On the outskirts of the capital.
In an unassuming little cottage nestled within the village.
“Master, the Southern Border’s advance is fierce and swift. It will surely take Great Xia in no time.”
The woman speaking was strikingly beautiful, with a slender waist as supple as willow and a natural, seductive grace as she draped herself lazily over Bai Ningbing.
An ordinary man would have long lost his composure, but Bai Ningbing did not even lift his eyes. He spoke in a calm, detached tone: “Let us hope Dongfang Mo sees reason…” and hands over that Princess willingly.
Seeing that Bai Ningbing remained as indifferent as ever, the woman lost interest. She sauntered over to a soft couch and began to eat grapes. “Master, why are you so interested in that little Princess? Is there something Ayan has failed to do?”
“Within the Southern Border lies a legend of the Sacred Gu,” Bai Ningbing replied. “Once fully cultivated, it makes its host impervious to all harm, from gods and spirits down to men.”
He paused, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “But the Sacred Gu requires a vessel one capable of absorbing and containing every kind of Gu.”
And Yi Yi was that vessel, chosen by fate itself.
Knock knock A rap came at the door.
“Master Bai, all the patients have been brought in. Whenever you have time, please come and treat them.”
“I shall be there shortly.”
The caller acknowledged and left.
Ayan stretched and yawned. “Ah, more work. A bunch of fools, all filthy and disgusting.” She smoothed her clean robes, her face twisted in clear disdain.
Outwardly, she and Bai Ningbing posed as healers treating the sick; in truth, they were spreading the Gu plague far and wide. For every one they pretended to cure, several more were infected such was their way.
“Quit chattering. Let us go,” Bai Ningbing urged.
Only then did Ayan follow lazily, no longer complaining.
……
……
Inside the dilapidated building, a thick, sickly stench of rot and iron hung in the air, heavy and inescapable.
Those afflicted by the Gu slumped against walls or huddled on the floor, keeping a wary distance from one another, terrified of being harmed by anyone driven mad by the poison.
All were here to wait for treatment. Those with milder symptoms were deathly pale, their lips blue-black, and beneath the skin of their veins, tiny wriggling shapes could be clearly seen. Those in advanced stages suffered sudden convulsions and dropped dead where they stood.
“Master Bai, Miss Ayan you have finally come!” An elderly man, bent and hobbling, beamed as if seeing his saviors and hurried forward leaning on a cane.
“Thank you for waiting,” Bai Ningbing said with a gentle, reassuring smile. “Ayan and I shall begin the treatment immediately.”
The two took their seats at the table, ready to administer acupuncture. The villagers rose and lined up in order.
“Wait a moment. I have never seen this man before. How can we trust he can cure the Gu?”
The voice came from somewhere in the line, drawing annoyed glances from the others.
It belonged to a young man with an ordinary face, so unremarkable he would have blended unnoticed into any crowd. Yet he looked strong and healthy, showing no signs of illness at all.
“Who is this impudent boy? If you don’t need treatment, go home and stay out of the way! My husband is waiting to be seen!” snapped one woman.
That young man was none other than Red Hawk, sent here on duty.
He remained stern-faced and ignored the woman, his gaze fixed firmly on Bai Ningbing as if waiting for an explanation.
Ayan sized him up briefly, then nudged Bai Ningbing with her elbow. “This one possesses deep internal strength. He is no ordinary man be careful, Master.”
Hearing this, Bai Ningbing looked thoughtful. “You are clearly no common traveler, young friend. I presume you are here on important business. I will come speak with you at once, though I must ask the good people here to wait a little longer.”
He made as if to rise, only to be pressed back down into his seat by a burly villager. “Sit still, Healer Bai. No matter who he is, if he delays the treatment of my wife and son, I’ll run him through myself!”
The man was thick with muscle and gripped a heavy butcher’s knife in his hand.
Red Hawk cursed Bai Ningbing inwardly for his slyness and prepared to intervene.
Just then, a carriage drew up not far away. It was richly appointed, a clear sign that its passengers were of high station.
Dongfang Mo stepped down holding Yi Yi, who was happily munching on a sugar-coated hawthorn stick bought from the market.
Following behind were Prime Minister Lu Zhao and Minister Wei Yang.
“Minister Wei,” Lu Zhao said with a grin, “I look forward to the day you change your name to Yang Wei.”
Wei Yang shot him a sharp glare, wondering where Lu Zhao found such ridiculous confidence.
“Father, this is the place!” Yi Yi pointed straight at Ayan, her expression full of certainty. “That’s the scent from the pretty lady.”
Her eyes shone bright, for she had caught a most delicious aroma drifting through the air.
So fragrant…
I want to eat it.
She patted her round little belly, thinking how best to quietly devour all the Gu insects inside these people without anyone noticing.
And that pretty lady who looked like a serpent spirit… she was so beautiful, Yi Yi almost felt reluctant to eat her too.
Red Hawk stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty! Your Royal Highness!”
Hearing his words, the villagers fell to their knees in reverence.
“Rise,” Dongfang Mo commanded.
As the people stood up, Bai Ningbing and Ayan stared in surprise they had not expected the Emperor and Princess to find them so quickly.
“Your Majesty, please save us!” A woman crawled forward, weeping. “My two sons have already died from this plague. How are we to go on living?”
Yi Yi wriggled free from Dongfang Mo’s arms and patted the woman’s cheeks with her soft, chubby hands. “Don’t cry… I know how it feels.”
She knew only too well. When Auntie Qinghe was gone, her own heart had hurt terribly.
That was why she would bring these two villains down and avenge Auntie Qinghe!
“Bad people! Stop hurting them!” Her tiny voice rang out firm and defiant.
She planted one hand on her hip and pointed straight at Bai Ningbing and Ayan, her face set in a challenging frown.
The woman was taken aback. “Your Highness, Master Bai is here to heal us. He is a good man.”
“No, he’s not! He’s a big bad man!” Yi Yi insisted. She could not be mistaken these two carried the same scent that had clung to Auntie Qinghe.
“Hmph! It seems the Emperor has been sick for five months and lost his wits,” sneered the burly man with the butcher’s knife, his face twisting into a look of contempt. “Letting a two-year-old girl run wild and spout nonsense!”
Someone beside him tugged at his sleeve. “Watch your tongue! Do you want to lose your head?”
“What do I have left to fear?” he retorted. “Life in the capital is already unbearable, with those foul bugs crawling everywhere!”
“Healer Bai is working hard to cure us, yet the Emperor lets a child shout lies and stir up trouble. Can he not tell right from wrong?”
“Hold your tongue!” The villagers saw the Emperor’s expression growing colder and colder and quickly dropped back to their knees, trembling.
“Foolishness,” Dongfang Mo said softly.
Before the man could speak again, Red Hawk moved like lightning, slit his throat with one clean stroke, and he fell dead instantly.
The villagers shuddered in terror. This Emperor truly kills without blinking an eye!
“Bai Ningbing has been treating the sick here day after day,” Dongfang Mo said, his voice steady and cold. “Yet the Gu plague first erupted in this very village, before spreading across the capital and only then did you step forward to offer cures. How very convenient…”
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence wavering.
“Your Majesty, Master Bai has worked tirelessly to help us these past few days. He could never be a villain!” someone called out.
“Yes, indeed!” many others echoed. “We need proof, Your Majesty not just words!”
“I have proof!” Yi Yi announced loudly. If they wanted proof, she would show them exactly what lay hidden!