“She killed my big brother!” Liuyu tried to run out again. “I’m going to kill her!”
Xiao Qi held her wrist. “Yu’er, calm down. As the lady of the house, what kind of a scene are you making?”
“Lady of the house?” Liuyu became even more agitated. She glared at him. “How can you even say that? Xiao Qi, when have I ever been the one who has the final say in this back courtyard? You put an untouchable person in front of me and indulge her everywhere. Whatever she says goes. When she gets angry, you blame me. Is this the dignity and status of the lady of the house?”
“I was careless about these things and let you suffer,” Thinking of her losing her brother, Xiao Qi was angry, but his tone softened a little. “But what happened today was your fault in the first place. What more do you want?”
Liuyu gritted her teeth. “What do I want? Xiao Qi, who killed my big brother? Do you really believe her?”
Xiao Qi did not answer. “Everything requires evidence. You are too impulsive.”
“What evidence? It must be her!” Liuyu sneered. “She just wants to get revenge on me, and you’re still protecting her!”
Xiao Qi said, “I was the one who let her down. If she wants to hate anyone, she should hate me. Why would she want to get revenge on you?”
Back then, Liuyu had secretly swapped the letter, and Qin Chuan Liulin had sent people to intercept the urgent report halfway, which led to General Yue and his son dying in battle without reinforcements. It just so happened that a spy was found in the army later, and Xiao Qi didn’t become suspicious. Now that he said this, Liuyu felt guilty and was at a loss for words. “She... hates me for taking you away from her.”
“Enough. I will get to the bottom of General Qin Chuan’s matter. Don’t worry,” Xiao Qi said patiently, trying to console her. Liuyu gradually calmed down and quieted down a little. At that moment, a maid came in to report, “The maid from Maple Garden is here. She said that Miss Yan Chu feels cold and is not doing well. Miss Yan Chu... wants to see the Prince.”
“Her injury has worsened?” Xiao Qi stood up. He had been so confident in the Eternal Realm that he had overlooked the severity of the ice stream’s cold energy when he saw that her刑风 (Xingfeng) arrow wound had healed. Now, he was filled with regret and pain. When he thought that she was still thinking of him at a time like this, he was both happy and heartbroken. He immediately wanted to go to Maple Garden to see her.
Liuyu was instantly furious. She said sternly, “Xiao Qi, if you walk out that door, you are not allowed to see me from now on!”
“Liuyu!” Xiao Qi took a deep breath. “You don’t know... You suddenly appeared on the battlefield, which is why she was injured and fell into the ice stream. The cold of the ice stream is something that the people of the Yan Kingdom have always feared. The onset of the cold poison must be worse than death. I have already hurt her for you. Now, I’m just going to see her. Why do you have to be so petty?”
“I went to the battlefield because I was worried about you,” Liuyu’s face turned red. “You’re even suspicious of me for her sake? She practices martial arts. How could I have injured her? She did it on purpose!”
“The incident started because of you. If you hadn’t made a move, how could she have done it on purpose?”
Liuyu said, “I don’t care! If you want me to calm down, you have to send her away now. Send her to Prince Nan...”
Xiao Qi said angrily, “I, Yunze Xiao Qi, am not dead yet, and you want to send my wife to another man? Is that what a lady of the house should be saying?”
Liuyu sneered, “Wife? If she is your wife, why do you care about me!”
Xiao Qi said, “I’m just going to see her. Why can’t you be more magnanimous?”
“You can’t bear to part with her, can you?” Liuyu glared at him. “That bitch killed my brother, and you want me to be magnanimous while you go see her? Yue Xiluo is your wife, so what am I! Xiao Qi, I’ve followed you for so long without any status. Is this how you repay my big brother?”
Xiao Qi had been holding back his anger for days because of the constant noise. Hearing this, he finally waved her hand away. “How is it my fault that your brother got into trouble? Who was the one who insisted on letting him go with the diplomatic mission? Because I indulged you, a woman, this is what happened today. I was foolish. As the mistress of the back courtyard, you should have managed the internal affairs well and saved me from worry. Who knew that I would have no peace for days and have to clean up your mess inside and outside? Instead of reflecting on yourself, you come here to make a scene! It is not yet proven whether this matter is related to her. She didn’t hold it against you for injuring her. What more do you want? Your mind is so narrow, and you keep calling her a bitch. Where did all your kindness and good nature go?” With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
The cold air seeped out through the quilt and filled the entire room. There was a thin layer of frost on the quilt. The maids had never seen such a serious injury and were all terrified and at a loss. Only Hong Ye understood and quickly ordered everyone to light a brazier. While everyone was running around in a panic, Yan Chu, who was already used to it, lay on the bed with her eyes closed, her mind completely clear.
If Qin Chuan Liuyu hadn’t made a move, how could Xiao Qi have agreed so readily to let her see the old general again? If she hadn’t been seriously injured, how could he have let his guard down? Now, the matter with the old general was just one step away, but the purple fungus was a bit of a trouble. The journey to the Fire and Wind Marsh was extremely dangerous...
As she was thinking about this, the surroundings suddenly became quiet.
Yan Chu opened her eyes. “You finally came.”
Xiao Yan was lying on the side of the bed, looking at her with his hand on his forehead. The maids who had just been in a panic were all gone, presumably scared away by him.
“I heard that Master was injured, and this apprentice’s heart aches,” he said, touching his chest. Then, he took out a red pill from who knows where. “This apprentice has brought medicine. These are my tears, and they can relieve your pain.”
Yan Chu was surprised. “Your tears?”
Xiao Yan said, “I have an evil flame spirit in me. My tears can, of course, temporarily suppress the cold energy in your body.”
Yan Chu said, “I’m just surprised that you can cry.”
“I’m willing to do anything for my master,” Xiao Yan’s long eyelashes drooped, and his tone was very affectionate. “I tried rubbing ice and chili on my eyes, but it didn’t work. Then I thought, if Master really died, how boring my life would be, and then I cried.”
Yan Chu glared at him.
“Just kidding, of course,” In an instant, the sincere expression on his handsome face disappeared, and an evil smile spread across it. Xiao Yan pinched her chin and held the pill in front of her eyes. “I just made this with chili paste and mud when I passed by the kitchen. It’s not like you’re going to eat it anyway.”
Yan Chu turned her face away and snorted. “Do you think you can fool me?”
Xiao Yan threw away the pill. “Don’t you believe me? I really did cry once. That was in my first life. It’s a pity that endless reincarnation and undying memories have made me see everything in this world. Knowing my past and future lives, and not having to worry about aging, illness, or death, I’ve grown tired of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. I’ve long forgotten the sadness of crying. Seeing you lying there like this, I really want to know what it feels like to be sick.”
Some people want to forget but can’t, while others are troubled by not being able to remember the past. Yan Chu smiled helplessly. “Who wants to be sick or injured? You really are a madman.”
Xiao Yan looked at her with interest. “After being toyed with by fate until now, I’m glad I’m just crazy.”
Yan Chu struggled to prop herself up, her pale face completely bloodless, looking pitifully helpless. “Xiao Yan, are you still not going to help me this one time?”
“An apprentice should obey his master’s orders,” Xiao Yan said, touching his face. “But Xi Ling Feng Qi is threatening me. Please forgive my cowardice, even though you are so beautiful that you make my heart flutter.”
Yan Chu said, “After I get my revenge, I’ll go with you.”
“If it were before, I might have agreed,” Xiao Yan said. “But now my flower has bloomed and is about to bear fruit. Like you, I don’t want to give up.”
Yan Chu noticed the problem in his words. “What flower has bloomed?”
Xiao Yan said, “The most precious flower in the world.”
This time, Yan Chu was truly shocked.
That withered flower was going to bear fruit! Even the Eternal Realm said it was impossible. How did he do it? Was it because his blood had the power of the evil flame spirit? Xi Lingjun was willing to give him the flower to restrain him and probably never expected such a turn of events.
Xiao Yan said, “Before it bears fruit, I don’t want any accidents to happen. Xi Ling Feng Qi is very good at creating accidents, so I must listen to him.”
Yan Chu felt helpless and made one last effort. “Are you afraid of him?”
“Stop trying to provoke me. I don’t want to test his abilities right now,” Xiao Yan stood up. “Big Brother is coming soon. I won’t delay your acting. This apprentice will take his leave now.”
Watching him walk out the door, Yan Chu sighed, but she didn’t show too much disappointment.
Xiao Qi had a physician examine her that night. Several famous physicians from the capital stayed up all night, and by the next morning, the cold energy in Yan Chu’s body gradually receded. For the next few days, Yan Chu rested in bed, and Xiao Qi came to accompany her after court. Liuyu only harbored silent hatred in her heart. When her injury had slightly improved, Yan Chu brought up seeing Lu Shan Chi again. Xiao Qi did not go back on his word and indeed prepared a carriage to take her there.
The garrison was still there. A cold west wind swept through the mountainside, and the white chrysanthemums outside the house had already bloomed. The simple white flowers and dark leaves set against the bamboo fence and thatched cottage gave it a secluded, rustic feel.
Lu Shan Chi stood by the fence. When he saw Yan Chu, he just nodded, his gaze falling on Xiao Qi. “I’m not surprised that the girl remembers this old man, but when did Prince Ding have so much free time?”
Xiao Qi helped Yan Chu bow. “Her injury is just a little better, and she insisted on coming to see you, old man.”
Yan Chu smiled. “I promised last time that I would come to visit you, old general. I can’t break my promise.”
Lu Shan Chi carefully looked her over and asked, “How did you get injured?”
Yan Chu lowered her eyes and said, “I ran into some people of unknown origin when I went out of the city the other day.”
Lu Shan Chi frowned and asked a few more questions. When he heard that the injury was not serious, his brows relaxed, and he motioned for them to go inside.
Yan Chu looked at the blooming chrysanthemums on the side. “The flowers are blooming so well. Why don’t we sit outside and talk?”
Because of her injury, Lu Shan Chi did as she said. The soldiers who were serving them brought out a table and chairs and served hot tea. The three of them sat beside the flowers and talked.
Xiao Qi said, “I had someone send a message about the Land of the Five Colors. Did you see it, old general?”
Lu Shan Chi said, “With the support of the Lei Ze Kingdom, Prince Xiang is a shoe-in for the throne of the Earth Emperor. But the Land of the Five Colors and our Yan Kingdom are not neighboring countries, so there’s nothing to worry about for now. Besides, when Prince Xiang ascends the throne, the Land of the Five Colors and the Lei Ze Kingdom, and the Ice Kingdom and the Mu Feng Kingdom, will only check and balance each other. How would they have time to interfere in our Yan Kingdom’s internal affairs?”
Xiao Qi nodded. “That’s what I thought, but...”
Lu Shan Chi understood what he meant. “The Emperor is naturally suspicious and has many doubts about you. He is just balancing the power between Prince Nan and you. Logically, Prince Nan is indeed far superior to him. If you want to take advantage of this...”
Yan Chu was playing with the chrysanthemums on the side. When she heard this, she interjected, “Old general, you’re confused. If this were a hundred years ago, surrendering to Prince Nan might have been an option. But now, Prince Nan doesn’t want the nominal throne. Why would he follow the Emperor’s old path? He only wants to deal with Prince Ding and the Yue army.”
Xiao Qi said, “The Emperor ordered me to secretly send a diplomatic mission to the Ice Kingdom. I originally wanted to take this opportunity to test the Ice Emperor.”
Yan Chu smiled. “Not to mention that the Ice Emperor is indecisive, even if he was willing to help, if Prince Nan falls now, Prince Ding will become the most powerful. How would the Emperor agree to that?”
“Prince Nan also expected this, so he is fearless,” Xiao Qi helped her back to the table and sat down. “Forget it. This matter was within my expectations. The current situation is chaotic, and changes are still unpredictable.”
Lu Shan Chi also nodded. “As long as you and the Yue army are still here, Prince Nan might not dare to act so easily.”
Xiao Qi said, “What I’m worried about is that if the Land of the Five Colors and the Lei Ze Kingdom join forces in the future, the five spiritual realms will definitely be plunged into war. How can the Yan Kingdom be an exception?”
“The fact that you can think this way proves that my choice was not in vain,” Lu Shan Chi said. “I’m not too worried about this. It is said that over the past few centuries, although the five spiritual realms have been in constant conflict, the five countries still coexist. Even the stronger ones have not been able to replicate the achievements of the revered Xi Ling, who unified the world. Perhaps this is the will of the heavens.”
Suddenly hearing this title, Yan Chu lowered her eyes and slowly took a sip of her tea.
Lu Shan Chi sighed. “Prince Nan has always been ambitious and has great talent. It might not be a bad thing if he became the Emperor. Unfortunately, old brother Yue had different political views from him, and Ah Luo just happened to fall for you...” At this point, he couldn’t suppress his anger and glared at Xiao Qi. “You didn’t take good care of her. I still can’t forgive you to this day!”
Xiao Qi was silent.
Yan Chu put down her teacup and said, “What happened is in the past. It’s no use for the old general to dwell on it. If the Princess Consort knew that the old general missed her so much, she would be happy.”
Lu Shan Chi said, “I feel that it wasn’t worth it for Ah Luo. Seeing him makes me angry. Ah Luo was with him, but in the end, it didn’t end well, and she didn’t even leave behind a little heir!”
Yan Chu changed the topic. “It’s not convenient for you to be alone, old general. Why don’t you...”
“Enough!” At the mention of this, Lu Shan Chi waved his hand impatiently. “I’m a person who’s about to be buried in the ground. Why talk about such things?”
Xiao Qi said with a smile, “I’ve tried to persuade him many times, but the old man just won’t listen.”
“In that case, we shouldn’t force him. I suppose the old general has his reasons,” Yan Chu sighed and turned her face to look at the flowers. “I’ve long heard that the old general loves chrysanthemums. Today’s white chrysanthemums are blooming exceptionally well. I would like to pluck a few to put in a vase. I wonder if the old general would allow it?”
Xiao Qi said, “There are plenty of chrysanthemums in the residence. If you like them, I’ll have someone send a few pots over when we get back.”
Yan Chu looked as if she were smiling and chiding him. “Who cares about yours?”
Lu Shan Chi’s eyes moved slightly, and he suddenly got up and walked into the house. “I’ve been idle from farming for many years, so I can also cook a few dishes. Consider yourself lucky today, girl. I’ll personally make two for you to try.”
Yan Chu quickly said, “I’ll go pick the vegetables.”
Xiao Qi stopped her. “Your body is just getting better. I’ll go.”
Is that concern or precaution? Yan Chu glanced at him sideways. “How can we trouble Prince Ding with such a thing?”
“What’s wrong with such a thing? I can do it, so why can’t he?” Lu Shan Chi snorted and paused his steps. “Let him come in and help me. You stay here and look at the flowers, girl. If you’re bored, you can loosen up the soil.”
Yan Chu no longer insisted and smiled as she pushed Xiao Qi. “The vegetables Prince Ding picks must taste different.”
Xiao Qi couldn’t help but glare at her, but the corners of his mouth were already upturned.
After the two of them went inside, Yan Chu sat alone and looked at the flowers for a while, feeling quite bored. So she asked a soldier to bring a small hoe to loosen the soil.
Under a white chrysanthemum, the small hoe hit something hard.
The old general’s voice came from the house. Yan Chu answered him, and while the soldier was distracted, she quickly put the muddy green jade thumb ring into her bosom. Then she threw away the small hoe, stood up, and wiped the mud off her hands with her sleeve. When she turned around, she saw Xiao Qi walking out.
“Still the same.” When Xiao Qi saw this, he couldn’t help but gently scold her. He came up to help her and motioned for a soldier to bring water for her to wash her hands. At the same time, he quickly glanced at the overturned soil.
The soldier understood and brought over a basin of hot water.
Yan Chu seemed tired and didn’t pay too much attention. After washing her hands, she held onto Xiao Qi and went into the house.
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