“Imperial Physician Zhang, can his illness be treated?”
“General Yin, despite my decades of medical experience, I couldn’t find any serious condition in him. At most, some minor aches and pains—any common clinic could handle that…”
Yin Qiubai looked a little disappointed. “So, you’re saying his madness is likely beyond medicine?”
“At least, I’m powerless against it. But if he could enter Mirror Lake, there might still be a sliver of hope.”
“Mirror Lake? That’s where Grand Tutor Cen resides. But he’s a scholar—could he also be well-versed in medicine?”
Imperial Physician Zhang chuckled, “General Yin may not know this, but the Seat of Sacred Learning lies in Mirror Lake. It’s said that Grand Tutor Cen has read every book there, so perhaps there’s an ancient medical manual long forgotten in the world.”
After a pause, he added, “I’m sixty-three this year, and my lifelong wish is to one day visit Mirror Lake, to pay respects to the Grand Tutor and seek his guidance in the medical arts. If I’m fortunate, I might get the chance next year. Should that happen, I won’t forget to ask about this madness.”
“Thank you, Imperial Physician Zhang. Someone, escort Imperial Physician Zhang.”
“General Yin, no need to see me off.”
Yin Qiubai sighed briefly and called for someone, “Where is Mister Mu?”
“Miss, Mister Mu just finished touring our manor.”
After Mu Qingbai learned he was under house arrest, he never again mentioned returning to the Imperial Prison. He happily roamed the Yin residence for quite a while. Yin Qiubai had seen his enthusiasm and let him be.
“This long?” Yin Qiubai was surprised. Her general’s manor was large, but not enough to keep someone occupied all day.
“Yes, Mister Mu examined everything thoroughly. He would stop now and then to look at things here and there, even lowering his pride to ask us about anything he didn’t recognize~”
Yin Qiubai became wary. “Where is he now?”
“In the bathhouse, bathing.”
Yin Qiubai stood up, heading straight to the bathhouse.
The maid blurted out in panic, “General! Where are you going?”
Yin Qiubai shot her a glare.
The maid quickly corrected herself, “Mi-Miss… Mister Mu is bathing.”
Yin Qiubai scolded, “Isn’t it obvious? He must be trying to escape!”
The maid was confused. “But our entire manor is guarded by elite soldiers. Where could he possibly escape to? Miss, you’re overthinking.”
Yin Qiubai ignored her and marched toward the bathhouse. The maid was beside herself with worry. Her general, after all, was still a woman—how could she just barge in to watch a man bathe?
At the door of the bathhouse, Yin Qiubai was about to push it open when it creaked, letting in a cool breeze.
From inside, Mu Qingbai’s panicked voice rang out, “Hey! I told you I don’t need anyone to attend to me! Don’t! Don’t come in! I’m not even wearing pants!”
Hearing this, Yin Qiubai finally relaxed.
Then, she found it amusing. In this world, when a woman sees a man naked, shouldn’t it be the man who thinks he’s taken advantage of her? Mister Mu was certainly an interesting fellow. Read the latest chapters at novelping.com.
Yin Qiubai quietly closed the door.
The maid finally breathed a sigh of relief and caught up beside her, saying, “Miss, I didn’t get to finish earlier. Mister Mu doesn’t like being called ‘Mister’—he said we should just call him Young Master.”
Yin Qiubai was surprised. ‘Mister’ was a term of respect, and yet Mu Qingbai, despite his vast knowledge, was so approachable.
“And also,” the maid continued, “Young Master Mu said today’s food was too bland, and that… that…”
“That what?”
“That even the food in the Imperial Prison was better.”
Yin Qiubai couldn’t help but laugh, “Young Master Mu is quite the character. Go inform the kitchen to add two more meat dishes for dinner.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“And prepare a pot of wine.”
“Yes~”
“Looks like I was overthinking. Young Master Mu doesn’t intend to escape. Asking us to call him Young Master is probably so he can feel more at ease living in the Yin residence.”
Since leading troops to quell the rebellion, Yin Qiubai had always endured hardship with the soldiers. She had never treated herself differently. Even after the chaos subsided and she was conferred the title of General Who Guards the Nation, becoming the famed female war goddess of the Great Yin Empire, she still lived a modest life.
Her daily meals were never extravagant—mainly because she couldn’t stomach lavish dishes. Tonight’s meal was an exception.
Yin Qiubai waited at the table for a long time.
Dish after dish was brought out.
By the time the last dish arrived, the first ones had already gone cold.
Yin Qiubai realized something was wrong and slammed the table, shouting, “Where is he!!”
Everyone in the general’s manor mobilized, yet no one could find even a trace of Mu Qingbai.
Unbelievable. In the General’s Manor, with its reputed elite guards, a frail death-row prisoner had actually escaped!
“Where is he?” Yin Qiubai stormed in, eyes blazing, as she saw a servant kneeling on the ground.
“This servant deserves death! Young Master Mu said the Miss was being overly generous, and he felt a bit embarrassed. He wanted to pick a flower from atop the wall to offer as a token of appreciation and asked me to bring a ladder.”
“And so you left him alone at the wall? Didn’t I tell you to watch him closely?”
The servant lowered his head in shame, forehead pressed to the ground.
Yin Qiubai snapped, “He wanted to pick a flower—couldn’t you have picked it for him? You were fearless on the battlefield, and now you don’t even dare climb a tree?” This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.
“This servant is willing to accept punishment!”
“You know the consequences of defying a military order.” Yin Qiubai said coldly.
Old Huang quickly interjected, “Before the Miss, dare you hide the truth? Speak honestly!”
The servant stammered out the full story, and Yin Qiubai was so angry she laughed.
Everyone in the manor thought their general had taken a liking to this madman—how could they be a match?
As Yin Qiubai’s most loyal subordinates, some naturally felt displeased.
To put it plainly, they just wanted to see Mu Qingbai fall pathetically from a tree.
Yin Qiubai was nearly driven to madness. “Still standing there? Go find him! All of you, go!”
The general’s manor had 800 soldiers, and along with servants and maids, over 2,000 people stormed out in search.
This shocked the entire capital.
Every noble and official turned their gaze toward the general’s residence.
Even the imperial patrols grew nervous. Various commanders gave orders to secure the armory gates.
To the uninformed, it looked as though Yin Qiubai was preparing to seize the capital and usurp power!
As everyone swarmed out of the general’s manor…
A figure slowly rose from the still water of the bathhouse.
“Hahaha, that wall was way too high—only a ghost could climb it! Thank goodness I’m so clever!”
Mu Qingbai casually made his way to Yin Qiubai’s study, picked up a brush, and wrote a few lines. Then he noticed the words “Military Academy.”
The ink had long since dried.
Mu Qingbai sighed, “Such a studious youth. Well, I guess I’ll leave a little mark of my own.”
He proceeded to write down the founding regulations of the Officer Academy from his previous life.
“Those who fear death, stay away from this gate. Those seeking wealth and promotion, look elsewhere. — Mr. Sun.”
Mu Qingbai disappeared into the darkness and, under the cover of night, returned to the Imperial Prison.
The jailer was dumbfounded when he saw Mu Qingbai come back. A death-row inmate who escaped and then returned—this was unheard of.
“You got food?”
The jailer gave him a meaningful look. “There’s moldy buns.”
“I’ll take two!”