Chapter Ten: The Bright Pearl Moistens the Jade

  I let out a loud scream, amidst the crowd's astonishment, Biying's forehead had already touched the icy white jade pillar. In that critical moment, a red shadow flashed by.

  Baiying, covered in blood, lay in the arms of a tall figure, surprisingly it was Gu Er Ren.

  I still can't believe it, my heart is racing, Bai Ying was right, Guo Er Ren is indeed a god-like person.

  My comrades were also frightened, loosened their grip on me, and I took the opportunity to break free. I crawled all the way, leaving a long trail of blood behind me. When I arrived at Guo Er's feet, I cried out Biying's name. Guo Er handed Biying over to me, his face still as cold as an iceberg, but when he looked at Biying, a hint of admiration and regret appeared on his face.

  I was crying so hard I couldn't speak, just staring at Guo Ren, and Iceberg Uncle simply said very briefly: "Just a little short of shattering the sky."

  It's okay, I used my sleeve to wipe the blood off her face, and let the tears fall one by one on her beautiful but bloodless complexion. I tore off a piece of cloth from the hem of my garment to bandage her wound. Biying, why are you so silly? We've been together for so long, we're closer than sisters. Don't you know that I just like to act cool? When it counts, I'll do what's right. You keep saying something about repaying me, but I'm only taking care of you out of humanity. What's worth you sacrificing yourself to clear my name? Foolish girl, you're a complete fool.

  At this time, the lady spoke up, "Guo Er Ren, what brings you here?"

  Guo Erren merely nodded his hand, without even bowing at the waist, showing no servile demeanor: "I have come to ask for two maidservants for my young master."

  The lady coldly said: "I don't know which two maids you want."

  Guo Erren pointed at me and Biying with his hand: "It's these two."

  I stared at the lady and Guren in shock, the lady's eyes were cold to the extreme, and Iceberg Uncle was also expressionless, the atmosphere was very tense. The lady gave a signal with her eyes, and the young guards gradually surrounded Guren in the center, but he just glared at them, sneered, and showed no fear.

  Liu Yan Sheng stepped forward to mediate: "Sir, you've come at an inopportune time. These two maids are suspected of using cow venom to harm the young master and are currently being interrogated in court. Why not let me select two more beautiful maids to send to Fourth Master Ji instead?"

  Guo Erren said coldly: "My young master specifically wants Huamu and Yao Biying."

  Liu Yansheng said in a low voice: "What if you don't?"

  Guo Erren said: "Then don't blame Guo Erren for being disrespectful to the madam, today I came to ask for advice from the famous Mr. Liu."

  "Is Mr. Guo protecting these two suspects because you and Cui Yinxin are related to Sang Jun?"

  Unexpectedly, Iceberg Uncle burst out laughing instead of getting angry, although this smile was a bit like the killer's smile in a horror movie: "You say my master is the mastermind, just for the sake of this family business, but unfortunately, my young master will eventually return to Xiyu to inherit the throne. Even if it's the entire Central Plains, it won't enter my master's eyes. Today, Madam listened to the words of a petty person, can she really be at ease only after forcing an innocent person to death?"

  He didn't understand; Yuan Fei was indeed blind and couldn't see anything.

  "The former madam said coldly: 'Oh? What do you mean by this?'"

  "This girl named Biying is a well-known medicine jar in this village, and even the jewelry and silk fabrics found in the house have a medicinal smell. How can't we find a single prescription in the house?" Guo Erren turned to Huai An: "Can you recognize characters?"

  He nodded slightly: "The humble person knows how to read."

  Guo Erren took out a jade pendant: "Then you read it!"

  I took a glance, and on that jade pendant was written what seemed to be "With no colorful phoenix wings on the body, yet with a hint of spiritual connection in the heart."

  Wow! I didn't expect it, Iceberg Uncle has such a sentimental thing.

  Huai An's face turned green, and he hummed for half a day but couldn't get it out. However, the faces of Madame and Liu Yansheng were even greener. Guo Erren said: "You can't recite it because you're illiterate. In De Xin Ju, you can't tell which one is what your master wants, so you destroyed all the prescriptions."

  Huai's tall figure suddenly shortened by half in an instant.

  "Madam, although I am not a native of the Central Plains, I have studied under masters from there and have some knowledge of medicine. When I took Lady Yao's pulse earlier, I detected that she was out of balance, both internally and externally, and it is clear that she has recently recovered from a serious illness. From this diagnosis, it is possible that she may have had a history of blood stasis and channel disorder. The use of the Four-Substance Decoction with Cow's Head would be an appropriate treatment for her symptoms." He paused before continuing: "And if, as Yuan Wu said, Huamu was indeed the mastermind behind this plot to harm Lady Yao without anyone noticing, then wouldn't that argument between Huamu and Ziyuan's trusted advisor a few days ago have been deliberately staged to arouse Ziyuan's suspicions?" As he spoke, he glanced in my direction, his gaze seeming to say: "How could you be so foolish?"

  I couldn't help but blush all over my face, secretly remembering this lesson in my heart. I only heard him continue to say: "Lang Zhong fled in fear of punishment last night, why didn't the mastermind Huamu escape and hide, instead sleeping soundly waiting for the lady to come and catch him."

  I don't know if Liu Yan-sheng and Yuan Furen had heard Gao Er-gen say so many words before, but I certainly hadn't. Every word was like a shot hitting its mark. Now I finally understand why Gao Er-gen was once called the first brave warrior of the Turks, the number one bodyguard under the great Turkic Khan.

  He is basically an ancient version of Detective Conan. After a painful silence, Mr. Liu finally spoke up: "So, what do you think we should do, Master Yi?"

  "The renowned Mr. Liu says it's black, who dares to say white? I'm not a person from the Zi Garden, nor do I want to get involved in their disputes, but the young master insists on having these two maids, so please, madam, help mediate."

  "Guo Er Ren, now that we have both human and physical evidence, you can only rely on verbal conjecture. How can you convince the crowd? If there is no solid evidence today, don't even think about taking people away." The lady regained her elegant demeanor and smiled lightly.

  "Right! Get out the evidence!" Xiang Qin shouted wildly, but unfortunately, Gu Er's gray eyes glanced over and she was immediately scared into hiding behind Yuan Fei.

  "These two girls, today Guo Erren is determined to take them away." Guo Erren also smiled slightly, his gray eyes glancing at Liu Yansheng.

  Liu Yansheng also smiled lightly and walked slowly towards Guo Erren, their eyes entwining in mid-air.

  No one saw who made the first move, nor did anyone see the exchange of blows. In the end, the two suddenly separated, and Guo Erren's expression remained unchanged as he said, "I concede."

  Liu Yansheng's face was expressionless, his left hand hanging down somewhat unnaturally. It was clear that Guo Er had won. He walked steadily towards us, but suddenly stopped and changed color, his lips turning pale purple. His whole body trembling, he stood there, coldly laughing: "The great steward of the Yuan family, the famous Liu Yansheng, is actually so despicable and shameless. You actually used poison to harm me?"

  Liu Yansheng smiled faintly: "Well, Gu Erjin, the year Jin Gusuban created this colorless and tasteless Ten Miles Fragrance was to deal with the Thirteen Ghosts of Youming. Now using it on you, a Turk, is also your honor. I didn't want to be an enemy with you, but since you insist on being stubborn and offending my lady, I have no choice but to treat you as such."

  Guo Erren's face turned pale: "Rumors in the Jianghu said that Jin Gu, the true person, had a disciple named Liu Feng who was expelled from the school for his evil deeds and stole the school's ultimate skill, Shili Xiang. I never thought that Liu Yansheng would be that despicable person Liu Feng, who bullied our master's wife and drove our senior brother to death."

  Liu Yansheng's face twisted for a moment, but immediately regained its elegance: "I don't know what you're talking about. Please let Mr. Guo Erren leave, I will take good care of your Jue Si Ye."

  He took a step closer to Gu Er Ren, the light of the weapon in his right sleeve flashing, while Gu Er Ren's eyes were filled with unwillingness. My heart sank into despair, was heaven really going to destroy me and Bi Ying?

  Just then a loud and clear laughter came: "Today Zi Yuan is quite lively."

  Only to see a green scarf and beautiful whiskers floating in, it was actually Han Xiuzhu of Xifengyuan. Behind him followed another person, who turned out to be Zhao Menglin, the Langzhong who had been rumored to have disappeared overnight.

  That Han Xiuzhu smiled brightly, and in the Rong Baotang's inner hall where swords were drawn and blood splattered everywhere, he didn't seem to notice. He bowed respectfully to the lady, then seemed to accidentally discover Guo Erlin standing there, and walked over with a smile, saying: "Long time no see, Mr. Guo, how have you been? It's been a long time since Fourth Master Ji came to Xifengyuan, is he doing well?"

  He warmly grasped Gao Erren's hand, as if Yuan Fei had once told me with spittle flying everywhere that they often fought each other in the Plum Blossom Seven Star Formation for their respective young masters, but it was just a rumor. He blocked Liu Yansheng's line of sight, and from my angle, I seemed to see a flash of silver light in his hand, and Gao Erren's sweat droplets started flowing down, that sweat water was all black, but Gao Erren's complexion obviously eased up.

  When Han Xiuzhu let go of Gu Erjin's hand, Gu Erjin had quickly jumped to one side and sat down beside us, crossing his legs in meditation.

  Liu Yansheng and Han Xiuzhu were chatting warmly, as if the ruthless killer who had just tried to silence someone with despicable means didn't exist. Meanwhile, Han Xiuzhu casually mentioned between Liu Yansheng and Guo Erlin: "I heard that the madam is investigating a suspect who used cow venom to harm the young master in the main hall, and is looking for a key witness, Zhao Menglin. Coincidentally, I just invited a friend named Zhao Menglin to come and treat my third uncle's leg. He also happens to be someone who has entered the garden to examine the maids before. I wonder if he is the one you are looking for?"

  That man was indeed Zhao Langzhong, who had treated our illness. To be honest, at that time we asked him to treat the illness because he was the only doctor we could afford and also the only one willing to treat Biying.

  How could he possibly be friends with the famous martial artist Han Xiuzhu?

  Zhao Menglin merely bowed slightly and cupped his hands, saying: "I am Zhao Menglin, who once treated Miss Yao Biying. I don't know what instructions the original madam has."

  Yu Fei Yan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up with a smile: "If I'm not mistaken, this gentleman is the famous 'Medical Saint' Zhao Menglin of the Jianghu?"

  Everyone's face was shocked, Zhao Menglin is a famous doctor in the world, and it is said that he can revive the dead, white bones, with a reputation for having a magical hand to bring back spring. However, his temper is eccentric, sometimes he will see someone dying but not save them, charging thousands of gold coins for diagnosis, sometimes he won't charge a single coin and treat people for free, sometimes people call him "Weird Doctor God".

  Everyone looked at Zhao Menglin in unison, and he only twirled his mustache and smiled slightly: "That is the nickname given to me by friends on the rivers and lakes. The four characters 'Miao Shou Yi Sheng' are too much for me to dare claim."

  Han Xiuzhu applauded and praised: "The second young lady is indeed well-versed in Jianghu anecdotes, the title of 'Qingcheng Zhuge' is well-deserved."

  "Sir is teasing me again. I don't deserve such a title, it's just luck that I happened to guess correctly."

  She walked up to Zhao Menglin, bowed slightly, and Zhao Menglin also bowed his head in return. She politely asked: "I really didn't expect that the doctor who often comes to our house to treat my daughter's illness is actually the renowned Doctor Zhao, the father of the Non-smoke generation. My mother apologizes for not showing respect earlier, please forgive us."

  Miss, you've killed a humble man. I'm just a traveling performer who came to the noble mansion at the invitation of Master Xiu Zhu. Originally, I was here to help Third Master Bai with his leg condition. I have a habit of only treating those who want to be treated. The reason I diagnosed Miss Ying's condition is that despite being poor and down on their luck, these five sworn siblings are incredibly kind-hearted. A few days ago, Miss Ying had a case of blood stasis and menstrual blockage, so I prescribed her a dose of Four-Substance Decoction with added leeches. Since she's also an old patient of mine, I kept all her medical records. This is the copy of my previous prescription, please take a look.

  Zhao Menglin handed over a blue book, and when Liu Yansheng took it, Zhao Menglin looked into his eyes and said: "Ten-li Xiang is the world's most potent poison. Not only will those who smell it die, but also those who use it will slowly be harmed. Even Jin Gu Zhenren considered it evil, so this is a secret that should not be passed on. Although Mr. Liu has modified its composition to make it harmless beyond a certain distance, the toxicity to the person using it remains undiminished. If you use it frequently, you will bring disaster upon yourself and those in your household."

  Liu Yansheng's face changed several times, becoming whiter and whiter, finally bowing to say: "Thank you for the guidance of the divine doctor."

  He handed the medical record to the lady, and for a moment everyone's face looked very unsightly. The lady coldly snorted, "Thanks to Mr. Zhao," and then she ended her visit, picked up Biying, nodded at Liu Yansheng: "Thank you for Mr. Liu's hospitality today, I will return it in full on another day." After that, she helped me up and we left together.

  As I turned my head, Zhao Menglin was smiling at me. My heart warmed up, but Guo Erren pulled me out of Rong Baotang's place.

  When Hei Xiuzhu rushed over, Zhao Menglin had already disappeared.

  As I walked out of the Zi Garden, I couldn't bear it anymore. My legs went soft and I was about to fall down. Luckily, Han Xiuzhu supported me in time. "Miss, are you okay?"

  I bit my lip and nodded slightly, leaning against a nearby tree for support. The scene in front of me began to blur, and all I could hear was Guo Erren's cold voice saying: "I've never been willing to owe anyone a favor, let alone you, Han Xiuzhu. Tell me, how should I repay the debt of gratitude for saving my life this time?"

  "Guo Erren is indeed a man of iron, no wonder Master Hou is willing to entrust the young master to you. Although we two are serving different masters, we have also been acquaintances for over a decade. What do you think about seeing each other as outsiders?" Han Xiuzhu sighed with a hint of helplessness, but Guo Erren coldly smiled: "You helped me only because this little five has already shown his talent, Song Mingpei and Liu Yansheng hate him for his betrayal, Hua Jinxiu and the madam are angry at him for secretly colluding with the general. Therefore, they set up a trap to frame these two people. However, Song Mingpei has already returned to Bai San's camp, don't you also want these two girls to follow their hearts?"

  Han Xiuzhu smiled happily and stroked his long beard: "You are indeed the first brave warrior of the Great Turk, nothing can escape your eyes."

  My mind went blank for a moment, what? Jinxiu and Jiangjun? What's going on here?

  Lian Rui's family's dirty words and his wife's hateful look hit me hard, is everything because of Jinxiu and Song Mingpei?

  Could it be that General Yuan is the one she's referring to as her soulmate? My hands and feet trembled, my heart felt like it was being gnawed by a thousand ants, a knot of discomfort.

  Only to hear Guo Ren coldly snort, Han Xiuzhu said seriously: "Since our young master also has his eyes on these two girls, why don't we do it this way? Mr. Guo, you take one, and I'll take one. Let's not spoil the harmony between us. This girl named Yao Biying is a beauty in the village, and now that the divine doctor has given his word, she must be greatly improved. As they say, 'beauty matches hero.' Moreover, when I was leaving, Third Master instructed me to never seize someone else's treasure. So, this Yao Biying will be given to you, Mr. Guo. Anyway, in Xifengyuan, we only lack a girl who can watch over the children and do rough chores like cooking and cleaning. I think Huamu Jin is quite suitable. I'll take her back now."

  "Our young master has specifically chosen this girl, and it's absolutely impossible for you to have her." Guo Erlan also said seriously: "Why don't you go to my Yubei study to pick a few thousand-year-old Snow Lotus Lingzhi for Bai San Ye, consider it as me returning your favor?"

  Han Xiuzhu shook her head, with a look of disdain on her face: "Lao Guo is really petty, just a maid, and that Yao Biying is much more beautiful than Huamu Qian. I bet your young master will definitely like the one in your arms."

  Guo Erren shook his head: "You don't know, he's grown up now and has his own ideas......"

  I gradually couldn't hear what they were saying, only a din in my ears, and in my heart, all I could think about was Jinxiu and Jiangjun's news. Later, it seemed like someone else was fighting...

  I struggled to open my eyes and saw Guo Er Ren kneeling on one leg, saying hatefully to Han Xiuzhu: "You... the Han people are despicable and shameless, only knowing how to use deceit."

  "This remark is quite wrong, old fruit. Soldiers don't mind deceit, right? Alright, since my young master has agreed to let Song Mingyue take a look at this girl, I'll lend her to you for a few days."

  Before the endless darkness swallowed me, for some reason, I had a strange thought in my heart. This Korean repair bamboo said that it would borrow me for a few days, but the result was like Liu Bei borrowing Jingzhou, gone forever...

  It's so hot, I feel like I'm struggling in a sea of fire...

  Lian Rui's family and Xiang Qin were sharpening their knives with a menacing glare, walking towards me with sinister smiles...

  The lady kept giving me a cold smile, Liu Yansheng choked my throat and said: "You've fallen into my Ten Miles Fragrance...". Jinxiu stood beside me, but ignored my cry for help, only to walk away with a robust man in high spirits...

  The scene shifted, and amidst the purple and red hues, Yuan Feiyu and Song Minghui were strolling intimately along the riverbank. I rushed up to them, rebuking Song Minghui for his treachery. Suddenly, Yuan Feiyu held out a red lacquer tray covered with silk, smiling as she lifted the silk to reveal a human head inside, which was none other than Biying, her face covered in blood...

  I couldn't help but wake up with a loud cry, only to find myself lying in a simple wooden hut, my face covered in tears and my whole body soaked in sweat, with the lower half of my body wrapped in gauze like a mummy.

  Sunlight shines through the carved flower window lattice, and I involuntarily raise my hand to block it. Suddenly, my whole body is affected, and my waist and legs feel like they're on fire. I grit my teeth and try to move my left and right legs and toes, and fortunately, they can still move - they haven't damaged my spinal cord yet.

  "Hey! Are you awake?" A very unpleasant voice came from beside my ear, I turned around and found a young boy with two braids on his head, looking like he was twelve or thirteen years old. His eyes looked at me with disdain, as if impatient, and his face was full of acne, far from being handsome.

  "Where is this?" I asked weakly.

  "This is Third Master's Western Prunus, if it wasn't for my family's Mr. Han saving you, you would have died in Rongbaotang already, hey, hurry up and drink this bowl of medicine, so I can go back and report." The young man pinched his nose and handed over a bowl of extremely pungent and dark medicine.

  I took it over and had a sip, heavens, it was really bitter. I asked: "Excuse me, young fellow, is this the medicine you helped me buy?"

  He didn't expect that after hearing this, he immediately jumped back a big step, his face full of acne suspiciously turned red, and then took another step forward with an evil tone: "Hey, my mother said that when a man sees a woman's body, he must take responsibility for the woman. Your injury is naturally the medicine my mother gave you, don't ruin my reputation, you look so ugly, don't even think about deceiving me into marrying you."

  As soon as I heard, I spat out all the medicine in my mouth and sprayed him all over. He was furious, and I apologized hastily. Just when we were in a mess, a stout middle-aged woman in her forties walked in, saw the situation, twisted his ear, and scolded loudly: "Su Hui, your mother just went out this time, you can't even take care of a patient?"

  That boy struggled free, rubbing his ears and shouting: "How can this be blamed on me? She herself spat out all the medicine, besides, I am the master's guard, in the future I will definitely go through thick and thin for the master to conquer the world, who wants to look at a little girl?"

  He saw that the fat woman seemed to be really angry, waving her fat palm to come over, and suddenly disappeared into the house with a loud shout. The woman sighed, turned around, looked at my frightened face, and smiled apologetically: "Mugui hasn't been scalded, has she?"

  What a lively mother and son!

  She saw me staring blankly and smiled warmly: "This kid is my only flesh and blood, named Su Hui, the name was given by Third Master, his father passed away early, and relying on Third Master and Han Ye's favoritism, he has been lawless every day, please don't mind, Wood Maiden!"

  I naturally shook my head: "May I ask how this lady is addressed?"

  "My husband's family name is Xie, and he is the third in line. He was the concubine of the late Mrs. Xie. Just call me Third Wife Xie." Then Third Wife Xie quickly changed my gauze and reapplied medicine to it.

  It's been several days, and Han Xiuzhu hasn't appeared in the house. I haven't had any chance to see my new master, Bai San Ye, who is said to be a legendary figure. I'm having trouble moving around, even going to the bathroom is difficult. Only now do I realize that Biying's life for the past six years has not been easy. Fortunately, Xie San Niang takes good care of me, changing my soup and urine with all her heart. I feel grateful in my heart and want to give her some jewelry and silk as a thank you, but unfortunately, they were all left at Rong Bao Tang and have yet to be found.

  Occasionally, a young boy named Xie Suhui would be forced by his mother to deliver medicine soup to me, but every time he did so with great reluctance. Xie San Niang would force him to address me as "Mu Gu Niang", but he thought that since he had been at Xi Feng Wan longer than I had, he should be my superior and would often call me "Mu Ya Tou" when Xie San Niang was not around. I didn't mind, though, because every time he called me "Mu Gu Niang" it sounded like he was saying "Bu Gu Niao".

  That's what Xie San Niang told me, that Ruo Er Ren lost to Mr. Han again and was given a massage, so I was brought back by him, while Bi Ying was taken back to Yu Bei Zhai. I remained silent, not knowing whether this was good or bad luck. I asked Xie Da Niang about Bi Ying's situation, and Xie San Niang laughed loudly: "Don't worry, Mu Gu Niang, that old man Ruo may have a cold face, but he is most loyal and righteous, and Fourth Master is not at home every day, so Bi Ying must be in Yu Bei Zhai, eating well and drinking well."

  I couldn't help but think of Yuan Wu, who had wronged me greatly, but I thought he must have been forced to do so by someone else. So I asked Xie San Niang about it. Her face turned cold and she sighed: "That young Wu Zi was a famous filial son and brother in the village, unfortunately, I heard that he was buried in the Western Forest. His parents are also old people in the village, and his sister cried until she almost died."

  I was deeply grieved, and later I also learned that Huai An had died suddenly of a violent illness on the second day after I entered Xifengyuan, and was cremated and buried in Xiling.

  After about seven days, I was finally able to get out of bed. Xie San Niang was afraid that my body would easily catch a cold after just recovering from illness, so she insisted on me wearing a large black and grey raccoon fur coat with a raccoon head-shaped hat, as well as a raccoon fur scarf around my neck. I was dressed up to the point where I looked even fatter than her before we could finally go out the door.

  I stepped on the scattered jade, slowly came to the courtyard, only to see the warm sunshine, the red plum blossoms in the garden were fragrant and blooming, amidst the white snow, they stood out with extraordinary beauty and vitality. In the past, I was always washing clothes outside the western fence, counting the red plums that climbed over the wall, never thinking that I would have the chance to appreciate these plum blossoms in the courtyard, and couldn't help but feel enchanted.

  "Third Master is here!" Xie San Niang's respectful voice called me back, and I looked around to find that Han Xiuzhu was pushing a wheelchair with a young man sitting in it, standing quietly in the snow.

  The red plum blossoms fluttered and fell, dancing among people. The young man in white clothes was as clean as snow, like a bright pearl shining brightly. Even the wheelchair that chilled people's hearts couldn't affect his captivating charm at all.

  The young man looked at me calmly for a moment, and I came back to myself, realizing my rudeness, so I gave him a bow.

  He smiled slightly, and I felt as if the flowers of spring dawn were blooming, like the mid-autumn moon revealing its face. The elegant music played softly around me, the immortal birds flew in circles, and in a daze, it seemed that half of my three souls and seven spirits had been taken away.

  Yu Fei Bai led the way to Mochou Lake, which had already thawed, and I followed him in a daze. Han Xiuzhu said, "Mu Ya Tou, from now on, you are a person of Xi Feng Wan, you must take good care of Young Master."

  I nodded: "Thank you, young master and Mr. Han, for saving my life. A toothless man can't die, I will definitely repay you in my lifetime."

  No matter what, this kindness must be repaid.

  Just as I was pondering whether I should have added "with my life" before "repay" to make it more touching, the young man, gazing at the rippling lake surface with an ethereal elegance, spoke softly: "You don't need to thank me. Since I saved you today, you must remember that this worthless life of yours now belongs to me, and one day I will come to collect it."

  The music suddenly changed tune and stopped, the spring flowers immediately wilted, the autumn moon hid back in the clouds, the birds also cried out and flew away, leaving only me standing there in a daze with the heavenly youth, speechless and staring at each other.

  Thus ended the Cowherd Uprising, my life with Biying in De Xin Residence came to an end, thoroughly changing our revolutionary path, and began my career with Yuan Fei in Xi Feng Bay.