I looked at him. "Who? You mean... An Chen?"
He looked at me and nodded almost imperceptibly.
I grabbed Lou Xiyue's arm. "Who is An Chen?"
He narrowed his eyes, stared at me intently, pondered for a moment, and then smiled, “I don’t know either. I’ve only heard that there is a young master named Chen in the Central Plains who is skilled in medicine, knowledgeable in military strategy, and adept at stratagems.”
I asked him, "And then?"
He shook his fan. "Let's go out first, otherwise it will be difficult to get away later."
Lou Xiyue walked around the room and stopped in front of a brocade box. The box was half open and half closed, and he held it in his palm and examined it carefully.
I heard someone outside say, "Lord Zi Mo, the return ceremony for the Heavenly Sacrifice is about to begin. The Emperor is angry because he didn't see you at the altar."
I walked to the window frame and saw Zi Mo holding a wooden bone knife in her hand, stroking her chin and looking up at the sky. After a moment, she asked, "Where is Young Master Xia?"
Someone nearby replied, "The young master is in the medicine pavilion."
Zi Mo rested her chin on her hand and smiled faintly, "Go and tell the Emperor that there are purple clouds covering the sky and five stars gathering in the sky, indicating that a distinguished person is coming to visit. I want to ride in the same carriage with Young Master Xia to show our country's people."
Before I knew it, Lou Xiyue was standing behind me. He said softly, "I've thought about it. Saving Uncle San is the priority. Let's go back to the Central Plains today."
I said, "I want to take my master back with me."
Lou Xiyue paused, then said calmly, "How should I bring it?"
"I want to go to the medicine pavilion to see him first."
He looked at me and said in a cold voice, "Fine, I'll take you to see him."
As they stepped out of the house, a group of palace maids carrying sacrificial trays passed by. They whispered among themselves, "Lord Zi Mo rode in the same carriage with Young Master Xia during the return ceremony for the Heavenly Sacrifice. Is she trying to force the Emperor to grant them a marriage?"
"But Lord Zimo should be castrated and cannot get married."
"This celestial phenomenon is very auspicious, a sign from the gods. Perhaps the Emperor has set a precedent."
My heart tightened. "Master must not know Zi Mo's tricks. This woman is not good. I will go and talk to Master, and then we will return to Li Kingdom together."
Lou Xiyue responded with a soft "Mm".
I said, "Where is Ji Jiu?"
He said, "Ji Jiu went to gather information."
I said to him seriously, "You went through so much trouble to pick her up, and you just let a young girl like that go into danger like that? Don't you know how to cherish a beautiful woman?"
Lou Xiyue looked at me.
I said again, "Ji Jiu is as beautiful as a flower and is in the prime of her youth. It would be better for you to keep her by your side."
Lou Xiyue asked, "Qi Xiang, what exactly are you trying to say?"
I stroked my chin. "Actually, I wanted Ji Jiu to help me find Da Feng. If Master knew I threw Da Feng away, he would definitely be unhappy."
His eyes dimmed slightly. "Alright, after I see your master, I'll go find Dafeng and get everything I need. I'll give you everything you want."
I felt inexplicably guilty. "Then let's go to the medicine pavilion."
The Medicine Pavilion is a building in the southwest corner of the main hall. It contains many rare and exotic herbs from the Eastern Lands, as well as medical books from various regions. It is said that the Emperor intends to refine an elixir of immortality, so every year he collects precious herbs from all directions and gathers them in the furnace.
The Medicine Pavilion was a small building with four corners and green tiles. As soon as Lou Xiyue and I arrived at the entrance, we saw Zi Mo leading a group of people inside before us. The pavilion was heavily guarded, with three rows of black-clad men carrying long swords standing in close formation.
Lou Xiyue said with difficulty, "The security here is very tight, it's not easy to get in."
I said, "Okay, we'll wait outside, and as soon as the master comes out, we'll snatch him and run away."
Lou Xiyue and I waited outside for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. As the sun rose higher, the bell for the hour of Si (9-11 AM) rang in the hall.
A group of musicians carrying drums, panpipes, Qiang flutes, and zithers walked past us, while palace servants carried incense towards the palace gate.
I was thinking, if Master is tricked out by Zi Mo, then Lou Xiyue and I will knock her out and take Master away; if Master is not tricked out by Zi Mo, then Lou Xiyue and I will still knock her out and use her as a hostage to exchange for Master and take her away.
But I guessed neither the beginning nor the end. As the sun rose to noon, wisps of smoke rose above the main hall, and the bells and drums rang out, my master and Zi Mo still hadn't come out of the medicine pavilion.
This feeling is just like when I waited for An Chen at the entrance of a brothel three years ago, never to return.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, the palace servants in front of the medicine pavilion suddenly seemed lost in thought and gathered in front of the pavilion. I saw my master step out in a white robe, holding Zi Mo in his arms. Her black gauze dress was embroidered with passionflowers with purple petals and gold edges. Her eyes were closed, blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and the purple three-petaled flame on her forehead made her skin look as translucent as snow.
The master handed Zi Mo to the palace servant, reached out and touched Zi Mo's neck, his brows furrowing slightly.
I think we didn't even need to do anything; Zi Mo had already fainted.
Text [26] Wolf Venom Killing (5)
When I first entered Medicine King Valley, I always told my master the story of An Chen, over and over again. The phoenix flowers in the valley bloomed and faded, and the clouds in the sky changed into various shapes over the three years. (89 Literature Network)
Generally speaking, all stories can be summarized in a few sentences. The most famous plots are basically: you were born before I was born, I was born after you were dead, and in between, we were separated by life and death, and the separation of life and death was heart-wrenching. In the end, you were reborn while I passed away.
However, my story with An Chen took a wrong turn just as it was heading towards the happy ending of "you gave birth to me after all the hardship," so after telling my master a few words, I couldn't continue.
Now that I think about it, I haven't mentioned this story to my master in a long time.
Unbeknownst to many, the boats of Yangzhou have sailed further and further away, the weeping willows sigh, and the years have passed in a sigh.
Right now, Lou Xiyue and I are sitting idly on the roof, reminiscing about the feelings of my youthful days while looking down at the busy people below slaying demons and monsters.
The hall was in complete chaos. Two or three monks, wearing masks and bearskin coats, carrying bronze ritual implements, were wandering around the courtyard chanting incantations as they tried to exorcise the ghosts.