“I crawled out of a swamp. It was a near-death situation nine deaths out of ten chances.”
After Xie Chenyu said this, Shen Zhao could no longer laugh.
She did not know exactly what he had experienced at the Three Yin Lands, but it must have been extremely dangerous.
She let him enter the room.
But Xie Chenyu felt his body was filthy and did not want to dirty Shen Zhao’s room.
Originally, he intended to report that he was safe and then immediately return to his troops.
However, Shen Zhao had already smelled the blood on his body.
She said, “This is originally the Xie family’s courtyard. You don’t need to worry about soiling it. Get your wounds treated first before leaving.”
After speaking, she turned and opened the door, calling out to Man Yin: “Quick, prepare hot water.”
Then she instructed Man Su: “Bring my medical kit, and also ask Feng Chun for a clean set of clothes.”
In the Shen family, she had not only been required to study music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
She also had to learn medicine.
Cui Xuenian had once said, “This is to better serve the Crown Prince in the future after marrying into the Eastern Palace, and also to detect if someone tampered with your food.”
That last sentence had struck a chord with her.
She had willingly learned medicine.
And she even had to thank Cui Xuenian for making her learn it.
Now, her medical skills were finally put to real use.
Man Yin and Man Su were still confused about why Shen Zhao needed Feng Chun’s clothes when they suddenly saw a dark figure stepping out from the window, startling them.
After Shen Zhao explained Xie Chenyu’s identity, the two maids immediately became excited and quickly went to work.
They even went to Old Madam Xie’s courtyard to inform her that Xie Chenyu had returned.
Hot water was soon filled into the wooden bath barrel Shen Zhao usually used.
Shen Zhao stepped forward to help Xie Chenyu remove his armor.
But he stepped back twice.
“Miss Shen, ask Feng Chun to attend to me instead.”
He was not used to being served by a woman, especially a noble young lady.
However, Shen Zhao said, “You are injured. Feng Chun doesn’t understand medicine. If the Duke wants to save time and return to the army sooner, you should listen to me. I also want to know what happened during your campaign against the horse bandits.”
Xie Chenyu fell silent.
He lowered his head and looked at his filthy, stinking armor.
He was indeed injured.
But he had originally planned to return to his unit and have the military physician treat him.
“Duke, don’t waste time. Old Madam is also very worried about you. I will bandage your wounds first, then have Feng Chun help you wash and change, and you can go see her before you leave.”
While he was still hesitating,
Shen Zhao’s hand was already on his armor, unfastening the shoulder plates.
Xie Chenyu finally relented.
But he did not let her continue removing his clothing ties.
Instead, he quickly removed the armor himself in a few swift movements.
When the last layer of inner garment came off, a strong smell of blood filled the air.
Shen Zhao saw that his shoulders and back were covered in injuries five wounds in total, large and small, all pierced by sharp weapons, still oozing pus and blood.
He must have gone through an extremely dangerous battle.
Otherwise, with his strength, no one should have been able to land five close-range strikes on him.
“What exactly happened?” Shen Zhao asked as she threw a cloth into the hot water, then wrung it out.
She used the warm cloth to clean the dirt from his wounds.
Xie Chenyu frowned slightly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He opened his left hand and looked at the dirty protective talisman.
“There are words on the talisman you gave me.”
“Words?” Shen Zhao paused slightly.
Xie Chenyu washed the talisman in the water, then spread it open.
Shen Zhao turned to look at it.
Only four words were written on it: [Born Through Tribulation]
“The Crown Prince ordered me to lead five hundred soldiers to the Three Yin Lands to intercept the horse bandits’ retreat route.”
“I followed your advice and stayed alert.”
“Among those five hundred soldiers, only a few were my trusted men. The rest had all been replaced.”
“Their goal was to lure me into a place they had chosen, where I would be forced to deal with the horse bandits together with only my four loyal men.”
“Then they would seize the opportunity to strike me from behind.”
Shen Zhao could already imagine the harrowing scene.
She asked, “How did the Duke survive such a dangerous situation?”
“I jumped into a swamp.”
Shen Zhao’s eyes widened slightly as she looked again at the mud covering his entire body.
A bold thought formed in her mind.
“Did the Duke hide himself in the swamp so that everyone would believe you had died inside?”
Xie Chenyu did not deny it, but he did not answer either.
Only he and his few trusted men knew how dangerous it had been.
At that moment, one step forward would have meant certain death.
If Feng Liao had been even a moment later, he would have died.
Even without his words, Shen Zhao already understood.
To make Shen Rong believe he had died in the swamp, Xie Chenyu would have had to bury his entire body even his face deep in the soft mud.
It was a death trap.
No one could have survived it.
Especially with hundreds of people watching him.
Shen Zhao couldn’t help but feel a chill of fear for him.
She lowered her gaze to his wounds again.
“Were your shoulder and back injuries caused when you jumped into the swamp stabbed with spears as they forced you down into the mud?”
Xie Chenyu pressed his lips together and nodded.
Afraid that continuing would frighten her, he changed the topic.
“Your eldest brother was shot by six arrows from horse bandits. Each arrow was poisoned.”
The poison he referred to was the same vial Shen Zhao had once given him.
He did not go into detail about how Shen Rong was injured.
Only said, “He is now severely wounded and unconscious, on his way back to the capital. He will arrive in five days.”
Xie Chenyu did not go into detail about how Shen Rong was shot.
He only said, “He is now severely injured and unconscious. He is on his way back to the capital and will arrive within five days.”
He then recalled the report Feng Chun had brought about Shen Zhao’s recent situation.
He added, “Tell me your next plan. Now that I’m back, I won’t let you fight alone again.”
Xie Chenyu’s words struck a chord in Shen Zhao’s heart.
He was the first person to tell her, “I will not let you face everything alone.”
Xie Chenyu truly was a reliable and powerful partner someone one could depend on.
Shen Zhao said, “My brother is gravely injured. Your return from death means it is my chance to turn the situation around.”
“Alright. Wait for me to bring you back to the capital. I won’t let you stay here for long.”
It was time to return and properly “visit” her mother.
Her father.
Her brother and sister.
And… the honorable Crown Prince.
At this moment, the Shen residence was still immersed in the joy of Shen Rong’s impending promotion and honors.
But they did not know that another urgent military report was galloping straight into the capital and into the imperial palace.
The emperor had not slept that night and asked, “Has the general’s body been recovered?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Great General launched a surprise attack on the horse bandits’ nest, captured the bandit leader, killed one thousand bandits, and wiped out their stronghold. He will arrive in the capital in five days.”
The emperor froze, momentarily stunned.
“Which general?”
“The Duke Jin, the Mighty Great General.”
The emperor instinctively stood up from the dragon throne.
“Say that again.”
“The Duke Jin, Mighty Great General, has captured the bandit leader and is escorting the prisoners back to the capital.”
Eunuch Cao stepped forward to confirm, “Your Majesty, it is the Duke Jin. The Duke Jin is returning with the prisoners. He did not die he did not die!”
“Chenyu did not die… my Chenyu did not die!”
“Report!”
Another soldier entered the hall.
Before the emperor could fully recover from his joy, the soldier reported:
“When pursuing the horse bandits, Deputy General Shen was flanked in an ambush. He was struck by five arrows and is now critically wounded and unconscious.”
“What?” The emperor frowned. “Shen Rong is critically injured and unconscious?”
“Yes, Your Majesty it is Young Master Shen.”
This time, the emperor could no longer smile.
He sat back on the throne and ordered, “Immediately send Eunuch Cao to the Shen residence. Summon Shen Huaiming to the palace.”
Eunuch Cao replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
The emperor then called out again, “Wait.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Go and invite Daoist Luoshan as well.”