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墨書 Inktalez
The cottage was spacious enough for the three of them, but the guards could not fit in. They didn't need to worry about those people; they could freely cook and take care of themselves in the thatched cottage.
Unfortunately, Spring Heart was more of a decoration; she could eat but definitely couldn't cook. Having her around was more of a hassle than help. Ji Xun also knew nothing; he was used to being a young master with countless people serving him.
The two of them stared at the pot for a while, neither knowing how to start a fire.
Master Yuzhen walked over and said, "Step aside, let me handle this."
He rolled up his sleeves and really got the stove going. No one expected that a master well-versed in the Book of Changes would be such a skilled cook. In no time, he had the fire going. San Chun went into the bamboo forest to dig up some bamboo shoots and foraged for wild vegetables in the mountains. Soon, several light mountain dishes were prepared.
San Chun and Ji Xun enjoyed their meal immensely, repeatedly praising Master Yuzhen for his excellent cooking skills.
From that point on, Yuzhen found himself in a bit of trouble; with both of them being completely useless in the kitchen, he had essentially become their servant, catering to their every need.
Fortunately, San Chun was good at brewing tea and had some ideas on how to turn wild fruits and flower petals from the mountains into delicacies, which helped alleviate Yuzhen's fatigue. Of course, she only oversaw the process while Yuzhen did all the work.
In addition to cooking for them, Yuzhen also had to prepare medicine for Ji Xun. He taught San Chun how to brew medicine and identify herbs, ensuring each dose was taken at the right time.
After taking several doses, Ji Xun's condition improved somewhat; it was unclear whether it was due to his good mood or the effectiveness of the medicine.
Master Yuzhen's medicine could only help him nourish his body; his illness was not something that could be cured with medicine. Even with the best remedies, it would only extend his life by a few years.
San Chun understood Ji Xun's condition; he wasn't suffering from an ordinary illness but rather an ancient curse that was beyond comprehension. Even Yuzhen, who possessed a jade pendant, did not fully understand it—perhaps "curse" was a more fitting term. It would gradually deteriorate one's body until all internal organs rotted away, leading to death.
She hoped that as long as he lived another day, she could spend another day with him. Whenever they were on the mountain together watching the sunrise, sometimes playing music or listening to the sound of the stream, or jumping into the river to catch fish for him to taste fresh delicacies. The fish she grilled were exceptionally delicious; even Master Yuzhen praised them and often asked her to grill fish for him to satisfy his cravings.
Moreover, every cup of tea she brewed felt like drinking nectar; half of Yuzhen's willingness to stay there was due to this tea's allure.
The leisurely days passed quickly, and before long, more than half a month had gone by.
The guards who followed them cut down a lot of wood and built several cottages halfway up the mountain. They usually did not disturb them, only patrolling at night to ensure their safety. The greatest benefit of having them around was that if they needed anything, they could send them on errands. No matter how far, they would definitely get what was needed, and it wouldn't cost them a penny.
Just like the fresh vegetables they ate every day, the tea they drank, and the medicine for Ji Xun, all of these were brought by those people. If they wanted something, they would write it on a bamboo slip and ask them to go out and procure it, ensuring it would be done quickly and well.
San Chun was very satisfied with this and felt that Zhong Xue was increasingly considerate. She always knew what he wanted and needed; this thoughtfulness was worth a lifetime of companionship. Moreover, it hadn't been long since she had started to miss him.
"What are you thinking about?" Ji Xun's voice came from behind. He was wearing a loose-fitting garment today, which made him appear even slimmer.
During these days, he had been eating well and sleeping well, yet he hadn't gained any weight; in fact, he seemed to have lost a bit more.
She shook her head, "I wasn't thinking about anything; I just feel that life has been too peaceful lately. Is it just an illusion?"
Ji Xun chuckled, "Do you want life to be more exciting?"
She laughed, "Not really; do I seem to enjoy trouble?"
"You may not like it, but trouble always follows you."
San Chun smiled, and Ji Xun laughed as well. This was indeed true; she seemed to have a special connection with trouble.
While they were talking, they suddenly heard sounds of fighting outside, faintly accompanied by a woman's cries.
She and Ji Xun hurried outside to see a woman halfway up the mountain engaged in combat with the guards. The woman moved gracefully and wielded her sword fluidly; despite facing more than ten opponents, she showed no signs of defeat.
San Chun recognized that the woman was Winter Bamboo Shoot and called out from above, "Everyone stop!"
The people below ceased their actions and looked up. Winter Bamboo Shoot saw San Chun and happily exclaimed, "Miss, it's me, it's me."
San Chun had someone bring her up. Winter Bamboo Shoot climbed swiftly and reached the top in no time, kneeling down to pay her respects.
San Chun asked, "How did you find your way here?"
"Ever since the young lady left, I have been searching everywhere. Later, I saw some guards from the Wei Kingdom buying things at the foot of the mountain, so I followed them here."
Ji Xun curiously looked at Winter Bamboo Shoot and asked, "Who is this person? Such impressive skills."
"This is someone I met while building the city, named Winter Bamboo Shoot. Not only is she skilled in martial arts, but she also cooks exceptionally well."
Thinking of her culinary skills, San Chun felt his mouth watering. After eating Master Yuzhen's cooking for a while, he had grown somewhat tired of it. It was just in time for her arrival to improve their meals.
Winter Bamboo Shoot had always loved working in the kitchen. As soon as she heard that she was wanted to make her sticky rice chicken and braised pork hock, she hurried to the kitchen to prepare.
Ji Xun watched her retreating figure with a furrowed brow. When San Chun asked him what was wrong, he simply shook his head in silence.
That evening, Winter Bamboo Shoot stayed on the mountain. The dishes she cooked were so delicious that one could almost swallow the chopsticks along with them. Master Yuzhen found her cooking to be the best and admired her greatly, insisting on learning her extraordinary culinary skills.
Winter Bamboo Shoot was also generous with her knowledge, explaining all the dishes she could make. The two of them hid in the kitchen studying recipes and quickly became very close.
Ji Xun remained worried about Winter Bamboo Shoot's sudden appearance and asked San Chun, "How much do you really know about this person?"
"Not much, just a little bit," San Chun replied. She might be associated with Ji Yan, sent by him to monitor me. However, they got along well later on; she has helped me many times and put in a lot of effort to rescue me.
Ji Xun said, "Since you know she is monitoring you, why keep her around?"
"She has already severed ties with Ji Yan and is focused on me now."
He sighed, "I'm just afraid things aren't that simple."
San Chun was puzzled, "What do you think?"
"I don't think she is Ji Yan's person. What does my Six Brothers have to do with you? Why send someone to follow you?"
This statement made sense. She had always wondered why Ji Yan would send someone to follow her, but judging by the looks of Winter Bamboo Shoot and Ji Yan, they definitely knew each other. If she wasn't his person, it wouldn't make sense.
San Chun thought for a moment and said, "She is homeless; it wouldn't be right to drive her away. Let's keep her around for now. I will keep a close eye on her and won't let her harm you."
Ji Xun sighed. How could this Girl not understand that what he truly feared was harming her? As a dying man, what else was there for him to fear?
"As long as you know," he shook his head and went back inside to tune his instrument. He wanted to get it ready before he died so that he could give it to her as a parting gift.
When she played the instrument, she should be able to remember him...
Looking at his frail figure, a hint of bitterness rose in her heart. She was afraid of making him sad and didn't dare mention his illness, but watching him count down the days made her feel uneasy. The scouts they sent out hadn't returned yet, and she didn't know how the battle on Zhong Xue's side was going.
His medicine, the medicine that could save him—when would she finally be able to get it?
At this moment, life wasn't easy for Zhong Xue either. The war between Wei Kingdom and Qi State had been going on for nine months, followed by another eight months to capture Ying City in the State of Chu. Now the Wei Army had been fighting for two consecutive years. Soldiers who had been away from home for so long were most wary of fatigue; if they became exhausted from fighting, the war would drag on indefinitely.
Although Korea was a nation, breaking through in a short time wasn't easy.
However, Ji Xun's illness couldn't be delayed any longer. If he didn't get the medicine, he would die, and San Chun probably wouldn't spare him. More importantly, she would feel guilty and think about him for the rest of her life. He didn't want her to have feelings for him; only by getting the medicine could he ensure that she would willingly stay with him without any regrets.
But who was he? He was the smartest person around; after some thought, he would find a way.
Ji Yan had been lured to the battlefield by him. The tens of thousands of troops he commanded were all brave and skilled warriors from Zhao. This time, Zhao Wang had invested heavily to save his son, and with so many people at his disposal, it would be a shame not to make good use of them.
Having made up his mind, he went to find Ji Yan.
Ji Yan was looking at the military route map in the tent when he saw Zhong Xue enter. He quickly rolled up the map and smiled, "What brings you here, Lord Jun?"
Zhong Xue glanced at him, thinking that he was hiding something. What was so special about a mere route map? Once the Korean forces were defeated, this place would be his territory; even a hundred maps would be useless.
He thought this in his heart but smiled on his face, "I actually have something to discuss with you."
"Lord Jun, please."
"Our two countries are leading troops to simultaneously attack Korea, so we should have a priority. How about we make an agreement that whoever captures the capital of Korea first can take over its territory? What do you think?"
Ji Yan felt uncertain, "Why would Lord Jun suggest this?"
"We are brothers. This time, it was I who brought you along for this battle; it wouldn't be right for you to return empty-handed. We must also obtain the life-saving medicine for Crown Prince Ji Xun. However, since we have mobilized our forces, if we don't bring back the vast lands of Korea, it would be a waste of the thousands of brothers who accompanied us on this expedition. What do you think?"
Ji Yan had long harbored thoughts about Korea. This time he led troops not only to seize military power but also to claim Korea for himself. If this place belonged to him, what would he have to worry about? The state of Zhao would be nothing more than his possession.
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