The next day, Xie Chengyun woke up feeling sore all over, particularly experiencing a sharp, throbbing pain with purple-red bruises on his inner thighs. Assuming he had bumped into something while drunk, he didn’t give it much thought. He put on his undergarments and stepped outside, but the courtyard was empty.
He held his aching head and poured himself a cup of water just as the young Emperor arrived with breakfast. Seeing that Xie Chengyun was thinly dressed, Zhu Yunyin took off his own outer robe and draped it over him.
“Where is that brat, Gu Minsheng?”
Zhu Yunyin’s expression remained normal. “He drank so much yesterday, he’s probably still sleeping.”
An unexplainable sense of anxiety rose in Xie Chengyun’s heart. He couldn’t even bring himself to eat. “I’ll go check on him,” he said hastily.
Zhu Yunyin did not stop him, merely following close behind. Passing through the corridor, they arrived at Gu Minsheng’s room. Xie Chengyun pushed the door open and called out, “Why haven’t you gotten up after drinking? Hurry up and go cook.”
The person on the bed lay completely still. Frowning, Xie Chengyun walked forward to pull back the gauze curtains. The red spots on Gu Minsheng’s body had spread across his entire frame. Reaching out to touch his forehead, he found it burning hot. Seeing this scene—and recalling the livestock in the underground palace a chill ran down Xie Chengyun’s spine.
Zhu Yunyin saw Xie Chengyun standing frozen in place, unable to move. Thinking of what had happened yesterday, he asked expressionlessly, “Foster Father, what is wrong with Big Brother Gu?” As he spoke, he prepared to step inside.
“Stay where you are! Don’t move!”
Zhu Yunyin stood at the doorway. Xie Chengyun added, “Find a physician the best physician! Quickly!”
Watching as Zhu Yunyin turned and left, Xie Chengyun tore off a piece of his own clothing to cover his nose and mouth. What was meant to come would eventually come.
Zhu Yunyin stood outside the door while Xie Chengyun stood by the bed, waiting for the physician’s verdict. The old man sighed. “This is an epidemic. It has been dragged on for too long; there is nothing more that can be done.”
“Is there really no other way?”
“There is no way.”
Xie Chengyun leaned against the bed, his heart aching. Gu Minsheng was deliriously asking for water, so Xie Chengyun hurried to pour some.
“Old age allows me to only temporarily alleviate his suffering. As for a cure, I am powerless.”
After helping Gu Minsheng drink the water, Xie Chengyun said, “You may leave.”
Zhu Yunyin stood outside, watching Xie Chengyun sit on Gu Minsheng’s bed, wishing only that the man would die faster. “Foster Father, come out. The physician said this illness is contagious. Big Brother Gu surely wouldn’t want you to fall ill.”
An epidemic, the underground palace… how could he have forgotten? He could go find “Cuckoo Blood”! Zhu Zhao was still in Suizhou! Xie Chengyun stood up immediately and shouted, “Pass the order: have everyone in the estate go search for Zhu Zhao!”
With that, he tightened his sash and prepared to leave. Zhu Yunyin grabbed his hand. “Foster Father, leave such matters to the subordinates. You going there won’t change anything; it would be better to stay home and wait for news.”
Xie Chengyun’s hands were ice cold. He pulled Zhu Yunyin into his embrace, his whole body trembling. “Your Majesty, you must stay safe… stay safe…”
On the bed, Gu Minsheng half-opened his eyes and saw this scene behind the clouds, a blood-red sun cast its light upon them. Zhu Yunyin hugged his fragile foster father with satisfaction, the hickey on his neck still visible, yet he remained completely unaware. He clung to Xie Chengyun like a poisonous snake coiled around its prey. He held Xie Chengyun and cast a provocative smile toward Gu Minsheng.
In the wind and rain, the fragrance of heaven followed the horses. Xie Chengyun sat in the courtyard while Zhu Yunyin practiced archery.
“Foster Father, do you think my posture is correct?”
Anxious inside but helpless, Xie Chengyun replied when called, “Keep your back straight and steady your arm.”
The arrow flew out and struck the bullseye perfectly.
“Your Majesty is naturally gifted; you learn everything immediately.”
Zhu Yunyin put away his bow and rested his head on Xie Chengyun’s lap. “Why is there a sword hanging in the Zhou family’s hall?”
“That is my sword.”
“Why would Foster Father’s sword be hanging in the hall?”
Xie Chengyun didn’t speak, only watching the birds in the sky.
“Your Majesty will come of age soon. What gift do you want?”
Zhu Yunyin hugged him tightly. “I want nothing. I want Ah Yun to stay with me forever.”
Xie Chengyun’s long, soft fingers stroked the young Emperor’s head. “Silly child, in this world, no one stays with you forever.”
Urgent knocking at the door broke the moment, and Xie Chengyun stood up immediately. When the gate opened, the visitor was Zhu Zhao. She hurried in, clearly having words for Xie Chengyun. Xie Chengyun reached for her sleeve to take her to Gu Minsheng’s room, but Zhu Zhao shook him off.
“How many troops are there in Suizhou?”
“This has nothing to do with you. Please, help me look at Gu…”
Before he could finish, Zhu Zhao gripped his arm again. “When the Hu people raided Qu City at night, they borrowed grain from the surrounding areas. Does Suizhou still have military provisions?”
“Miss Zhu, what exactly are you trying to say?”
“The Hu are massing troops at the border, heading straight for Suizhou.”
“That’s impossible!”
“I was at the border searching for Snow Lotus when the Brave General led his troops right past us. We saw it all with our own eyes.”
Seeing Xie Chengyun staring at her in silence, Zhu Zhao raised her hand. “I swear by the heroic spirit of my late father: if there is even a shred of falsehood in this, our entire family shall never be reincarnated.”
After staring at her for a long while, Xie Chengyun shouted, “Where is the Zhou Family Army?”
“Here!”
“Assemble! Follow me to the city tower!”
Zhu Yunyin picked up his bow to join him, but Xie Chengyun looked at him and said, “Your Majesty, please take Miss Zhu to check on Minsheng.”
Although the “Zhou Family Army” held the title of an army, they were not a formal military force. The Zhou family motto emphasized doing things oneself partly to keep their children from becoming spoiled, and partly because their servants, aside from personal maids, were all veterans of the Zhou Family Army. Most had retired from the battlefield with old injuries; many were blind, missing arms, or limping. Yet, at this moment, these old warhorses were re-arming, their spirit no less than it had been in their youth.
Xie Chengyun brought them to the tower, only to be stopped by Suizhou officials. “Who are you? The Suizhou tower is a restricted military zone not a place for you to roam freely. Leave at once, or don’t blame us for being impolite!”
The Zhou Family Army stood in front of Xie Chengyun. He pulled out his jade token and shouted coldly, “I am Xie Chengyun. Move aside!”
The officials exchanged looks. The leader observed the token for a long time before kneeling heavily. “We pay respects to the Prime Minister.”
Xie Chengyun strode up to the tower and squinted into the distance. Sure enough, there was a sea of black cavalry. “Close the city gates at once! Pass on my command: have the Suizhou Governor inventory the grain immediately, and have the Prefect assemble the troops—give me the count!”
“Yes!”
The guards hurried away. Worried about these “young master soldiers” who had never seen war, Xie Chengyun ordered the Zhou Family Army to hold the post. He had to return to the estate; Gu Minsheng was infected with the plague, and he could not let it spread through the city.
After descending, the commoners gathered around, asking what had happened. Xie Chengyun didn’t bother to answer, leaving it to the officials as he mounted his horse.
Inside, Zhu Zhao frowned as she looked at Gu Minsheng. Zhu Yunyin stood to the side. “How is it?”
“Strange… truly strange.”
Zhu Zhao didn’t want to explain. She took cinnabar to draw talismans for divine protection. In the room, only Zhu Yunyin and Gu Minsheng remained. The young military officer, paralyzed by the plague, could only watch as the even younger monarch pinched his throat. Zhu Yunyin’s eyes were full of malice, his face twisted. “Gu Minsheng, why haven’t you died yet?”
“Only when you die will I feel at ease.”
His grip tightened, and Gu Minsheng’s face turned bright red.
Outside, the sound of hooves approached. “How is Minsheng?”
Zhu Yunyin loosened his hand and, without even glancing at Gu Minsheng, put on a bright smile to greet Xie Chengyun. A man who couldn’t even move or speak letting him live a moment longer to please Ah Yun was no great loss.
Zhu Zhao held a talisman, instructing Xie Chengyun, “Once you go in, burn this. It can temporarily bring him back for a final moment of clarity.”
“Only a final moment of clarity?”
Zhu Zhao looked at him. “I know what you want to say, but I am not lying to you. In this matter, I am just as much in the dark as you. Believe it or not, the decision regarding ‘Cuckoo Blood’ is not mine alone.”
Xie Chengyun didn’t want to say more. He took the talisman and went inside. Zhu Yunyin looked at Zhu Zhao. “You did that on purpose.”
Zhu Zhao poured herself a cup of water. “Little Emperor, if you don’t want others to know, you should not have done it yourself.”
Xie Chengyun entered and burned the talisman as instructed. Approaching the bed, he intended to wipe Gu Minsheng’s face but instead saw the purple-blue marks on his throat. As he touched them, Gu Minsheng slowly woke up. “Brother Xie…”
Xie Chengyun hurriedly took his hand. “I’m here. I’m right here.”
Gu Minsheng turned his head, as if wanting to say something, but stopped.
“What is happening in the city? I heard the sound of armor.”
“I haven’t held a drill since arriving in Suizhou, so I had them put on their armor for me to see.”
Gu Minsheng knew Xie Chengyun was lying, so he asked again, “Brother Xie, I’m dying, aren’t I?”
Xie Chengyun forced a smile. “What nonsense are you talking about? You just have a bad case of the measles; sleep for a few days and you’ll be fine.”
“I’m dying. Will Big Brother come back to see me? Brother Xie, I miss Big Brother, Father, Mother, and General Zhou.”
“I miss the wind of the North, the women of the North, and the strong liquor. I miss when we raced horses and hunted eagles together. When tired, we lay on the desert sand; when thirsty, we drank from mountain springs.”
Xie Chengyun could no longer lie to him. “They are already on their way. If you have anything more to say, is there anything else you want to do?”
Tears dripped onto Gu Minsheng’s face. Gu Minsheng also wept. “Brother Xie, please save me. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die like this.”
“The Hu are surrounding the city. As a man, I should die standing tall on the battlefield. I don’t want to die like this.”
Unable to bear it, Xie Chengyun leaned over and hugged him. Zhu Yunyin stood at the door, watching this scene. Gu Minsheng met his gaze, his mouth moving in a silent, unspoken message.
Outside, the war drums beat. The Brave General stood at the head of the formation, looking at the Suizhou pass. Once this pass was broken, they could drive straight through. Even if the Marquis of Dingyuan had heaven-defying abilities, he would be unable to stop them.
Xie Chengyun’s tears flowed uncontrollably. He had lost too much; now that he had found something, he didn’t want to lose it again. But the tighter he held on, the faster it slipped away. The plague had not taken the lives of the commoners, yet it was taking the lives of those closest to him. Should he be glad? Trading one life to save the world?
Gu Minsheng’s breathing grew weak. “It hurts, Brother Xie, it hurts so much. Save me, please save me.”
The cold wind whistled, the birds cried out in sorrow, and the bed curtains billowed, snapping against Xie Chengyun. He closed his eyes, silent for a long time, before finally saying, “Alright. I will save you.”
Gu Minsheng trusted Xie Chengyun just as he had when he was a child—if Xie Chengyun said he would save him, then he would. As a smile bloomed on his face, Xie Chengyun cupped his face and twisted it forcefully.
Snap.
Gu Minsheng’s hand, which had been holding onto Xie Chengyun, fell heavily onto the bed.
Zhu Yunyin watched this scene, never having felt such exhilaration in his heart. Finally, he is dead.
Xie Chengyun wrapped Gu Minsheng in a thin quilt and carried him out. Zhu Yunyin followed closely. “Ah Yun, I will prepare a coffin for him, and find a place with excellent geomancy.”
Xie Chengyun didn’t speak. Ignoring both Zhu Yunyin and Zhu Zhao, he laid him down on the stone corridor. He picked up an oil lamp and threw it onto the corpse. As the raging flames burned, Xie Chengyun knelt blankly on the ground.
“System, tell me—can I go home?”
“As long as the task is completed, I will send you home.”
“System, this is my home, right?”
His mind was filled with silence; there was no response.
Shi Shini it really is you. What is written in the book is me.
Why was there no ending? Because when I died the first time, I hadn’t yet seen the ending of the first emperor through the ages, Zhu Yunyin.
Dark clouds pressed upon the city; rain began to pour from the sky. The charred corpse could barely be identified as human. As the cold wind swept through the hall, Zhu Yunyin draped the green silk robe he had won on the street over Xie Chengyun’s shoulders and held him tightly.
“Ah Yun, you still have me. I will always be by your side…”