Qu Yunmei had a lot of flaws, but he had one particularly good trait: he always kept his word. He never changed his mind once he made a decision, and no one could persuade him otherwise.

 

Gao Xunzhi knew this well, so he always acted according to Qu Yunmei’s mood. If he sensed that Qu Yunmei was about to kill, he would intervene before Qu Yunmei could voice his decision. Xiao Rong would come to understand this in the future, but he didn’t have time to realize it now.

 

…

 

The moment Xiao Rong stood up, it felt like three hundred cymbals clashed in his head. The stars he saw were no joke, and his ears were buzzing so much that he couldn’t hear or see anything around him.

 

Naturally, he missed the worshipful and pitying looks from everyone.

 

Even the old man who had demanded his seat recovered from his shame, after seeing Xiao Rong, wasn’t so angry anymore.

 

Why be angry at someone who was about to die?

 

…

 

When the ringing in his ears subsided, Xiao Rong clutched his chest and stumbled urgently to the center of the room. The guards, fully armed, had already moved forward when Qu Yunmei gave the order and were about to drag the brave man out for execution. They hesitated, unsure what to do when they saw this unexpected change.

 

They instinctively looked to their king, who was intently watching Xiao Rong below.

 

Xiao Rong hadn’t realized he was still alive in the palace.

 

“Stop?”

 

Qu Yunmei looked at Xiao Rong with a smile that made everyone uneasy. “I don’t know what status you hold in the Xiao family of Linchuan, but here, in Yanmen County, my word is law. If I say it’s permissible, then it is!

 

“If you defy me again, your head will roll with his!”

 

Xiao Rong took a deep breath and spoke quickly, “I am not advising Your Majesty as a Xiao family member, but as your advisor. This gentleman spoke harshly and offended you because he cares deeply for you, the Northern Border Army, and the people of Yizhou. His sincerity is evident! He’s so worried that he’s been misled by true military traitors and doesn’t see his mistake. If Your Majesty executes him, you’ll be playing into the traitors hands, causing pain to your friends and delight to your enemies!”

 

After saying all this, Xiao Rong nearly lost his breath and saw stars again.

 

There was murmuring around him, discussing his words. Even the man being restrained looked stunned, recalling if what Xiao Rong said was true.

 

This was normal. Unless absolutely certain, people would question themselves when challenged, then choose their stance based on facts.

 

However, Qu Yunmei wasn’t a normal person.

 

“So what? Those who slander me deserve to die.”

 

He spoke calmly, and Xiao Rong’s eyes widened, unable to believe such words came from a ruler.

 

History books might say a lot, but those were just words on paper. Xiao Rong’s prejudices against Qu Yunmei had lessened a bit after their first meeting because Qu Yunmei had spared him. Whether it was to watch him slip up or not, giving him a chance made Xiao Rong feel he wasn’t beyond redemption.

 

Until now.

 

Feeling unwell and reflecting on the past six months of discomfort without a clear culprit to blame, Xiao Rong was now face-to-face with that culprit, and he had said such words. Xiao Rong looked at him in disbelief, his lips parted but unable to speak. They stood one above the other, Qu Yunmei looking down from his high position. Yet for some reason, seeing the disappointment in Xiao Rong’s eyes, Qu Yunmei felt a tiny pang of guilt.

 

He wasn’t wrong.

 

Why couldn’t he kill someone who slandered him?

 

Qu Yunmei didn’t move, and Xiao Rong, disheartened, almost gave up. Then he felt a metallic taste in his throat, covered his mouth, and when he looked at his hand, it was red with blood. 

 

Over the past six months, he had only coughed up blood once, when the Chiyou Comet revisited Earth. This comet was later linked to Qu Yunmei, leading superstitious people to withdraw their support, eventually causing his downfall.

 

Xiao Rong thought, ‘Can killing this man really cause the same effect as a comet?’

 

Regaining his senses, he realized staying alive was the most important thing.

 

…

 

Xiao Rong looked up instantly, his attitude changing back, “Your Majesty, you mustn’t!”

 

Before he could finish, Jian Qiao, noticing the blood on his hand, was more shocked than him. “Master Xiao, you’re coughing up blood!”

 

Suddenly, several people stood up.

 

Jian Qiao quickly sent someone to fetch a doctor. Despite their dislike for Xiao Rong disrupting their balance, the advisory group didn’t wish him dead, and someone immediately came forward to support him, asking if he was okay.

 

The doctor would take time to arrive, but with such urgency, they couldn’t wait. Jian Qiao ordered the guards to bring a stretcher and carry Xiao Rong to meet the doctor.

 

Before Xiao Rong could react, he was surrounded. Jian Qiao, a military man, pressed him onto a wooden board. Qu Yunmei had come down, looking at Xiao Rong with a mix of suspicion and shock when he saw blood at the corner of his mouth.

 

Was this necessary?!

 

He wasn’t the one Qu Yunmei wanted to kill!

 

Soon, the guards carried Xiao Rong out, and even then, Xiao Rong reached out desperately toward Qu Yunmei.

 

“Don’t kill him, Your Majesty, please don’t kill him!

 

“Your Majesty! You mustn’t kill him!”

 

As the guards ran farther away, Xiao Rong’s voice faded.

 

Qu Yunmei: “…”

 

Today’s experience was incredibly bewildering. Qu Yunmei stood there, questioning his life for a moment, then turned to leave. He paused suddenly, noticing the two guards still holding the warrior who had cursed him.

 

The guard captain stepped forward and asked, “Your Majesty, what about him?”

 

Qu Yunmei remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand dismissively and went to the training ground.

 

Since he hadn’t explicitly ordered the execution, it meant no further action was needed. The guards released the man and hurried to follow Qu Yunmei. The man rubbed his swollen wrists and got up from the ground. The advisors looked at him with mixed feelings. Though they were colleagues, they only exchanged a few words of greeting.

 

They kept their distance, fearing involvement and the emotional toll if he were to die.

 

…

 

The doctor took Xiao Rong’s pulse and said his condition was due to anger affecting his heart, compounded by his physical weakness.

 

He prescribed some medicine and gently advised Xiao Rong to eat what he wanted and do what he liked, without leaving any regrets.

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

Ah Shu, with tears in his eyes, knelt by Xiao Rong’s bed and clenched his fists in sorrow. “Master.”

 

Xiao Rong, with a headache, said, “I’m fine. Don’t listen to his nonsense. His medical skills are poor. I’ve been like this since childhood, coughing up blood for over ten years, and I’m still lively.”

 

Ah Shu wiped his tears. “Master is joking again. Ten years ago, you hadn’t even left home yet. The old lady said you were the healthiest among the brothers.”

 

Xiao Rong fell silent, wanting to change the subject, but then Ah Shu said, “Master, why not send a letter and have the old lady and the young master come to Yanmen County? You’ve settled here now.”

 

Settled? He was still on probation.

 

Moreover, the journey to Yanmen County was long and treacherous. He couldn’t let a child and an old lady travel alone. Any mishap could cost them their lives.

 

Ah Shu urged him several times, always saying that being with family would restore his health, but the real reason was unspoken. He feared Xiao Rong would die far from home, unable to see his family one last time.

 

This bizarre and morbid sense of concern…

 

Xiao Rong rubbed his temples. “We’ll see. Let me sleep for now.”

 

…

 

After waking up, many came to visit him.

 

Jian Qiao was among them, and the advisory group sent representatives with some food, which Xiao Rong accepted gladly.

 

As long as they didn’t harbor ill intentions, Xiao Rong was willing to get along with them.

 

Later in the evening, as he was about to sleep, another visitor arrived.

 

He introduced himself as Yu Shaoxie.

 

Xiao Rong didn’t recognize the name but found it vaguely familiar. After Ah Shu brought him in, Xiao Rong realized he was the warrior who had cursed Qu Yunmei.

 

Xiao Rong quickly had Ah Shu offer him a seat.

 

…

 

The warrior was young, in his twenties, and rather delicate-looking, hiding a sharp tongue. He came to express gratitude, speaking to Xiao Rong with noticeable awkwardness, unaccustomed to such gestures.

 

Yet Xiao Rong, curious about what made this man cause him to cough blood, warmly engaged him. Xiao Rong’s charm was disarming, and Yu Shaoxie, seldom meeting someone willing to chat, gradually opened up. He explained he was from Yongjia, began traveling and apprenticing at twelve, completed his training at twenty, and eventually arrived in Yanmen County.

 

Admiring the Northern Border Army’s success in defending the north of the Han River and expelling the Hun people, he joined the army, though his straightforward nature often led to trouble. 

 

Xiao Rong listened, intrigued but finding the story ordinary, save for the uncanny similarity to his own background.

 

He had assumed another’s identity, much like Yu Shaoxie, who had started young, apprenticed, and sought a wise leader before succumbing to an illness at eighteen.

 

…

 

This shared experience spurred their conversation, eventually touching on family. Xiao Rong mentioned a younger brother and grandmother living in Southern Yong, surprising Yu Shaoxie, who noted their similarities.

 

Though he lacked a grandmother, he had a brother benefiting from their father’s legacy, now serving as a military captain in Jinling. Orphaned early, the brothers were close, with Yu Shaoxie ceding the captaincy to his brother due to different interests. His brother, feeling indebted, often wrote, promising to abandon his post to join him.

 

Yu Shaoxie’s fondness for his brother, portrayed as diligent and endearing, resonated with Xiao Rong, who smiled and lifted a cup of tea.

 

“After parents pass, siblings become our closest kin. My younger brother, though young, often worries like an elder.”

 

“By the way, what is your brother’s name?”

 

Yu Shaoxie replied with a smile, “His name is Yu Shaocheng.”

 

Xiao Rong was sipping tea when he heard the name and spat it out in shock.

 

Yu Shaocheng?

 

The infamous historical figure, crazed and relentless, always targeting the Northern Border Army?!!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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