Ah Shu’s voice was loud, but Xiao Rong was already groggy from sleep. Ah Shu shook him twice and found he couldn’t wake him up, so he quickly ran out to get help.

His first choice was naturally Gao Xunzhi, who lived next door. Gao Xunzhi, being older, slept early and lightly. As soon as Ah Shu came out, he woke up, had the guards light a lantern, and came out. Upon hearing that Xiao Rong had a high fever, his composed demeanor instantly disappeared. 

Pushing aside the guards blocking his way, he hurried to check on Xiao Rong. 

Next came lighting lamps, finding a doctor, checking his pulse, and brewing medicine.

No matter how deeply Xiao Rong slept, he woke up at this point.

There was no thermometer at the time, so it was impossible to measure Xiao Rong’s exact temperature, but seeing his flushed face, it was clear it wasn’t mild.

While Gao Xunzhi was asking the doctor about the cause of the illness, Xiao Rong struggled to open his eyes and complained, “What’s all this noise? Ah Shu, why are you standing guard here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?” 

Ah Shu, worried, told him, “Master, you have a high fever.”

Xiao Rong didn’t react at first. When he reached out and touched his own face, feeling the unusual heat, his eyes widened.

He suddenly sat up. Though he was unsteady, he grabbed Ah Shu’s sleeve. “Where’s the King?!”

Gao Xunzhi turned his head, looking at him in astonishment.

Xiao Rong nervously asked Ah Shu again, “Where did the King go? What is he doing?!”

Ah Shu looked at Gao Xunzhi for help, and Gao Xunzhi came over, prying open Xiao Rong’s tightly clenched hand and then sitting beside him with a sigh. “The King is naturally resting in his chamber. Ah Rong, even in your state, you’re still concerned about the King.”

 Xiao Rong: “…”

He looked woodenly at Gao Xunzhi.

How could he not be concerned?

Any problem with his body was always Qu Yunmei’s fault!

Xiao Rong didn’t want to explain and kept asking about Qu Yunmei, but today was ordinary. The King was even less busy than in the past few days. He just had a few drinks with Yuan Baifu and went to bed early. He didn’t go out at all.

Xiao Rong was a bit dazed. Before, whenever he felt unwell, he always blamed it on Qu Yunmei. He had never thought there could be a second person causing his suffering.

Honestly, it would be better if it were just Qu Yunmei causing trouble. At least then he would know what to do, but now…

With a fever, feeling cold, and a headache, a person who was usually quite smart now seemed unable to think straight. Xiao Rong was anxious but had no way to use his skills, and looked even less composed than usual.

However, Gao Xunzhi watched him with increasing admiration.

He saw Ah Rong looking so troubled, and he wasn’t worried about himself but about the King. He was concerned that if he were ill, without his advice, the King might act recklessly and make mistakes. My goodness, there was such a loyal person in the world!

Gao Xunzhi decided on the spot not to leave. He would stay and take care of Xiao Rong and send the guards to inform the King first thing in the morning to come and visit Xiao Rong quickly. Gao Xunzhi took over Ah Shu’s job, personally wetting a cloth and wiping Xiao Rong’s face and hands. Normally, someone would be terrified and retreat, but Xiao Rong, lost in thought, didn’t even notice. Moreover, in recent days, whenever he fell ill, this was how others cared for him.

The guards watched this scene numbly.

Since Xiao Rong arrived, he had continually shattered their impressions of high-ranking individuals. The King listened to his advice, General Jin arranged his food and lodging, and now even Chancellor Gao was personally feeding him medicine.

They believed it now. Xiao Rong must be a man with great supernatural powers.

He must have cast a spell on these people!

……

Gao Xunzhi held a spoon to Xiao Rong’s mouth, and Xiao Rong reflexively took a sip, finally coming to his senses. He apologized first, then hurriedly took the bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp.

Yes, his illness didn’t require medicine, but if he didn’t take it, everyone around him would look at him tearfully as if he were torturing himself. Xiao Rong had explained many times, but in the end, he found that taking the medicine was simpler.

Xiao Rong carefully tried to recall, but was unable to think of anything that could harm Qu Yunmei at this time.

He had told Qu Yunmei that the Buddha’s son would return either this month or next, but that was a ruse. He knew the Buddha’s son would return next month because in Qiuci, the Buddha’s son entered a summer retreat, which lasted three months, preventing him from traveling. When he could finally move, he would enter the Central Plains, then join a new summer retreat in Anding City.

Monks were much stricter in this time period. During summer, they couldn’t go out because of the many small insects on the ground; they were afraid of stepping on them and causing harm.

The Buddha’s son was forced to stay in Anding City, looking at the scorched earth and recalling the Old Changan, chanting for the souls of Anding City every day. As soon as the summer retreat ended, he immediately set off for Nanyong.

Historically, the tragedy of Anding City had a lot to do with Qu Yunmei. Although he was also a victim, under the manipulation of those with ulterior motives, the incident turned into his failure to control his subordinates and his obsession with revenge, leading to the Xianbei’s retaliation.

No one knew if the Buddha’s son believed these claims, but he indeed abandoned Qu Yunmei without considering staying under the Northern King’s jurisdiction to offer any help.

Xiao Rong couldn’t understand. Even if he had miscalculated the dates, the Buddha’s son shouldn’t be disappointed in the Northern Border Army anymore. Anding City was doing well now, and the residents had a favorable impression of Qu Yunmei, who had come to their rescue.

It was impossible for the Buddha’s son to be taken away early unless there was another person brought here by the system.

……

While Xiao Rong thought deeply, he didn’t pay attention to his surroundings. When he finally came to, Gao Xunzhi had already dismissed everyone and had been staring at him for a while.

Xiao Rong: “…”

He leaned back a bit, then asked, “Chancellor?”

Gao Xunzhi smiled. “Ah Rong, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time.”

Xiao Rong blinked. “Please ask, Chancellor.”

Gao Xunzhi glanced outside, ensuring no one else was around, then leaned in. “You’re often ill, with fevers and vomiting blood. Is it because you’ve revealed secrets of the heavens?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He calmly looked at Gao Xunzhi, first thinking that Qu Yunmei had kept his word and didn’t reveal that he couldn’t divine.

Then he slowly lowered his eyes, appearing unwilling to answer.

He couldn’t deceive a kind old man, but if the old man misunderstood, that wasn’t his fault. Sure enough, seeing his reaction, Gao Xunzhi understood everything without needing an explanation.

Gao Xunzhi, moved, held his hand and sighed. “Ah Rong, dear Ah Rong, how can I ever thank you?”

Xiao Rong raised his eyelids and said obediently, “We serve the King together, why should the Chancellor be so courteous? By the way, how’s the matter of relocating the capital going?”

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

It wasn’t done yet.

…

Though initially hesitant, Gao Xunzhi, moved by Xiao Rong’s condition and his confession that his poor health was due to divine retribution for fortune-telling, decided he couldn’t let Xiao Rong down.

The next morning, not bothering the guards, he personally went to find Qu Yunmei.

However, as soon as he mentioned relocating the capital, Qu Yunmei stopped him. “I’ve already spoken, don’t bring this up again.”

Gao Xunzhi anxiously said, “But Ah Rong—”

Qu Yunmei paused, then turned around sharply. “Did Xiao Rong send you?”

Gao Xunzhi: “Uhh…”

Qu Yunmie took a step forward. “Did he ask you to persuade me to move the capital?”

Gao Xunzhi: “Well…”

Qu Yunmie sneered, “What, he can’t get up? If he wants to tell me something, why does he always trouble others? Chancellor, when did you become his messenger!”

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

He silently looked at Qu Yunmie, not even nervous because he knew Qu Yunmie well and understood what would happen next. 

After a moment of silence, he said, “Indeed, he can’t get up.”

Qu Yunmie was stunned.

Gao Xunzhi continued, “Last night he had a high fever and fainted due to it. His servant called him for a long time without waking him, so he urgently sought a doctor. The doctor said he has been restless and not resting well for days, leading to this condition.”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Then he blurted out, “But he’s been staying in his residence every day and hasn’t done anything!”

Gao Xunzhi looked at him with a bit of pity. “Your Majesty, Xiao Rong is an advisor. He doesn’t need to go out and fight bravely, he just needs to sit there and exhaust his mind to offer you strategies. However, human physical and mental strength are limited. Both lead to the same end: overuse results in exhaustion and death.”

Qu Yunmie stood there stiffly, staring at him but saying nothing.

Gao Xunzhi stood with his hands behind his back.

Knowing Qu Yunmie as he did, Gao Xunzhi understood that although he was exceptionally brave, the King lacked empathy and didn’t understand many things, not out of indifference but ignorance.

Shaking his head, Gao Xunzhi turned and left, his lips slightly curving and then falling.

…

Long after Gao Xunzhi left, Qu Yunmie still hadn’t moved. Zhuang Weizhi, the commander of the guards, stood behind him. He thought for a while, then suggested, “Why don’t you go visit Master Xiao, Your Majesty?”

Qu Yunmie, with a stern face, spat out two words: “Not going.”

That’s why he hated scholars.

Hated weak scholars.

Hated weak scholars who acted tough and opposed him.

After speaking, Qu Yunmie left. Zhuang Weizhi didn’t follow but thoughtfully looked in the direction of Xiao Rong’s residence.

It seemed that the King truly didn’t care about Xiao Rong.

That was excellent.

…

Twelve hours later, Xiao Rong’s high fever hadn’t decreased but increased, worrying Ah Shu to the point of pulling his hair out. Gao Xunzhi was also concerned, but the doctor couldn’t explain it.

Xiao Rong appeared calm but was more anxious than anyone else while lying in bed.

Who?

Who exactly?!! Who’s trying to kill me?!!

After fuming powerlessly for a while, he exhausted his energy and spirit. Gao Xunzhi finished his duties, checked on him, and after finding him asleep, instructed Ah Shu to care for Xiao Rong carefully before returning to his own quarters to sleep.

Gao Xunzhi was over fifty, quite old in this era, and could stay up one night, but another could lead to his own demise before Xiao Rong recovered.

…

In the evening, Ah Shu kept watch over Xiao Rong without dozing, wiping him occasionally. It wasn’t too late, just around the first watch, and in Pinyang, people would still be rushing about.

Yanmen County however, was a militarized city, enforcing a curfew an hour earlier than other places at three-quarters of the hour of the rooster. Most people were in bed by the first watch, and the palace was silent.

Ah Shu sat silently, looking at Xiao Rong with melancholy.

If the Lord died, how would the old lady live..?

If Xiao Rong knew Ah Shu was always thinking about his death, he might’ve woken up out of sheer anger.

In the stillness, the door suddenly opened, startling Ah Shu. He turned to see a man in armor entering.

Having lived in the palace for a while, Ah Shu recognized him as the commander of the Northern King’s guards. He quickly saluted. Zhuang Weizhi approached, glanced at Xiao Rong, and asked, “Is it just you?”

Ah Shu nodded. “The Lord doesn’t like too many people serving him.”

Zhuang Weizhi smiled. “A true gentleman with benevolence.”

Ah Shu looked up, puzzled, feeling something off about his words. Just as he was about to ask, Zhuang Weizhi’s expression changed, and he suddenly struck Ah Shu’s neck, silencing his cry for help. Ah Shu fell, and Zhuang Weizhi stepped over him, delivering another blow to the sleeping Xiao Rong.

Confirming Xiao Rong wouldn’t wake, Zhuang Weizhi dragged Ah Shu aside, hid him behind a wooden box, and strode out.

He told the accompanying guards that Xiao Rong was seriously ill, and under the King’s orders, they needed to take him out for treatment quietly to avoid disturbing Master Gao.

The guards obeyed without question. Qu Yunmie’s lax security made it easy for anyone to sneak in or out.

Under Zhuang Weizhi’s urging, they quickly exited the palace. He then tied Xiao Rong to his horse and sped away, heading out of the city. Only when they realized their direction did the guards grow suspicious, but they couldn’t question orders.

Reaching the rendezvous point, Zhuang Weizhi revealed his true intentions, killing his own men to their shock.

With the deed done, a scarred man emerged from the bushes, cautiously eyeing Zhuang Weizhi before grabbing Xiao Rong’s hair to confirm his identity.

He’s so good-looking, is this really him?

He voiced his doubt, but Zhuang Weizhi confirmed, “Yes, it’s him. He is skilled in divination, and famous in Pinyang. He warned of Yizhou’s trouble, foiling your plans. Even Gao Xunzhi respects him.”

Li Xiuheng was thoroughly pleased. “Excellent. Governor Huang desires talent, and this prize will please him. Even if we can’t use him, killing him is also a merit. Are you sure Qu Yunmie doesn’t care about him?”

Knowing Qu Yunmie, a straightforward fighter, Zhuang Weizhi affirmed, “Yes, he doesn’t care about him at all. I’ve observed for days, he doesn’t even invite him to meetings. He clearly dislikes him.”

Li Xiuheng was completely satisfied. They mounted and headed to Jianning County.

Both depended on Xiao Rong for survival. Li Xiuheng was hated by the Xianbei, abandoned by the Qingfeng Sect, and saw his only chance with Huang Yanjing. Hoping Zhuang Weizhi was truthful and Qu Yunmie wouldn’t pursue them, they aimed for a safe escape.

Li Xiuheng was lucky, both hopes came true. Yet, Zhuang Weizhi’s intelligence was flawed. Trusting a soldier to read people was a huge mistake.

…

Back at the palace…

Just after the second watch, Qu Yunmie, after much hesitation, finally went to Xiao Rong’s residence.

Thinking Xiao Rong must be asleep, he intended to chat with the boy named Ah Shu and leave after checking in.

Standing at the door, he prepared himself before pushing it open.

… !!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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