After a short while, the door to the inner room opened, and Qian Bao'er was the first to greet her, asking, "Master, Master, how is my second sister?"
The young master suddenly turned around and looked at Ou Fei with great tension.
Ou Fei said, "It can still be treated, but it will take a long time, though..."
The young master hurriedly asked, "What is it?"
Ou Fei's gaze lingered on him thoughtfully, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you Young Master Wushuang?"
The young master paused, unsure how to answer the question. He was clearly yes, yet no; he was no, yet also yes. Six years ago, when Cuiyu chose life or death for him, she probably never imagined that one day he would face such a dilemma.
Ou Fei said, "I need a prescription. It would be fine if the prescription contained other medicinal ingredients, but the medicinal guide might be hard to come by."
Qian Bao'er raised her eyebrows and said, "Master, just say the word, and whether it's Tian Shan snow lotus or a thousand-year-old ginseng, Bao'er will definitely find a way to get it for you."
Ou Fei patted her shoulder affectionately and said, "I need three drops of blood."
"What?" Qian Bao'er's eyes widened.
Ye Mufeng also showed surprise—he had heard of filial sons cutting off their own flesh to make medicine to save their mothers, but was blood used as a medicinal ingredient?
“Yes, three drops of blood.” Ou Fei turned to the young master and said slowly. “One drop of blood from the person she loved most; one drop of blood from the person she hated most; and one drop of blood from the person she both loved and hated.”
Qian Bao'er immediately said, "His favorite person is him." She pointed at the young master, "The one she both loves and hates is definitely Grandma. But who does she hate the most...? Although Second Sister is naturally extreme and prone to going to extremes, if we're talking about who she truly hates, I'm afraid it wouldn't be..."
As she spoke, the young master's expression changed three times, and he whispered, "She hates God the most..."
Qian Bao'er rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't want God's blood as a medicinal ingredient for my second sister, would you?"
Gongzi Bo shook his head and took a few steps toward the window. "I know who it is."
Qian Bao'er quickly asked, "Who is it?"
The young master gazed at the dark rain outside the window, his expression one of indescribable sorrow and desolation. After a long while, he spoke in a deep voice, "I was the one who stabbed her, and I should personally collect these three drops of blood... May I ask, Senior Ou, how many days can she hold on? Allow me to go and fetch the medicinal ingredient."
Ou Fei said, "With my abilities, I can protect her for seven days, but if you can't get these three drops of blood after seven days, then it's hard to say."
"Alright, wait for me for seven days!" With that, the young master vanished in a flash, leaping out of the window. By the time Qian Bao'er reached the window, he was already gone.
Another thunderbolt struck, the night grew darker, and the rain poured down harder.
In the brightly lit palace, the current emperor was reviewing memorials, the lamplight illuminating his face, which was nearing forty.
In his youth, he was a romantic emperor who was so captivated by the beauty Shui Rongrong, the holy maiden of Qingyantai, that he almost abdicated the throne. Later, after much deliberation, the royal family made concessions, allowing Shui Rongrong to enter the palace as a concubine, and the matter was finally settled. Unfortunately, that peerless beauty had a short life; she went mad not long after entering the palace and later died of illness.
The crisp sound of the night watchman's drum rang out outside; it was nearly midnight. The emperor rubbed his temples slightly, a wave of fatigue washing over him, making it difficult to even clearly see the character "leopard" on the memorial.
Just then, a gust of wind blew by, and all the lights in the study dimmed at the same time.
In that sudden darkness, a figure appeared before him like a ghost. The emperor was startled and was about to call for help when he saw the palace maids beside the tent collapsing one by one. A pleasant, sweet fragrance filled the air, but upon smelling it, one felt weak all over and almost fell asleep.
The emperor was greatly alarmed. He looked at the man in black before him, only to see the man quietly remove his veil, revealing a pale and refined face beneath.
He felt that this person seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember when he had seen him before. Just as he was thinking, the person said, "Don't be afraid, I'm not an assassin."
The emperor frowned. After all, he was the Son of Heaven, and although the situation was strange, he remained relatively calm.
The man continued, "I came today only to ask the Emperor..." He paused for a moment, a bitter look flashing in his eyes, "...I want one thing."
"What...do you want?" the emperor asked with difficulty. The fragrance in the air did not cause him to collapse like the palace maids, but it made his body numb. He could not move or even speak loudly.
"I want a drop of the Emperor's blood, just one drop."
The emperor's face changed instantly. He watched helplessly as the man approached, wanting to cry for help, but could only let out a hissing sound that resembled panting.
The man walked up to him, grasped his left little finger, and the emperor felt a chill on his finger, as if it had been scratched by a shard of ice. A drop of blood fell into the bottle the man had prepared. The man capped the bottle and placed it in the emperor's bosom, then took out another bottle, opened it, and found it contained ointment.
He began to apply the medicine to him, very carefully and attentively.
The emperor looked at him, growing increasingly strange and familiar with him. A sudden realization struck him, and he exclaimed in surprise, "You...you look..."
The man applied the medicine to him, then stepped back, but didn't leave; he just watched him quietly.
The emperor said, "You...you are..."
The man turned around and said, "Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself." Then he took a step to leave.
The emperor, in a moment of panic, leaned forward and lost his balance, falling headfirst from the chair. Just as he thought he was about to fall to the ground, a pair of hands suddenly caught him and put him back in the chair. When he looked up again, it was still that handsome and refined face, with an extremely complex expression—concern, resentment, anger, and a sense of vicissitude.
The emperor felt his breath catch in his throat.
The man lowered his eyes, sighed softly, and as he turned around again, the emperor grabbed his sleeve with all his might. "You are—"
Who I am is not important.
"Yin... Lan..." The emperor uttered the word with a slight tremor, and then saw the man's shoulders suddenly jerk and he turn around.
The man raised an eyebrow and said, "You remember?"
"You really are..." The emperor grew increasingly agitated, but the drugs prevented him from speaking loudly; his voice sounded strained, "Yi Liu? Is that you?"
The man stared at him silently for a long time before shaking his head.
The emperor hurriedly said, "No, I know who you are! You look so much like Consort Yin! Consort Yin... Consort Yin..."
"Your Majesty has a good memory; you even remember Consort Yin." The man's voice was calm as he spoke, but a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"Tell me, are you Yi Liu? Are you?"
"If I were him, would the Emperor be prepared to call the guards in and kill me?"
The emperor was startled.
The man laughed again. "Your Majesty, you are neither a good emperor nor a good father. So, whether I am Yi Liu or not is meaningless. I'm leaving. Take care."
"Wait!" The emperor slumped off his chair again, and as expected, the man, unable to bear seeing him fall, returned to catch him. This time, he grasped the man's hand tightly, his voice trembling as he said, "Yi Liu... Yi Liu... I am your father! Do you resent me, and that's why you refuse to acknowledge me?"
The man shook his head. "No, I don't blame you."
The emperor, in a panic, was about to speak when the man continued, "I once hated you. I hated you for believing the slanderous words of the ministers and confiscating the property of the Yin family; I hated you for forcing my mother to commit suicide, leaving me without a mother from birth; I hated you for sending people to exterminate me, and for massacring hundreds of lives in your search for my whereabouts..."
The Emperor interrupted him, saying, "No, I didn't force Consort Yin. By the time I arrived, she had already committed suicide! How could I force your mother to die? She was my most beloved consort. Even if it meant punishing her entire family, I couldn't bear to part with her, especially since she carried my child! I didn't send anyone to kill you either; I sent people to find you. How could I allow the imperial blood to flow among the common people and disappear without a trace?"
The man stood there stunned for a moment, then suddenly smiled and said, "Is that so? It doesn't matter anymore, it really doesn't matter anymore... The grudges and disputes of the past, whether it was my misunderstanding or your cruelty, are all in the past. I don't hate you anymore... Having experienced such a life-or-death separation, I am no longer the person I used to be. Otherwise, what I would be facing you here today would definitely be a sword."
It turns out it really wasn't Yin Sang after all.
When he was Yin Sang, he had imagined countless times what it would be like when he stood in front of his father, the emperor.
He imagined that scene countless times, thinking of stabbing him to death with his own sword, to seek justice for his mother, for himself, and for the entire Yin family, and then laughing out loud.
But he can't now. Seven years ago, Yin Sang met Qian Cuiyu, and unable to bear the weight of her affections, he gave up his revenge. But at the time, he only gave it up; hatred still lingered in his heart. Who knew that fate would arrange for him to lose his memory, to become a different person, a near-perfect one.
After being such a perfect person for six years, what changed was not just whether I played chess or ate spicy food, but also my insight into life and my open-mindedness towards the world.
Teacher, you really taught me a lot... but I can't continue to be like water without a trace.
The young master glanced at the emperor one last time, then, without further ado, leaped out of the palace gates. The emperor's calls echoed faintly behind him, sounding ethereal and distant through the wind.
He once hated his father the most, and because he hated his father the most, Cuiyu, who loved him deeply, also hated the emperor.
Qian Cuiyu once touched his face and said, "I hate your father. Why did he treat you like this? Why wouldn't he let his own son go even in death... Is the royal family really so cold-blooded? For power and face, they can even disregard familial bonds? If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be like this now. You wouldn't have suffered so many years. You wouldn't be so lonely. He has wronged you. He doesn't deserve to be your father!"
Therefore, the person Qian Cuiyu hated most was the current emperor.
Chapter Ten
"Of all the wealth in the world, the Qian family alone possesses eight-tenths."
This altered proverb is precisely the most vivid metaphor for the Qian family, the richest family in the world.
The entire long street belonged to the Qian family, and the shops and stalls lining both sides were all affiliated with them. At the end of the street stood a tall, vermilion gate. The white jade lions in front of the gate and the plaque carved from a single piece of sandalwood shone brightly even in the night, illuminated by the lamplight, making the two pure gold characters gleam.
Yin Sang stopped here.
This is her home.
The place where she was born and raised for seventeen years.
Who else in the world could bear to give up such wealth and glory?
But the woman who held the title of the most talented woman in the world easily abandoned it.
Before meeting Qian Cuiyu, I had heard of her for a long time, but I assumed she was just another overhyped, ignorant girl who, apart from knowing a little about poetry, painting, music, and romance, had no other interests. Who would have thought that I was so wrong after meeting her?
Although she was unfamiliar with the ways of the world, she knew the hardships of humanity; though proud, she was not spoiled; she learned quickly and could master anything after being taught; making a living was not easy, but she knew how to earn money most easily, and was not just a pampered young lady who only knew how to talk about things on paper... However, none of those things were the most important.
Most importantly, she possessed such a resolute character and such unwavering, deep affection. That affection was like a tidal wave, sweeping in without escape, irresistible.
A merchant family has raised three daughters with distinct personalities and unique characteristics. What kind of person is the matriarch of the family?
Yin Sang stood outside the door for a long time before stepping forward. The guards at the door bowed respectfully, showing their well-trained manner.
"I wish to see Madam Qian."
"But may I ask how you are addressed, sir?"
Yin Sang remained silent for a while before saying, "Yin Sang."
Upon hearing this, the servant's eyes widened in surprise. He had served the Qian family for over ten years and naturally knew the name of the second son-in-law, whom the Qian family did not acknowledge. However, he had never seen him before, only hearing that he was a down-on-his-luck scholar. He never expected that this was the man in question. Looking at him again, his eyebrows were like distant mountains, his eyes like shooting stars, and his demeanor was refined and elegant. He was indeed a handsome man!
She glanced at him a few more times before turning around to report.
Yin Sang stood outside the door for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before the servant returned, looking strange, and said, "The old lady said she doesn't want to see you. Please go back, young master."
Yin Sang hesitated for a moment, then said, "I have something important to discuss with you, which concerns Cuiyu's life or death. Please set aside past grievances and make sure you see me."
Seeing his earnestness, the servant couldn't bear it and reported back again. This time, he returned quickly, shaking his head and saying, "The old lady said... said that Qian Cuiyu has severed ties with the Qian family, and whether she lives or dies is none of her business. She won't see you and wants you to give up."
"Is there really no room for negotiation?"
"The old lady always keeps her word. If she says she won't see you, then she won't see you. You can leave now!" The servant said, about to wave him away, when suddenly a figure flashed before his eyes, and Yin Sang barged straight in.
"Oh no! Someone's trying to break in!" the servant shouted, and immediately many guards appeared inside. The Qian family had long been wealthy, and to prevent anyone from coveting their property and doing anything to harm them, they had specially trained a team of elite guards, each with exceptional martial arts skills. The servant's shout immediately summoned them all out.
Yin Sang walked in unhurriedly, as if strolling in a garden. With a light tap of his finger and a flick of his sleeve, he struck the pressure points of the crowd, leaving them frozen in place. Then he easily entered the flower hall.
A young woman in green flung the curtain and stepped out, saying, "What an arrogant man! How dare you be so presumptuous in the Qian family?" As she spoke, a long whip appeared in her hand, and she lashed it down at his head. It was clear that she had hit him, but for some reason, a tremendous force suddenly came from the whip, and she was involuntarily knocked to the side.
A hand gently supported her, and a warm voice sounded in her ear: "I'm so sorry for offending you." As he spoke, another hand was extended in front of her, holding none other than her whip. When did her whip end up in his hands?
The girl in green immediately realized that her martial arts skills were far inferior to his, and blushed with embarrassment. She took a few steps back and said, "Don't be so smug. Wait until Seventh Brother comes back, you'll see!"
At this moment, a dignified voice came from the inner hall: "Fourth son, step back."