Maestro de la ambigüedad

Capítulo 35

Lu Zhi was unaware that the day before he arrived, Nie Chengyan and Han Xiao had already set off. They brought a lot of luggage, attendants, and guards, but not Han Le.

Han Le was filled with sorrow and depression, and naturally had no intention of paying attention to Lu Zhi. Nie Chengyan's reason for not taking him was simple: the journey to the desert was fraught with danger, and Han Le was too young to stay in the city and help out with Steward Chen.

"If it's so dangerous, why did you take your sister with you?"

“Your sister and I are deeply in love, so naturally we will not be separated. Besides, one of the important purposes of this trip is to resolve our marriage. How can we resolve this if she is not by my side?”

Han Le lowered his head, looking at the tips of his shoes, and whispered, "My sister and I have a deep sibling bond, and we are never apart."

Nie Chengyan patted his head: "Lele, you're a little adult now. You did a great job helping the herb farmers in the mountains that day. You've grown up. Steward Chen always praises you for learning quickly, being calm and organized in the face of problems."

Han Le kept her head down, her voice muffled: "I don't want to be the little steward anymore, I want to be with my sister."

“Lele.” Nie Chengyan frowned. “You can’t cling to your sister forever. You have to live independently, and so does your sister.”

"But you still pester your sister more than I do," Han Le retorted.

“Your sister is my life, a very important part of my life. As for you, you will have your own sweetheart in the future, you will marry her, you will have something to do, and you will be able to support your family. That will be your life.”

"But……"

"Lele." Nie Chengyan interrupted her with a frown: "This matter is settled. Xiaoxiao and I will go to the desert to settle the past grievances and also arrange the marriage. You stay here, and Steward Chen will take care of you. Study hard, do your homework well, and help Steward Chen with his work until we come back."

Han Le gritted his teeth, unable to think of a better excuse. He had indeed grown up, and his sister, after all these years of hard work, should finally let go of his burden. If this journey was dangerous, the city lord must have arranged for people to protect them, but adding him would only cause trouble.

Han Le felt incredibly sad as he thought about it. He blamed himself for being incompetent. If he were as skilled in martial arts as Huo Qiyang, he could justifiably rely on him; after all, having another protector was always a good thing. But if Huo Qiyang were to accompany him on the journey, he feared that others would have to share the manpower to protect him. So it was all his own fault for not being capable enough.

Han Le rubbed his eyes, choked out a "Mmm," which was his way of agreeing. He went to find his sister, and the two siblings talked inside, eventually bursting into tears. This left Nie Chengyan outside, rubbing his temples. She had been the one to persuade him to resolve the situation and clear his mind, but now that he was truly determined to leave, she was making it seem like a life-or-death situation with Lele. Nie Chengyan thought to himself, he just couldn't be soft-hearted; he couldn't take Lele with him.

Three nights later, Nie Chengyan quietly set off with Han Xiao, as he always did, without alerting the city. Han Le watched their carriage procession disappear into the night, secretly wiping away tears. Steward Chen patted his head: "Lele, be brave."

This was the first time Han Le had been separated from Han Xiao for such a long time. He seemed to have grown several years older all at once, becoming more mature and composed. In the following days, Lu Zhi finally learned that there would be no chance to spar with Han Xiao, and he felt very regretful. So he packed his bags and left Baiqiao City.

Nie Chengyan wasn't unfamiliar with traveling; in fact, before his injury, he frequently traveled all over the country. However, this time, with his legs unable to support him, he could no longer travel far, and the journey was incredibly difficult. Putting aside the inconvenience of getting in and out of the carriage, simply sitting in the carriage and being jostled around all the way was enough to make him suffer.

He would sit for a while, then lie down for a while, and Han Xiao would occasionally massage his legs and relax his shoulders, but he still wasn't comfortable. Not to mention the various inconveniences of cooking and using the toilet in the wilderness if they couldn't reach the town to rest. His discomfort and inconvenience were exhausting for Han Xiao. Watching her climb up and down, trying different ways to make him delicious food, massage him, help him out of the car, and push him around to get some fresh air, she helped him. He couldn't relieve himself in the wilderness like others, so she set up a chamber pot for him and ran around emptying his excrement. Her hardship was even greater than at home, and he felt heartbroken and saddened watching her.

Han Xiao never complained of being tired, not even a hint of bitterness. She always greeted him with a smile, which filled Nie Chengyan with indescribable sorrow. He, a grown man, had traveled thousands of miles like a cripple, searching for the old man who had caused him such suffering. He was even beginning to regret his actions. But this was a thorn in Xiao Xiao's side, and also his. Xiao Xiao was right; if this thorn wasn't removed from their hearts, they would forever carry this burden.

After traveling for more than four months, they finally arrived at Gusha City, a territory within the desert. Beyond this city to the west lay endless barren sands, requiring several more days of travel before the oasis of Qingcheng could be seen. Few people dared to risk wading through the sands, so all exchanges with the desert, government affairs, and business transactions converged in Gusha City, making it a vital city in the desert region.

Having reached this point, Nie Chengyan considered it his destination. Given his current condition, he couldn't cross the sandy terrain, so he could only use Gusha City as a base to search for and inquire about the whereabouts of the Cloud Mist Elder. He had received intelligence about the Cloud Mist Elder's movements along the way; the last place he was seen was Gusha, but there had been no further news about where he went afterward. Gusha City was bustling with people of all kinds, wearing various clothes and speaking different accents, making it difficult to find anyone and gather information there.

By the time Nie Chengyan arrived, his temper was on the verge of exploding. The more he walked, the more he regretted it. Why had he indirectly caused Xiaoxiao so much trouble for that old man? In the past few months, he had seen her lose weight. Although she didn't complain, he was heartbroken.

After checking into the inn, Nie Chengyan sat back on the bed and announced that he would settle down and stop traveling. Han Xiao, however, was not idle. She moved all of Nie Chengyan's clothes and belongings into the room and put them away neatly. Nie Chengyan was furious when he saw this.

"Didn't I tell you to leave it alone? You've done all the work, so what are they supposed to do?" He got annoyed when he saw her being so diligent.

"I didn't do all the work. I only took care of you. I didn't care about anything else," Han said with a grin, speaking with self-righteousness.

Her words made Nie Chengyan feel inexplicably comfortable. It was so nice that she only had to take care of him. He reached out his hand to her, and as she walked towards him, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. Han Xiao laughed as she took his pull and threw herself at him. The two rolled onto the bed, playfully wrestling. He finally let down his guard, and the smile on his lips softened his features.

Han Xiao rubbed his brow, pouted and said coquettishly, "You're always frowning, it's giving you wrinkles."

Upon hearing this, he involuntarily frowned again, and Han Xiao rubbed his brow vigorously, shouting, "Still frowning?"

Nie Chengyan pulled down her hand and bit her finger: "Dare to complain about me? Your hands are calloused again. If you keep taking on work and make yourself sick, see if I'll still talk to you."

"It's okay, I'll take care of you." She was completely unfazed by the threat and chuckled.

He lowered his head and gently bit her cheek, then whispered, "Han Xiao."

"Yes, Master, I am here." She answered loudly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her face in his chest.

"Yes, you're here." He replied, thinking that she never listened properly, and couldn't help but pinch her cheek. She peeked out from his arms and smiled at him. He pinched her chin and kissed her lips: "You have to always be here, or I'll get angry."

The lingering kiss quickly heated up the air, and Nie Chengyan couldn't help but slip his hand inside her clothes. Han Xiao flinched in surprise, and Nie Chengyan froze. He glared at her, and she looked back innocently with a flushed face. Nie Chengyan glared at her for a while, then punched the bed board: "Damn old man, once I catch him, we'll get married right away."

Han Xiao buried her face in his chest again, trying not to let him see her smile. She really wasn't laughing at him; it was just that his expression was so cute when he was being temperamental, making her feel sweet and warm inside. She reached out and wrapped her arms around his back, hugging him tightly. In truth, she knew that even if they couldn't find the Cloud Mist Elder and she had no official status, she had already given her heart to him. She just didn't say it, greedily enjoying his tenderness towards her.

The next day, it was the monthly grand market in Gusha City. Han Xiao had heard that some medicinal herb merchants had fixed stalls, and she really wanted to go and see them, partly to broaden her horizons, and partly so that Nie Chengyan could purchase some commonly used medicines. Nie Chengyan agreed, but he had to meet with some spies and the imperial guards in Gusha City that day. In such places, it was essential to maintain good official relationships before proceeding. Therefore, Nie Chengyan couldn't accompany her and instead sent He Ziming and a few others to protect her and return as soon as possible.

The market in Gusha City was bustling and full of exotic charm. The goods for sale were dazzling and interesting to Han Xiao. She was squatting in front of a stall picking out trinkets when she suddenly saw a familiar figure flash by in the crowd. She stood up and looked around, but she couldn't see him anymore.

Han Xiao continued walking forward, with He Ziming close beside her. Han Xiao felt like someone was watching her, and turned her head to look, but didn't see anything unusual. Just as she was wondering whether to tell He Ziming, several teenagers carrying baskets squeezed past them. He Ziming took a step back, and after the teenagers had passed, he was about to ask Han Xiao if she had been jostled, but then he found that she had disappeared from his sight.

He Ziming was shocked. He raised his hand and made a gesture, and the guards scattered around quickly looked around and searched. But in just a short while, Han Xiao disappeared right under their noses.

Author's Note: Okay, finally an update! I have errands to run tomorrow, so I'll have to update late again. It's very cold, and today, braving the strong winds, my illness worsened, and I developed a cough as well. Everyone, please take care of yourselves. Christmas is almost here, so I hope you all have a healthy and happy holiday!

Princess in distress

When Han Xiao disappeared, Nie Chengyan was receiving a guest, Xie Chen, the city's garrison general.

Xie Chen had heard of Baiqiao City and knew of Nie Chengyan's reputation, but he hadn't expected the city lord to have such influence, directly sending a formal letter requesting an audience with him. Xie Chen initially didn't want to meet him, but these were turbulent times; General Mu had just arrived with his troops and announced the temporary takeover of the city. Xie Chen knew this was no small matter, and he wondered if Nie Chengyan was involved. To avoid trouble, he decided to go anyway.

Xie Chen kept muttering to himself the whole way, wondering what was wrong with this person. He had sent a visiting card, so naturally he should go to the military base to pay his respects. There was no reason for him to let someone else come to visit him. But when he saw Nie Chengyan sitting in a wheelchair, he understood.

Nie Chengyan had just finished speaking with his scouts and was very dissatisfied with the situation in the city. It seemed they had come at a terrible time, coinciding with Princess Ruyi's escape. Xie Chen had just arrived, and he wanted to ask how the military was handling the situation.

Xie Chen was surprised that Nie Chengyan knew about such a secret matter. He said, "We received a secret letter saying that the princess has escaped from the Northern Xia Kingdom and may be hiding in this Gusha City. We have sent people to search, but because this matter concerns the reputation of the country, we cannot make a big fuss about it. We hope that City Lord Nie can also keep it a secret."

Nie Chengyan was displeased with his gaze fixed on his wheelchair, and his tone hardened: "I have no interest in your secrets, and whether the princess escapes or not is none of my concern. However, what I saw when I entered the city was that your defenses were lax and your posts were not secure. Although this place is still some distance from the Xia Kingdom's border, Gusha City is a transportation hub for various towns in the desert region, and the population is naturally diverse. The princess's disappearance will surely alarm more than just you. Why don't you strengthen your defenses? If any riot breaks out, how will you control the situation?"

Xie Chen's heart skipped a beat. This City Lord Nie was indeed no ordinary person; he had seen through the problem at a glance. Previously, because the city was mostly populated by merchants, disturbances were rare, so the city guards were mostly responsible for basic defenses. Now that something had happened, he dared not reveal his authority to avoid leaking secrets, yet he couldn't ignore the possibility of unforeseen events. This was indeed a headache for him. Therefore, when General Mu arrived this morning with his troops and readjusted the garrison deployment, Xie Chen finally felt reassured. Since Mu Yuan acted as if he was in charge, then so be it. If trouble arose, he could naturally shift the blame onto him. As for Nie Chengyan, his origins were unknown, so he needed to be cautious. Therefore, Xie Chen said, "General Mu arrived this morning with some men. He has ordered us to redeploy the city's defenses."

"General Mu?" Nie Chengyan frowned. "Which General Mu?"

"General Mu Yuan. I heard that he was killed by the enemy several years ago and lost his right arm. He was healed on Yunwu Mountain."

Nie Chengyan remained silent, thinking to himself how coincidental it was. He hadn't found the old man, but instead, he had found a princess and a general, all gathered together. Xie Chen, seeing his displeased expression, was puzzled and was about to ask Nie Chengyan what business he had come for when a guard-like figure burst in from outside.

The newcomer was Huo Qiyang, who looked anxious. He whispered a few words in Nie Chengyan's ear, and Nie Chengyan's expression immediately changed: "How could you have lost him?"

His voice was sharp and stern, startling Xie Chen who was standing nearby. Huo Qiyang was about to speak when Nie Chengyan raised his hand and said to Xie Chen, "General Xie, something serious has happened to me, and it's inconvenient for me to continue. Please leave." Seeing the situation before him, Xie Chen naturally understood that it was not advisable to stay any longer, so he left awkwardly.

After he left, Nie Chengyan slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair and shouted, "Who came back to report this? Let him in, I'll question him. You lead the search party. Xiaoxiao knows what's important; if she could do it, she wouldn't disappear without leaving any clues. She must have been captured. Princess Ruyi escaped from Xia Kingdom on her wedding day, and Mu Yuan has also mobilized troops from the border. This city is probably not peaceful. You must act quickly. We don't have enough manpower to search the entire city; concentrate your efforts on sealing off the markets. Send someone to find General Mu Yuan and ask him to help with the search. He and Xiaoxiao are old acquaintances; he should be willing to help."

Huo Qiyang nodded in agreement and quickly went out. A guard who had gone to the market with Han Xiao came in with trembling legs. Nie Chengyan stared at him coldly and said, "Now is not the time to punish you. Pay close attention and tell me everything that happened. Don't miss a single detail."

Nie Chengyan understood Han Xiao well; he was right, Han Xiao was indeed subdued. When the boys carrying the baskets squeezed past her, she lost her balance and took a step back, only to feel a sharp pain in her neck and a numbness in her waist. She couldn't move, couldn't scream, and fell into a large basket beside her. Then everything went black as a thick cloth covered her completely. She felt a lightness beneath her as the basket was lifted and seemingly placed on a cart. After swaying for a while, it stopped, and then she was lifted off again, this time seemingly carried into a house. She felt the people carrying the basket step over the threshold.

Han Xiao felt a pang of panic. She was new to Gusha City and had no grudges against anyone. If someone maliciously kidnapped her, they would likely only be able to use her to blackmail Nie Chengyan. But knowing they could use her to control Nie Chengyan, the kidnapper was probably very familiar with his situation. Han Xiao took deep breaths, trying to remain calm. She had to think of a way to prevent them from succeeding. She tried to move, but her whole body was numb and sore, unable to move. She knew this was the effect of acupressure combined with poison needles. Fortunately, the poison wasn't strong, and she hadn't felt too much discomfort yet.

The large basket was finally put down. No one roughly pulled back the covering and yanked her. Han Xiao quietly nestled in the basket, listening to the sounds outside, her heart filled with doubt and uncertainty. After a while, someone gently pulled back the covering, and Han Xiao finally saw the person who had come. It was the old man she felt she had seen before in the market.

The old man brought a cup of water and fed it to Han Xiao. Han Xiao recognized the taste; it was licorice soup, presumably used to counteract the poison needle. After a while, the old man helped her up and released her acupoints.

Han Xiao couldn't recall where she had seen the old man before, so she decided to remain silent and observe. But to her utter surprise, the old man helped her sit in a chair and then suddenly knelt down before her.

Han Xiao was taken aback. The old man kneeling reminded her – he was the old man who served Princess Ruyi. When the old man spoke, his high-pitched voice confirmed Han Xiao's suspicions; it was indeed him.

"My name is Cui An. I am an old servant of Princess Ruyi. Several years ago, I was saved by Miss Han outside Baiqiao City. Do you still remember me, Miss Han?"

Han Xiao nodded without saying a word. Cui An continued, "Miss Han saved my life, and I shouldn't be so rude, but the situation was urgent, and I had no choice but to resort to this tactic. I hope you won't take offense." As he spoke, he actually kowtowed.

Han Xiao suddenly stood up: "Then why did you kidnap me?"

Without raising his head, Cui An kowtowed again and said, "Please, young lady, save my princess."

"Save her?" Han Xiao took a step back and said, "What happened to Princess Ruyi? I don't know martial arts and have no ability to save her. As for my master, you can talk things out if you speak properly. But kidnapping me like this will probably anger him. Why don't you let me go back first, and when my master is in a better mood, I'll let him talk to you, okay?"

"No, no!" Cui An frantically waved his hands. "This matter must never be known to anyone else. The princess is in this city; she is ill, very ill. I have no other choice, and I dare not call any doctors in the city. I had planned to take advantage of the market today, where some out-of-town doctors would be buying medicine, and invite one back to examine the princess. Unexpectedly, I was blessed with good fortune and bumped into you, young lady. I had no choice but to invite you in this way; the princess's whereabouts cannot be revealed, so I resorted to this desperate measure. Miss Han, your medical skills are superb; please save my princess."

"Is she very ill?" Han Xiao's medical instincts kicked in for her first reaction: "What illness does she have? What are her symptoms?" After thinking for a moment, she asked again: "Why can't other people know?"

Cui An hesitated for a moment, thinking that if Han Xiaozhen was willing to treat the princess, she would understand when she saw the injury. So he said, "Two months ago, the princess was escorted by the royal guards to the Xia Kingdom in the northern desert. But as soon as the escorting soldiers left, the Xia King revealed his true colors. He was cruel and ruthless, arbitrarily beating, scolding and killing servants. He had many concubines in the harem and also had affairs with many palace maids. The princess was stubborn by nature. She argued with him once and was beaten and scolded. Several of us tried to protect her, but we were no match for him on his territory."

As Cui An spoke, tears streamed down his face: "I watched the princess grow up from childhood. Although she wasn't the most favored in the palace, she was still pampered. She had never suffered such injustice. That King Xia was extremely ruthless; the princess was covered in bruises. From that day on, we guarded the princess, never daring to leave her side. Later, as the wedding day drew closer, King Xia would often come drunk and cause trouble. He even sent men to guard the palace, forbidding us from leaving. The princess's injuries never healed, but King Xia insisted on marrying on the agreed date. One day, he got drunk and abused one of the princess's maids. I never dared to tell the princess about the maid's suicide. Later, the princess said she wanted to escape; she would rather die in this filthy place. So, we racked our brains and finally, on the wedding day, we escaped when the guards were lax."

Han Xiao felt indignant and couldn't help but curse, "This King Xia is worse than a beast."

Cui An wiped away the tears on his face and said in a low voice, "When we fled, the King of Xia naturally sent people to chase us. We went through all sorts of hardships to cross the desert and escape to this Gusha City, but the princess is too ill and we can't go any further."

"Then why not seek help from the city guards? If they knew that our princess was in trouble, they would naturally help you."

“Miss Han, the princess’s escape violates the peace treaty between our two countries, which will likely give the King of Xia an excuse to send troops. How can the princess possibly return to the palace? There are many soldiers secretly searching the city now, probably looking for the princess. If the princess’s whereabouts are exposed, she will definitely be sent back to Xia.” Cui An choked up, “If she returns to Xia, the princess will surely die. My old bones are useless; I can only protect the princess for as long as I can. I have no other choice now. I just saw Miss Han in the market, and I feel that heaven has eyes and has sent a lucky star. Miss Han, you are kind-hearted, please save the princess.”

"But……"

"Miss Han, you only need to cure the princess's illness. As for the rest, you can just pretend you never saw us. We will find a way to escape the city and find another way to survive," Cui An pleaded earnestly.

Han Xiao, however, had her own insistence: "But I can't let my master worry about me. If I disappear, he'll be so anxious."

"Miss Han, you only need to go and check on the princess's illness. Once she is cured, I will definitely send you back safely. It won't be long."

"No, I have to put my master at ease. Eunuch Cui, you are trapped here, outnumbered and outmatched. Why don't you tell my master the truth? He is a kind-hearted man, and he will definitely help."

"If he had been willing to help, he would have agreed to marry the princess back in Baiqiao City. The princess had always been deeply favored by the emperor, and he wouldn't have wanted her to marry far away to the desert for a political marriage. However, the princess fell in love with Lord Nie and became so obsessed that she couldn't eat or sleep, rejecting several marriages arranged by the emperor. Despite this, she couldn't get a kind word from Lord Nie. I tried to persuade her, but the princess was stubborn, saying she would only marry Nie Chengyan, and she didn't even care that he was lame. This dragged on until she was twenty. The emperor was embarrassed by her antics several times, and the marriages he arranged failed, so he began to distance himself from her." "Come here. A young woman past twenty, even a princess, is still subject to criticism. It was only in his anger that the Emperor sent her for a political marriage." Cui An's words were filled with resentment towards Nie Chengyan. He continued, "Do you understand what I'm saying, young lady? The princess's situation today is somewhat related to Lord Nie. She's married to the wrong person and has been mistreated like this. If Lord Nie were to intervene, how could the princess bear it? Furthermore, Lord Nie is an unruly and shrewd man. If he doesn't side with the princess but instead intends to hand her over to the court to curry favor, who can stop him?"

This last sentence left Han Xiao speechless. Nie Chengyan was indeed that kind of person. Although she didn't think he would want to push a weak woman into a fire pit, Cui An's act of kidnapping her must have angered Nie Chengyan. Getting his help was probably highly unlikely.

"Miss Han, I beg you, just go and treat the princess's illness." Cui An kowtowed twice forcefully.

Han Xiao gritted her teeth and said, "Eunuch Cui, I can go and treat the princess without revealing this to my master, but I must let him know I'm safe. I won't reveal my whereabouts or the incident, just that I'm safe. Is that alright?" The princess's plight was worthy of sympathy, but how could she bear to let Nie Chengyan worry so much? If it were him, whose whereabouts and fate were unknown, she would probably be frantic with worry. Putting herself in his shoes, she should at least let him know she was safe.

Cui An jumped up from the ground and said to Han, "Miss Han, I would never risk revealing the princess's whereabouts. You saved my life, but I watched the princess grow up. So if you can't do as I say, I'll have to treat you like a stranger, a doctor from the outer city." He was determined to kidnap a doctor, so he was naturally prepared.

Han Xiao's heart skipped a beat. After considering the situation, she realized that Cui An was loyal and skilled in martial arts, and she was afraid she couldn't defeat him. If she angered him, it would be even more difficult to send messages out. So Han Xiao pretended to be flustered, twisted her fingers, bit her lip, and said, "Then I'll listen to you, Eunuch, and examine the princess first."

Cui An's expression softened. "Then I'll take you to see the princess." He had Han Xiao change her clothes, put on a headscarf, and took away her personal ornaments and old clothes before leading her out of the courtyard. Han Xiao was somewhat surprised. She had thought the princess was next door, but it turned out she was hiding somewhere else. Taking away her personal ornaments was probably to prevent her from leaving a mark. It seemed that this Eunuch Cui was indeed meticulous.

Han Xiao kept a close watch on the old man's actions. This eunuch, Cui, led her through narrow streets and alleys, rarely seeing anyone. Han Xiao secretly surveyed her surroundings, unable to find anyone she could approach and talk to. Of course, she couldn't see Nie Chengyan's group of guards either. She knew this route must have been carefully planned and researched by Eunuch Cui, and her heart began to pound with unease.

While changing clothes alone in the room, Han Xiao had torn off some lining fabric from her clothes and tied it in knots. Although Eunuch Cui had taken her old clothes, she had kept these strips of fabric on her person. Now, taking advantage of Eunuch Cui's inattention, she shook a knotted strip of fabric from her sleeve and threw it on the ground. She hoped that Nie Chengyan and the others would see this strange strip of fabric along the way, become suspicious, and follow the route to find her.

I saw an old friend again. (Correct the typo)

After several twists and turns, the two finally arrived at an inconspicuous, secluded alley. Han Xiao looked around carefully and saw that the alley was open at both ends, making it easy to escape. Of course, she only thought about it, because Cui An had already rhythmically knocked on the gate of a small courtyard in the middle of the alley. The gate opened, and Cui An pushed her inside. Han Xiao had no way out and could only grit her teeth and walk in.

The courtyard was small, like any ordinary family home, with nothing particularly special about it. A middle-aged man dressed as a coachman stood guard behind the door, and after seeing Han Xiao and Cui An enter, he quickly locked the door again.

A maid peeked out from the room. Han Xiao recognized her as the princess's personal maid. The maid was startled to see Han Xiao, and when she saw that Cui An had also returned, she quickly went to greet him: "Eunuch Cui, you're finally back! The princess has vomited up all the medicine she drank. What are we going to do?"