Yuan Jing paused his steps and said calmly, “I can hear you.”
Lian Yue: “Oh.”
It was slightly awkward.
Shao Qing found her stiff expression quite amusing, crossing his arms as he walked and laughed.
What’s so funny.
Lian Yue glanced at him and stopped speaking, following behind Yuan Jing.
The mansion was vast. They walked along the corridor flanked by blooming flowers and fish ponds. Further inside, there were exquisitely carved pavilions and towers – the heritage of an aristocratic family was fully displayed.
When they reached the backyard, Yuan Jing arranged for her to stay at Lanyue Pavilion, saying: “This place is relatively close to the old madam’s residence. It’s quiet around here with the tightest security. What do you think?”
The pavilion had a courtyard in front where plum trees were in full bloom, filling the garden with fragrance.
The two-story pavilion had been thoroughly cleaned.
Lian Yue said: “Anything is fine with me.”
Yuan Jing instructed the steward: “Select two clever maids to attend to the madam.”
Steward: “Yes.”
Lian Yue didn’t refuse. In an unfamiliar place, she naturally needed help to get accustomed to the environment.
Seeing this, Shao Qing asked Yuan Jing: “Then where should I stay?”
Yuan Jing: “Stay in my courtyard.”
He clicked his tongue: “That works too.”
Thus the accommodations were arranged.
Since Yuan Jing and Shao Qing had important matters to attend to, they didn’t disturb her rest further and left first.
After they left, Lian Yue put away her luggage and asked the steward to prepare hot water.
She wanted to bathe and wash up.
Soon, the maids arranged by the steward arrived, diligently helping to organize clothes and make the bed.
Having endured the fatigue of travel, Lian Yue was probably too exhausted while soaking in the hot bath and accidentally fell asleep in the bathtub.
She didn’t know how long she had slept. The sky had completely darkened, and rain began falling at night, making everything pitch black around her.
Her throat was very dry.
She wanted to drink water.
Lian Yue felt along the bedside, trying to get up to drink water. Her feet stepped on the cold wooden floor, then she suddenly froze.
There was someone in the room.
Her heart filled with fear, teeth chattering: “Who’s there?”
“It’s me.”
“Huh? Young Master Yuan?” After realizing who it was, Lian Yue was no longer afraid. “Why are you here?”
Wasn’t this her room?
Yuan Jing didn’t answer but instead asked: “When you bathe, don’t you know to have someone accompany you?”
Lian Yue was puzzled how he knew but still answered honestly: “I don’t like having outsiders attend to me while bathing.”
He said: “You had fainted. Fortunately, the maid serving you discovered it in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
“What?”
Lian Yue frowned.
Perhaps her previous stab wound hadn’t fully healed – her body shouldn’t have been exposed to water. Then encountering river bandits and falling into the water, wearing wet clothes for half a day in cold weather, plus the exhaustion from travel without proper rest – all this caused her condition to relapse repeatedly.
Looking at the surrounding darkness, she couldn’t help but clutch her clothes tightly: “Can… can you help light the lamp? I’m afraid of the dark.”
Yuan Jing made an affirmative sound and lit the lamp with a flint. The faint candlelight flickered in the room, casting his elongated shadow.
He said: “Zili already examined you and prescribed medicine. He went to decoct it for you.”
Shao Qing knows medicine too?
Lian Yue felt very uneasy: “Have I caused you trouble again?”
“No.” Yuan Jing poured her a cup of water. “Drink some water to moisten your throat first.”
“Thank you.”
Lian Yue took it and, being thirsty, drank the entire cup.
“These past few months, many things have happened, and I’m quite frightened,” she said weakly. “Will my illness never heal? Am I going to die?”
Even someone with a robust constitution would likely struggle to endure such torment.
Yuan Jing looked at her pale lips and suddenly said, “Do you remember the Qing Xin Jing I gave you today?”
Lian Yue lowered her head.
Why bring that up again? She felt somewhat displeased.
It was true that she had deliberately tried to seduce him during their interactions, but collapsing during her bath today was certainly not her intention.
It was he who had dismissed the maids in the middle of the night and personally kept watch by her bedside—she hadn’t orchestrated that.
Lian Yue couldn’t help wondering if he had some thoughts about her, which was why he mentioned this scripture to calm her mind.
But when she glimpsed his handsome yet aloof face, she felt she shouldn’t overthink it, lest she make a fool of herself.
After all, noble-born scions like him had high standards; not just anyone could catch their eye.
Reluctantly, Lian Yue murmured, “I only learned it today, so of course I remember.”
Yuan Jing said, “Stretch out your hand.”
“Huh?”
She obediently extended her hand.
He grasped her slender wrist and transferred his inner force into her body, circulating it through her system. “Close your eyes and feel it.”
Lian Yue didn’t understand what he was doing, thinking he was using his inner force to treat her illness again. Concerned for her life, she complied dutifully.
Yuan Jing instructed, “Recite the scripture silently in your heart.”
Lian Yue: “Alright.”
After the inner force had circulated twice through her body, he withdrew his hand. “Remember the flow path of the inner force and practice daily with the Qing Xin Jing. It will strengthen your body.”
She was bewildered. “Practice?”
Yuan Jing: “That’s right.”
Lian Yue blinked. Had he asked her to recite that scripture not to mock her for overthinking things?
Had she misunderstood him?
She stammered, “Is this Qing Xin Jing a mental cultivation technique for internal martial arts?”
Yuan Jing: “Correct.”
Uh…
Lian Yue couldn’t help saying, “Didn’t you say before that women in this world aren’t allowed to practice martial arts? Why make an exception for me?”
Yuan Jing’s face was hidden in shadow. After a moment of silence, he replied coldly, “Your constitution is weak. I promised Gu Quan I would take good care of you. If you were to die from illness, I wouldn’t be able to explain it.”
“Huh?”
He added, “Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. There’s no need to be so inflexible in handling matters.”
That made sense.
However, regardless of Yuan Jing’s reasons, breaking convention to teach her was indeed a significant favor.
And here she was, grumbling about him behind his back—she really shouldn’t have.
Lian Yue stood up and bowed sincerely. “Thank you, Young Master Yuan.”Another voice chimed in, ‘Originally, A Jing planned to teach you after you were familiar with the mnemonic, but your illness has been fluctuating, and your constitution is extremely poor.’ He was afraid you wouldn’t survive, which would make saving you pointless.”
Shao Qing ascended the pavilion stairs, holding a bowl of medicine, and continued, “Since you’re awake, drink this medicine.”
Lian Yue took the bowl and looked down at the dark liquid inside. She couldn’t resist commenting, “The State Preceptor also practices medicine?”
Shao Qing sniffed lightly. “Medicine and divination are intertwined. My divination skills are renowned throughout the land, so my medical skills are naturally not lacking either.”
“Alright.” Lian Yue lowered her head and muttered quietly, “I’ve never seen anyone boast so much about themselves.”
Shao Qing retorted, “That’s because you haven’t seen enough.”
Lian Yue: “Yes, yes, of course.”
She gulped down the medicine in one go, the bitter herbal taste exploding on her tongue. It was truly awful; she had to cover her mouth to suppress the nausea rising in her throat.
Shao Qing said, “After taking this dose, a good night’s sleep will ensure the illness is completely cured.”
Lian Yue forced a smile. “I believe you.”
Shao Qing continued, “Now that you’ve taken the medicine, rest well. I’ll come tomorrow to check your pulse again.”
Lian Yue nodded obediently.
However, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. She was still fresh with excitement about the cultivation techniques Yuan Jing had taught her.
After the two left, Lian Yue immediately sat cross-legged on the bed and began studying them.
The next day, her illness had indeed greatly improved.
Yuan Jing and Shao Qing’s return to Ruyang was actually related to the plan to attack Xiang City.
After settling Lian Yue, they each led their troops: Yuan Jing went to join forces with Gu Quan to assault the city, while Shao Qing moved to block Yang Jian’s reinforcements.
Half a month later.
In Xiangyang City.
Wu County Governor stood on the city wall, his face ashen as he looked down at the vast army below.
Wu Yuru walked to his side, a cold smile on her lips. “Father, are you regretting not forming an alliance with Yang Jian through marriage and sending troops to Wan City?”
He sighed. “Daughter, there’s no need to worry. I’ve fought more battles than he has eaten grains of salt. How could I fear a mere youngster?”
“Is that so?”
Wu Yuru watched her father’s arrogant and boastful demeanor, feeling a tightness in her chest that was almost suffocating.
As his daughter, she knew all too well that her father was no true warrior; even his military achievements were stolen from others.
He was a paper tiger—impressive in appearance but easily torn apart. He stood no chance against the young but highly accomplished Gu Quan.
Previously, no one dared attack Xiang City because Lu Xun was still alive, and people feared his connections. But with Lu Xun dead, no one cared about whose relative he was anymore.
An alliance with Hong Nong’s Yang Jian could have averted this crisis, but her father was always so self-righteous.
She said, “Father, if you want to survive, I advise you to find a way to escape. You are no match for him.”
Hearing this, Wu County Governor’s eyes flickered, and he recalled his glorious past. “I am the governor of this city. How can I abandon my people and flee? Daughter, you underestimate your father too much.”
Wu Yuru asked, “Father, think about it. You sent assassins to kill that lowly concubine—is she dead now?”
Wu County Governor replied, “Two assassination attempts, and she escaped both. Now she’s in Ruyang, and my people can’t reach her.”
He tried to save face. “She’s just a Serving Concubine, weak and defenseless, surviving only by clinging to men. Why waste your anger on such a lowly woman? There’s no need to expend more resources on her.”
Wu Yuru lowered her gaze, her voice filled with sorrow. “Father, you’re always like this, never listening to advice.”
She stared at a figure in crimson below the city walls, her eyes burning with hatred.
If not for him…
That lowly concubine would have been dead long ago.
Wu Yuru descended the city gate. Though Xiangyang was easy to defend and hard to attack, it wasn’t impregnable.
Wan City had limited food supplies, and the army needed provisions. If they joined forces with Ruyang, they might end the battle quickly.
It was hopeless.
She should pack her belongings, escape through the secret passage, and return to Liao City to plan her next move.
That very night, as Yuan Jing’s reinforcements arrived, Gu Quan launched a fire attack.
The winter was dry, with no rain for days, and the city’s structures caught fire easily. Soon, flames soared into the sky.
The citizens were thrown into chaos. Upon learning that the city was under attack, they packed their belongings and fled toward the city gates.
County Governor Wu took command at the government office, ordering his subordinates to defend the city.
Soon, a soldier reported, “Governor, the enemy forces have already breached the city walls.”
County Governor Wu snapped, “What’s there to panic about?”
He picked up the sword beside him and declared, “I shall personally lead the defense at the gates. All of you, follow me.”
His trusted aide responded, “As you command.”
Wu Yuru finished packing her luggage. Hearing that her father had gone to the city gates to confront the enemy, she glanced in that direction before leading her own retinue through a secret tunnel connecting the government office to the outside.
By the time County Governor Wu reached the city gates, Gu Quan and Yuan Jing had already broken through. The city descended into turmoil.
Xiang City was notoriously difficult to attack—how could it have fallen so easily? There must have been a traitor within!
Who could it be?
Gripping his sword, his heart pounding, he scanned the faces of his trusted aides, suspecting every one of them.
At that moment, Gu Quan entered the city. Clad in a crimson cloak, he rode on horseback, a long spear in hand. Wherever he passed, enemies dared not approach.
A youth in red, atop a steed—cold and ruthless.
Seeing Gu Quan, County Governor Wu channeled his fear into rage, shouting, “You brat, Gu Quan! How dare you use fire to attack the city? You are utterly inhuman!”
Gu Quan sneered, “Compared to the time you flooded Changliu, leaving its people with no harvest and homeless, what is a mere fire attack?”
Noticing the stares from those around him, County Governor Wu stiffened, flushing with anger. “Do not spout nonsense!”
Gu Quan retorted coldly, “Whether you did it or not, you know the truth in your heart.”
Yuan Jing rode up from behind, his sword stained with blood, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gu Quan. He reminded, “Let’s finish this quickly.”
County Governor Wu roared, “Arrogant brats!”
As he prepared to charge, a blade stabbed him from behind. Turning, he saw it was his own trusted general. Blood trickled from his eyes as he gasped, “You… you let them in…”
“Exactly!” the man snarled. “Governor, have you forgotten? I am from Changliu.”
He knelt on one knee toward Gu Quan and declared, “Your subordinate pays respects to my lord.”
That night.
Xiang City fell. County Governor Wu perished, and all his family members were captured—except for Wu Yuru, who escaped through the secret passage.