That night, Xie Lanzhi rode alone towards Tianjing, with Xie Feng desperately trying to protect her behind her. She ignored him and continued riding until dawn. The next morning, Tianjing's streets began to be bustling with activity, and the Tianjing patrol team changed shifts to continue their patrols. Xie Lanzhi, riding her horse at full speed, stood out prominently on the streets.
When she entered the city, her black robe stained with blood terrified many of the guards, Xie Jun. Fortunately, Xie Feng stepped forward to explain, which calmed the panic.
Xie Lanzhi rode swiftly to the Emperor's Gate, followed by a rapid sound of hooves. Si Xinian landed quickly.
He glanced at Xie Lanzhi carefully, and seeing that she had no other wounds, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief: "Marshal."
Xie Lanzhi nodded: "Come with me to the Imperial Hospital."
The two of them walked solemnly toward the Imperial Hospital. Along the way, Xie Lanzhi did not ask Si Xinian what he was doing in Fengxi Town.
Si Xinian didn't say anything either. The two walked silently to the Imperial Hospital. Xie Lanzhi handed the medicine bottle to the Poison Master, who quickly fanned the air around the bottle and smelled the medicine. Immediately, the Poison Master's eyes lit up.
"This is the antidote."
"Give it to me, I want to feed it myself." Xie Lanzhi reached out to the poison master.
Si Xinian saw the bandages wrapped around her thighs, and the bruised and swollen skin on her hands, covered with numerous wounds of varying sizes. He had witnessed her killing Xie Yan from a hidden sentry post.
“That old scoundrel’s methods are vile. I think the Marshal should check his own health first. After all… you will not be alone in the future. As the head of the family, your responsibilities are heavy.” He half-reminded and half-advised, “As for the matter of feeding the Empress’s medicine, leave it to me.”
The words "head of the family" moved Xie Lanzhi deeply. She handed the medicine bottle to Si Xinian and then patted his shoulder, saying, "You're right. This handsome man won't be all alone anymore."
"Brother-in-law, we must all take good care of ourselves from now on, so as not to worry your elder sister anymore." Then, she asked with concern, "Were you injured in Fengxi Town?"
She suddenly felt the urge to take on the responsibility of being the head of the household.
"Your hands are practically rotting, and you still bother me." Si Xinian was in a bad mood, but a strange warmth welled up in his heart. This long-lost feeling startled him. Then, without looking back, he took the medicine bottle to the Imperial Hospital's inner chamber. Just as he reached the top of the stairs, he suddenly clutched his shoulder, his face contorted in pain, feeling as if the wounds on his body were reopening.
Suddenly remembering his bargain-hunting trip in Fengxi Town, he took control of Xie Yongding's wife and daughter, preventing Xie Yongding from making any rash moves.
He never expected that Xie Yan's personal guards would even try to kill Xie Yongding's wife and daughters. He was stabbed while protecting his wife and daughters. The guard was a skilled swordsman, though slow; Xie Yongding killed him in one swift stroke with his fast sword. Xie Yongding, out of gratitude, told him about the hidden sentry, which is why he was able to arrive in time. Otherwise, the old villain would have succeeded.
The Imperial Medical Academy summoned a female physician to examine Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi's injuries were not serious. The poison master also discovered that the poison in the dart was just datura, which would cause temporary numbness that would quickly pass and was not very toxic.
Xie Lanzhi quickly changed the bandages and applied some medicine. She still wanted to see Little Phoenix. If Little Phoenix woke up and she wasn't there, would Little Phoenix look for her?
Inside the room, Si Xinian finished feeding the medicine and sat to one side waiting.
At this moment, Xie Shangguang came up from another staircase. He went straight into the room and saw Si Xinian changing his dressing.
He exclaimed in surprise, "You're injured?"
"Close the door." Si Xinian frowned and said, "Since you're here, lend me a hand. I can't reach the back of my shoulder blades."
Xie Shangguang closed the door, then turned around and taught him, "You can reach it by putting your hands under your armpits."
"It's very simple. Let me demonstrate it for you again. This is how I applied the compress when I was injured in the military camp and no one helped me."
Si Xinian: "..."
Just then, a slight breeze came from outside, and someone seemed to be walking on tiptoe. If it weren't for the slight creaking sound from the loose floorboards, it would have been hard to notice that someone was holding their breath as they went upstairs.
Such a master! Sneaking in silently? Could he be an enemy?
Si Xinian's eyes suddenly hardened. He dressed, stood up, took out Xie Shangguang's sword, and was about to stab it fiercely towards the door.
"Shang Guang, Qinian!?" Xie Lanzhi's voice suddenly drifted away.
The door opened from the outside, and Xie Lanzhi appeared like a ghost. Even Xie Shangguang didn't notice her behind him. He was immediately startled: "Marshal, why do you walk so quietly?"
"I'm afraid of disturbing Madam," Xie Lanzhi explained softly. She stood at the door, unsure whether to go in or out, the atmosphere a little awkward.
She became more and more proficient in using her internal energy, to the point that she habitually walked in a low voice throughout the day. She never expected the effect to be so good; it was so quiet that she felt as if her footsteps had disappeared.
And Shang Guang was unaware of it.
Si Xinian sheathed his sword and said with a strange expression, "The Marshal's internal strength is also limited. You can put it away now."
Xie Lanzhi said, "When we have time, perhaps we should have another match."
Si Xinian's face darkened as he recalled the collapsed second floor: "My internal strength is weak, and only my swordsmanship is decent. It is inconvenient for me to practice swordsmanship with a marshal with profound internal strength. I ask the marshal to consider the clan."
Xie Shangguang immediately raised his hand: "Marshal, I'll spar with you! You don't need to hold back."
After saying that, Si Xinian looked at Xie Shangguang with an expression that said, "You don't know how to spell the word 'death'."
Xie Lanzhi comforted him, saying, "Shangguang is still young. Let's talk about it another time."
Xie Shangguang: ? ?
Si Xitong suddenly coughed lightly on the bed, and Xie Lanzhi quickly stepped over the two of them to stay by her side.
The beauty trembled her delicate eyelashes and slowly opened her eyes, only to see Xie Lanzhi's face... her face completely blackened.
After returning from the battle, Xie Lanzhi had completely forgotten about her appearance. She rushed back to Tianjing overnight, exuding a murderous aura, and no one dared to remind her about her face.
Before Si Xitong could speak, her gaze fell on those hands, and she hurriedly stood up: "What happened to your hands?"
"And your face??"
Xie Lanzhi suddenly experienced facial convulsions. Oh no, she'd forgotten to wash her face after returning from the battle. He'd intended to keep it a secret from her, but now... a moment of carelessness. It was beyond repair.
These words were spoken.
Si Xinian and Xie Shangguang then noticed Xie Lanzhi's face, which was blackened by smoke.
Xie Shangguang thought that this was normal in war, and Si Xinian knew that these were the marks of her desperate struggle, so neither of them thought much about her image.
Only Si Xitong, unaware of the situation, noticed her unusual behavior at first glance.
Because Xie Lanzhi usually takes good care of her health.
"Your leg is injured too!" Si Xitong stood up, supporting her back. Xie Lanzhi quickly helped her up, and she soon smelled a strong odor of blood.
Si Xitong's heart tightened again: "You, have you experienced something like this...?"
The word "battlefield" instantly brought tears to her eyes: "You've never been there in person."
Si Xinian quietly pulled Xie Shangguang away. Xie Shangguang also felt it was good to leave. The Grand Marshal had just finished a battle, and the mistress's poison had been cured. It was a time when the two were missing each other, and they would definitely have to express their feelings to each other.
After the person left.
Si Xitong held her hands without any hesitation, looked at her legs, and said in a trembling voice, "You don't know martial arts, so I've been hesitant and afraid because of that."
Xie Lanzhi used one hand to wipe away her tears: "Actually, I've also gained a lot, such as internal strength. I never thought I had such a wealth hidden in my body. I discovered it today, and it also solves my problem."
Si Xitong tried to calm herself down. She took the hand that was wiping her hand again and bit her lip: "Tell me in detail."
"Okay." Xie Lanzhi then told her everything about her battle with Xie Yan and the situation in Fengxi Town.
Outside the Imperial Hospital, Si Xinian re-bandaged the bandages and specifically reminded Xie Shangguang: "From now on, when you have a sword fight, fight me, not the Marshal."
"What? You want to monopolize the Marshal and train with him all by yourself!" Xie Shangguang immediately accused, "Fourth Prince, you are truly despicable!"
Si Xinian: "..."
Forget it, why should he care whether he lives or dies?
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 12:15:52 and 18:42:28 on December 3, 2021!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 1 large pool sealed;
Thank you to the little angels who irrigated with nutrient solution: 追忆_Ω 20 bottles; 封大池 10 bottles; 忧残莫 6 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 43 Her Ninth Promotion in the Making
The next day.
The rising sun, its radiance enveloping the earth, including the entire capital city of Tianjing.
Lanzhang Palace.
Xie Lanzhi brought her face close to Si Xitong's and asked him to wipe her face with a white cloth. Her movements were very gentle, as if she were wiping some precious treasure.
Xie Lanzhi felt a warmth on her face, as if she had been steamed, which was very comfortable.
After her face was wiped clean, Si Xitong ordered a palace maid to bring her sheepskin gloves and gently put them on her.
"The imperial physician said you must not get your hands wet for the next few days."
"Um."
"We must not resort to force again."
"good."
"I'll give you a massage tonight."
"good!!"
Si Xitong: "The poison master said that although the poison of datura is not serious, it is easily triggered by external factors, so we need to be more careful in the coming days and avoid meat for the next two days."
Xie Lanzhi's face immediately fell. Undeterred, she said, "Not even a little bit?"
"I will personally supervise you. Eat light meals for the next few days." Seeing her looking like she was facing a great disaster, Si Xitong sighed inwardly. This person almost lost her life in Fengxi Town and was not like this now.
However, her desire for food and drink kept her from giving up.
Si Xitong said, "But you can still eat mild meats. For example, fish."
"Big pork knuckle and big chicken leg are the best!" Xie Lanzhi's mouth watered just from saying it.
Si Xitong wouldn't agree to her request within three days. She ordered a palace servant to serve her a bowl of light fish porridge, wanting to watch her drink it herself.
Xie Lanzhi was also destined for a life of hard work; she finished her porridge with a bitter face.
Wu Qiu cautiously peeked out from outside the hall: "Marshal?"
“If it weren’t for an emergency, Lord Wu wouldn’t have sought you out. I’ll go to the kitchen first.” Si Xitong didn’t actually need to adhere to the Xie clan’s rules, but she had to remember that Lanzhi had just quelled Xie Yan’s rebellion. Now was a time when the Xie clan was on edge, and there couldn’t be any more mishaps.
"Little Phoenix, it'll be fine in a while, very soon." Everything that was supposed to happen in the first half of the original story has arrived. Next, it should be the little girl showing off her skills.
Xie Lanzhi didn't want to leave her for a moment, but she also needed energy to deal with her destiny.
Wu Qiu must have official business to contact him now.
She was just about to go out for a walk to digest her food when Xiao Xiu handed her a walking stick: "This was prepared for you by His Highness."