Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Mu Jian Shu replied in a low voice, "This subordinate, does not know.”

When he came back to his senses, the yearning gaze had already settled on Xue Fu Guang, unable to shift away.

Xue Fu Guang watched him clench his fists, his gaze not daring to fall upon his face, a restrained expression on his own. With a cold laugh, he said: "Then when did you realize you had such thoughts, you always seem to know, don’t you?”

Mu Jian Shu: “I joined the prince's estate as a secret guard six months after.”

How could Xue Fu Guang have known when Mu Jian Shu became a secret guard for the royal estate?

It wasn’t written in the books, and he didn’t remember having someone like Mu Jian Shu by his side, nor had he ever inquired.

But now, he was very curious to know.

He felt compelled to pinpoint the exact moment as if it mattered.

“When did you enter the prince's estate?”

Mu Jian Shu’s eyes flickered as if recalling the past, “On the day of the young master's fifteenth birthday.”

The day of Xue Fu Guang's fifteenth birthday.

And now, his eighteenth birthday was approaching.

That means, at least two years.

He loosened his grip on Mu Jian Shu’s collar and stood up to wipe the ink stains on his hands.

But no matter how he rubbed, the stains wouldn’t come off, and he called out loudly: “Shao Jing!”

After calling and seeing no one, Xue Fu Guang remembered he had sent Shao Jing to deliver ink to the twelfth prince and that he wasn’t currently in the yard.

Mu Jian Shu knelt behind him, looking up to say, “What does the young master require, I am at your service.”

Xue Fu Guang almost turned around to kick him again.

But remembering the arrow wound in his chest that hadn’t yet fully healed, he forcefully contained his rage and barked, “Get out!”

Mu Jian Shu said, “My lord, I acknowledge my mistake.”

“Acknowledge your mistake? What mistake do you understand?! If you knew your mistake, you wouldn’t have allowed such thoughts to arise! Two years ago? You say two years ago; do you think I would believe that?!” Xue Fu Guang, gripping Mu Jian Shu’s collar, pushed him so fiercely that he nearly fell himself, steadying only with Mu Jian Shu's support around his waist.

He shook off Mu Jian Shu’s hands violently.

What about two years ago?

If that were true, why was there no trace of Mu Jian Shu in the previous life?

And how could the Xue family have been decimated?

How could more than a hundred of them have fallen so effortlessly at the hands of the Crown Prince and Xiu Jin?

Those gruesome, lifeless bodies!

Clearly, it was the book itself seeking revenge on him, twisting reality in such a way.

Yet, no one could perceive it. Just as those people blindly adored Xiu Jin, completely oblivious to how they resembled irrational, mad dogs. Even Mu Jian Shu, blessed with the "antagonist's halo," failed to see it.

Only he alone knew it was impossible.

And it shouldn’t be.

Was this the meaning of his being given a second chance at life?

Just to torment him?

Mu Jian Shu still knelt, his voice stubborn and resolute, “I have concealed nothing from you.”

Xue Fu Guang suddenly looked at him coldly, “Leave. Leave the estate, and do not appear before me for some time.”

A piercing headache throbbed at his temples, which he could only alleviate by pinching fiercely with his fingertips, “Quickly.”

His tone left no room for argument.

Some time, is it?

Mu Jian Shu complied, knife in hand, and departed.

Dressed in black, the ink stains on his clothes were not so noticeable, though his mask was considerably splattered.

A picture of disarray.

Not far from the Listening Bamboo Pavilion, he collided with another dark-clothed secret guard.

Gong Xuan looked at Mu Jian Shu and nodded slightly.

As Mu Jian Shu brushed past him, Gong Xuan suddenly said, “The princess remarked that the young master has the gentlest temperament and is the easiest to coax.”

If someone else heard that the indulged Young Master Xue was the easiest to coax, they would surely laugh out loud.

Mu Jian Shu halted his steps, nodding, "The princess is correct."

Gong Xuan, hearing praise for the princess, showed a rare softening at the corners of his usually stern mouth, "The princess also said that the young master is very well-behaved and never loses his temper with his family—unless they do something to make him feel wronged."

When it comes to understanding Xue Fu Guang, perhaps no one in this world is clearer than Princess Jingrong.

Xue Fu Guang was almost raised and accompanied to adulthood by her hands.

In his early years, when his father and brothers were too busy to return home, his sister was always Xue Fu Guang's steadfast support.

Mu Jian Shu's gaze darkened as he expressed his sincere gratitude.

He didn’t dare to hope, yet these words sparked a faint expectation within him.

What if?

With Mu Jian Shu gone, silence filled the room, leaving only Xue Fu Guang alone.

After a long while, he summoned someone to tidy up the disarray in the room.

Upon his return, not seeing Mu Jian Shu, Shao Jing was quite puzzled, "Where is he? He refused to rest despite persuasion before, has he finally succumbed to fatigue?"

Xue Fu Guang spoke indifferently, "I sent him away."

Shao Jing's eyes widened in surprise, but catching a glimpse of Xue Fu Guang's expression, he closed his mouth and asked no further.

After all, it certainly wasn’t an issue with his master.

……

The Xia Qi Tower, the grandest tavern within the imperial city of Jingguo.

Serving daily from the highest-ranking princes to the lowest of sixth-grade officials, it earned a fortune that was the envy of many.

The whole imperial city speculated it to be the enterprise of some prince, yet no one knew that behind its respectable façade hid a nest of spies from the Ying dynasty.

It had been a long time since Mu Jian Shu returned here.

The nobles and high officials of the imperial capital follow the latest trends, flocking to this place, yet Xue Fuguang seldom visits here.

He entered through a secret door, lit the candlesticks, and carried them as he walked through the long corridor into the room.

The guards spotted him and exclaimed with joy, "My lord!"

Mu Jian's expression remained unreadable.

Someone took an envelope out of a hidden compartment: "It was just about to be sent to you. His Majesty has already received news of the amnesty for the rebels in Dingzhou. He ordered us to send back a detailed report without omission."

With the troublemakers in Dingzhou eliminated, the nation undeniably rids itself of a major threat.

The Yi Dynasty was not pleased to see such a situation unfold.

A subordinate agent asked, "May I know if you have any specific arrangements for your trip to Dingzhou, my lord? Should we write it down and send it back now, or shall we wait until the task is accomplished to report the good news to His Majesty?"

Mu Jian tore open the envelope, read it, and then burned the letter: "Do not write about my visit to Dingzhou."

The man nodded, "Alright, we'll just report that Xue Fuguang went to Dingzhou on his own initiative to assist Xue Hongwen in the amnesty. It never occurred to us before that this good-for-nothing heir had such cunning. You are more insightful, my lord, to have seen through his disguise and monitored him closely."

Mu Jian's brows furrowed, a trace of ferocity showing in his eyes.

If Xue Fuguang witnessed this scene, he would realize how similar the aura was to that of Xue Hongwen.

It was an aura forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

However, the aura around Xue Hongwen was more of a sharp and cold murderous intent, while Mu Jian's was mixed with a chillier, bloodier scent.

The secret room fell into a sudden silence, with only the soft popping sounds of the candle wicks as they split and burned.

Those still deciphering secret messages within even lightened their breathing unconsciously.

In the Yi Dynasty, no one dared to provoke this lord of death.

Mu Jian added, "Don't write about him either. No need to mention anyone else who is not part of the amnesty team."

"...Yes."

Mu Jian rested his hand on the knife at his waist and after a moment added, "Send two more boxes of Jin Yu ointment."

The spy hesitated, "My lord, that might be difficult to obtain. Before your departure, His Majesty personally granted you a box for your protection. Taking two more would not only be challenging to justify to His Majesty, but it would also likely draw the Crown Prince's attention. After all... the whereabouts of the previous box are hard to account for." There were only so many boxes in the entire Yi Dynasty.

The only fatal wound listed in Mu Jian's records was from the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince of Jingguo.

But a single fatal wound wouldn't exhaust an entire box of Jin Yu ointment.

If the explanation isn’t satisfactory, this trip to Dingzhou could bring unwanted attention.

Mu Jian pondered for a moment, then commanded, "Prepare pen and paper."

He quickly penned a letter, sealed it with lacquer, and handed it over for dispatch: "Send this to the Crown Prince with all haste."

"Understood."

*

For several days in succession, Shaoying hadn't caught a glimpse of Mu Jian.

He finally realized that this time, a real problem had arisen.

The mood of his household's heir was visibly sour.

And what on earth had Qu Wu done to upset the heir so!

Shaoying thought bitterly, resolved to give Qu Wu a thrashing when he saw him!

Unfortunately, Qu Wu was nowhere to be found.

The invitation from the Sixth Prince, however, was delivered once more.

It came with a gift, claimed to be a return gesture for the Twelfth Prince.

The invitation and gift box were placed on Xue Fuguang's desk; he paused his writing, brushed the invitation aside, and took out the item from the box.

It was a folding fan, with landscape art painted by a renowned master from the previous dynasty.

It was certainly a valuable antique.

Xue Fuguang glanced at it, instructed Shaoying to put it away, and then attempted to pry open the bottom of the box.

Failing to do so, he called out, "Qu Wu, split this open."

Shaoying clicked his tongue and hurried over, "Young Master, please let me handle it."

He fetched a kitchen knife from the small kitchen and managed to split open the stubborn bottom of the box, revealing a hidden compartment from which he extracted a concealed note.

It was yet another request for a meeting.

Beyond that, the Sixth Prince expressed a wish for Xue Fuguang to join his retinue, promising him a high official's position upon his accession and prosperity for three generations of Xue's family.

The proposal was earnest and the terms tempting.

Xue Fuguang, however, showed no pleasure upon reading it; his mood remained indifferent. He penned a reply and had it sent to the Sixth Prince openly and without subterfuge.

Afterwards, he inquired of Shaoying, "Have the tong arum roots we collected in Dingzhou been properly processed?"

Shaoying patted his chest, "My lord, have I ever given you cause to worry? All is in order; I entrusted them to the finest shop in the imperial city and have collected them once done."

Xue Fuguang nodded.

There was still time in the day; he could make a trip and return before nightfall.

Changing his attire, he made his way to his elder brother's marquisate residence.

The steward welcomed him at the entrance, "Young Master, the Marquis has not yet returned from the drill field. Shall I send for him?"

Xue Fuguang waved a hand dismissively, "No need. My brother brought back an aide from Dingzhou, is he not within the residence now?"

"You mean Mr. Feng, the one brought back from the bandit's nest? He's here, in the eastern pavilion. The Marquis ordered him confined within the yard," the steward appraised Xue Fuguang's expression, "If you wish to see him, I'll fetch the keys this instant."

Although it was Xue Hongwen who had ordered the confinement.

In this marquisate residence, who did not know that the Marquis valued his heir above all?

There was scarcely any request that was ever denied.

Xue Fuguang commanded, "Prepare a meal and release the man."

The steward paused, then obeyed, instructing his subordinates to free Feng Wenhua from the small pavilion.

Feng Wenhua followed the marquisate's servant out of the pavilion.

"The Young Master wishes to see you. Be cautious in your conduct before him, lest the Marquis hears of any offense upon his return and decides not to spare you."

Feng Wenhua chuckled, casually fluttering his fan, betraying not a trace of the desperation expected of a captive.

He was quite curious as to what abilities this Young Master possessed.

Someone like Xue Hongwen wouldn't seem the type to indulge a fool for a brother.

Upon entering the dining hall, he saw a lavish spread of dishes and beside it, a young gentleman clad in moon-white brocade, with a fair complexion, strikingly handsome features, and a pair of half-closed phoenix eyes that exuded an extraordinary bearing.

Feng Wenhua bowed respectfully, "This humble one pays respects to the Young Master."

Xue Fuguang's eyebrows lifted, and with a slight upturn of his phoenix eyes, a hint of amusement in his clear gaze, he looked at Feng Wenhua, "Mr. Feng, please take a seat."

A youthful aura still lingered on his face as he spoke, "I've heard how the bandits of Dingzhou have withstood many years, all thanks to Mr. Feng's ingenious strategies. It is indeed an honor to meet you in person."

Feng Wenhua replied with a beaming smile, "Could the Young Master be mistaken? Have we not met before at Xuan Mountain?"

Xue Fuguang paused, a genuine look of perplexity in his eyes, "How could that be? I've never left the Imperial City, so how could I have met Mr. Feng in Dingzhou? Perhaps Mr. Feng has seen someone resembling me?"

The bewilderment in his eyes was so natural and authentic that it planted a seed of doubt in Feng Wenhua's own certainty.

But the doubt was swiftly dismissed.

The reaction of Xue Hongwen back on Xuan Mountain was too genuine to be false, and Xiao Jin would not deceive him.

Xue Fuguang smiled, gesturing with a raised hand, "Please enjoy the meal, Mr. Feng. Once we are sated, we can discuss forthcoming matters."

Feng Wenhua thought to himself, indeed.

"Seeing is indeed believing, Young Master Xue," Feng Wenhua said with a mix of irony and praise, picking up his chopsticks to start on the meal.

The fare of the Marquis's residence was naturally exquisite.

After a satisfying meal, Feng Wenhua asked a servant for a napkin, cleaning his hands and mouth with an air even more masterly than Xue Fuguang's.

"If the Young Master has something to say, now would be the time."

Xue Fuguang, cupping his teacup, sipped slowly, "Does Mr. Feng wish to see the Crown Prince?"

Feng Wenhua countered, "Why would this commoner wish to see the Crown Prince? And how could I possibly gain an audience with him?"

Xue Fuguang spoke with calm assurance, "Why does Mr. Feng seek an audience? As for the Crown Prince, I'm in the dark as well. I merely possess a method that could lend Mr. Feng a hand. If Mr. Feng is not so inclined, then naturally, it spares me the effort."

Feng Wenhua shook his head, "I don't know where the young lord heard such a thing. I, a commoner, harbor no such thoughts."

Xue Fuguang nodded, "Is that so? Mr. Feng, do you know who the nobility of the Imperial City are most eager to capture right now?"

Feng Wenhua was brought here under the watch of Xue Hongwen, and with Dingzhou being so far from the Imperial City, he had no access to the news here and was naturally clueless.

Thus, he waited for Xue Fuguang to continue speaking.

Could it be that this young lord intended for him to capture someone and then exchange the prisoner for some benefit?

Xue Fuguang said, "As it turns out, I'm quite familiar with him. Back when he was a pitiable little beggar on the streets, I couldn't bear the sight and even brought him back to the Prince's estate. Little did I know he would later cause such trouble."

Feng Wenhua's eyelid twitched.

Xue Fuguang maintained his composed demeanor, speaking leisurely, "It's astonishing, I had no idea Xiujin had such grand ambitions. Feeling that the Prince's estate wasn't enough, he climbed his way up to the Crown Prince, even leading to the Crown Prince repeatedly defying His Majesty, almost costing him his position."

"I've always heard of 'beauty bringing disaster', but he seems to be a 'blue disaster'." Xue Fuguang spoke with a hint of amusement in his tone.

But Feng Wenhua found no amusement.

His hand, which had been shaking his fan, stopped abruptly, snapping the folding fan shut, "I indeed wish to behold the Crown Prince's elegance. Should the young lord be willing to lend me a helping hand, I shall certainly repay the favor in the future."

Xue Fuguang's smile grew more profound.

In the past, he found it sickening to watch these mad dogs fight over Xiujin.

Now, he found it most amusing to watch them like this.

If their fights weren't fierce enough, he didn't mind adding fuel to the fire to make these mad dogs fight even more to their heart's content.

If not, how could it truly reflect their precious regard and concern for Xiujin?

He set down his cooled tea, saying, "Since Mr. Feng has put it that way, I shall of course do my utmost to assist. In two days, my elder brother will arrange for you to meet the Crown Prince."

He added, "I hope you won't disappoint me."

With those words, he stood up to leave, instructing the steward on his way out, "Take good care of Mr. Feng."

Pondering Xue Fuguang's intentions, the steward did not lock the loft where Feng Wenhua stayed.

Feng Wenhua requested, "Could you trouble the steward to procure a couple of new outfits for me? I wish to step out for a look around."

The steward acquiesced promptly.

The courtesy in his manner had considerably increased.

After departing the manor, Feng Wenhua found a tea house.

He nestled himself in a corner, eavesdropping on the spirited discussions of the Imperial City's residents passing by.

*

Meanwhile, concerning the Sixth Prince.

Having been rejected by Xue Fuguang twice in succession, the prince, though royalty, felt his pride wounded and grew increasingly disgruntled.

He valued Xue Fuguang's talents and wanted to recognize him, offering the chance to serve as an intimate courtier to the emperor. Yet to his dismay, Xue Fuguang seemed to be evading his offer.

When the letter sent by Xue Fuguang was delivered into his hands, the Sixth Prince, restraining his displeasure, unfolded it and meticulously examined the contents.

As the words on the paper came into his view, his initial annoyance dissipated, replaced by a surge of joy.

Afterward, he burned the letter and ordered those around him, "Dispatch someone to monitor the people entering the Imperial City closely. Should anyone show signs of having contracted the plague, detain them immediately and escort them out of the city, then inform me at once!"

"Yes!"

The Sixth Prince paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind him, his expression brimming with barely contained delight.

After some contemplation, he commanded, "Come! We shall visit the Empress Dowager."

Upon entering the palace of Empress Hui, he dismissed the attendants and conveyed to her all that Xue Fuguang had written.

"Mother, this is Providence delivering an opportunity straight into my hands! Heaven wants me to ascend to the imperial throne!"

The Sixth Prince was mature beyond his years and seldom exhibited such unguarded emotion.

Empress Hui pondered deeply, gently stroking his temple, "Chonghe, how much can we trust Xue Fuguang's words? Don’t rejoice prematurely. Should your father the Emperor notice, our mother and son may find ourselves with no path to return."

The Sixth Prince's elated expression sobered slightly as he assured, "Mother, I have been patient for so many years and know the importance of caution. I wouldn’t act rashly unless I was almost certain of success. As for Xue Fuguang, he truly is a remarkable individual."

He sneered, "I had once thought him just the buffoon the rumors claimed, but it’s the Crown Prince’s excessive bullying that’s to blame. He paid no heed to Xue Hongwen, inciting Xue Fuguang instead. Pushed to his limits, Xue had no choice but to drop the pretense, allowing me to glimpse the truth."

"This windfall is like a gift delivered to my hands by my dear imperial brother."

Empress Hui shook her head, "I still feel you should observe for a while longer. If, as you say, Xue Fuguang could conceal his true self for over a decade undetected, what depth of cunning must he possess? Are you certain you can control him?"

The Sixth Prince patted Empress Hui's hand, "Rest assured, mother. The Crown Prince has repeatedly sought Xue Fuguang’s life, provoking his wrath. Xue is determined to dethrone the Crown Prince, and even if I cannot win him over completely, he can still serve as a formidable weapon against my brother."

"Moreover," the Sixth Prince's face hardened, a ruthless light in his eyes, "once my cause prevails, any uncontrollable elements such as him will be promptly eliminated to prevent future threats."

Empress Hui pondered long before nodding, "If my son has considered all angles, then go ahead and take the gamble. Your maternal grandparents will lend their full support."

Three days later, a case resembling the plague was discovered among the people entering the Imperial City.

The Sixth Prince received the report immediately.

He was thrilled and swiftly arranged for the control of the populace, forbidding further entry into the city, then hastened to the palace.

The Sixth Prince, accompanied by the imperial decree and the court physician, went out of the city. Once the disease was confirmed, the city gates were closed, and no one else was allowed to enter.

By the time the Crown Prince's palace received the news, the Sixth Prince had already seized the initiative and earned credit.

The Crown Prince, in a fury, smashed an object, "Change my clothes! Prepare my carriage to leave the city! Imbeciles, such a significant incident and you caught not even a whisper of it!"

The servants dared not express their anger.

The Crown Prince had dispatched a multitude of his men to search for information on Xiu Jin, leaving them no spare capacity to stay abreast of such sudden emergencies.

Oddly enough, the Sixth Prince seemed overly prescient.

It was as if he had known all along that a plague would break out and had been waiting for it here.

When the Crown Prince encountered the Sixth Prince at the city gates, his smile did not reach his eyes, "Such timely news you have, dear brother, always so attentive to the citizens of the Imperial City."

The Sixth Prince nodded and performed a courteous bow, "You flatter me, brother. It was but a fortunate coincidence. If it weren't for your recent distractions, you surely would have noticed and taken precautions as well."

The Crown Prince huffed coldly.

The epidemic was fierce.

Just the day before there had been but a single case, and now there were already more than ten people lying in the makeshift shelters.

The royal physician, his face covered, used instruments to prod at their clothes, inspecting each one, continually shaking his head and sighing deeply.

Epidemics have always been a great challenge since ancient times.

The treatments documented in medical texts are severely limited; not to mention curing the afflicted, these methods often put the physicians themselves at risk.

After the examination, the medical academy began to burn the midnight oil, poring over medical tomes and attempting to concoct remedies.

Yet, the epidemic worsened day by day.

Some decoctions showed slight efficacy but only served to delay the inevitable.

The entire Imperial City was gripped by fear.

The Emperor, for several consecutive mornings, lost his temper during the early court sessions.

It wasn't until the Sixth Prince and the Crown Prince took the initiative to volunteer, one after another, to take charge of the epidemic that things began to shift.

The Emperor had initially wanted to assign this task to the Crown Prince.

However, when it came to approving the petitions, someone brought up the matter of the Crown Prince keeping a male favorite.

The Emperor also felt that the Crown Prince's frivolous behavior made him an unreliable candidate for handling such a significant crisis that affected state affairs.

Thus, the responsibility, much to his satisfaction, ultimately fell to the Sixth Prince.

……

Xue Hongwen led his troops to encircle the perimeter of the Imperial City, preventing the people outside from entering.

Xue Fuguang, carrying provisions, left the city, and upon seeing him, Xue Hongwen's expression darkened: "What are you doing leaving the city?"

Xue Fuguang replied, "I’m distributing grain and porridge. Those who have been shut out cannot just be left to die."

Xue Hongwen said, "I'm aware, but this is not your concern. Get back to the city!"

Xue Fuguang pulled a pouch from his sleeve and whispered, "Brother, this epidemic will soon end. You must be extremely cautious. If you notice anything amiss, brew the herbs from this sachet into a medicine and drink it."

Xue Hongwen clenched the pouch, not asking why: "I understand. Now return. The grain will be sent with the supply convoy; don’t wander off needlessly."

Xue Fuguang nodded and briskly returned to the carriage, whereupon the coachman drove them back towards the city.

He intended to save these people, but it couldn't be too hastily done.

A convincing coincidence had to be found to deliver the prescription.

It was crucial to avoid any unnecessary suspicion.

He had Zhou Minshan find someone to deliver it to the sixth prince.

Accompanied by a small handful of tongxin.

The sixth prince was overjoyed.

He hadn't expected to find a cure for the epidemic so quickly!

How coincidental?

It just so happened that Xue Fuguang, due to his hostility towards the Crown Prince, was willing to curry favor with him.

Moreover, it was by chance that Xue Fuguang, who had been to Dingzhou recently, had discovered traces of the epidemic on his return journey, and had taken the initiative to search for a folk doctor with experience in treating the disease to put into his hands.

After the sixth prince had the folk doctor and the royal physician test the medicine, they confirmed the prescription was truly miraculous, sending everyone into raptures.

The only downside was that one of the ingredients in the prescription, while required in a very small quantity, was extremely difficult to find and grew only in the vicinity of Dingzhou.

To go and gather this medicine, one would have to confront countless epidemic sufferers along the way, not to mention the tens of thousands of civilians gathered outside the imperial city who could not hold out.

"Your Highness!" The sixth prince, who had been up all night worrying about finding tongxin, was approached by his subordinates with good news, "A group of merchants from Dingzhou happened to be in the imperial city a few days ago. They brought a lot of tongxin and haven’t sold it yet! We can requisition it from the merchants!"

The sixth prince excitedly slapped the table: "Excellent! This is divine aid! Go quickly and say that my palace... will purchase at a high price! The price is up to them, as long as all the tongxin is sold to me."

His initial thought was to requisition it, but the Crown Prince's men were always watching his every move.

The sixth prince did not want to give the Crown Prince an opportunity at such a critical moment.

……

When Mu Jianshu received the news that the scarce medicinal herb for treating the epidemic was tongxin, his motion of wiping the blade paused abruptly.

This was also beyond his expectation.

He had thought it was merely an excuse for Xue Fuguang to find a way to approach Zhou Minshan.

Little did he know, it would kill two birds with one stone.

But how did he come to know that tongxin could treat the epidemic?

And how was he aware that the epidemic would break out, necessitating the collection of a large quantity of tongxin in advance?

His subordinate was recording information: "This Lord Xue has many suspicious points. If not for him, our nation would surely have been greatly weakened by this epidemic, presenting an opportunity for our Ying dynasty. This must be reported for future vigilance against this individual. He may well become a significant threat to our state."

Mu Jianshu suddenly turned around, seized the pen from the man's hand, and snapped it into two pieces.

He pulled the paper from the desk and set it ablaze until it turned to ash.

His sudden outburst startled the recorder, who asked in bewilderment, "My lord, such important matters must be reported!"

Mu Jianshu lifted his eyes coolly, a hint of murderous intent in his gaze.

Without warning, he raised his hand and gripped the man's throat: "Since when is it your place to question my decisions?"

A snap – the neck was twisted and broken.

As effortlessly and decisively as snapping the pen, without hesitation.

In his eyes, a life might be worth no more than that pen.

The sound of recording in the dark room ceased.

In the corner, two people watched Mu Jianshu, not daring to move.

Mu Jianshu discarded the body: "Dispose of this. From now on, any reports concerning Xue Fuguang must be run by me before submission."

"Yes, sir!"

Mu Jianshu had been outside for quite some time.

It had been nearly half a month since he last saw Xue Fuguang.

The master had said, to stay out of his sight for a while.

So, could he now go back and check if this "period of time" had passed?

*

After arranging all affairs, Xue Fuguang had not ventured out again.

He was simply waiting for the Sixth Prince to deliver the money into his hands.

Considering he had his own private soldiers to support, he wouldn't be soft-hearted about extracting a hefty sum from the Sixth Prince.

A total of two hundred thousand taels of silver had nearly bled the Sixth Prince dry.

Xue Fuguang wasn't worried about not receiving the payment; after all, he could always turn around and sell it to the Crown Prince.

Whose pocket the money came from made no difference to him.

The Sixth Prince grudgingly handed over the silver and, still unwilling to give up, sent people to track down the whereabouts of the merchants.

But in a blink, the merchants had vanished without a trace, and the Sixth Prince's men had suffered losses.

Knowing he couldn't reclaim the money, the Sixth Prince could only swallow his frustration.

Once the epidemic was over, the emperor's rewards would not be meager. More importantly, this act had earned him the people's voice, which was very beneficial for his eventual ascent to the throne. Among the officials, many would likely lean towards supporting him.

With such self-consolation, the Sixth Prince managed to suppress the pain in his heart.

Xue Fuguang, in the courtyard, had the amount of silver tallied and instructed that half be sent to Zhou Minshan.

The women and children of Dingfeng Fort had settled in the imperial city, incurring considerable expenses.

If Zhou Minshan and his men wanted to secure a position within the imperial army, they would have even more need for silver.

The remaining one hundred thousand was kept in reserve.

Shao Jing's eyes were almost dazzled by the rows of silver as he recorded them in the ledger, murmuring, "So that hunter didn't cheat us, this tongxin is really valuable."

Xue Fuguang let out a laugh.

Looking up, he saw a familiar figure and his smile abruptly vanished.

"Didn't I tell you not to appear before me?"

Mu Jianxu's jaw tensed, his Adam's apple rolling as he opened his mouth and said, "The master mentioned a period of time. I thought, perhaps that time has come."

Xue Fuguang scoffed coldly, wanting to tell him to get lost again, but a lump in his throat caught him, choking off his words.

Mu Jianxu subconsciously moved forward to help him catch his breath.

The sight of Mu Jianxu only fueled the fire in Xue Fuguang's heart, compelling him to kick him.

But when his foot struck squarely on Mu Jianxu's shin, it wasn't Mu Jianxu but Xue Fuguang himself who ended up in pain from the blow to his old injury.

Bending over and clutching the leg with a past wound, he thought to himself that he should have opted for a leg swap to break Mu Jianxu's bone instead.

Startled, Mu Jianxu crouched down hurriedly, grasping Xue Fuguang's calf and kneading upwards to check for any harm.

Enduring the pain, Xue Fuguang tried to withdraw his leg, unsuccessful, he barked, "Let go!"

Far from letting go, Mu Jianxu even rose to carry Xue Fuguang into the house to inspect his foot and sock.

Thinking of Mu Jianxu as the one who secretively kept his silk stockings, Xue Fuguang lashed out with his other foot, shouting, "Get away! You cur! Are you seeking death!?"

Mu Jianxu neither released his grip nor dodged, taking Xue Fuguang's kick straight to the face, tilting back with a stifled groan of pain.

His face, previously masked, now bore a half-finger-long cut from the sharp edge of the kicked-off mask, beading with bright blood.

Other red marks scraped across his skin, blood seeping from their edges.

The deepest wound was on his neck, where the mask had gouged a hole, from which blood flowed and soaked into the collar.

Mu Jianxu looked up at Xue Fuguang, his pale, thin lips pressed together, and in a low voice, he said, "I deserve to die. But may the master endure for a moment; afterwards, I am at your disposal."

He pulled off Xue Fuguang's shoes and socks, rolling up the trouser leg over the knee.

On the well-proportioned calf, several fierce scars stood out against the soft skin.

Mu Jianxu held the calf, fingers gently caressing these marks, one hand gripping Xue Fuguang's foot.

The big toe had turned red, standing out against the fair skin of the foot, like a bud about to bloom.

Xue Fuguang clenched his teeth, his jaw crackling.

"Good, he can't beat that... creature."

"When his elder brother comes back, he'll chop down that... thing in one swing!"

"Several people at the door are peeking in, gazing at the scene inside the room."

"Shaoling was originally going to barge in angrily and reprimand Mujian Shu, accusing him of heinous disrespect and insubordination."

"But now, he’s not sure if he still wants to go in and scold him."

"The young lord's kick to the face was too brutal, hiss, so much blood streamed down from Qu Wu's neck."

"And how should he scold him?"

"Should he scold him for having legs too stiff, injuring the young lord?"

"Or scold him for carrying the young lord into the house to see his wounds, as if he were a small child?"

"It seems like no form of scolding would be quite right."

"Hesitating for a moment, he still pokes his head in and asks, 'Young lord, should I call for a physician to have a look?'"

"Xue Fuguang is now raging, starting to lash out indiscriminately: 'Call for what? With the epidemic raging, all the physicians are busy saving lives. You want to waste their time to look at my foot!? Are you an idiot!?'"

"Shaoling shrinks his neck back."

"Alas, it's the first time he has seen the young lord lose his temper to such an extent."

"Strange to say, it's quite a novelty."

"He waves his hand, signaling the others: 'What are you looking at? Want to be scolded? Forget everything you saw today, right now. So much to count, who knows if we can finish counting tonight.'"

"'Yes, yes.'"

"Inside the house, after examining, Mujian Shu confirms that Xue Fuguang’s big toe is indeed broken from the kick."

"Xue Fuguang, with an impassive face, watches Mujian Shu kneeling before him, busily attending to the injury."

"Mujian Shu asks in a low voice, 'Master, have you not been taking your medicine these days?'"

"Xue Fuguang narrows his eyes, countering, 'What medicine?'"

Mujian Shu paused before replying, "Tonic herbs."

"Hah. Would those allow me to kick you without breaking my toes?" Xue Fuguang sneered.

Mujian Shu pursed his lips, "I acknowledge my mistake."

Xue Fuguang was like a firecracker at that moment, ready to explode at the slightest touch.

He felt like kicking Mujian Shu again, ordering him to let go.

But with one leg firmly in his grasp and a broken toe on it, only the other leg was free to move.

However, seeing the bloody gash on Mujian Shu's neck and the long streak of blood on his face, he managed to restrain himself.

As he held back, his anger slowly subsided.

He remembered his original purpose for actively engaging with Mujian Shu.

Forget it, no more anger.

Even for the "villainous halo" he carried, before he could deal with the Crown Prince and Xiu Jin among others, he had to endure.

Xue Fuguang still couldn't help grinding his teeth, "Why do you dislike women?"

Mujian Shu's movements of applying the medicine slowed, and he said softly, "There is no particular reason."

Xue Fuguang pressed on, "Fine, I'll rephrase the question. What's there to like about men, from one man to another?"

Mujian Shu helped Xue Fuguang put on his silk socks and applied medicine to the scars on his calf.

"That's an old wound, why are you applying medicine to it?" Xue Fuguang tried to pull away, yet couldn't move.

After applying the medicine, Mujian Shu replied, "It can help to eliminate scars."

Xue Fuguang's eyes flickered with curiosity, "I've heard that in the State of Ying, there's a miraculous medicine that can revive the dead and mend broken bones. Although that might be an exaggeration, it is still a top-notch lifesaving remedy. This medicine is called 'Golden Jade Ointment.' Is that what you have?"

Mujian Shu placed the medicine in Xue Fuguang's hand, "Yes."

Just as Xue Fuguang was about to chastise him for squandering such a treasure, Mujian Shu added, "I do not like men either."

He neither liked men nor women.

He liked no one, with the sole exception of Xue Fuguang.

Xue Fuguang was momentarily taken aback.

The abrupt return to the topic caught him off guard.

Regaining his composure, he said, "What odd thing are you spouting?"

Mujian Shu remained kneeling before him, not rising to his feet: "I realize my error and await my punishment from the master."

“……”

Xue Fuguang, irritated, waved him off: "Stop the bleeding on your neck, it's an eyesore!"

"Yes." Mujian Shu bowed his head and began to bind the wound on his neck with a piece of cloth.

Xue Fuguang took a breath and commanded coldly, "Take it off."

Mujian Shu did as he was told and removed the cloth.

Xue Fuguang scooped a piece from the box in his hand and applied it to the wound on Mujian Shu's neck, the residue on his fingertips he smoothed over the cut on his face: "Wrap it up."

He tossed the medicine box back into Mujian Shu's arms: "Take care of your belongings."

Mujian Shu looked at Xue Fuguang.

He felt that the earlier questions were all rather nonsensical.

If asked what was good about Xue Fuguang, he could list many things.

For instance, at this moment, Mujian Shu felt that Xue Fuguang was indulging him, allowing him to overstep his bounds.

But he shouldn’t.

It was only because his lord was softhearted, after all. If it were someone else, he would have shown the same mercy if Shaoying were injured before his eyes.

He restrained his own impulses.

Xue Fuguang pushed himself off the bed and stood up.

Mujian Shu immediately went to support him, intending to carry him out. However, he refrained due to Xue Fuguang’s icy stare.

Xue Fuguang set up a chair and continued to tally his gold and silver treasures in the courtyard.

Mujian Shu picked up the mask that had been kicked away, standing vigil behind him.

Xue Fuguang did not mention again his earlier demand for Mujian Shu to leave.

Nevertheless, the incident of Xue Fuguang kicking someone and breaking his own toe was soon known to the other two masters of the palace.

Xue Wanxi hurried over to check, and after ensuring Xue Fuguang was mostly unharmed, he eyed the person his brother had kicked.

It was the masked secret guard who was deeply trusted by his younger brother.

Xue Wanxi saw the thick cloth wrapped around his neck and the blood-stained clothes that hadn't been changed in time, and sighed helplessly, "I've heard Gong Xuan mention you. Didn't Ah Ru expel you from the residence a few days ago?"

Mujian Shu replied, "The young master mentioned it would be for a while."

Xue Wanxi chuckled, "Why provoke him when he's angry? Leave him be for a while, and naturally, his anger will dissipate."

Mujian Shu shook his head, "It is my fault."

Seeing his loyalty, Xue Wanxi’s impression of him improved. Before leaving, he whispered, "Ah Ru trusts you deeply, otherwise, he wouldn't be so angry. Do not betray his trust."

Mujian Shu bowed, "I understand."

Soon after, Prince Gong returned to the residence and also came to see Xue Fuguang.

It was mainly to mock him, a manly man who could injure himself while kicking someone else, which was quite amusing.

An exhausted Xue Fuguang said, "Father, I understand. Please, you may leave now."

Left with no choice, Xue Fuguang had to play the role of a cripple for several days.

The Jinyu Gao ointment truly worked wonders, and in a few days, he recovered completely.

The epidemic was under control, and the sixth prince played a significant role, receiving lavish praise from the emperor in court.

After the court session, the Crown Prince stopped the sixth prince, "I have always been curious, who exactly did you find to be your advisor, Sixth Brother, to devise such ingenious strategies?"

The Sixth Prince smiled subtly, "Brother Emperor is overthinking it; it’s merely good fortune."

The Crown Prince remarked, "Then, the luck of the Sixth Brother is indeed remarkable. I hope it continues to favor him. If some of that fortune could rub off on me, that would be even better."

"Why not distribute porridge outside the city, Brother Emperor, and accumulate merit? Perhaps fortune will then fall upon your head," suggested the Sixth Prince.

The Crown Prince's gaze darkened. He had just been chastised by the Emperor for not handling the porridge distribution affair elegantly enough.

"I'll take that as a good omen from you, Brother," he said.

With that, he left briskly, his sleeves fluttering behind him.

The Sixth Prince, in high spirits, turned and instructed, "Send another person, and deliver an invitation to Prince Xue."

……

With a feeling too complex for words, Shao Jing held the invitation as he entered the courtyard, "Master, the Sixth Prince has sent another invitation. What gift should we return this time?"

Crouched by the bamboo, Xue Fuguang dug at the ground without looking up, "Accept it and tell him I'll meet him at the usual place for tea tomorrow."

Mu Jian Shu, seeing him struggle to dig it out, crouched down to help.

Author’s note: As for kicking someone and breaking your own toe, it happened to my best friend’s mom when she kicked her dad; he barely winced. Hahaha, it still cracks us up to this day.

Goodnight, everyone!

Thanks to the angels who gave me King's Tickets or Nutrient Solutions between 2021-12-04 23:57:03 and 2021-12-05 23:58:12!

Thanks to the angel who provided Nutrient Solutions: W____ 5 bottles;

Thank you all so much for your support, I will continue to do my best!