Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Li Yan is dead!
On that snowy night, after Xing Ruyi finished talking with Mu Xi and was preparing to return to the room to reassess Li Yan's condition in order to come up with a treatment prescription, she discovered that this once-great general had silently passed away on the couch.
It was the first time Xing Ruyi saw Li Yan's full appearance. His emaciated and decaying body was hidden beneath a thick quilt, his right hand clutching a blood-stained shard of porcelain, while the bloodstains on his left wrist had already dried. Fragments of a teacup were scattered on the floor.
From Li Yan's posture, it seemed that the teacup had been placed on a stool not far from his couch, indicating that Li Yan had committed suicide.
The bedroom window, which had been tightly shut, was now ajar. Through the gap, one could see the beaded curtain hanging in the corridor to block the snow.
"When was that window opened?" Xing Ruyi asked an attendant.
"Well, I don't know," the attendant replied, lowering his head. "Usually, unless summoned by the general or madam, we wouldn't dare to enter this room casually. Most of the time, we are just responsible for guarding the courtyard. I remember that around noon, when I passed by here, that window was still closed. Afterward, since Miss and Lord Chang were nearby and the general and madam didn't give any further instructions, we didn't dare to approach."
Although the attendant's words sounded plain, they subtly shifted responsibility onto Xing Ruyi and Chang Tai. Xing Ruyi glanced at him without saying a word and remained motionless as she stared at the gap. Not far outside was where she and Mu Xi had just stood. She pondered their conversation; Li Yan must have heard it. How much he heard was unknown, but it might have been related to his final decision to take his own life.
So why did Li Yan suddenly decide to commit suicide?
Was it because he heard the truth? Because he expressed his grievances? Or was it because he had let go of all his burdens and grudges and no longer wanted to endure the torment of illness?
Xing Ruyi felt as if she understood something but also felt completely lost. She sighed in frustration, her gaze falling upon the Yin Hun Lantern. The lantern that had just been lit was now extinguished.
"The Yin Hun Lantern? Why didn’t I think of that earlier?"
Xing Ruyi rushed out of the door and saw a faint trail of footprints in the snow.
It turned out that the Taoist priest was not there for the Coffin Ghost, nor for Mu Xi; rather, this Yin Hun Lantern was meant to guide Li Yan's soul. As for the Soul-Settling Diagram, it might have simply been intended to protect Li Yan's spirit from being harmed by outsiders.
The Taoist priest had likely planned this all along. Xing Ruyi estimated that even if she chased after him now, she might not catch up. She turned back to the bedroom only to find that Mu Xi was also missing.
"Where is the lady?" Xing Ruyi asked the attendant who was looking down.
The attendant raised her head, glanced around in confusion, and then shook her head again.
"Never mind, your lady might have gone to find the General."
As soon as Xing Ruyi finished speaking, she noticed the attendant lifting her eyelids to sneak a glance at her before quickly lowering her head again.
"Call someone in! Since the General has already left, he can't just lie here indefinitely. Someone needs to arrange for what comes next. The lady is a woman and doesn't understand the court's regulations, and this place is far from the border city. After thinking it over, it seems we can only trouble Brother Chang. I remember there is a caretaker at this Relay Station in the Central Plains; have him make the effort to go to Ruyi Cosmetic Shop to summon Lord Chang. As for how to handle the General's affairs, you all should listen to him."
The attendant opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but after thinking for a moment, she bowed her head and left.
Xing Ruyi watched the attendant leave and let out a long sigh. She walked over to Li Yan's side and helped him slightly adjust his appearance. Fearing that someone might get hurt by the shards on the ground, she took out a silk handkerchief, intending to clean up the pieces. However, as she crouched down, her attention was drawn to the wound on Li Yan's left hand.
Having been ill for a long time, even if it was a wrist cut, there wasn't much blood left in his body. Moreover, judging by his wound, his coagulation function was quite good. If it were merely a simple wrist cut, it wouldn't necessarily be fatal. She had been somewhat flustered earlier and hadn't thought deeply about it; now that she examined Li Yan's wound more closely, she realized something strange about it.
The blood that has coagulated usually appears darker and scabs quickly, but there were still some milky white substances mixed in with Li Yan's wound. Xing Ruyi pinched one corner of the silk handkerchief, dabbed it on the substance, and brought it close to her nose for a careful sniff. She discovered that this milky white substance came from a type of plant. This plant had a very ominous name: Blood-Restraining Poison. Its juice can be applied to arrowheads to kill beasts or enemies and is extremely toxic.
It is not hard to understand that someone in court wanted Li Yan dead; what is difficult to comprehend is why they chose this moment to strike? Could it be that they knew she was coming and feared she would cure Li Yan's illness?
Xing Ruyi squinted at those attendants responsible for guarding the area; perhaps the culprit behind the attempt on Li Yan's life was among them.
Brother Chang had invited her to help treat Li Yan; this matter had been planned for some time, but today's outing was a last-minute decision. Besides Xing and the foxes—Yin Yuan, Li Mao, and Brother Chang—only these people at the Relay Station knew she was coming. When diagnosing Li Yan's condition, he had even sent General's Wife Mu Xi away; only she and Brother Chang knew that Li Yan could still be saved. Could it be that Brother Chang was involved?
Xing Ruyi quickly shook her head. No! How could she suspect Brother Chang? At that time, there were only her, Brother Chang, and Li Yan in the bedroom; however, the bedroom was not very soundproof, so it was quite possible for outsiders to overhear.
Just as her thoughts were in turmoil, Mu Xi stumbled in. Xing Ruyi quickly supported her and asked, "Did you catch up with the General?"
Mu Xi first shook her head and then nodded. Her face was blank as if she had encountered something utterly bewildering.
"Madam, did you see someone?"
Mu Xi nodded, "I saw that Taoist. He took away the General."
"Do you know that Taoist?"
Mu Xi's brows twitched slightly, "I do! I just didn't expect it would be him!"
"Who is he?"
"Do you remember Mu Xi's story? Before Mu Xi became a demon, like the young lady, she was also a mortal. Mu Xi was innocently harmed, and the one who harmed her, besides the General, was another person."
"Is it the one who drank with the General that day and later bullied you?"
Mu Xi closed her eyes and nodded.
"I have heard that in this life, even if you only brush past someone, there will be a connection from a previous life. But what Mu Xi didn't expect was that the entanglement from the past still hasn't been resolved in this life."
"Then Madam, have you asked the General why he treated you that way in the last life? And that Taoist, having chosen cultivation, has let go of worldly matters; why would he come to meddle in your affairs with the General?"
"I asked! But the General has already forgotten the past. That person remembers, but it's because my parents caused his sister's death, the woman beloved by my husband. Therefore, my husband harbors resentment towards me and treated me that way after we married."
"Did your parents ever do such a thing?"
"That was too long ago; I can't remember." Mu Xi shook her head, "At that time, Mu Xi was also considered a sister-in-law. Unless it was something significant, I generally wouldn't go out. For matters like this, whether it was my parents or those in the household, they wouldn't reveal a word to me."
"Since Madam did not deny it but simply cannot remember, can we assume that based on your parents' temperament, it is possible they could have done such a thing?"
"Since ancient times, marriage has emphasized matching social status. What does matching social status mean? It is merely about mutual reliance and support. The marriage of children seeks connections but ultimately aims for benefits. Even today, those who hold positions in court, even if they are minor officials, are not necessarily virtuous individuals. Especially my father; although his position is not high, he holds the key to the court's lifeblood. The Chen Family is in business; it is understandable for them to want to ally with and depend on my father. My father may not have been without thoughts of leveraging the Chen Family's wealth."
As for that person, in Mu Xi's memory, his background should not have been very good. Therefore, Mu Xi's father and his father might have really plotted something behind the scenes. However, it should not be Mu Xi who bears the consequences of such schemes.
"Moreover, the General's past life was not that of an upright man either. So Master punished him, ensuring that he would not find peace in this life. Now that the General is gone, please let go of the past, madam."
Xing Ruyi originally wanted to tell Mu Xi the true cause of the General's death, but seeing Mu Xi's expression, she felt it was not appropriate. The person was already dead; why should she use "Blood-Restraining Poison" to bind Mu Xi?
"Indeed, the General is gone. What else does Mu Xi have to hold on to?"
Mu Xi repeated Xing Ruyi's words and slowly walked back to Li Yan's side, sitting down beside him and taking his hand to press against her face. "General, you and Mu Xi were married in two lifetimes, but truly spent only two nights together as a couple. One night was beautiful, and the other was filled with schemes, leaving Mu Xi unsure whether to resent you at this moment. Enough is enough; if you owe Mu Xi in your past life, then Mu Xi has already repaid it in this life. As for what Mu Xi owes you in this life, I hope you can be magnanimous and consider it settled. Mu Xi only wishes that in the next life and beyond, you and Mu Xi will never meet again."
"Madam!"
"Ruyi, you must be tired as well; please go back and rest! As for the young lady's kindness, Mu Xi will remember it. If there is an opportunity, I will surely repay it."
"Madam owes nothing to Fox Demon; rather, Fox Demon has come here for nothing but to make you sad." Xing Ruyi bowed slightly. "Take care, madam; Fox Demon takes her leave."
Upon exiting the Relay Station, she happened to run into Chang Tai. While lowering her head to speak, she noticed a smear of milky white on his sleeve; the scent was somewhat familiar.
"Brother Chang—"
"Fox Demon, what are you still standing there for? With such heavy snow, hurry up and come over!"
Just as Xing Ruyi could no longer contain herself and wanted to ask Chang Tai whether the milky white on his sleeve was indeed Blood-Restraining Poison, she heard a voice like that of a fox. Looking up, she saw a fox holding a white umbrella with red plum blossoms standing amidst the swirling snow.
"Yin Chensi, what brings you here?"
Before Xing Ruyi could finish her question, the approaching fox forcefully pulled her into an embrace.
"If my husband doesn't come soon, I fear this wife might lose her way home."
Xing Ruyi pretended to hit the fox lightly and said, "Wait a moment, I still have something I want to ask Brother Chang."
"I know what you want to ask," the fox replied, lowering its eyes to meet hers. "Be good, listen to me, and don't ask."
Xing Ruyi widened her eyes, staring blankly at the fox. The fox, however, pulled up its fluffy cloak and wrapped it around itself, leading her toward Ruyi Cosmetic Shop.
"Fox, do you know something?"
"What I know isn't important; you just need to know that he is still your Brother Chang," the fox said, looking into the distance. "At least for now, he hasn't changed."
"What about Li Yan? What about Mu Xi? And the female ghost in the coffin?"
"Li Yan has Old Friend looking after him, and Mu Xi has Mountain Deity protecting him. As for that female ghost, I've already sent Ghost Messenger to take her where she needs to go," the fox said. It then loosened its grip, allowing the umbrella to float above them while picking up Xing Ruyi. "You're tired too; just sleep for a while. By the time you wake up, this snow should be about over!"
"What about the human-faced Centipede? Do you know where it came from?" Xing Ruyi asked as she lifted her head, but the fox lowered its head and sealed her lips with a kiss. "Does that really matter?"
Xing Ruyi initially thought it was important, but seeing the look in the fox's eyes, she reluctantly replied, "It's not important!"
Comment 0 Comment Count