The Jianghu of Feng Qingcheng and Mo Xibei

Chapter 71

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Volume Two: The Wind Leaves a Mark, Chapter Nineteen: Identity (Part Five)

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"Is it that serious?" Mo Xibei smiled. "I just went out for a walk, and besides, you can't stop me."

When the word "I" was mentioned, everyone felt a blur before their eyes, and when they looked again, Mo Xibei was no longer in the room.

"Jia'er, your mother knows you're a mischievous child and won't stay in your room to rest properly." Just then, the palace gates opened, and a row of more than a dozen palace lanterns swayed in. The woman leading the way was dressed in bright yellow, wearing a phoenix crown that shone with the morning sun, exuding the utmost elegance and nobility.

The palace servants who had followed Mo Xibei knelt down in a row. Fu'er gently tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Your Highness, please pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."

Mo Xibei looked around, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, and a smile appeared on his face. "What a coincidence that the Empress Dowager has arrived."

"You can run and jump around now, so it seems the imperial physician's medicine is working somewhat this time." Empress Dowager Jiang raised her hand, signaling everyone to dispense with formalities. She took two steps forward, took Mo Xibei's hand, looked him up and down, and said, "You're looking much better today. It's windy outside, so please come to your bedchamber."

"Is the Empress Dowager planning to imprison me?" Mo Xibei slightly struggled with her hand. Empress Dowager Jiang's hand was soft, but her strength was not to be resisted. So she gathered her strength and stood still, asking the question directly.

"Child, this is your home. During the three days you were ill, your mother and your brother have taken care of everything. Your status and honor, what is rightfully yours, will not be diminished. Your mother hopes that from now on you will consider this your home and live here comfortably." Empress Dowager Jiang exerted more effort; Mo Xibei, having slept for three days, was ultimately weak and was dragged into the bedchamber. "Take a look around yourself and see if anything is lacking. If there's anything you don't like, just give the order. They will inform the Imperial Household Department to take care of everything for you." Empress Dowager Jiang smiled, pointing to everything in the room for Mo Xibei to see.

"Have I been ill these past three days?" Mo Xibei sneered, entering the hall and shaking off Empress Dowager Jiang's hand. She took two steps back. "Your Majesty, I'm a lazy person and don't want to speculate about why you went to such lengths to bring me to the palace. I only know one thing: I don't like it here, I really don't. So, stop using other people's lives to threaten me. Every life deserves respect. Whether I stay or leave won't change because of your threats."

"Jia'er, I never imagined that your prejudice against your mother would be so deep." Empress Dowager Jiang sighed deeply and thought for a while before speaking. "There is something I should tell you: Murong Lianyun has entered the palace, and your brother has bestowed upon her the title of Noble Lady."

"Didn't you already decide to put her to death? How come you changed your mind so quickly?" Mo Xibei was quite surprised.

"Jia'er, if your mother wanted to lie to you, she could have told you that we decided to spare her life because you were so protective of her. But your mother doesn't want to lie to you. In fact, some unexpected things happened during the three days you were asleep, and some decisions had to be changed." Empress Dowager Jiang pondered for a long time before saying with a sigh, "Jia'er, Murong Lianyun... never mind, let's not talk about her. We've all misjudged her. Well, let your brother worry about her affairs. Let's talk about you. From now on, your status is different. Every move you make will be watched by the people of the world. You can't act as recklessly as before. It's late tonight, go to sleep early. There are many rules in the palace, but you'll get used to them eventually."

“I think the Empress Dowager doesn’t fully understand my thoughts. I’m no longer the child who couldn’t control his own destiny under the four corners of the Prince’s mansion. I’m not Zhu Jingjia anymore. I’m Mo Xibei, just Mo Xibei, Mo Xibei who lives however he wants. I won’t change myself to adapt to the rules, and naturally I won’t stay here.” Mo Xibei said decisively, “Even if you can control me with medicine for a while, you can’t control me forever. When I can leave, I will still leave.”

"Jia'er, you are my own child. How could I possibly use medicine to control you? Are you completely unaware of your condition? Now, what keeps you in the palace isn't me, but the poison that's already seeped into your blood." Upon hearing Mo Xibei's words, Empress Dowager Jiang's face paled instantly. After pacing around the room a few times, she said, "There are no parents who are entirely without fault. I did wrong you in the past, but you can't continue to resent me because of what happened back then. Yes, that day in the flower hall, I did send someone to deal with Mu because I was worried you would interfere." Rong Lianyun's men had secretly added a medicinal ingredient to the incense beforehand. After all, if this matter became public, it would not only hinder your restoration of your status, but also tarnish your elder brother's reputation. However, you remained unconscious afterward, which was something your mother hadn't anticipated. Your elder brother was terrified and hurriedly took you back to the palace to summon the imperial physicians. But after several physicians consulted, they said that your coma was caused by a strange toxin in your blood, which was activated by the incense. This toxin had been in your body for at least several months; did you really not notice it at all?

Mo Xibei felt a chill run down her spine and suddenly thought of Xuehai Piaoxiang. The whereabouts of the divine doctor Liu Haiyang were now unknown, and the medicine he had mixed into the blood of the blood man was naturally unknown to anyone. Although she had been feeling unwell occasionally these past few months, she had deliberately tried not to think about it. Unexpectedly, what was meant to happen could not be avoided. "You know it yourself, don't you?" Seeing the slight change in Mo Xibei's expression, Empress Dowager Jiang sighed, came over to help Mo Xibei up, and pulled her to sit on the bed. "Jia'er, don't be afraid. The imperial physicians are currently researching a formula to detoxify you. I know that the formulas they prescribe are not effective for serious illnesses, so I wrote to your master, asking him to come to the capital as soon as possible. He is knowledgeable and experienced in the martial world, and he will definitely be able to help you. So, whether you want to or hate me now, you must stay by my side until you are detoxified. If you really cannot adapt to palace life, then it's not too late to leave." After Empress Dowager Jiang finished speaking, she stood up and suddenly added, "Is your eagerness to leave also because of that young man surnamed Mu in your household? I'll tell you, when he took Murong Lianyun away, he already knew your identity, and then left without saying a word. Qi Da Fei Ou, he's a smart man, he naturally understands."

After Empress Dowager Jiang left, the palace gates were locked. Mo Xibei lay on the bed, waiting until everyone in the palace was asleep before quietly getting up. Some of Empress Dowager Jiang's words were true, but some were not. She didn't believe that Mu Feinan would leave without a word for some reason that they were not a suitable match, just as she never thought that she could only wait to die because she was poisoned.

The clothes she wore when she arrived were long gone. Now, she wore elaborate palace attire with long, flowing skirts. Beautiful as it was, it wouldn't be suitable for scaling the palace walls. Mo Xibei deftly tore open the wide sleeves of her clothes, tying the gaps together tightly around her wrists. She then ripped off the long skirt, revealing her shoes, and began to walk and hop freely, no longer restrained.

In the dead of night, the imperial city was almost shrouded in boundless darkness. Mo Xibei's toes lightly brushed across the bright yellow glazed tiles of the palaces, like a bird flying freely in the sky. The moment she flew out of the imperial city, she decided that once she found Mu Feinan, she would leave this capital far away and live a carefree life.

Volume Two: The Wind Leaves a Mark, Chapter Nineteen: Identity (Part Six)

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Inside the Chunfeng Ruyi Tower, it was pitch black at first glance. A place that should have been bustling at this time of day was now eerily quiet, like an empty house. Mo Xibei felt uneasy and quickly ran to the back of the building. Almost every courtyard was locked with large padlocks. Even the side buildings where the people of Chunfeng Ruyi Tower used to live were completely empty. In the moonlight, besides her alone, filled with suspicion, there was no one else to be seen.

"Can anyone tell me what happened?" Mo Xibei muttered to himself, feeling panicked and at a loss for the first time.

“I knew it, no matter what, you would come back.” As soon as Mo Xibei finished speaking, someone suddenly replied from the darkness. A moment later, the artificial hill in front of the side building creaked and began to move slowly, and a figure walked out.

"Don't ask?" Mo Xibei recognized the person just by hearing the voice. She had only mentioned to him casually that she had set up this trap downstairs in the side building for emergencies. She never expected that it would actually come in handy.

"What happened here? Where is the others?" Seeing that Xiu Wen was still wearing his usual white clothes under the moonlight, and his smile was as usual, Mo Xibei seemed to hear the sound of the zither again, and his tense nerves relaxed slightly.

"They were all taken away. I don't know where they went." Xiu Wen's eyes were clear as water under the moonlight. "Three days ago, in the evening, many people came to the back courtyard. I was playing chess with Young Master Mu when he heard something wrong behind us. He rushed to check and then quickly came back, telling me to hide and wait for you to return. At that time, Chunfeng Ruyi Tower was already surrounded by people of unknown identity. I had nowhere to hide, and remembering the artificial mountain mechanism you mentioned, I tried to hide inside." "Then... what about Fei Nan?" Upon hearing the name Mu Fei Nan, Mo Xibei's heart trembled, and she blurted out the question. At this moment, she no longer wanted to try to think about what might have happened three days ago, but her mind was still as chaotic as a tangled mess of threads, full of countless thoughts.

"When Young Master Mu told me to hide and wait for your return, he said something strange to me. He said that Murong Lianyun had a map. I don't know what happened after that, but the situation outside shouldn't have been chaotic at the time. I didn't hear any fighting sounds, so Young Master Mu should be alright. After I waited until there was no sound outside, I came out from behind the artificial hill and found that no one was there anymore." Xiu Wen shook his head. "There's another strange thing. During the day, I went out to inquire about your situation with Miss Murong, and as a result, I heard something strange."

"What strange thing?" Mo Xibei was taken aback. Strange things had been happening all day, and he wondered what kind of strange thing Xiu Wen was going to tell him this time.

"Young Master Chu, he was appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice the day before yesterday. It is said that this was because he saved the Emperor's life. The Emperor greatly admires his talent and has even made an exception to promote him." Xiuwen pondered for a while and then said, "I also heard that yesterday, the Emperor personally visited his residence and fell in love with Young Master Chu's sister at first sight. He immediately brought her into the palace and made her a Noble Lady."

Mo Xibei remained silent for a long time. After a pause, he said, "Now everyone on the streets is talking about how Young Master Chu's rescue of the emperor was a pretense. The real reason is that Young Master Chu's sister is too beautiful. However, since you are quite close to Young Master Chu, have you heard when he brought his family to the capital?"

I'll write it this afternoon or evening; this was something I secretly wrote this morning while sneaking off at work, haha.

Volume Two: The Wind Leaves a Trace, Chapter Twenty: Poison (Part One)

"He's been living in the capital for quite some time now, so what's so strange about him bringing his family here? Besides, I'm not familiar with him at all." Mo Xibei was puzzled by Xiu Wen's unusually talkative behavior tonight. She quickly changed the subject. Chu Junfeng's sister had entered the palace and been granted the title of Noble Lady. Coincidentally, Murong Lianyun had also entered the palace and been granted the title of Noble Lady. Coupled with the fact that everyone in her household had been taken away at the same time, the connection wasn't hard to figure out. But what was the map in Murong Lianyun's possession? Could it be the map to the legendary treasure? But she clearly gave the dagger to Chu Junfeng back then, so how did Murong Lianyun refer to Chu Junfeng's sister?

"So, what are you planning to do?" Xiu asked, glancing at Mo Xibei's reaction. Seeing that she was just standing there with her hands behind her back, deep in thought, he asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh!" Mo Xibei responded, turned to look at him, thought for a moment, and said, "Wait for me a moment." He turned and ran into Chunfeng Ruyi Tower, and ran back a moment later. "I don't know what exactly happened, and I don't know where the people in the tower and my family were taken. In my opinion, sir, you should leave the capital first, find a quiet place to stay, and come back when everything here is back to normal."

Upon seeing the small package handed to him by Mo Xibei, Xiu Wen's face instantly paled. He frowned, his voice cold and hard, "Boss Mo, what do you mean by this?"

"I hope you can leave this place of trouble safely. Your music is pure and noble, and should not be tainted by this mundane world. Spring Breeze Pavilion is not a place for you to stay for long. This time, I think it's a good opportunity." Mo Xibei smiled and placed the package in Xiu Wen's hands. "When you first came to this mortal world, you asked for an exorbitant price, but when so much gold was handed to you, you only glanced at it, and I knew. You didn't play your zither for money. I haven't spoken much with you these past few days, but listening to your heartfelt playing is like talking to you. I can tell that what you yearn for is not here."

Xiu Wen remained silent for a long time until Mo Xibei turned and walked out of Chunfeng Ruyi Tower. Only then did she hear the soft trembling of the zither strings behind her. Under the moonlight, the melodious sound of the zither, like flowing water, accompanied her all the way away.

Mu Feinan left no trace in the elegant pavilion or any corner of the mansion. He vanished abruptly, and Mo Xibei knew that unless he reappeared, finding someone in this vast sea of people would be incredibly difficult. Perhaps Huang Jin might have some news about him, but that old fox would have to be willing to speak up.

"If I catch you, you're dead." Mo Xibei thought to herself, imagining Mu Feinan's pathetic state after she caught him and beat him senseless. But she couldn't laugh. For the first time, she felt so afraid of parting, because there was no end in sight, because she didn't know how long she could wait…

The master arrived in a hurry ten days later. He pondered for a long time about the exact composition of the toxin in Mo Xibei's bloodline, and could only sigh deeply when facing Empress Dowager Jiang and Mo Xibei.

"Master, you're making me so anxious. Whether I stick my neck out or not, I'll still get stabbed. Can't you just give your disciple a quick death?" Mo Xibei joked, his face showing no trace of worry.

"Jia'er, how can you not know the taboo? What nonsense about one cut, one cut, you're just talking nonsense." Empress Dowager Jiang's heart was in her throat, and she asked nervously, "Senior brother, what kind of poison has Jia'er been poisoned with? Can you tell? If you can, just say so."

"The poison in the Northwest is very strange. I think it should have started as a sea of blood and fragrance from the land of Japan. However, one kind of strange poison has not been cured, and then another kind of even stranger and rare poison has been added. And the two poisons are currently suppressing each other."

"Using poison to fight poison, then is that alright?" Empress Dowager Jiang asked hurriedly.

“Using poison to fight poison is the best way to treat poisoning, but it also requires attention to dosage. However, the terrain in the Northwest is not smooth right now. It should be that another toxin has accelerated the process of devouring the Blood Sea Fragrance. Judging from this speed…” Master couldn’t help but sigh again, “The person who poisoned it is very clever. In my opinion, apart from the people of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, no one else in the world can use poison to such an extreme degree.”

"The Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons?" Empress Dowager Jiang asked in confusion. "Senior brother, I heard Master mention that the successor of the Poison King in the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons fell in love with the head of the Murong family in Jiangnan. However, they misunderstood each other deeply and eventually committed suicide together. The Murong family in Jiangnan fell into ruin, and the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons disappeared without a trace. How come the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons still has a successor?"