— It's already late. We should bathe and go to bed. This matter doesn't concern us. And we have to wake up early tomorrow.
The Qi Kingdom's Envoy, Zuo An Nian, yawned after a few people had gathered and said.
The Wei Kingdom's Envoy, Sui Pai, replied:
— We were here. What's this talk of bathing and sleeping?
Zuo An Nian replied:
— It's already late, whether you bathe or not.
The Jin Kingdom's Envoy, Chu Xiang Yu, lifted his head, gazing at the sky, and whispered:
— Don't you think Zhuge Xiong and Tu Huai You staged a scene just now?
The two men grew wary, and Zuo An Nian asked:
— How do you explain that?
Chu Xiang Yu crossed his arms, looked at them, and said:
— To dare attack someone in such a situation, was Niu You Dao truly not afraid of death? And at just the right moment, Song Lun's men couldn't block his path because they were preoccupied with Zhuge Xiong's and Tu Huai You's men. Do you think that was a coincidence?
Both men fell into thought.
After a moment of silence, Sui Pai said:
— According to your words, did the Qingzhou people, who suddenly appeared, also block Song Lun's men's path? Are the Qingzhou people involved in this too? Otherwise, Niu You Dao would have been doomed to die!
Zuo An Nian blinked:
— Did Zhuge Xiong, Tu Huai You, and the Qingzhou people stage a play? There were no conflicts between Song Lun and Qingzhou, were there? If there were, Song Lun wouldn't have dared to come. Moreover, Song Lun is a guest. Would they dare to kill those who came to congratulate them? No matter how you look at it, it's not profitable for the Qingzhou people to kill Song Lun. Besides, do you think Zhuge Xiong and Tu Huai You were merely acting? After all, Zhuge Xiong had been hit quite harshly!
As he spoke, Chu Xiang Yu and Sui Pai shuddered. After all, Zhuge Xiong had been hit quite savagely. It was unlikely to have been a staged scene.
The few men thought for a moment, then shook their heads. It must have been a coincidence. During the chaos in the pavilion, Niu You Dao simply took advantage of the moment and did as he pleased.
And if it was a coincidence, then that was Song Lun's fate!
— Ah, to sleep, to sleep. We'll see everything tomorrow. — Zuo An Nian said, waving his hand and turning to leave.
The remaining men also stopped worrying. After all, they had a decent relationship with the Zhao Kingdom. It was quite reasonable that they were placed under house arrest. Nothing should happen to them.
In the prison, Niu You Dao, Yuan Fang, and Fan Zhe were led out of a cell. It seemed they were being taken for interrogation.
Seeing Niu You Dao pass by, Huang Xu Sheng suddenly rushed to the cell and gripped the bars with both hands. He angrily cried out:
— Niu You Dao!
Song Lun's death was a huge problem for him. He was the head of Song Lun's guard. And Song Lun had died before his very eyes. Now he couldn't report this to either the Yan Kingdom or his master.
Niu You Dao turned his head and looked at Cheng Gui Shuo. He clearly understood that Song Lun couldn't have recognized him. If not for Cheng Gui Shuo, he wouldn't have been recognized in Qingzhou, and there wouldn't have been such a commotion. Therefore, he regretted not killing Cheng Gui Shuo back at the Southern Mountain.
Cheng Gui Shuo felt a chill in his heart. He understood that if the Qingzhou guards hadn't appeared in time, Niu You Dao would have been killed.
The killing of Song Yang Qing on the mountain still flashed before his eyes. And now, Ambassador Song Lun had also been killed by Niu You Dao. Had he gone mad?
Niu You Dao had even cut off Song Lun's head and thrown it to Huang Xu Sheng.
Cheng Gui Shuo understood that after this, he had to kill Niu You Dao. After all, this madman wouldn't let him go now!
Huang Xu Sheng's face darkened. It seemed something was amiss here. Niu You Dao had been too fortunate in killing Song Lun.
Interrogation? In Qingzhou, it seemed everyone knew exactly what had happened. What was the point of an interrogation?
And now Niu You Dao was being led away...
Niu You Dao's matters were concluded, but Qingzhou's were not. They needed to heal the sick!
Inside the hall, seeing Niu You Dao, Hai Ru Yue sighed to herself. This man truly was a man of his word. He said it, and he did it! He even dared to cut off a head in front of everyone!
She had, of course, already received detailed reports of the events at Liusu Courtyard.
As soon as Niu You Dao entered, he politely said:
— Thank you for your assistance, Princess!
— What assistance? I did nothing and know nothing! — Hai Ru Yue said indifferently.
— You have come. Now I want to ask you. Can the patient be cured now?
Yuan Fang appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was far from it.
Niu You Dao smiled faintly and said:
— Master Hua has already calmed down and can examine the patient.
Hai Ru Yue narrowed her eyes. Although she doubted them, what wouldn't one do for a tiny sliver of hope? Still, the other side spoke with considerable confidence. After all, they had staked their lives as collateral. Moreover, they hadn't taken any responsibility for the events at Liusu Courtyard.
Fearing the other side would resort to another trick, she immediately said:
— It's better to treat him now than tomorrow. I hope that's convenient for you?
Niu You Dao nodded:
— It can be done, but you need to remove the restriction on me.
Hai Ru Yue looked at Yuan Fang. Niu You Dao spoke again:
— Actually, I am the skilled physician, and I intend to examine the patient myself. I had to deceive you earlier. I hope the Princess will be magnanimous and understand me! — He cupped his hands and bowed.
Hai Ru Yue immediately grew angry, but due to the skilled physician, she temporarily calmed down. She gave Zhu Shun a signal.
Zhu Shun immediately called for a cultivator to remove the restriction on Niu You Dao's magical power. Afterward, the cultivator stood on the other side, lest Niu You Dao try anything.
Afterward, they exited the hall and proceeded to a house in the inner courtyard.
Inside the house, many lamps were lit. A maidservant had lit them for the patient. Zhu Shun had specifically ordered her to light them for better treatment.
Inside one room of the house, Xiao Tian Cheng could be seen. He was completely pale, with dark blue bags under his eyes. He was already asleep at that time.
Gazing at her son, a complex expression appeared on Hai Ru Yue's face.
She hadn't even come of age when she was sent to the Yan Kingdom as a hostage. Back then, she longed so desperately for her family. Afterward, she was forcibly married to a sick man. Who could imagine her suffering? She had barely managed to bear a single son, and he turned out to be ill. She herself didn't know what bad karma she had accumulated in a past life, to have such a fate befall her.
She clearly remembered kneeling before the Empress, weeping and begging not to be married off. Yet the Empress struck her and said that this was her blessing. That this was the fate of imperial children. One could not escape it, nor change it!
The Empress had said that no matter what happened, only motherhood could truly care for her. Afterward, she wouldn't have to worry about anything. She would live in luxury and wealth. And no matter what transpired, Hai Ru Yue should not blame the Empress!
Zhu Shun approached Niu You Dao and whispered:
— Should he be woken?
Niu You Dao shook his head and approached the sleeping boy.
Zhu Shun stepped forward to assist him. He gently drew back the blanket and lifted Xiao Tian Cheng's hand.
Niu You Dao took Xiao Tian Cheng's hand and felt for his pulse. When he touched the hand, he felt a chilling cold. This was despite the room having a brazier and Xiao Tian Cheng being covered by a thick blanket?
Calming himself, Niu You Dao closed his eyes and channeled his true qi into him.
He began to analyze Xiao Tian Cheng's condition. Xiao Tian Cheng's channels were dreadful. They appeared like a child's, quite fragile, such that with any carelessness, they could easily burst under pressure. His blood circulation was also weak. It felt as if his channels were tethered to his heart. Apparently, it was dangerous for Xiao Tian Cheng to move much, or death would surely follow.
There was little joy in such a life!
But that was not all. More astonishing was that Xiao Tian Cheng's channels had been cold since birth. This was the reason for his lowered body temperature. His temperature was much lower than that of an ordinary person.
Niu You Dao couldn't imagine how he had managed to survive until this moment. It seemed Hai Ru Yue had put in no small amount of effort.
Having assessed the situation, Niu You Dao began to inject his Qian qi into Xiao Tian Cheng's body.
His true qi was not entirely ordinary like others'. It divided into Yin and Yang qi, or Qian and Kun. Perhaps this was a characteristic of the Qian and Kun technique.
Niu You Dao injected the Qian qi into Xiao Tian Cheng's body, circulating it throughout. He wanted to see if he could expel the cold from these channels in this manner.
— Ugh... — Xiao Tian Cheng suddenly moaned in his sleep, his mouth twisting.
Standing nearby, the people noticed Xiao Tian Cheng's face flush red. Hai Ru Yue's eyes gleamed. She saw that her son was no longer so pale. But how? She wanted to ask, yet Niu You Dao still sat with his eyes closed. Therefore, she didn't dare disturb him.
Zhu Shun looked at Niu You Dao, and hope also flickered in his eyes.
Silence settled in the room.
However, the situation was not as optimistic as everyone believed. In reality, only Niu You Dao clearly saw the full picture.
Xiao Tian Cheng's channels were quite peculiar. Niu You Dao had already expelled all the cold from his channels. Yet, immediately, cold returned from somewhere unknown. He didn't even know where it came from.
Niu You Dao could only infuse his Qian qi once more, filling Xiao Tian Cheng's entire body for a longer period. After some time, his channels even grew warmer.
Gradually, Xiao Tian Cheng's face flushed red, and the sunkenness around his eyes was no longer so pronounced.
Eventually, as if in a dream, he mumbled:
— Hot... water... drink!
Niu You Dao opened his eyes and looked at him.
Her son was finally warm. Hai Ru Yue couldn't hold back and moved towards him. A cultivator tried to block her path, to prevent Niu You Dao from doing anything to her.
Hai Ru Yue waved her hand, dismissing him, and still sat down beside her son. She looked at Niu You Dao, and seeing that he wasn't opposed, she reached out her hand to her son's nose. She felt a hot breath. Then she placed her hand on her son's forehead and felt that his head was hot. Like boiling water!